PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a super heavyweight MMA rules bout between Jaxson Wilder (ranked 3012 p4p, 76 weight class) and Japa Koniu (ranked 2453 p4p, 57 weight class). Jaxson Wilder has the edge in experience - let's see if he can make that count tonight.

Wilder
vs
Koniu

187 cm
20
205 lbs
6 - 2 - 0

198 cm
27
235 lbs
4 - 1 - 0

Good wrestling
Excellent boxer
Granite chin

BJJ Blue Belt
Excellent boxer
Good gas tank

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the super heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 6 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Jaxson Wilder!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 4 - 1 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Japa Koniu!
The judges for this bout are Frank Antenori, Jack Bonds and .

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Wilder with a body punch. A glancing blow.
Wilder seems to be moving with more speed, compared to his last bout. He must have been working on that in the gym.
Koniu takes a shot to the nose. Hopefully that hasn't broken it.

It looks like Japa Koniu has been cut.
Koniu will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Koniu throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
The fighters circling - Koniu throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
Wilder is trying to close the distance and clinch up, after that failed offence from Koniu.
Koniu fakes with a right hand and throws a good leg kick, right into the thigh. That had to hurt Wilder.
This fight brought to you by 5M nutrition - it's mmmmm tasty. Nice jab by Koniu.
Koniu darts in and out, connecting with a jab.
Nice shot by Koniu.
Wilder tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Koniu was well out of range. Poor timing from Wilder.
A looping hook to the body misses from Wilder. Koniu does a little dance to reset his feet.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Koniu throws a combination that misses
and Wilder counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
Koniu throws out a powerful jab.
Koniu looks to score with a jab to the body but Wilder is just out of range.
A decent looking cross lands there for Wilder.
Wilder scores with a jab to the jaw of his opponent.
Koniu waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Wilder.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Koniu throws a right hand that Wilder ducks under and follows up with a left that Wilder also avoids with ease.
Wilder throws a predictable looking body shot
and Koniu counters with a nice uppercut.
Wilder misses with a telegraphed body shot
and Koniu counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Koniu throws a nice head kick!

It looks like Jaxson Wilder has been cut.
A combination from Koniu does no damage.
Wilder misses with the combination.
Koniu fakes low and throws an overhand right that catches Wilder on the side of the head.
Koniu throws a couple of head shots and lands with the final one - a decent hook, which struck Wilder on the side of the head.
Wilder scores with a decent looking hook.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Wilder works Koniu's body with a nice hook.
Koniu throws a poor cross that misses
and Wilder counters with a right hand to the body.
The fighters circling - Wilder throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
Koniu keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Koniu with a nice cross.
A jab from Wilder misses.
Wilder takes a big uppercut there. He seems a bit wobbly but no, he's OK.
Koniu has used his reach advantage pretty well so far tonight.
Wilder uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Koniu.
Koniu throws a lazy right hand but Wilder sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Koniu misses with a straight left.
Wilder takes a really solid shot there but just smiles back and shrugs his shoulders.
Wilder swings for the body but Koniu moves out of range.
Koniu ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
Koniu scores with a sloppy punch to the body. Not much technique there but it did the business.
Koniu fakes a jab and then connects with a hook.
Koniu throws an off balance right hand
and Wilder counters with a shot to the ribs. That looked like it hurt.
Koniu swings for the body but Wilder moves out of range.
Wilder throws a sloppy body shot
letting Koniu counter with a right hand.
Koniu misses with a looping right.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Koniu slips a straight right by Wilder.
The fighters circling - Koniu throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
Wilder jabbing away but nothing is landing.
Wilder rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Koniu moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Koniu uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Wilder.
A slow jab from Wilder misses its intended target.
An inside leg kick lands from Koniu.
Koniu is landing a lot of head punches in this opening round! Wilder had better start moving his head a bit unless he wants his face to turn into pâté.
Koniu feints a straight left to the body, then turns around with a flashy move and hits Wilders jaw with a dramatic spinning back fist!
Koniu scores with a shot to the body.
Wilder keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Wilder with poor footwork there. He got himself in a bit of a tangle, enabling Koniu to score with a decent uppercut.
Jab by Koniu.
Wilder avoids a punch combination nicely.
Koniu looks to land a combination but Wilder avoids it well.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Koniu connects with a good right hand that stumbles Wilder. Wilder circles away out of range and recomposes himself.
Koniu feints with a shoulder and throws a nice leg kick to Wilder's calf.
Koniu lands a straight punch to the body, keeping Wilder at a distance.
Wilder just misses with a punch to the body.
Koniu lands a jab. Then a cross. Then finally a nice hook to the body. Good work there by Koniu.

