PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Rou Joukani (ranked 410 p4p, 1030 weight class) and Konichiwa Jempsa (ranked 63 p4p, 161 weight class). The key to victory for Rou Joukani has got to be keeping the fight on the feet.

Joukani
vs
Jempsa

179 cm
28
175
16 - 13 - 0

170 cm
29
170
20 - 11 - 0

Good wrestling
World class boxer
Insanely flexible

Excellent grappler
Excellent boxer
Good gas tank

Altitude Clothing

Vegan Gains
Altitude Clothing

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the welterweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 16 - 13 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Rou Joukani!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 20 - 11 - 0, fighting out of London, Konichiwa Jempsa!
The judges for this bout are Shirou Masuda, Yasuomi Hirokawa and Kenichi Hosakawa.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Joukani slips a straight right by Jempsa.
Joukani lands a leg kick that knocks Jempsa off balance momentarily.
Joukani throws a lazy right hand but Jempsa sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Jempsa lands a right hook to the body.
Joukani works his jab well there, keeping his opponent at a distance.

It looks like Konichiwa Jempsa has been cut.
Jempsa misses the shot to the body.
Joukani uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Jempsa.
Joukani jinks towards his opponent looking like he wants to counter with a mid kick but doesn't commit.
Jempsa's corner calls for a 1, 2 combination and Jempsa duly obliges.
Jempsa misses with a wild body shot.
Jempsa throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Joukani.
Jempsa fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Joukani manages to avoid it.
Jempsa looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Joukani is fending him off so far but Jempsa persists. Nope, Joukani circles away and we're back to standing.
Joukani slips a jab from Jempsa.
As Jempsa backs away, Joukani returns fire with a leg kick that just misses.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Jempsa with a poor takedown
letting Joukani counter with a right hand.
Jempsa gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily
and Jempsa takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
Rou Joukani has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Konichiwa Jempsa.
Joukani throws out a leg kick but Jempsa moves out of range and Joukani only half commits.
Joukani displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Jempsa.
Jempsa shoots for a double leg takedown but Joukani sprawls well. He's pushed Jempsa's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
Joukani was looking to counter that last move with a shot to the body but he didn't commit.
Jempsa rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Joukani moves out of range and avoids them all easily.

Joukani drops Jempsa with a beautiful combination! Jempsa stares up at his opponent, who ushers him back to his feet - Joukani is looking for the KO!

Jempsa is rocked!
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Jempsa lands a right hook to the body.
Jempsa is still on wobbly legs! Can Joukani finish him?
Rou Joukani is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.

Jempsa scores with a nice takedown into half guard. Let's see what he's got on the ground.
Joukani's coaches at Zenarals' House have been working on his defensive grappling in preparation for this fight so let's see if he can get out of this tricky position.
Joukani keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.
Jempsa seems to have recovered his senses.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Joukani on the receiving end of some nice ground and pound.
Jempsa controlling the pace.
Jempsa throwing shots but Joukani is blocking nicely.
Jempsa missing with the ground and pound from half guard.
Still in half guard, Jempsa seems content to control.
Joukani tries to roll over but Jempsa keeps him under control.
Jempsa thows a huge punch but Joukani dodges it nicely.
Jempsa keeping composed on the top, looking to control the action.
Jempsa looks to score some points with some ground and pound.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Jempsa performing his best blanket impression for a moment.

Jempsa is trying for a guillotine from the top but the pressure isn't in the right place so Joukani is just riding it out for now. Jempsa eventually gives up the hold.

Jempsa is working for submissions here but there's nothing on.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are getting on the fighters' backs, as the pace has dropped off in the last minute or so.
Jempsa performing his best blanket impression for a moment.
Joukani avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Jempsa.
Jempsa slows the pace down in half guard.

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.

Jempsa drives through with a really nice takedown into side control.
Joukani is looking for a sweep.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Konichiwa Jempsa will probably get the nod.
The cut man is working on Konichiwa Jempsa's cut.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin!

Jempsa darts in looking for a takedown but Joukani gets double underhooks and turns Jempsa into the cage.
Jempsa blocks a head kick by Joukani.
Jempsa misses with a lunging right hand
and Joukani counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
Horrible takedown attempt by Jempsa or perhaps it was just good defense by Joukani, which made it look bad.
Joukani misses with a wild body shot.
Jempsa on the wrong end of a nice jab.

That has opened up Konichiwa Jempsa's cut even more.
Jempsa shoots in for a takedown but Joukani shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
Rou Joukani has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Konichiwa Jempsa.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Joukani misses the shot to the body.
Konichiwa Jempsa seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Jempsa fails to land the takedown.
Jempsa tries for a takedown but Joukani sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Jempsa drives through with a really nice takedown into side control.

