PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Jani Tokkola (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Bullock James (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Both fighter's entrance songs getting the crowd jumping here.

Tokkola
vs
James

185 cm
25
177 lbs
1 - 1 - 0

180 cm
19
176 lbs
1 - 2 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Solid Muay Thai
Good chin

BJJ White Belt
Decent boxing
Solid chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the welterweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 1 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Jani Tokkola!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Bullock James!
The judges for this bout are Johanna Lukiainen, Roosa Järviläinen and Matti Vanhoillinen.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Tokkola misses with a combination
and James counters with a one-two to the body.
Tokkola throws a right and a left that James avoids nicely.
Some wild striking there from James.
James throws a series of punches but Tokkola avoids them all with ease.
Tokkola swinging wildly here.
Tokkola tries to close the distance and clinch up but James swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Tokkola lands a nice looking kick to the body. James takes a step back to recover.
The fight stays on the outside here - Tokkola looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
James throws a mid kick that lands with a slap.
James tries to close the distance and clinch up but Tokkola swats him away and circles back towards the center.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Tokkola pushes James up against the cage in a clinch.

Tokkola's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Tokkola works James's body with a nice hook.
Tokkola is breathing heavily.
James misses with a two punch combination.
Tokkola wants to clinch.
Tokkola tries to clinch but fails miserably
and James counters with a series of strikes. Tokkola will be more careful next time no doubt.
James has been spending a lot of time sparring his boxing in the run up to the fight, trying to sharpen up those hands and look for a knockout.
A slapping body kick lands there for James.
James goes to the watering hole and comes back with a big thumbs up from the judges as he scores a three punch combo.
James misses with a body kick.
James avoids the head kick by Tokkola.
James keeps the fight on the outside.
Tokkola wants to clinch up but James keeps it at a distance.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Tokkola tries to clinch up but James circles away and keeps his distance.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
James scores with a one two! Tokkola had his feet all tangled up there and couldn't avoid the strikes.
James throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.

James gets tackled into the cage by Tokkola. Tokkola maintains the clinch.
Tokkola looks like he'd prefer to be striking at range right now.
Tokkola has had enough of the clinch but James keeps him there for the moment.

Tokkola breaks from the clinch.
James is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
James throws a shot to the body.
James works over Tokkola's head and body with a nice combination.
Tokkola does a little shimmy and throws a leg kick. The leg kick missed by a considerable margin though, making him look a little bit silly for doing the shimmy.
James misses with the combination.
Tokkola pivots as if he's going to throw a leg kick but stops half way.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Tokkola throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
James misses with a double jab.
James tries to bum rush Tokkola with a series of wild strikes but Tokkola uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Sloppy strikes from James. Those never looked like landing.
Nice body punch from James.
Tokkola takes a punch to the jaw and another one to the bread basket.
Tokkola is looking to clinch but James is avoiding it.
James lets the fists fly and connects with a left straight followed by a right hook.
Jani Tokkola seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
James with a body punch. A glancing blow.
No joy there for James, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
James is working the combinations to good effect here.
James takes a step back and watches a body kick go sailing past his mid section.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
James swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
James throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
James misses with a kick to the body.
James blocks a head kick by Tokkola.
James swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Tokkola misses with a low kick.
James throws a right and a left that Tokkola avoids nicely.
Tokkola misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Tokkola rushes in with a sloppy looking punch
and James cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
James misses with the combination.
James blocks a head kick by Tokkola.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Bullock James dominated that round.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

Tokkola wants to slow James down by chopping away at his legs.
Tokkola throws a half hearted mid kick.
James swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
James tries to land a front kick but Tokkola steps back. That was a bit too telegraphed.
Tokkola misses with a body kick.
James fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
James misses with a few strikes there.
Tokkola circles away from the clinch attempt.
Tokkola misses with an attempted mid kick.
No joy there for James, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
James throws a combination. Tokkola tries to block but a couple of punches get through.
James takes a punch to the jaw and another one to the bread basket.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
James circles away from the clinch attempt.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Tokkola takes the fight into the clinch.
Tokkola tries to land a knee to the head but misses.
Tokkola throws a knee to the head but misses.
Tokkola looks to throw an elbow but misses.
James goes for a body shot but it's blocked.

Tokkola's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
A left lands for James.
James scores with a decent looking hook.
James lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Tokkola circles away quickly and effectively.
James swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
James throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Tokkola.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
James checks the leg kick nicely there.
James throws the kick towards the body but Tokkola avoids it.
James keeps the fight on the outside.
James goes for a spinning back kick but it misses.
James throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
James circles away from the clinch attempt.
Good leg kick by Tokkola there. It's the ones that make that thud noise that hurt and that was an almighty thud.
James throws a series of punches but Tokkola avoids them all with ease.

