PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Olli Jokinen (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Kublai Congo (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Jokinen comes to the cage accompanied by Prodigy - Poison. Congo has chosen Lil' Jamal - Genetic For Terror as his entrance music. Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

Jokinen
vs
Congo

183 cm
36
185 lbs
33 - 14 - 2

179 cm
30
199 lbs
23 - 14 - 1

Abu Dhabi Champ
World class boxer
Insanely flexible

Good wrestler
Excellent MT
Good gas tank

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the middleweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 33 - 14 - 2, fighting out of Helsinki, Olli Jokinen!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 23 - 14 - 1, fighting out of Montreal, Kublai Congo!
The judges for this bout are Anni Minnemäki, Tarja Halkonen and Marco Blurström.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Jokinen checks the leg kick nicely there.
Jokinen throws a solid leg kick but Congo takes the impact on his shin and smiles at Jokinen.
Congo dives in and grabs Jokinen's left leg, looking for a takedown. Jokinen pushes down on Congo's head and hops out.
Congo lands an overhand right.
Congo fakes with a right hand and throws a good leg kick, right into the thigh. That had to hurt Jokinen.
A telegraphed right hand from Congo misses the target.
Jokinen throws a head kick that misses.

Congo throws the overhand right but ducks down into a quick takedown attempt. Jokinen was covering up waiting for the punch and Congo finishes the takedown easily into guard.
Congo trying to control the position from guard on top but Jokinen is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Congo being controlled here momentarily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Jokinen trying to keep a closed guard but Congo is proving a slippery customer.
Congo stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Jokinen swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Congo keeps in close for a moment and lands a decent shot to the side of Jokinen's head.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Congo accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Congo wants to control from the top but Jokinen keeps moving.
Congo postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.

Congo drops back looking for a leg! Jokinen is in trouble here! The fighters roll with the hold and Jokinen manages to kick Congo off! Congo jumps back into Jokinen's guard.
Congo trying to control but Jokinen is working from the bottom.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Jokinen is pulling down on Congo's head to control his posture.
Jokinen wants to sweep but no luck.
Congo wants to pass the guard but Jokinen is keeping the position.
Jokinen tries to land a sweep but no joy.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Olli Jokinen has forced the referee to step in and bring the fight back to the feet.
Jokinen uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Congo.
Jokinen throws a hook to the side of Congo's head but Congo sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
Congo showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Jokinen.
Congo tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Jokinen was well out of range. Poor timing from Congo.
Jokinen tries to land a leg kick but Congo saw it coming and moves away.
Jokinen throws a good cross that connects.
Congo loads up on a big right hand but Jokinen slips the punch.
Olli Jokinen is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Jokinen looking to take his opponent's legs away with the low kicks.
Congo blocks a head kick by Jokinen.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Congo throws a shot to the body.
Jokinen checks a leg kick.
Jokinen throws a head kick but Congo moves out of range.
Congo connects with a body shot.
Jokinen throws a nice outside leg kick.
A head kick misses from Jokinen.
Jokinen looks for the body kick but Congo saw that one coming.
Jokinen tries to work over Congo's front leg with a kick but Congo checks it.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Congo works the jab nicely.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Congo swings and misses with a hook to the body.

Congo manages to get an easy takedown there - catching Jokinen on his heels. He'll look to pass Jokinen's guard now, I'm sure.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Kublai Congo dominated that round.
That's the end of the interval. I'm sure that seemed a lot quicker than a minute for our two fighters! Back to the action.

Jokinen tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Jokinen tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Congo looks to score with a jab to the body but Jokinen is just out of range.
Jokinen misses with a low kick.
Jokinen is looking to score with low kicks.
Congo checks a low kick from Jokinen.
Jokinen attempts a low kick but it misses it's target.
Jokinen steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Congo.
Jokinen lands a head kick!

