PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Yong Wright (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Ori Jokinen (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Fingers crossed for an exciting fight - I'm sure both fighters are looking for a nice under the table bonus!

Wright
vs
Jokinen

165 cm
35
144 lbs
15 - 12 - 1

164 cm
37
141 lbs
20 - 16 - 0

Good wrestling
Excellent boxer
Cardio machine

Excellent grappler
World class boxer
Good gas tank

Arcticus University: London

Hell's Balls Recovery (160)

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 15 - 12 - 1, fighting out of London, Yong Wright!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 20 - 16 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Ori Jokinen!
The judges for this bout are Frank Antenori, Don Winkell and Jack Bonds.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Jokinen blocks a jab.
Yong Wright seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Jokinen waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Wright.
Jokinen moves in looking to clinch but Wright pushes him off.

Jokinen pushes Wright up against the cage in a clinch.
Wright blocks a body shot from Jokinen.

Jokinen pulls guard.
Wright tries to free his leg and advance position but Jokinen is retaining full guard.
Wright advances to half guard.
Jokinen is refusing to be controlled, as Wright sits in half guard.
Wright prevents Jokinen from improving his position.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Wright controlling the pace.
Jokinen is trying to control but can't.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Wright tries to pass the half guard into mount. Jokinen knows what he's doing though and prevents the attempt.
Jokinen keeping hold of Wright's head, controlling as best he can.
Jokinen wants to control but Wright is keeping busy.
Wright not doing much here.
Jokinen won't allow Wright to pass to mount.
Wright works his foot free and advances to mount.
Wright wants to control the pace but Jokinen is squirming around nicely.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
My god... these two guys really need to pick up the pace or everyone will leave to go get a beer.
Jokinen is trying desperately to improve position.
Wright controlling from mount.
Wright can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as Jokinen is looking to escape.
Jokinen wants to control but Wright is having none of it.
Wright controlling from the full mount.
Jokinen regains half guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Wright content to sit in half guard and control for a moment.

Jokinen looking for submissions off his back.
Wright wants to take a breather but Jokinen is having none of it.
Jokinen is working for an escape here. He's hooked one of Wright's legs and he's managed to sneak out and take Wright's back!
Jokinen not allowing Wright to control his hands.

Jokinen is working hard for the rear naked choke here.

Jokinen tightening his grip on Wright, looking for the choke.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Jokinen has his opponent's back and is working for the choke.
Wright manages to reverse the position and now he's in Jokinen's guard. Nice work there by Wright.
Wright preventing the sweep.
Wright trying to control the position from guard on top but Jokinen is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Jokinen pulls Wright in close to his closed guard and prevents Wright from doing any damage or advancing position.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!

Jokinen working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Wright doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Wright manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Ori Jokinen will probably get the nod.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

Wright checks the leg kick.
It looked like Wright wanted to counter with a hook but didn't fully commit.
Wright lands the left hand.

Jokinen clinches up against the cage.
Wright swings wildly with an uppercut but Jokinen uses good head movement to avoid it.
Wright blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Wright misses with the head strike.
Jokinen blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Jokinen tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.
Wright working aggressively here.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Jokinen.
Wright working aggressively here.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Jokinen goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
A battle for position here, against the cage.
Jokinen swings away with an uppercut that misses.
A head punch on the inside from Wright fails to land.
Jokinen misses with a shot to the kidneys.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Jokinen changes levels and goes for a takedown here. Wright fights it off and pushes away nicely.
Jokinen bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
Jokinen displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Wright throws out the jab.
Jokinen moves out of range of the strikes.
Jokinen raises up his leg as if looking to counter with a high kick.
Wright avoids a punch combination nicely.
Jokinen pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Jokinen throws a shot from downtown. Wright moves away and avoids it.
Jokinen lands with a head kick! That's gotta hurt.
Jokinen slips under a jab from Wright.
Jokinen keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Wright.
Jokinen slips a jab from Wright.
Jokinen feints a counter leg kick.
Wright throws a shot from downtown. Jokinen moves away and avoids it.

Jokinen shoots in and gets a takedown into Wright's guard.
Jokinen stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Wright swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Wright pulls Jokinen in close to his closed guard and prevents Jokinen from doing any damage or advancing position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Jokinen trying to control the position from guard on top but Wright is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Wright is controlling Jokinen's posture.
Jokinen trying to control the position from guard on top but Wright is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Wright 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.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Jokinen passes Wright's left leg - he's now in half guard.
Wright regains full guard. Nicely done.
Wright keeping moving, preventing Jokinen from controlling successfully.
Wright trying to keep a closed guard but Jokinen is proving a slippery customer.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Jokinen passes into half guard.

