PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Jackie Owens (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Euphrapy Kalonga (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

Owens
vs
Kalonga

225 cm
23
178 lbs
3 - 2 - 0

196 cm
22
177 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Cuts easily

BJJ Blue Belt
Solid Muay Thai
Solid chin

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 3 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Jackie Owens!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Euphrapy Kalonga!
The judges for this bout are Ben Zyskovitsi, Anni Minnemäki and Arvi Lind.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Kalonga just misses with a punch to the body.
Owens avoids a kick to the body.
Kalonga just manages to avoid a counter high kick fromOwens.
Kalonga shoots in and drives through. Owens sprawls well.
Kalonga fails with an attempt to clinch.
As Kalonga looks to move away, Owens throws a big counter combo bu Kalonga just gets out of the way.
Kalonga fails miserably with a takedown attempt.

Owens drops down and drives through with a powerful takedown into guard.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Owens stands and steps away. Kalonga gets to his feet too and we're back to the striking game.
Owens moves in looking to clinch but Kalonga pushes him off.
Kalonga goes for a double leg but Owens avoids the attempt and the two fighters end up clinched against the cage as Owens continues to drive forward.
Jackie Owens has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Euphrapy Kalonga.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kalonga tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Owens swivels and escapes.
Owens is looking to counter with a shot to the body.
Euphrapy Kalonga seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

Owens takes the fight into the clinch.
Both fighters working to control the clinch.

Kalonga pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Owens leaves Kalonga with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
Owens throws a counter high kick but Kalonga was just alert enough to avoid it.
Kalonga fails with an attempt to clinch.
Owens looked to counter with a high kick but didn't commit.
Kalonga shoots and misses
and Owens counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Kalonga fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Owens avoids it really well and circles away.
It looked like Owens was trying to counter with a body shot coming off that last attack from Kalonga.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Kalonga tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Owens swivels and escapes.
A little feinted left hand from Owens on the counter but he doesn't commit to it.
Kalonga tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Owens paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Owens lifts his leg as if looking to counter with a high kick.
Kalonga tries to score a power double leg takedown but Owens sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Kalonga somewhat.
Kalonga looks winded!
Kalonga shoots for a double leg takedown but Owens sprawls well. He's pushed Kalonga's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
Owens appears to be looking for a big counter.
Owens misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Kalonga will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Owens wants to clinch up but Kalonga keeps it at a distance.
Kalonga walks into a straight right hand from Owens.
Owens throws a head kick but Kalonga moves out of range.
No luck with that takedown attempt from Kalonga.
Owens tries a head kick but it misses.
Kalonga has his takedown stuffed
and Owens counters with a straight punch to the midsection.
Kalonga showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Owens.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Kalonga tries a head kick but it misses.
Kalonga fails with a takedown attempt.
Owens blocks a head kick by Kalonga.
Owens plants his feet and lands a nice head kick!
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.

Kalonga tries to keep at a distance but Owens has taken the fight into the clinch.
Kalonga missing with knees to the body.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Jackie Owens dominated that round.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin!

Kalonga darts in trying to clinch
and Owens counters with a three punch combo that has Kalonga backing up. Kalonga nods at Owens to acknowledge the strikes.
No luck with that takedown attempt from Kalonga.
It looked like Owens wanted to counter with a hook but didn't fully commit.
Kalonga blocks a head kick by Owens.
Kalonga gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily
and Owens counters with a stiff right hand.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Good shot there by Kalonga.
Kalonga shoots in but no luck this time.
Jackie Owens has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Euphrapy Kalonga.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Owens slaps away a takedown attempt from Kalonga, before circling back to the center of the mat.
Kalonga is breathing heavily.
A head kick misses from Owens.
Kalonga fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Owens avoids it really well and circles away.
Owens seem to be loading up, looking for a big counter.
Kalonga tries to close the distance and clinch but Owens swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Kalonga throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.

