PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Sauli Niinisto (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Riku Tiirismaa (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). I don't know about you partner, but I'm pumped for this one!

Niinisto
vs
Tiirismaa

190 cm
19
178 lbs
3 - 0 - 0

180 cm
20
175 lbs
5 - 4 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Good knees
Granite chin

BJJ Purple Belt
Counter striker
Solid chin

M/S Paint Fightwear *** Cheapest in town ***

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 3 - 0 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Sauli Niinisto!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 5 - 4 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Riku Tiirismaa!
The judges for this bout are Aleksandr Martynov, Valeri Chadov and Viktor Lagutenko.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Niinisto closes the distance and pushes Tiirismaa back into the cage.
Tiirismaa fails to pull the fight into his guard.
Niinisto gets an overhook and lands an elbow to the side of the head.

It looks like Riku Tiirismaa has been cut.
Niinisto landing knees to the body. They look like they could hurt.
Niinisto with the Thai clinch, lands a knee to the head.
Niinisto just leaning against Tiirismaa, taking a breather.
Kneeeeees! The crowd are calling for knees to the body. Niinisto obliges.
Tiirismaa is working for takedown but Niinisto is calmly controlling the position for now.
Niinisto tries a knee to the head but he's missed.
Niinisto is stalling here.
Knees in the clinch landing for Niinisto.
Niinisto utilising his Muay Thai to score with a knee to the body.
Tiirismaa looks gassed!
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Tiirismaa tries for a takedown. No joy.
Sauli Niinisto has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Riku Tiirismaa.
Niinisto connects with a knee to the head.
Tiirismaa is working for takedown but Niinisto is calmly controlling the position for now.
Tiirismaa is trying to break the clinch but Niinisto is controlling him.
Niinisto with a knee to the head.
Niinisto with a knee to the head.
Niinisto scores with a knee to the head.

That has opened up Riku Tiirismaa's cut even more.
Niinisto misses with a knee strike.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Niinisto landing knees to the head.
Niinisto landing knees to the body.
Tiirismaa being controlled against the cage.
Niinisto landing knees to the body. They look like they could hurt.
Tiirismaa tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. Niinisto just stands there and leans against the cage.
Niinisto connects with a nasty looking knee right to Tiirismaa's face.
Niinisto connects with a knee to the head.
Tiirismaa tries for a takedown. No joy.
Niinisto scores with a knee to the head.
Niinisto lands a knee to the head there! That was nasty!
Niinisto tries to land a knee to the head but misses.
Niinisto is stalling here.
Niinisto misses with a knee strike.
Niinisto lands an elbow just above Tiirismaa 's eye.
Niinisto using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Tiirismaa has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
The pace slowing considerably in the clinch, as Niinisto takes a break from that fighting nonsense to think about the finer things in life.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Niinisto with an attempt at a knee that misses.
Niinisto lands a nice knee to the body.
Tiirismaa takes a knee right on the jaw!
Niinisto tries to land knees in the clinch but Tiirismaa avoids the damage to the body.
Nice elbow from Niinisto.
Niinisto lands a knee to the head there! That was nasty!

The cut above Riku Tiirismaa's eye is starting to cause him problems now.
Niinisto using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Tiirismaa has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.

Tiirismaa has picked Niinisto up - he's going for a ride! Tiirismaa dumps his opponent to the mat with a thud and settles into half guard.

Tiirismaa is looking for a kimura. It's going to be difficult to finish that from half guard though and Niinisto defends it well.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

Tiirismaa looking for a kimura but he'll have to free his other leg if he wants to finish that. Perhaps he's just using it as a distraction technique.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Tiirismaa tries to stand and escape but Niinisto is controlling the position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Niinisto keeping hold of Tiirismaa's head, controlling as best he can.

Tiirismaa is trying for a guillotine from the top but the pressure isn't in the right place so Niinisto is just riding it out for now. Tiirismaa eventually gives up the hold.
Niinisto is concentrating on defense, preventing Tiirismaa from advancing position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A few boos can be heard. I'm sure they will multiply if the fighters don't pick up the pace.
Niinisto wants to control but Tiirismaa is keeping busy and won't allow it.
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.

Niinisto is defending against the submission attempts here by Tiirismaa.

Tiirismaa is working for a kimura but Niinisto is defending it quite comfortably.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.

Tiirismaa is working for submissions here but there's nothing on.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Sauli Niinisto dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Riku Tiirismaa's cut.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin!

Tiirismaa throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Niinisto's waist but Niinisto gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Tiirismaa off to one side.
No luck with that takedown attempt from Tiirismaa.
Niinisto thuds a left hand into Tiirismaa's body.

Niinisto has managed to clinch.
Niinisto with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.
Niinisto connects with a nasty looking knee right to Tiirismaa's face.
Tiirismaa takes an elbow to the temple.
Niinisto working Tiirismaa over with knees to the body.
Niinisto lands an elbow just above Tiirismaa 's eye.
Tiirismaa jumps guard but his hands slip and he falls flat on his back. Well, he's made himself look a right mug there, as Niinisto walks away with a smile on his face. Tiirismaa gets slowly back to his feet and shakes his head.
Sauli Niinisto has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Riku Tiirismaa.
Niinisto connects with a solid leg kick.

Niinisto gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.
Tiirismaa is breathing heavily.
Tiirismaa tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. Niinisto smiles and moves away.
Niinisto lands a nice hook to Tiirismaa's body. Tiirismaa takes it in his stride and looks to land his own strikes.

