PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Woima Karhu (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Juji Gatame (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Karhu comes to the cage accompanied by House of Pain - Jump Around. The crowd seem to be enjoying Gatame's choice of entrance music: Storm. 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.

Karhu
vs
Gatame

182 cm
32
175 lbs
22 - 13 - 0

186 cm
31
174 lbs
15 - 8 - 0

Great wrestler
World class MT
Cardio machine

BJJ Red Belt
Lethal high kicks
Good gas tank

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 22 - 13 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Woima Karhu!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 15 - 8 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Juji Gatame!
The judges for this bout are Roosa Järviläinen, Marco Blurström and Johanna Lukiainen.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Gatame avoids a punch combination nicely.
Gatame 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.
Gatame scores with a jab to the jaw of his opponent.

It looks like Woima Karhu has been cut.
Gatame is looking to score with low kicks.
Karhu lunges in with an uppercut that skims his opponent's chin.
A punch lands to the side of Karhu 's head but he takes it in his stride.
Gatame slips under a jab from Karhu.
Karhu loads up on a big right hand but Gatame slips the punch.
Karhu wants to land a leg kick but Gatame is out of range.
Karhu misses with a leg kick

and Gatame counters with a nice single leg takedown and he's in Karhu's guard now.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Karhu is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.
Gatame is looking to work some ground and pound but Karhu has wrist control.
Gatame throws a strike but Karhu rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.

Gatame has an omoplata and is looking to use it perhaps as a submission or perhaps to transition. Karhu is in a bit of discomfort here, but he's managed to free himself and has dived into side control! That didn't work out too well for Gatame.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Karhu is trying to get an arm triangle but Gatame is defending well.
Gatame manages to land a sweep and he's now on top! Lovely Jiu Jitsu!
Karhu wants to control but Gatame is keeping busy and won't allow it.
Karhu is looking to get full guard. It looks like he might be successful but at the last minute Gatame jumps into side control!
Karhu tries to work a leg under to get back to half guard but Gatame wriggles his own leg back out and remains in side control.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
You can see the frustration on Karhu's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.
Gatame creates some space and throws a big elbow, but Karhu sees it coming and moves his head just enough to avoid the strike.
Karhu tries to get back to half guard but can't.
Karhu wants to control but Gatame postures up.
Gatame works a knee to the body and follows up with a nice elbow to the head.
Gatame lands a few punches from side control.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Gatame is moving around in side control but his primary objective seems to be to maintain the position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
You can see the frustration on Karhu's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.
Gatame is looking to take a break and control but Karhu is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Karhu regains half guard.
Gatame is trying to control the action in half guard but Karhu is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Gatame wants to free his trapped foot but Karhu is holding on for dear life with his legs.
Karhu is trying to control but can't.
Karhu controlling the leg, holding on to half guard.
Gatame thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Karhu wants to control but Gatame is keeping busy and won't allow it.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.
Boom, another hit is landed. "You're gunna get knocked out" taunts Gatame, as that shot connected.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Juji Gatame dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Woima Karhu's cut.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

Gatame pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
Gatame chopping away at his opponent's legs.
Gatame takes a swing at Karhu's ribcage but misses.
Karhu takes a solid shot to the body. That one hurt him but he's trying not to show it.
A cross from Gatame lands.
Gatame looks to land a right hand but Karhu moved out of range.
Gatame lands a head kick!
A good leg kick by Gatame.
Karhu shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Gatame as he avoids it easily.
Gatame throws a hook to the side of Karhu's head but Karhu sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
Karhu misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Karhu jabbing away but nothing is landing.
A looping hook to the body misses from Karhu. Gatame does a little dance to reset his feet.
The crowd cheers as Gatame lands an impressive looking overhand right. Karhu doesn't seem phased though.
Gatame drops his hands and takes a jab to the jaw for his troubles.

