PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Jarkko Ahola (ranked 1212 p4p, 1281 weight class) and DeeJay Dawkins (ranked 163 p4p, 168 weight class). Jarkko Ahola had a look across the cage there at his opponent. He definitely means business

Ahola
vs
Dawkins

190 cm
29
255
8 - 3 - 0

195 cm
32
237
14 - 10 - 0

Good wrestling
Excellent boxer
Very quick

Good wrestler
Excellent boxer
Powerful

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 8 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Jarkko Ahola!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 14 - 10 - 0, fighting out of London, DeeJay Dawkins!
The judges for this bout are James Atkins, Phil Schofield and Daniel Bishop.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Dawkins throws a looping overhand right but Ahola ducks down to avoid it.
Ahola misses with a hook.
Dawkins drops down looking to force a counter takedown but Ahola defends it well.
Dawkins bobs and weaves and throws out a fast jab that snaps Ahola's head backwards.
Ahola dips to his left and cracks Dawkins with an uppercut!
Ahola keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
A shot to the liver by Ahola. Beautiful body shot.
Ahola throws a shot from downtown. Dawkins moves away and avoids it.
A countering left hand to the body from Dawkins misses.
A decent looking cross lands there for Ahola.
Dawkins slips under a jab.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Ahola throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
Dawkins feints the counter takedown.
Ahola lands a powerful looking uppercut that connected with his opponent's jaw.
Dawkins looks more muscular than last time we saw him. He must have been on the weights.
Ahola misses with a body shot.
Ahola comes forward and lands a shot to the body, then darts back out of range.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Dawkins shoots in for a takedown but Ahola shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
Dawkins thows a left - swing and a miss!
Ahola throws a jab but it's blocked by Dawkins.
Dawkins avoids the body shot from Ahola.
Ahola feints a straight left to the body, then turns around with a flashy move and hits Dawkinss jaw with a dramatic spinning back fist!
Dawkins looks to land a left hand but Ahola moved out of range nicely.
Ahola rushes in with a sloppy looking punch

and Dawkins counters with a single leg into guard. Ahola didn't expect that.
Dawkins trying to control but Ahola is working from the bottom.
Dawkins with a flurry of punches that miss.
Dawkins trying to control but Ahola is working from the bottom.
Dawkins throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Ahola works some decent striking defense from the bottom.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Dawkins throws a big right hand that misses.
Dawkins in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Dawkins throws a big right hand that misses.
Dawkins throwing strikes but missing.
Ahola keeping moving, preventing Dawkins from controlling successfully.
Dawkins loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Dawkins scoring with punches to the head and body.
Dawkins postures up in Ahola's guard and throws a big left but Ahola blocks it.
Ahola 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.
Ahola utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Jarkko Ahola seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Ahola lands with a two punch combination before moving back out of range.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Dawkins loads up on a big right hand but Ahola slips the punch.
Nice defenses there by Ahola.
Ahola lands a jab to Dawkins's midsection.
Ahola lands a lovely overhand right.
A jab from Dawkins misses.
Ahola throws a hook but Dawkins avoids it easily.
Ahola misses with a wild body shot.
Dawkins changes levels for a counter takedown but doesn't follow through with his attempt.
Dawkins ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
Ahola throws a body punch but Dawkins moves out of range.
Dawkins tries a counter takedown but it's more of a dummy move, and he uses it to push himself away.
Ahola connects with a good right hand that stumbles Dawkins. Dawkins circles away out of range and recomposes himself.
Dawkins misses with a straight right.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Ahola connects with a slap. Keep your fist closed son.
Ahola swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
Dawkins feints the counter takedown.
Ahola ducks right into an uppercut from Dawkins.
Dawkins throws a jab when Ahola was well out of range.
Ahola just misses with a punch to the body.
Dawkins walks into a stiff left hand from Ahola.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Ahola lands a glancing blow to the side of Dawkins's head.
Dawkins takes a big uppercut there. He seems a bit wobbly but no, he's OK.
Ahola stuns Dawkins with a nice body shot, before stepping back out of range.
Ahola tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Dawkins was well out of range. Poor timing from Ahola.
Dawkins drops down looking to force a counter takedown but Ahola defends it well.
Dawkins jabbing away but nothing is landing.
Dawkins just misses with a punch to the body.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Jarkko Ahola dominated that round.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare each other down, ready to get back to the action.

