PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Ode Jokinen (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Victor Zsasz (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Zsasz has chosen 2Pac: When We Ride ft. Outlawz as his entrance music. Victor Zsasz told me before the fight that he's been watching a lot of DVDs so let's see if that helps him in this one! I can't wait to find out!

Jokinen
vs
Zsasz

163 cm
31
150 lbs
21 - 9 - 3

182 cm
37
143 lbs
50 - 23 - 1

Great wrestler
World class boxer
Insanely flexible

Good wrestler
World class MT
Good gas tank

Perkele!
KAISER Nutrition - Q160/$250

Max Octane Fight Wear
Arcticus University: London

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 1 rounds, in the featherweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 21 - 9 - 3, fighting out of London, Ode Jokinen!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 50 - 23 - 1, fighting out of Las Vegas, Victor Zsasz!
The judges for this bout are Timothy Bukovac, Frank Antenori and Jack Bonds.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Jokinen misses with a hook
and Zsasz cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Jokinen throws a decent looking leg kick but it doesn't land clean.
Zsasz looks more muscular than last time we saw him. He must have been on the weights.
A big left from Jokinen misses.
Zsasz swings for the body but Jokinen moves out of range.
Zsasz walks forward and throws out a flicking leg kick. Jokinen checks it nicely though, as he moves to the side.
Zsasz fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Jokinen manages to avoid it.
Zsasz scores with a kick to the midsection.
Zsasz throws an ugly left hook that misses
and Jokinen counters with a shot to the ribs. That looked like it hurt.
Jab from Jokinen.
Nice defenses there by Jokinen.

Jokinen gets a takedown into half guard.
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!
Zsasz regains full guard, whilst avoiding punches from Jokinen.
Jokinen throwing strikes from guard but Zsasz blocks nicely.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Jokinen with a nice head shot there.
Jokinen throws a big elbow that misses.
Zsasz avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Jokinen works over Zsasz with some ground and pound from guard.
Jokinen with a flurry of punches that miss.
Jokinen with a flurry of punches that miss.
Jokinen won't allow Zsasz to sweep him here.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Jokinen content to strike from guard, landing some decent shots.
Jokinen throws a big elbow that misses.
A real slowdown in the pace of the fight for a moment, as Zsasz holds on and takes a little breather.
Zsasz wants to stand and escape but Jokinen is having none of it.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Zsasz has control of Jokinen's left arm, preventing Jokinen from doing any damage.
Zsasz is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Jokinen is controlling him.

Zsasz pushes Jokinen off and scrambles back to his feet.
Zsasz throws a hook but Jokinen blocks it.
Jokinen shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Zsasz sprawls well. Zsasz wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Jokinen gets slowly back to his feet.
Jokinen misses with a body kick.
Jokinen shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Zsasz but Zsasz pushes him off and we're back to square one.
Zsasz lands a nice shot to the body.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Zsasz slips a jab from Jokinen.
Jokinen throws out a leg kick but Zsasz moves out of range and Jokinen only half commits.
Zsasz throws a low kick but Jokinen avoids it.
Jokinen walks forward and throws out a flicking leg kick. Zsasz checks it nicely though, as he moves to the side.
Zsasz throws a nice inside leg kick.
A big right from Jokinen misses.
Zsasz scores with a leg kick.
Jokinen tries to score with an inside leg kick but telegraphs it and Zsasz is able to avoid easily.
Zsasz uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Jokinen.
Jokinen looks to have improved his striking defense since last time we saw him fight.
Victor Zsasz is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Jokinen throws a body punch but Zsasz moves out of range.
Zsasz looks like he wants to counter punch here.
Zsasz fakes a jab and scores with a low kick.
A left and a right from Zsasz both land. Nice combination.
Jokinen lands with a shot to the body.
Zsasz thows a left - swing and a miss!
Zsasz ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Jokinen moves out of range of the leg kick from Zsasz.
Zsasz takes one to the side of the head.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Left hook, right uppercut from Zsasz.
Zsasz attempts a low kick but it misses it's target.
Jokinen tries to land a front kick but Zsasz steps back. That was a bit too telegraphed.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Jokinen is defended easily by Zsasz.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Ode Jokinen. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Zsasz scores with a decent looking hook.
A big left from Jokinen misses.
Zsasz displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Jokinen.
Jokinen connects with a body shot that sends Zsasz's belly button to the back.

