PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Ode Jokinen (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Odell Paquette (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Both these guys have really solid chins. Will we see a standup war or will they both decide that a knockout is unlikely and try to win the fight elsewhere?

Jokinen
vs
Paquette

163 cm
33
144 lbs
25 - 15 - 4

177 cm
30
143 lbs
21 - 11 - 1

Great wrestler
World class boxer
Insanely flexible

Good wrestler
World class MT
Good gas tank

Perkele!
KAISER Nutrition - Q160/$250

King of Clothes

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 5 rounds, in the bantamweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 25 - 15 - 4, fighting out of London, Ode Jokinen!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 21 - 11 - 1, fighting out of New York, Odell Paquette!
The judges for this bout are Donald Grub, William Gold and Andrew Berry.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Jokinen throws a wild body kick that Paquette sees coming a mile off.
Paquette connects nicely with a jab. Noted by the judges no doubt.
Paquette looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Jokinen tries to land a front kick but Paquette steps back. That was a bit too telegraphed.
And an attempted straight right on the counter from Paquette! But no joy.
Paquette displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Jokinen.
Odell Paquette seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Paquette throws a nice inside leg kick.
Jokinen tries to work over Paquette's front leg with a kick but Paquette checks it.
Jokinen slips a straight right by Paquette.
A big right from Jokinen misses.
Jokinen takes an uppercut right on the jaw but it doesn't phase him.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Jokinen bobs and weaves and unloads with a good uppercut.
Jokinen looks to have improved his striking defense since last time we saw him fight.
Paquette gets cracked with a nice right hand there by Jokinen.
Paquette throws a couple of head shots and lands with the final one - a decent hook, which struck Jokinen on the side of the head.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Paquette throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Jokinen sees it coming and avoids it easily.
Jokinen cracks the inside of Paquette's front leg.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Paquette works over Jokinen's head and body with a nice combination.
Jokinen slips a jab and a cross from Paquette.
Paquette cracks Jokinen with an open hand slap.
Jokinen thows a left - swing and a miss!
Jokinen smiles there as he lands a nice right hand right on the button.
Nice jab there from Jokinen.
Good leg kick by Jokinen there. It's the ones that make that thud noise that hurt and that was an almighty thud.
Jokinen throws a solid leg kick but Paquette takes the impact on his shin and smiles at Jokinen.
Paquette lands three nice shots there - that looked like it hurt!
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Jokinen ducks under a wild hook from Paquette.
Paquette checks the leg kick nicely there.
Paquette misses with a looping right.
Jokinen throws a solid leg kick but Paquette takes the impact on his shin and smiles at Jokinen.
Nice straight punches there by Paquette. You know Roy Jones Jr respects the hands of Paquette.
Jokinen scores with a decent looking hook.
Jokinen scores with a jab to the jaw.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Jokinen swings away with a leg kick that misses.
Jokinen throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
A nice side step and Paquette releases a counter shot to the body, but it doesn't find it's home.
Paquette looks to throw the jab but Jokinen is out of range.
A punch combination from Paquette misses.
Paquette scores with a nice strike.
Jokinen shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Paquette as he jumps to the side.
Paquette throws a body punch but Jokinen moves out of range.
Paquette moves out of range of the leg kick from Jokinen.
Paquette swings for the body but Jokinen moves out of range.
Paquette throws a jab, cross combination which is slipped

