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PBP Commentary |
Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Wai Man Li (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Possu Jokinen (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). These two fighters really are very evenly matched on the feet - it will be fascinating to see who can assert themselves in that aspect of the fight.
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| 176 cm
25
161 lbs
16 - 8 - 0 |
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178 cm
25
167 lbs
13 - 5 - 0 |
Good wrestling
Excellent boxer
Cardio machine |
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Olympic wrestler
Excellent boxer
Good gas tank |
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Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the lightweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of
16 - 8 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Wai Man Li!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of
13 - 5 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Possu Jokinen!
The judges for this bout are Tarja Halkonen, Marco Blurström and Anni Minnemäki.
The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Jokinen's jab looks to have found its range, popping Li under the eye.
Li tries to score a power double leg takedown but Jokinen sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Li somewhat.
A looping hook to the body misses from Li. Jokinen does a little dance to reset his feet.
Jokinen looks to throw the jab but Li is out of range.
Jokinen throws a lazy right hand but Li sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Jokinen rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Li moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Jokinen misses with a straight right.
A cross from Li lands.
Li shoots in for a takedown but Jokinen shows good takedown defense.
Li bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
Jokinen scores with a nice strike.
Li misses with a body punch
and Jokinen counters with a right hand to the body.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Li fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Wai Man Li. That's going to take a lot out of him.
That's one minute gone in the round.
Li misses with a hook. Jokinen ducked under it nicely.
Li throws an overhand right that lands on Jokinen's shoulder, as Jokinen tries to avoid the shot.
Li throws a head kick that misses.
Jokinen misses with a telegraphed body shot
and Li counters with a nice uppercut.
Li shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Jokinen defends it nicely.
A combination from Jokinen does no damage.
Jokinen lands a nice shot to the body.
Jokinen throws a jab when Li was well out of range.
Jokinen misses with a low kick.
Excellent takedown into side control there by Li.
The referee is pacing around the two fighters - he looks like he's thinking about a standup.
You can see the frustration on Jokinen's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.
That's two minutes gone in the round.
Li is maintaining the dominant position - no doubt Jokinen will start to get frustrated soon if he's not already.
Li scoring with punches and elbows.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
You can see the frustration on Jokinen's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Jokinen avoids any damage from the ground and pound of Li.
Li trying to control the position but Jokinen is working away.
Li is really struggling to control Jokinen but he's trying to hold on to the position.
The ground and pound from Li seems to be hitting the mat more than his opponent.
That's three minutes gone in the round.
Li sitting in side control, looking to soften his opponent up with elbows and hammerfists but Jokinen is avoiding damage well and looking to escape the position.
Jokinen is pushing Li's head away, looking to escape. Li manages to hold on to the position though.
Li trying to control the action but Jokinen is working from the bottom.
Jokinen is trying to improve his position.
Jokinen manages to get one leg in to regain half guard.
Jokinen is trying to get back to full guard.
Li controlling the action here.
Jokinen is trying to stand up here but Li is controlling him well.
That's four minutes gone in the round.
Li wants to take a breather but Jokinen is having none of it.
Li is looking to pass the guard... He's managed it - he's now in full mount!
Jokinen wants to hold on but Li pushes him away.
Li throwing strikes here but Jokinen is writhing around nicely and avoiding any serious damage.
Li looking for a guillotine from mount but Jokinen is having none of it.
Jokinen tries to lock up and control but Li gives him a forearm to the face and pushes him away.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Li scores with a couple of good head shots there.
Jokinen has found himself in a tricky position here. He's been working his transitions in training so let's see if he can work his way out of it.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Li can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as Jokinen is looking to escape.
Li putting on the heat here with some good ground and pound!
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.
Wai Man Li dominated that round.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!
Jokinen slaps away a takedown attempt from Li, before circling back to the center of the mat.
Li shoots in looking for a takedown. Jokinen tries to sprawl out of it but Li keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Jokinen manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
Jokinen lands a really nice looking cross but Li seems unphased.
Jokinen walks forward and throws out a flicking leg kick. Li checks it nicely though, as he moves to the side.
Li looking for a takedown here - he's got it.
Li wants to pass the guard but Jokinen is keeping the position.
Li wants to control from the top but Jokinen keeps moving.
Jokinen pushes Li off and scrambles back to his feet.
That's one minute gone in the round.
Jokinen throws a nice looking combination but Li bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Li changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Jokinen tries to avoid it but Li manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Jokinen to the ground. Jokinen escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Wai Man Li. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Li fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Jokinen avoids it really well and circles away.
Possu Jokinen seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Li misses with a hook.
Li throws a decent looking leg kick but it doesn't land clean.
Li's hands are dropping dangerously low here and Jokinen connects clean with a right hook that sends him down to one knee! Li scrambles back to his feet.
Li misses with a looping left.
Li throws a jab when Jokinen was well out of range.
Li throws a hook but Jokinen blocks it.
Wai Man Li seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Jokinen works Li's body with a nice hook.
That's two minutes gone in the round.
Jokinen's hands are dropping dangerously low here and Li connects clean with a right hook that sends him down to one knee! Jokinen scrambles back to his feet.
Jokinen throws a right and a left that Li avoids nicely.
Jokinen keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
A big left from Li misses.
Li swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
Jokinen lands a jab to Li's midsection.
