PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Jukka Jokela (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Mirek Zmrd (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). This should be a great matchup!

Jokela
vs
Zmrd

170 cm
23
154 lbs
1 - 4 - 0

177 cm
25
154 lbs
1 - 1 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Basic striking
Good chin

BJJ Blue Belt
Decent boxing
Intelligent

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the lightweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 1 - 4 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Jukka Jokela!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Mirek Zmrd!
The judges for this bout are Anni Minnemäki, Matti Vanhoillinen and Ben Zyskovitsi.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Zmrd gets caught flat footed, as Jokela shoots in with a quick takedown into guard.

Zmrd manages to wriggle out and sneak his way back up to his feet, so the fighters are now clinched up against the cage.
A frustrated look appears on Zmrd's face as he tries to break the clinch.
Zmrd tries to land a knee to the head but misses.
Zmrd with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.
Jokela is trying to pull guard but being pressed up against the cage enables Zmrd to keep the fight standing.

Jokela breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Zmrd shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Jokela as he jumps to the side.
Jokela feinted with a counter takedown.
Jokela misses with a telegraphed body shot
and Zmrd counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
Zmrd stuffs the takedown.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Jokela changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Zmrd tries to avoid it but Jokela manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Zmrd to the ground. Zmrd escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Jukka Jokela. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Jokela gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily
and Zmrd counters with a nice uppercut.
Jokela misses with a takedown attempt - Zmrd sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
Jokela gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily
and Zmrd counters with a straight punch to the midsection.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Jokela dives in and grabs Zmrd's left leg, looking for a takedown. Zmrd pushes down on Jokela's head and hops out.
Jokela tries to drive through with a takedown attempt but Zmrd defends well and Jokela ends up having to push Zmrd into the cage where they will battle it out in the clinch.

Jokela shoots in for a takedown! He's got it and he's managed to land in side control! That's better than Jokela was expecting from the takedown attempt, I'm sure!
Zmrd wants to get back to his feet but Jokela is dominant here and he's now got Zmrd's back!
Jokela not allowing Zmrd to control his hands.

Jokela is staying calm and holding on to the back position, whilst working on a rear naked choke. Zmrd is defending well though. Jokela let's go of the attempt for now.
Jokela scores with punches and elbows.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Jokela is trying to stick to Zmrd's back but Zmrd is turning into Jokela. He's managed to reverse the position - now he's in Jokela's guard. Polite applause from the crowd in appreciation of some nice Jiu Jitsu by Zmrd.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Jokela working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Zmrd.
Zmrd looking to pass the guard.
Jokela is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Zmrd loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Jokela avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Zmrd wants to get up but he can't break Jokela's closed guard. He needs to be careful trying to break the legs open, as he's open to submissions here.
Jokela preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Zmrd controlling from the guard. I say controlling but really, he's stalling.
Jokela keeping full guard, as Zmrd tries to pass.
Jokela trying to control the position.
Zmrd trying to control but Jokela is working from the bottom.
The referee claps his hands together and tells the fighters to work.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are hurling abuse towards the fighters... You can hardly blame them though because there isn't a lot going on in the fight.
The fighters are starting to get a bit slippery now, which will make submissions a bit more difficult.
Zmrd trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up. He just wasn't happy with the level of activity.
Jokela shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Zmrd pinned against the cage. Zmrd gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
Zmrd changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Jokela tries to avoid it but Zmrd manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Jokela to the ground. Jokela escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.

Jokela gets a double leg takedown into Zmrd's guard.
Jokela is taking a break and basically stalling. The referee will not allow him to do that for long.
Jokela looking to pass the guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Mirek Zmrd dominated that 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.