That's five minutes gone in the round.
A solid leg kick lands there for Zsasz.
Zsasz throws a poor cross that misses

and Jokinen counters with a driving takedown into guard. Nice work there by Jokinen.
Zsasz is looking to stand back up... there's a bit of a scramble and Jokinen dives into side control.
Zsasz is a painfully thin specimen of a man. You do wonder whether a good body kick would snap him clean in two.

The fighters are starting to get a bit slippery now, which will make submissions a bit more difficult.
Zsasz is sneaking out the side here. He's bucked Jokinen off and has taken his back!
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Jokinen breaks Zsasz's hooks off and manages to turn into his guard.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Jokinen with a flurry of punches that miss.
Zsasz wants to sweep but no luck.
Jokinen loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Zsasz manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Jokinen manages to get himself to full guard.

Zsasz stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Jokinen swivels though and keeps the full guard.

That's six minutes gone in the round.
Jokinen is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.
Zsasz lands a couple of elbows.
Zsasz has decided he wants to stand but the closed guard of Jokinen is proving hard to escape from.

Jokinen is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
Zsasz engaging in some classic timewasting tactics.

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

That's seven minutes gone in the round.
Jokinen is trying to control the position but Zsasz postures up.
Zsasz sitting in guard here, content to control.
Jokinen might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.
Jokinen is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Jokinen is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.
Zsasz trying to control the position from guard on top but Jokinen is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Jokinen controls Zsasz momentarily but Zsasz frees himself.
We must be close to a standup if these guys don't pick up the pace.
Zsasz engaging in some classic timewasting tactics.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.
A decent looking cross lands there for Jokinen.

That's eight minutes gone in the round.
Well. There's a bit of a lull in the action here and the crowd are starting to get restless.
Zsasz rushes in with a sloppy looking punch
and Jokinen counters nicely by changing levels and landing a hook to the body.
Zsasz walks forward and throws out a flicking leg kick. Jokinen checks it nicely though, as he moves to the side.
Jokinen buckles his opponent's knee momentarily with a nice leg kick.
Nice body punch from Zsasz.
Jokinen misses with a telegraphed body shot
and Zsasz connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
A swing and a miss from Zsasz.
Jokinen lands a nice leg kick that just misses Zsasz's sensitive parts.
Jokinen chopped to the floor by a nice leg kick but he springs right back up before Zsasz can pounce on him.
Zsasz takes one on the chin but seems OK.
Jokinen fakes a jab and throws a low kick but Zsasz checks it well.
Jokinen scores with a hook to the body. Zsasz takes a step back and tries to catch his breath.
Jokinen misses with an uppercut.
Zsasz counters with a body kick.

That's nine minutes gone in the round.
Zsasz lands with a kick to the ribs.
Jokinen throws a nice outside leg kick.
Jokinen takes a swing at Zsasz's ribcage but misses.
Jokinen tries to work over Zsasz's front leg with a kick but Zsasz checks it.
Zsasz throws a nice inside leg kick.
Jokinen tries to bum rush Zsasz with a series of wild strikes but Zsasz uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Zsasz takes a swing at Jokinen's ribcage but misses.
Zsasz works the jab nicely.
Jokinen checks the leg kick.
It looked like Jokinen was trying to counter with a body shot coming off that last attack from Zsasz.
Zsasz throws a decent looking leg kick but it doesn't land clean.
Jokinen throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
Jokinen throws a sloppy head kick and Zsasz moves out of range easily.
Jokinen scores with a nice right hand.

Jokinen shoots in and gets a takedown into half guard. Jokinen showed some decent athleticism there.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Jokinen with the ground and pound but Zsasz uses the opportunity to regain guard.

And that's the end of the fight!
I would just about give that final round to Victor Zsasz.
I think Zsasz 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 1 round of action, we go to the scorecards for a decision.
Judge Timothy Bukovac scores the fight 10:9
Judge Frank Antenori scores the fight 9:10
Judge Jack Bonds scores the fight 9:10

In favor of your winner, by split decision... Victor Zsasz!
A relieved looking Victor Zsasz thanked the fans for their support and gave the usual line about them being amazing. They seemed to believe that he actually meant it.