PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Hugh Honey (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Sauli Niinisto (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Honey's ring entrance music is that housewives' favourite, "That's All" by Phil Collins. Both these guys have really solid chins. Will we see a standup war or will they both decide that a knockout is unlikely and try to win the fight elsewhere?

Honey
vs
Niinisto

169 cm
22
184 lbs
7 - 2 - 0

190 cm
22
178 lbs
8 - 0 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
World class boxer
Granite chin

BJJ Purple Belt
Good elbows
Granite chin

Balco Boys Battle Gear
Balco Boys - Hilo

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 7 - 2 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Hugh Honey!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 8 - 0 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Sauli Niinisto!
The judges for this bout are Illya Tyunina, Ivan Kurochkin and Sergei Dronov.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Niinisto bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
Honey swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Niinisto walks into a stiff left hand from Honey.
Niinisto looks shocked there as he takes a right hand to the temple.
Hugh Honey seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
A looping hook to the body misses from Honey. Niinisto does a little dance to reset his feet.
Honey moves out of range of the leg kick from Niinisto.
Niinisto uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Honey.
Honey throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Niinisto sees it coming and avoids it easily.
Niinisto tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Honey connects with a lovely jab that went straight through the gap between Niinisto's hands.
Honey has his front leg slapped to the side - a nice low kick landing there from Niinisto.
Niinisto misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Honey moves out of range of the leg kick from Niinisto.
Honey checks the leg kick nicely there.
Niinisto uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Honey.
Honey throws a lazy right hand but Niinisto sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Niinisto tries to clinch there but Honey circles away.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Niinisto jabbing away but nothing is landing.
Niinisto bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
A jab from Honey finds it's way through Niinisto's defenses.
Niinisto blocks a head kick by Honey.
Honey rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Niinisto moves out of range and avoids them all easily.

Niinisto closes the distance and clinches.
Niinisto pushes off and fires off an elbow that misses, before clinching up again, against the cage.
Niinisto keeps control of Honey as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.
Niinisto tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Honey avoids it.
Niinisto lands an elbow inside that Honey shrugs off.
Honey tries to break free but Niinisto pushes him back against the cage.
Honey wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.
Niinisto crunches a lovely knee into Honey's ribcage.
Honey struggles to land a body shot inside as Niinisto controls his hands.
Niinisto throws an elbow that misses.
Honey looking to stall.
Niinisto gets an overhook and lands an elbow to the side of the head.
Honey wants to stall.
Honey can't seem to implement his control oriented gameplan at the moment. That's no bad thing of course, for those of us who want to see a good fight.
Honey works on Niinisto's body with a couple of short punches.
A body shot lands from Honey.
Honey blocks an elbow strike from Niinisto.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Honey trying to land knees to the body.
Niinisto with a knee to the head.
Niinisto lands an elbow inside that Honey shrugs off.
Honey takes an elbow to the forehead.
Niinisto lands a damaging elbow.
Honey looking to stall.
Niinisto lands a nice elbow from the clinch.
Honey tries a body shot but Niinisto blocks it.
A nice glancing elbow lands by Niinisto.
Niinisto gets an overhook and lands an elbow to the side of the head.
Niinisto throws an elbow that misses.
Niinisto comes over the top with an elbow. That landed flush.
Both fighters working to control the clinch.
Honey is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.
Niinisto crunches a lovely knee into Honey's ribcage.
Honey is breathing heavily.
Niinisto creates a bit of space for himself and sneaks an elbow through Honey's defenses.
Niinisto looks to throw an elbow but misses.
Honey lands a hook to the body. It's hard to tell if that hurt Niinisto or not.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Honey blocks an elbow strike.
Honey takes an elbow to the temple.
Honey takes an elbow to the forehead.
Honey blocks an elbow strike.
Niinisto blocks a body shot from Honey.
Honey lands a good knee to the midsection. Niinisto won't want to take too many of those.
Honey creates a bit of distance and throws an elbow that only just misses.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Niinisto landing some nice looking knees to the body.
Niinisto putting his Muay Thai to good use. He has Honey in a tight clinch and is doing some damage with knees to the body.
Niinisto lands a nice elbow from the clinch.
Niinisto lands an elbow inside that Honey shrugs off.
Niinisto lands an elbow that stopped Honey in his tracks for a moment.
Kneeeeees! The crowd are calling for knees to the body. Niinisto obliges.
Niinisto gets an overhook and lands an elbow to the side of the head.
With the fighters up against the cage, Niinisto throws an elbow but misses.
Niinisto is stalling here.
Niinisto creates a bit of space for himself and sneaks an elbow through Honey's defenses.
Niinisto misses with an elbow over the top.
Niinisto pressing his opponent against the cage.
Niinisto looks to throw an elbow but misses.
Niinisto tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Honey avoids it.
Honey on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
Honey working some nice short punches in the clinch.
Niinisto is trying to slow down the pace of the fight but Honey is keeping busy.

