PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Ryan Nelson (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Seppo Karkkola (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Ryan Nelson has the edge in experience - let's see if he can make that count tonight.

Nelson
vs
Karkkola

185 cm
24
140 lbs
2 - 5 - 0

190 cm
19
140 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Excellent MT
Experienced

BJJ White Belt
Brawler
Determined

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 2 - 5 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Ryan Nelson!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Seppo Karkkola!
The judges for this bout are Anni Minnemäki, Arvi Lind and Marco Blurström.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Karkkola tries a head kick but it misses.
Karkkola shoots for a takedown but Nelson saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
Karkkola looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.

Nelson instigates a clinch.
Karkkola's corner are urging him to control the action in the clinch for a moment, rather than mount any serious offense. I'm sure the crowd appreciate those instructions... not.

Nelson breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Karkkola.
Ryan Nelson has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Seppo Karkkola.
Nelson's corner calls for a 1,2 combination and Nelson duly obliges.

Karkkola gets a clinch.
Nelson really does look like a pencil wearing a pair of gloves. Let's hope he has a gameplan to suit that ridiculous body shape.
Karkkola has had enough of the clinch but Nelson keeps him there for the moment.
Nelson tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.
Karkkola goes for a takedown attempt but Nelson pushes him away and we're back to fighting at a distance.
Nelson connects with a high kick.
Nelson lands a nice looking body kick.
Nelson scores with a jab.
Karkkola looks for a takedown but Nelson sprawls well.
Karkkola looks gassed!

That's one minute gone in the round.
Nelson scores with a head kick.
Nelson thuds a mid kick into his opponent's body. That will wear on Karkkola if he has to take too many more of those.

Nelson closes the distance, clinches up and gets a nice trip takedown into side control. Very smooth.
Nelson happy to just control the position for now.
Nelson landing strikes.
Karkkola is trying to improve his position.
Nelson postures up a little and throws a couple of hammerfists but they don't connect properly.
Karkkola really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Nelson. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Nelson is pausing for a moment. What's he doing? It looks like he's clearing his nose. Oh dude! He's shot a load of snot all down Karkkola's shoulder. That is not cool.
Nelson lands a knee to the body and follows it up with some ground and pound to the head. That will wear Karkkola down.
Nelson scores with a couple of nice shots to the head there. The referee takes a look at Karkkola to see if he's OK.
Karkkola is looking to regain half guard here but Nelson keeps moving and retains side control.
You can see the frustration on Karkkola's face as Nelson controls the position.
Nelson has controlled the position for a good 20 seconds, which will no doubt be starting to frustrate his opponent.
Karkkola manages to work his way to half guard, despite Nelson's best efforts.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Nelson passes to side control.
The referee tells the fighters to keep busy.
Nelson 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.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up, due to lack of activity on the part of Ryan Nelson.
Nelson is trying hard to land a takedown here. Karkkola sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.
Karkkola looks for a takedown but Nelson sprawls well.

Karkkola gets caught on his heels momentarily as he allows Nelson to score an easy takedown into full guard.
We get told so often about how wrestlers don't like to be on their backs. Let's see if Karkkola can do anything to dispel that myth.
Nelson loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Nelson 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.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Karkkola is working an open guard so Nelson takes the opportunity to get back to his feet.

Nelson fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Karkkola, pushing him back against the cage.
Karkkola keeps the fight in the clinch, despite Nelson's efforts to push away.
Karkkola wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Nelson has him pressed against the cage.
Karkkola is trying to break the clinch but Nelson is controlling him.
Nelson lands a nice elbow.

Nelson breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Nelson fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Karkkola avoids it really well and circles away.
Nelson lands with a nice combination. Karkkola backs away looking to recover.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Karkkola shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Nelson sprawls well. Nelson wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Karkkola gets slowly back to his feet.
A nice leg kick lands there from Nelson.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Ryan Nelson dominated that round.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin!

Nelson lands a head kick. Karkkola smiles back at him and beckons him forward.
Karkkola throws a head kick that connects with a bit of head and a bit of hand.
Karkkola misses with a low kick as Nelson jumps back.
Nelson throws a head kick that connects with a bit of head and a bit of hand.
A low kick from Karkkola is predictable there
and Nelson counters with a big head kick but Karkkola shrugs it off.
The fight stays on the outside here - Nelson looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Ryan Nelson seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Good leg kick by Nelson there. It's the ones that make that thud noise that hurt and that was an almighty thud.
Nelson tries to clinch but Karkkola is having none of it.
Nelson is looking to clinch but Karkkola is avoiding it.
Nelson changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Karkkola tries to avoid it but Nelson manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Karkkola to the ground. Karkkola escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
Karkkola avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
A head kick from Nelson lands but Karkkola takes it in his stride.
Karkkola shoots and misses
and Nelson counters with a series of strikes. Karkkola will be more careful next time no doubt.

Karkkola tries to keep at a distance but Nelson has taken the fight into the clinch.

