PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Hannu Yabal (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Matti Nieminen (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.

Yabal
vs
Nieminen

170 cm
22
141 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

170 cm
22
143 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Brown Belt
Brawler
Prefers ground

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter striker
Inexperienced

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the bantamweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Hannu Yabal!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Matti Nieminen!
The judges for this bout are Roosa Järviläinen, Tarja Halkonen and Marco Blurström.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Yabal misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
Yabal shoots in looking for a takedown. Nieminen tries to sprawl out of it but Yabal keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Nieminen manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
Yabal tries to clinch up.
Yabal will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Hannu Yabal. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Yabal shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Nieminen but Nieminen pushes him off and we're back to square one.

Nieminen fakes an overhand right and shoots for a takedown. Yabal sprawls well initially but Nieminen persists and gets the takedown into half guard.
Yabal has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Nieminen is working away from the top position though.
Yabal keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.
Nieminen really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Yabal. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.
Nieminen looks to score some points with some ground and pound.
Yabal is trying to get back to full guard.
Yabal gets full guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Yabal throws his legs up looking for a submission but Nieminen uses it to pass to side control.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Yabal is breathing heavily.
Yabal tries to improve position but can't.
Nieminen scores with a couple of nice shots to the head there. The referee takes a look at Yabal to see if he's OK.
Nieminen moves into full mount!
Nieminen is still in mount, landing shots to his trapped opponent. Yabal can't stay in a position like this for much longer.
Yabal takes a big shot to the head but keeps on trying to improve his position.

Yabal is rocked!
Yabal working to try and regain half guard.
Oh Yabal is still in real trouble! Will he be able to recover?!!
Nieminen lands with some strikes.
Nieminen breaks from Yabal's wrist control and lands an elbow.
Nieminen lands a big shot there that rocks Yabal but he's holding on and managing to survive for now.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Nieminen with a couple of short strikes.
Nieminen with a couple of short strikes.
Nieminen fakes a shot to the body and cracks his opponent in the head. Nice ground and pound there!
Nieminen landing strikes from the mount and Yabal is in trouble!
Nieminen dominating with strikes here.
Nieminen pausing momentarily but resumes with a couple of decent strikes that do a bit of damage.
Nieminen has his opponent pinned against the cage, landing some nasty ground and pound that is really making a bit of a mess out of Yabal's face.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Nieminen putting on the heat here with some good ground and pound!
Yabal is bucking up trying to escape but Nieminen cracks him with another couple of good strikes.
Nieminen working the ground and pound effectively.
Nieminen controlling the pace for now.
Yabal is in all sorts of trouble here.
Nieminen landing strikes from the mount.
Yabal can't escape the position.
Yabal bucks up and manages to get a nice reversal! He's in guard on the top - nicely done!

Nieminen has his foot on Yabal's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Yabal works his way back into a safe position though.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Yabal accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Yabal passes Nieminen's left leg - he's now in half guard.
Yabal missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Yabal thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Nieminen's head.

Yabal is looking for a kimura. It's going to be difficult to finish that from half guard though and Nieminen defends it well.
Yabal trying to pass the guard but Nieminen defending well.

Nieminen is defending against the submission attempts here by Yabal.
Yabal seems to have got his legs back now.

Yabal seems to be looking for submissions.
Nieminen blocking the ground and pound attempt from Yabal.
Nieminen tries to roll over but Yabal keeps him under control.

Yabal is working for submissions here but there's nothing on.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

Yabal is looking for a kimura. It's going to be difficult to finish that from half guard though and Nieminen defends it well.
Nieminen tries to strike from the bottom but it doesn't land.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Yabal is trying to work for a kimura. He's got his hands clasped together - this could be trouble! No, Nieminen has managed to free his arm - good work.
Yabal not landing any meaningful shots this time.
Yabal has freed up his trapped foot and advances to mount.
Yabal working the ground and pound effectively.
Yabal with the ground and pound from mount.

Nieminen is rocked!

Yabal has hold of an arm here, looking to extend it. He's committed to the armbar attempt here! Will he get it?! Yes! Nieminen is forced to tap!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 4:58 of round 1, we have a winner by way of Submission (Armbar). Hannu Yabal!