PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Jorma Katkeroinen (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Eric Epp (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Eric Epp acknowledges the crowd's support as he enters the cage.

Katkeroinen
vs
Epp

167 cm
18
142 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

170 cm
22
140 lbs
1 - 3 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Basic striking
Granite chin

BJJ Blue Belt
Decent boxing
Intelligent

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the bantamweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Jorma Katkeroinen!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, Eric Epp!
The judges for this bout are Don Winkell, Timothy Bukovac and Frank Antenori.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Epp takes a shot right to the liver - Bas would have been proud of that punch.
Katkeroinen misses the shot to the body.

Katkeroinen clinches up with Epp and pushes him back against the cage.
Katkeroinen's corner are urging him to control the action in the clinch for a moment, rather than mount any serious offense. I'm sure the crowd appreciate those instructions... not.
Epp misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Katkeroinen's corner are urging him to control the action in the clinch for a moment, rather than mount any serious offense. I'm sure the crowd appreciate those instructions... not.
Katkeroinen lands a left hand that snaps the head of Epp backwards.
Katkeroinen softening up his opponent with strikes, against the cage.
Katkeroinen working on landing some head shots here - that one got through nicely.
With the fighters clinched against the cage, Katkeroinen creates a bit of distance for himself and scores with a nice uppercut.
Katkeroinen is pushing Epp up against the cage, for a bit of lean and pray action. Action being used the in the loosest possible sense of the word.
Katkeroinen lands with a quick shot inside that doesn't really do much damage.

That's one minute gone in the round.
A shot in the inside from Katkeroinen.
The referee calls for Katkeroinen to work.
A body shot lands from Katkeroinen.
Katkeroinen lands a right hand.
A quick uppercut on the inside from Katkeroinen.
Katkeroinen lands with a short head shot on the inside.
Katkeroinen unloads a knee to the mid-section.
Katkeroinen lands with a right to the head.
Katkeroinen lands a body punch in the clinch.
Epp is trying to stall.
Nice body punch from Katkeroinen.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Epp wants to take the fight to the mat but Katkeroinen manages to get underhooks and keep the fight in the clinch.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Epp's head jolts backwards as he takes an uppercut right on the button!
Katkeroinen lands a good knee to the midsection. Epp won't want to take too many of those.
A shot in the inside from Katkeroinen.
Katkeroinen throws a blind hook that connects with the side of Epps head.
A quick uppercut on the inside from Katkeroinen.
Epp is trying to slow down the pace in the clinch, to catch his breath.
Katkeroinen lands a good knee to the midsection. Epp won't want to take too many of those.
Epp looks winded!
Katkeroinen scores with a knee to the head.
Katkeroinen lands a left hand.
With the fighters clinched against the cage, Katkeroinen creates a bit of distance for himself and scores with a nice uppercut.

Epp is rocked!
Katkeroinen throws a blind hook that connects with the side of Epps head.
Epp is still on wobbly legs! Can Katkeroinen finish him?
Katkeroinen dictating the pace here, as the fighters clinch against the cage.
Katkeroinen lands a body shot in the clinch.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Nice body punch from Katkeroinen - that landed with a thud.
Epp seems to have recovered his senses.
Katkeroinen lands a left hand.
Katkeroinen has Epp pushed against the cage.
Katkeroinen lands a nice shot to the body.
Katkeroinen lands a right hand.
Katkeroinen lands a nice looking hook to the body, against the cage.
Katkeroinen landing knees to the head.
Katkeroinen is pushing Epp up against the cage, for a bit of lean and pray action. Action being used the in the loosest possible sense of the word.
A knee to the head by Katkeroinen.
Epp's head jolts backwards as he takes an uppercut right on the button!
With the fighters clinched against the cage, Katkeroinen creates a bit of distance for himself and scores with a nice uppercut.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Katkeroinen lands a body punch.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Katkeroinen holding his opponent close, against the cage.
A nice right hand lands inside from Katkeroinen.
The referee calls for Katkeroinen to work.
Katkeroinen scores with a nice hook to the head.
Katkeroinen connects with a nasty looking knee right to Epp's face.
Katkeroinen lands a knee to the body.
Katkeroinen pushes Epp back against the cage and unloads with a body punch.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!

Katkeroinen drops Epp with a big knee straight up the middle! Epp is covering up against the cage but manages to escape and gets back to his feet!
Katkeroinen digs a good body shot into Epp's ribs.
Katkeroinen throws a 1-2 combo that connects squarely on Epp's jaw, knocking him onto his back! Katkeroinen dives in looking to finish as Epp flails his arms in a desperate attempt to block Katkeroinen's strikes! Katkeroinen is raining down hammerfists and the ref stops it! Epp's desperate flailing just didn't constitute intelligent defence. Some people will probably question the ref's decision but Epp was definitely hurt and the ref saved him from taking unnecessary punishment. A fighter's safety is paramount in this sport.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 4:58 of round 1, we have a winner by way of TKO (Strikes). Jorma Katkeroinen!
After winning the bout, Jorma Katkeroinen thanked all his fans and promised he'd do even better in his next fight. The crowd seemed to love his humility.