PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Nick Diaz (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Jani Ketola Jr (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). I'm sure you'll be fascinated to know that I was talking to some pointless Z list celebrity before the fight and he thought that Jani Ketola Jr was going to win. Let's see if he was right.

Diaz
vs
Ketola Jr

225 cm
25
180 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

183 cm
18
175 lbs
1 - 1 - 0

Good takedowns
Solid Muay Thai
Granite chin

BJJ Brown Belt
Counter striker
Intelligent

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 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Nick Diaz!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Jani Ketola Jr!
The judges for this bout are Matti Vanhoillinen, Tarja Halkonen and Ben Zyskovitsi.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Diaz throws a head kick but Ketola Jr moves out of range.
Ketola Jr fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Diaz manages to avoid it.
Nick Diaz seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Diaz throws a body kick that misses.
Diaz changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Ketola Jr tries to avoid it but Diaz manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Ketola Jr to the ground. Ketola Jr escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
Diaz tries to close the distance and clinch but Ketola Jr swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Ketola Jr fakes a head punch and goes low to the body. Nicely done.

Ketola Jr shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Oh and he's advanced to full mount straight away.
We may be looking at a referee standup if the pace doesn't pick up soon.
Ketola Jr sitting in mount, just looking to control for the moment.

Ketola Jr goes for an armbar but he's not got it… Diaz turns into him and now he's in Ketola Jr's guard.

Ketola Jr throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Diaz wants to control from the top but Ketola Jr keeps moving.

Ketola Jr looks to be working for a triangle here. Oh, it looks like he might have it! Diaz has picked Ketola Jr up and slammed him! Ketola Jr can't keep hold of the triangle and Diaz manages to pass to side control!
Ketola Jr is looking for a sweep.

Diaz working hard here to secure a kimura but he's not really in the right position for it.
Ketola Jr manages to work his way to half guard, despite Diaz's best efforts.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Diaz is looking for a kimura but Ketola Jr is holding onto that half guard position, so it's hard for Diaz to get the leverage.
Ketola Jr tries to get to full guard but Diaz has control of the leg.
Ketola Jr is not content to let Diaz control the position.
Diaz thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.
Ketola Jr tries to regain full guard. Instead though, Diaz has advanced to mount. Uh oh.
Ketola Jr is desperately trying to get back to half guard.
Diaz trying to control but he's not successful this time.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Ketola Jr working to try and regain half guard.
Diaz can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as Ketola Jr is looking to escape.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Diaz thuds his fist into the canvas! Oooouch!
Ketola Jr is desperately trying to improve his position but Diaz has a good base and remains in mount.
Diaz looking to ground and pound but Ketola Jr is blocking nicely.
Diaz can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as Ketola Jr is looking to escape.
Ketola Jr is in all sorts of trouble here.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.

Diaz is looking to secure an arm. He's managed it! He's pivoting for an armbar - that looks tight! But Ketola Jr has managed to get out of it and now he's in a dominant position. Nice work from Ketola Jr!
Ketola Jr wants to pass the guard but Diaz is keeping the position.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Jani Ketola Jr will probably get the nod.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action.

Ketola Jr digs a good body shot into Diaz's ribs.
Diaz tries to clinch there but Ketola Jr circles away.
Diaz fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
Ketola Jr lands a slapping body shot.
Diaz with a poor takedown

and Ketola Jr counters with a shoot takedown. Diaz fights it but they end up in guard.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Ketola Jr is frustrating his opponent with some stalling tactics from top position.
Ketola Jr working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Ketola Jr is intent on slowing down the pace of the fight, simply looking to control.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Diaz keeping moving, preventing Ketola Jr from controlling successfully.

The ref stands the fighters back up. Jani Ketola Jr was stalling too much, according to the referee.

Diaz scores with a nice takedown into half guard. Let's see what he's got on the ground.
Diaz will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.

Ketola Jr looking for submissions off his back.
Diaz tries to stand but his arm is trapped.