Zmrd tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. Jokela manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Jokela shoots for a takedown but Zmrd saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
Zmrd looks for a takedown but Jokela sprawls well.
Jokela misses with a takedown
and Zmrd counters with a stiff right hand.
Boom, another hit is landed. "You're gunna get knocked out" taunts Zmrd, as that shot connected.
Zmrd fails with a takedown attempt.
Jokela shoots in for a takedown but Zmrd shows good takedown defense.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Jukka Jokela. That's going to take a lot out of him.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Zmrd misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
Jokela shoots in for a takedown but Zmrd shows good takedown defense.
Jokela gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily
and Zmrd counters with a three punch combination, finished off with a leg kick. Nice work.
Zmrd goes to the watering hole and comes back with a big thumbs up from the judges as he scores a three punch combo.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Jokela leaves Zmrd with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
Zmrd closes the distance and clinches up with Jokela, looking for a takedown. Zmrd pushes Jokela against the cage but Jokela circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.

Jokela closes the distance, clinches up and gets a nice trip takedown into side control. Very smooth.
Zmrd tries to escape but Jokela is in control.
Zmrd is breathing heavily.
Zmrd seems a little lost for a moment, as Jokela dominates the positioning.
Jokela's ground tactics aren't going to win him many fans. Let's hope he's got fireworks for us if he gets back to his feet because he's not doing much on the ground.
Zmrd has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Zmrd can't do much from the bottom here.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
You can see the frustration on Zmrd's face as Jokela controls the position.
Jokela moves into full mount!
Jukka Jokela overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Zmrd throwing punches from his back but nothing is landing.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Jokela controlling from mount.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Jokela with some aggressive grappling here, looking for the finish.
Jokela raining down hammerfists from mount.
Jokela controlling his opponent.
Zmrd wants to use the cage to get back to his feet here.

That's four 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.
Jokela takes a little breather and maintains the position. The referee will be looking for him to stay active from such a dominant position though.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Zmrd is trying desperately to improve position.
Zmrd is squirming around, avoiding Jokela's attempts to control the action.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close second round but I would say that Jukka Jokela will probably get the nod.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin! This is the final round!

Jokela will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
Jokela misses with a takedown

and Zmrd counters by moving into the clinch.
Jokela wants to stall.
Jokela stalling in the clinch but Zmrd improves position.
Zmrd is pressed up against the cage. Jokela has hold of a leg and is looking to drag Zmrd down to the mat. Zmrd avoids the attempt though and has circled away. We're back to striking at a distance.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Jukka Jokela. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Zmrd tries to score a power double leg takedown but Jokela sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Zmrd somewhat.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Jokela shoots in and gets a takedown into half guard. Jokela showed some decent athleticism there.
Zmrd is controlling Jokela's trapped leg to prevent Jokela from advancing to side control.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Jokela is thwarting Zmrd's attempts to control the position.
Jokela stalling.
Zmrd is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Neither fighter has done anything of merit for a good minute or two here and the crowd are not happy about it.
Jokela content to sit in half guard and control for a moment.
Zmrd wants to get back to his feet.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.
Jokela stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Jokela wants it to stay on the feet.

Jokela shoots in and bounces Zmrd off the cage to secure the takedown into guard.
Zmrd wants to get back to his feet but Jokela passes into half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Jokela seems content to maintain position for now, rather than mounting any offense.
Zmrd is looking for a sweep. Jokela is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Neither fighter is being very active at the moment, with Jokela in particular looking to stall.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A few boos can be heard. I'm sure they will multiply if the fighters don't pick up the pace.
Jokela trying to pass the guard but Zmrd defending well.
Jokela takes a deep breath and rests his weight momentarily on top of his opponent, to control the position.
Jokela looking to pass the half guard. Not this time.
Zmrd wants to control but Jokela is keeping busy.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Jokela trying to control from half guard but Zmrd is working away.

And that's the end of the fight!
Jukka Jokela showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Jokela has won this one but let's see what the judges have to say. 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 Anni Minnemäki scores the fight 29:28
Judge Matti Vanhoillinen scores the fight 29:28
Judge Ben Zyskovitsi scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Jukka Jokela!