PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Jones Junior (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Mikko Hantunen (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Hantunen has chosen Bad Religion - American Jesus as his entrance music. 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.

Junior
vs
Hantunen

189 cm
26
223 lbs
9 - 5 - 0

190 cm
28
219 lbs
8 - 10 - 0

Good wrestling
Solid boxing
Very quick

BJJ Purple Belt
Excellent boxer
Powerful

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the light heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 9 - 5 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Jones Junior!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 8 - 10 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Mikko Hantunen!
The judges for this bout are Johanna Lukiainen, Tarja Halkonen and Matti Vanhoillinen.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Junior moves away from the strike by Hantunen.
Hantunen connects with a looping left hand that seems like it dazed Junior momentarily.
Jones Junior seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Junior keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Hantunen throws an ugly left hook that misses
and Junior counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
Hantunen blocks a jab.
Junior throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Hantunen swinging wildly here.
Nice cross by Junior.
Hantunen connects nicely with a jab. Noted by the judges no doubt.

Junior gets a takedown into half guard.
Hantunen on the receiving end of some nice ground and pound.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Junior working the head and body with strikes.
Junior is thwarting Hantunen's attempts to control the position.
Hantunen trying to keep hold of his opponent's head but Junior manages to pass to mount!

That's one minute gone in the round.
Junior throws some wild stikes that Hantunen manages to avoid easily.
Hantunen tries to hold on but Junior postures up.

Junior goes for an armbar but Hantunen turns quickly into his guard - lovely anticipation from Hantunen.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

Junior working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Hantunen doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Hantunen manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.
Junior wants to sweep but no luck.
Junior bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Hantunen's guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Junior scores with a decent looking elbow strike.
Hantunen is doing well to control the posture of his opponent and prevent any damage.
Junior throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Junior keeps in close for a moment and lands a decent shot to the side of Hantunen's head.
Junior lands a nice shot whilst sitting in his opponent's guard.

Hantunen is looking for a triangle but Junior pushes his legs off easily.
Hantunen working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Junior.
Junior postures up in Hantunen's guard and throws a big left but Hantunen blocks it.
Hantunen tries to land a sweep but no joy.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Hantunen has a closed guard, preventing anything of note from happening. Perhaps he's looking to stall.
Hantunen looking to control.
Hantunen avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Junior landing with the ground and pound.

Junior drops back for a leg! It's a sloppy attempt though and Junior jumps back into guard quickly, to retain the dominant position.
Hantunen looking to control.
Junior has been looking to land a fair amount of strikes on the ground. He might be looking to soften his opponent up in order to work for a submission.
Junior with a flurry of punches that miss.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.

Hantunen looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
Junior content to strike from guard, landing some decent shots.
Junior makes a bit of distance and scores with some ground and pound, still in guard.

Hantunen throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
Hantunen looks gassed!
Hantunen utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Junior distracts Hantunen with his right hand and drops a big elbow with his other arm.
Junior with a flurry of punches that miss.

Hantunen is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Jones Junior dominated that round.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

Hantunen scores with the left hand. Junior knows he should have avoided that one.

Junior closes the distance and looks for a trip takedown... aaaand he's got it - Junior lands in his opponent's guard.
Junior is working the ground and pound from guard. He might want to try advancing position though to get more of an impact.
Junior throwing strikes but missing.
Junior tries to free his leg and advance position but Hantunen is retaining full guard.
Jones Junior overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Hantunen wants to get back to his feet but Junior is in a dominant position and won't allow it.
Junior throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Hantunen works some decent striking defense from the bottom.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Junior throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Hantunen works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Hantunen preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Hantunen is trying to keep Junior in close.
Hantunen working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Junior.

Hantunen is looking for a triangle but Junior pushes his legs off easily.
Junior chips away with some ground and pound.
Hantunen controls Junior momentarily but Junior frees himself.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are hurling abuse towards the fighters... You can hardly blame them though because there isn't a lot going on in the fight.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Junior accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Hantunen wants to sweep but no luck.
Hantunen is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Hantunen is breathing heavily.
The referee claps his hands together and tells the fighters to work.
Junior loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Hantunen trying to control the position.
Junior with a flurry of punches that miss.
Junior content to strike from guard, landing some decent shots.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Hantunen is pulling down on Junior's head to control his posture.

OK we're going to have a standup here. Mikko Hantunen hasn't been effective enough on the ground and the referee wants a restart.
Hantunen attempts a leg kick but it's missed by a good margin.
Sloppy strikes from Hantunen. Those never looked like landing.

Junior closes the distance, clinches up and gets a nice trip takedown into side control. Very smooth.
Hantunen gets one leg under and gets the fight to half guard.
Hantunen on the receiving end of some nice ground and pound.
Junior landing with strikes to the body and head, softening up his opponent.
Ground and pound from Junior.
Junior not landing any meaningful shots this time.
Hantunen wants to get back to full guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Hantunen won't allow Junior to pass to mount.
Junior thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.
Junior not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
Hantunen trying to hold on to Junior's head to control him but Junior postures up.

Hantunen is defending against the submission attempts here by Junior.
Hantunen works his way to full guard. Good work.

Hantunen is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Junior is aware though and is defending well.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Jones Junior dominated that second round.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action! So, we enter the final round. Let's see if either fighter can bring us a finish, or whether we're going to the judges scorecards.

Junior moves out of range as Hantunen strikes.
Junior gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily
and Hantunen counters with a series of strikes. Junior will be more careful next time no doubt.

Junior fakes a strike and closes the distance, dragging Hantunen to the ground. Junior is now in Hantunen's guard.
Hantunen managing to control the position.

Junior avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
Hantunen preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Junior loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Hantunen is trying to control the position but Junior postures up.
Junior throws a big right hand that misses.
Hantunen working a defensive guard here.
Hantunen wants to sweep but no luck.
Junior landing with the ground and pound.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Junior trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Junior landing with the ground and pound.

Hantunen is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Junior defends well.
Mikko Hantunen has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Hantunen trying to control the position here.
Junior landing with the ground and pound.
Hantunen keeping full guard, as Junior tries to pass.
Hantunen is trying to control the position but Junior postures up.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Junior postures up in Hantunen's guard and throws a big left but Hantunen blocks it.
Junior throwing strikes but missing.
Junior postures up and lands some nice ground and pound.

Hantunen looking for a guillotine here but Junior defends easily.
Junior throws a strike but Hantunen rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Junior manages to land a sweep and now he's in mount on top!
Junior unloading with bombs!
Junior unloading with bombs!
Junior connects with a couple of good shots from mount.
Hantunen is trying desperately to improve position.
Junior connects with a couple of good shots from mount.

And that's the end of the fight!
Jones Junior showed his dominance in that final round.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Junior, winning every round. Will the judges agree? They are the ones who matter, even if they are often depressingly incompetent. 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 30:27
Judge Tarja Halkonen scores the fight 30:27
Judge Matti Vanhoillinen scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Jones Junior!