PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Teemu Karjalainen (ranked 2038 p4p, 236 weight class) and Joe River (ranked 1692 p4p, 196 weight class). Karjalainen comes to the cage accompanied by Sentenced - End of the Road. This should be fireworks!

Karjalainen
vs
River

171 cm
34
163 lbs
23 - 18 - 0

170 cm
35
160 lbs
21 - 3 - 0

Good wrestling
Dangerous knees
Granite chin

Olympic wrestler
World class boxer
Granite chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the lightweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 23 - 18 - 0, fighting out of New York, Teemu Karjalainen!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 21 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Joe River!
The judges for this bout are Shigeki Sano, Sosuke Kotani and Hirohito Nitta.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
River looks to land a combination but Karjalainen avoids it well.
It looked like Karjalainen wanted to counter with a hook but didn't fully commit.

River moves into the clinch successfully.
River misses with a punch on the inside.
River blocks a punch to the side of the head.
A body shot lands from Karjalainen.
Karjalainen has a couple of punches blocked by River.
River misses with a hook to the ribs.
River misses with a body punch.
River lands with a short shot to the head.

River manages to break the clinch.
A punch lands to the side of Karjalainen 's head but he takes it in his stride.
Karjalainen takes one on the chin but seems OK.
Karjalainen looks to score with a jab to the body but River is just out of range.
River tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. Karjalainen manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Karjalainen takes a head kick and shrugs it off.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
River takes one on the button.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Karjalainen uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from River.
Karjalainen is looking to counter the offense by River and move into the clinch.
River jabs Karjalainen right on the nose. Karjalainen blinks but takes it well.
River throws a wild combination but nothing lands.

Karjalainen moves into the clinch.
River struggles to land a body shot inside as Karjalainen controls his hands.
Karjalainen misses with a short punch on the inside.
River misses with a punch to the body.
River blocks a punch to the side of the head.
River stays in close to his opponent and throws a right hand to the body.
River misses with a punch to the body.
River lands a nice looking hook to the body, against the cage.
Karjalainen is trying to stall.
Karjalainen landing knees to the body.
Karjalainen scores with a nice hook to the head.
A head punch on the inside from Karjalainen fails to land.

Karjalainen breaks from the clinch.
Karjalainen connects with a hook to the side of his opponent's head.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
River throws a half hearted mid kick.
River tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Karjalainen was well out of range. Poor timing from River.
Karjalainen misses with a straight left.

River gets in close and instigates a clinch.
Karjalainen takes a shot to the head.
River goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
River misses with a shot to the kidneys.
River pushes Karjalainen back against the cage and lands a hook to the side of the head.
River takes a shot to the head.
River lands a left hand.
River tries to throw a body punch but Karjalainen avoids it by throwing River back against the cage.
River misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Karjalainen prevents a body shot from River.
River works on Karjalainen's body with a couple of short punches.
Karjalainen misses with a punch to the body.
River dodges an elbow strike from Karjalainen.
I was talking to Karjalainen's coach per-fight and he was telling me that they'd been working on the clinch in the runup to this fight.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Karjalainen breaks from the clinch.

River rushes Karjalainen and presses him up against the cage.
Karjalainen working some nice short punches in the clinch.
River blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.

Karjalainen escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Karjalainen thuds a left hand into River's body.

River moves into the clinch.
River avoids a wild elbow strike from Karjalainen.
River tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
River tries to work over Karjalainen's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.

River breaks the clinch.
River looks to score with a jab to the body but Karjalainen is just out of range.
Karjalainen throws a looping overhand right but River ducks down to avoid it.
River looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
River throws a sloppy head kick and Karjalainen moves out of range easily.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A punch lands to the side of Karjalainen 's head but he takes it in his stride.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
A big right from River misses.
River thuds a left hand into Karjalainen's body.
Karjalainen scores with a big left there. The judges will like that one.
River sizes up Karjalainen with a pawing jab and scores with a straight right down the middle.

