PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Shawn Irwin (ranked 3849 p4p, 3353 weight class) and Valto Joki (ranked 405 p4p, 378 weight class). Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

Irwin
vs
Joki

188 cm
23
209
2 - 0 - 0

187 cm
19
216
1 - 1 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Good kicks
Granite chin

BJJ Blue Belt
Lethal high kicks
Heavy handed

BANZAI COMBAT NUTRITION

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the light heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 2 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Shawn Irwin!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Valto Joki!
The judges for this bout are Yasuomi Hirokawa, Hirohito Nitta and Taro Takaoka.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Irwin tries to clinch up
enabling Joki to counter with a crisp jab.
The fight stays on the outside here - Irwin looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Joki lands a nice shot to the body.
Irwin definitely looks more muscular than last time we saw him fight.
Joki throws a couple of head shots and lands with the final one - a decent hook, which struck Irwin on the side of the head.
Joki lands a jab to the head.
Joki connects with a crisp jab.
Joki lands with a straight right. Irwin didn't see that one coming.
Joki lands an overhand right.
Irwin thows a body kick. Joki tries to catch it but that hurt him.
Shawn Irwin seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Irwin wants to clinch
and Joki makes him pay by landing a nice hook to the body before moving out of range.
Joki circles away from the clinch attempt
and Joki counters nicely by changing levels and landing a hook to the body.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Joki cracks Irwin with a right hand to the side of the head.
Joki scores with a nice head shot.
Joki is landing a lot of head punches in this opening round! Irwin had better start moving his head a bit unless he wants his face to turn into mush.
Joki lands with an uppercut that bounces Irwin off the cage and back into range.
Joki tests Irwin's chin there with a solid looking shot.
Irwin looks to throw a body kick
letting Joki counter with a right hand.
Irwin tries to move into range but Joki moves to the side and lands with a nice right hand.
Joki connects with a looping right hand.

Irwin moves into the clinch successfully.
Irwin's head jolts backwards as he takes an uppercut right on the button!
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Joki lands punches inside but they're not really causing much damage.
A quick uppercut on the inside from Joki.
Irwin comes over the top with an elbow. That landed flush.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Joki blocks an elbow strike from Irwin.
A shot in the inside from Joki.
Joki stalling.

Joki's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Joki throws a head kick that connects with a bit of head and a bit of hand.
The fighters circle momentarily. Joki darts into range and connects with a nice straight punch.
Joki works Irwin's body with a nice hook.
Joki swats away the attempt to clinch by Irwin.
Joki lets it all go there with a big combo counter but none of the punches connected.
Joki connects with a looping left hand that seems like it dazed Irwin momentarily.
Irwin tries to clinch up.
Irwin ducks right into an uppercut from Joki.
Joki scores with a jab. Irwin acknowledges it with a nod of the head.
Irwin gets off balance looking for a body kick
and Joki counters with a thumping low kick.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Ooooh, nice body kick lands from Irwin. Joki shrugs it off though.
Irwin closes the distance looking to clinch
and Joki counters with a left to the body.
Joki scores with a jab. Irwin acknowledges it with a nod of the head.

Irwin moves into range and clinches up with Joki.
Joki lands punches inside but they're not really causing much damage.
Joki managing to block the knees to the body from Irwin.
A shot in the inside from Joki.
Irwin pushes off an throws an elbow but Joki leans to the side and avoids it. We're back to clinching against the cage.
Irwin using the Thai clinch to land knees to the body.
Irwin is trying to maintain a safe position but Joki gets an underhook and turns Irwin into the cage.
Irwin pushes off and fires off an elbow that misses, before clinching up again, against the cage.
Both fighters working to control the clinch.
Irwin trying to control the position but instead, Joki has worked for underhooks and has pushed Irwin into the cage.
Irwin seems a little flustered. He's come in with the intention of controlling the clinch but Joki is preventing him from doing so, at least for the moment.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Joki content to slow the pace in the clinch.
Joki blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
Irwin trying to land knees to the body.
Irwin tries to land a knee to the head but misses.
Joki stalling.
The fans in attendance giving it up for the two fighters, who have really let it all hang out in the last minute or so!
The pace really dropping off here, momentarily.
Joki scores with an uppercut up the middle.
We've been informed that Joki has been working hard on his conditioning in the buildup to the fight.
Irwin tries to land knees in the clinch but Joki avoids the damage to the body.
Joki lands a right hand that snaps the head of Irwin backwards.
Joki taking a break, stalling in the clinch.
The crowd applaud the fighters' efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Irwin missing with knees to the body.
Joki working some nice short punches in the clinch.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Valto Joki dominated that round.
That's the end of the interval. I'm sure that seemed a lot quicker than a minute for our two fighters! Back to the action.

