PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Iosa Jai (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Janne Kahko (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). These two fighters really are very evenly matched on the feet - it will be fascinating to see who can assert themselves in that aspect of the fight.

Jai
vs
Kahko

170 cm
25
136 lbs
2 - 0 - 0

167 cm
25
130 lbs
5 - 3 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Solid Muay Thai
Good chin

BJJ Blue Belt
Decent boxing
Knockout power

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the bantamweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 2 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Iosa Jai!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 5 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Janne Kahko!
The judges for this bout are Arvi Lind, Tarja Halkonen and Roosa Järviläinen.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Jai fails with the takedown.
Kahko stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Kahko wants it to stay on the feet.
Jai has a takedown stuffed.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Iosa Jai. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Kahko shoots in for a takedown but Jai shows good takedown defense.
Kahko misses with a head kick.

Kahko closes the distance and clinches.
Kahko drops down for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Kahko looking for a takedown.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Kahko tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Jai throws an elbow that misses.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Stalling in the clinch from Jai.
Kahko stops a takedown attempt from Jai.
Kahko prevents the takedown attempt.

Jai breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Jai shoots for a double leg takedown but Kahko sprawls well. He's pushed Jai's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
Jai with a lazy takedown attempt

and Kahko counters into the clinch. Nicely done.
Jai is trying to pull guard but Kahko has him pressed against the cage.

Kahko pulls Jai into guard.

Jai gets to his feet - Kahko follows without any prompting.
Kahko closes the distance and clinches up with Jai, looking for a takedown. Kahko pushes Jai against the cage but Jai circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
Jai shoots in looking for a takedown but Kahko manages to keep the fight standing, pushing Jai's face into the canvas for good measure before circling away.
Kahko fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Jai avoids it really well and circles away.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
No joy there for Kahko, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Kahko fails to land the takedown.
Jai dives in and grabs Kahko's left leg, looking for a takedown. Kahko pushes down on Jai's head and hops out.
Kahko swings away with a counter right hand but no contact made.
Jai listening to his corner there, landing a nice uppercut.
Kahko misses with a takedown attempt - Jai sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
Kahko stuffs the takedown attempt from Jai. Jai gets slowly back to his feet.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Jai tries to clinch but Kahko is having none of it.
Kahko is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Jai attempts a counter takedown but Kahko avoids it well and moves away.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
No luck with that takedown attempt from Jai.

Kahko clinches up with Jai and pushes him back against the cage.
Jai tries to land a knee to the head but Kahko blocks with his arms.

Jai breaks from the clinch.
No luck for Kahko with that takedown attempt.
Jai throws a head kick that misses.
And Kahko responds with a good body kick, but Jai manages to step out the way in time.
Jai moves in looking to clinch but Kahko pushes him off.
Kahko is looking to take this fight into the clinch.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Kahko shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Jai as he jumps to the side.
Kahko looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
Kahko shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Jai as he jumps to the side.
Kahko dives in and grabs Jai's left leg, looking for a takedown. Jai pushes down on Kahko's head and hops out.
Jai goes for a high kick. It partially lands.
Jai fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Kahko moves into range and throws a lovely three punch combination.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Janne Kahko will probably get the nod.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

Kahko changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Jai tries to avoid it but Kahko manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Jai to the ground. Jai escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
Jai was looking to counter that move with a punch but didn't quite pull the trigger.
Kahko keeps the fight on the outside.
Kahko leaves Jai with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.

Kahko rushes Jai and presses him up against the cage.
Jai misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Kahko.
Nice body punch from Jai.
Kahko is trying to pull guard but Jai has him pressed against the cage.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Jai manages to break the clinch.
Iosa Jai is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.

Kahko drives through and clinches with Jai against the cage.
Kahko jumps guard but his hands slip and he falls flat on his back. Well, he's made himself look a right mug there, as Jai walks away with a smile on his face. Kahko gets slowly back to his feet and shakes his head.
Iosa Jai has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Janne Kahko.
Kahko throws a sloppy head kick
and Jai counters with a left and a right that stings Kahko.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Jai fails with the takedown.
Kahko is definitely looking for the counter takedowns here.
Kahko steps to his left, right into the path of a big body kick from Jai. That one must have hurt.
Jai tries to close the distance and clinch up but Kahko swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Kahko tries to clinch up but Jai circles away and keeps his distance.
Kahko gets his head snapped back by a nice shot there.
Jai misses with a kick to the body.
Jai looks to score with a jab to the body but Kahko is just out of range.
Kahko tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Jai was well out of range. Poor timing from Kahko.
Kahko slaps away a takedown attempt from Jai, before circling back to the center of the mat.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Kahko darts in looking for a takedown but Jai gets double underhooks and turns Kahko into the cage.
Jai misses with an attempted mid kick.
Jai defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Kahko.
Jai tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Jai wants to clinch up but Kahko keeps it at a distance.
Kahko is definitely looking for the counter takedowns here.