Ahola misses with a wild body shot.
Dawkins is definitely looking for the counter takedowns here.
Ahola just misses with a punch to the body.
Ahola throws a hook but Dawkins avoids it easily.
Dawkins drops down looking to force a counter takedown but Ahola defends it well.
Dawkins thows a left - swing and a miss!
Dawkins is pinned up against the cage taking some big shots here. The referee is looking closely deciding whether he should stop the fight.
Ahola ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Dawkins moves away.
Dawkins takes a body punch that cleary hurt but he's trying not to show any weakness.
Dawkins on the wrong end of a nice jab.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Ahola lands the left hand.
Dawkins has his head snapped back a nice jab. A little nod from Dawkins there as he acknowledges the shot.
It looks like Ahola has been trying to sharpen up his punching technique, as it looks crisper than last time we saw him.
A left lands for Ahola.
Ahola misses with a wild body shot.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Ahola throws a body shot but no joy.
Ahola takes a hook to the side of the head. I wonder if that's got his ears ringing.
Ahola lands a right hook to the body.
Dawkins gets cracked there but stands up to it.
Ahola lands a right hook to the body.
Ahola throws a body shot but no joy.
Dawkins misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
Dawkins takes a punch right to his stomach. That took the wind out of him momentarily.
Dawkins on the wrong end of a vicious looking body shot.
Dawkins might want to mix his strikes up a bit more. He's just going for head shots at the moment and that can become a bit predictable.
Ahola jabs. That one connects to the head of his opponent.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Ahola jabs Dawkins right on the nose. Dawkins blinks but takes it well.
Ahola is looking to clinch.
Ahola lands the left hand.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Ahola with a body punch. A glancing blow.
Ahola cracks a nice hook into Dawkins's ribs.
Dawkins slips a jab from Ahola.
Jarkko Ahola is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Ahola with a body punch. A glancing blow.
Ahola bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
Ahola scores with a jab to the body.
Ahola fakes a head punch and goes low to the body. Nicely done.
Ahola scores with a jab.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Ahola wants to clinch.
Dawkins stooping low to avoid any incoming strikes and then lunges in with an uppercut come cross that lands flush.
Good shot there by Ahola.
Dawkins doesn't react quick enough there as he takes a shot to the body.
Dawkins tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Ahola paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Dawkins ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
Dawkins misses with a hook. Ahola ducked under it nicely.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Dawkins connects with the punch.
Ahola scores with a hook.
Ahola ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
Dawkins looks for a takedown but Ahola sprawls well.
Ahola looks to land a right hand but Dawkins moved out of range.
Dawkins tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Ahola paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Dawkins defending well as Ahola loads up on a big left hand.
A swing and a miss from Dawkins.
Ahola throws a hook to the side of Dawkins's head but Dawkins sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
Ahola throws a body shot but no joy.
Dawkins tries a counter takedown but it's more of a dummy move, and he uses it to push himself away.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Jarkko Ahola dominated that second round.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare each other down, ready to get back to the action. This is the final round!

Ahola lands a jab.
Dawkins uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Ahola.
Ahola looks to land a right hand but Dawkins moved out of range.
Dawkins takes a shot right to the bread basket.
Ahola pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
Ahola paws at his opponent with the jab and then lunges in with a straight, right on the button.
Ahola misses with a looping right.
Ahola lands a pitter patter jab to the forehead of his opponent.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Ahola misses with an uppercut

and Dawkins counters with a takedown into side control! That could mean trouble for Ahola!
Dawkins is trying to ground and pound but Ahola uses the momentary lack of control by Dawkins to regain half guard.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Dawkins seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Ahola does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.
Dawkins has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Dawkins not landing any meaningful shots this time.
Ahola keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.
Dawkins not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
Dawkins not landing any meaningful shots this time.
Dawkins wants to control but Ahola is keeping him busy.
Ahola avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Dawkins.
Dawkins throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
Ahola is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Dawkins can do to turn this around?
Dawkins looks to score some points with some ground and pound.
Dawkins not landing any meaningful shots this time.
Ahola taking some punishment here, with Dawkins in his half guard.
Ahola blocking the ground and pound attempt from Dawkins.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Dawkins missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.
Dawkins thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Ahola's head.
DeeJay Dawkins has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Dawkins thows a huge punch but Ahola dodges it nicely.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Dawkins not landing any meaningful shots this time.
Dawkins sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Ahola defending well though.
The referee wants the fighters to be more active or he's going to reset them on the feet.
Ahola on the receiving end of some nice ground and pound.
Dawkins thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Ahola's head.
Dawkins throwing shots but Ahola is blocking nicely.
Ahola has hold of Dawkins's hands but Dawkins slips his arm to the side and lands an elbow.
Ahola trying to hold on to Dawkins's head to control him but Dawkins postures up.
DeeJay Dawkins has got the better of the ground game so far.
Ahola avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Dawkins.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.

Dawkins rushes Ahola and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.
Dawkins tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Ahola avoids it.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Good body shot from Ahola.
Dawkins has a pretty nasty looking mouse under his right eye.
Dawkins's head jolts backwards as he takes an uppercut right on the button!
Ahola tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Dawkins's elbow.
Dawkins misses with a hook from the clinch.
Dawkins lands with a light punch inside.
A nice left hand lands by Ahola.
Ahola is pressed up against the cage. Dawkins has hold of a leg and is looking to drag Ahola down to the mat. Ahola avoids the attempt though and has circled away. We're back to striking at a distance.
Ahola sizes up Dawkins with a pawing jab and scores with a straight right down the middle.
Ahola lands a jab.
Dawkins is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Jarkko Ahola is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
A shot to the liver by Ahola. Beautiful body shot.
Ahola pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
Dawkins drops down looking to force a counter takedown but Ahola defends it well.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Ahola keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
Good shot there by Ahola.
Dawkins on the wrong end of an overhand right that came out of nowhere.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Dawkins swings and misses with a shot to the body

and Ahola counters by moving into the clinch.
Dawkins tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Dawkins misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Dawkins misses with some punches.
Dawkins is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Ahola is defending well for now.
Dawkins swings away with an uppercut that misses.

And that's the end of the fight!
That was a close round. You could make an argument for either fighter but I would give it to Jarkko Ahola.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Ahola, winning every round. Will the judges agree? They are the ones who matter, even if they are often depressingly incompetent. 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 James Atkins scores the fight 30:27
Judge Phil Schofield scores the fight 30:27
Judge Daniel Bishop scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Jarkko Ahola!
An out of breath Jarkko Ahola thanked his loyal fans in his post fight interview, giving them credit for his success over the course of his career.