River moves into the clinch.
River can't find room to land a body shot as Karjalainen controls the action.
An uppercut to the body lands inside from River.
River has a couple of punches blocked by Karjalainen.
River can't find room to land a body shot as Karjalainen controls the action.
Good anti-grappling being displayed by River as Karjalainen tries to tie him up.
River tries to work over Karjalainen's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for River.
River can't find room to land a body shot as Karjalainen controls the action.
Karjalainen misses with the head strike.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Joe River dominated that round.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin!

River is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
It looked like Karjalainen wanted to counter with a hook but didn't fully commit.
Karjalainen lands an overhand left. A wild punch that just about connected.
River tries to clinch but Karjalainen moves out of range.
River looks to land a body kick but Karjalainen moved away.
River tries to clinch up.
It looked like Karjalainen was trying to counter with a body shot coming off that last attack from River.
Karjalainen ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
A big left from River misses.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
River lands a jab to the head.
The fighters circle momentarily. River darts into range and connects with a nice straight punch.
Karjalainen walks into a straight right hand from River.
River lands with a cross to side of his opponent's head.

That's one minute gone in the round.
River's corner calls for a 1-2. River obliges with the 1 part as he scores the single shot and moves back out of range.
Karjalainen throws a front kick aimed at River's knee but River avoids it well.
A head kick misses from River.
Karjalainen throwing a counter right hand but River manages to avoid it.
A combination from Karjalainen does no damage.
River jabbing away but nothing is landing.
Joe River seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Karjalainen throws the left hand but River avoids the punch easily.
River tries to clinch but Karjalainen is having none of it.
River with a body punch. A glancing blow.
Nice defenses there by River.
River pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
River swings and misses with a shot to the body
and Karjalainen counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Karjalainen throws an overhand right that lands on River's shoulder, as River tries to avoid the shot.
River connects with a looping left hand that seems like it dazed Karjalainen momentarily.
River throws a body kick that misses.
Karjalainen is looking for a counter combo.
River misses with a jab, cross combination.
River misses with a wild body shot.
This has been an exciting period of action!
River explodes with a nice body kick and back out of range. Nice work.
River has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
River misses with a straight right.
A slow jab from River misses its intended target.
Karjalainen tries to clinch there but River circles away.
Karjalainen tries to clinch there but River circles away.
Karjalainen takes one on the chin but keeps coming.
River tries to close the distance and clinch up but Karjalainen swats him away and circles back towards the center.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Karjalainen takes a jab right on the kisser.
Karjalainen slips under a jab.
Karjalainen waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract River.
A little jabbing left from River on the counter but it doesn't find it's target.
River throws a jab when Karjalainen was well out of range.
Karjalainen looked to counter with a high kick but didn't commit.
River on the wrong end of an overhand right that came out of nowhere.
Karjalainen takes a head kick and shrugs it off.

River rushes Karjalainen and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.
River doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
River struggles to land a body shot inside as Karjalainen controls his hands.
River wants to break the clinch but can't.
River swings wildly with an uppercut but Karjalainen uses good head movement to avoid it.
A hook to the body from River.
A short left from Karjalainen.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Karjalainen misses with a shot to the kidneys.
A head punch blocked on the inside by River.
A right hook to the body lands for River.
River lands a hook to the side of the head.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Karjalainen goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Karjalainen blocks a body shot from River.
River misses with a punch to the body.
Karjalainen throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but River blocks it with crossed arms.
Karjalainen tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
River goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
River tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Karjalainen's elbow.
Karjalainen will no doubt start fighting again in a minute but for now he's just having a little rest, leaning River up against the cage.
River has been looking to improve his clinch game in recent weeks. Karjalainen seems to have the measure of him in the clinch so far, so let's see if River can turn it around.
Karjalainen blocks a body shot from River.
Karjalainen tries to land knees in the clinch but River avoids the damage to the body.
Karjalainen lands a body shot.
River struggles to land a body shot inside as Karjalainen controls his hands.
Karjalainen tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and River avoids it.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Joe River showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business. This is the final round!

