PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Niek Mulder (ranked 791 p4p, 1625 weight class) and Julius Turunen (ranked 97 p4p, 199 weight class). Mulder's entrance music is Lose yourself. A fine choice. Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Mulder
vs
Turunen

178 cm
29
169
6 - 2 - 0

173 cm
21
165
5 - 1 - 0

Good wrestling
Basic striking
Cardio machine

Good wrestler
Decent boxing
Good gas tank

Altitude Clothing
Brooklyn Apothecary

Fenrir Fightgear - Anno 2013
Conviction

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 5 rounds, in the lightweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 6 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, Niek Mulder!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 5 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Julius Turunen!
The judges for this bout are Matti Vanhoillinen, Anni Minnemäki and Roosa Järviläinen.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Turunen fails with the takedown

and Mulder counters with a nice shoot takedown that brings the fighters to the ground.
Turunen wants to sweep but no luck.
Mulder throws a big elbow that misses.
Mulder keeps in close for a moment and lands a decent shot to the side of Turunen's head.
We've been hearing that Mulder has been drilling a lot of ground and pound in training, so let's see if he get the finish.
Mulder trying to control the position from guard on top but Turunen is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Turunen looking for a sweep. Not yet Turunen, not yet.
Turunen keeps trying to improve his position.
Turunen is trying to control the position but Mulder postures up.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Turunen is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.

Mulder moves his hips nicely and gets into full guard.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Mulder is on top in guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Turunen looking to control.
Mulder stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Turunen swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Mulder keeps in close for a moment and lands a decent shot to the side of Turunen's head.
Mulder trying to control but Turunen is working from the bottom.
Mulder keeps in close for a moment and lands a decent shot to the side of Turunen's head.
Turunen looking to hit a scissor sweep but Mulder is one step ahead there.
Turunen keeping moving, preventing Mulder from controlling successfully.
Mulder's corner is telling him to maintain position.
Mulder has been looking to land a fair amount of strikes on the ground. He might be looking to soften his opponent up in order to work for a submission.
Mulder works a leg free and moves into half guard.
Mulder looks over to his corner - he wants some instructions but his corner are not responding.
Turunen felt the need to train up his defensive grappling in the buildup to the fight. Presumably he was expecting to be in a difficult position like this, so let's see if he can get out of it.
The referee walks around the fighters to get a better view of the action. Mulder lands a nice short elbow.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Mulder working over Turunen with some ground and pound. Turunen looks like he wants out of this position, which is understandable.
Mulder wants to lay and pray for a moment but Turunen keeps working.
The two fighters exchange a few words. I couldn't hear what they were saying but maybe it's more fun if you make it up yourself. Mulder connects with a nice short shot to Turunen's temple.
Turunen is looking to improve his position.
Turunen trying to hold on to Mulder's head to control him but Mulder postures up.
Mulder landing with strikes to the body and head, softening up his opponent.
Mulder is keen to just control but Turunen is a slippery customer.
Mulder is keeping good posture, landing some ground and pound.
Turunen keeps control of the position for the meantime.
Mulder drops an elbow to the side of Turunen's head.
Mulder working to pass to mount. He's got his hand pressing down on Turunen's thigh. Turunen counters though and makes it back to full guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Mulder is taking a break and basically stalling. The referee will not allow him to do that for long.
Mulder trying to control the position from guard on top but Turunen is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Mulder stands up over Turunen, holding his feet. He dives back in and lands a decent shot to the head.
Turunen keeping moving, preventing Mulder from controlling successfully.
Mulder postures up.
Turunen looking to hit a scissor sweep but Mulder is one step ahead there.
Mulder passes Turunen's left leg - he's now in half guard.
Turunen moves his hips nicely and gets into full guard.
Mulder stopping the sweep attempt from Turunen.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Turunen trying to punch from his back but it's not doing any damage.
Mulder trying to control but Turunen is working from the bottom.
Mulder with a flurry of punches that miss.
Turunen wants to sweep but no luck.
Mulder stands up over Turunen, holding his feet. He dives back in and lands a decent shot to the head.
Mulder trying to control the position from guard on top but Turunen is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Mulder pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Turunen is keeping the position for now.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Mulder distracts Turunen with his right hand and drops a big elbow with his other arm.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Mulder's corner is telling him to maintain position.
Mulder preventing the sweep.
Mulder stays in close to Turunen's body and controls the position.
Mulder trying to control the position from guard on top but Turunen is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Niek Mulder dominated that round.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

