PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Tantalus Flay (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Orpo Jokinen (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Flay comes to the cage accompanied by Outerspace- Revolution. Jokinen has chosen You Know You're Right - Nirvana as his entrance music. Well, the cameraman is lingering on a pretty young lady for a bit too long there. Keep your eyes on the prize buddy or you'll miss the fighter intros!

Flay
vs
Jokinen

185 cm
44
183 lbs
31 - 12 - 2

175 cm
37
180 lbs
26 - 19 - 0

Abu Dhabi Champ
Excellent boxer
Granite chin

Excellent grappler
Lethal high kicks
Heavy handed

MayheM sportswear

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the welterweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 31 - 12 - 2, fighting out of Las Vegas, Tantalus Flay!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 26 - 19 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Orpo Jokinen!
The judges for this bout are Gregory Folan, Robert Douchet and Elvis Blanc.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Jokinen closes the distance and looks for a trip takedown... aaaand he's got it - Jokinen lands in his opponent's guard.
Jokinen trying to control the position from guard on top but Flay is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Flay has his hands on Jokinen's head, controlling the position.
Flay looking for a sweep. Not yet Flay, not yet.
Jokinen postures up.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Jokinen throws a big elbow that misses.
Jokinen throwing strikes from guard but Flay blocks nicely.
Flay is trying to control the position but Jokinen postures up.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Flay avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Jokinen slows down the pace of the fight, as he sits in guard.
We've had a lack of effective grappling in the last minute or so, which could well see a referee standup.
Flay lands a beautiful sweep and he's now moved into his opponent's guard.

Jokinen working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Flay.
Flay lands a couple of decent looking shots.
Jokinen is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Jokinen working a defensive guard but Flay manages to pass into side control anyway.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Jokinen tries to improve position but can't.
Flay has improved his flexibility recently so we will have to see if he can use that to his advantage.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
You can see the frustration on Jokinen's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.
Jokinen is looking for a sweep.
Flay wants to control but Jokinen is keeping him busy.
The fighters are starting to get a bit slippery now, which will make submissions a bit more difficult.
Jokinen is looking to reverse the position.
Flay cracks Jokinen with an elbow. That is naaassty.

Flay is trying to get an arm triangle but Jokinen is defending well.
Jokinen is looking to reverse the position.
Flay creates some space and throws a big elbow, but Jokinen sees it coming and moves his head just enough to avoid the strike.
Flay landing with strikes to the head and body from side control.
Flay working the ground and pound.
Jokinen is working to avoid the ground and pound but Flay connects with a decent elbow.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Flay cracks Jokinen with an elbow. That is naaassty.
Flay working away diligently from side control. Landing strikes effectively there - that will score him some points on the judges scorecards.
Jokinen sneaks back into half guard.
Flay looks towards his corner to check for any instructions. The corner give him nothing to work with, so he cracks Jokinen with a short hammerfist. I guess that's as good as any advice he could get in this position.
Flay seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Jokinen does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.
Jokinen is trying to control but can't.
Flay lands with an elbow from half guard - that looked like it hurt.

Jokinen is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Flay pulls his head out easily.
Flay trying to control the pace.

Jokinen is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Flay pulls his head out easily.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Jokinen trying to control but Flay postures up.
Flay lands strikes from half guard.
Jokinen is not content to let Flay control the position.
Flay is controlling the pace.
Flay scoring with strikes to the body and head.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Jokinen holds on for dear life, maintaining half guard for now.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Flay looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Jokinen ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
Flay throws a push kick but Jokinen slaps the foot to one side.
Flay throws a right and a left that both miss.
Jokinen steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Flay.
Orpo Jokinen seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
This fight brought to you by 5M nutrition - it's mmmmm tasty. Nice jab by Jokinen.
Flay throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Jokinen sees it coming and avoids it easily.
Jokinen throws a nice outside leg kick.
Flay misses with a looping left.
Jokinen fails to land the takedown.
Jokinen connects with a nice looking jab.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Jokinen takes a hook to the side of the head. I wonder if that's got his ears ringing.
Flay takes one to the side of the head.
Flay will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Jokinen takes a hook to the side of the head. I wonder if that's got his ears ringing.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Flay throws a leg kick but he was too far away and it doesn't land.

