PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Espo Jaksinen (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Azar Qasi (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). The crowd seem to be enjoying Qasi's choice of entrance music: For Whom The Bell Tolls. I'm sure you'll be fascinated to know that I was talking to some pointless Z list celebrity before the fight and he thought that Azar Qasi was going to win. Let's see if he was right.

Jaksinen
vs
Qasi

182 cm
26
169 lbs
9 - 4 - 0

180 cm
23
166 lbs
12 - 6 - 0

Good wrestling
World class boxer
Very quick

Excellent grappler
Excellent boxer
Good gas tank

Bullet Proof System

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 9 - 4 - 0, fighting out of New York, Espo Jaksinen!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 12 - 6 - 0, fighting out of New York, Azar Qasi!
The judges for this bout are Ian Loll, Yves DeLean and Dillan Fox.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Qasi fails to land with a series of punches.
Qasi avoids the head kick by Jaksinen.
Qasi swinging wildly here.
Jaksinen misses with a straight left.
Jaksinen fakes a couple of low kicks, before throwing one on the third attempt. It connects and Qasi has to reset his feet before getting ready to engage.
Jaksinen dodges the punch combination from Qasi.
Qasi looks to land a right hand but Jaksinen moved out of range.
Jaksinen moves away from the strike by Qasi.
Jaksinen walks into a straight right hand from Qasi.
Jaksinen misses with the combination.
Jaksinen tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Qasi was well out of range. Poor timing from Jaksinen.
Qasi changes levels and scores with a jab to the body.
Jaksinen misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Azar Qasi seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Jaksinen tries to close the distance and clinch up but Qasi swats him away and circles back towards the center.

Jaksinen closes the distance and clinches.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Qasi lands with a good tight uppercut to the head.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Jaksinen.
Jaksinen tries to land a knee to the head but misses.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Qasi tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Qasi misses with a punch on the inside.
Qasi wants a takedown.
Jaksinen lands with a quick shot inside that doesn't really do much damage.
Nice body punch from Qasi - that landed with a thud.
Qasi throws a head punch that misses.
Qasi wants a takedown but no success here.
We can't be sure of the tactics at this early stage but we have heard that Qasi has been working on his takedowns a lot in the buildup to the fight and we can only assume he's going to look to take this to the mat.
Qasi misses with a punch on the inside.
Qasi swings wildly with an uppercut but Jaksinen uses good head movement to avoid it.
Qasi tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Qasi misses with a punch to the body.
Jaksinen takes a shot to the head.
Qasi swings wildly with an uppercut but Jaksinen uses good head movement to avoid it.
Jaksinen blocking some punches.
Jaksinen blocking some punches.
Qasi is working on a leg, looking for a takedown but Jaksinen is defending well.
Espo Jaksinen has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Azar Qasi.
Qasi misses with the head strike.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Qasi misses with a body punch.
Kneeeeees! The crowd are calling for knees to the body. Jaksinen obliges.
I was talking to Jaksinen's coach per-fight and he was telling me that they'd been working on the clinch in the runup to this fight.
Qasi swings wildly with an uppercut but Jaksinen uses good head movement to avoid it.
Jaksinen struggles to land a body shot inside as Qasi controls his hands.
A quick uppercut on the inside from Qasi.
Qasi misses with a punch to the body.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Jaksinen blocking some punches.
Qasi takes a shot to the head.
Qasi softening up his opponent with strikes, against the cage.
Jaksinen throws an elbow that misses.
A short left from Qasi.
Jaksinen throws a nice elbow but it doesn't land.
Qasi has a couple of punches blocked by Jaksinen.
Qasi avoids the elbow strike from Jaksinen, against the cage.
A head punch on the inside from Qasi fails to land.
Qasi throws a punch but it's blocked by Jaksinen.
Jaksinen looks to throw an elbow but misses.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Jaksinen.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Jaksinen blocks an uppercut.
A short uppercut from Jaksinen.
Qasi gets through Jaksinen's defenses to land a nice punch to the side of the head.
Qasi swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Jaksinen misses with a hook from the clinch.
Jaksinen can't find room to land a body shot as Qasi controls the action.
Qasi fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Qasi scores with a shot to the side of Jaksinen's head.
Qasi avoids a wild elbow strike from Jaksinen.
Qasi scores with a nice hook to the head.
Qasi working aggressively here.
Qasi misses with some punches.
Jaksinen pushes off and fires off an elbow that misses, before clinching up again, against the cage.
Qasi lands a shot to the body.
Qasi swings wildly with an uppercut but Jaksinen uses good head movement to avoid it.
Qasi is looking for a takedown up against the cage. Jaksinen gets underhooks though and prevents the takedown attempt.
Qasi tries for a takedown. No joy.
Jaksinen lands a hook to the side of the head.
Jaksinen blocks a punch to the side of the head.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Qasi misses with a punch on the inside.
Jaksinen stops a takedown attempt from Qasi.
Qasi dodges an elbow strike from Jaksinen.
Jaksinen blocks an uppercut.
Qasi tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.

