PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Urho Niemi (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Max Mordor (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). We have two fighters making their debuts here, so let's see who comes out of this one with their first professional victory.

Niemi
vs
Mordor

185 cm
20
180 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

185 cm
20
175 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Self confident

Good takedowns
Counter striker
Solid chin

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, Urho Niemi!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Max Mordor!
The judges for this bout are Anni Minnemäki, Roosa Järviläinen and Marco Blurström.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Mordor is defended easily by Niemi.
Niemi throws a head kick but Mordor moves out of range.

Mordor shoots in and bounces Niemi off the cage to secure the takedown into guard.
Mordor wants to control from the top but Niemi keeps moving.
Mordor is in a good position here but he's just trying to control... And he's not even managing to do that successfully.
Mordor stops Niemi from standing up.
Mordor wants to control from the top but Niemi keeps moving.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Mordor might have to switch it up a bit here because his efforts to control Niemi kaven't been going to plan, at least at the current moment in time.
Mordor stopping the sweep attempt from Niemi.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Mordor slows down the pace of the fight for a moment. He'll need to remain active if he doesn't want to see the fight stood back up.
Mordor prevents Niemi from getting back to his feet.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.
Niemi throws a right hand that Mordor ducks under and follows up with a left that Mordor also avoids with ease.

That's two 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.
Mordor misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.

Mordor shoots in with a lovely double leg takedown. Niemi manages to land in full guard to minimise the damage.
Niemi looking to hit a scissor sweep but Mordor is one step ahead there.
Mordor with a flurry of punches that miss.
Niemi wants to sweep but no luck.
Niemi keeping moving, preventing Mordor from controlling successfully.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Mordor missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Mordor working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Niemi looking to sweep here. No luck so far.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
Niemi leaves Mordor with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
Urho Niemi has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Max Mordor.
Mordor circles away from the clinch attempt.
Niemi misses with a wild combination.
Niemi fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.

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.
Niemi swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Niemi throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Niemi is breathing heavily.
Mordor tries for a takedown but Niemi sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
Niemi fails in his attempt to clinch.

Mordor looks for a takedown. He's got it. We're now in half guard.
Mordor stalling.
Mordor trying to control the action but Niemi is working from the bottom.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Max Mordor dominated that round.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

Niemi misses with a few strikes there.
Niemi bobs and weaves and unloads with a good uppercut.
Niemi misses with a series of wild punches.
Niemi tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Niemi lands a leg kick. The shin dug right into the meat of the thigh.
Niemi pulls out of a head kick attempt.

Mordor scores a trip takedown into side control. Nice.

Mordor is trying to land an Americana. He has the arm isolated but Niemi is keeping cool and he's avoided the danger for now.
Niemi is being controlled here.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Niemi is putting a lot of effort into getting back to his feet here.
You can see the frustration on Niemi's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.
Niemi prevents Mordor from moving into mount.
Niemi struggling a bit here.
Mordor wants to lay and pray for a moment but Niemi keeps working.
Niemi knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Mordor on the ground.

That's two 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.
Niemi is trying to escape and get back to his feet.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
Niemi is looking to clinch.
Mordor closes this distance looking for a takedown but Niemi circles away.
Mordor misses with a takedown attempt - Niemi sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
Niemi tries a head kick but it misses.
Mordor with poor footwork there. He got himself in a bit of a tangle, enabling Niemi to score with a decent uppercut.
Niemi stuffs the takedown.
Urho Niemi has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Max Mordor.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Niemi clinches up with Mordor and pushes him back against the cage.

Niemi breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Nice takedown defense from Niemi. No joy for Mordor on that attempt.
Urho Niemi seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Mordor dodges the punch combination from Niemi.
Niemi throws a sloppy head kick and Mordor moves out of range easily.
Niemi tries to clinch but Mordor is having none of it.
Mordor doesn't manage to clinch there - Niemi circles away.
Mordor circles away from the clinch attempt.
Urho Niemi is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Niemi throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Horrible takedown by Mordor or perhaps it was just good defense by Niemi which made him look bad.
Mordor misses with a takedown attempt - Niemi sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.

Niemi has managed to clinch.

Niemi manages to break the clinch.

Niemi moves into range and clinches up with Mordor.

Mordor tightens his grip and picks Niemi up, before dumping him to the ground. Niemi manages to land in guard.
Mordor trying to control the position from guard on top but Niemi is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Niemi is on top in guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close second round but I would say that Urho Niemi will probably get the nod.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin! This is the final round!

Niemi misses with a jab, cross combination.
Mordor avoids the head kick by Niemi.
A head kick misses from Niemi.
Niemi looks to land a right hand but Mordor moved out of range.
Mordor looks for a takedown but Niemi sprawls well.
Mordor showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Niemi.
Niemi rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Mordor moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Mordor ducks under a wild hook from Niemi.
Niemi throws a series of punches but Mordor avoids them all with ease.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Mordor shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Niemi sprawls well. Niemi wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Mordor gets slowly back to his feet.
Niemi wants to clinch.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Mordor shoots in and scores a nice double leg takedown into half guard.
Mordor content to sit in half guard and control for a moment.
Mordor throwing shots but Niemi is blocking nicely.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Mordor is looking for an arm triangle, whilst trying to pass to side control. Niemi doesn't seem that keen to cooperate though. No luck this time Mordor.

Mordor seems to be looking for submissions.
Mordor is looking to take a break and control but Niemi is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Mordor is working for submissions here but there's nothing on.
Mordor trying to mount his opponent but Niemi defends it.
Mordor not landing any meaningful shots this time.
Mordor wants to lay and pray for a moment but Niemi keeps working.

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.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.
Niemi rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Mordor moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Niemi throws a right hand that Mordor ducks under and follows up with a left that Mordor also avoids with ease.
This fight brought to you by 5M nutrition - it's mmmmm tasty. Nice jab by Niemi.

Niemi has taken the fight to the clinch.
Niemi connects with a knee to the head.
Niemi works on Mordor's body with a couple of short punches.
Mordor drops to a knee looking for a takedown but Niemi gets the underhooks and prevents it.
Urho Niemi has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Max Mordor.
Niemi lands a right uppercut that snaps the head of Mordor backwards.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Niemi lands a knee to the head there! That was nasty!
Niemi swings wildly with an uppercut but Mordor uses good head movement to avoid it.
Niemi is looking to break free of the clinch but Mordor has double underhooks.

And that's the end of the fight!
I would just about give that final round to Max Mordor.
I think Mordor 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 3 rounds of action, we go to the scorecards for a decision.
Judge Anni Minnemäki scores the fight 28:29
Judge Roosa Järviläinen scores the fight 29:29
Judge Marco Blurström scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by majority decision... Max Mordor!