It looks like Kublai Congo has been cut.
Congo tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Jokinen was well out of range. Poor timing from Congo.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Jokinen keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Congo.
Congo avoids the head kick by Jokinen.
Congo doesn't manage to clinch there - Jokinen circles away.
Congo pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Jokinen dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
Jokinen throws a leg kick but Congo checks it.
Congo throws a leg kick but Jokinen checks it.
Congo misses with a straight right.
A big right from Jokinen misses.
Congo drops his hands momentarily and Jokinen takes advantage with a crisp shot to the head.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A leg kick checked by Jokinen.
A low kick from Jokinen misses
and Congo makes him pay by landing a nice hook to the body before moving out of range.
Kublai Congo seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Jokinen scores with a spinning back kick!
Congo uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Jokinen.
Jokinen connects with a looping left hand that seems like it dazed Congo momentarily.
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!
Jokinen dodges the punch combination from Congo.
Congo throws a body punch but Jokinen moves out of range.
Congo keeps Jokinen at a distance using the push kick.
Congo is throwing a lot of body shots here, looking to wear down Jokinen rather than just go for the knockout.
Jokinen goes for a spinning back kick but it misses.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Congo shoots in for a takedown and gets it.
Congo with a momentary lay and pray from half guard.
Congo scores with a couple of good hammerfists.
Congo drops an elbow to the side of Jokinen's head.
Congo thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Jokinen's head.
Congo wants to advance to full mount but Jokinen doesn't think that's going to happen and regains full guard instead.
Jokinen is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Congo throwing strikes but missing.
Jokinen is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Jokinen pulls Congo in to control the position.
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!
Jokinen is looking to sweep but instead, Congo has passed into half guard.
Jokinen works his way to full guard. Good work.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Jokinen keeping moving, preventing Congo from controlling successfully.
Congo won't allow Jokinen to sweep him here.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close second round but I would say that Olli Jokinen will probably get the nod.
The cut man is working on Kublai Congo's cut.
That's time! Jokinen's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight. This is the final round!

Jokinen is looking to land body kicks.

Congo changes levels and drives through with a really nice takedown into side control. Jokinen looks really pissed at himself for not defending that better.
Jokinen is positioning himself to get back to half guard.
Jokinen manages to work his way to half guard, despite Congo's best efforts.
Congo moves nicely into side control.

Congo tries for an arm triangle. That looks pretty tight to me. Is this one over!?! Possibly, maybe, no Congo has let go of the choke. Obviously it wasn't as tight as we thought!
Jokinen taking a bit of punishment here - Congo scoring with strikes.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Congo misses with an attempted head punch from side control.
Congo is looking to take a break and control but Jokinen is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Jokinen is positioning himself to get back to half guard.
Congo trying to control the action but Jokinen is working from the bottom.
Jokinen manages to land a sweep and he's now on top! Lovely Jiu Jitsu!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Jokinen controlling the pace.
The referee must be thinking about standing these guys back up.
Congo gets full guard.
Jokinen won't allow Congo to sweep him here.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Jokinen trying to control the position from guard on top but Congo is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

Olli Jokinen has forced the referee to step in and bring the fight back to the feet.
Congo tries to score with a low kick but Jokinen moves his leg out of the way.
Congo uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Jokinen.
Olli Jokinen is winning the standup battle so far.
Congo changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Jokinen tries to avoid it but Congo manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Jokinen to the ground. Jokinen escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
Jokinen has his head slapped from side to side by a 3 punch combination. That must have hurt him.
Congo thows a leg kick but Jokinen checks it
and Jokinen counters with a left to the body.
A punch lands to the side of Jokinen 's head but he takes it in his stride.
Jokinen misses with a leg kick.
Jokinen misses with a low kick.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Jokinen lunges at Congo with a hook that half lands and is half blocked by Congo's hand.
Nice defenses there by Jokinen.
Congo scores with a jab to the body.
Jokinen lands with a hook. Congo tried to avoid it but it clipped the top of his head.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Well, he's not going to score with shots like that. A lazy body kick attempt from Jokinen.
Congo lunges in with an uppercut that skims his opponent's chin.
Jokinen looks to score with a jab to the body but Congo is just out of range.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.

Congo looking to score a takedown here. Jokinen is defending well but Congo drives through and ends up in Jokinen's guard.
A real slowdown in the pace of the fight for a moment, as Jokinen holds on and takes a little breather.

And that's the end of the fight!
Kublai Congo comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Congo 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 Anni Minnemäki scores the fight 28:29
Judge Tarja Halkonen scores the fight 28:29
Judge Marco Blurström scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Kublai Congo!