and Jokinen counters with a takedown into side control.
Jokinen just content to control the position.
Jokinen lands a few punches from side control.
Jokinen controlling the position.
Jokinen throwing strikes but missing, from side control.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Paquette is trying to get back to half guard.
Paquette gets one leg under and gets the fight to half guard.
Paquette taking some punishment here, with Jokinen in his half guard.
Jokinen scores with a couple of good hammerfists.
Paquette is looking to improve his position.
Jokinen with a momentary lay and pray from half guard.
Jokinen working over Paquette with some ground and pound. Paquette looks like he wants out of this position, which is understandable.
Paquette tries to roll over but Jokinen keeps him under control.
Jokinen is trying to control the action in half guard but Paquette is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Jokinen not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
Jokinen throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
Paquette is trying to defend against the ground and pound but Jokinen scores with a couple of nice shots.
Paquette tries to regain full guard. Instead though, Jokinen has advanced to mount. Uh oh.
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Paquette is trying desperately to improve position.
Jokinen landing strikes from the mount.
Paquette is writhing around trying to get back to his feet.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Paquette takes a big shot to the head but keeps on trying to improve his position.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Paquette is looking to get to half guard.
Paquette is bucking up trying to escape but Jokinen cracks him with another couple of good strikes.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close round but I would say that Ode Jokinen 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.

Jokinen gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily
and he gets countered with a snapping leg kick.
Paquette scores with a nice one two combo and darts back out of range to avoid anything coming in the opposite direction.
Jokinen has a takedown stuffed.
A nice leg kick lands there from Paquette.
Jokinen buckles his opponent's knee momentarily with a nice leg kick.
Paquette throws a series of punches but Jokinen avoids them all with ease.
Jokinen looks to land a left hand but Paquette moved out of range nicely.
Jokinen swings for the body but Paquette moves out of range.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Paquette takes an uppercut right on the jaw but it doesn't phase him.
Jokinen slips a jab and a cross from Paquette.
Paquette just misses with a punch to the body.
A telegraphed right hand from Paquette misses the target.
Paquette tried to score with a low kick but Jokinen checks it.
Odell Paquette is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Jokinen takes a jab on the nose. He smiles like he loves it and keeps coming.
A big right from Paquette misses.
Odell Paquette seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Jokinen lands a really nice looking cross but Paquette seems unphased.
Jokinen takes a hook to the side of the head. I wonder if that's got his ears ringing.
Jokinen slips a jab from Paquette.
Jokinen misses with a looping left.
Paquette misses with an uppercut.
Jokinen uses good footwork to get in and out, landing a nice hook.
Jokinen misses with an uppercut
enabling Paquette to counter with a crisp jab.

Jokinen shoots in from a long way out. He's driving through with the takedown attempt and he eventually gets it, landing in Paquette's guard.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Paquette trying to control the position.
Jokinen wants to control from the top but Paquette keeps moving.
Paquette trying to keep a closed guard but Jokinen is proving a slippery customer.
Jokinen might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.
Jokinen lands a couple of digs.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Jokinen trying to control the position from guard on top but Paquette is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Jokinen distracts Paquette with his right hand and drops a big elbow with his other arm.
Paquette seems keen to control Jokinen's posture.
Jokinen slips nicely into half guard.
Paquette is positioning himself well to prevent Jokinen advancing to mount.
Jokinen trying to pass the guard but Paquette defending well.
Paquette tries to roll over but Jokinen keeps him under control.
Jokinen lands with an elbow from half guard - that looked like it hurt.
Jokinen slips a nice elbow through Paquette's hands, connecting with Paquette's forehead.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Jokinen wants to take a breather but Paquette is having none of it.
Jokinen seems to be taking a bit of a break to think of his next move. He lands a short punch in the meantime.
Jokinen wants to take a breather but Paquette is having none of it.
Paquette is looking to control Jokinen's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Paquette avoid being mounted?
Jokinen not landing any meaningful shots this time.
Jokinen tries to pass the half guard into mount. Paquette knows what he's doing though and prevents the attempt.
Jokinen trying to control from half guard but Paquette is working away.
Paquette trying to control but Jokinen postures up.
Paquette is trying to avoid being dragged into an even worse position than he's already in but Jokinen is staying active.
Jokinen is trying to control the action in half guard but Paquette is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.