Li misses with a takedown
enabling Jokinen to counter with a crisp jab.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Li uses good footwork to get in and out and land a nice right hand before Jokinen has time to react.
Jokinen steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Li.
Li scores with a big left there. The judges will like that one.
Jokinen misses with a wild combination.
Jokinen keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
That's three minutes gone in the round.
Jokinen ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
Li throws a poor cross that misses
and Jokinen counters with a left and a right that stings Li.
Li misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
Li with a poor takedown
and Jokinen counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Jokinen misses with a wild body shot.
Li lunges in with an uppercut that skims his opponent's chin.
Li lands a pitter patter jab to the forehead of his opponent.
Li has his takedown stuffed
and Jokinen counters with a three punch combo that has Li backing up. Li nods at Jokinen to acknowledge the strikes.
Li shoots in for a takedown but Jokinen shows good takedown defense.
That's four minutes gone in the round.
Jokinen with poor footwork there. He got himself in a bit of a tangle, enabling Li to score with a decent uppercut.
Li bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Decent striking displayed by Jokinen there.
Li changes levels and scores with a jab to the body.
Li slaps away a takedown attempt from Jokinen, before circling back to the center of the mat.
Li tries for a takedown but Jokinen sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
Jokinen takes a jab right on the nose. That must have hurt but he shrugs his shoulders and looks to return the favor.
Li dives in and grabs Jokinen's left leg, looking for a takedown. Jokinen pushes down on Li's head and hops out.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
A lazy left from Jokinen finds it's target.
Jokinen throws out a powerful jab.
Li keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.
A close second round but Possu Jokinen will probably get the nod - 10:9.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business. Ladies and gentlemen, this is the final round!
Li doesn't succeed with the takedown
and Jokinen counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
Li misses with a hook
and Jokinen connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Jokinen avoids a low kick by using good footwork.
Li throws a lazy uppercut
and Jokinen counters with a nice jab to the body that keeps Li thinking.
Jokinen keeping at a good range here, avoiding a leg kick.
Jokinen scores with a jab. Li acknowledges it with a nod of the head.
Li misses with a hook.
Jokinen connects with a body shot.
Li misses with a straight left.
Jokinen tries to bum rush Li with a series of wild strikes but Li uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
A leg kick checked by Li.
Li throws an off balance right hand
and Jokinen counters with a lovely straight right hand!
That's one minute gone in the round.
Li tries for a takedown but Jokinen sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
Jokinen lands a jab, followed by a cross and another cross, as Li backs up against the cage.
Jokinen throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Li with a lazy takedown attempt
and Jokinen counters with a series of strikes. Li will be more careful next time no doubt.
Li is rocked!
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Wai Man Li. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Jokinen leaves Li with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
Oh Li is still all over the place! His legs are completely gone! Will he be able to recover?!!
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Jokinen misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Li.
Li seems to have got his legs back now.
Jokinen misses the shot to the body.
Li shoots in looking for a takedown. Jokinen tries to sprawl out of it but Li keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Jokinen manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
Jokinen avoids the head kick by Li.
That's two minutes gone in the round.
Good standup being displayed there by Jokinen as he connects with a hook.
Possu Jokinen is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Jokinen slips a jab from Li.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Li goes for a double leg but Jokinen avoids the attempt and the two fighters end up clinched against the cage as Jokinen continues to drive forward.
Li taking a breather.
Jokinen manages to break the clinch.
Li tries for a takedown but Jokinen sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
Jokinen misses with a body shot.
Li misses with a lunging right hand
and Jokinen counters with a nice body shot.
Jokinen bobs and weaves and unloads with a good uppercut.
Li shoots and misses
and Jokinen counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Li with poor footwork there. He got himself in a bit of a tangle, enabling Jokinen to score with a decent uppercut.
Li swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
That's three minutes gone in the round.
Jokinen gets a takedown into half guard.
Li trying to control here.
We've been hearing good reports from Li's training camp. Apparently he has been rolling around with some good quality BJJ practitioners and has been sharpening his skills. Let's see if that has an impact on the fight today.
Wai Man Li overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Jokinen sitting and controlling from the half guard.
Let's hope that Jokinen has the urge to step up the pace any second now because for the last 15 or 20 seconds he's just been holding on tight.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
That's four minutes gone in the round.
The ref calls for a clean break and stands the fighters back up. Possu Jokinen wasn't active enough on the ground.
Li closes this distance looking for a takedown but Jokinen circles away.
Jokinen works over Li's head and body with a nice combination.
Li scores with a nice head shot.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Li loads up on a big right hand but Jokinen slips the punch.
Li misses with a looping right.
Li uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Jokinen.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Li jabbing away but nothing is landing.
Li connects with a good right hand that stumbles Jokinen. Jokinen circles away out of range and recomposes himself.
Li misses with a body shot.
And that's the end of the fight!
Possu Jokinen comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Jokinen 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 Tarja Halkonen scores the fight 28:29
Judge Marco Blurström scores the fight 28:29
Judge Anni Minnemäki scores the fight 28:29
In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Possu Jokinen!
Wai Man Li spoke after the fight, saying 'I'd rather die than lose to a joker like this guy again. I don't know where things went wrong, but I guarantee a win next time out.'.
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| S |
C
A |
G |
S |
C
B |
G |
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S |
C |
G |
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energy
A | B |
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hype
A | B |
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pop
A | B |
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mgr
A | B |
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FIGHT
RATING
91% |
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