PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Brian Williams (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Thomas Jokinen Jr (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Thomas Jokinen Jr struggled to make weight for this fight. He only made it down to 171.6lbs at the first attempt and had to take the additional two hours to make the official bout weight. Let's see how much it's taken out of him. Brian Williams has a significant reach advantage - let's see if he can make it count.

Williams
vs
Jokinen Jr

190 cm
19
170 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

173 cm
19
180 lbs
4 - 2 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter striker
Granite chin

BJJ Purple Belt
Counter striker
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 - 0 - 0, fighting out of London, Brian Williams!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 4 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Thomas Jokinen Jr!
The judges for this bout are Marco Blurström, Tarja Halkonen and Anni Minnemäki.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Jokinen Jr drives through with a takedown into Williams's guard. Let's see what he can do from the top position.
The referee is pacing around the two fighters - he looks like he's thinking about a standup.
Williams wants to get back to his feet but Jokinen Jr is in a dominant position and won't allow it.

Williams uses the cage to get back to his feet.
Williams is breathing heavily.

Jokinen Jr throws a loose over hand right and dives in with a double leg takedown. Williams tries to sprawl but it's too late and the fighters hit the mat. Jokinen Jr is in Williams's guard.

Jokinen Jr is holding a leg here, probably looking for an ankle lock - he drops back and goes for it! Williams is in trouble! Is it all over??? No! Williams has escaped and now he's on top!
Williams trying to control but Jokinen Jr is working from the bottom.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Jokinen Jr tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Williams stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Jokinen Jr swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Jokinen Jr seems keen to control rather than go for a submission, at least for now.
Williams has decided he wants to stand but the closed guard of Jokinen Jr is proving hard to escape from.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
We may be looking at a referee standup if the pace doesn't pick up soon.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.
Jokinen Jr is trying hard to land a takedown here. Williams sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.
Williams is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Williams moves in looking to clinch but Jokinen Jr pushes him off.

Williams gets caught flat footed, as Jokinen Jr shoots in with a quick takedown into guard.
Williams is looking to stand up but Jokinen Jr isn't so interested in that idea.

Jokinen Jr drops back looking for a heel hook - he quickly realises he's not going to get it but Williams manages to dive on top of him before he can escape and now Jokinen Jr has Williams in his guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Jokinen Jr wants to stand and escape but Williams is having none of it.
Williams is looking to stand up but Jokinen Jr won't let him.
Williams wants to control from the top but Jokinen Jr keeps moving.
Jokinen Jr should think about turning a few of those tyres round his middle into muscle if he wants people to take him seriously as an athlete.
Williams is looking to stand up but Jokinen Jr won't let him.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The referee looks like he's ready to step in and stand the fighters back up.
Williams trying to control the position from guard on top but Jokinen Jr is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

The ref stands the fighters back up. Brian Williams wasn't doing enough on the ground.
Williams closes the distance looking to clinch

and Jokinen Jr counters with a nice double leg into guard.
Williams is avoiding any damage by keeping wrist control.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.

Jokinen Jr 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.
Jokinen Jr prevents Williams from getting back to his feet.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Thomas Jokinen Jr will probably get the nod.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

Williams clinches up with Jokinen Jr and pushes him back against the cage.
Williams slows down the pace here.
Williams tries a knee to the head but Jokinen Jr blocks it.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Williams trying to land knees to the body.
Jokinen Jr creates a bit of distance and throws an elbow that only just misses.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Williams escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Williams tries to close the distance and clinch but Jokinen Jr swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.

Williams fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Jokinen Jr, pushing him back against the cage.

Williams escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Williams defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Jokinen Jr.

Jokinen Jr has Williams up against the cage in a clinch.
Jokinen Jr blocks the elbow strike.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Jokinen Jr turns his back and goes for a hip toss. It's a bit messy but it gets the job done and Jokinen Jr manages to end up in side control.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Williams can't do much from the bottom here.

Williams bucks up and manages to escape back to his feet!
Williams tries to clinch

and Jokinen Jr counters with a driving takedown into guard. Nice work there by Jokinen Jr.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Jokinen Jr tries to free his leg and advance position but Williams is retaining full guard.
Williams wants to stand up but Jokinen Jr is controlling him.