Honey breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Honey moves out of range of the strikes.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Niinisto slips under a jab.
A slow jab from Honey misses its intended target.

Niinisto has taken the fight to the clinch.
Niinisto scores a nice knee to the body.
Come on Niinisto - let's have some action - none of this stalling nonsense.
Honey wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.
Niinisto lands a knee to the body.
Honey tries to land a knee to the head but misses.
Niinisto landing some nice looking knees to the body.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Niinisto has Honey pressed against the cage.
Honey on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
Niinisto comes over the top with an elbow. That landed flush.
Niinisto will no doubt start fighting again in a minute but for now he's just having a little rest, leaning Honey up against the cage.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Niinisto gets an overhook and lands an elbow to the side of the head.
Niinisto blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Niinisto dodges an elbow strike from Honey.
With the two fighters working up against the cage, Niinisto just misses with a elbow thrown towards Honey's brow.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Sauli Niinisto dominated that round.
That's time! Back to the action!

Niinisto slips under a jab.
Honey throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
Niinisto lands with a nice low kick. That'll leave a bruise.
Honey misses with a wild combination.
Some wild striking there from Honey.
Niinisto defending well as Honey loads up on a big left hand.
Honey lands a vicious shot with the stealth of a sniper and the strength of a viper. Are vipers that strong? I can think of lots of things that are stronger than a viper - not many rhyme with sniper though.
Niinisto looks to land a left hand but Honey moved out of range nicely.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Niinisto displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Honey throws out the jab.
Honey looks to score with a jab to the body but Niinisto is just out of range.
Honey scores with a jab to the body.
Niinisto uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Honey.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Honey throws an overhand right that lands on Niinisto's shoulder, as Niinisto tries to avoid the shot.
A slow jab from Honey misses its intended target.
Honey misses with a straight right.
Niinisto wants to slow Honey down by chopping away at his legs.
Honey swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
Niinisto tries a head kick but it misses.
Niinisto misses with a low kick as Honey jumps back.
Honey tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Niinisto was well out of range. Poor timing from Honey.
Honey misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Niinisto.
Niinisto throws out a leg kick but Honey moves out of range and Niinisto only half commits.
Honey digs a good body shot into Niinisto's ribs.
The fighters circling - Honey throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
Honey moves away from the strike by Niinisto.
Niinisto takes a shot right to the bread basket.
Honey scores with a reasonable looking shot to the body. Niinisto doesn't seem bothered though.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Good work by Honey as he checks the leg kick.
Niinisto takes a shot right to the bread basket.
Honey takes a step towards his opponent and connects with a left hand, before circling away.
Niinisto takes a punch right to his stomach. That took the wind out of him momentarily.
A left lands for Honey.
Honey swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
Honey throws a big shot that misses.
Honey throws a big shot that misses.
Niinisto uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Honey.
Honey thows a left - swing and a miss!
Niinisto throws a nice head kick!

Niinisto has managed to clinch.
With the fighters up against the cage, Honey throws an elbow but misses.
Niinisto lands a nice knee to the body.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Niinisto dictating the pace here, as the fighters clinch against the cage.
A real battle for position is taking place between these two warriors.
Honey on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
Honey has had enough of the clinch but Niinisto keeps him there for the moment.
Niinisto lands an elbow that stopped Honey in his tracks for a moment.
Niinisto tries to stall but Honey uses the opportunity to gain a better position.
Niinisto pushes off an throws an elbow but Honey leans to the side and avoids it. We're back to clinching against the cage.
Niinisto missing with knees to the body.
Niinisto misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Honey.
Niinisto lands an elbow inside that Honey shrugs off.
Honey lands a body punch.
Niinisto tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Honey avoids it.
A real battle for position is taking place between these two warriors.
Honey takes an elbow to the forehead.
Niinisto misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Honey.
Honey effectively controlling the action here.
Honey looking to slow down the pace here.
Niinisto stalling in the clinch.
Niinisto throws an elbow that misses.
Both fighters working to control the clinch.
Niinisto looks to throw an elbow but misses.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are getting on the fighters' backs, as the pace has dropped off in the last minute or so.
Honey looking to stall.
Niinisto throws an elbow that misses.
Honey avoiding damage as Niinisto throws knees to the body.
Honey is working hard here but doesn't seem to be able to control effectively, up against the cage.
Niinisto leaning against his opponent.
Knees to the body from Niinisto.
Honey lands a hook to the body. It's hard to tell if that hurt Niinisto or not.
Honey managing to block the knees to the body from Niinisto.
Honey struggles to land a body shot inside as Niinisto controls his hands.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Niinisto.
Niinisto crunches a lovely knee into Honey's ribcage.
Niinisto throws an elbow that misses.
Honey blocks an elbow strike.
Niinisto holding his opponent close, against the cage.
Honey tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Honey just leaning against Niinisto, taking a breather.
Honey blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
Niinisto is stalling here. The referee will be looking to step in if he doesn't pick up the pace.
Honey wants to stall.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close second round but I would say that Hugh Honey will probably get the nod.
That's time! Back to the action! This is the final round!