Jaxson Wilder's cut is getting worse.
Sloppy strikes from Wilder. Those never looked like landing.
Wilder connects with a nice looking jab.
Wilder takes a shot right to the bread basket.
Good exchange - Koniu coming out on top.
Wilder is looking to wear down Koniu with body shots, infact he's throwing more body shots than head shots at the moment.
Koniu throws a hook but Wilder blocks it.
Koniu moves away from the strike by Wilder.
Koniu lands an overhand left. A wild punch that just about connected.
The crowd applaud the fighters' efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Koniu throws the left hand but Wilder avoids the punch easily.
Koniu jabbing away but nothing is landing.
Wilder misses with a hook. Koniu ducked under it nicely.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Japa Koniu dominated that round.
Both fighters have cut men working on them during the interval.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action.

Koniu with a hook.
Koniu avoids the body shot from Wilder.
Wilder has his front leg slapped to the side - a nice low kick landing there from Koniu.
Koniu misses with an uppercut
enabling Wilder to counter with a crisp jab.
Wilder dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
Koniu throws an ugly left hook that misses
enabling Wilder to counter with a crisp jab.
Wilder lands a jab.
Koniu is using his reach advantage to land shots from outside his opponent's range.
Koniu throws a lazy right hand but Wilder sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.

Wilder has closed the distance and engaged Koniu in a clinch.
Koniu is trying to force a seperation but Wilder has the dominant position.
Koniu can't break the clinch.
Koniu takes a shot to the head.

Koniu breaks the clinch.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Koniu moves into range and connects with a jab.
Wilder throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Wilder walks into a stiff left hand from Koniu.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Good exchange - Koniu coming out on top.
Koniu lunges at Wilder with a hook that half lands and is half blocked by Wilder's hand.
Koniu connects with a lovely jab that went straight through the gap between Wilder's hands.
Wilder misses with a hook to the body
and Koniu counters with a nice uppercut.
Wilder lands a jab to the nose.
Japa Koniu seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Good standup being displayed there by Wilder as he connects with a hook.
Koniu throws a jab when Wilder was well out of range.
Wilder was looking to counter that move with a punch but didn't quite pull the trigger.
Koniu cracks Wilder with an open hand slap.
Wilder throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Koniu.
Koniu thuds his right hand into Wilder's forehead from close range. That could be painful for both fighters.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Koniu misses with an uppercut. Wilder saw that one coming.
Wilder looks to land a left hand but Koniu moved out of range nicely.
Koniu unleashes a big counter combination but Wilder bobs and weaves and avoids any damage.
Wilder uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Koniu.
Koniu waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Wilder.
Koniu with a body punch. A glancing blow.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Wilder swings for the body but Koniu moves out of range.
Wilder has not gone for a single takedown so far in this fight, which seems like a very strange tactic when you consider that he has the superior wrestling and BJJ.
Jab from Koniu.
Boom, another hit is landed. "You're gunna get knocked out" taunts Koniu, as that shot connected.
Koniu misses with a hook. Wilder ducked under it nicely.

Wilder clinches with his opponent.
Wilder lands a body shot in the clinch.
Wilder lands a nice shot to the body.
Wilder lands a right hand that snaps the head of Koniu backwards.
Koniu is trying to break the clinch but Wilder is controlling him.
A body shot lands from Wilder.
Wilder gets through Koniu's defenses to land a nice punch to the side of the head.

Koniu pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Koniu loads up on a big right hand but Wilder slips the punch.
Wilder takes a hook to the side of the head. I wonder if that's got his ears ringing.
Wilder swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Koniu looks to land a right hand but Wilder moved out of range.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Wilder throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Wilder swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Wilder with a nice cross.

That has opened up Japa Koniu's cut even more.
A big right from Wilder misses.
Nice cross by Wilder.
A left lands for Koniu.
Koniu steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Wilder.
Wilder drops his hands momentarily and Koniu takes advantage with a crisp shot to the head.

Jaxson Wilder's cut is bleeding quite badly. He's got to try and protect it.
Wilder takes a really solid shot there but just smiles back and shrugs his shoulders.
Wilder misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Koniu.
Koniu connects with a hook to the side of his opponent's head.
Wilder throws a big shot that misses.
Wilder ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Koniu moves away.
A little jabbing left from Koniu on the counter but it doesn't find it's target.
Koniu scores with a decent looking hook.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Wilder uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Koniu.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Wilder takes an uppercut right on the button but keeps his composure.
Wilder shakes his hands off, looking to compose himself, but takes a jab to the jaw whilst he does it.
Jab from Koniu.
Koniu misses with an uppercut
and Wilder counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
Jab from Wilder.
Sloppy strikes from Koniu. Those never looked like landing.
Wilder takes a step towards his opponent and connects with a left hand, before circling away.