Niinisto moves into range and clinches up with Tiirismaa.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Tiirismaa goes for a takedown in the clinch but Niinisto prevents it.
Niinisto with an attempt at a knee that misses.
Niinisto looking to throw knees to the head but Tiirismaa is blocking nicely.

Tiirismaa manages to break the clinch.
Tiirismaa tries for a takedown but Niinisto sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
Sauli Niinisto seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

Niinisto moves into the clinch.
Niinisto misses with a knee to the head.
Niinisto with the Thai clinch, lands a knee to the head.
Niinisto lands a knee to the head.
Niinisto landing knees to the head.

Riku Tiirismaa's cut is absolute horrible now. This looks like something out of a horror film with blood covering both fighters.
Niinisto scores with a knee to the head.
Tiirismaa tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. Niinisto smiles and moves away.
Tiirismaa misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.

Niinisto closes the distance and clinches.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Niinisto with a knee to the head.
Niinisto with a knee to the head.
Niinisto prevents a takedown attempt there.
Niinisto leaning against his opponent.
A knee to the head by Niinisto.
Tiirismaa tries to circle away but Niinisto has him pinned against the cage.
Niinisto unloads a knee to the mid-section. Tiirismaa lets out a prehistoric sounding urrrrgh.
Tiirismaa letting Niinisto take a breather here.
Niinisto landing knees to the head.
Niinisto with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.
Niinisto lands a nice knee to the body.
Niinisto working Tiirismaa over with knees to the body.
Niinisto tries a knee to the head but he's missed.
Niinisto tries to land a knee to the head but Tiirismaa blocks with his arms.
Niinisto with an attempt at a knee that misses.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
With the fighters up against the cage, Niinisto throws an elbow but misses.
Tiirismaa drops down looking for an ankle pick but Niinisto pulls his leg out and moves away.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Tiirismaa.
Niinisto just misses with a punch to the body.

Niinisto rushes Tiirismaa and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.
Niinisto tries to land a knee to the head but Tiirismaa blocks with his arms.
Tiirismaa tries to pull guard but Niinisto holds him up against the cage and eventually Tiirismaa drops back down to his feet.
Niinisto tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Tiirismaa avoids it.
Sauli Niinisto has scored more points in the clinch so far.
Niinisto unloads a knee to the mid-section. Tiirismaa lets out a prehistoric sounding urrrrgh.
Some stalling of biblical proportions here from Niinisto.
Niinisto trying to land knees to the body.
Niinisto with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Tiirismaa jumps guard.
Niinisto looking to pass the guard.

Tiirismaa working for a triangle but Niinisto defends it easily.
Tiirismaa keeping moving, preventing Niinisto from controlling successfully.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Sauli Niinisto dominated that second round.
The cut man is working on Riku Tiirismaa's cut.
That's time! Niinisto's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight. Ladies and gentlemen, this is the final round!

Niinisto tries a low kick but Tiirismaa avoids it.
Niinisto wants to clinch up but Tiirismaa keeps it at a distance.
Tiirismaa closes the distance and clinches up with Niinisto, looking for a takedown. Tiirismaa pushes Niinisto against the cage but Niinisto circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
Niinisto goes for a high kick. It partially lands.
A solid leg kick lands there for Niinisto.
Niinisto tries to close the distance and clinch up but Tiirismaa swats him away and circles back towards the center.

Tiirismaa scores with a nice takedown into half guard. Let's see what he's got on the ground.
Niinisto is looking for a sweep. Tiirismaa is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.

Tiirismaa stands up and beckons Niinisto to join him on the feet.
Niinisto tries to close the distance and clinch but Tiirismaa swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Niinisto throws a sloppy head kick and Tiirismaa moves out of range easily.
Niinisto attempts a leg kick but it's missed by a good margin.
Niinisto throws a right and a left that Tiirismaa avoids nicely.
Niinisto is looking to clinch but Tiirismaa is avoiding it.
Tiirismaa checks a leg kick.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Tiirismaa keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Niinisto fails with an attempt to clinch.
Tiirismaa checks a leg kick.
Tiirismaa has a takedown stuffed.
Tiirismaa takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Tiirismaa blocks a head kick by Niinisto.
Niinisto tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Tiirismaa closes the distance and clinches up with Niinisto, looking for a takedown. Tiirismaa pushes Niinisto against the cage but Niinisto circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
Sauli Niinisto has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Riku Tiirismaa.
Tiirismaa swats away the attempt to clinch by Niinisto.
Niinisto leaves Tiirismaa with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
Niinisto defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Tiirismaa.
Niinisto looking to take his opponent's legs away with the low kicks.
Niinisto throws a leg kick but Tiirismaa checks it.
Niinisto throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.
A chopping leg kick lands by Niinisto.

Niinisto closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.
Tiirismaa has Niinisto pressed up against the cage and is working for takedown. Niinisto manages to improve position though and keeps the fight standing.
A knee to the head by Niinisto.
Niinisto with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.
Knees in the clinch landing for Niinisto.
Niinisto lands a damaging elbow.

The referee calls the doctor in to look at Riku Tiirismaa's cut. Oh no, the doctor has called an end to the bout!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 2:33 of round 3, we have a winner by way of TKO (Cut). Sauli Niinisto!