PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Phuc Tran (ranked 5487 p4p, 5355 weight class) and Jere Luokkamaki (ranked 406 p4p, 399 weight class). Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

Tran
vs
Luokkamaki

163 cm
25
148
1 - 1 - 0

170 cm
18
145
1 - 0 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Decent elbows
Granite chin

Good wrestler
Basic striking
Granite chin

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 1 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, Phuc Tran!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Jere Luokkamaki!
The judges for this bout are Colin Fotheringham, William Gold and Andrew Berry.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Tran has managed to clinch.
Luokkamaki lands a hook that snaps the head of Tran backwards.
Luokkamaki misses with a punch to the body.
Luokkamaki working some nice short punches in the clinch.
Tran trying to land knees to the body.
Luokkamaki scores with a shoulder strike.

Tran turns his back and goes for a hip toss. It's a bit messy but it gets the job done and Tran manages to end up in side control.
We could do with one of the fighters taking the initiative a bit more on the ground - they're both waiting to capitalize on a mistake.

Tran looking for an arm triangle but it's way too loose to do anything.

Tran tries for a kimura but Luokkamaki is defending well.

Tran wants to work for a kimura but he's foiled early by Luokkamaki, who protects the arm well.
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!

Tran looking for an arm triangle but it's way too loose to do anything.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Tran is moving around in side control but his primary objective seems to be to maintain the position.
Luokkamaki tries to get back to half guard but can't.
Tran wants to control but Luokkamaki is keeping him busy.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Luokkamaki tries to get back to half guard but can't.
Tran is looking to take a break and control but Luokkamaki is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Tran looks to be in better condition than last time we saw him fight. Obviously he's been working hard on his cardio.

That's two 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.

Tran looking for an arm triangle but it's way too loose to do anything.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Luokkamaki is trying to improve his position.
We get told so often about how wrestlers don't like to be on their backs. Let's see if Luokkamaki can do anything to dispel that myth.

Tran is looking for a kimura. He might have it! No, Luokkamaki has escaped the position, nice work there.

Tran tries for a kimura but Luokkamaki is defending well.
Tran trying to control the position but Luokkamaki is working away.
Luokkamaki felt the need to train up his defensive grappling in the buildup to the fight. Presumably he was expecting to be in a difficult position like this, so let's see if he can get out of it.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.

Tran is in a dominant position here, looking for a kimura. Luokkamaki looks calm but he's in trouble here. Tran gets his leg over his opponent's head and yanks on the arm. Luokkamaki is tapping like a morse code operator on the titanic! SOS! SOS! Tran lets go of the hold and Luokkamaki can pop his arm back in it's socket.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 4:30 of round 1, we have a winner by way of Submission (Kimura). Phuc Tran!