PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Orpo Jokinen (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Kaheli Sonni (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Jokinen comes into the arena with Oops! I Did It Again by Children of Bodom blaring out of the sound system. Sonni has chosen Chica as his entrance music, which hasn't gone down very well with the crowd. Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Jokinen
vs
Sonni

175 cm
30
180 lbs
17 - 12 - 0

186 cm
30
185 lbs
21 - 14 - 2

Abu Dhabi Champ
World class MT
Insanely flexible

Excellent grappler
Lethal high kicks
Good gas tank

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the welterweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 17 - 12 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Orpo Jokinen!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 21 - 14 - 2, fighting out of Helsinki, Kaheli Sonni!
The judges for this bout are Steve Smith, Dillan Fox and Robert Douchet.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Sonni lands a vicious shot with the stealth of a sniper and the strength of a viper. Are vipers that strong? I can think of lots of things that are stronger than a viper - not many rhyme with sniper though.
A nice combination there by Jokinen.

It looks like Kaheli Sonni has been cut.
Sonni throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
A big right from Jokinen misses.

Jokinen feints and then winds up with a huge right hand that connects perfectly and sends Sonni sprawling to the canvas! Sonni rolls over backwards and springs off the cage and manages to regain his footing - how acrobatic! Oh, he's still wobbly - can Jokinen finish him?!

Sonni is rocked!
Jokinen looks to have improved his striking defense since last time we saw him fight.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Jokinen lands a kick to the ribs of his opponent. Nice work there - in and out in a flash.
Sonni is still on wobbly legs! Can Jokinen finish him?
Jokinen has a nice red mark on his side after a thudding body kick by Sonni.
Jokinen chopping away at his opponent's legs.
Sonni throws a leg kick but he was too far away and it doesn't land.
Sonni defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Jokinen.
Sonni seems to have recovered his senses.
Jokinen takes a really solid shot there but just smiles back and shrugs his shoulders.
Jokinen scores with a nice head shot.
A decent looking body kick lands there for Sonni.
Orpo Jokinen seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Sonni looking to take his opponent's legs away with the low kicks.
Jokinen fails with a takedown attempt.
Jokinen throws a body kick but he was well out of range there.
Sonni thows a leg kick but Jokinen checks it
and Jokinen counters with a stiff right hand.
Sonni misses with a low kick.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Jokinen connects with an inside leg kick.
Sonni lunges at Jokinen with a hook that half lands and is half blocked by Jokinen's hand.
Jokinen thows a leg kick but Sonni checks it
and Sonni counters with an inside leg kick.
Jokinen stumbles momentarily as he takes a strong leg kick from Sonni.
Jokinen moves out of range of the leg kick from Sonni.
Well, he's not going to score with shots like that. A lazy body kick attempt from Jokinen.
Jokinen checks a low kick from Sonni.
A big left from Sonni misses.
Like a baseball bat into the meat of his leg there - nice leg kick by Sonni.
A telegraphed right hand from Jokinen misses the target.
Sonni throws a nice outside leg kick.
Jokinen takes a step back and watches a body kick go sailing past his mid section.
Sonni chopping away at his opponent's legs.
Jokinen throws a leg kick
and Sonni counters with a stiff right hand.
Jokinen checks the leg kick.
Jokinen with a hook.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Jokinen pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Jokinen throws a big shot that misses.
Jokinen backing away here, and Sonni unleashes a leg kick that just misses.
Jokinen fails in his attempt to clinch.
Jokinen looks for the body kick but Sonni saw that one coming.
Jokinen tries to drive through with a takedown attempt but Sonni defends well and Jokinen ends up having to push Sonni into the cage where they will battle it out in the clinch.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Orpo Jokinen. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Sonni goes for a spinning back kick but it misses.
Jokinen fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Sonni manages to avoid it.
Jokinen dives in and grabs Sonni's left leg, looking for a takedown. Sonni pushes down on Jokinen's head and hops out.
Jokinen lands a leg kick and bounces back out of range.
Jokinen throws a body kick that misses.
Sonni checks a leg kick.
Sonni looks like he wants to counter punch here.
Jokinen misses with a looping left.
Sonni misses with a leg kick
and Jokinen counters with an inside leg kick.
Jokinen tries to check a leg kick but that clearly hurt him.
Sonni throws a mid kick that lands with a slap.
Jokinen on the wrong end of a nice low kick. He's acting like it's no big deal but he doesn't want to take many more of those.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Sonni looks to land a body kick but Jokinen moved away.
Sonni misses the shot to the body.
Jokinen pivots as if he's going to throw a leg kick but stops half way.
Sonni connects with a leg kick. Jokinen looked like he was expecting something else and didn't defend it.
Jokinen throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Sonni's waist but Sonni gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Jokinen off to one side.
Jokinen scores with a slapping inside leg kick.
Sonni looking to land some kicks to the body here.
Sonni attempts a low kick but it misses it's target.
A low kick from Sonni is predictable there
and Jokinen counters with a leg kick.
Jokinen ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
Jokinen lands a nice leg kick that just misses Sonni's sensitive parts.
Jokinen closes the distance and clinches up with Sonni, looking for a takedown. Jokinen pushes Sonni against the cage but Sonni circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
Jokinen tries to clinch but fails miserably
and Sonni counters with a stiff right hand.
Sonni bobs and weaves and then throws a good body kick.