Nelson escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Nelson plants his feet and lands a nice head kick!
Karkkola tries to clinch there but Nelson circles away.
Karkkola will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
Nelson shoots in but no luck this time.
Karkkola tries to clinch but Nelson is having none of it.
Karkkola misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
Ryan Nelson has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Seppo Karkkola.
Nelson is looking to clinch.
Nelson lands a high kick!

Nelson pushes Karkkola up against the cage in a clinch.
Nelson wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Karkkola has him pressed against the cage.

Nelson breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Nelson misses with a head kick.
Nelson lands a two punch combo.
Karkkola fails with the takedown

and Nelson holds on and brings the fighters into a clinch.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Nelson landing knees to the body.
Nelson pushes off and fires off an elbow that misses, before clinching up again, against the cage.

Nelson drags the fight down to the ground.
A real slowdown in the pace of the fight for a moment, as Nelson holds on and takes a little breather.
Karkkola wanted to stand there but Nelson had control of the position.
Nelson wants to sweep here but Karkkola controlling him for the moment.
Karkkola in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Karkkola trying to control the position from guard on top but Nelson is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Karkkola is looking to stand up but Nelson won't let him.
Karkkola trying to control but Nelson is working from the bottom.
Nelson is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.

Nelson forces Karkkola back against the cage and clinches.

Nelson breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.

Nelson closes the distance and looks for a trip takedown... aaaand he's got it - Nelson lands in his opponent's guard.
Karkkola is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Karkkola is trying to control the position but Nelson postures up.
Nelson is taking a break and basically stalling. The referee will not allow him to do that for long.
Karkkola wants to get back to his feet but Nelson passes into half guard.
Karkkola is looking for a sweep. Nelson is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Nelson takes advantage of the dominant position to land a couple of big hammer fists.
Karkkola is trying to defend against the ground and pound but Nelson scores with a couple of nice shots.
Nelson trying to control the pace.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Nelson throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Ryan Nelson dominated that second round.
That's time! Nelson's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight. This is the final round!

Nelson displaying good standup as he scores with a three punch combination.
Karkkola looks for the body kick but Nelson saw that one coming.
Karkkola fails with an attempt to clinch.
Ryan Nelson is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
No luck for Karkkola with that takedown attempt.
Nelson shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Nelson avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Nelson throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Karkkola is defended easily by Nelson.
Nelson dives in and grabs Karkkola's left leg, looking for a takedown. Karkkola pushes down on Nelson's head and hops out.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Nelson throws a quick head kick that skims the top of Karkkola's head.
Nelson throws a quick head kick that skims the top of Karkkola's head.
Karkkola keeps the fight on the outside.
Nelson fakes and then throws a beautiful body shot. Karkkola looks a bit winded and takes a step backwards to take a breath.

That's one minute gone in the round.
A combination from Nelson does no damage.
Nelson shoots in but Karkkola avoids the takedown attempt easily.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Ryan Nelson. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Karkkola fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
Nelson with a nice cross.

Nelson has Karkkola up against the cage in a clinch.
Karkkola stalling in the clinch but Nelson improves position.

Nelson breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Nelson misses with the combination.

The fight moves into the clinch position.
Karkkola tries to stall but Nelson uses the opportunity to gain a better position.
Karkkola working hard to break the clinch.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Karkkola tries to circle away but Nelson has him pinned against the cage.
Nelson blocks an elbow strike from Karkkola.
A body shot lands from Nelson.

Nelson breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Nelson tries to clinch but Karkkola is having none of it.
Karkkola tries for a takedown but Nelson sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
Nelson tries to clinch

and Karkkola counters by moving into the clinch. Good anticipation by Karkkola.

Nelson pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Nelson lands with a kick to the temple. Karkkola shrugs as if to say "is that all you've got?"
Nelson throws a head kick that Karkkola semi-blocks.
Nelson lands with a kick to the temple. Karkkola shrugs as if to say "is that all you've got?"

Nelson closes the distance and pushes Karkkola back into the cage.
Karkkola has Nelson pressed up against the cage and is working for takedown. Nelson manages to improve position though and keeps the fight standing.

Nelson jumps guard.
Nelson controls Karkkola momentarily but Karkkola frees himself.
Karkkola must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.

Nelson has his foot on Karkkola's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Karkkola works his way back into a safe position though.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Nelson working a defensive guard here.
Karkkola tries to free his leg and advance position but Nelson is retaining full guard.
Karkkola stops Nelson from standing up.
Karkkola passes easily into side control. Nice work.
Karkkola tries to land with some ground and pound but misses.
Nelson is looking to regain half guard here but Karkkola keeps moving and retains side control.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

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.
Nelson struggling a bit here.
Karkkola controlling from side mount.
Nelson manages to land a sweep and he's now on top! Lovely Jiu Jitsu!
Ryan Nelson is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Karkkola is looking for a sweep. Nelson is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Karkkola trying to control from the bottom.
Nelson controlling the action here.

And that's the end of the fight!
Ryan Nelson showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Nelson has outscored his opponent in every aspect of the fight today. Only a scarily incompetent judge or two will keep him from a well deserved win... 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 30:27
Judge Arvi Lind scores the fight 30:27
Judge Marco Blurström scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Ryan Nelson!