PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Kenta Toma (ranked 4337 p4p, 4503 weight class) and Connor Jensen (ranked 301 p4p, 311 weight class). We have two fighters making their debuts here, so let's see who comes out of this one with their first professional victory.

Toma
vs
Jensen

173 cm
18
147
0 - 0 - 0

167 cm
18
145
0 - 0 - 0

Decent wrestler
Brawler
Big heart

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Powerful

Kore Fight Nutrition

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 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of London, Kenta Toma!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of New York, Connor Jensen!
The judges for this bout are Johanna Lukiainen, Anni Minnemäki and Ben Zyskovitsi.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Jensen tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Toma swivels and escapes.
Jensen blocks a head kick by Toma.
Toma blocks a head kick by Jensen.
Toma is trying to close the distance and clinch up, after that failed offence from Jensen.
Jensen throws a half hearted mid kick.
It looked like Toma was looking amped, ready to throw a big counter but didn't commit.
Jensen pushes forward with a 1-2 combination that forces Toma back to the cage. Jensen follows up with a solid lead hook to the liver.
Toma looking to throw a kick but he's pulled out of it.
Jensen blocks a head kick by Toma.

Jensen instigates a clinch.

Jensen ties up his opponent against the cage and manages to drag the fight down to the ground. Jensen no doubt will be looking to work submissions from his guard.
Toma throws a big right hand that misses.
Jensen is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Toma is controlling him.
Jensen controls Toma momentarily but Toma frees himself.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Toma wants to get up but he can't break Jensen's closed guard. He needs to be careful trying to break the legs open, as he's open to submissions here.
Toma trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Toma wants to stand but Jensen has a closed guard, so he can't escape.
Toma has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.
Jensen wants to stand up but Toma is controlling him.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
A nice inside leg kick there by Toma. That's going to slow Jensen down.
Toma throws a push kick but Jensen slaps the foot to one side.
Jensen shoots in and drives through. Toma sprawls well.
Toma avoids a kick to the body.
Toma seemed to be looking to counter by closing the distance.
No luck for Jensen with that takedown attempt.
Kenta Toma has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Connor Jensen.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Jensen gets in close and instigates a clinch.
Toma creates a bit of distance and throws an elbow that only just misses.
Toma using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Jensen has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
Jensen wants a takedown.
Toma tries to land a knee to the head but misses.
Toma looking to throw knees to the head but Jensen is blocking nicely.
Toma keeps the fight in the clinch, despite Jensen's efforts to push away.
Toma tries a knee to the head but he's missed.
Toma misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Jensen.

Jensen drags the fight down to the ground.
Jensen working a defensive guard here.
Toma trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Toma has decided he wants to stand but the closed guard of Jensen is proving hard to escape from.

Jensen looking for a guillotine here but Toma defends easily.
Toma wants to control from the top but Jensen keeps moving.

Toma stands up and waves to Jensen to follow him.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Jensen throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Toma's waist but Toma gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Jensen off to one side.
Jensen shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Toma sprawls well. Toma wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Jensen gets slowly back to his feet.
Toma throws a head kick that misses.

Toma clinches with his opponent.
Toma throws a nice elbow but it doesn't land.
Jensen wants to stall.
Toma using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Jensen has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
Jensen avoiding damage as Toma throws knees to the body.
Jensen blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Toma pushes off an throws an elbow but Jensen leans to the side and avoids it. We're back to clinching against the cage.
Toma is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Jensen is defending well for now.
Toma tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Jensen avoids it.
Toma tries to land a knee to the head but Jensen blocks with his arms.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Kenta Toma dominated that round.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

A big right from Toma misses.
Jensen shapes to counter with a head kick.
Toma stuffs the takedown.
Jensen throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Jensen shoots in but no luck this time.
Toma looking to throw a kick but he's pulled out of it.
Jensen slips under a jab from Toma.

Jensen gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.
Toma missing with knees to the body.
Toma misses with a knee strike.
Toma tries to work over Jensen's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Toma with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.
Jensen jumps guard but Toma stands there with Jensen around his waist. Jensen gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.
Kenta Toma has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Connor Jensen.
Toma misses with an elbow strike.
Toma pushes off and fires off an elbow that misses, before clinching up again, against the cage.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Toma tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Jensen avoids it.

Jensen pulls Toma into guard.
Toma wants to stand but Jensen has a closed guard, so he can't escape.
Toma lands a couple of elbows.
Jensen is looking to stand up but Toma isn't so interested in that idea.
Toma knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Jensen on the ground.
Toma wanted to stand there but Jensen had control of the position.
Jensen looking to control.

Jensen working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Toma doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Toma manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.
Toma throws an elbow that misses. Jensen uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in Toma's guard. Nice move by Jensen!

