PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Joel Kuokkanen (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Charlie Chinatown (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). The key to victory for Joel Kuokkanen has got to be keeping the fight on the feet.

Kuokkanen
vs
Chinatown

170 cm
18
174 lbs
1 - 6 - 0

183 cm
20
180 lbs
4 - 1 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Decent elbows
Good chin

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Determined

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 - 6 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Joel Kuokkanen!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 4 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Charlie Chinatown!
The judges for this bout are Tatsuya Matsuyama, Shigeki Sano and Sosuke Kotani.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Kuokkanen misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.

Chinatown has closed the distance and engaged Kuokkanen in a clinch.
Kuokkanen missing with knees to the body.
Kuokkanen with an attempt at a knee that misses.
Chinatown prevents the takedown attempt.
Kuokkanen fails to pull the fight into his guard.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Joel Kuokkanen. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Kuokkanen fails to pull the fight into his guard.
Nice body punch from Chinatown.

Chinatown breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.

Chinatown shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Oh and he's advanced to full mount straight away.
Chinatown controlling from mount.
Kuokkanen is in all sorts of trouble here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Chinatown controlling the pace for now.

Chinatown stands up from the dominant position, so we're back on the feet.

Chinatown closes the distance and clinches up, looking for a takedown. He shifts his weight and gets a nice trip into half guard.

Chinatown stands up from half guard... He's had enough of that ground malarky for the time being.
Chinatown throws a shot from downtown. Kuokkanen moves away and avoids it.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Kuokkanen misses with a takedown attempt

and Chinatown counters with a nice double leg into half guard.
Kuokkanen is breathing heavily.
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!
Kuokkanen has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Chinatown is working away from the top position though.

Chinatown decides he's had enough of the ground and stands up.
Kuokkanen shoots in but doesn't get the takedown

and Chinatown counters with a nice double leg into side control. Kuokkanen won't be happy with that.
Kuokkanen is looking to get back to his feet here but Chinatown is keeping cool and he's managed to take Kuokkanen's back.
Kuokkanen might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.
Chinatown controlling well, preventing Kuokkanen from escaping the position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kuokkanen turns into Chinatown and is now in his guard.
Kuokkanen has decided he wants to stand but the closed guard of Chinatown is proving hard to escape from.
Kuokkanen is stalling in the full guard.

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.
Chinatown keeping moving, preventing Kuokkanen from controlling successfully.

Kuokkanen gets to his feet - Chinatown follows without any prompting.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Chinatown misses with an uppercut.
Chinatown shoots in for a double leg but Kuokkanen sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
A solid leg kick lands there for Kuokkanen.
Kuokkanen keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Chinatown.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Charlie Chinatown dominated that round.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

Nice jab there from Kuokkanen.
Kuokkanen wants to clinch up but Chinatown keeps it at a distance.
Kuokkanen could do with loosing a few pounds - he looks very soft around the mid section, to put it politely.
Chinatown avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Kuokkanen shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Chinatown but Chinatown pushes him off and we're back to square one.

Chinatown shoots in for a takedown and gets it.
Chinatown prevents Kuokkanen from standing back up.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Kuokkanen trying to control but Chinatown postures up.
Kuokkanen tries to roll over but Chinatown keeps him under control.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kuokkanen trying to control but Chinatown postures up.
Kuokkanen tries to strike from the bottom but it doesn't land.

Chinatown stands up from half guard.
Kuokkanen moves out of range as Chinatown throws a body kick.
Chinatown throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A few boos can be heard. I'm sure they will multiply if the fighters don't pick up the pace.
Chinatown moves into range and lands a nice leg kick.
Chinatown with a nice looking leg kick. You could hear that one land in a back row.
Chinatown stuffs the takedown.

The fight moves into the clinch position.
Chinatown swings wildly with an uppercut but Kuokkanen uses good head movement to avoid it.

Chinatown breaks the clinch.

Kuokkanen moves into the clinch successfully.
Kuokkanen drops down for a takedown but doesn't get it.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Joel Kuokkanen. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Kuokkanen is trying to maintain a safe position but Chinatown gets an underhook and turns Kuokkanen into the cage.
Kuokkanen tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Kuokkanen prevents Chinatown from breaking the clinch.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kuokkanen wants to break the clinch but can't.
Kuokkanen tries for a takedown but Chinatown manages to get underhooks.
Kuokkanen controlling the action here for a moment.
Chinatown managing to block the knees to the body from Kuokkanen.
Kuokkanen fails to pull guard.
A nice glancing elbow lands by Kuokkanen.