Irwin closes the distance looking to clinch
and Joki counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
Joki lands a straight punch to the body, keeping Irwin at a distance.
Irwin tries to close the distance and clinch but Joki swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Irwin looks to land a body kick but Joki moved away.
Joki lands a pitter patter jab to the forehead of his opponent.
Irwin on the wrong end of a vicious looking body shot.
Irwin takes a jab right on the kisser.
Irwin looks to clinch
and Irwin takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Irwin takes a shot to the nose. Hopefully that hasn't broken it.
Joki circles away from the clinch attempt
and Joki counters with a lovely straight right hand!
The fans in attendance giving it up for the two fighters, who have really let it all hang out in the last minute or so!
Joki cracks a nice hook into Irwin's ribs.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Joki changes levels and scores with a jab to the body.
Irwin darts in trying to clinch
and Joki counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
Joki circles away from the clinch attempt
and Joki counters with a nice kick to the body.
Irwin throws a body kick despite being completely out of range
and Joki counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Irwin misses with a kick to the body
and Joki connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Joki lands a beauty of a right hand that gets the crowd cheering.
Irwin misses with the body kick
and Joki counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
Irwin drops his hands and takes a jab to the jaw for his troubles.
Irwin walks into a jab.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Joki throws a nice hook to the body that draws an oooh from the crowd.
Irwin takes a jab right on the kisser.
Irwin tries to clinch but fails miserably
and Joki counters with a nice uppercut.
Nice shot by Joki.
Joki scores with a jab. Irwin acknowledges it with a nod of the head.
Irwin throws a body kick despite being completely out of range
and Joki cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.

Irwin is rocked!
Joki lands with a cross to side of his opponent's head.
Oh Irwin is still all over the place! His legs are completely gone! Will he be able to recover?!!
Irwin misses with the body kick
and Irwin takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
Irwin misses with a kick to the body
and Joki counters with an inside leg kick.
Irwin seems to have got his legs back now.
Irwin tries to clinch

and Joki counters with a nice right hand that sends Irwin toppling to the canvas! Irwin scrambles and gets back to his feet - can Joki finish him?!
Irwin tries to clinch
and Joki counters with a right hand to the body.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Irwin wants to clinch
and Joki counters with a leg kick.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Joki fakes and then throws a beautiful body shot. Irwin looks a bit winded and takes a step backwards to take a breath.
Irwin takes a shot to the eye socket. That's gotta hurt.
Irwin looks to clinch
and Joki counters nicely by changing levels and landing a hook to the body.
Joki lands a powerful looking uppercut that connected with his opponent's jaw.
A good leg kick by Joki.
Irwin closes the distance looking to clinch
and Joki connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Jab by Joki.
The fighters circle momentarily. Joki darts into range and connects with a nice straight punch.
Irwin misses with the body kick
and Joki counters with a straight right hand.
Irwin darts in trying to clinch
enabling Joki to counter with a crisp jab.
Joki has been the more effective fighter overall so far.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The fans in attendance giving it up for the two fighters, who have really let it all hang out in the last minute or so!
Irwin wants to clinch

and Joki counters with a nice right hand that sends Irwin toppling to the canvas! Irwin scrambles and gets back to his feet - can Joki finish him?!
Irwin tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Irwin tries to clinch but fails miserably

and Joki counters with a crisp right hand that drops Irwin! Joki lets Irwin back up to his feet, looking for a finish!
Irwin moves forwards but Joki connects with a nice, crisp jab.
Joki scores with a punch to the gut of his opponent.
Joki lands a jab to Irwin's midsection.
Irwin tries to clinch
and Joki counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Irwin wants to clinch up but Joki keeps it at a distance.
Joki scores with a jab. Irwin acknowledges it with a nod of the head.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Irwin darts in trying to clinch
and Joki counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Valto Joki showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action! This is the final round!

Irwin takes an uppercut right on the button but keeps his composure.
Both fighters circling a little - Joki finishes the exchange with a kick to the body.
Irwin closes the distance looking to clinch
and Joki counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
Irwin on the wrong end of a nice jab.
Joki lands a nice leg kick that just misses Irwin's sensitive parts.
Joki lunges at Irwin with a hook that half lands and is half blocked by Irwin's hand.
Joki looks to land a combination. Irwin sees it coming but can only parry a couple of the shots.
Irwin misses with the body kick
and Joki counters with a nice uppercut.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Irwin tries to clinch
and Joki counters with a big right hand! Oh Irwin is in trouble here! Joki follows up with more strikes and that's it! The ref has stopped it!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 0:49 of round 3, we have a winner by way of TKO (Strikes). Valto Joki!