PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Char Xiu (ranked 853 p4p, 92 weight class) and Eero Jukola (ranked 3326 p4p, 270 weight class). 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.

Xiu
vs
Jukola

170 cm
21
155 lbs
6 - 0 - 0

165 cm
20
155 lbs
2 - 1 - 0

Powerful takedowns
Excellent MT
Granite chin

Good wrestler
Excellent boxer
Good gas tank

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the featherweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 6 - 0 - 0, fighting out of New York, Char Xiu!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 1 - 0, fighting out of London, Eero Jukola!
The judges for this bout are Daniel Bishop, Steven Brown and Chris Edwards.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Xiu avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
Jukola fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Xiu manages to avoid it.
Jukola takes a swing at Xiu's ribcage but misses.
Xiu lands a nice leg kick that just misses Jukola's sensitive parts.

Jukola gets a double leg takedown into Xiu's guard.
Xiu managing to control the position.
Jukola wants to control from the top but Xiu keeps moving.
Xiu manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Jukola manages to get himself to full guard.

We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Xiu postures up.
Xiu trying to control but Jukola is working from the bottom.
Xiu trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Jukola looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
Jukola keeping moving, preventing Xiu from controlling successfully.
Jukola throwing some rather feeble looking strikes off his back.
Jukola is trying to control the position but Xiu postures up.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

Jukola escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Xiu gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
Xiu working from the guard for now, landing some ground and pound.
Jukola not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Xiu postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Well. There's a bit of a lull in the action here and the crowd are starting to get restless.
Xiu trying to control the position from guard on top but Jukola is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Jukola is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.

Xiu preventing any damage for now, controlling his opponent's head.
Xiu is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Jukola thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.
Xiu moves his hips nicely and gets into full guard.
Xiu tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Xiu is controlling Jukola's posture.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Xiu avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Jukola trying to control the position from guard on top but Xiu is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Xiu trying to keep a closed guard but Jukola is proving a slippery customer.
Jukola lands a couple of elbows.
Xiu is doing well to control the posture of his opponent and prevent any damage.
Jukola trying to control but Xiu is working from the bottom.
Xiu is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.
The referee looks like he's ready to step in and stand the fighters back up.

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.
Jukola postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Xiu has a closed guard, preventing anything of note from happening. Perhaps he's looking to stall.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Xiu fakes with a right hand and throws a good leg kick, right into the thigh. That had to hurt Jukola.
Jukola looks to land a right hand but Xiu moved out of range.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Xiu.
Xiu doesn't manage to clinch there - Jukola circles away.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!

Jukola dives in and scores a takedown into Xiu's guard.
Xiu wants to sweep here but Jukola controlling him for the moment.
Xiu is controlling Jukola's posture.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Eero Jukola dominated that round.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action.

Xiu misses with a low kick.
Jukola lands a body shot.

Xiu gets caught flat footed, as Jukola shoots in with a quick takedown into guard.
Xiu keeping moving, preventing Jukola from controlling successfully.
Jukola in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Jukola is looking to work some ground and pound but Xiu has wrist control.
Xiu looking to hit a scissor sweep but Jukola is one step ahead there.
Jukola lands a couple of decent looking shots.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Jukola wants to control from the top but Xiu keeps moving.
Xiu looking to control.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Jukola distracts Xiu with his right hand and drops a big elbow with his other arm.
Xiu manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Jukola manages to get himself to full guard.

Jukola is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Xiu defends well.
Xiu postures up and lands some nice ground and pound.
Xiu trying to control but Jukola is working from the bottom.
Eero Jukola has got the better of the ground game so far.
Jukola wants to sweep here but Xiu controlling him for the moment.
Xiu sitting in guard here, content to control.
Jukola is trying to keep Xiu in close.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Xiu trying to control but Jukola is working from the bottom.

Jukola looking for a guillotine here but Xiu defends easily.

Jukola looking for a guillotine here but Xiu defends easily.
Xiu is taking a break and basically stalling. The referee will not allow him to do that for long.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Xiu trying to control the position from guard on top but Jukola is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Jukola has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Xiu working in close now, lands a nice elbow to the side of Jukola's head.
Jukola looking to control.
Xiu landing with the ground and pound.
Jukola has his hands on Xiu's head, controlling the position.
Jukola is trying to control the position but Xiu postures up.