Jaksinen's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Qasi fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Qasi jabbing away but nothing is landing.
An attempted straight right counter from Jaksinen misses the target.
Jaksinen misses with an uppercut.
Qasi misses the jab.
A big right from Qasi misses.
Qasi takes a big uppercut there. He seems a bit wobbly but no, he's OK.
Qasi fakes a jab and then connects with a hook.
Jaksinen steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Qasi.
Qasi lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Jaksinen circles away quickly and effectively.
Qasi misses with a wild body shot.
Jaksinen lands with a cross.
Jaksinen misses with an uppercut.
Qasi slips a jab and a cross from Jaksinen.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Azar Qasi dominated that round.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action.

Qasi looks to throw the jab but Jaksinen is out of range.
Qasi tries to drive through with a takedown attempt but Jaksinen defends well and Qasi ends up having to push Jaksinen into the cage where they will battle it out in the clinch.
The fighters circling - Qasi throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
Jaksinen was looking to counter that move with a punch but didn't quite pull the trigger.
Qasi has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Some wild striking there from Qasi.
Jaksinen has his hands up protecting his head but a hook from Qasi finds it's way round the side to connect with Jaksinen's head.
Jaksinen takes a body punch that cleary hurt but he's trying not to show any weakness.
Jaksinen thumps Qasi with a low kick.
Jaksinen scores with a jab.
Qasi throws a hook to the side of Jaksinen's head but Jaksinen sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
An attempted straight right counter from Jaksinen misses the target.
Qasi misses with a takedown attempt - Jaksinen sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Jaksinen connects with a crisp jab.
Jaksinen takes a big uppercut there. He seems a bit wobbly but no, he's OK.
Jaksinen misses with a low kick.
Jaksinen throws a right and a left that both miss.
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!
Jaksinen lands with a cross to side of his opponent's head.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Jaksinen fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Jaksinen throws out a loose jab but Qasi uses good head movement to avoid it.
Jaksinen misses with a few strikes there.
Qasi looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Qasi just misses with a punch to the body.
Qasi has his front leg slapped to the side - a nice low kick landing there from Jaksinen.
A punch combination from Qasi misses.
A combination from Jaksinen does no damage.
Jaksinen blocks a jab.
Jaksinen wants to clinch up but Qasi keeps it at a distance.
Qasi connects with a jab.
Qasi swinging wildly here.
Jaksinen looks to throw the jab but Qasi is out of range.
Qasi rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Jaksinen moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
It looked like Jaksinen was looking amped, ready to throw a big counter but didn't commit.
Jaksinen lands a head kick. Qasi smiles back at him and beckons him forward.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Jaksinen misses with a leg kick
and Jaksinen takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
Qasi tries to bum rush Jaksinen with a series of wild strikes but Jaksinen uses good footwork to avoid the assault.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Qasi tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Jaksinen paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Qasi swings wildly with a couple of big hooks
enabling Jaksinen to counter with a crisp jab.
Jaksinen walks into a straight right hand from Qasi.
Qasi takes a solid shot to the body. That one hurt him but he's trying not to show it.
Qasi throws a hook but Jaksinen blocks it.
Jaksinen dodges the punch combination from Qasi.
Jaksinen lands with a slapping head kick.
Jaksinen lands an overhand left. A wild punch that just about connected.
Qasi throws a jab but it's blocked by Jaksinen.
Jaksinen stuns Qasi with a nice body shot, before stepping back out of range.
Jaksinen takes a swing at Qasi's ribcage but misses.
Qasi lets it all go there with a big combo counter but none of the punches connected.
Espo Jaksinen is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Qasi throws an overhand right that lands on Jaksinen's shoulder, as Jaksinen tries to avoid the shot.
Qasi will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
Jaksinen seem to be loading up, looking for a big counter.
Espo Jaksinen has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Azar Qasi.
Qasi has his front leg slapped to the side - a nice low kick landing there from Jaksinen.
Jaksinen misses with the combination.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Jaksinen forces Qasi back against the cage and clinches.
Jaksinen keeps the fight in the clinch, despite Qasi's efforts to push away.
Qasi working aggressively here.