Tokkola clinches with his opponent.
Tokkola lands a hook to the side of the head.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!

Tokkola's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
James throws a right and a left that both miss.
Tokkola throws a head kick but James moves out of range.
James fails in his attempt to clinch.
James lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Tokkola circles away quickly and effectively.

Tokkola takes the fight into the clinch.
With the fighters up against the cage, Tokkola throws an elbow but misses.
James struggles to land a body shot inside as Tokkola controls his hands.
James is trying to force a seperation but Tokkola has the dominant position.

Tokkola pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
James looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Tokkola throws a quick inside leg kick.
James tries to clinch but Tokkola moves out of range.
Tokkola wants to clinch up but James keeps it at a distance.
James throws a nice looking combination but Tokkola bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
James misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Some wild striking there from Tokkola.
Jani Tokkola is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
James circles away from the clinch attempt.

Tokkola gets a clinch.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Tokkola avoids a wild elbow strike from James.

Tokkola escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Tokkola has not gone for a single takedown so far in this fight, which seems like a very strange tactic when you consider that he has the superior wrestling and BJJ.
Nice shot lands for James.
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 Jani Tokkola will probably get the nod.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action. This is the final round!

James circles away from the clinch attempt.
Tokkola is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Tokkola takes a punch to the jaw and another one to the bread basket.
James avoids the body shot from Tokkola.
James misses with a two punch combination.
James on the wrong end of a kick to the body.
James pivots as if he's going to throw a leg kick but stops half way.
Tokkola scores with a leg kick.
James looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Tokkola looks for the body kick but James saw that one coming.
The fight stays on the outside here - James looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Tokkola throws a left and a right that both miss
and James finishes the little exchange by landing a big kick to the body.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Tokkola connects with a body shot that sends James's belly button to the back.
James fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
James throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
James throws a one two combo.
James throws a sloppy head kick and Tokkola moves out of range easily.
Tokkola misses with a leg kick.
James misses with a two punch combination.
James showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Tokkola.
James lands with a nice combination. Tokkola backs away looking to recover.
James uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Tokkola.
Bullock James seems to be getting the better of the standup.
James dips down and scores with a jab to the body.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
James scores with a nice looking left hook and follows it up with an uppercut!
Danga de danga de dang - James scores with a four punch combination!
James tries to clinch but Tokkola moves out of range.
Tokkola pivots as if he's going to throw a leg kick but stops half way.
Tokkola is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
James gets off balance looking for a body kick
and Tokkola counters with a flying knee. Nice.
James moves into range and throws a lovely three punch combination.
Tokkola throws a nice looking combination but James bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
James throws the kick towards the body but Tokkola avoids it.
James is moving around nicely and scores here with a single head shot.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
James takes a body kick right on the floating rib. Ouchie.
James tries to clinch up.

Tokkola closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.
James keeps control of Tokkola as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.
Tokkola can't break the clinch.
Tokkola just leaning against James, taking a breather.
James wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Tokkola has him pressed against the cage.
A head punch on the inside from James fails to land.
Tokkola misses with a shot to the kidneys.

Tokkola breaks the clinch.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Tokkola takes a nasty kick to the mid section... That should keep him thinking. Does he try and block and risk a head kick landing?
James throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
James shuffles to his left behind two crisp jabs. Tokkola eats them both and turns towards James to reposition himself and eats a stinging right hand-left hook combo.
James feints a jab promting Tokkola to slip. James then demonstrates his capabilities by jabbing again. Tokkola slips again and ducks right into an uppercut.
James keeps the fight on the outside.
James lands a jab. Then a cross. Then finally a nice hook to the body. Good work there by James.
Tokkola looks like he's developed a pretty tasty lump over his left eye. He'll need to avoid taking much more damage to that.
James fails to land with a series of punches.
Tokkola has his head slapped from side to side by a 3 punch combination. That must have hurt him.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Tokkola is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
James takes a thudding leg kick, right into the meat of the thigh.

And that's the end of the fight!
Bullock James comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think James 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 Johanna Lukiainen scores the fight 28:29
Judge Roosa Järviläinen scores the fight 28:29
Judge Matti Vanhoillinen scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Bullock James!
After winning the bout, Bullock James thanked all his fans and promised he'd do even better in his next fight. The crowd seemed to love his humility.
The defeated Jani Tokkola had this to say: 'That was only bad luck, I'm still the best.'.