PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Johannes Sjogras (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Nakuka Kunaka (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). We have two fighters making their debuts here, so let's see who comes out of this one with their first professional victory.

Sjogras
vs
Kunaka

196 cm
22
202 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

190 cm
22
210 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Solid boxing
Granite chin

BJJ Blue Belt
Basic striking
Tends to cut

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 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Johannes Sjogras!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Nakuka Kunaka!
The judges for this bout are Anni Minnemäki, Roosa Järviläinen and Matti Vanhoillinen.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Sjogras leaves Kunaka with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
Sjogras shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Kunaka pinned against the cage. Kunaka gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
Kunaka throws a nice head kick!

Sjogras has managed to clinch.

Kunaka breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Kunaka has a takedown stuffed.
No luck for Sjogras with that takedown attempt.
Kunaka fails with a takedown attempt.
Johannes Sjogras has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Nakuka Kunaka.
Kunaka throws a sloppy head kick and Sjogras moves out of range easily.
Kunaka shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Sjogras defends it nicely.

Sjogras clinches with his opponent.
Sjogras avoiding damage.
A battle for position here, against the cage.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Sjogras can't break the clinch.
Kunaka lands an elbow just above Sjogras 's eye.

It looks like Johannes Sjogras has been cut.
Kunaka with an attempt at a knee that misses.
Sjogras is trying to force a seperation but Kunaka has the dominant position.
Sjogras can't get the takedown.
Sjogras is pressed up against the cage. Kunaka has hold of a leg and is looking to drag Sjogras down to the mat. Sjogras avoids the attempt though and has circled away. We're back to striking at a distance.
Kunaka fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
Kunaka fails with a takedown attempt.
Kunaka looks gassed!
Sjogras tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Kunaka swivels and escapes.
Kunaka misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Sjogras.
Sjogras throws a series of punches but Kunaka moves out of range.
Sjogras tries to clinch but Kunaka moves out of range.
Sjogras tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Kunaka swivels and escapes.
Sjogras shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Kunaka sprawls well. Kunaka wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Sjogras gets slowly back to his feet.
Kunaka misses with a takedown attempt - Sjogras sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Kunaka fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
Sjogras misses with a few strikes there.
Kunaka tries to close the distance and clinch but Sjogras swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.

Sjogras drives through with a takedown into guard.
Sjogras pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Kunaka is keeping the position for now.
Sjogras content to stall in guard here.
Sjogras wants to get up but he can't break Kunaka's closed guard. He needs to be careful trying to break the legs open, as he's open to submissions here.
Sjogras's corner is telling him to maintain position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Kunaka throws his legs up looking for a submission but Sjogras uses it to pass to side control.
Sjogras controlling the position.

Sjogras decides to stand back up. Sjogras steps back and let's Kunaka get back to his feet.
Nakuka Kunaka seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Sjogras.
Kunaka misses with a hook. Sjogras ducked under it nicely.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Kunaka shoots in for a double leg but Sjogras sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
Sjogras moves into range and connects with a jab.
Kunaka stuffs the takedown attempt from Sjogras. Sjogras gets slowly back to his feet.
Sjogras shoots in for a double leg but Kunaka sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
Kunaka slaps away a takedown attempt from Sjogras, before circling back to the center of the mat.

The fighters are starting to get sweaty, which will make takedowns a bit more tricky.
Kunaka shoots in for a takedown and gets it.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Kunaka wants to pass the guard but Sjogras is defending well.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Kunaka thows a huge punch but Sjogras dodges it nicely.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Johannes Sjogras dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Johannes Sjogras's cut.
That's time! Back to the action!

Kunaka fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
Sjogras throws a chopping leg kick but Kunaka manages to avoid taking any serious damage.
Sjogras throws a head kick but Kunaka moves out of range.
Sjogras fails with a takedown attempt.
Kunaka misses with a looping left.
Sjogras tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Kunaka swivels and escapes.
Kunaka shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Sjogras as he avoids it easily.
Sjogras shoots for a double leg takedown but Kunaka sprawls well. He's pushed Sjogras's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Johannes Sjogras. That's going to take a lot out of him.
A shot to de liver by Sjogras. Beautiful body shot.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Sjogras keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
The fight stays on the outside here - Sjogras looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Sjogras lands a nice shot that snaps Kunaka's head back.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kunaka keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
Kunaka gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily
and Sjogras counters with a one-two to the body.
Sjogras has a takedown stuffed.
Kunaka throws a nice head kick!
Kunaka misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
Sjogras tries to clinch there but Kunaka circles away.
Kunaka has his takedown stuffed
and Sjogras counters with a three punch combination, finished off with a leg kick. Nice work.

Sjogras instigates a clinch.
Sjogras prevents the takedown attempt.
Sjogras looks like he'd prefer to be striking at range right now.
Kunaka wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Sjogras has him pressed against the cage.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Some stalling of biblical proportions here from Sjogras.
Sjogras wants a takedown.

Kunaka has clasped his hands together around Sjogras's back... aaand, he's got a takedown into side control. Nicely done.
Kunaka misses with the ground and pound.