Williams has his feet on Jokinen Jr's hips. He pushes off and gets to his feet. Nice work.

Jokinen Jr closes the distance and scores a nice trip takedown into half guard. Williams did well to prevent Jokinen Jr getting side control.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Jokinen Jr is trying for a guillotine from the top but the pressure isn't in the right place so Williams is just riding it out for now. Jokinen Jr eventually gives up the hold.
Williams is trying to stand back up but Jokinen Jr is controlling him

Jokinen Jr is sneakily working for an arm triangle but Williams sees it coming and defends easily.
Williams trying to control from the bottom.
Williams is trying to stand back up but Jokinen Jr is controlling him

Jokinen Jr is working for submissions here but there's nothing on.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Jokinen Jr thows a huge punch but Williams dodges it nicely.
Williams wants to control but Jokinen Jr is keeping busy and won't allow it.
Jokinen Jr lands strikes from half guard.
Thomas Jokinen Jr has got the better of the ground game so far.
Williams wants to get back to his feet.
Jokinen Jr wants to pass the guard but Williams is defending well.
Jokinen Jr stops Williams from getting back to his feet.

Jokinen Jr is sneakily working for an arm triangle but Williams sees it coming and defends easily.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Williams keeping control of the leg, stopping his opponent passing to mount.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Williams tries to kick Jokinen Jr off but Jokinen Jr keeps his base steady and stays in half guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Thomas Jokinen Jr will probably get the nod - 10:9.
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!

Williams darts in trying to clinch

and Jokinen Jr moves into the clinch.
Williams looking to slow down the pace here.
Jokinen Jr has Williams pressed up against the cage and is working for takedown. Williams manages to improve position though and keeps the fight standing.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Jokinen Jr manages to pull guard. Let's see whether he can land a sub off his back.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Jokinen Jr has a closed guard, preventing Williams from standing up.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Williams is looking to advance position but Jokinen Jr has hit a scissor sweep - now he's on top in mount!
Williams tries to lock up and control but Jokinen Jr gives him a forearm to the face and pushes him away.

Jokinen Jr is working for a guillotine from mount but Williams frees his head quite easily.
Williams is wriggling around trying to escape.
Jokinen Jr avoids the attempt from Williams to control.

Jokinen Jr is looking to secure an arm. He's managed it! He's pivoting for an armbar - that looks tight! But Williams has managed to get out of it and now he's in a dominant position. Nice work from Williams!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Jokinen Jr keeping moving, preventing Williams from controlling successfully.

We're going to have a standup here because Brian Williams wasn't active enough for the referee's liking.
Jokinen Jr circles away from the clinch attempt

and Jokinen Jr counters with a nice double leg into guard.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Williams has a closed guard, preventing Jokinen Jr from standing up.
Williams will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Jokinen Jr gets to his feet. Williams looking to butt scoot but the ref puts an end to that. On your feet son!
Jokinen Jr avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Williams wants to clinch but Jokinen Jr slips to the side

and Jokinen Jr counters with a nice double leg into side control. Williams won't be happy with that.
Williams wants to get back to his feet but Jokinen Jr drags him back down.

Jokinen Jr thinks about going for a far side armbar but bails out and retains the dominant position instead.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Williams gets back to half guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Jokinen Jr is looking for a kimura here.
Williams controlling the position for now.
Williams is trying to control but can't.
Brian Williams has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Williams is in a bad position, trying to hold on for dear life but he is really struggling to maintain any sort of control.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Williams is trying to stand up here but Jokinen Jr is controlling him well.

The ref stands the fighters back up. Brian Williams wasn't doing enough on the ground.

Jokinen Jr moves into the clinch.

And that's the end of the fight!
Thomas Jokinen Jr comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Jokinen Jr winning every round here. Surely the decision will go his way and he'll pick up a well deserved decision victory. 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 Marco Blurström scores the fight 27:30
Judge Tarja Halkonen scores the fight 27:30
Judge Anni Minnemäki scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Thomas Jokinen Jr!