PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Heikki Mela (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Thomas Nails (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Heikki Mela looks tired to me. Hopefully he has got enough gas left in the tank to put in a good performance.

Mela
vs
Nails

195 cm
19
273 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

203 cm
23
260 lbs
1 - 2 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Good chin

BJJ White Belt
Basic striking
Tends to cut

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Heikki Mela!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Thomas Nails!
The judges for this bout are Marco Blurström, Anni Minnemäki and Arvi Lind.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Mela is looking to clinch but Nails is avoiding it.

Nails pushes Mela up against the cage in a clinch.
Nails lands a knee to the body.
Mela is breathing heavily.
Mela tries to pull guard but Nails holds him up against the cage and eventually Mela drops back down to his feet.
Nails with a knee to the head.
Mela is looking for a takedown up against the cage. Nails gets underhooks though and prevents the takedown attempt.
Nails with a knee to the head.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Nails stalling in the clinch.
A right hand to the body from Nails.
Nails lands a left hand.
Mela takes a knee to the side of the body.
A body shot lands from Nails.
Nails landing knees to the body. They look like they could hurt.
Nails dictating the pace here, as the fighters clinch against the cage.
Nails with a knee to the head.

It looks like Heikki Mela has been cut.
A short body shot lands from Nails as the two fighters clinch.
Nails with a knee to the head.
Nails lands a good knee to the midsection. Mela won't want to take too many of those.
Nails lands a nice knee to the body.
Still in the clinch, Nails scores with a nice short uppercut.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Nails scores a nice knee to the body.
Nails scores with a knee to the head.
Knees in the clinch landing for Nails.
Nails just leaning against Mela, taking a breather.
Knees in the clinch landing for Nails.
Nails using the Thai clinch to land knees to the body.
Nails looking to throw knees to the head but Mela is blocking nicely.
Nails prevents a takedown attempt there.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Heikki Mela. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Nails lands an elbow inside that Mela shrugs off.
The is referee keeping an eye on Nails - much more stalling and he will separate the fighters.
Mela tries to break free but Nails pushes him back against the cage.
Mela tries to pull guard but Nails holds him up against the cage and eventually Mela drops back down to his feet.
Nails misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Mela.
Nails tries to land a knee to the head but Mela blocks with his arms.
Mela goes for a takedown in the clinch but Nails prevents it.
Mela could do with loosing a few pounds - he looks very soft around the mid section, to put it politely.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A short left from Nails.
Nails unloads a knee to the mid-section. Mela lets out a prehistoric sounding urrrrgh.
Mela tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. Nails smiles and moves away.
Mela fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Nails avoids it really well and circles away.

Nails instigates a clinch.
A right handed body shot lands from Nails.
Mela managing to block the knees to the body from Nails.
Mela changes levels and goes for a takedown here. Nails fights it off and pushes away nicely.

Nails rushes Mela and presses him up against the cage.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Nails lands a good knee to the midsection. Mela won't want to take too many of those.
Nails has Mela pushed against the cage.
Mela wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.
Knees to the body from Nails.
Nails leaning against his opponent.
Good anti-grappling being displayed by Mela as Nails tries to tie him up.
Mela lands on the inside with an uppercut.
Mela fails to pull the fight into his guard.
Nails missing with knees to the body.
Nails misses with the head strike.
Mela jumps guard but his hands slip and he falls flat on his back. Well, he's made himself look a right mug there, as Nails walks away with a smile on his face. Mela gets slowly back to his feet and shakes his head.
Mela closes the distance and clinches up with Nails, looking for a takedown. Mela pushes Nails against the cage but Nails circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.

Nails instigates a clinch.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Nails throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Mela blocks it with crossed arms.
Mela tries to pull guard but Nails holds him up against the cage and eventually Mela drops back down to his feet.
Nails is pressed up against the cage. Mela has hold of a leg and is looking to drag Nails down to the mat. Nails avoids the attempt though and has circled away. We're back to striking at a distance.
Nails lands a nice looking body shot.
Nails closes the distance looking to clinch

and Mela counters with a driving takedown into guard. Nice work there by Mela.
Mela tries to free his leg and advance position but Nails is retaining full guard.
Mela wants to stand and escape but instead Nails has hit a sweep and he's now on top in guard.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Nails sitting in guard, not really doing much.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Thomas Nails dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Heikki Mela's cut.
That's time! Back to the action!

A head kick misses from Nails.
Mela has a takedown stuffed.

Nails closes the distance and clinches.
Nails working some nice short punches in the clinch.
Nails is trying to wear down his opponent with knees to the body.
Nails working Mela over with knees to the body.
Nails landing knees to the head.
Mela wants a takedown.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Mela working hard to break the clinch.
Nails lands an elbow inside.
Mela tries to pull guard but Nails holds him up against the cage and eventually Mela drops back down to his feet.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Heikki Mela. That's going to take a lot out of him.
A short body shot lands from Nails as the two fighters clinch.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Nails tries to land a knee to the head but Mela blocks with his arms.
Nice elbow from Nails.
Mela changes levels and goes for a takedown here. Nails fights it off and pushes away nicely.