Toma on his back here. We all know that wrestlers don't like being on their back so let's see if Toma tries to get out of the position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

The fighters are working up against the cage. Toma manages to wriggle his way back to his feet, so the fighters are now clinched against the cage.
Toma tries to land knees in the clinch but Jensen avoids the damage to the body.
Toma misses with a knee to the head.
Toma prevents Jensen from breaking the clinch.
Jensen blocks an elbow strike from Toma.
Toma keeps the fight in the clinch, despite Jensen's efforts to push away.
Toma using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Jensen has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
Toma tries a knee to the head but Jensen blocks it.
Jensen blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
Toma trying to land knees to the body.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Toma tries a body shot but Jensen blocks it.
Jensen wants to get back to striking at distance but Toma won't allow it.
Toma struggles to land a body shot inside as Jensen controls his hands.
Toma trying to land knees to the body.
Jensen takes an elbow to the forehead.
Toma tries a knee to the head but Jensen blocks it.
Toma tries a knee to the head but Jensen blocks it.
Jensen is trying to slow down the pace in the clinch, to catch his breath.
Toma throws a knee to the head but misses.
Jensen blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
Toma is pressed up against the cage. Jensen has hold of a leg and is looking to drag Toma down to the mat. Toma avoids the attempt though and has circled away. We're back to striking at a distance.
Jensen misses with a takedown attempt

and Toma moves into the clinch.
Toma creates a bit of space for himself and sneaks an elbow through Jensen's defenses.
Jensen tries to score a body lock takedown but Toma shows good agility there to stay on his feet.
Toma misses with a knee to the head.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Jensen successfully pulls guard.
Toma would like to get this fight back to the feet but can't get free from the closed guard.
Toma postures up and lands some nice ground and pound.
Toma would like to get this fight back to the feet but can't get free from the closed guard.

Toma got a little sloppy there for a moment and Jensen has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Toma has managed to get both his arms back between Jensen's legs - danger averted.
Jensen trying to strike from the bottom but really, it's not the best position to be doing that from!
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Toma trying to control the position from guard on top but Jensen is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Kenta Toma dominated that second round.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action! This is the final round!

A nice leg kick lands there from Toma.
Jensen throws a head kick but Toma moves out of range.
Toma misses with a kick to the body.
Jensen pulls out of a head kick attempt.

Toma moves into the clinch.
Toma tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Jensen avoids it.
Toma has Jensen pressed against the cage, preventing Jensen from circling away and getting back to striking at range.
Toma struggles to land a body shot inside as Jensen controls his hands.
Jensen blocks the elbow strike.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Jensen on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
Toma trying to land knees to the body.
Kenta Toma has scored more points in the clinch so far.
Toma throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Jensen blocks it with crossed arms.
Toma is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Jensen is defending well for now.
Jensen is looking for a takedown up against the cage. Toma gets underhooks though and prevents the takedown attempt.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Toma is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Jensen is defending well for now.
Toma throws an elbow but it misses.
Jensen stalling in the clinch but Toma improves position.
Toma is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Jensen is defending well for now.
Toma looking to throw knees to the head but Jensen is blocking nicely.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Jensen.
Jensen lands a body shot in the clinch.
Toma struggles to land a body shot inside as Jensen controls his hands.
Toma is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Jensen is defending well for now.
Toma misses with an elbow over the top.
Toma misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Jensen.

Jensen pulls guard successfully.
Toma is looking to stand up but Jensen won't let him.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Toma trying to control the position from guard on top but Jensen is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Toma wanted to stand there but Jensen had control of the position.
Jensen preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.

Toma stands up and waves to Jensen to follow him.
Nice body kick from Toma.
Connor Jensen is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Jensen dives in for a single leg takedown but Toma sprawls and the fighters end up clinched against the cage.
Toma throws a head kick that Jensen semi-blocks.
Toma tries to land a leg kick but Jensen saw it coming and moves away.
Toma tries to clinch there but Jensen circles away.
Toma throws out a leg kick but Jensen moves out of range and Toma only half commits.
Jensen shoots in for a takedown but Toma shows good takedown defense.
Kenta Toma has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Connor Jensen.
Jensen tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Toma swivels and escapes.
A head kick by Jensen misses

and Toma counters by moving into the clinch.
Jensen managing to block the knees to the body from Toma.
Toma tries a knee to the head but he's missed.
Jensen is working on a leg, looking for a takedown but Toma is defending well.
Toma misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Jensen.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Jensen managing to block the knees to the body from Toma.
Jensen is working for takedown but Toma is calmly controlling the position for now.
Jensen takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Toma tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Jensen avoids it.
Toma prevents a body shot from Jensen.
Toma lands a good knee to the midsection. Jensen won't want to take too many of those.
With the two fighters working up against the cage, Toma just misses with a elbow thrown towards Jensen's brow.
Toma throws a nice elbow but it doesn't land.
Jensen drops down for a takedown but doesn't get it.
With the fighters up against the cage, Toma throws an elbow but misses.
Toma misses with a knee strike.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Jensen managing to block the knees to the body from Toma.
Toma throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Jensen blocks it with crossed arms.
Connor Jensen has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Kenta Toma is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Jensen tries a knee to the head but Toma blocks it.
Toma lands a knee to the body.

And that's the end of the fight!
Kenta Toma showed his dominance in that final round.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Toma, winning every round. Will the judges agree? They are the ones who matter, even if they are often depressingly incompetent. 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 Johanna Lukiainen scores the fight 30:27
Judge Anni Minnemäki scores the fight 30:27
Judge Ben Zyskovitsi scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Kenta Toma!