PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Imani Idowu (ranked 207 p4p, 95 weight class) and Jihadi Joseph (ranked 23 p4p, 10 weight class). The crowd giving both fighters a great reception on their way into the arena. That's good to see.

Idowu
vs
Joseph

170 cm
37
145
29 - 11 - 1

175 cm
29
145
18 - 7 - 1

Good wrestling
World class boxer
Insanely flexible

Good wrestler
World class MT
Good gas tank

Bondi MMA 🏝️
Akuma Wear

Bondi MMA 🏝️

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the featherweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 29 - 11 - 1, fighting out of Tokyo, Imani Idowu!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 18 - 7 - 1, fighting out of St Petersburg, Jihadi Joseph!
The judges for this bout are Timothy Bukovac, Percy O'Donnell and Jack Bonds.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Joseph misses with a lunging right hand
and Idowu connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Idowu avoids a punch combination nicely.
Joseph is looking to slow Idowu down with leg kicks.
A lazy body kick from Joseph
and Idowu counters with a shot to the ribs. That looked like it hurt.
Idowu uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Joseph.
Idowu swung with a counter punch to the body but it didn't connect.
Joseph throws out a loose jab but Idowu uses good head movement to avoid it.
Joseph feints and then cracks Idowu's leading leg with a nice low kick. He's obviously looking to slow Idowu down.
Joseph throws a nice inside leg kick.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Joseph fakes a couple of low kicks, before throwing one on the third attempt. It connects and Idowu has to reset his feet before getting ready to engage.
Idowu ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
Joseph lands with a nice low kick. That'll leave a bruise.
Idowu on the receiving end of a decent leg kick there by Joseph. Joseph obviously looking to wear him down.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Idowu avoids the body shot from Joseph.
Joseph with the inside leg kick.
Idowu blocks a jab.
Idowu lands with a right hand.
Joseph throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Idowu sees it coming and avoids it easily.
Joseph fails in his attempt to clinch.
Idowu swung with a counter punch to the body but it didn't connect.
Joseph misses with a hook.
Joseph scores with a slapping inside leg kick.
Joseph throws an overhand right that lands on Idowu's shoulder, as Idowu tries to avoid the shot.
Idowu throwing a counter right hand but Joseph manages to avoid it.
Joseph throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Idowu.
Idowu steps to his left, right into the path of a big body kick from Joseph. That one must have hurt.
We've been told by Idowu's head coaches at Hammer House of Horror that he's been working on his takedown defense in preparation for this fight.
Joseph ducks low and lands a nice hook to the body of his opponent.
Idowu's hands are dropping dangerously low here and Joseph connects clean with a right hook that sends him down to one knee! Idowu scrambles back to his feet.
Idowu looking to take his opponent's legs away with the low kicks.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Joseph lands a slapping body shot.
Idowu throws a series of punches but Joseph moves out of range.
Joseph flicks out a counter leg kick but Idowu steps away.
Joseph chopping away at his opponent's legs.
Idowu is hobbling a little on that front leg after taking quite a few leg kicks so far in this fight.
Joseph lands a glancing blow to the side of Idowu's head.
Joseph misses with a body shot.
Idowu swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Joseph throws a hook but Idowu blocks it.
A big left from Joseph misses.
Joseph blocks a jab.
Joseph with the inside leg kick.
Idowu stumbles momentarily as he takes a strong leg kick from Joseph.
Joseph fails in his attempt to clinch.
Joseph moves in looking to clinch but Idowu pushes him off.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Joseph lands a vicious shot with the stealth of a sniper and the strength of a viper. Are vipers that strong? I can think of lots of things that are stronger than a viper - not many rhyme with sniper though.
Idowu uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Joseph.
Idowu takes a shot to the body in his stride.
Joseph jabs at Idowu's body.
Idowu throws a lazy right hand but Joseph sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Joseph is clearly trying to counter these attacks from Idowu with a body shot.
Idowu lands an overhand left. A wild punch that just about connected.
Idowu attempts a leg kick but it's missed by a good margin.
Idowu takes a step back and watches a body kick go sailing past his mid section.
A little feinted left hand from Idowu on the counter but he doesn't commit to it.