Jokinen looking for a kimura but he'll have to free his other leg if he wants to finish that. Perhaps he's just using it as a distraction technique.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Wright makes his way to full guard. A much better position for Wright.
Wright looking to control but Jokinen passes into half guard.
Jokinen wants to lay and pray for a moment but Wright keeps working.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are getting on the fighters' backs, as the pace has dropped off in the last minute or so.
Wright manages to get to full guard.
Jokinen trying to control but Wright is working from the bottom.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Jokinen slips effortlessly into side control - very nice.
Jokinen trying to control the action but Wright is working from the bottom.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Ori Jokinen showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business. This is the final round!

Wright throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
Jokinen throws a hook to the side of Wright's head but Wright sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
Wright pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
Wright misses with a straight left.
Wright paws at his opponent with the jab and then lunges in with a straight, right on the button.
Jokinen looks shocked there as he takes a right hand to the temple.
Wright misses with a looping right.
Jokinen cracks the inside of Wright's front leg.
Wright keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Jokinen.
It looked like Wright wanted to counter with a hook but didn't fully commit.
Wright tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Jokinen takes a really solid shot there but just smiles back and shrugs his shoulders.
Jokinen tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. Wright manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Wright throws an off balance right hand
and Jokinen counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
Wright scores with a decent looking hook.
Jokinen defending well as Wright loads up on a big left hand.

Wright closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Jokinen lands with a good tight uppercut to the head.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Jokinen tries to work over Wright's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
Jokinen scores with a shot to the side of Wright's head.
Jokinen misses with a hook from the clinch.
Wright misses with a short punch on the inside.
Wright blocks an uppercut.
Jokinen tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.
Jokinen lands a hook to the body. It's hard to tell if that hurt Wright or not.
Wright lands with a short punch from the clinch.
A head punch on the inside from Wright fails to land.
Wright working aggressively here.
Stalling in the clinch from Jokinen.
Wright prevents a body shot from Jokinen.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Wright.
Jokinen lands a hook to the body. It's hard to tell if that hurt Wright or not.
Wright misses with the head strike.
Ori Jokinen seems to be working more effectively in the clinch in the fight so far.
Wright tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Wright has a couple of punches blocked by Jokinen.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Wright misses with the head strike.
Wright misses with the head strike.
A left hand lands to the body for Jokinen.
Wright misses with a short punch on the inside.
Wright fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Jokinen has a couple of punches blocked by Wright.
Jokinen jumps guard but Wright stands there with Jokinen around his waist. Jokinen gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.

Jokinen tightens his grip and picks Wright up, before dumping him to the ground. Wright manages to land in guard.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Jokinen tries to free his leg and advance position but Wright is retaining full guard.
Jokinen showing good wrestling skills to control the position.
Jokinen trying to control the position from guard on top but Wright is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Wright keeping full guard, as Jokinen tries to pass.
Wright seems to have improved his submission grappling technique since last time we saw him. Let's see if he can pull off a submission.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Jokinen pushes down on Wright's leg and manages to get into half guard.
Jokinen trying to mount his opponent but Wright defends it.

Jokinen is looking for a kimura but he's never going to get it from there.
Wright is looking for a sweep. Jokinen is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Jokinen with a momentary lay and pray from half guard.
Wright gets back to full guard.
Jokinen tries to free his leg and advance position but Wright is retaining full guard.

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.
Jokinen content to stall in guard here.
Wright is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Jokinen trying to control but Wright is working from the bottom.
Wright has his hands on Jokinen's head, controlling the position.
The referee wants the fighters to be more active or he's going to reset them on the feet.
Jokinen won't allow Wright to sweep him here.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Jokinen throws a left and a right that both miss
and Wright connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
A telegraphed right hand from Wright misses the target.

And that's the end of the fight!
That was a close round. You could make an argument for either fighter but I would give it to Yong Wright.
I think Jokinen has won this one but let's see whether the judges agree with me. 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 Frank Antenori scores the fight 29:29
Judge Don Winkell scores the fight 29:28
Judge Jack Bonds scores the fight 27:30

The fight is ruled a draw!