That's four 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.
Paquette is concentrating on defense, preventing Jokinen from advancing position.
Jokinen is keeping good posture, landing some ground and pound.
Paquette regains full guard. Nicely done.
Jokinen postures up in Paquette's guard and throws a big left but Paquette blocks it.
Jokinen trying to control but Paquette is working from the bottom.
Paquette controlling the position.
Paquette keeping moving, preventing Jokinen from controlling successfully.
Jokinen postures up.
Jokinen trying to control but Paquette is working from the bottom.
Paquette pulls Jokinen in close to prevent any damage.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up. He just wasn't happy with the level of activity.
Paquette moves out of range of the strikes.
Jokinen throws a leg kick which misses Paquette's front leg but catches the back leg as Paquette tries to avoid it.
Jokinen lands a vicious shot with the stealth of a sniper and the strength of a viper. Are vipers that strong? I can think of lots of things that are stronger than a viper - not many rhyme with sniper though.
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 Ode Jokinen will probably get the nod.
That's the end of the interval. I'm sure that seemed a lot quicker than a minute for our two fighters! Back to the action.

Paquette lands the left hand.
Jokinen slips under a jab.
Paquette takes a punch right to his stomach. That took the wind out of him momentarily.
Paquette keeping at a good range here, avoiding a leg kick.
Paquette stuffs the takedown.
Paquette connects nicely with a jab. Noted by the judges no doubt.
Paquette swings for the body but Jokinen moves out of range.
Paquette uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Jokinen.
Paquette steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Jokinen.
A combination from Paquette does no damage.
Paquette avoids a kick to the body.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Paquette throws a body punch but Jokinen moves out of range.
Paquette misses with a hook. Jokinen ducked under it nicely.
Jokinen closes the distance and takes a jab right on the nose as he does so.
Jokinen tries to work over Paquette's front leg with a kick but Paquette checks it.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Jokinen connects with a leg kick. Paquette looked like he was expecting something else and didn't defend it.
Odell Paquette is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Paquette throws a series of strikes that have Jokinen backpedaling.
Jokinen slips in close and lands a nice hook before moving back out of range.
Jokinen tries to work over Paquette's front leg with a kick but Paquette checks it.
Paquette looked like he wanted to counter with a punch but didn't throw it.
A left and a right from Paquette both land. Nice combination.

Jokinen closes the distance and clinches up, looking for a takedown. He shifts his weight and gets a nice trip into half guard.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Jokinen throwing shots but Paquette is blocking nicely.
Paquette keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.
Jokinen seems to be taking a bit of a break to think of his next move. He lands a short punch in the meantime.
Jokinen has been looking to land a fair amount of strikes on the ground. He might be looking to soften his opponent up in order to work for a submission.
Paquette is looking to improve his position.
Paquette is concentrating on defense, preventing Jokinen from advancing position.
Paquette on the receiving end of some nice ground and pound.
Jokinen throwing shots but Paquette is blocking nicely.
Paquette trying to control from the bottom.
Paquette is looking to improve his position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Paquette is doing well to control the position and prevent Jokinen from advancing to side control.
Paquette is trying to control but can't.
Ode Jokinen overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Paquette is refusing to be controlled, as Jokinen sits in half guard.
Jokinen drops an elbow to the side of Paquette's head.
Jokinen is trying to control. Paquette wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.
Paquette has hold of Jokinen's hands but Jokinen slips his arm to the side and lands an elbow.
Jokinen thows a huge punch but Paquette dodges it nicely.
Paquette trying to control here.
Jokinen is keen to just control but Paquette is a slippery customer.
Jokinen slips a nice elbow through Paquette's hands, connecting with Paquette's forehead.
Paquette is concentrating on defense, preventing Jokinen from advancing position.
Jokinen slips a nice elbow through Paquette's hands, connecting with Paquette's forehead.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
The two fighters exchange a few words. I couldn't hear what they were saying but maybe it's more fun if you make it up yourself. Jokinen connects with a nice short shot to Paquette's temple.
Paquette wants to get back to full guard.
Jokinen trying to control from half guard but Paquette is working away.
Jokinen working the head and body with strikes.
Ground and pound from Jokinen.
Paquette is trying to defend against the ground and pound but Jokinen scores with a couple of nice shots.
Ground and pound from Jokinen.
Jokinen scores with a couple of good hammerfists.
Paquette is pressing down on Jokinen's left leg trying to get back to full guard. He's managed it.
Paquette preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Paquette is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Jokinen lands a couple of digs.
Jokinen trying to control the position from guard on top but Paquette is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Jokinen trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Paquette trying to control the position here.
Jokinen landing some decent shots from guard.
Jokinen connects with a couple of short punches.
Paquette is trying to control the position but Jokinen postures up.
Jokinen wants to control from the top but Paquette keeps moving.
Paquette avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Jokinen pushes down on Paquette's leg and manages to get into half guard.
Paquette avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Jokinen.
Jokinen missing with the ground and pound from half guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Ode Jokinen clearly takes that round.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin!