Honey checks the leg kick nicely there.
Honey lands a head shot.
Honey throws a body punch but Niinisto moves out of range.
Niinisto displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Honey throws out the jab.
Honey looks to land a combination but Niinisto avoids it well.
Niinisto avoids a punch combination nicely.
Honey misses the jab.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
A big right from Honey misses.
Niinisto throws a low kick but his opponent is out of range.
Niinisto throws a decent looking leg kick but it doesn't land clean.
Honey cracks Niinisto with a good jab.

Niinisto pushes Honey up against the cage in a clinch.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Niinisto landing some nice looking knees to the body.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Honey dodges an elbow strike from Niinisto.
Niinisto gets an overhook and lands an elbow to the side of the head.
Honey avoids a wild elbow strike from Niinisto.
Nice elbow from Niinisto.
Niinisto controlling the action here for a moment.
Niinisto takes an elbow to the forehead.
Honey is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.
Honey blocks an elbow strike.
Niinisto blocks a body shot from Honey.
Honey misses with a hook to the ribs.
Kneeeeees! The crowd are calling for knees to the body. Niinisto obliges.
Niinisto is stalling here. The referee will be looking to step in if he doesn't pick up the pace.
Niinisto lands an elbow that stopped Honey in his tracks for a moment.
Sauli Niinisto seems to be working more effectively in the clinch in the fight so far.
Niinisto prevents a body shot from Honey.
Niinisto is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Honey is defending well for now.
Niinisto comes over the top with an elbow. That landed flush.
Niinisto lands a nice elbow from the clinch.
Niinisto lands an elbow inside.
Niinisto creates a bit of space for himself and sneaks an elbow through Honey's defenses.
Niinisto throws an elbow but it's blocked.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Honey on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
Niinisto taking a breather.
Honey blocks the elbow strike.
Niinisto throws an elbow but it's blocked.
Niinisto misses with an elbow over the top.
Honey blocks an elbow strike.
With the two fighters working up against the cage, Niinisto just misses with a elbow thrown towards Honey's brow.
Niinisto stalling.
Niinisto throws a nice elbow but it doesn't land.
Niinisto lands an elbow inside that Honey shrugs off.
Honey throws a punch but it's blocked by Niinisto.
Honey missing with knees to the body.
Honey trying to control the position but instead, Niinisto has worked for underhooks and has pushed Honey into the cage.
Niinisto taking a breather.
Niinisto lands a nice elbow.
Niinisto avoids a wild elbow strike from Honey.
Niinisto keeps control of Honey as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.
A short right from Honey.
Honey is trying to break the clinch but Niinisto is controlling him.
Niinisto holding his opponent close, against the cage.
Honey tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Niinisto's elbow.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Honey is trying to stall.
Niinisto looking to slow down the pace here.
Honey avoids a wild elbow strike from Niinisto.
Niinisto lands a damaging elbow.
Honey misses with an elbow over the top.
Honey stalling in the clinch but Niinisto improves position.
Honey blocks an elbow strike from Niinisto.
Niinisto creates a bit of space for himself and sneaks an elbow through Honey's defenses.
Niinisto throws an elbow but it misses.
Honey avoids the elbow strike from Niinisto, against the cage.
The referee is keeping an eye on Niinisto - much more stalling and he will separate the fighters.
Niinisto tries to stall but Honey uses the opportunity to gain a better position.
Honey takes an elbow to the temple.
Niinisto stalling against the cage.
Honey avoids a wild elbow strike from Niinisto.
Niinisto misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Honey.
Niinisto is clearly stalling here... Pick up the pace son.
Niinisto tries to land knees in the clinch but Honey avoids the damage to the body.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Honey can't break the clinch.
Honey blocks an elbow strike.
A frustrated look appears on Honey's face as he tries to break the clinch.
Knees to the body from Niinisto.
Honey blocks an elbow strike from Niinisto.
Niinisto lands an elbow inside that Honey shrugs off.
Honey avoids a wild elbow strike from Niinisto.
Niinisto lands a glancing elbow in the clinch.
Honey takes an elbow to the forehead.
Niinisto lands an elbow that stopped Honey in his tracks for a moment.
Niinisto keeps control of Honey as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.
A real battle for position is taking place between these two warriors.
Honey looking to stall.
Honey dodges an elbow strike from Niinisto.
With the fighters up against the cage, Niinisto throws an elbow but misses.
Niinisto on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
Niinisto lands an elbow just above Honey 's eye.

Honey breaks from the clinch.
Niinisto wants to slow Honey down by chopping away at his legs.
Niinisto throws a decent looking leg kick but it doesn't land clean.

And that's the end of the fight!
Sauli Niinisto comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Niinisto 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 Illya Tyunina scores the fight 28:29
Judge Ivan Kurochkin scores the fight 28:29
Judge Sergei Dronov scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Sauli Niinisto!