Joseph drives through and clinches with Idowu against the cage.
Joseph working aggressively here.
Idowu blocks a body shot from Joseph.
Joseph tries a body shot but Idowu blocks it.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Joseph.
A head punch on the inside from Idowu fails to land.
Joseph prevents a body shot from Idowu.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Idowu.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Joseph lands a hook to the side of the head.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Idowu misses with a hook to the ribs.
Idowu misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Joseph misses with some punches.
Idowu misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Idowu has a couple of punches blocked by Joseph.

Idowu breaks the clinch.
Idowu ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Joseph moves away.
Idowu throws a jab but it's blocked by Joseph.
Joseph throws a quick inside leg kick.
A nice leg kick lands there from Idowu.
Idowu walks forward, straight into a front kick from Joseph.
Joseph misses with a body punch
and Idowu counters with a body kick that brings a smile to the face of both fighters.
Joseph lands a lovely overhand right.
Joseph tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
It looked like Idowu was looking amped, ready to throw a big counter but didn't commit.
Joseph throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Jihadi Joseph dominated that round.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin!

Joseph lands a nice leg kick that just misses Idowu's sensitive parts.
Idowu wants to slow Joseph down by chopping away at his legs.
A telegraphed right hand from Joseph misses the target.
Idowu blocks a head kick by Joseph.
Joseph connects with a leg kick. He turned his hip over nicely there.
Joseph scores with a jab.
Joseph throws a shot to the body.
Joseph throws the kick towards the body but Idowu avoids it.
Idowu is looking for a counter combo.
Idowu misses the body punch
and Joseph counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Joseph jabs Idowu to the body, keeping him at a distance.
Idowu keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Joseph shapes like he's going to throw a leg kick but settles back down.
Joseph lands a front kick.
Idowu walks into a left hand.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Joseph looking to land some kicks to the body here.
Jihadi Joseph seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Joseph motions for Idowu to come forward. Joseph throws a leg kick but it misses it's target.
Idowu takes a jab on the nose. He smiles like he loves it and keeps coming.
Joseph lands a jab to the nose.
Joseph lands with a cross to side of his opponent's head.
A telegraphed right hand from Joseph misses the target.
Idowu lands with a nice body punch.
Joseph scores with a jab to the head.
Idowu misses with the combination.
Joseph cracks a nice hook into Idowu's ribs.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Joseph clobbers Idowu with an overhand right that has the crowd gasping. That made a horrendous noise.
Nice body kick there by Joseph.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Joseph is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Idowu keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Joseph.
Idowu is looking to counter punch.
Joseph pivots as if he's going to throw a leg kick but stops half way.
Joseph moves out of range as Idowu strikes.
Idowu avoids a punch combination nicely.
Idowu seem to be loading up, looking for a big counter.
Joseph looks for the body kick but Idowu saw that one coming.
Joseph misses with a body kick.
Idowu has his front leg slapped to the side - a nice low kick landing there from Joseph.
Idowu uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Joseph.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Joseph misses the shot to the body.
Joseph scores with a crisp jab that stopped Idowu in his tracks.
Idowu throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Joseph pivots, looking for a leg kick but Idowu is out of range and Joseph settles back down.
Idowu appears to be looking for a counter punch to the body.
Joseph jabs at Idowu's body.
Idowu takes a thudding leg kick, right into the meat of the thigh.
Idowu throws a chopping leg kick but Joseph manages to avoid taking any serious damage.
Idowu's hands are dropping dangerously low here and Joseph connects clean with a right hook that sends him down to one knee! Idowu scrambles back to his feet.
Joseph turns his hip over beautifully as he lands a nice leg kick.
Idowu gets his head snapped back by a nice shot there.
Idowu tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Joseph was well out of range. Poor timing from Idowu.

Joseph takes the fight into the clinch.
Still in the clinch, Idowu scores with a nice short uppercut.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A hook to the body from Joseph.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.

