PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Roe Jennings (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Joe Monning (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.

Jennings
vs
Monning

192 cm
21
189 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Good chin

BJJ White Belt
Brawler
Tends to cut

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 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Roe Jennings!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Joe Monning!
The judges for this bout are Ben Zyskovitsi, Roosa Järviläinen and Johanna Lukiainen.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Jennings stuffs the takedown.
Jennings slaps away a takedown attempt from Monning, before circling back to the center of the mat.
Nice sprawl there from Jennings as Monning shoots in.
Roe Jennings has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Joe Monning.
Jennings is trying hard to land a takedown here. Monning sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.
Monning thuds a left hand into Jennings's body.
Monning throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Jennings closes the distance and clinches up with Monning, looking for a takedown. Jennings pushes Monning against the cage but Monning circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
Monning tries to clinch up but Jennings circles away and keeps his distance.
Monning throws a leg kick but Jennings sees it coming and moves out of range.

Monning shoots in and gets a takedown into Jennings's guard.
Monning trying to control the position from guard on top but Jennings is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

Jennings is looking for a triangle but Monning pushes his legs off easily.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Jennings throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
Jennings keeping full guard, as Monning tries to pass.

Jennings working for a triangle but Monning defends it easily.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Monning stands up and waves to Jennings to follow him.

Jennings moves into range and clinches up with Monning.

Jennings ties up his opponent against the cage and manages to drag the fight down to the ground. Jennings no doubt will be looking to work submissions from his guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Jennings preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Jennings working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Monning.

Monning avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
Monning controls the pace of the fight for a moment.
Monning must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.
Monning looking to sit in guard and control but Jennings gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.

Monning is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Jennings is aware though and is defending well.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Jennings controlling from the top position.
Monning looking to control but Jennings passes into half guard.
Jennings looking to pass the half guard. Not this time.
Jennings is looking to stall here but Monning recovers full guard.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.

Jennings decides to stand up and beckons his opponent to follow.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Joe Monning will probably get the nod.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

Jennings closes this distance looking for a takedown but Monning circles away.
Jennings misses with a takedown

and Monning counters with a nice double leg into side control. Jennings won't be happy with that.
Jennings tries to escape but Monning is in control.
A bit of a lull in the action. I'm sure it will pick up again soon... even if the ref has to physically pick them up and put them back on their feet.
Monning scores with a couple of nice shots to the head there. The referee takes a look at Jennings to see if he's OK.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Monning advances nicely into full mount.
Monning prevents Jennings from getting the reversal.

Monning goes for an armbar but Jennings turns quickly into his guard - lovely anticipation from Jennings.
Monning not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Jennings tries to free his leg and advance position but Monning is retaining full guard.
Jennings trying to control but Monning is working from the bottom.
Jennings in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Jennings sitting in guard here, content to control.
Jennings pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Monning is keeping the position for now.
Jennings content to stall in guard here.

The ref stands the fighters back up because Roe Jennings just wasn't active enough.
Monning tries to clinch but Jennings is having none of it.
Monning has his takedown stuffed
and Jennings counters with a right hand to the body.
Monning is breathing heavily.
Monning wants to clinch
and Jennings counters with a nice leg kick.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Monning shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Jennings as he jumps to the side.
Jennings thows a body kick. Monning tries to catch it but that hurt him.

Jennings closes the distance and scores a nice trip takedown into half guard. Monning did well to prevent Jennings getting side control.
Jennings seems content to maintain position for now, rather than mounting any offense.
Jennings wants to take a breather but Monning is having none of it.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The referee must be thinking about standing these guys back up.

The ref stands the fighters back up. Roe Jennings wasn't doing enough on the ground.
Jennings shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Monning pinned against the cage. Monning gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Roe Jennings. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Jennings throws a head kick that misses.
Monning throws a series of punches but Jennings moves out of range.
Horrible takedown by Jennings or perhaps it was just good defense by Monning which made him look bad.
Monning tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Jennings paws at him with a jab and circles away.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.

Jennings looks for a takedown. He's got it. We're now in half guard.
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 Roe Jennings will probably get the nod.
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. This is the final round!

Monning defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Jennings.
Monning misses with a combination
and Jennings counters with a three punch combo that has Monning backing up. Monning nods at Jennings to acknowledge the strikes.

Monning closes the distance, clinches up and gets a nice trip takedown into side control. Very smooth.
Monning taking a breather here.
Jennings is trying to buck Monning off.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Monning in side control, trying to ground and pound but not landing this time.

Monning tries for a kimura but Jennings is defending well.
Monning takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Jennings struggling a bit here.
Jennings pushes Monning away and creates a bit of space to escape. He's almost out here... but no, Monning gets a good hold of his legs and remains firmly in side control.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Monning trying to control the position but Jennings is working away.
Jennings tries to bench press Monning off him but Monning keeps the position.
Jennings prevents Monning from moving into mount.
Jennings tries to work a leg under to get back to half guard but Monning wriggles his own leg back out and remains in side control.
We must be close to a standup if these guys don't pick up the pace.
Monning tries to land with some ground and pound but misses.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Monning tries to cartwheel into mount but he doesn't manage it.
Jennings struggling a bit here.

Monning is looking for a kimura. He might have it! No, Jennings has escaped the position, nice work there.
Jennings tries to buck Monning off but Monning is having none of it.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Jennings stops Monning from passing to mount.

Monning swings around for an armbar but Jennings sees it coming a mile off and turns beautifully into Monning's guard.
Jennings sitting in guard, not really doing much.

Jennings is trying to work a guillotine from the top, or something like that? Don't know how he thinks he's going to get a finish from there.

And that's the end of the fight!
Joe Monning comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Monning 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 Ben Zyskovitsi scores the fight 28:29
Judge Roosa Järviläinen scores the fight 28:29
Judge Johanna Lukiainen scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Joe Monning!