Kahko rushes Jai and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.
Kahko pushes Jai back against the cage and unloads with a body punch.
Kahko tries a knee to the head but he's missed.
Kahko wants to break the clinch but can't.

Jai's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Kahko shoots in but no luck this time.
Kahko misses with a head kick.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Jai fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
Jai shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Kahko as he jumps to the side.
Kahko appeared to try and counter that last move with a leg kick.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Kahko shoots for a double leg takedown but Jai sprawls well. He's pushed Kahko's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
Jai defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Kahko.
Jai shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Kahko pinned against the cage. Kahko gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
Kahko throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Jai's waist but Jai gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Kahko off to one side.
As Kahko looks to move away, Jai throws a big counter combo bu Kahko just gets out of the way.
Jai slaps away a takedown attempt from Kahko, before circling back to the center of the mat.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Jai fails with a takedown attempt.
Jai tries to clinch there but Kahko circles away.
Jai fails with an attempt to clinch.
No luck for Kahko with that takedown attempt.
Kahko fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Kahko is defended easily by Jai.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Iosa Jai dominated that second 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. Let's hear some noise people - this is the final round!

Jai blocks a head kick by Kahko.
Jai is looking for a counter combo.
Kahko tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. Jai manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Jai stuffs the takedown.
Jai swats away the attempt to clinch by Kahko.
Kahko shoots in looking for a takedown. Jai tries to sprawl out of it but Kahko keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Jai manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
Danga de danga de dang - Jai scores with a four punch combination!
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Kahko dodges the punch combination from Jai.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Jai shoots in for a takedown but Kahko shows good takedown defense.
Jai fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Kahko avoids it really well and circles away.
Kahko misses with a head kick.
Jai throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Jai gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily

and Kahko counters by moving into the clinch. Good anticipation by Kahko.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Iosa Jai. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Kahko wants a takedown but no success here.
Jai landing knees to the head.
Jai tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.
Kahko taking a break, stalling in the clinch.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Jai breaks from the clinch.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Jai.
Jai fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
Kahko tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Jai paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Jai avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Jai is looking to clinch.
Iosa Jai is winning the standup battle so far.
Kahko will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
Jai closes the distance and clinches up with Kahko, looking for a takedown. Jai pushes Kahko against the cage but Kahko circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
Jai fails with a takedown attempt from distance.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kahko looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Jai is fending him off so far but Kahko persists. Nope, Jai circles away and we're back to standing.
Kahko shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Jai as he avoids it easily.
Kahko keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
Kahko is definitely looking for the counter takedowns here.
A shot to the liver by Kahko. Beautiful body shot.
Jai circles away from the clinch attempt.
Jai tries to clinch but Kahko moves out of range.
Kahko looks for the body kick but Jai saw that one coming.
Jai leaves Kahko with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
Kahko is looking to clinch but Jai is avoiding it.
Jai looked to counter that last move with a leg kick but didn't pull the trigger.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Kahko tries to close the distance and clinch up but Jai swats him away and circles back towards the center.

Kahko clinches up against the cage.
A knee to the head by Jai.
Some stalling of biblical proportions here from Jai.
Jai wants a takedown.
Kahko drops down looking for an ankle pick but Jai pulls his leg out and moves away.
Jai is looking to clinch.
Nice takedown defense from Kahko. No joy for Jai on that attempt.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Kahko changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Jai tries to avoid it but Kahko manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Jai to the ground. Jai escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
Jai thinks about countering with a head kick.
Jai pivots as if he's going to throw a leg kick but stops half way.
Kahko avoids the clinch attempt nicely.

And that's the end of the fight!
That was a close round. You could make an argument for either fighter but I would give it to Iosa Jai.
I think Jai has won this one but let's see what the judges have to say. 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 Arvi Lind scores the fight 29:28
Judge Tarja Halkonen scores the fight 29:28
Judge Roosa Järviläinen scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Iosa Jai!