Ketola Jr looking for submissions off his back.
Diaz looks to land a strike but Ketola Jr avoids it nicely and regains full guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Ketola Jr is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.
Diaz looking to sit in guard and control but Ketola Jr gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.
Ketola Jr trying to control but Diaz is working from the bottom.
Diaz preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Ketola Jr throws a big right hand that misses.
Jani Ketola Jr has got the better of the ground game so far.
Ketola Jr trying to control the position from guard on top but Diaz is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Diaz throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
Ketola Jr preventing the sweep.
Diaz working a defensive guard but Ketola Jr manages to pass into side control anyway.
Ketola Jr fails to land a wild elbow strike.
Ketola Jr controls the position.
Diaz really does look like a pencil wearing a pair of gloves. Let's hope he has a gameplan to suit that ridiculous body shape.
Ketola Jr tries to land with some ground and pound but misses.
Ketola Jr controlling the position.
Ketola Jr working the ground and pound but he's contacting the mat, not the fighter.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Ketola Jr in side control, trying to ground and pound but not landing this time.

Ketola Jr looking for an arm triangle but it's way too loose to do anything.
Ketola Jr controlling the position from side mount.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Ketola Jr trying to control the action but Diaz is working from the bottom.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Diaz is not in a great position here, taking some shots.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Jani Ketola Jr showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business. Let's hear some noise people - this is the final round!

Diaz misses with a takedown

and Ketola Jr counters with a single leg into guard. Diaz didn't expect that.

Diaz is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
Ketola Jr postures up.

Diaz is looking for a triangle but Ketola Jr pushes his legs off easily.
Ketola Jr wants to pass the guard but Diaz is keeping the position.
Ketola Jr seems content to control from guard here. He's going to have to remain active though if he doesn't want to get stood back up.
Diaz keeping moving, preventing Ketola Jr from controlling successfully.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Ketola Jr stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Diaz swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Diaz utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Ketola Jr trying to control but Diaz is working from the bottom.
The referee claps his hands together and tells the fighters to work.
Ketola Jr working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Diaz keeping moving, preventing Ketola Jr from controlling successfully.

Jani Ketola Jr has forced the referee to step in and restart the fight on the feet.

Ketola Jr is looking for a takedown here. He's shot in and has managed to get it, finishing up in Diaz's half guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Ketola Jr throws a big elbow that misses, also allowing Diaz to regain full guard.
Diaz looking to hit a scissor sweep but Ketola Jr is one step ahead there.
Ketola Jr pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Diaz is keeping the position for now.
Ketola Jr stopping the sweep attempt from Diaz.
Ketola Jr trying to control the position from guard on top but Diaz is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Ketola Jr postures up.
Ketola Jr trying to control but Diaz is working from the bottom.
It looks like the ref is thinking about a standup.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.
Diaz gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily

and Ketola Jr decides to take the opportunity to score a takedown. He's landed in Diaz's guard.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Diaz looking to control.
Ketola Jr trying to control the position from guard on top but Diaz is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Ketola Jr wants to pass the guard but Diaz is keeping the position.
Diaz looking to hit a scissor sweep but Ketola Jr is one step ahead there.
Ketola Jr sitting in guard here, content to control.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The referee is asking the fighters to pick up the pace.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
Diaz misses the shot to the body.
Diaz is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Diaz avoids the body shot from Ketola Jr.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Diaz wants to clinch up but Ketola Jr keeps it at a distance.
Diaz misses with a takedown attempt - Ketola Jr sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Nick Diaz. That's going to take a lot out of him.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Ketola Jr misses with a wild body shot.

And that's the end of the fight!
Jani Ketola Jr comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Ketola Jr 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 Matti Vanhoillinen scores the fight 28:29
Judge Tarja Halkonen scores the fight 27:30
Judge Ben Zyskovitsi scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Jani Ketola Jr!
Post fight, an emotional Jani Ketola Jr said 'Im gonna win and keep this belt a loong looong time nigga! '.