PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Jukka Jokela (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Pre Fontaine (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Jokela
vs
Fontaine

170 cm
23
154 lbs
2 - 4 - 0

181 cm
24
164 lbs
0 - 2 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Basic striking
Good chin

BJJ Purple Belt
Brawler
Determined

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 2 - 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 0 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Pre Fontaine!
The judges for this bout are Roosa Järviläinen, Arvi Lind and Tarja Halkonen.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Fontaine dives in and grabs Jokela's left leg, looking for a takedown. Jokela pushes down on Fontaine's head and hops out.
Horrible takedown attempt by Jokela or perhaps it was just good defense by Fontaine, which made it look bad.
Fontaine tries for a takedown but Jokela sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.

Jokela shoots in and bounces Fontaine off the ropes to secure the takedown into guard.

Fontaine pushes Jokela off for just long enough to get back to his feet. Very athletic spring there.
Wow, both these guys are really going for it!
Fontaine shoots in for a takedown but Jokela shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
Jukka Jokela has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Pre Fontaine.
Jokela tries for a takedown but Fontaine sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
Fontaine closes this distance looking for a takedown but Jokela circles away.
Jokela tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Fontaine swivels and escapes.
Horrible takedown attempt by Fontaine or perhaps it was just good defense by Jokela, which made it look bad.
This has been an exciting period of action!

Jokela shoots in for a takedown and gets it.
The referee calls for the fighters to work.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Jokela seems to have a rather negative gameplan on the ground. He seems keen to just score the takedown and hold down Fontaine for as long as he can get away with.

Fontaine actively working from the bottom here.

Fontaine has guillotine here! It looks pretty tight! Could this be all over! No, Jokela escapes and passes into side control at the same time. Nice work there by Jokela!
Fontaine looks winded!
Fontaine is not content to let Jokela control the position.
The fighters are trapped in the ropes so we're going to have a reposition here. The ref calls for a break and repositions the fighters in the center of the ring.

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.
Fontaine struggling a bit here.
Jokela is looking to take a break and control but Fontaine is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Fontaine stops Jokela from passing to mount.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Fontaine misses with a strike from the bottom.
Jokela wants to control but Fontaine is keeping him busy.
The referee is asking the fighters to pick up the pace.
Jokela tries to advance to mount but can't.
Fontaine is looking to regain half guard here but Jokela keeps moving and retains side control.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.
Fontaine fails with a takedown attempt.
Jukka Jokela seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Jokela shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Fontaine sprawls well. Fontaine wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Jokela gets slowly back to his feet.
Fontaine's coach down at Cozad MMA Helsinki was telling us pre-fight that they have been working on Fontaine's balance. Obviously they view that as a key factor in the outcome of this fight.

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.

Jokela looks for a takedown. He's got it. We're now in half guard.
Jokela wants to take a breather but Fontaine is having none of it.
Fontaine is looking to control Jokela's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Fontaine avoid being mounted?

Fontaine looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.
Jokela not doing much here.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Jukka Jokela dominated that round.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

Jokela throws a hook but Fontaine blocks it.
Fontaine changes levels for a counter takedown but doesn't follow through with his attempt.
Jokela fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
Jokela fails with the takedown.
Jokela fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Fontaine avoids it really well and circles away.
Fontaine looks like he wants to counter punch here.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Jukka Jokela. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Jokela throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Fontaine's waist but Fontaine gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Jokela off to one side.
Fontaine drops down looking to force a counter takedown but Jokela defends it well.

Fontaine feints and as Jokela raises his hands in defense, Fontaine changes levels and drives through with a takedown into guard.

Jokela manages to wriggle out and sneak his way back up to his feet, so the fighters are now clinched up against the ropes.

