PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Lucio Vera (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Palkki Niskavuori (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Vera comes to the cage accompanied by Iron Man - Black Sabbath. Niskavuori has chosen Torture killer - Obsessed with homicide as his entrance music. Both these guys have solid standup skills and neither is particularly fantastic on the ground, so let's hope for a nice standup war!

Vera
vs
Niskavuori

183 cm
22
179 lbs
9 - 2 - 0

192 cm
21
182 lbs
6 - 0 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Excellent MT
Very strong

BJJ Purple Belt
Great elbows
Powerful

Valhalla War Gear

Skinshop (LOTS OF GIF`S!)

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 9 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Lucio Vera!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 6 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Palkki Niskavuori!
The judges for this bout are Marco Blurström, Anni Minnemäki and Arvi Lind.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Vera throws a shot from downtown. Niskavuori moves away and avoids it.
Nice jab there from Vera.
Vera scores with a head kick.
Vera misses with a looping right.
Lucio Vera seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Vera throws a body punch but Niskavuori moves out of range.
Niskavuori slips under a jab from Vera.
Vera cracks Niskavuori with an open hand slap.
Niskavuori throws a head kick that misses.
Vera tries to work over Niskavuori's front leg with a kick but Niskavuori checks it.
Vera throws the left hand but Niskavuori avoids the punch easily.
Niskavuori moves out of range as Vera strikes.
Vera throws a series of punches but Niskavuori avoids them all with ease.
Vera looks to land a left hand but Niskavuori moved out of range nicely.
Vera throws a low kick, looking for Niskavuori's leg but Niskavuori calmly moves out of range.
A solid body kick from Vera.
Vera thows a body shot but no joy.
Vera moves out of range of the body kick from Niskavuori.
Vera turns his hip over beautifully as he lands a nice leg kick.
Niskavuori takes a jab on the nose. He smiles like he loves it and keeps coming.
Vera shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Niskavuori sprawls well. Niskavuori wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Vera gets slowly back to his feet.
Niskavuori looks for the body kick but Vera saw that one coming.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Vera works his jab well there, keeping his opponent at a distance.
A head kick from Niskavuori lands but Vera takes it in his stride.

Vera tries to keep at a distance but Niskavuori has taken the fight into the clinch.

Vera breaks the clinch.
An inside leg kick from Niskavuori misses.
Vera shapes like he's going to throw a leg kick but settles back down.
Vera swats away the attempt to clinch by Niskavuori.
Vera misses with a double jab.
A low kick from Vera misses
and Niskavuori counters with a nice low kick that buckles Vera's knee momentarily.
Niskavuori misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Niskavuori thows a body shot but no joy.
Niskavuori displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Vera throws out the jab.
Niskavuori drops his hands and takes a jab to the jaw for his troubles.
Niskavuori walks into a jab.
Vera dances in quickly and lands a nice inside leg kick on Niskavuori. That did some damage!
Vera avoids a kick to the body.
Niskavuori slaps away a takedown attempt from Vera, before circling back to the center of the mat.
Niskavuori does a little shimmy and throws a leg kick. The leg kick missed by a considerable margin though, making him look a little bit silly for doing the shimmy.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Vera throws a sloppy body shot
and Vera takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
Vera tries a low kick but Niskavuori avoids it.

Vera looking to shoot here. He's gone for it and he's landed a takedown into mount! Oh, that's bad for Niskavuori!
Vera prevents Niskavuori from getting the reversal.
Vera scoring with some good ground and pound from mount here. Will he manage to finish Niskavuori?
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Vera looking to ground and pound but Niskavuori is blocking nicely.

Vera working to secure an arm triangle but it's not happening for him just yet.
Poor strikes thrown by Vera there. More accuracy and less frantic strikes would help!
Vera 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.
Vera with shots to the head and body - Niskavuori looks very uncomfortable down there.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Niskavuori is trying to escape the mount.
Niskavuori is persisting with the attempt to improve his position.
We get told so often about how wrestlers don't like to be on their backs. Let's see if Niskavuori can do anything to dispel that myth.
Vera thowing strikes but they're hitting the gloves, not doing any damage.
Niskavuori slips a leg in and gets back to half guard.

Vera 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.
Vera not landing any meaningful shots this time.