Turunen decides to change it up a bit and drives through with a nice takedown into half guard.
Mulder moves into full guard.
Mulder keeping moving, preventing Turunen from controlling successfully.
Turunen is taking a break and basically stalling. The referee will not allow him to do that for long.
Turunen trying to control but Mulder is working from the bottom.
Turunen won't allow Mulder to sweep him here.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Mulder is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Turunen landing some decent shots from guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Mulder keeping moving, preventing Turunen from controlling successfully.
Turunen postures up and scores with a shot to the body and a follow up elbow to the head.
Mulder wants to sweep here but Turunen controlling him for the moment.
Turunen passes easily into side control. Nice work.
Mulder is looking for a sweep.
Mulder regains half guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Mulder is looking for a sweep. Turunen is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Turunen is thwarting Mulder's attempts to control the position.
Mulder gets back to full guard.
Niek Mulder overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Turunen with a nice head shot there.
Turunen lands a nice shot whilst sitting in his opponent's guard.
Turunen not doing a lot at the moment. He'll have to show some more aggression or the fight will get stood up.
Mulder looking to hit a scissor sweep but Turunen is one step ahead there.
Mulder keeping moving, preventing Turunen from controlling successfully.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Mulder manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Turunen manages to get himself to full guard.

Mulder trying to control the position from guard on top but Turunen is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Mulder postures up.
Turunen keeping moving, preventing Mulder from controlling successfully.
Turunen is pulling down on Mulder's head to control his posture.
Turunen trying to control the position.
Turunen manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Mulder manages to get himself to full guard.

Mulder is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Turunen can do to turn this around?
Mulder 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.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Mulder is working hard here to advance position.
Turunen looking to pass the guard.
Mulder tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Mulder trying to control the position.
Turunen controlling from the top position.
Mulder looking to hit a scissor sweep but Turunen is one step ahead there.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Turunen won't allow Mulder to get back to his feet.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Julius Turunen showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

Turunen has a takedown stuffed.
Mulder half commits to a counter takedown before pushing away, out of range.
Turunen fails with the takedown.

A momentary lapse in concentration from Turunen enables Mulder to shoot in and score with a neat double leg. Turunen manages to secure a closed guard as the fighters hit the mat.
Mulder wants to control from the top but Turunen keeps moving.
Mulder is going to have to think about doing something other than just controlling because Turunen is managing to avoid having the position dictated to him.
Mulder won't allow Turunen to sweep him here.
Mulder trying to control the position from guard on top but Turunen is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Mulder lands a couple of digs.
Turunen keeping moving, preventing Mulder from controlling successfully.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Turunen is on top in guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Mulder looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Turunen trying to control the position from guard on top but Mulder is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Mulder wants to control here, rather than go for any submissions from the bottom. At least for now.
Mulder 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.
Mulder has a closed guard, preventing anything of note from happening. Perhaps he's looking to stall.
Turunen throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Mulder is on top in guard.

Mulder is working the ground and pound from guard. He might want to try advancing position though to get more of an impact.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Turunen tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Turunen keeping moving, preventing Mulder from controlling successfully.
Mulder postures up.
Mulder wants to control from the top but Turunen keeps moving.
Mulder looking to pass the guard.
Mulder slips effortlessly into side control - very nice.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Mulder working the ground and pound from side control.
Turunen is looking to regain half guard here but Mulder keeps moving and retains side control.
Mulder trying to control the action but Turunen is working from the bottom.
Mulder is really struggling to control Turunen but he's trying to hold on to the position.
Mulder is working Turunen over with some ground and pound from side control.
Turunen is trying to get back to half guard.
A lull in the action here as Mulder stalls from top position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Mulder is chipping away with strikes.
Mulder working the ground and pound.
Mulder postures up a little and throws a couple of hammerfists but they don't connect properly.
Mulder wants to lay and pray for a moment but Turunen keeps working.
Mulder wants to control for a moment but Turunen uses the opportunity to move back to half guard.
Turunen tries to roll over but Mulder keeps him under control.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Mulder works his foot free and advances to mount.
Turunen can't escape the position.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Niek Mulder clearly takes that round.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

Turunen shoots in and scores a nice double leg takedown into half guard.
Mulder has hold of Turunen's hands but Turunen slips his arm to the side and lands an elbow.
Mulder is pressing down on Turunen's left leg trying to get back to full guard. He's managed it.
Turunen throws a big elbow that misses.
Mulder tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Turunen prevents Mulder from getting back to his feet.
Mulder 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.
Turunen working some strikes from top position.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Mulder wants to sweep here but Turunen controlling him for the moment.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Turunen postures up and lands a big shot to Mulder's brow.
Turunen won't allow Mulder to sweep him here.
Turunen trying to control the position from guard on top but Mulder is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Mulder wants to sweep but no luck.
Mulder working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Turunen.
Turunen keeps in close for a moment and lands a decent shot to the side of Mulder's head.
Mulder keeping moving, preventing Turunen from controlling successfully.
Turunen might have to switch it up a bit here because his efforts to control Mulder haven't been going to plan, at least at the current moment in time.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
There's not a lot going on here and the crowd are letting the fighters know they're not willing to tolerate a lack of action.
Turunen working some strikes from top position.
Turunen wants to control from the top but Mulder keeps moving.
Mulder 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.
Turunen trying to control the position from guard on top but Mulder is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.
Mulder shoots in for a takedown but Turunen shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
Turunen shoots in looking for a takedown but Mulder manages to keep the fight standing, pushing Turunen's face into the canvas for good measure before circling away.
Turunen misses with a takedown attempt - Mulder sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
Turunen shoots in for a takedown but Mulder shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
Niek Mulder has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Julius Turunen.
Mulder stuffs the takedown attempt from Turunen. Turunen gets slowly back to his feet.
Turunen is absolutely dripping with sweat - he looks exhausted.