Jaksinen breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
A punch combination from Qasi misses.
Qasi blocks a leg kick.
Jaksinen slips a jab from Qasi.
Jaksinen swung with a counter right hand that didn't connect.
Qasi shoots in looking for a takedown but Jaksinen manages to keep the fight standing, pushing Qasi's face into the canvas for good measure before circling away.
Qasi throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Jaksinen tries to land a front kick but Qasi steps back. That was a bit too telegraphed.
Qasi unleashes a big counter combination but Jaksinen bobs and weaves and avoids any damage.
Jaksinen dodges the punch combination from Qasi.
Qasi throws a hook but Jaksinen avoids it easily.
Jaksinen misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Qasi.
Qasi throws a jab but it's blocked by Jaksinen.
Qasi lands a slapping body shot.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Jaksinen throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Qasi.
Qasi might want to mix his strikes up a bit more. He's just going for head shots at the moment and that can become a bit predictable.
Jaksinen bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
Jaksinen tries to counter by clinching up but Qasi breaks away and moves out of range.
Wow, both these guys are really going for it!
Jaksinen stuns Qasi with a nice body shot, before stepping back out of range.
Jaksinen scores with a punch to the gut of his opponent.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
A combination from Jaksinen does no damage.
A slow jab from Qasi misses its intended target.
Qasi fakes a head punch and goes low to the body. Nicely done.
Jaksinen tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. Qasi manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Qasi looks like he wants to counter punch here.
A telegraphed right hand from Qasi misses the target.
Jaksinen slips a straight right by Qasi.
Jaksinen lands a leg kick and bounces back out of range.
Jaksinen looking to take his opponent's legs away with the low kicks.
Qasi darts in and out, connecting with a jab.
The crowd applaud the fighters' efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Qasi throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Jaksinen doesn't manage to clinch there - Qasi circles away.
Qasi feints the counter takedown.
Jaksinen ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
Jaksinen lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Qasi circles away quickly and effectively.
Qasi throws a hook but Jaksinen avoids it easily.
Jaksinen is looking to counter punch.
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 Espo Jaksinen will probably get the nod.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action. Let's get this one finished - here comes the final round!