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.
Niskavuori is looking to improve his position.
Vera thows a huge punch but Niskavuori dodges it nicely.
Vera not landing any meaningful shots this time.
Niskavuori wants to get back to his feet.
Vera throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.
Niskavuori keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Vera misses with a body punch
and Niskavuori counters with a leg kick.
Niskavuori does a little shimmy and throws a leg kick. The leg kick missed by a considerable margin though, making him look a little bit silly for doing the shimmy.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close round but I would say that Lucio Vera will probably get the nod.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

Ouch! a nice leg kick from Niskavuori, right into the meat.
Vera is trying hard to land a takedown here. Niskavuori sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.
Vera stooping low to avoid any incoming strikes and then lunges in with an uppercut come cross that lands flush.
Vera throws a big shot that misses.
A jab from Vera misses.
Niskavuori on the wrong end of a vicious looking body shot.
Niskavuori checks a leg kick.
Vera fails to land the takedown.
Vera throws a head kick that Niskavuori semi-blocks.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Vera.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Lucio Vera. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Vera pulls out of a head kick attempt.
A left lands for Niskavuori.
Vera misses with a hook. Niskavuori ducked under it nicely.
Niskavuori takes a kick to the side of the head.
Vera looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
A jab from Vera misses.
Vera thows a body shot but no joy.
Vera looks to land a right hand but Niskavuori moved out of range.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Niskavuori cracks Vera with a hook to the jaw. Both fighters smile at eachother and high-five before getting back down to business.
Vera misses with a leg kick
and Niskavuori counters with a big head kick but Vera shrugs it off.
Vera lands with a straight right. Niskavuori didn't see that one coming.
Palkki Niskavuori seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Vera throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Niskavuori walks straight into a jab right on the nose. That one stung - he's blinking and trying to clear his head.
Vera waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Niskavuori.
Vera throws a lazy right hand but Niskavuori sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
A nice inside leg kick there by Niskavuori. That's going to slow Vera down.
Palkki Niskavuori is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Vera shoots in for a double leg but Niskavuori sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
Vera throws a shot from downtown. Niskavuori moves away and avoids it.
Niskavuori bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
Niskavuori keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Vera shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Niskavuori defends it nicely.
Niskavuori fakes with the hands and throws a leg kick but Vera is out of range.
Vera misses with a hook.
Vera throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Niskavuori throws a head kick that Vera semi-blocks.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Niskavuori uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Vera.
Vera throws a sloppy head kick and Niskavuori moves out of range easily.
Vera scores with a reasonable looking shot to the body. Niskavuori doesn't seem bothered though.
Vera throws a leg kick that is checked
and Niskavuori counters with a nice body kick.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Niskavuori slips a straight right by Vera.
Niskavuori checks the leg kick nicely there.

Vera darts in and lands a nice takedown into half guard.
Niskavuori avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Vera.
Niskavuori moves his hips nicely and gets into full guard.
Vera chips away with some ground and pound.
Niskavuori thows some rabbit punches from the bottom but they don't do any damage.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Vera working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Vera throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Vera with a flurry of punches that miss.
Niskavuori looking to hit a scissor sweep but Vera is one step ahead there.
Vera controlling from the guard. I say controlling but really, he's stalling.
Vera keeps in close for a moment and lands a decent shot to the side of Niskavuori's head.
Vera postures up.

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.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Vera lands with a good body shot.
Vera misses with a straight right.
Niskavuori slips a jab from Vera.
Niskavuori changes levels and scores with a jab to the body.
Niskavuori finds nothing but air with that leg kick attempt.
Vera connects with a hook to the side of his opponent's head.
Niskavuori moves in looking to clinch but Vera pushes him off.
Niskavuori lands a high kick!
Niskavuori plants his feet and lands a nice head kick!
Vera misses with a straight left.
Niskavuori moves out of range as Vera strikes.
Vera takes a step back and watches a body kick go sailing past his mid section.
Vera misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Niskavuori.
Niskavuori blocks a jab.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Vera with a nice looking leg kick. You could hear that one land in a back row.
Nice body kick from Niskavuori.
Niskavuori walks into a jab.
Vera with a lazy takedown attempt
and he gets countered with a snapping leg kick.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Niskavuori listening to his corner there, landing a nice uppercut.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Palkki Niskavuori showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
That's time! Back to the action! Let's hear some noise people - this is the final round!

Vera missing with a left hand there. Niskavuori was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
Vera throws a series of punches but Niskavuori moves out of range.
Vera finds nothing but air with that leg kick attempt.
Vera tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Niskavuori was well out of range. Poor timing from Vera.
Niskavuori tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Vera paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Niskavuori attempts a low kick but it misses it's target.
Vera tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Niskavuori swivels and escapes.
Vera misses with a jab to the body
and Niskavuori counters with a head kick.
Vera throws a series of punches but Niskavuori avoids them all with ease.
Vera feints with a shoulder and throws a nice leg kick to Niskavuori's calf.
Vera misses with a body shot.
Niskavuori avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
Vera throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Niskavuori on the receiving end of a decent leg kick there by Vera. Vera obviously looking to wear him down.
A telegraphed right hand from Vera misses the target.
Niskavuori throws a lazy right hand but Vera sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Vera looks to land a left hand but Niskavuori moved out of range nicely.
Vera fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
Vera fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Lucio Vera. That's going to take a lot out of him.