Karjalainen doesn't react quick enough there as he takes a shot to the body.
Karjalainen takes a step back and watches a body kick go sailing past his mid section.
Karjalainen tries to counter by clinching up but River breaks away and moves out of range.
An inside leg kick lands from Karjalainen.
River's corner calls for a 1-2. River obliges with the 1 part as he scores the single shot and moves back out of range.
River throws a jab but it's blocked by Karjalainen.
Karjalainen was looking to counter that move with a punch but didn't quite pull the trigger.
River pivots as if he's going to throw a leg kick but stops half way.
Karjalainen is looking to counter punch.
Joe River seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
River throws a right and a left that both miss.
River wants to clinch up but Karjalainen keeps it at a distance.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
River fails in his attempt to clinch.
Karjalainen thinks about countering with a head kick.

Karjalainen gets tackled into the cage by River. River maintains the clinch.
Karjalainen taking a breather.
Karjalainen cracks River with a nice body shot.

That's one minute gone in the round.
River misses with a hook from the clinch.
Joe River seems to be working more effectively in the clinch in the fight so far.
River scores with a hook to the body.
River working on landing some head shots here - that one got through nicely.
River lands with a quick shot inside that doesn't really do much damage.

River pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Karjalainen keeps the fight on the outside.
River throws a lazy uppercut
and Karjalainen counters with a nice uppercut.
Karjalainen misses with an uppercut. River saw that one coming.
River steps in looking to counter with the mid kick but it doesn't connect.
River lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Karjalainen circles away quickly and effectively.
River throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
Karjalainen feinted there with a counter leg kick.
Karjalainen throws a low kick but his opponent is out of range.
River looks like he wants to counter punch here.
Karjalainen steps to the side to avoid the strikes from River.
Karjalainen is looking to counter with head kicks.
River fakes and then throws a beautiful body shot. Karjalainen looks a bit winded and takes a step backwards to take a breath.
Teemu Karjalainen has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
River connects with a lovely jab that went straight through the gap between Karjalainen's hands.
River throws a body kick but he was well out of range there.
River misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Karjalainen.
River connects with a hook to the side of his opponent's head.
This has been an exciting period of action!
River throws a lazy head kick
and Karjalainen counters with a one-two to the body.
Karjalainen throws a hook to the side of River's head but River sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
Karjalainen drops his hands momentarily and River takes advantage with a crisp shot to the head.
River misses with a straight left.
Karjalainen throws an overhand right that lands on River's shoulder, as River tries to avoid the shot.

River forces Karjalainen back against the cage and clinches.
Karjalainen gets an overhook and lands an elbow to the side of the head.

River breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
River tries to close the distance and clinch up but Karjalainen swats him away and circles back towards the center.
River throws a lazy right hand but Karjalainen sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
It looked like Karjalainen wanted to counter with a hook but didn't fully commit.
River loads up on a big right hand but Karjalainen slips the punch.
River getting the better of the striking in that exchange.
Karjalainen throws a head kick but River moves out of range.
River jabs at Karjalainen's body.
Joe River is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
The fight stays on the outside here - River looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
River uses good footwork to get in and out, landing a nice hook.
River scores with a hook to the body. Karjalainen takes a step back and tries to catch his breath.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
River throws a quick head kick that skims the top of Karjalainen's head.
Karjalainen slips a jab from River.
Karjalainen went nuts there looking for a big combo counter but none of the flurry connected.
River throws a lazy uppercut
and Karjalainen makes him pay by landing a nice hook to the body before moving out of range.

River has closed the distance and engaged Karjalainen in a clinch.
The referee is keeping an eye on Karjalainen - much more stalling and he will separate the fighters.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
River avoids a wild elbow strike from Karjalainen.
River lands a nice uppercut.
River misses with a body punch.
River blocking some punches.
Karjalainen misses with a punch on the inside.
River prevents a body shot from Karjalainen.

And that's the end of the fight!
Joe River comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well River has outworked and out performed his opponent in all aspects of the game today. He was simply too good and the decision should be no more than a formality. 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 Shigeki Sano scores the fight 27:30
Judge Sosuke Kotani scores the fight 27:30
Judge Hirohito Nitta scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Joe River!