PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Ori Jokinen (ranked 1452 p4p, 73 weight class) and Dado Mata (ranked 949 p4p, 53 weight class). Mata has chosen 和楽器バンド / 千本桜 as his entrance music. Both fighters will be looking to make this an exciting fight for the fans, I'm sure!

Jokinen
vs
Mata

164 cm
43
141 lbs
28 - 19 - 1

172 cm
35
145 lbs
16 - 7 - 1

Abu Dhabi Champ
Lethal high kicks
Very quick

Excellent grappler
World class MT
Good gas tank

Perkele!
Bullet Proof System

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 28 - 19 - 1, fighting out of London, Ori Jokinen!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 16 - 7 - 1, fighting out of New York, Dado Mata!
The judges for this bout are Steve Montenegro, David Schapiro and Lou da Vinci.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Mata thows a left - swing and a miss!
Mata tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Jokinen attempts a counter takedown but Mata avoids it well and moves away.
Mata lands an overhand left. A wild punch that just about connected.
Mata scores with a jab. Jokinen acknowledges it with a nod of the head.
Dado Mata seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Mata cracks the inside of Jokinen's front leg.
Jokinen shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Mata as he jumps to the side.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Mata with a nice looking leg kick. You could hear that one land in a back row.
Mata throws a body punch but Jokinen moves out of range.
Jokinen appears to be looking for a counter punch to the body.
Jokinen loads up on a big right hand but Mata slips the punch.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Mata throws a head kick that Jokinen semi-blocks.
Mata ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Jokinen moves away.
Jokinen thinks about countering with a head kick.
Jokinen slips a straight right by Mata.
Jokinen appears to be looking for a counter takedown.
Mata cracks the inside of Jokinen's front leg.
A cross from Mata lands.
We can't be sure of the tactics at this early stage but we have heard that Mata has been working on his takedowns a lot in the buildup to the fight and we can only assume he's going to look to take this to the mat.
Mata misses the jab.
Jokinen half committed to a counter leg kick.
Mata throws a right hand that misses
and Mata takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
Mata connects with a solid leg kick.
Mata misses the shot to the body.
Jokinen is looking to counter punch.

Jokinen tries to sprawl but Mata drives through with a takedown into half guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!

Mata is looking for a kimura. It's going to be difficult to finish that from half guard though and Jokinen defends it well.

Jokinen looking for submissions off his back.
Mata is just sitting in half guard, waiting for something to happen.

Mata is trying to work for a kimura. This could be trouble! No, Jokinen has managed to free his arm - good work.

Mata is trying for a guillotine from the top but the pressure isn't in the right place so Jokinen is just riding it out for now. Mata eventually gives up the hold.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Mata is looking for an arm triangle, whilst trying to pass to side control. Jokinen doesn't seem that keen to cooperate though. No luck this time Mata.
Jokinen slips a foot under and gets full guard. Nice work.

That's four 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.
Jokinen seems keen to control Mata's posture.
Mata stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Jokinen swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Mata wants to control from the top but Jokinen keeps moving.
Jokinen keeping full guard, as Mata tries to pass.
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Jokinen keeping moving, preventing Mata from controlling successfully.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Mata is in a good position here but he's just trying to control... And he's not even managing to do that successfully.
The referee is asking the fighters to pick up the pace.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Mata gets a double leg takedown into Jokinen's guard.
Mata wants to pass the guard but Jokinen is keeping the position.
We've been hearing good reports from Jokinen's training camp. Apparently he has been rolling around with some good quality BJJ practitioners and has been sharpening his skills. Let's see if that has an impact on the fight today.
Mata not doing a lot at the moment. He'll have to show some more aggression or the fight will get stood up.
Jokinen keeping moving, preventing Mata from controlling successfully.

Jokinen is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Mata defends well.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Jokinen has a closed guard, preventing anything of note from happening. Perhaps he's looking to stall.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Mata trying to control but Jokinen is working from the bottom.
Mata trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Mata looking to control the position here, rather than advance.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Mata misses with a looping left.
Jokinen slips under a jab.
Jokinen changes levels looking for a counter takedown but doesn't commit.
Jokinen chopped to the floor by a nice leg kick but he springs right back up before Mata can pounce on him.
Ouch! a nice leg kick from Mata, right into the meat.

