PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Jesse Kotkaniemi (ranked 2178 p4p, 263 weight class) and Gaga Gogo (ranked 5706 p4p, 470 weight class). This should be a great matchup!

Kotkaniemi
vs
Gogo

183 cm
20
181 lbs
4 - 3 - 0

186 cm
28
180 lbs
2 - 1 - 0

Good wrestling
Counter fighter
Cardio machine

Dangerous GnP
Counter fighter
Determined

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the middleweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 4 - 3 - 0, fighting out of New York, Jesse Kotkaniemi!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 1 - 0, fighting out of New York, Gaga Gogo!
The judges for this bout are Kenichi Hosakawa, Hirohito Nitta and Yasuomi Hirokawa.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Kotkaniemi jabs at Gogo's body.
Kotkaniemi connects with a looping left hand that seems like it dazed Gogo momentarily.

Kotkaniemi manages to get an easy takedown there - catching Gogo on his heels. He'll look to pass Gogo's guard now, I'm sure.
Kotkaniemi works over Gogo with some ground and pound from guard.
Kotkaniemi trying to control the position from guard on top but Gogo is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Gogo working a defensive guard here.
Kotkaniemi controls from within his opponent's guard.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Kotkaniemi is looking to work some ground and pound but Gogo has wrist control.
Kotkaniemi throws a big right hand that misses.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kotkaniemi looking to pass the guard.
Kotkaniemi wants to control from the top but Gogo keeps moving.
We've been hearing that Kotkaniemi has been drilling a lot of ground and pound in training, so let's see if he get the finish.
Kotkaniemi with a flurry of punches that miss.
Kotkaniemi with a flurry of punches that miss.
Kotkaniemi loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Kotkaniemi content to stall in guard here.
Gogo pulls Kotkaniemi in close to his closed guard and prevents Kotkaniemi from doing any damage or advancing position.
Kotkaniemi works a leg free and moves into half guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Neither fighter has done anything of merit for a good minute or two here and the crowd are not happy about it.
Kotkaniemi is keeping good posture, landing some ground and pound.
Kotkaniemi controlling the action here.
Gogo wants to control but Kotkaniemi is keeping busy.
Neither fighter is being very active at the moment, with Kotkaniemi in particular looking to stall.
Gogo blocking the ground and pound attempt from Kotkaniemi.
Kotkaniemi trying to control from Gogo's half guard. Gogo has other ideas though and has regained full guard.
Gogo is wriggling around but Kotkaniemi manages to pass to half guard.
Kotkaniemi is thwarting Gogo's attempts to control the position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kotkaniemi seems to be taking a bit of a break to think of his next move. He lands a short punch in the meantime.
Kotkaniemi perhaps working for something from half guard, or maybe not. It looks like he's just sitting there.
Kotkaniemi winds up and cracks Gogo with a swinging punch to the side of the head.
Kotkaniemi is thwarting Gogo's attempts to control the position.
Kotkaniemi thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.
Gogo won't allow Kotkaniemi to pass to mount.
Kotkaniemi missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.
Gogo trying to get back to full guard but Kotkaniemi takes advantage of the position and moves to full mount!
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Kotkaniemi lands a couple of good shots and Gogo has given up his back, trying to escape the position!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Gogo breaks Kotkaniemi's hooks off and manages to turn into his guard.
Kotkaniemi tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Gogo scoring with punches to the head and body.
Kotkaniemi throws a couple of weedy looking strikes off his back.
Kotkaniemi wants to sweep but no luck.
Gogo with a nice head shot there.
Kotkaniemi is adopting a defensive guard.
Kotkaniemi looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Gogo works over Kotkaniemi with some ground and pound from guard.
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!
Gogo throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Kotkaniemi works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Both fighters have adopted an aggressive gameplan on the ground!
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Kotkaniemi wants to hit a switch here but Gogo passes into full mount! Oh no, disaster for Kotkaniemi there!
Kotkaniemi wants to control but Gogo is having none of it.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Jesse Kotkaniemi dominated that round.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

Kotkaniemi lands a glancing blow to the side of Gogo's head.