Sonni is looking for a takedown here. He's shot in and has managed to get it, finishing up in Jokinen's half guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Sonni tries to pass the half guard into mount. Jokinen knows what he's doing though and prevents the attempt.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Jokinen gets full guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Sonni throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Jokinen trying to control the position.
Jokinen keeping moving, preventing Sonni from controlling successfully.
Jokinen avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
The crowd applaud the fighters' efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Sonni pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Jokinen is keeping the position for now.
Sonni content to strike from guard, landing some decent shots.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Kaheli Sonni will probably get the nod.
The cut man is working on Kaheli Sonni's cut.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

Sonni feints and then cracks Jokinen's leading leg with a nice low kick. He's obviously looking to slow Jokinen down.
Jokinen looks to score with a jab to the body but Sonni is just out of range.
Sonni now looks to counter with a shot at the body.
Sonni catches Jokinen with a nice straight right. He seems pissed - ooooh, it's on now! On like donkey kong!
Jokinen walks straight into a jab right on the nose. That one stung - he's blinking and trying to clear his head.

Jokinen fakes an overhand right and shoots for a takedown. Sonni sprawls well initially but Jokinen persists and gets the takedown into half guard.
The fighters are battling for position here. Sonni manages to regain full guard. Nice work.

Sonni had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Jokinen defends it easily.
Jokinen wants to control from the top but Sonni keeps moving.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Jokinen passes Sonni's left leg - he's now in half guard.
Jokinen looking to pass the half guard. Not this time.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Sonni tries to get to full guard but Jokinen has control of the leg.
Jokinen trying to mount his opponent but Sonni defends it.
Sonni is trying to control but can't.
Sonni is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.

Sonni looking for submissions off his back.
Jokinen looking to pass the half guard. Not this time.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
My god... these two guys really need to pick up the pace or everyone will leave to go get a beer.
Sonni tries to roll over but Jokinen keeps him under control.
Sonni wants to control but Jokinen is keeping busy.
We may be looking at a referee standup if the pace doesn't pick up soon.

Sonni is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Jokinen pulls his head out easily.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.
Sonni connects with a crisp jab.
Sonni throws a jab to the body, straight down the pipe. Boom. That sent Jokinen stumbling backwards but he manages to regain his composure quickly.

Jokinen is looking for a takedown here. He's shot in and has managed to get it, finishing up in Sonni's half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Jokinen is thinking about going for an arm triangle but he can't free his leg.
Sonni is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Sonni has a hand on Jokinen's thigh, trying to get back to full guard. Jokinen takes advantage of the position though and mounts him!
Sonni is controlling an arm, preventing Jokinen from taking his back. Although keeping him in mount is no better to be honest.
Sonni wants to hold on but Jokinen pushes him away.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Jokinen can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as Sonni is looking to escape.
Jokinen is looking to work his way around to Sonni's back. He needs to be careful though, as he's in danger of losing this dominant position.
Sonni sneaks a leg back under and regains half guard and is working straight away to try and get back to guard. He hasn't managed just yet though.
Jokinen wants to free his trapped foot but Sonni is holding on for dear life with his legs.
Jokinen is looking to stall here but Sonni recovers full guard.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Jokinen stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Sonni swivels though and keeps the full guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Orpo Jokinen dominated that second round.
The cut man is working on Kaheli Sonni's cut.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action! This is the final round!