Paquette takes a punch right to his stomach. That took the wind out of him momentarily.

Jokinen feints and then dives in with a takedown. That was a long way out but the feint bought him enough time to close the distance and complete the takedown. Now we'll play guard for a bit and see who can get the better of that position.
Jokinen landing some decent shots from guard.
Jokinen is looking to work some ground and pound but Paquette has wrist control.
Jokinen trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Jokinen wants to control from the top but Paquette keeps moving.
Paquette wants to sweep but no luck.
Jokinen trying to control but Paquette is working from the bottom.
A real slowdown in the pace of the fight for a moment, as Paquette holds on and takes a little breather.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Paquette is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Jokinen landing some decent shots from guard.
Paquette pulls Jokinen in close to prevent any damage.
Jokinen with a flurry of punches that miss.
Jokinen in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Jokinen lands a couple of elbows.
Jokinen throws a big elbow that misses.
Paquette has control of Jokinen's left arm, preventing Jokinen from doing any damage.
Jokinen won't allow Paquette to sweep him here.

That's two 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.
Jokinen postures up in Paquette's guard and throws a big left but Paquette blocks it.
Jokinen postures up and scores with a shot to the body and a follow up elbow to the head.
Jokinen trying to control the position from guard on top but Paquette is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Paquette is trying to keep Jokinen in close.
Jokinen trying to control but Paquette is working from the bottom.
The referee is pacing around the two fighters - he looks like he's thinking about a standup.
Paquette seems keen to control Jokinen's posture.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.
No luck for Jokinen with that takedown attempt.
Jokinen throws a jab but it's blocked by Paquette.
Paquette looks like he wants to counter punch here.
An inside leg kick lands from Paquette.
Paquette lands a head shot.
Jokinen misses with the body kick
and Jokinen takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Paquette chopped to the floor by a nice leg kick but he springs right back up before Jokinen can pounce on him.
Jokinen uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Paquette.
Jokinen throws a leg kick but he was too far away and it doesn't land.
Paquette is clearly trying to counter these attacks from Jokinen with a body shot.
Ouch! a nice leg kick from Jokinen, right into the meat.
Jokinen does a little shimmy and throws a leg kick. The leg kick missed by a considerable margin though, making him look a little bit silly for doing the shimmy.
Paquette steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Jokinen.
Paquette has used his reach advantage pretty well so far tonight.
A jab from Jokinen misses.
Paquette takes a hook to the side of the head. I wonder if that's got his ears ringing.
A jab from Paquette misses.
Jokinen listening to his corner there, landing a nice uppercut.
Jokinen misses with a few strikes there.
Good shot there by Paquette.
Jokinen misses with a lunging right hand
and Paquette counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
Jokinen throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Paquette throws a lazy right hand but Jokinen sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Jokinen misses with a low kick.
Paquette tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Paquette throws a combination that misses
and Jokinen counters with a shot to the ribs. That looked like it hurt.

