PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Kebab Nurminen (ranked 2954 p4p, 354 weight class) and Cajetan Shashi (ranked 3041 p4p, 363 weight class). Buckle up people - heeeeeeeeeere we go!

Nurminen
vs
Shashi

180 cm
25
177 lbs
4 - 5 - 0

185 cm
34
169 lbs
11 - 6 - 0

Good wrestling
Excellent boxer
Insanely flexible

Good wrestler
World class boxer
Good gas tank

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 4 - 5 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Kebab Nurminen!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 11 - 6 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Cajetan Shashi!
The judges for this bout are Stewart Dunkirk, Cecil Peabody and George Francis.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Nurminen looks to throw the jab but Shashi is out of range.
Shashi lands with a nice combination. Nurminen backs away looking to recover.

Nurminen closes the distance and clinches.
Nurminen scores with a hook to the body.
Nurminen tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Shashi takes a shot to the head.
Shashi wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.
Shashi blocks an uppercut.
Nurminen has a couple of punches blocked by Shashi.
Nurminen misses with the head strike.
Shashi misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Shashi dictating the pace here, as the fighters clinch against the cage.
Shashi can't break the clinch.
Shashi working aggressively here.
With the fighters clinched against the cage, Shashi creates a bit of distance for himself and scores with a nice uppercut.
Nurminen is pressed up against the cage. Shashi has hold of a leg and is looking to drag Nurminen down to the mat. Nurminen avoids the attempt though and has circled away. We're back to striking at a distance.

Shashi gets a double leg takedown into Nurminen's guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Nurminen has a closed guard, preventing Shashi from standing up.
Nurminen looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Nurminen controlling the position.
Shashi throws a strike but Nurminen rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.

Shashi has an omoplata and is looking to use it perhaps as a submission or perhaps to transition. Nurminen is in a bit of discomfort here, but he's managed to free himself and has dived into side control! That didn't work out too well for Shashi.
Nurminen lands a few punches from side control.
Nurminen takes a little break here. Shashi wants to take advantage but he is being controlled well.
Nurminen lands a decent elbow from side control.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Nurminen working the head with strikes.
Shashi is letting Nurminen control him for a moment.
Nurminen trying to control the action but Shashi is working from the bottom.
Nurminen slows the pace down.
Nurminen creates a bit of distance and throws down some hard shots.
Nurminen is looking to take a break and control but Shashi is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
The fighters are going at a pretty good pace and they're both starting to sweat now.
Shashi tries to work a leg under to get back to half guard but Nurminen wriggles his own leg back out and remains in side control.
Shashi keeps trying to improve his position.
Shashi sneaks a leg under to get back to half guard.
Shashi is looking for a sweep. Nurminen is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Shashi slips a foot under and gets full guard. Nice work.
Shashi tries to land a sweep but no joy.

Shashi is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Nurminen defends well.
Nurminen sitting in guard, not really doing much.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are getting on the fighters' backs, as the pace has dropped off in the last minute or so.

Shashi looking for a guillotine here but Nurminen defends easily.
Nurminen tries to free his leg and advance position but Shashi is retaining full guard.
Nurminen is taking a break and basically stalling. The referee will not allow him to do that for long.
Nurminen sneaks a leg through and gets to half guard. That was like a knife through butter how easily he passed Shashi's guard.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Shashi punching from the bottom.
Nurminen content to sit in half guard and control for a moment.
Shashi is trying to stand.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Nurminen throws a body punch but Shashi moves out of range.
Shashi lands a head kick!
Shashi avoids the body shot from Nurminen.
Shashi misses with a lunging right hand
and Nurminen counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
Nurminen tests Shashi's chin there with a solid looking shot.
Nurminen takes one on the chin but seems OK.
Nurminen waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Shashi.
Nurminen misses with a wild body shot.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Nurminen drives through and clinches with Shashi against the cage.