That's one minute gone in the round.
A good leg kick by Karhu.
Karhu lands with a thumping leg kick.
Karhu has his front leg slapped to the side - a nice low kick landing there from Gatame.
Karhu swings for the body but Gatame moves out of range.
Gatame throws a body kick but he was well out of range there.
Gatame throws an overhand right that lands on Karhu's shoulder, as Karhu tries to avoid the shot.
Karhu thumps Gatame with a low kick.
Karhu throws a right hand that Gatame ducks under and follows up with a left that Gatame also avoids with ease.
Karhu looking to take his opponent's legs away with the low kicks.
Gatame throws a push kick but Karhu slaps the foot to one side.
A solid leg kick lands there for Gatame.
Karhu scores with a head kick.
Karhu throws a hook to the side of Gatame's head but Gatame sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
Karhu misses with a looping left.
Gatame shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Karhu as he avoids it easily.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Karhu blocks a head kick by Gatame.
Karhu looks to score with a jab to the body but Gatame is just out of range.
Karhu jabs at Gatame's body.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Gatame looks for the body kick but Karhu saw that one coming.
Gatame lands a nice leg kick that just misses Karhu's sensitive parts.
Like a baseball bat into the meat of his leg there - nice leg kick by Gatame.
Karhu thuds a left hand into Gatame's body.
A slow jab from Gatame misses its intended target.
Karhu walks straight into a jab right on the nose. That one stung - he's blinking and trying to clear his head.
Karhu shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Gatame as he avoids it easily.

Gatame shoots in for a takedown from distance. He catches Karhu napping and manages to drive through into side control!
Juji Gatame has got the better of the ground game so far.
Karhu wants to control but Gatame postures up.
Karhu tries to improve position but can't.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Karhu takes an elbow right on the bridge of the nose and winces in pain.
Gatame working the ground and pound.

Woima Karhu's cut is getting worse.
Gatame wants to control but Karhu is keeping him busy.
Gatame throwing strikes but missing, from side control.
Karhu stuck in half guard on the bottom here.
Gatame sitting in side control, looking to soften his opponent up with elbows and hammerfists but Karhu is avoiding damage well and looking to escape the position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Gatame happy to just control the position for now.
Gatame working the ground and pound.
Gatame is looking to take a break and control but Karhu is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
The ground and pound from Gatame seems to be hitting the mat more than his opponent.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Juji Gatame showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The cut man is working on Woima Karhu's cut.
That's time! Karhu's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight. This is the final round!

Karhu moves out of range of the strikes.
Karhu shoots in and drives through. Gatame sprawls well.
Gatame scores to the head and body with a nice combination!
Karhu blocks a head kick by Gatame.
Karhu closes the distance and takes a jab right on the nose as he does so.
Karhu wants to clinch up but Gatame keeps it at a distance.
Karhu takes a jab on the nose. He smiles like he loves it and keeps coming.

Karhu is rocked!

Woima Karhu's cut is bleeding quite badly. He's got to try and protect it.
Karhu scores with a body shot.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Karhu misses with a looping right.
Gatame attempts a low kick but it misses it's target.
Karhu misses with a hook.
Karhu takes a jab right on the nose. That must have hurt but he shrugs his shoulders and looks to return the favor.
Karhu misses with a wild body shot.
Nice shot lands for Karhu.

A jab-cross combination lands for Gatame and sends Karhu crashing to the mat! Gatame follows him down to the mat - Karhu regains half guard but he's not out of trouble yet!
Oh Karhu is still in real trouble! Will he be able to recover?!!
Gatame has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Gatame is keen to just control but Karhu is a slippery customer.
Karhu wants to control but Gatame is keeping busy.
Karhu avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Gatame.
Karhu seems to have got his legs back now.
Karhu is looking to improve his position.
Gatame takes advantage of the dominant position to land a couple of big hammer fists.
Gatame not landing any meaningful shots this time.
Gatame has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Gatame trying to control the action but Karhu is working from the bottom.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Karhu wants to get back to full guard.
Gatame is figuring out what he wants to do next.

Juji Gatame has forced the referee to step in and restart the fight on the feet.
A decent looking cross lands there for Gatame.

Jeez, Woima Karhu's cut is really nasty now. The referee must be thinking about getting that checked.
Gatame slips a straight right by Karhu.
A nice inside leg kick there by Karhu. That's going to slow Gatame down.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Gatame displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Karhu.
Gatame looks to throw the jab but Karhu is out of range.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Karhu tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Gatame paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Gatame ducks low and lands a nice hook to the body of his opponent.
Karhu takes one to the chin there.
Gatame scores with a crisp jab that stopped Karhu in his tracks.
Karhu looks for a takedown but Gatame sprawls well.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Woima Karhu. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Gatame cracks Karhu with a nice right hand that draws applause from the crowd.

The referee calls the doctor in to look at Woima Karhu's cut. Oh no, the doctor has called an end to the bout!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 3:40 of round 3, we have a winner by way of TKO (Cut). Juji Gatame!
Juji Gatame bigged himself up after the win. The crowd seemed to love it.