The cut above Japa Koniu's eye is starting to cause him problems now.
Koniu throws a couple of head shots and lands with the final one - a decent hook, which struck Wilder on the side of the head.
Wilder rushes in with a sloppy looking punch
letting Koniu counter with a right hand.
Koniu throws a couple of head shots and lands with the final one - a decent hook, which struck Wilder on the side of the head.

Wilder is rocked!

Jeez, Jaxson Wilder's cut is really nasty now. The referee must be thinking about getting that checked.
Koniu fakes a head punch and goes low to the body. Nicely done.
The crowd applaud the fighters' efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Wilder connects with a lovely jab that went straight through the gap between Koniu's hands.
Wilder missing with a left hand there. Koniu was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
Wilder looks like he's developed a pretty tasty lump over his left eye. He'll need to avoid taking much more damage to that.
Koniu moves into range and throws a lovely three punch combination.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Japa Koniu showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
Both fighters have cut men working on them during the interval.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business. This is the final round!

Koniu lands with a right hand.
Koniu takes one on the button.
Koniu misses with a double jab.
Wilder lands a nice looking body shot.
Wilder thows a left - swing and a miss!
Koniu scores with a jab. Wilder acknowledges it with a nod of the head.
Koniu lunges at Wilder with a hook that half lands and is half blocked by Wilder's hand.
Wilder tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Koniu was well out of range. Poor timing from Wilder.
Koniu avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Koniu keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Koniu misses with an uppercut.
Koniu fakes a jab and then connects with a hook.
Koniu misses with a jab to the body
and Wilder counters with a shot to the ribs. That looked like it hurt.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Koniu ducks under a wild hook from Wilder.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Wilder works his jab well there, keeping his opponent at a distance.
Koniu looks to score with a jab to the body but Wilder is just out of range.
A cross from Koniu lands.

The fight moves into the clinch position.
Koniu is trying to break the clinch but Wilder is controlling him.
Wilder controlling the action here for a moment.
A right handed body shot lands from Wilder.
Koniu takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Wilder keeps control of Koniu as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.
Wilder lands punches inside but they're not really causing much damage.
Wilder lands with a right to the head.

Wilder pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Koniu throws a right and a left that Wilder avoids nicely.
Koniu thows a left - swing and a miss!
Jaxson Wilder has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Wilder looks to land a right hand but Koniu moved out of range.
Wilder fails to land with a series of punches.
Wilder swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Koniu keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Koniu lets it all go there with a big combo counter but none of the punches connected.
Koniu lands a really nice looking cross but Wilder seems unphased.
Koniu has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
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!
A nice combination there by Koniu.
Wilder misses with a hook.
Wilder throws a big shot that misses.
Wilder ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Koniu moves away.
Koniu missing with a left hand there. Wilder was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
Koniu lands with a cross.
Wilder misses with a hook. Koniu ducked under it nicely.
Wilder throws the left hand but Koniu avoids the punch easily.
Koniu throws a looping overhand right but Wilder ducks down to avoid it.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Wilder ducks under a wild hook from Koniu.
Koniu scores with a reasonable looking shot to the body. Wilder doesn't seem bothered though.
Wilder avoids the body shot from Koniu.
Wilder throws a lazy right hand but Koniu sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
A nice leg kick lands there from Koniu.
Koniu steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Wilder.
A big right from Koniu misses.
Wilder takes a shot right to the liver - Bas would have been proud of that punch.
Koniu uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Wilder.
Wilder throws a body shot but no joy.
Koniu fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Wilder manages to avoid it.
Koniu tries to bum rush Wilder with a series of wild strikes but Wilder uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
A little feinted left hand from Wilder on the counter but he doesn't commit to it.
Koniu misses with an uppercut. Wilder saw that one coming.
Wilder takes a swing at Koniu's ribcage but misses.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Koniu throws a lazy right hand but Wilder sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Wilder misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Koniu.
Wilder listening to his corner there, landing a nice uppercut.
Koniu looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
A telegraphed right hand from Wilder misses the target.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Wilder throws a series of punches but Koniu avoids them all with ease.
Wilder tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Koniu was well out of range. Poor timing from Wilder.
Koniu looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Koniu misses with a lunging right hand
and Wilder counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
Koniu uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Wilder.
Wilder thows a left - swing and a miss!
Wilder misses with a hook.
Wilder swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
Japa Koniu is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
Koniu keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Wilder.

And that's the end of the fight!
That was a close round. You could make an argument for either fighter but I would give it to Jaxson Wilder.
I think Koniu 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 Frank Antenori scores the fight 28:29
Judge Jack Bonds scores the fight 28:29
Judge Percy O'Donnell scores the fight 28:29

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