Mulder shoots in for a takedown and gets it.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Turunen moves his hips nicely and gets into full guard.
Turunen keeping moving, preventing Mulder from controlling successfully.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Turunen is on top in guard.

There's a bit of a scramble here and now Mulder is on top in guard.

Turunen looking to control.
Turunen looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Mulder is working the ground and pound from guard. He might want to try advancing position though to get more of an impact.
Turunen working a defensive guard here.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Turunen keeping moving, preventing Mulder from controlling successfully.
Mulder looking to control the position here, rather than advance.
Turunen looking for a sweep. Not yet Turunen, not yet.
Mulder lands a couple of decent looking shots.
Mulder landing some decent shots from guard.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Mulder postures up and lands some nice ground and pound.
Turunen lands a beautiful sweep and he's now moved into his opponent's guard.

And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close fourth round but Julius Turunen will probably get the nod - 10:9.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action! Let's get this one finished - here comes the final round!

Turunen has a takedown stuffed.
Mulder attempts a counter takedown but Turunen avoids it well and moves away.

Mulder drives through with a takedown into Turunen's guard. Let's see what he can do from the top position.
Mulder wants to control from the top but Turunen keeps moving.
Mulder is working Turunen over from the guard. He should look to pass the guard and do a little more damage with these strikes.
Mulder trying to control but Turunen is working from the bottom.
Mulder postures up.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Mulder trying to control but Turunen is working from the bottom.
Turunen is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.

Turunen takes advantage of the dominant position to land a couple of big hammer fists.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Mulder is looking for a sweep. Turunen is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Turunen not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
Turunen throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
Mulder trying to control from the bottom.
Turunen is keen to just control but Mulder is a slippery customer.
Mulder is pressing down on Turunen's left leg trying to get back to full guard. He's managed it.
Mulder looking for a sweep. Not yet Mulder, not yet.
Turunen is sitting in guard, working some ground and pound.
Mulder tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Mulder keeping moving, preventing Turunen from controlling successfully.
Mulder controls Turunen momentarily but Turunen frees himself.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Turunen with a nice head shot there.
Turunen is stalling in the full guard.
Turunen preventing the sweep.
Turunen keeps in close for a moment and lands a decent shot to the side of Mulder's head.
Turunen trying to control the position from guard on top but Mulder is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Mulder looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Turunen missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Turunen 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 referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up.
Turunen shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Mulder as he jumps to the side.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Turunen tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Mulder swivels and escapes.
Mulder changes levels looking for a counter takedown but doesn't commit.
Niek Mulder has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Julius Turunen.

Turunen closes the distance and after a bit of a stuggle, scores a takedown into Mulder's guard.
Turunen is wobbling all over the place through exhaustion. Will he make it to the final bell?
Turunen won't allow Mulder to sweep him here.
Mulder looking to control.
Turunen looking to pass the guard.

Mulder looking for a guillotine here but Turunen defends easily.
Mulder working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Turunen.
Mulder keeping moving, preventing Turunen from controlling successfully.
If this pace continues, the referee will definitely step in and force a standup.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Mulder is trying to keep Turunen in close.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.
Turunen throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Mulder's waist but Mulder gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Turunen off to one side.

Turunen shoots in with a lovely double leg takedown. Mulder manages to land in full guard to minimise the damage.
Turunen throws a strike but Mulder rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.

Turunen is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.

The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Mulder wants to get back to full guard.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Mulder trying to hold on to Turunen's head to control him but Turunen postures up.
Mulder tries to get to full guard but Turunen has control of the leg.

And that's the end of the fight!
Julius Turunen comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Turunen has won this one but let's see whether the judges agree with me. Over to the ring announcer for the scorecards.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 5 rounds of action, we go to the scorecards for a decision.
Judge Matti Vanhoillinen scores the fight 48:47
Judge Anni Minnemäki scores the fight 47:48
Judge Roosa Järviläinen scores the fight 48:47

In favor of your winner, by split decision... Niek Mulder!
Niek Mulder took his opportunity to call for a title shot in his post fight interview.