Flay gets taken down but at least he's managed to land in guard.
Jokinen wants to control from the top but Flay keeps moving.
Jokinen forces his way into half guard.
Jokinen wants to take a breather but Flay is having none of it.
Flay wants to get back to full guard but Jokinen has mounted him!
Flay working to try and regain half guard.
Jokinen looking to control and managing it successfully.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Flay wants to hold on but Jokinen pushes him away.
Jokinen looking to land elbow strikes but Flay uses the position to regain half guard.
Flay keeping control of the leg, stopping his opponent passing to mount.
Flay wants to control but Jokinen is keeping busy and won't allow it.

Jokinen is looking for a kimura. It's going to be difficult to finish that from half guard though and Flay defends it well.
Jokinen prevents Flay from improving his position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
The referee walks around the fighters to get a better view of the action. Jokinen lands a nice short elbow.
Flay is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Jokinen can do to turn this around?
Flay wants to improve his position but Jokinen is controlling well.

Jokinen is trying to work for a kimura but Flay is defending well.
Flay is looking to improve his position.
Jokinen missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.
Jokinen trying to control the action but Flay is working from the bottom.
Flay is trying to control but can't.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.
Flay is trying to stand up here but Jokinen is controlling him well.
Flay is looking to improve his position.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up. He just wasn't happy with the level of activity.

Jokinen drops down and drives through with a powerful takedown into guard.
Flay keeping moving, preventing Jokinen from controlling successfully.
Flay is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Jokinen postures up in Flay's guard and throws a big left but Flay blocks it.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Flay controls Jokinen momentarily but Jokinen frees himself.
Jokinen trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Orpo Jokinen showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin! This is the final round!

Nice takedown defense from Flay. No joy for Jokinen on that attempt.

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 engaging in some classic timewasting tactics.
Flay has control of Jokinen's left arm, preventing Jokinen from doing any damage.
Flay is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Jokinen is just sitting in guard, looking to avoid any submissions.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Flay wants to sweep but no luck.
Flay is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Jokinen throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Jokinen trying to control the position from guard on top but Flay is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.
Flay fakes and then throws a beautiful body shot. Jokinen looks a bit winded and takes a step backwards to take a breath.

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.
Flay keeping moving, preventing Jokinen from controlling successfully.
Flay keeping full guard, as Jokinen tries to pass.
Jokinen trying to control the position from guard on top but Flay is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Flay is on top in guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Flay is frustrating his opponent with some stalling tactics from top position.
Jokinen is trying to control the position from the bottom.

Jokinen looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
Flay is fighting to break Jokinen's control of his arms but Jokinen is doing a good job of controlling the position at the moment.
Jokinen looking to control.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Flay is taking a break and basically stalling. The referee will not allow him to do that for long.

Jokinen is active off his back here, looking for submissions.

Flay got a little sloppy there for a moment and Jokinen has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Flay has managed to get both his arms back between Jokinen's legs - danger averted.
Flay trying to control the position from guard on top but Jokinen is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Flay with a couple of shots to the head there. Not particularly brutal.
Flay looking to pass the guard.
Flay trying to control but Jokinen is working from the bottom.
Flay scoring with some ground and pound.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
There's not a lot going on here and the crowd are letting the fighters know they're not willing to tolerate a lack of action.

Jokinen throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
Flay trying to control but Jokinen is working from the bottom.
Flay stands up over Jokinen, holding his feet. He dives back in and lands a decent shot to the head.
Jokinen keeping full guard, as Flay tries to pass.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Flay throws a big elbow that misses.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

Jokinen isolates an arm and boxes in a triangle. Flay stacks Jokinen on his neck as he steps over and passes to the side. He's now in a much more dominant position where he can look to do some serious damage. Nice move by Flay!

And that's the end of the fight!
Tantalus Flay showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Flay has outscored his opponent in every aspect of the fight today. Only a scarily incompetent judge or two will keep him from a well deserved win... 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 Gregory Folan scores the fight 29:28
Judge Robert Douchet scores the fight 29:28
Judge Elvis Blanc scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Tantalus Flay!
Tantalus Flay thanked the fans post fight for their support.