Kunaka goes for an armbar here - this could be all over! But no, Sjogras has escaped beautifully and is now on top in side control! Oh, that's unlucky for Kunaka but great work by Sjogras.

Sjogras tries for a kimura. Not really close to a finish though.
Sjogras working away.
Sjogras knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Kunaka on the ground.
Sjogras just content to control the position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kunaka is looking to reverse the position.
Kunaka is letting Sjogras control him for a moment.

Sjogras stands up and we're back to a striking position.
Sjogras misses with a jab, cross combination.
Good work by Kunaka as he checks the leg kick.
Kunaka misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.

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.
Sjogras shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Kunaka sprawls well. Kunaka wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Sjogras gets slowly back to his feet.
Nice takedown defense from Sjogras. No joy for Kunaka on that attempt.
Sjogras bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.

Sjogras moves into the clinch.
A hook to the body from Sjogras.
Sjogras is pushing Kunaka up against the cage, for a bit of lean and pray action. Action being used the in the loosest possible sense of the word.
Sjogras changes levels and goes for a takedown here. Kunaka fights it off and pushes away nicely.
Kunaka looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.

Sjogras moves into range and clinches up with Kunaka.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Johannes Sjogras dominated that second round.
The cut man is working on Johannes Sjogras's cut.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action! Let's get this one finished - here comes the final round!

Sjogras will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
Sjogras shoots in for a takedown but Kunaka shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
Kunaka darts in trying to clinch

and Sjogras moves into the clinch.
Sjogras is looking to break free of the clinch but Kunaka has double underhooks.
Kunaka displaying some good clinch control by pressing Sjogras up against the cage.
Sjogras tries to score a body lock takedown but Kunaka shows good agility there to stay on his feet.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Johannes Sjogras. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Kunaka trying to land knees to the body.
Kunaka lands an elbow just above Sjogras 's eye.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Kunaka tries to pull guard but Sjogras holds him up against the cage and eventually Kunaka drops back down to his feet.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Sjogras can't get the takedown.
Kunaka lands a nice elbow.
Sjogras is pressed up against the cage. Kunaka has hold of a leg and is looking to drag Sjogras down to the mat. Sjogras avoids the attempt though and has circled away. We're back to striking at a distance.
Kunaka throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Sjogras's waist but Sjogras gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Kunaka off to one side.

Sjogras closes the distance and clinches.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Sjogras gets double underhooks to prevent a takedown attempt from Kunaka.
Sjogras has Kunaka pressed up against the cage and is working for takedown. Kunaka manages to improve position though and keeps the fight standing.
Sjogras gets double underhooks to prevent a takedown attempt from Kunaka.
Kunaka tries to land a knee to the head but Sjogras blocks with his arms.
Sjogras lands a right hand.
Sjogras is trying to break the clinch but Kunaka has him pressed against the cage.
Sjogras tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. Kunaka just stands there and leans against the cage.
Both fighters working to control the clinch.

Sjogras successfully pulls guard.
Kunaka trying to control the position from guard on top but Sjogras is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Kunaka working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Kunaka throws a strike but Sjogras rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.
Sjogras is in close to Kunaka's body, working some short punches and elbows.
Sjogras stopping the sweep attempt from Kunaka.
Sjogras has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.

Kunaka escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Sjogras gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
Sjogras looking to pass the guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Nice takedown defense from Kunaka. No joy for Sjogras on that attempt.
Sjogras misses with a jab, cross combination.
Sjogras throws a head kick that misses.
Kunaka with a lazy takedown attempt
and Sjogras counters with a nice jab to the body that keeps Kunaka thinking.
Sjogras takes a kick to the side of the head.
Sjogras is looking to clinch.
Sjogras takes a step back and watches a body kick go sailing past his mid section.
Sjogras fails with a takedown attempt.
Kunaka lands a front kick.
Sjogras doesn't succeed with the takedown
and Kunaka counters with a solid body kick.
Johannes Sjogras is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.

That's four 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.
No luck with that takedown attempt from Sjogras.

Sjogras clinches up with Kunaka and pushes him back against the cage.

Kunaka breaks the clinch.
Kunaka doesn't manage to clinch there - Sjogras circles away.
A punch combination from Sjogras misses.

Sjogras moves into the clinch successfully.
Sjogras gets double underhooks to prevent a takedown attempt from Kunaka.
Kunaka jumps guard but his hands slip and he falls flat on his back. Well, he's made himself look a right mug there, as Sjogras walks away with a smile on his face. Kunaka gets slowly back to his feet and shakes his head.
Sjogras blocks a head kick by Kunaka.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Sjogras is moving around nicely and scores here with a single head shot.
Kunaka is on the wrong end of a nice combination from Sjogras.
Sjogras tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Kunaka swivels and escapes.
Nakuka Kunaka has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Johannes Sjogras is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Nice defenses there by Sjogras.

And that's the end of the fight!
Johannes Sjogras showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Sjogras has outscored his opponent in every aspect of the fight today. Only a scarily incompetent judge or two will keep him from a well deserved win... 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 Anni Minnemäki scores the fight 30:27
Judge Roosa Järviläinen scores the fight 30:27
Judge Matti Vanhoillinen scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Johannes Sjogras!