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.
Xiu trying to control but Jukola is working from the bottom.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.
Xiu finds nothing but air with that leg kick attempt.
Jukola swings away with a counter right hand but no contact made.
Jukola lands a nice looking body shot.
Jukola misses with a hook to the body
and Jukola takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
Jukola is throwing a lot of body shots here, looking to wear down Xiu rather than just go for the knockout.
Xiu avoids the body shot from Jukola.
Jukola throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Xiu is trying to close the distance and clinch up, after that failed offence from Jukola.
Xiu with a nice cross.
Xiu tries to drive through with a takedown attempt but Jukola defends well and Xiu ends up having to push Jukola into the cage where they will battle it out in the clinch.

Jukola shoots in and scores a nice double leg takedown into half guard.
Jukola is thwarting Xiu's attempts to control the position.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Xiu is going to have to think about doing something other than just controlling because Jukola is managing to avoid having the position dictated to him.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Eero Jukola showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
That's time! Back to the action! Ladies and gentlemen, this is the final round!

Xiu throws a looping overhand right but Jukola ducks down to avoid it.
Xiu shoots for a takedown but Jukola saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
Xiu throws a lazy right hand but Jukola sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Jukola lands a jab to the nose.
Xiu on the wrong end of a decent looking cross there.
An inside leg kick lands from Xiu.
Jukola pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
Jukola uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Xiu.
Sloppy strikes from Xiu. Those never looked like landing.
Eero Jukola seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Jukola lands a slapping body shot.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Jukola swings for the body but Xiu moves out of range.
Xiu swung with a counter right hand that didn't connect.
Xiu thumps Jukola with a low kick.
Xiu lands with a nice low kick. That'll leave a bruise.
Xiu takes a really solid shot there but just smiles back and shrugs his shoulders.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Jukola throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Xiu sees it coming and avoids it easily.
Jukola misses with a lunging right hand
and Xiu counters nicely by changing levels and landing a hook to the body.
Eero Jukola seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Jukola lands a pitter patter jab to the forehead of his opponent.
Jukola lands a right hook to the body.
Jukola takes a nice looking leg kick right on the meat of his thigh there.

Xiu drives through with a takedown into Jukola's guard. Let's see what he can do from the top position.
Xiu trying to control but Jukola is working from the bottom.
Jukola is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.

Xiu is trying to get back to full guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Jukola throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
Xiu tries to get to full guard but Jukola has control of the leg.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Xiu keeping hold of Jukola's head, controlling as best he can.

Jukola is trying to work for a kimura. This could be trouble! No, Xiu has managed to free his arm - good work.
Xiu controlling the position for now.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Jukola looks towards his corner to check for any instructions. The corner give him nothing to work with, so he cracks Xiu with a short hammerfist. I guess that's as good as any advice he could get in this position.
Xiu has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Jukola is working away from the top position though.
Xiu wants to get back to full guard.
Jukola thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.
Xiu works his way to full guard. Good work.
Xiu looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
My spies in ~T~ Troid - Gym inform me that Jukola has been getting involved in the gym's BJJ sparring sessions. Let's see whether that pays dividends!
Jukola connects with a couple of short punches.
Xiu is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Jukola throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Xiu works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Xiu is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Xiu working over Jukola with some ground and pound. Jukola looks like he wants out of this position, which is understandable.
Jukola trying to control but Xiu postures up.
Xiu trying to control from half guard but Jukola is working away.
Jukola is looking for a sweep. Xiu is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Xiu with the ground and pound but Jukola uses the opportunity to regain guard.
Jukola wants to sweep but no luck.
Xiu lands a nice shot whilst sitting in his opponent's guard.
Eero Jukola is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
Xiu won't allow Jukola to sweep him here.
Char Xiu has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Jukola is trying to control the position from the bottom.

And that's the end of the fight!
I would just about give that final round to Eero Jukola.
Well Jukola 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 Daniel Bishop scores the fight 27:30
Judge Steven Brown scores the fight 27:30
Judge Chris Edwards scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Eero Jukola!