Jokinen decides to change it up a bit and drives through with a nice takedown into half guard.
Jokinen looks towards his corner to check for any instructions. The corner give him nothing to work with, so he cracks Paquette with a short hammerfist. I guess that's as good as any advice he could get in this position.
Paquette blocking the ground and pound attempt from Jokinen.
Jokinen working over Paquette with some ground and pound. Paquette looks like he wants out of this position, which is understandable.
Paquette is positioning himself well to prevent Jokinen advancing to mount.
Paquette trying to control but Jokinen postures up.
Both fighters have adopted an aggressive gameplan on the ground!
Paquette on the receiving end of some nice ground and pound.
Jokinen seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Paquette does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.
Paquette is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Ode Jokinen had his way with Odell Paquette in that round.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business. The crowd applaud as we get ready to start the final round!

Jokinen takes a shot to the eye socket. That's gotta hurt.
Paquette's jab looks to have found its range, popping Jokinen under the eye.
Paquette misses with a hook
and Jokinen counters nicely by changing levels and landing a hook to the body.
Jokinen looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
This fight brought to you by 5M nutrition - it's mmmmm tasty. Nice jab by Paquette.
An inside leg kick lands from Jokinen.
Jokinen misses with a takedown attempt
and Paquette connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Paquette with a jab.
Paquette misses with a looping right.
Paquette misses with a wild combination.

That's one minute gone in the round.
A punch combination from Paquette misses.
Paquette's leg has a nasty welt from taking a succession of leg kicks. That must be slowing him down.
Jokinen throws out a loose jab but Paquette uses good head movement to avoid it.
Paquette is using his reach advantage to land shots from outside his opponent's range.
Jokinen just misses with a punch to the body.
Jokinen looks like he's developed a pretty tasty lump over his left eye. He'll need to avoid taking much more damage to that.
A combination from Paquette does no damage.
Paquette stumbles momentarily as he takes a strong leg kick from Jokinen.
Some wild striking there from Paquette.
Nice defenses there by Jokinen.

Jokinen shoots in for a takedown from distance. He catches Paquette napping and manages to drive through into side control!
Jokinen grinds an elbow into Paquette's temple.
Paquette is trying to get back to half guard.
Jokinen working away.
Paquette is wobbling all over the place through exhaustion. Will he make it to the final bell?
Paquette is not content to let Jokinen control the position.
Paquette wants to control but Jokinen postures up.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Jokinen scoring with punches from side control.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Paquette tries to improve position but can't.
Jokinen lands an elbow.
Jokinen lands a few punches from side control.
Paquette wants to get back to his feet but Jokinen drags him back down.
Paquette taking punishment in the form of punches.
Jokinen looks up at the clock and then as Paquette takes his cue and looks up at the clock too, Jokinen smacks him right in the chops with a big elbow! How rude!
Jokinen working away diligently from side control. Landing strikes effectively there - that will score him some points on the judges scorecards.
You can see the frustration on Paquette's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.
Paquette is trying to improve his position.
Jokinen remains in side control and seems content to stay there. It's a versatile position from which he can work both strikes and submissions, whilst maintaining that control, so maybe he'll sit here for a while.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Jokinen works a knee to the body and follows up with a nice elbow to the head.
Jokinen working the ground and pound.
Paquette manages to land a sweep and he's now on top! Lovely Jiu Jitsu!
Jokinen wants to improve his position but Paquette is controlling well.
Jokinen makes his way to full guard. A much better position for Jokinen.
Ode Jokinen is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Paquette controlling from the top position.
Jokinen wants to sweep but no luck.
Jokinen is avoiding any damage by keeping wrist control.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Jokinen being controlled here, momentarily.
Jokinen is controlling Paquette's posture.
Jokinen not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Paquette's corner is telling him to maintain position.
Jokinen keeping moving, preventing Paquette from controlling successfully.
Jokinen trying to control the position.
Odell Paquette has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Paquette is taking a break and basically stalling. The referee will not allow him to do that for long.

And that's the end of the fight!
I would just about give that final round to Odell Paquette.
I think Jokinen 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 5 rounds of action, we go to the scorecards for a decision.
Judge Donald Grub scores the fight 49:46
Judge William Gold scores the fight 49:46
Judge Andrew Berry scores the fight 49:46

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Ode Jokinen!
Ode Jokinen decided to thank the fans in attendance for making a great atmosphere. It seemed to go down pretty well.