PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Frank Rothco (ranked 4102 p4p, 423 weight class) and Aapo Jukola (ranked 2633 p4p, 308 weight class). I'm sure you'll be fascinated to know that I was talking to some pointless Z list celebrity before the fight and he thought that Aapo Jukola was going to win. Let's see if he was right.

Rothco
vs
Jukola

194 cm
19
210 lbs
3 - 4 - 0

200 cm
20
218 lbs
3 - 0 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Excellent boxer
Very quick

Good wrestler
Good low kicks
Good gas tank

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the light heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 3 - 4 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Frank Rothco!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 3 - 0 - 0, fighting out of London, Aapo Jukola!
The judges for this bout are Kenichi Hosakawa, Yuuki Gou and Yukihiro Shimada.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Jukola delivers a nice body kick.
Rothco throws a poor cross that misses
and Jukola counters with an outside leg kick.
Jukola takes an uppercut right on the button but keeps his composure.
Rothco looks to land a left hand but Jukola moved out of range nicely.
Aapo Jukola seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Rothco checks a leg kick.
Jukola scores with a nice right hand.
Jukola changes levels and scores with a jab to the body.
Rothco avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
Rothco tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Jukola paws at his opponent with the jab and then lunges in with a straight, right on the button.
Jukola misses with a series of wild punches.
Jukola waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Rothco.
Jukola buckles his opponent's knee momentarily with a nice leg kick.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Rothco dodges the punch combination from Jukola.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Jukola's jab looks to have found its range, popping Rothco under the eye.
A looping hook to the body misses from Rothco. Jukola does a little dance to reset his feet.
Jukola throws a body kick that sends a sickening thudding noise reverberating around the arena.
Jukola misses with a looping left.
Jukola throws the kick towards the body but Rothco avoids it.
A big right from Jukola misses.
Rothco fires out a quick counter leg kick but Jukola just manages to avoid it.
Rothco chopped to the floor by a nice leg kick but he springs right back up before Jukola can pounce on him.
Jukola misses with a jab to the body
and Rothco counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Rothco looks to land a left hand but Jukola moved out of range nicely.
Jukola feints a counter leg kick.

Jukola clinches.
Rothco is trying to push Jukola away but Jukola has him pressed against the cage, so he's going nowhere.
Jukola prevents a body shot from Rothco.
Jukola pushes Rothco back against the cage and lands a hook to the side of the head.
Jukola told us before the fight that he's been working on his elbows. An under utilised technique these days - let's see if it can sway the outcome of the fight.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Jukola lands a body punch.
Jukola has Rothco pressed against the cage, preventing Rothco from circling away and getting back to striking at range.
Rothco can't find room to land a body shot as Jukola controls the action.
Good body shot from Jukola.
Jukola lands with a right to the head.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Jukola lands a body shot.
Jukola creates a bit of space for himself and sneaks an elbow through Rothco's defenses.

It looks like Frank Rothco has been cut.
A short uppercut from Jukola.
Jukola keeps control of Rothco as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.
Rothco throws a head punch that misses.
Jukola stays in close to his opponent and throws a right hand to the body.
Rothco tries to throw a body punch but Jukola avoids it by throwing Rothco back against the cage.
Jukola lands a body punch.
Nice body punch from Jukola - that landed with a thud.
Jukola scores with a nice hook to the head.
A shot in the inside from Jukola.
Jukola softening up his opponent with strikes, against the cage.
The crowd applaud the fighters' efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Jukola pushes Rothco back against the cage and lands a hook to the side of the head.
Jukola digs a right hand underneath Rothco's ribcage. Rothco let out a lung full of air as it connected.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Aapo Jukola dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Frank Rothco's cut.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

Jukola ducks down and throws a hook to the body.
Rothco throws a body punch but Jukola moves out of range.
Rothco lands with a cross.
Rothco throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Rothco definitely looks more muscular than last time we saw him fight.
Aapo Jukola seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Rothco misses with a hook to the body
and Jukola counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Jukola has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
The fighters circle momentarily. Rothco darts into range and connects with a nice straight punch.
Rothco sizes up Jukola with a pawing jab and scores with a straight right down the middle.
Rothco slips a jab from Jukola.
Jukola moves out of range of the strikes.
Rothco with a nice cross.
Rothco misses with a body shot.
Rothco with a body punch. A glancing blow.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Jukola connects with an inside leg kick.
Jukola swings and misses with a shot to the body
and Rothco counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rothco throws a feint and then finishes with a kick to the body.
Rothco just misses with a punch to the body.
Rothco throws a wild body kick that Jukola sees coming a mile off.
We are yet to see a takedown attempt from Jukola in the fight. On paper you would think he is the more dominant ground fighter so let's see if these unusual tactics pay off.
Jukola throws a body shot but no joy.
It looked like Rothco was trying to counter with a body shot coming off that last attack from Jukola.
Rothco throws a chopping leg kick but Jukola manages to avoid taking any serious damage.
Rothco paws at his opponent with the jab and then lunges in with a straight, right on the button.
Rothco missing with a left hand there. Jukola was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
Jukola doesn't fully commit to the body shot counter.
Jukola throws a low kick but Rothco avoids it.
Rothco swings for the body but Jukola moves out of range.
This fight brought to you by 5M nutrition - it's mmmmm tasty. Nice jab by Rothco.
Rothco lets the fists fly and connects with a left straight followed by a right hook.