Owens closes the distance and clinches.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Owens misses with an elbow strike.
Kalonga tries to pull guard but Owens holds him up against the cage and eventually Kalonga drops back down to his feet.
Owens dictating the pace here, as the fighters clinch against the cage.
Owens wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Kalonga has him pressed against the cage.
Kalonga is trying to pull guard but being pressed up against the cage enables Owens to keep the fight standing.
Owens really does look like a pencil wearing a pair of gloves. Let's hope he has a gameplan to suit that ridiculous body shape.
Kalonga drops to a knee looking for a takedown but Owens gets the underhooks and prevents it.
Owens wants to break free but Kalonga has control.
Kalonga fails to pull the fight into his guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Owens is pushing Kalonga up against the cage, for a bit of lean and pray action. Action being used the in the loosest possible sense of the word.
Kalonga fails to pull the fight into his guard.
Owens wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.
Owens lands a nice knee to the body.
Owens is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Kalonga can do to turn this around?
Kalonga tries to pull guard but Owens forces him back to his feet, against the cage.
Owens stops a takedown attempt from Kalonga.
Owens is struggling to control the position.
Kalonga jumps guard but his hands slip and he falls flat on his back. Well, he's made himself look a right mug there, as Owens walks away with a smile on his face. Kalonga gets slowly back to his feet and shakes his head.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Owens looking to score a takedown here. Kalonga is defending well but Owens drives through and ends up in Kalonga's guard.
Owens makes a bit of distance and scores with some ground and pound, still in guard.

Owens gets to his feet - Kalonga follows without any prompting.
Kalonga tries for a takedown but Owens sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
Owens throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Owens thows a left - swing and a miss!
Nice uppercut there from Owens.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Owens scores with a big left there. The judges will like that one.
Kalonga misses with a takedown attempt
and Owens counters with a series of strikes. Kalonga will be more careful next time no doubt.
Jackie Owens is winning the standup battle so far.
The fans in attendance giving it up for the two fighters, who have really let it all hang out in the last minute or so!
Owens scores with a head kick. Kalonga tried to block it but didn't get his arm up in time.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Jackie Owens dominated that second round.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business. This is the final round!

Owens throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Kalonga shoots and misses
letting Owens counter with a right hand.
Kalonga shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Owens sprawls well. Owens wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Kalonga gets slowly back to his feet.
Owens is looking to counter with head kicks.
Owens is using his height advantage well here, landing a good percentage of his punches.
Kalonga tries to clinch up.
Kalonga misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Owens.
Owens thinks about countering with a head kick.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
No joy there for Kalonga, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Owens is using his reach advantage well here, landing the more effective single shots from range.
Kalonga looks to score with a jab to the body but Owens is just out of range.
Kalonga closes this distance looking for a takedown but Owens circles away.
Jackie Owens has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Euphrapy Kalonga.
Kalonga takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Owens lands a head kick. Kalonga smiles back at him and beckons him forward.
Kalonga with a poor takedown
and Kalonga takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
Jackie Owens is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Owens digs a good body shot into Kalonga's ribs.
Sloppy strikes from Owens. Those never looked like landing.

Owens shoots in looking for a single leg takedown. Kalonga is trying to defend but Owens finishes it well and ends up in half guard. Let's see if he can advance position further.

Owens escapes and gets back to his feet.
Owens scores with a hook to the body. Kalonga takes a step back and tries to catch his breath.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Owens tries a head kick but it misses.
Kalonga misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Owens misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Owens connects with a good right hand that stumbles Kalonga. Kalonga circles away out of range and recomposes himself.
Kalonga shoots for a double leg takedown but Owens sprawls well. He's pushed Kalonga's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
Owens lands a nice shot that snaps Kalonga's head back.
Kalonga slips a jab and a cross from Owens.
Nice uppercut there from Owens.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Owens displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Kalonga.

The fight moves into the clinch position.
Owens is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.
Owens is defending well against a takedown attempt.
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Owens prevents a takedown attempt there.

Owens's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Kalonga tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Owens paws at him with a jab and circles away.
A little feinted left hand from Owens on the counter but he doesn't commit to it.
Kalonga tries to clinch but fails miserably
and Owens counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.

Owens shoots in looking for a single leg takedown. Kalonga is trying to defend but Owens finishes it well and ends up in half guard. Let's see if he can advance position further.
Owens wants to stand up but Kalonga has a hold of him and won't allow it.
The referee walks around the fighters to get a better view of the action. Owens lands a nice short elbow.
Euphrapy Kalonga has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Jackie Owens is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Owens takes a deep breath and rests his weight momentarily on top of his opponent, to control the position.

And that's the end of the fight!
Jackie Owens showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Owens has outscored his opponent in every aspect of the fight today. Only a scarily incompetent judge or two will keep him from a well deserved win... 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 Ben Zyskovitsi scores the fight 30:25
Judge Anni Minnemäki scores the fight 30:25
Judge Arvi Lind scores the fight 30:25

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Jackie Owens!