PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Jake Duke (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Mantis Joniis (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Duke has a slight injury, which hopefully won't affect the fight too much. These two fighters really are very evenly matched on the feet - it will be fascinating to see who can assert themselves in that aspect of the fight.

Duke
vs
Joniis

225 cm
25
265 lbs
1 - 3 - 0

196 cm
25
250 lbs
4 - 0 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Counter fighter
Granite chin

Decent wrestler
Counter fighter
Solid chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 1 - 3 - 0, fighting out of The Island, Jake Duke!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 4 - 0 - 0, fighting out of The Island, Mantis Joniis!
The judges for this bout are Santiago Holmes, Peter Branson and Bart Greer.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Joniis tries for a takedown but Duke sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
Duke is looking for a counter combo.

Joniis drives through with a really nice takedown into side control.

Duke throws Joniis to one side and escapes!
Duke is breathing heavily.
Joniis fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Duke avoids it really well and circles away.

Duke scores with a takedown into Joniis's guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Joniis tries to land a sweep but no joy.

Duke drops back, looking for a kneebar! Joniis looks panicked! The fighters roll across the mat, one looking to finish, one looking to escape. Joniis looks to have wriggled free... Yes, he's got his leg free and he's dived into side control! Good work there from Joniis!

Duke takes an elbow right on the bridge of the nose and winces in pain.
Joniis grinds an elbow into Duke's temple.

Joniis is looking for a kimura. He might have it! No, Duke has escaped the position, nice work there.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Joniis grinds an elbow into Duke's temple.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Duke managing to avoid any damage from the strikes thrown by Joniis.
Joniis trying to control the action but Duke is working from the bottom.

Joniis tries for a kimura. Not really close to a finish though.

Joniis looking for an arm triangle but it's way too loose to do anything.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Joniis 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.
Joniis looks up at the clock and then as Duke takes his cue and looks up at the clock too, Joniis smacks him right in the chops with a big elbow! How rude!
Joniis misses with the ground and pound.

Joniis wants to work for a kimura but he's foiled early by Duke, who protects the arm well.
Duke is not content to let Joniis control the position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
My god... these two guys really need to pick up the pace or everyone will leave to go get a beer.

Joniis is looking to finish here, going for an Americana. Duke knows the correct defense though, so he's OK.

Joniis is looking for a kimura. He might have it! No, Duke has escaped the position, nice work there.
The fighters are starting to get a bit slippery now, which will make submissions a bit more difficult.
Joniis wants to lay and pray for a moment but Duke keeps working.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Joniis cracks Duke with an elbow. That is naaassty.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Mantis Joniis dominated that round.
That's time! Duke's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight.

Duke closes the distance and scores a nice trip takedown into half guard. Joniis did well to prevent Duke getting side control.
Joniis wants to control but Duke is keeping busy and won't allow it.
Joniis is looking for a sweep. Duke is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Duke will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.
Joniis moves his hips nicely and gets into full guard.

Joniis working for a triangle but Duke defends it easily.

Joniis is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Joniis is avoiding any damage by keeping wrist control.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

That's one minute gone in the round.

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

Joniis throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
Duke postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Duke pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Joniis is keeping the position for now.

Duke avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
Joniis is trying to control the position from the bottom.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Joniis looking for a sweep. Not yet Joniis, not yet.

Joniis is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Duke defends well.
Duke stopping the sweep attempt from Joniis.
Duke trying to control but Joniis is working from the bottom.

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.
Joniis shoots in but no luck this time.
No luck for Joniis with that takedown attempt.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Duke throws the overhand right but ducks down into a quick takedown attempt. Joniis was covering up waiting for the punch and Duke finishes the takedown easily into guard.
We get told so often about how wrestlers don't like to be on their backs. Let's see if Joniis can do anything to dispel that myth.
Duke slips nicely into half guard.

Duke is looking for a kimura but Joniis is holding onto that half guard position, so it's hard for Duke to get the leverage.
Joniis is refusing to be controlled, as Duke sits in half guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Joniis actively working from the bottom here.
Joniis gets back to full guard.

Duke avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
Duke trying to control the position from guard on top but Joniis is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Duke looking to pass the guard.
Duke wants to control from the top but Joniis keeps moving.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Jake Duke dominated that second round.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action! This is the final round!

Joniis shoots in looking for a takedown. Duke tries to sprawl out of it but Joniis keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Duke manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
Duke tries to counter by moving into the clinch but Joniis manages to circle out of the way.

Joniis clinches up with Duke and pushes him back against the cage.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Joniis misses with a knee strike.
Joniis wants a takedown but no success here.

Duke is trying to trip Joniis. He has hold of a leg but Joniis is hopping around, keeping his balance for the moment. Duke persists though and gets the takedown into guard.

Joniis looking for a guillotine here but Duke defends easily.
Joniis bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Duke's guard.

Joniis makes a bit of distance and scores with some ground and pound, still in guard.
Joniis pushing down on Duke's thigh, trying to pass to half guard. He's managed it... Nice work.
Joniis with the ground and pound but Duke uses the opportunity to regain guard.
Joniis stands up over Duke, holding his feet. He dives back in and lands a decent shot to the head.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Joniis trying to control but Duke is working from the bottom.
Duke utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Joniis working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Mantis Joniis has got the better of the ground game so far.
Joniis with a couple of shots to the head there. Not particularly brutal.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Joniis accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Joniis stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Duke swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Joniis is taking a break and basically stalling. The referee will not allow him to do that for long.
Joniis postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Joniis postures up and lands some nice ground and pound.
Joniis is working the ground and pound from guard. He might want to try advancing position though to get more of an impact.
Joniis's corner is telling him to maintain position.
Joniis postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
We may be looking at a referee standup if the pace doesn't pick up soon.
Joniis throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.

Joniis shoots in and scores a nice double leg takedown into half guard.
Joniis is scoring with some nice ground and pound from the dominant position.
Joniis thows a huge punch but Duke dodges it nicely.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Joniis wants to lay and pray for a moment but Duke keeps working.

Joniis is looking for an arm triangle, whilst trying to pass to side control. Duke doesn't seem that keen to cooperate though. No luck this time Joniis.
Duke blocking the ground and pound attempt from Joniis.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Duke gets back to full guard.
Joniis trying to control but Duke is working from the bottom.

And that's the end of the fight!
Mantis Joniis comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Joniis 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 3 rounds of action, we go to the scorecards for a decision.
Judge Santiago Holmes scores the fight 28:29
Judge Peter Branson scores the fight 28:29
Judge Bart Greer scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Mantis Joniis!