PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Mylly Nyrkki (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Raif Severence (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Mylly Nyrkki has a significant reach advantage - let's see if he can make it count.

Nyrkki
vs
Severence

185 cm
23
184 lbs
7 - 4 - 0

170 cm
23
185 lbs
8 - 8 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Brawler
Good chin

BJJ Purple Belt
Brawler
Granite chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the middleweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 7 - 4 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Mylly Nyrkki!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 8 - 8 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Raif Severence!
The judges for this bout are Timothy Bukovac, Frank Antenori and .

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Nyrkki rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Severence moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Severence throws a leg kick but Nyrkki moved away.

Severence shoots in from a long way out. He's driving through with the takedown attempt and he eventually gets it, landing in Nyrkki's guard.
Severence wants to pass the guard but Nyrkki is keeping the position.
Nyrkki avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Nyrkki keeping moving, preventing Severence from controlling successfully.
Nyrkki is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Severence stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Nyrkki swivels though and keeps the full guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Nyrkki trying to control the position here.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
The sound of bone on bone echoes around the arena as Nyrkki checks a leg kick.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Nyrkki rushes Severence and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.
Nyrkki wants to break free but Severence has control.
Nyrkki wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Severence has him pressed against the cage.
Severence tries to pull guard but Nyrkki won't allow it.

Nyrkki pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.

Severence is looking for a takedown here. He's shot in and has managed to get it, finishing up in Nyrkki's half guard.

Severence wants to work for an arm triangle but Nyrkki is really keeping half guard well and defending the submission attempt.
Severence stops Nyrkki from getting back to his feet.
Nyrkki works his way to full guard. Good work.
Severence wants to control from the top but Nyrkki keeps moving.
Nyrkki looking to hit a scissor sweep but Severence is one step ahead there.
Nyrkki is trying to keep Severence in close.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Severence wants to control from the top but Nyrkki keeps moving.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.
Nyrkki takes a step back and watches a body kick go sailing past his mid section.
Nyrkki shoots in for a takedown but Severence shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
Severence throws a head kick but Nyrkki moves out of range.
Nyrkki moves in looking to clinch but Severence pushes him off.
Nyrkki throws a half hearted mid kick.
Nyrkki fails to land with a series of punches.
Nyrkki dodges the punch combination from Severence.
Nyrkki fails with an attempt to clinch.
Nyrkki misses with a takedown
and Severence counters with a right hand to the body.
Nyrkki is breathing heavily.
Severence just misses with a punch to the body.
Severence is looking to chop away at Nyrkki's legs.
Nyrkki lets the fists fly and connects with a left straight followed by a right hook.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Nyrkki keeps the fight on the outside.
Nyrkki lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Severence circles away quickly and effectively.
Nyrkki blocks the body kick.
Severence throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Nyrkki throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Severence moves in looking to clinch but Nyrkki pushes him off.
Nyrkki avoids the head kick by Severence.
Nyrkki's corner calls for a 1,2 combination and Nyrkki duly obliges.
Like a baseball bat into the meat of his leg there - nice leg kick by Severence.
Severence scores with a slapping inside leg kick.
The fighters are starting to get sweaty, which will make takedowns a bit more tricky.
Severence lands a kick to the ribs of his opponent. Nice work there - in and out in a flash.
Nyrkki takes a body punch but keeps moving.
Severence lands with a thumping leg kick.
Severence is looking to clinch.
Severence cracks Nyrkki with a right hand to the side of the head.
A low kick from Nyrkki is predictable there
and Severence counters with a two punch combo.
Severence lands with a slapping head kick.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Nyrkki misses with a jab, cross combination.

Severence drives through with a really nice takedown into side control.
Severence controls the position from side control.
Nyrkki is trying to improve his position.
Severence connects with a decent looking elbow from side control that caused Nyrkki some visible discomfort.

Severence working hard here to secure a kimura but he's not really in the right position for it.
Nyrkki wants to get back to his feet but Severence drags him back down.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Raif Severence dominated that round.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action.

Nyrkki moves into the clinch successfully.
Nyrkki prevents a body shot from Severence.
Nyrkki tries for a takedown but Severence manages to get underhooks.
Nyrkki tries to score a body lock takedown but Severence shows good agility there to stay on his feet.

Nyrkki breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Severence paws at his opponent with the jab and then lunges in with a straight, right on the button.
Severence connects with a looping right hand.
Nyrkki shoots and misses
letting Severence counter with a right hand.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Mylly Nyrkki. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Nyrkki takes a nice looking leg kick right on the meat of his thigh there.
Severence lets loose with a powerful body kick. Nyrkki will feel that in the morning.
Severence throws a body kick that digs right into the meat.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Severence cracks the inside of Nyrkki's front leg.
Severence scores with a body shot.
Good leg kick by Severence there. It's the ones that make that thud noise that hurt and that was an almighty thud.
Severence goes to the watering hole and comes back with a big thumbs up from the judges as he scores a three punch combo.

Severence scores with a takedown into Nyrkki's guard.
Nyrkki bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Severence's guard.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Severence not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Nyrkki trying to control the position from guard on top but Severence is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Nyrkki missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Nyrkki 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.
Severence looking for a sweep. Not yet Severence, not yet.
Nyrkki with a nice head shot there.

Nyrkki avoids a guillotine attempt easily.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.

Nyrkki clinches up against the cage.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Neither fighter has done anything of merit for a good minute or two here and the crowd are not happy about it.
Severence throws an elbow but it misses.
Good anti-grappling being displayed by Nyrkki as Severence tries to tie him up.