Jukola instigates a clinch.
A nice right hand lands inside from Jukola.
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!
Jukola lands a right hand that snaps the head of Rothco backwards.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Jukola works on Rothco's body with a couple of short punches.
A nice left hand lands by Jukola.
Aapo Jukola seems to be working more effectively in the clinch in the fight so far.
Rothco working aggressively here.
A quick uppercut on the inside from Jukola.
Rothco misses with a hook to the ribs.
Jukola keeps the fight in the clinch, despite Rothco's efforts to push away.
Nice elbow from Jukola.
Jukola lands a glancing elbow in the clinch.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Jukola.
Rothco takes an elbow to the forehead.

Rothco is rocked!

Frank Rothco's cut is getting worse.
Rothco struggles to land a body shot inside as Jukola controls his hands.
Oh Rothco is still all over the place! His legs are completely gone! Will he be able to recover?!!
Rothco has had enough of the clinch and is looking to separate.
A short uppercut from Jukola.
The crowd applaud the fighters' efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Jukola lands a body shot.
Jukola makes some space for himself and lands an uppercut.
Jukola lands a right hand.
Jukola scores with a shot to the side of Rothco's head.
Rothco goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Aapo Jukola will probably get the nod - 10:9.
The cut man is working on Frank Rothco's cut.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business. This is the final round!

Jukola throws a shot from downtown. Rothco moves away and avoids it.
Rothco takes a shot to the eye socket. That's gotta hurt.
Rothco connects with a body shot that sends Jukola's belly button to the back.
Jukola is looking to slow Rothco down with leg kicks.
Jukola scoring well with a low kick there.
Rothco connects with a crisp jab.
Jukola throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Rothco is looking to counter punch.
Rothco seems to have got his legs back now.
Jukola fakes a couple of low kicks, before throwing one on the third attempt. It connects and Rothco has to reset his feet before getting ready to engage.
A looping hook to the body misses from Jukola. Rothco does a little dance to reset his feet.
Rothco throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Jukola is clearly trying to counter these attacks from Rothco with a body shot.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
This fight brought to you by 5M nutrition - it's mmmmm tasty. Nice jab by Jukola.
Jukola thuds a left hand into Rothco's body.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Rothco lands a two punch combo.
Jukola lands a straight punch to the body, keeping Rothco at a distance.
Jukola takes one to the chin there.
Frank Rothco has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's one minute gone in the round.
Jukola throws an overhand right that lands on Rothco's shoulder, as Rothco tries to avoid the shot.
Jukola chopping away at his opponent's legs.
Rothco tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Rothco throws a shot from downtown. Jukola moves away and avoids it.
Jukola takes a head kick and keeps coming.
Rothco on the wrong end of a vicious looking body shot.
Aapo Jukola is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Jukola lands a leg kick. The shin dug right into the meat of the thigh.
Jukola cracks a nice hook into Rothco's ribs.
Rothco is hobbling a little on that front leg after taking quite a few leg kicks so far in this fight.
The crowd cheers as Jukola lands an impressive looking overhand right. Rothco doesn't seem phased though.
Thud! ouch! good body kick from Jukola - that will leave a mark!
Rothco slips under a jab from Jukola.
Rothco moves forwards but Jukola connects with a nice, crisp jab.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Rothco pulls out of a head kick attempt.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Rothco throws a lazy uppercut
and Jukola makes the exchange count by landing a cracking kick to the body. Rothco really felt that one!
A decent looking cross lands there for Jukola.
Jukola lands with a nice body punch.
Jukola uses good footwork to get in and out, landing a nice hook.
Rothco throws an overhand right that lands on Jukola's shoulder, as Jukola tries to avoid the shot.
Rothco backing away here, and Jukola unleashes a leg kick that just misses.
Jukola bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
Jukola lands a front kick.
Jukola buckles his opponent's knee momentarily with a nice leg kick.
Jukola lands a jab to Rothco's midsection.
Jukola takes a swing at Rothco's ribcage but misses.
The crowd applaud the fighters' efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Rothco walks straight into a jab right on the nose. That one stung - he's blinking and trying to clear his head.
Rothco swings for the body but Jukola moves out of range.
Rothco tries to check a leg kick but that clearly hurt him.

And that's the end of the fight!
Aapo Jukola comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
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 Kenichi Hosakawa scores the fight 27:30
Judge Yuuki Gou scores the fight 28:30
Judge Yukihiro Shimada scores the fight 28:29

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