Nails has taken the fight to the clinch.
Thomas Nails seems to be working more effectively in the clinch in the fight so far.
Nails utilising his Muay Thai to score with a knee to the body.
Mela takes a knee to the side of the body.
Nails working Mela over with knees to the body.
Nails lands with a light punch inside.
Nails throws a knee to the head but misses.
Nails working Mela over with knees to the body.
Mela tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. Nails just stands there and leans against the cage.
Some stalling of biblical proportions here from Nails.
Nails comes over the top with an elbow. That landed flush.
Nails gets double underhooks to prevent a takedown attempt from Mela.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Mela tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. Nails just stands there and leans against the cage.
Nails slows down the pace here.

Mela is trying to trip Nails. He has hold of a leg but Nails is hopping around, keeping his balance for the moment. Mela persists though and gets the takedown into guard.
Nails keeping moving, preventing Mela from controlling successfully.
Mela works a leg free and moves into half guard.
Mela wants to take a breather but Nails is having none of it.

Nails pushes Mela off and gets back to his feet.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Mela throws the kick towards the body but Nails avoids it.
Mela tries to land a front kick but Nails steps back. That was a bit too telegraphed.

Nails clinches.
Nails is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Mela is defending well for now.
Mela jumps guard but Nails stands there with Mela around his waist. Mela gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.
Mela has had enough of the clinch but Nails keeps him there for the moment.
Mela is looking for a takedown up against the cage. Nails gets underhooks though and prevents the takedown attempt.
Nails working Mela over with knees to the body.
Nails stalls.
Mela wants to break the clinch but can't.
Nails taking a break, stalling in the clinch.
Nails tries to land knees in the clinch but Mela avoids the damage to the body.
Mela on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
Nails has been the more effective fighter overall so far.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Mela is trying to drag Nails to the mat but Nails just about manages to keep his footing. He used the cage to his advantage there.
Mela takes an elbow to the temple.
Mela jumps guard but his hands slip and he falls flat on his back. Well, he's made himself look a right mug there, as Nails walks away with a smile on his face. Mela gets slowly back to his feet and shakes his head.
Mela moves out of range as Nails throws a body kick.
Nails tries to clinch up.
Mela throws a jab when Nails was well out of range.
Mela swings away with a body shot that misses

and Nails holds on and brings the fighters into a clinch.
Good anti-grappling being displayed by Mela as Nails tries to tie him up.
Mela tries to pull guard but Nails holds him up against the cage and eventually Mela drops back down to his feet.
Mela has Nails pressed up against the cage and is working for takedown. Nails manages to improve position though and keeps the fight standing.
Nails using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Mela has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
Nails lands with a short punch from the clinch.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Thomas Nails showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The cut man is working on Heikki Mela's cut.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action! This is the final round!

Mela clinches but Nails breaks the clinch

and Nails holds on and brings the fighters into a clinch.
A short body shot lands from Nails as the two fighters clinch.
Mela can't break the clinch.
Mela takes a knee to the side of the body.
Nails lands a knee to the head there! That was nasty!
Some stalling of biblical proportions here from Nails.
A knee to the head by Nails.
Nails will no doubt start fighting again in a minute but for now he's just having a little rest, leaning Mela up against the cage.
Mela has had enough of the clinch and is looking to separate.
Come on Nails - let's have some action - none of this stalling nonsense.
Nails tries a body shot but Mela blocks it.
Mela wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Nails blocks an elbow strike from Mela.
Nails tries to land a knee to the head but Mela blocks with his arms.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Nails prevents a takedown attempt there.
Nails stalling in the clinch.
Mela takes a knee to the side of the body.
Mela tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. Nails smiles and moves away.

Nails has Mela up against the cage in a clinch.
Mela tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. Nails just stands there and leans against the cage.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Heikki Mela. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Nails avoiding damage.
Mela is working for a takedown up against the cage. He can't get it on this occasion though.
Nails leaning against his opponent.
Mela is stalling here. The referee will be looking to step in if he doesn't pick up the pace.
Mela is trying to break free.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Mela being controlled against the cage.
Nails lands a glancing elbow in the clinch.
Mela fails to pull the fight into his guard.
Good body shot from Mela.
Nails lands a hook to the side of the head.
With the two fighters working up against the cage, Nails just misses with a elbow thrown towards Mela's brow.

Mela ties up his opponent against the cage and manages to drag the fight down to the ground. Mela no doubt will be looking to work submissions from his guard.
Nails controlling from the guard. I say controlling but really, he's stalling.

Nails got a little sloppy there for a moment and Mela has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Nails has managed to get both his arms back between Mela's legs - danger averted.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Nails stops Mela from standing up.
Mela trying to keep a closed guard but Nails is proving a slippery customer.

Mela working for a triangle but Nails defends it easily.
Nails pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Mela is keeping the position for now.
Thomas Nails is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.
Mela can't do much from the bottom at the moment, as Nails controls the pace.
Mela is avoiding any damage by keeping wrist control.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Mela wants to sweep but no luck.

And that's the end of the fight!
Thomas Nails comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Nails winning every round here. Surely the decision will go his way and he'll pick up a well deserved decision victory. 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 Marco Blurström scores the fight 27:30
Judge Anni Minnemäki scores the fight 27:30
Judge Arvi Lind scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Thomas Nails!