Mata closes the distance and gets a double leg, slamming Jokinen to the mat! Jokinen manages to get full guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Jokinen controlling the position.
Jokinen is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Mata pushing down on Jokinen's thigh, trying to pass to half guard. He's managed it... Nice work.

Mata is trying for a guillotine from the top but the pressure isn't in the right place so Jokinen is just riding it out for now. Mata eventually gives up the hold.
Mata passes the guard and advances to mount!
Jokinen is looking to get to half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Mata looking for an armbar but decides to keep the dominant position instead.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Mata trying to control but he's not successful this time.
Mata looking to control and managing it successfully.
Jokinen is desperately trying to improve his position but Mata has a good base and remains in mount.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Jokinen is hanging on here. He's in a desperate position.
Jokinen wants to hold on but Mata pushes him away.
Mata looking to control and managing it successfully.

Mata has control of Jokinen's right arm, working for a kimura. It's a bit of a token attempt though and Jokinen regains control of the situation pretty easily.
Mata looking to control but Jokinen is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Dado Mata showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action! And we move into the final round!

Mata throws a front kick aimed at Jokinen's knee but Jokinen avoids it well.
Mata misses with a straight right.
Jokinen feinted with a counter takedown.
Mata has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Mata digs a good hook to Jokinen's body.
A leg kick checked by Jokinen.
Mata throws a body shot but no joy.
Mata's corner calls for a 1-2. Mata obliges with the 1 part as he scores the single shot and moves back out of range.
Mata misses with a wild body shot.
It looked like Jokinen wanted to counter with a hook but didn't fully commit.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Jokinen avoids the head kick by Mata.
Nice uppercut there from Mata.
Mata misses with an uppercut
and Jokinen counters with a one-two to the body.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Mata throws a nice hook to the body that draws an oooh from the crowd.
Mata dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
A shot to the body from Mata misses
and Jokinen counters with a stiff right hand.
Mata lands a nice shot to the body.
Mata throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Dado Mata seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Jokinen shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Mata as he avoids it easily.
A cross from Mata lands.
Jokinen uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Mata.
Mata attempts a leg kick but it's missed by a good margin.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Mata stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Mata wants it to stay on the feet.
Mata ducks down and throws a hook to the body.
Jokinen takes a body punch that cleary hurt but he's trying not to show any weakness.
Mata throws a good cross that connects.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Mata throws a feint and then finishes with a kick to the body.
Jokinen shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Mata as he jumps to the side.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Ori Jokinen. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Mata lands a really nice looking cross but Jokinen seems unphased.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Jokinen takes a shot right to the liver - Bas would have been proud of that punch.
Jokinen gets cracked with a nice right hand there by Mata.
A big left from Mata misses.
Mata looks to throw a body kick
and Jokinen connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Mata lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Jokinen circles away quickly and effectively.
Jokinen throwing a counter right hand but Mata manages to avoid it.
Jokinen uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Mata.
Mata throws a body punch but Jokinen moves out of range.
Mata throws a hook to the side of Jokinen's head but Jokinen sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
And Jokinen counters with a quick kick to the body but Mata blocks it.
A jab from Mata finds it's way through Jokinen's defenses.
Jokinen walks into a left hand.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Mata scores with a jab to the jaw.
Jokinen closes the distance and clinches up with Mata, looking for a takedown. Jokinen pushes Mata against the cage but Mata circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
Jokinen fails with a takedown attempt.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
A solid leg kick lands there for Mata.
Ori Jokinen has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Dado Mata is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
Mata scores with a jab to the head.

And that's the end of the fight!
Dado Mata comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Mata has outworked and out performed his opponent in all aspects of the game today. He was simply too good and the decision should be no more than a formality. 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 Steve Montenegro scores the fight 27:30
Judge David Schapiro scores the fight 27:30
Judge Lou da Vinci scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Dado Mata!
Dado Mata seemed lost for words in his post fight interview but he remembered to thank his fans and directed everyone to his website.