Nyrkki breaks the clinch.
Nyrkki throws a combination that misses
and Severence counters with a three punch combo that has Nyrkki backing up. Nyrkki nods at Severence to acknowledge the strikes.
Nyrkki throws a right and a left that Severence avoids nicely.
Nyrkki shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Severence but Severence pushes him off and we're back to square one.

Severence shoots in looking for a single leg takedown. Nyrkki is trying to defend but Severence finishes it well and ends up in half guard. Let's see if he can advance position further.
Nyrkki missing with punches from the bottom.
Severence is thwarting Nyrkki's attempts to control the position.
Severence sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Nyrkki defending well though.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Severence tries to stand but can't do so whilst Nyrkki controls his leg.
Nyrkki controlling the position for now.
Nyrkki wants to control but Severence is keeping busy.
Nyrkki is working for an escape here. He's hooked one of Severence's legs and he's managed to sneak out and take Severence's back!
Severence wants to escape the position.
Nyrkki will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.
Nyrkki tries to keep control of the position but Severence is staying busy.
Nyrkki scores with punches and elbows.
Nyrkki lands a couple of good shots to his opponent's body and a final shot to the head. Good little attack there by Nyrkki.

That's four 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.
Nyrkki controlling from the back.
Severence trying to control the hands but Nyrkki breaks the grip.
Severence tries to roll but Nyrkki sticks to his back.
Nyrkki has Severence flattened out and is raining down punches.
Watch the back of the head! Comes the shout from the referee towards Nyrkki.
Nyrkki is landing with strikes from the back.
Nyrkki keeps control of the position easily here as Severence tries to buck him off.
Nyrkki's ground tactics aren't going to win him many fans. Let's hope he's got fireworks for us if he gets back to his feet because he's not doing much on the ground.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Nyrkki is working the ground and pound. Can Severence escape?
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Raif Severence showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business. And we move into the final round!

No joy there for Nyrkki, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Nyrkki leaves Severence with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
Nyrkki looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Severence is fending him off so far but Nyrkki persists. Nope, Severence circles away and we're back to standing.
Severence swats away the attempt to clinch by Nyrkki.
Severence lands a two punch combo.
Nyrkki throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Severence's waist but Severence gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Nyrkki off to one side.
A head kick from Severence lands but Nyrkki takes it in his stride.
Nyrkki blocks the body kick.
Nyrkki takes a thudding leg kick, right into the meat of the thigh.
Mylly Nyrkki seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Nyrkki falls off balance throwing a combination
and Severence counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
Severence misses with a head kick.
Severence moves into range and throws a lovely three punch combination.

Nyrkki throws the overhand right but ducks down into a quick takedown attempt. Severence was covering up waiting for the punch and Nyrkki finishes the takedown easily into guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Nyrkki distracts Severence with his right hand and drops a big elbow with his other arm.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Severence looking for a sweep. Not yet Severence, not yet.
Severence is persisting with the attempt to improve his position.
Nyrkki trying to control but Severence is working from the bottom.

Severence is working an open guard so Nyrkki takes the opportunity to get back to his feet.
Nyrkki shoots in but doesn't get the takedown

and Severence counters with a shoot takedown. Nyrkki fights it but they end up in guard.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Mylly Nyrkki. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Nyrkki lands a beautiful switch and he's in full mount! That could spell trouble for Severence!
Severence tries to hold on but Nyrkki postures up.
Raif Severence is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Raif Severence has got the better of the ground game so far.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Nyrkki trying to control but Severence is having none of it.
Nyrkki is really struggling to control Severence but he's trying to hold on to the position.
Nyrkki takes a little breather and maintains the position. The referee will be looking for him to stay active from such a dominant position though.
Nyrkki wants to control but Severence has made it back to half guard. Nice work.

Severence pushes Nyrkki off and gets back to his feet.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Nyrkki misses with a jab, cross combination.
Mylly Nyrkki is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Severence lands a jab, followed by a cross and another cross, as Nyrkki backs up against the cage.
Severence has his head slapped from side to side by a 3 punch combination. That must have hurt him.
Severence lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Nyrkki circles away quickly and effectively.
Nyrkki misses with a wild combination.
Nyrkki misses with a body kick.
Mylly Nyrkki has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Severence looks for the body kick but Nyrkki saw that one coming.
Nyrkki gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily
and Severence counters with a kick to the head that grazes his opponent. Nyrkki is lucky that one didn't land flush.
Nyrkki wants to clinch up but Severence keeps it at a distance.
Nyrkki needs to keep his hands up - Severence had a free shot at his head there.
Nyrkki shoots in but doesn't get the takedown
and Severence counters with a lovely shot to the body.
Severence displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Nyrkki throws out the jab.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Well. There's a bit of a lull in the action here and the crowd are starting to get restless.
A punch combination from Nyrkki misses.
Nyrkki tries to close the distance and clinch up but Severence swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Severence steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Nyrkki.
Severence tests Nyrkki's chin there with a solid looking shot.
Nyrkki doesn't react quick enough there as he takes a shot to the body.
Severence throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Nyrkki shoots in but doesn't get the takedown
and Severence counters with a nice uppercut.
Severence scores with a jab to the jaw of his opponent.
Nyrkki looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Severence lands with a slapping head kick.
Nyrkki shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Severence pinned against the cage. Severence gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
Nyrkki stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Nyrkki wants it to stay on the feet.

And that's the end of the fight!
Raif Severence comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Severence 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 Timothy Bukovac scores the fight 27:30
Judge Frank Antenori scores the fight 27:30
Judge Suge Night scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Raif Severence!