PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Rou Joukani (ranked 1305 p4p, 1318 weight class) and Konichiwa Jempsa (ranked 185 p4p, 190 weight class). I can't wait for this one - let's get the fighter introductions out of the way and get this one started!

Joukani
vs
Jempsa

179 cm
26
175
13 - 11 - 0

170 cm
28
170
17 - 9 - 0

Good wrestling
World class MT
Insanely flexible

Good wrestler
Excellent boxer
Good gas tank

Vegan Gains

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 13 - 11 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Rou Joukani!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 17 - 9 - 0, fighting out of London, Konichiwa Jempsa!
The judges for this bout are Albert Achterberg, Paulsen Ambrosius and Patrick Alders.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Jempsa looking for a takedown here - he's got it.
Joukani wants to improve his position but instead Jempsa has moved into half guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Joukani is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Joukani avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Jempsa.
Jempsa looks more muscular than last time we saw him. He must have been on the weights.
Jempsa is keeping good posture, landing some ground and pound.
Jempsa not doing much here.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Joukani keeping control of the leg, stopping his opponent passing to mount.

That's one minute gone in the round.
The two fighters exchange a few words. I couldn't hear what they were saying but maybe it's more fun if you make it up yourself. Jempsa connects with a nice short shot to Joukani's temple.
Joukani on his back here. We all know that wrestlers don't like being on their back so let's see if Joukani tries to get out of the position.
Jempsa keeping composed on the top, looking to control the action.
Jempsa has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
Joukani is trying to control but can't.
Jempsa looks over to his corner - he wants some instructions but his corner are not responding.

That's two 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.
Jempsa prevents Joukani from improving his position.

Jempsa seems to be working for a kimura but Joukani defends the submission attempt.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Jempsa sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Joukani defending well though.
Jempsa content to sit in half guard and control for a moment.

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Jempsa closes the distance and takes a jab right on the nose as he does so.

It looks like Konichiwa Jempsa has been cut.
Jempsa avoids the head kick by Joukani.
Joukani scores with a jab to the jaw.
Joukani throws a half hearted mid kick.
The fighters circling - Joukani throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
Jempsa changes levels for a counter takedown but doesn't follow through with his attempt.

Jempsa shoots in and bounces Joukani off the cage to secure the takedown into guard.
Jempsa makes a bit of distance and scores with some ground and pound, still in guard.
Jempsa throwing strikes from guard but Joukani blocks nicely.
Jempsa showing good wrestling skills to control the position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Jempsa accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Jempsa sitting in guard, not really doing much.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
It looks like Jempsa might be adopting somewhat of a lay and pray gameplan here, which I'm sure won't go down too well with the paying fans in attendance... Or the ring announcers come to think of it.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

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

Jempsa lands a jab-cross combination.
Jempsa throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Joukani is looking to counter punch.
Jempsa misses with a takedown attempt - Joukani sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
Joukani jinks towards his opponent looking like he wants to counter with a mid kick but doesn't commit.
Jempsa on the wrong end of a nice low kick. He's acting like it's no big deal but he doesn't want to take many more of those.

Jempsa shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Let's see what he's got on the mat.
Jempsa showing good wrestling skills to control the position.
Jempsa throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Joukani works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Jempsa is stalling in the full guard.
Joukani utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Jempsa is holding a leg here, probably looking for an ankle lock - he drops back and goes for it! Joukani is in trouble! Is it all over??? No! Joukani has escaped and now he's on top!

Jempsa is adopting a defensive guard.
Joukani is looking to stand up but Jempsa won't let him.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Joukani has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.

Joukani stands up and waves to Jempsa to follow him.
Jempsa fails with a takedown attempt.
Jempsa throws a lazy right hand but Joukani sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Joukani pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Jempsa lands three nice shots there - that looked like it hurt!
Joukani lands with a thumping leg kick.
Jempsa moves out of range as Joukani throws a body kick.
Joukani tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Jempsa connects with a lovely jab that went straight through the gap between Joukani's hands.
Jempsa shoots in looking for a takedown. Joukani tries to sprawl out of it but Jempsa keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Joukani manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
Rou Joukani has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Konichiwa Jempsa.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Joukani looking to throw a kick but he's pulled out of it.
Joukani throws a head kick that misses.
Jempsa fails with the takedown.
Joukani swung with a counter right hand that didn't connect.
Joukani stuns Jempsa with a nice body shot, before stepping back out of range.

Jempsa drops down and drives through with a powerful takedown into guard.
Jempsa sitting in guard, not really doing much.
Jempsa stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Joukani swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Jempsa throws a big elbow that misses.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Jempsa controls from within his opponent's guard.
Joukani can't keep his opponent in guard - Jempsa advances to half guard, no doubt looking to mount.
Jempsa controlling the action here.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Jempsa not landing any meaningful shots this time.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Konichiwa Jempsa showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The cut man is working on Konichiwa Jempsa's cut.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action! This is the final round!

Jempsa tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Joukani swivels and escapes.
Jempsa takes a shot to the eye socket. That's gotta hurt.
Joukani scores with a sloppy right hand. Jempsa should have avoided that one.
Jempsa looks shocked there as he takes a right hand to the temple.
Jempsa tries to score a power double leg takedown but Joukani sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Jempsa somewhat.
Joukani throws out a loose jab but Jempsa uses good head movement to avoid it.

Jempsa closes the distance and after a bit of a stuggle, scores a takedown into Joukani's guard.
Jempsa lands a couple of decent looking shots.
Konichiwa Jempsa has got the better of the ground game so far.
Jempsa slows down the pace of the fight for a moment. He'll need to remain active if he doesn't want to see the fight stood back up.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Jempsa's corner are shouting for him to control the position and he seems happy to oblige.
Let's hope that Jempsa has the urge to step up the pace any second now because for the last 15 or 20 seconds he's just been holding on tight.
Jempsa postures up.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up.
Rou Joukani has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

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.
Jempsa fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Joukani avoids it really well and circles away.
Rou Joukani has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Konichiwa Jempsa.
Nice jab there from Joukani.
Jempsa dives in and grabs Joukani's left leg, looking for a takedown. Joukani pushes down on Jempsa's head and hops out.
Joukani uses good footwork to get in and out, landing a nice hook.
Joukani walks into a left hand.
Joukani throws a sloppy head kick and Jempsa moves out of range easily.

Jempsa closes the distance and gets a double leg, slamming Joukani to the mat! Joukani manages to get full guard.
Jempsa is taking a break and basically stalling. The referee will not allow him to do that for long.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Jempsa trying to control but Joukani is working from the bottom.
Jempsa sitting in guard here, content to control.
Joukani tries to land a sweep but no joy.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Well. There's a bit of a lull in the action here and the crowd are starting to get restless.
Joukani being controlled here, momentarily.
We may be looking at a referee standup if the pace doesn't pick up soon.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.
Joukani throws a right and a left that both miss.
Jempsa misses with a body shot.
Joukani scores with a jab to the jaw of his opponent.
Jempsa fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Joukani tries to score with a leg kick but it misses it's target.
Jempsa shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Joukani as he jumps to the side.

And that's the end of the fight!
Rou Joukani showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Jempsa 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 Albert Achterberg scores the fight 28:29
Judge Paulsen Ambrosius scores the fight 28:29
Judge Patrick Alders scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Konichiwa Jempsa!
A very excited looking Konichiwa Jempsa made sure he remembered to thank all the fans both in the arena and on the internet. He said all the coolest people spend all day on MMA websites, which got a big reaction.