Shashi breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Shashi looks for the body kick but Nurminen saw that one coming.
Nurminen jabs. That one connects to the head of his opponent.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Nurminen tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. Shashi manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Nurminen circles away from the clinch attempt.
Nurminen fails in his attempt to clinch.
Shashi tries a head kick but it misses.
Nurminen is trying to close the distance and clinch up, after that failed offence from Shashi.
Cajetan Shashi is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Nurminen throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Shashi's waist but Shashi gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Nurminen off to one side.
Shashi goes for a double leg but Nurminen avoids the attempt and the two fighters end up clinched against the cage as Nurminen continues to drive forward.
Shashi connects with a lovely right hand, straight down the pipe.
Shashi fails with a takedown attempt.
A nice leg kick lands there from Nurminen.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Shashi gets tackled into the cage by Nurminen. Nurminen maintains the clinch.
Shashi is trying to work for a single leg takedown but Nurminen pulls him back up using the underhooks.
Kebab Nurminen has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Cajetan Shashi.
Nurminen lands a hook to the side of the head.
Nurminen lands with a short punch from the clinch.
Nurminen misses with some punches.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Shashi.
Nurminen misses with a punch on the inside.
Nurminen lands a nice shot to the body.
Nurminen content to slow the pace in the clinch.
A bit of stalling here from Shashi.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Shashi tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.
Nurminen softening up his opponent with strikes, against the cage.
Shashi drops down looking for an ankle pick but Nurminen pulls his leg out and moves away.
Nurminen keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Nurminen misses with a takedown attempt
and Shashi counters with a three punch combo that has Nurminen backing up. Nurminen nods at Shashi to acknowledge the strikes.
A head kick by Shashi misses

and Nurminen counters with a shoot takedown. Shashi fights it but they end up in guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Nurminen slows down the pace of the fight, as he sits in guard.
Nurminen trying to control but Shashi is working from the bottom.
Kebab Nurminen overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.

Shashi escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Nurminen gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
Nurminen being controlled here momentarily.
We've been hearing that Nurminen has been drilling a lot of ground and pound in training, so let's see if he get the finish.
Nurminen controlling from the top position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are hurling abuse towards the fighters... You can hardly blame them though because there isn't a lot going on in the fight.

Shashi is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
Nurminen works over Shashi with some ground and pound from guard.
Shashi tries to strike from the bottom.
Nurminen stopping the sweep attempt from Shashi.
Shashi working a defensive guard here.
Nurminen won't allow Shashi to sweep him here.
Nurminen pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Shashi is keeping the position for now.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Kebab Nurminen dominated that second round.
That's time! Back to the action! Let's get this one finished - here comes the final round!

Nurminen displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Shashi.
Shashi tries a head kick but it misses.
Nurminen lands a jab to the head.
Nice defenses there by Shashi.
Nurminen lands a body shot.
Nurminen avoids the body shot from Shashi.

Nurminen fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Shashi, pushing him back against the cage.
Nurminen pressing his opponent against the cage.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Nurminen is stalling here. The referee will be looking to step in if he doesn't pick up the pace.
Nurminen has Shashi pressed against the cage.
The crowd are getting pretty annoyed with Nurminen for his constant stalling in the clinch and are voicing their displeasure.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Shashi wants to take the fight to the mat but Nurminen manages to get underhooks and keep the fight in the clinch.
Nurminen scores with a nice hook to the head.
A head punch on the inside from Nurminen fails to land.
Kebab Nurminen has scored more points in the clinch so far.
Shashi jumps guard but Nurminen turns him against the cage and keeps the fight standing.
Kebab Nurminen has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Cajetan Shashi.
The two fighters are working to gain dominance in the clinch.
Nurminen keeps the fight in the clinch, despite Shashi's efforts to push away.
Nurminen misses with a short punch on the inside.
Nurminen keeps control of Shashi as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.
Nurminen can't find room to land a body shot as Shashi controls the action.

Shashi manages to pull guard.
Nurminen wants to control from the top but Shashi keeps moving.
Nurminen with a nice head shot there.
Nurminen won't allow Shashi to get back to his feet.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Shashi keeping moving, preventing Nurminen from controlling successfully.
Nurminen controlling from the guard. I say controlling but really, he's stalling.
Nurminen looking to pass the guard.
Nurminen won't allow Shashi to sweep him here.
Nurminen content to stall in guard here.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up. He just wasn't happy with the level of activity.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Shashi dips to his left and cracks Nurminen with an uppercut!
Shashi looks for a takedown but Nurminen sprawls well.
Nice sprawl there from Shashi as Nurminen shoots in.
Shashi with the counter takedown but Nurminen avoids it easily.

Nurminen looking for a takedown here - he's got it.
Nurminen 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.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Shashi had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Nurminen defends it easily.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Nurminen trying to control the position from guard on top but Shashi is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Nurminen wants to pass the guard but Shashi is keeping the position.
Cajetan Shashi has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Kebab Nurminen is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Nurminen engaging in some classic timewasting tactics.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!

Shashi is active off his back here, looking for submissions.

And that's the end of the fight!
Kebab Nurminen showed his dominance in that final round.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Nurminen, 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 Stewart Dunkirk scores the fight 30:27
Judge Cecil Peabody scores the fight 30:27
Judge George Francis scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Kebab Nurminen!
Kebab Nurminen bigged himself up after the win. The crowd seemed to love it.