Sonni misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Jokinen.
Sonni throws a body kick that digs right into the meat.
Sonni lands with a kick to the ribs.
Sonni keeps the fight on the outside.
Jokinen fails in his attempt to clinch.
Jokinen will be looking to protect his midsection after taking some solid kicks to the body.
A jab from Sonni misses.
Jokinen fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Sonni is moving around nicely and scores here with a single head shot.
Jokinen throws a wild body kick that Sonni sees coming a mile off.
Sonni is using his reach advantage to land shots from outside his opponent's range.
Sonni defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Jokinen.
Sonni lunges at Jokinen with a hook that half lands and is half blocked by Jokinen's hand.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Sonni tries to score with a low kick but Jokinen moves his leg out of the way.
Jokinen fails to land the takedown.
Sonni ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
Jokinen walks forward, straight into a front kick from Sonni.
Kaheli Sonni seems to be getting the better of the standup.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Sonni closes the distance and takes a jab right on the nose as he does so.
Sonni misses with an attempted mid kick.
Sonni has done a lot of speed work in the buildup to this fight.
Nice shot by Sonni.
A nice inside leg kick there by Sonni. That's going to slow Jokinen down.
Jokinen misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Jokinen does a little shimmy and throws a leg kick. The leg kick missed by a considerable margin though, making him look a little bit silly for doing the shimmy.
Sonni catches Jokinen with a nice straight right. He seems pissed - ooooh, it's on now! On like donkey kong!
Sonni scores with a slapping inside leg kick.
Sonni scoring well with a low kick there.
Ouch! a nice leg kick from Sonni, right into the meat.
Sonni uses good footwork to get in and out and land a nice right hand before Jokinen has time to react.

Jokinen drives through with a really nice takedown into side control.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
A bit of a lull in the action here.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Jokinen swings around for an armbar but Sonni sees it coming a mile off and turns beautifully into Jokinen's guard.
Jokinen not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.

Jokinen throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Sonni working some strikes from top position.
Sonni trying to control but Jokinen is working from the bottom.
Sonni is in a good position here but he's just trying to control... And he's not even managing to do that successfully.
Jokinen keeping full guard, as Sonni tries to pass.
Sonni is persisting with the attempt to improve his position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Jokinen preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Sonni throws a big elbow that misses.
Sonni wants to control from the top but Jokinen keeps moving.
Jokinen not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Sonni working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Sonni passes easily into side control. Nice work.
Jokinen is trying to control Sonni's posture but Sonni avoids it.
Sonni trying to control the action but Jokinen is working from the bottom.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are getting on the fighters' backs, as the pace has dropped off in the last minute or so.
Jokinen sneaks back into half guard.

Sonni is looking for a kimura but he's never going to get it from there.
Jokinen tries to roll over but Sonni keeps him under control.

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.
Nice jab there from Sonni.
Jokinen avoids a low kick by using good footwork.

And that's the end of the fight!
Kaheli Sonni comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Sonni has won this one but let's see whether the judges agree with me. Over to the ring announcer for the scorecards.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 3 rounds of action, we go to the scorecards for a decision.
Judge Steve Smith scores the fight 28:29
Judge Dillan Fox scores the fight 28:29
Judge Robert Douchet scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by split decision... Kaheli Sonni!
Kaheli Sonni seemed lost for words in his post fight interview but he remembered to thank his fans and directed everyone to his website.
The defeated Orpo Jokinen had this to say: 'You know, I came into this fight with a bulging disk and a ugh, a cracked skull. I wanna see someone fight with a cracked skull. That's why I came into this fight with a black eye. Cause my skull is cracked right here.'.