Some bone on bone action there as Qasi checks a low kick. Luckily it wasn't a particularly hard one.
Qasi pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
Jaksinen swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Qasi with a body punch. A glancing blow.
Jaksinen moves forwards but Qasi connects with a nice, crisp jab.
Qasi will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Qasi throws a hook to the side of Jaksinen's head but Jaksinen sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
Jaksinen walks into a jab.
Qasi will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Jaksinen bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Qasi scores with a punch to the head.
Qasi slips a straight right by Jaksinen.
Qasi on the wrong end of a nice hook.
Qasi misses with a hook. Jaksinen ducked under it nicely.
Qasi feints a straight left to the body, then turns around with a flashy move and hits Jaksinens jaw with a dramatic spinning back fist!
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!
Jaksinen throws a body punch but Qasi moves out of range.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Jaksinen tries to clinch there but Qasi circles away.
Qasi throws out a counter right but Jaksinen avoids it with no problem.
Qasi throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Qasi tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Jaksinen was well out of range. Poor timing from Qasi.
A big right from Qasi misses.
Qasi moves in looking to clinch but Jaksinen pushes him off.
Jaksinen connects with a body shot.
Qasi is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Jaksinen.
Jaksinen clobbers Qasi with an overhand right that has the crowd gasping. That made a horrendous noise.
Azar Qasi seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Jaksinen steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Qasi.
Jaksinen ducks under a wild hook from Qasi.
Jaksinen moves in looking to clinch but Qasi pushes him off.
Qasi is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Jaksinen.
Jaksinen cracks the inside of Qasi's front leg.
Jaksinen misses with the combination.
Boom, another hit is landed. "You're gunna get knocked out" taunts Jaksinen, as that shot connected.
Jaksinen paws at his opponent with the jab and then lunges in with a straight, right on the button.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Jaksinen misses with a two punch combination.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Qasi tries for a takedown but Jaksinen sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.

Qasi gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.
Jaksinen working aggressively here.
Jaksinen misses with some punches.
Qasi swings wildly with an uppercut but Jaksinen uses good head movement to avoid it.
Qasi fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Qasi lands a shoulder strike.
Jaksinen with an attempt at a knee that misses.
Qasi lands punches inside but they're not really causing much damage.
Qasi takes a shot to the head.
Qasi lands a shoulder strike.
Qasi is looking to take this one to the mat.
Qasi misses with a short punch on the inside.
Jaksinen blocks an uppercut.
Jaksinen struggles to land a body shot inside as Qasi controls his hands.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Jaksinen gets underhooks to prevent Qasi's takedown attempt.
Espo Jaksinen has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Azar Qasi.
Jaksinen blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Qasi working aggressively here.
Qasi lands with a good tight uppercut to the head.
Jaksinen lands a body punch.
Qasi takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Jaksinen scores with a nice hook to the head.
Jaksinen lands a body shot in the clinch.
Jaksinen blocks a body shot from Qasi.
Qasi throws a punch but it's blocked by Jaksinen.
Jaksinen scores with an uppercut up the middle.
Jaksinen lands an elbow inside that Qasi shrugs off.
Qasi's head jolts backwards as he takes an uppercut right on the button!
Qasi swings wildly with an uppercut but Jaksinen uses good head movement to avoid it.
Jaksinen looks to throw an elbow but misses.
Jaksinen pushes off an throws an elbow but Qasi leans to the side and avoids it. We're back to clinching against the cage.
Qasi goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Jaksinen lands with a quick shot inside that doesn't really do much damage.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Jaksinen blocks an uppercut.
This has been an exciting period of action!
A short left from Qasi.
Qasi's head jolts backwards as he takes an uppercut right on the button!
Jaksinen is leaning against Qasi and scores with a nice uppercut to the body.
Nice body punch from Jaksinen - that landed with a thud.
Jaksinen lands a right hand.
Qasi changes levels and goes for a takedown here. Jaksinen fights it off and pushes away nicely.
Qasi blocks a head kick by Jaksinen.
Jaksinen throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Jaksinen throws a series of punches but Qasi moves out of range.
Qasi misses with a wild combination.
Jaksinen feints and then cracks Qasi's leading leg with a nice low kick. He's obviously looking to slow Qasi down.
Qasi slips a straight right by Jaksinen.
Qasi is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Jaksinen.
Qasi loads up on a big right hand but Jaksinen slips the punch.

And that's the end of the fight!
That was a close round. You could make an argument for either fighter but I would give it to Espo Jaksinen.
I think Jaksinen 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 Ian Loll scores the fight 29:28
Judge Yves DeLean scores the fight 29:28
Judge Dillan Fox scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Espo Jaksinen!
During a confident post fight interview, Espo Jaksinen thanked all his fans. He seemed very genuine when describing how motivated his fans keep him.