That's one minute gone in the round.
A chopping leg kick lands by Niskavuori.
Vera punishes Niskavuori's body with a nice straight punch.
Niskavuori avoids the head kick by Vera.
Vera walks straight into an uppercut. Luckily it didn't land flush.
The fighters circling - Vera throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
Niskavuori swings away with a leg kick that misses.
Vera throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
Vera moves out of range as Niskavuori strikes.
Niskavuori connects with a nice looking jab.
Vera throws a leg kick

and Niskavuori counters with a head kick that drops Vera to the mat! Vera scrambles across the canvas and gets back to his feet, still wobbly!

Vera is rocked!
Niskavuori bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
Oh Vera is still all over the place! His legs are completely gone! Will he be able to recover?!!
Vera tries to check the leg kick but that clearly hurt him.
Niskavuori scores with a leg kick.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Vera chopped to the floor by a nice leg kick but he springs right back up before Niskavuori can pounce on him.
Vera seems to have got his legs back now.
Vera throws a jab but it's blocked by Niskavuori.
Niskavuori lands a head kick. Vera smiles back at him and beckons him forward.
Vera throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Niskavuori throws a body kick that misses.
Vera throws a good cross that connects.
A solid leg kick lands there for Niskavuori.
A big left from Vera misses.
Niskavuori tries to clinch up but Vera circles away and keeps his distance.
Niskavuori keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Niskavuori wants to clinch up but Vera keeps it at a distance.
A big left from Vera misses.
Vera swings away with a body shot that misses
and Niskavuori counters with a good low kick that Vera was not able to check.
Vera tries a low kick but Niskavuori avoids it.
Vera fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Vera throws a jab, cross combination which is slipped

and Niskavuori counters into the clinch. Nicely done.
Vera throws a head punch that misses.
Niskavuori gets underhooks to prevent Vera's takedown attempt.
Niskavuori scores with a knee to the head.
Vera looks to throw an elbow but misses.
Niskavuori prevents a takedown attempt there.
Niskavuori lands a good knee to the midsection. Vera won't want to take too many of those.
Niskavuori lands a nice knee to the body.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Niskavuori tries a knee to the head but Vera blocks it.
Niskavuori presses Vera against the cage and delivers a mid-strength body shot.
Niskavuori putting his Muay Thai to good use. He has Vera in a tight clinch and is doing some damage with knees to the body.
Nice elbow from Niskavuori.
Niskavuori is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Vera is defending well for now.
Niskavuori lands a nice elbow from the clinch.
Niskavuori blocks an uppercut.
Niskavuori stops a takedown attempt from Vera.
Niskavuori crunches a lovely knee into Vera's ribcage.
Niskavuori lands an elbow inside.
Niskavuori unloads a knee to the mid-section. Vera lets out a prehistoric sounding urrrrgh.
The two fighters are working to gain dominance in the clinch.
Niskavuori utilising his Muay Thai to score with a knee to the body.
Niskavuori creates a bit of space for himself and sneaks an elbow through Vera's defenses.
Niskavuori lands an elbow just above Vera 's eye.
Niskavuori using the Thai clinch to land knees to the body.
Niskavuori digs a right hand into Vera's ribs. Those have got to be taking their toll on Vera's gas tank.
Niskavuori lands an elbow that stopped Vera in his tracks for a moment.
Vera wants a takedown but no success here.
Niskavuori cracks Vera with a nice body shot.
Niskavuori is trying to wear down his opponent with knees to the body.
Niskavuori working Vera over with knees to the body.
Niskavuori creates a bit of space for himself and sneaks an elbow through Vera's defenses.
Niskavuori has used his reach advantage pretty well so far tonight.
Niskavuori missing with knees to the body.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Vera wants a takedown but no success here.
Vera misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Niskavuori.
Niskavuori creates a bit of space for himself and sneaks an elbow through Vera's defenses.
Niskavuori utilising his Muay Thai to score with a knee to the body.

Niskavuori escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Vera jabbing away but nothing is landing.
Niskavuori keeps Vera at a distance using the push kick.
The fans in attendance giving it up for the two fighters, who have really let it all hang out in the last minute or so!
An inside leg kick lands from Niskavuori.
Niskavuori tries to score with a low kick but Vera moves his leg out of the way.
Niskavuori checks a low kick. Bone on bone - not my idea of a good time.
Niskavuori scores with a nice head shot.
A punch lands to the side of Vera 's head but he takes it in his stride.
Niskavuori lands with a cross to side of his opponent's head.
Vera throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.

Niskavuori moves into the clinch.
Vera is looking to break free of the clinch but Niskavuori has double underhooks.
Niskavuori has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Niskavuori works on Vera's body with a couple of short punches.
Vera wants a takedown but no success here.
Niskavuori landing knees to the body.

And that's the end of the fight!
Palkki Niskavuori comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Niskavuori 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 Marco Blurström scores the fight 27:29
Judge Anni Minnemäki scores the fight 27:29
Judge Arvi Lind scores the fight 27:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Palkki Niskavuori!