Jempsa thinks about going for a far side armbar but bails out and retains the dominant position instead.
Jempsa wants to control but Joukani is keeping him busy.
Jempsa moving around in side mount but really he's just happy to control for now.
Jempsa's corner are shouting for him to control the position and he seems happy to oblige.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Joukani holds on to Jempsa's head and controls the position momentarily.
Jempsa is looking to take a break and control but Joukani is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Joukani is looking for a sweep.
Konichiwa Jempsa has got the better of the ground game so far.
Joukani tries to slip a leg under to move to half guard but Jempsa presses down on the leg and jumps into full mount!
Jempsa controlling his opponent.
In the pre-fight buildup videos we saw Jempsa working his ground and pound in the gym. He isn't landing a great percentage of his ground strikes so far though.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Jempsa throwing shots from mount but they're not landing.
Joukani tries to reverse the position but Jempsa maintains control.
Joukani knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Jempsa on the ground.
Jempsa tries to control but Joukani wriggling away.
Jempsa tucks in and makes sure he doesn't lose the dominant position.
Let's hope that Jempsa has the urge to step up the pace any second now because for the last 15 or 20 seconds he's just been holding on tight.

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.
BOOM! Jempsa connects with a massive shot to the dome!
Jempsa lands a couple of good shots and Joukani has given up his back, trying to escape the position!
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
So, who will make the next big move? In this position it could be crucial.
Joukani looks to control his opponent's hands but he's not mananging it at the moment.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Konichiwa Jempsa showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The cut man is working on Konichiwa Jempsa's cut.
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!

Nice takedown defense from Joukani. No joy for Jempsa on that attempt.
Jempsa shoots in looking for a takedown but Joukani manages to keep the fight standing, pushing Jempsa's face into the canvas for good measure before circling away.
Jempsa tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Joukani was well out of range. Poor timing from Jempsa.
Joukani throws a low kick but his opponent is out of range.
Jempsa takes a nice looking leg kick right on the meat of his thigh there.
Jempsa ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Joukani moves away.
It looked like Joukani wanted to counter with a hook but didn't fully commit.
Jempsa shoots in looking for a takedown. Joukani tries to sprawl out of it but Jempsa keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Joukani manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
Rou Joukani has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Konichiwa Jempsa.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Joukani throws a body kick but he was well out of range there.
Jempsa is trying hard to land a takedown here. Joukani sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.
Jempsa shoots in for a takedown but Joukani shows good takedown defense.
Joukani thinks about countering with a head kick.

That's one minute gone in the round.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Jempsa is defended easily by Joukani.

Jempsa closes the distance and gets a double leg, slamming Joukani to the mat! Joukani manages to get full guard.
Joukani working a defensive guard here.
Jempsa looking to control the position here, rather than advance.
Rou Joukani has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Jempsa working some strikes from top position.
Jempsa sitting in guard, not really doing much.
More stalling from Jempsa.
Jempsa has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
Jempsa is sitting in guard, working some ground and pound.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Jempsa postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
The referee is pacing around the two fighters, thinking about a standup.
Jempsa controls from within his opponent's guard.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up.
Jempsa misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Joukani.
Rou Joukani is winning the standup battle so far.
Joukani throws a low kick but Jempsa moves out of range easily.
Jempsa misses with a takedown
and Joukani counters with a nice body shot.
Joukani throws a shot to the body.
Jempsa throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Joukani was looking to counter that move with a punch but didn't quite pull the trigger.
Jempsa shoots in for a takedown but Joukani shows good takedown defense.
Jempsa misses with the combination.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Jempsa shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Joukani but Joukani pushes him off and we're back to square one.
Jempsa shoots and misses
and Joukani connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Jempsa takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Joukani lands a powerful looking uppercut that connected with his opponent's jaw.
Jempsa closes this distance looking for a takedown but Joukani circles away.
Joukani keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
It looked like Joukani was looking amped, ready to throw a big counter but didn't commit.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Nice takedown defense from Joukani. No joy for Jempsa on that attempt.
Joukani is using his height advantage well here, landing a good percentage of his punches.
Joukani throws a head kick that misses
and Jempsa counters with a nice jab to the body that keeps Joukani thinking.
Konichiwa Jempsa is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Joukani tries to score with a low kick but Jempsa moves his leg out of the way.

And that's the end of the fight!
Rou Joukani showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Jempsa 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 Shirou Masuda scores the fight 28:29
Judge Yasuomi Hirokawa scores the fight 28:29
Judge Kenichi Hosakawa scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Konichiwa Jempsa!
During a confident post fight interview, Konichiwa Jempsa thanked all his fans. He seemed very genuine when describing how motivated his fans keep him.