Kotkaniemi shoots in and gets a takedown into half guard. Kotkaniemi showed some decent athleticism there.
Gogo is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Gogo trying to hold on to Kotkaniemi's head to control him but Kotkaniemi postures up.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Gogo has his hands clasped together around Kotkaniemi's back. He's all about the action.
Gogo is trying to defend against the ground and pound but Kotkaniemi scores with a couple of nice shots.
Jesse Kotkaniemi overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Gogo tries to roll over but Kotkaniemi keeps him under control.
Kotkaniemi throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
Kotkaniemi drops an elbow to the side of Gogo's head.
Gogo makes his way to full guard. A much better position for Gogo.
Kotkaniemi has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.
Kotkaniemi sitting in guard, not really doing much.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Kotkaniemi accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Kotkaniemi landing some decent shots from guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Kotkaniemi accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Kotkaniemi throwing strikes but missing.
Kotkaniemi throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Gogo working a defensive guard here.
Gogo might have to switch it up a bit here because his efforts to control Kotkaniemi haven't been going to plan, at least at the current moment in time.
Kotkaniemi is looking to work some ground and pound but Gogo has wrist control.
Kotkaniemi sitting in guard, not really doing much.
Kotkaniemi postures up in Gogo's guard and throws a big left but Gogo blocks it.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kotkaniemi with a nice head shot there.
Kotkaniemi sitting in guard here, content to control.
Kotkaniemi trying to control the position from guard on top but Gogo is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Kotkaniemi is going to have to think about doing something other than just controlling because Gogo is managing to avoid having the position dictated to him.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.
Kotkaniemi cracks a nice hook into Gogo's ribs.
Kotkaniemi scores with a sloppy punch to the body. Not much technique there but it did the business.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Kotkaniemi throws a body shot but no joy.
And Gogo tries to counter it with a takedown but Kotkaniemi pushes his down on his head and steps out.
Kotkaniemi misses with a body shot.
Gogo feints the counter takedown.
Gogo gets his head snapped back by a nice shot there.

Kotkaniemi shoots in and scores a nice double leg takedown into half guard.
Kotkaniemi is keeping good posture, landing some ground and pound.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Gogo is refusing to be controlled, as Kotkaniemi sits in half guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Jesse Kotkaniemi dominated that second round.
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. Let's get this one finished - here comes the final round!

Kotkaniemi scores with a hook to the body. Gogo takes a step back and tries to catch his breath.

Kotkaniemi throws a loose over hand right and dives in with a double leg takedown. Gogo tries to sprawl but it's too late and the fighters hit the mat. Kotkaniemi is in Gogo's guard.
Gogo will have to put a bit more behind his punches if he's going to do any damage from this position.
Gogo preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Kotkaniemi is working Gogo over from the guard. He should look to pass the guard and do a little more damage with these strikes.
Kotkaniemi is intent on slowing down the pace of the fight, simply looking to control.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Kotkaniemi accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Kotkaniemi is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Gogo can do to turn this around?
Gogo is adopting a defensive guard.
Kotkaniemi is looking to work some ground and pound but Gogo has wrist control.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kotkaniemi makes a bit of distance and scores with some ground and pound, still in guard.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Kotkaniemi accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.

Gogo had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Kotkaniemi defends it easily.
Kotkaniemi trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Kotkaniemi with a couple of shots to the head there. Not particularly brutal.
Kotkaniemi working from the guard for now, landing some ground and pound.
Kotkaniemi postures up and lands some nice ground and pound.
Kotkaniemi scores with a decent looking elbow strike.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Gogo trying to control the position.
Kotkaniemi trying to control but Gogo is working from the bottom.
Gogo not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Kotkaniemi trying to control but Gogo is working from the bottom.
Kotkaniemi showing good wrestling skills to control the position.
Gogo preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Kotkaniemi sneaks a leg through and gets to half guard. That was like a knife through butter how easily he passed Gogo's guard.
Kotkaniemi drops an elbow to the side of Gogo's head.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kotkaniemi missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.
Kotkaniemi working some ground and pound from close in. He's looking to maintain this position and strike for a while by the looks of things... although he'll probably advance to full mount in a minute now I've said that.
Gogo keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.
Kotkaniemi with the ground and pound but Gogo uses the opportunity to regain guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Gogo wants to stand and escape but Kotkaniemi is having none of it.
Kotkaniemi is looking to work some ground and pound but Gogo has wrist control.
Kotkaniemi looking to control the position here, rather than advance.
A real slowdown in the pace of the fight for a moment, as Gogo holds on and takes a little breather.
Kotkaniemi wants to pass the guard but Gogo is keeping the position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Kotkaniemi works over Gogo with some ground and pound from guard.
Kotkaniemi postures up and scores with a shot to the body and a follow up elbow to the head.
Gogo keeping full guard, as Kotkaniemi tries to pass.
Gogo is looking to stand up but Kotkaniemi isn't so interested in that idea.
Kotkaniemi chips away with some ground and pound.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Kotkaniemi is just sitting in guard, looking to avoid any submissions.
Gaga Gogo has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Jesse Kotkaniemi is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Kotkaniemi scores with a decent looking elbow strike.

And that's the end of the fight!
Jesse Kotkaniemi showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Kotkaniemi 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 Kenichi Hosakawa scores the fight 30:27
Judge Hirohito Nitta scores the fight 30:27
Judge Yasuomi Hirokawa scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Jesse Kotkaniemi!