Idowu's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Joseph lands with a thumping leg kick.
Joseph connects with a leg kick.
Idowu avoids the body shot from Joseph.
Idowu tried to counter with a leg kick but Joseph avoided it.
Idowu misses the shot to the body.
Idowu is looking to wear down Joseph with body shots, infact he's throwing more body shots than head shots at the moment.
Joseph swings away with a leg kick that misses.
Joseph connects with a slap. Keep your fist closed son.
Joseph throws a lazy head kick
and Idowu counters with a series of strikes. Joseph will be more careful next time no doubt.
Jihadi Joseph seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Idowu throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Joseph with the inside leg kick.
Idowu on the wrong end of an overhand right that came out of nowhere.
Joseph chopping away at his opponent's legs.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Jihadi Joseph 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! Let's get this one finished - here comes the final round!

Joseph moves into range and lands a nice leg kick.
Joseph avoids a kick to the body.
Idowu throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Idowu throws a lazy uppercut
and Idowu takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
Joseph throws a right hand that Idowu ducks under and follows up with a left that Idowu also avoids with ease.
Idowu keeps his opponent at a distance with a nice jab.
Joseph tries to clinch up.
Joseph misses with a low kick.
Joseph throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Idowu.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
The fighters are starting to get sweaty, which will make takedowns a bit more tricky.
Idowu walks straight into an uppercut. Luckily it didn't land flush.
Idowu checks a leg kick.
Joseph's jab looks to have found its range, popping Idowu under the eye.
Joseph throws a jab when Idowu was well out of range.
Idowu appeared to be looking to counter that last move with a leg kick.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Idowu slips under a jab.
A decent looking cross lands there for Joseph.
Joseph looks to score with a jab to the body but Idowu is just out of range.
Idowu looked to counter with a high kick but didn't commit.
Joseph tries a low kick but Idowu avoids it.
Joseph wants to land a leg kick but Idowu is out of range.
Joseph throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
Sloppy strikes from Idowu. Those never looked like landing.
Joseph has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Idowu bobs and weaves and then throws a good body kick.
Joseph changes levels and scores with a jab to the body.
Joseph lands a nice leg kick that just misses Idowu's sensitive parts.
Joseph ducks under a wild hook from Idowu.
Joseph throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
A little feinted left hand from Idowu on the counter but he doesn't commit to it.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Idowu tries to move into range but Joseph moves to the side and lands with a nice right hand.
Joseph takes a swing at Idowu's ribcage but misses.
Nice straight punches there by Idowu. You know Roy Jones Jr respects the hands of Idowu.
Joseph throws a hook but Idowu blocks it.
Idowu throwing a counter right hand but Joseph manages to avoid it.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Joseph swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Joseph misses the shot to the body.
Idowu is looking to chop away at Joseph's legs.
Idowu finds nothing but air with that leg kick attempt.
It seemed like Joseph was going to counter with the hook but didn't fully commit to it.
Joseph scores with a nice strike.
Idowu avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
A jab from Joseph does it's job there.
Joseph throws a jab when Idowu was well out of range.
Idowu is looking for a counter combo.
Joseph with a nice calf kick.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Idowu throws a hook to the side of Joseph's head but Joseph sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
Idowu misses with a body shot.
Joseph checks a low kick. Bone on bone - not my idea of a good time.
Joseph lands with a right hand.
Joseph lands with a cross.
Idowu displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Joseph throws out the jab.
Joseph throws a leg kick but Idowu sees it coming and moves out of range.
Joseph is looking to chop away at Idowu's legs.
Joseph moves out of range of the body kick.
Idowu wings a very wild body shot but it does the job and lands to the midsection.
Joseph lands a jab.
Joseph thuds a left hand into Idowu's body.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Joseph throws a body kick but he was well out of range there.
Idowu thinks about countering with a body kick.
Joseph sizes up Idowu with a pawing jab and scores with a straight right down the middle.
Imani Idowu has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Idowu takes a swing at Joseph's ribcage but misses.
A countering left hand to the body from Joseph misses.
Joseph cracks Idowu with a right hand to the side of the head.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
A lazy left from Joseph finds it's target.
Joseph is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Idowu takes a punch right to his stomach. That took the wind out of him momentarily.
Joseph is looking to slow Idowu down with leg kicks.
Idowu moves out of range as Joseph strikes.

And that's the end of the fight!
Jihadi Joseph comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Joseph 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 Timothy Bukovac scores the fight 27:30
Judge Percy O'Donnell scores the fight 27:30
Judge Jack Bonds scores the fight 27:30

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