Chinatown has dropped down and is working for a takedown. Kuokkanen is trying to keep an underhook but Chinatown manages to get the takedown into half guard.
Chinatown prevents Kuokkanen from improving his position.

Chinatown stands up out of the half guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Kuokkanen rushes Chinatown and presses him up against the cage.

Chinatown breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Kuokkanen gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily
and Chinatown counters with a slapping leg kick.
Kuokkanen gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily

and Chinatown counters by moving into the clinch. Good anticipation by Chinatown.
Chinatown avoiding damage.

Chinatown works for the underhooks and manages to get a trip takedown into guard.

Kuokkanen had isolated an arm as going for an omaplata. Chinatown is defending the submission well but is in a very vulnerable position. Kuokkanen Is leaning forward trying to finish the omaplata but decides to abandon it, and take Chinatown's back instead.
Can Chinatown hold on?! Kuokkanen is landing more strikes to his hapless foe.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Charlie Chinatown showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action! This is the final round!

Kuokkanen moves into the clinch successfully.
Kuokkanen stops a takedown attempt from Chinatown.
Kuokkanen keeps control of Chinatown as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.
Kuokkanen wants to break the clinch but can't.
Kuokkanen has Chinatown pressed up against the cage and is working for takedown. Chinatown manages to improve position though and keeps the fight standing.
Kuokkanen can't break the clinch.
Kuokkanen tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. Chinatown just stands there and leans against the cage.
Chinatown stops a takedown attempt from Kuokkanen.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Joel Kuokkanen. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Chinatown drops to a knee looking for a takedown but Kuokkanen gets the underhooks and prevents it.

Chinatown breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Joel Kuokkanen is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Kuokkanen gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.
Chinatown takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
A right handed body shot lands from Chinatown.

Kuokkanen breaks from the clinch.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Chinatown closes this distance looking for a takedown but Kuokkanen circles away.
Chinatown closes the distance looking to clinch
and Kuokkanen counters with a left and a right that stings Chinatown.
A head kick by Kuokkanen misses

and Chinatown counters with a nice double leg into half guard.
Kuokkanen is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Chinatown wants to stand but Kuokkanen has hold of a leg and an arm, so he's trapped for now.

Chinatown decides to return to a standing position.

The fight moves into the clinch position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Chinatown breaks from the clinch.

Kuokkanen gets caught flat footed, as Chinatown shoots in with a quick takedown into guard.
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!

Chinatown gets to his feet. Kuokkanen looking to butt scoot but the ref puts an end to that. On your feet son!
Chinatown misses with an uppercut

so Kuokkanen counters with a double leg into guard. Good agility.
Kuokkanen wants to pass the guard but Chinatown is keeping the position.
Kuokkanen trying to control but Chinatown is working from the bottom.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Chinatown is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.
Kuokkanen working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.

Kuokkanen stands up from Chinatown's guard - Kuokkanen perhaps looking for a knockout.
Kuokkanen tries a head kick but it misses.
Joel Kuokkanen has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Kuokkanen misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Neither fighter has done anything of merit for a good minute or two here and the crowd are not happy about it.
Kuokkanen tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Kuokkanen looking to throw a kick but he's pulled out of it.
Kuokkanen gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily

and Chinatown counters with a nice shoot takedown that brings the fighters to the ground.

Chinatown decides he's had enough of playing guard and decides to stand. Come on Kuokkanen, up you get!
Chinatown throws a looping overhand right but Kuokkanen ducks down to avoid it.
Chinatown tries to clinch up.

Chinatown feints and as Kuokkanen raises his hands in defense, Chinatown changes levels and drives through with a takedown into guard.

Chinatown stands up from guard. Let's bang!
A slapping leg kick lands for Kuokkanen.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Kuokkanen wants to clinch.
Chinatown fails to land with a series of punches.

And that's the end of the fight!
Charlie Chinatown comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Chinatown has outworked and out performed his opponent in all aspects of the game today. He was simply too good and the decision should be no more than a formality. 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 Tatsuya Matsuyama scores the fight 27:30
Judge Shigeki Sano scores the fight 27:30
Judge Sosuke Kotani scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Charlie Chinatown!