Jokela pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Jokela shoots for a double leg takedown but Fontaine sprawls well. He's pushed Jokela's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
Jokela will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Jokela will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
Jokela avoids a punch combination nicely.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Jokela throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Fontaine's waist but Fontaine gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Jokela off to one side.
Nice takedown defense from Jokela. No joy for Fontaine on that attempt.
Jokela fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Fontaine avoids it really well and circles away.
Fontaine wants to counter the offense by Jokela and move into the clinch position.
Jokela shoots in for a double leg but Fontaine sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
Fontaine tries a counter takedown but it's more of a dummy move, and he uses it to push himself away.
Fontaine leaves Jokela with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
Fontaine tries to counter with a clinch but Jokela shakes him off and moves away.
Jokela keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
Fontaine is breathing heavily.

Fontaine darts in and clinches Jokela up against the ropes.
Jokela stops a takedown attempt from Fontaine.
Fontaine dodges an elbow strike from Jokela.

Jokela breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Jokela manages to get an easy takedown there - catching Fontaine on his heels. He'll look to pass Fontaine's guard now, I'm sure.
Jokela wants to pass the guard but Fontaine is keeping the position.

Fontaine has his foot on Jokela's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Jokela works his way back into a safe position though.

Fontaine had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Jokela defends it easily.
Jokela slows down the pace of the fight, as he sits in guard.
Jokela has controlled the position for a good 20 seconds, which will no doubt be starting to frustrate his opponent.
Jokela has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
We've had a lack of effective grappling in the last minute or so, which could well see a referee standup.
Fontaine wants to stand up but Jokela is controlling him.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.
Fontaine goes for a double leg but Jokela avoids the attempt and the two fighters end up clinched against the ropes as Jokela continues to drive forward.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Jokela.
Jukka Jokela is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.

Fontaine gets caught on his heels momentarily as he allows Jokela to score an easy takedown into full guard.
The fighters are tangled up in the ropes here. We might need a restart if the fighters can't break free themselves.
Jokela trying to control but Fontaine is working from the bottom.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Fontaine looking for a guillotine here but Jokela defends easily.
Jokela stays in close to Fontaine's body and controls the position.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Jokela wants to pass the guard but Fontaine is keeping the position.
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.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action! This is the final round!

Fontaine tries to sprawl but Jokela drives through with a takedown into half guard.
Fontaine is looking to get back to is feet but Jokela passes into side control.
Fontaine tries to work a leg under to get back to half guard but Jokela wriggles his own leg back out and remains in side control.
Jokela in side control, just content to control the action for now.
Fontaine is trying to strike from the bottom but Jokela has passed into full mount.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Jokela tries to control but Fontaine wriggling away.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Jokela controlling the position easily from mount.
Fontaine wants to try and get back to his feet.
Fontaine is in all sorts of trouble here.
Jokela controlling from the full mount.

Jokela working for a guillotine from mount but Fontaine is in no mood to give up.
Jokela looking to control and managing it successfully.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Fontaine tries to hold on but Jokela pushes him away.
Jokela controlling his opponent.
Jokela working away from the top, dropping strikes.
Fontaine is working to get back to half guard.
You get the feeling that Fontaine really doesn't like being in this position too much.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Jokela controlling the position easily from mount.
Jokela lands a nice shot to the head.
Fontaine tries to hold on but Jokela pushes him away.
Jokela trying to control but he's not successful this time.
Pre Fontaine has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Jokela looking to control and managing it successfully.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Fontaine throwing hammer fists to the chest of Jokela. What's that going to do exactly?
Jokela controlling the pace for now.
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.
Fontaine throwing punches from his back but nothing is landing.
Fontaine takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Jokela can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as Fontaine is looking to escape.
Jukka Jokela is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.

And that's the end of the fight!
Jukka Jokela showed his dominance in that final round.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Jokela, winning every round. Will the judges agree? They are the ones who matter, even if they are often depressingly incompetent. 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 Roosa Järviläinen scores the fight 30:27
Judge Arvi Lind scores the fight 30:28
Judge Tarja Halkonen scores the fight 30:27

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