PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Martin O Neill (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Matto Luuttu (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). O Neill comes to the cage accompanied by Sing for the moment - Eminem. I can't wait for this one - let's get the fighter introductions out of the way and get this one started!

O Neill
vs
Luuttu

180 cm
22
180 lbs
9 - 3 - 0

175 cm
23
175 lbs
9 - 10 - 0

Abu Dhabi Champ
Solid boxing
Granite chin

BJJ Purple Belt
Basic striking
Granite chin

SPARTA FIGHTWARE-GTI

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 - 3 - 0, fighting out of New York, Martin O Neill!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 9 - 10 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Matto Luuttu!
The judges for this bout are Paul Aken, Nard Betker and Albert Achterberg.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Luuttu decides to change it up a bit and drives through with a nice takedown into half guard.
O Neill slips a foot under and gets full guard. Nice work.
Luuttu wanted to stand there but O Neill had control of the position.
Luuttu throws a strike but O Neill rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.
O Neill throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Luuttu wants to get back to his feet but O Neill is in a dominant position and won't allow it.

Luuttu pushes O Neill off and scrambles back to his feet.

O Neill closes the distance and clinches up, looking for a takedown. He shifts his weight and gets a nice trip into half guard.
O Neill wants to lay and pray for a moment but Luuttu keeps working.
Luuttu is trying to stand up here but O Neill is controlling him well.
Luuttu keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.
Luuttu pushes O Neill off looking to stand but O Neill dives back in and keeps control.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
O Neill trying to pass the guard but Luuttu defending well.
O Neill lands a big shot. The thud that echoes around the arena is like music to the fans' ears.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

That's one minute gone in the round.
The two fighters exchange a few words. I couldn't hear what they were saying but maybe it's more fun if you make it up yourself. O Neill connects with a nice short shot to Luuttu's temple.
Luuttu wants to get back to his feet.
O Neill looks to score some points with some ground and pound.
O Neill throwing shots but Luuttu is blocking nicely.
O Neill tries to pass the half guard into mount. Luuttu knows what he's doing though and prevents the attempt.
Luuttu is trying to stand back up but O Neill is controlling him
O Neill tries to pass to full mount but Luuttu defends it.
Luuttu pushes O Neill off looking to stand but O Neill dives back in and keeps control.

O Neill is sneakily working for an arm triangle but Luuttu sees it coming and defends easily.
O Neill is keeping good posture, landing some ground and pound.
O Neill missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.
O Neill throwing shots but Luuttu is blocking nicely.
O Neill trying to mount his opponent but Luuttu defends it.

Luuttu kicks off O Neill and gets to his feet.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Luuttu closes the distance and gets a trip takedown into side control. O Neill quickly recovers to half guard.
O Neill blocking the ground and pound attempt from Luuttu.
O Neill makes his way to full guard. A much better position for O Neill.
O Neill manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Luuttu manages to get himself to full guard.
O Neill wants to pass the guard but Luuttu is keeping the position.
O Neill throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Luuttu works some decent striking defense from the bottom.

O Neill drops back for a leg! It's a sloppy attempt though and O Neill jumps back into guard quickly, to retain the dominant position.

Luuttu is edging up against the cage. He's using the cage to get back to his feet. Nice work there - the fighters are clinched.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
O Neill misses with the head strike.
O Neill lands a right hand.

O Neill escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
O Neill has his takedown stuffed

and Luuttu counters with a nice double leg into side control. O Neill won't be happy with that.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
O Neill tries to work a leg under to get back to half guard but Luuttu wriggles his own leg back out and remains in side control.
O Neill manages to get one leg in to regain half guard.
Luuttu wants to stand up but O Neill has a hold of him and won't allow it.

O Neill actively working from the bottom here.
O Neill 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.
O Neill is breathing heavily.
Luuttu wants to free his trapped foot but O Neill is holding on for dear life with his legs.
O Neill manages to get to full guard.
Luuttu tries to free his leg and advance position but O Neill is retaining full guard.

O Neill escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Luuttu gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
O Neill bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Luuttu's guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Luuttu wants to stand and escape but O Neill is having none of it.
Luuttu preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
O Neill stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Luuttu swivels though and keeps the full guard.
O Neill postures up in Luuttu's guard and throws a big left but Luuttu blocks it.
O Neill prevents Luuttu from getting back to his feet.
O Neill working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
O Neill won't allow Luuttu to get back to his feet.
O Neill looking to pass the guard.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
O Neill working from the guard for now, landing some ground and pound.
Luuttu is looking to stand up but O Neill isn't so interested in that idea.
Both fighters really going for it on the ground here!
Luuttu can't keep his opponent in guard - O Neill advances to half guard, no doubt looking to mount.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Martin O Neill dominated that round.
That's time! Back to the action!

O Neill throws a loose over hand right and dives in with a double leg takedown. Luuttu tries to sprawl but it's too late and the fighters hit the mat. O Neill is in Luuttu's guard.

Luuttu pushes O Neill off and scrambles back to his feet.
Wow, both these guys are really going for it!

O Neill shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Let's see what he's got on the mat.
Luuttu is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.
O Neill looking to pass the guard.
O Neill is working hard here to advance position.
Luuttu wants to stand but O Neill is controlling the position.
O Neill content to strike from guard, landing some decent shots.
Luuttu avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Luuttu wants to stand up but O Neill is controlling him.
O Neill working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Luuttu is breathing heavily.
Luuttu wants to get back to his feet but O Neill is in a dominant position and won't allow it.
O Neill missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
O Neill trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
O Neill pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Luuttu is keeping the position for now.

O Neill drops back for a leg! It's a sloppy attempt though and O Neill jumps back into guard quickly, to retain the dominant position.
Luuttu keeping full guard, as O Neill tries to pass.
Luuttu is looking to stand up but O Neill isn't so interested in that idea.
O Neill stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Luuttu swivels though and keeps the full guard.
O Neill stops Luuttu from standing up.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
O Neill looking to pass the guard.
Luuttu wants to get back to his feet but O Neill is in a dominant position and won't allow it.
O Neill wants to control from the top but Luuttu keeps moving.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
Luuttu fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
O Neill fails with the takedown

and Luuttu counters with a takedown into side control.
O Neill tries to bench press Luuttu off him but Luuttu keeps the position.
Luuttu scores with a couple of short elbows.
O Neill gets back to half guard.
O Neill manages to get to full guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Luuttu avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
Luuttu stopping the sweep attempt from O Neill.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now O Neill is on top in guard.
Luuttu preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Luuttu is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst O Neill is controlling him.
O Neill wants to pass the guard but Luuttu is keeping the position.
Luuttu is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst O Neill is controlling him.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
O Neill pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Luuttu is keeping the position for now.
O Neill is working Luuttu over from the guard. He should look to pass the guard and do a little more damage with these strikes.
Luuttu wants to stand and escape but O Neill is having none of it.
O Neill stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Luuttu swivels though and keeps the full guard.

Luuttu has butterfly guard. He's looking to stand up here. He pushes O Neill off him and springs to his feet nicely. The crowd applauds.
O Neill doesn't succeed with the takedown

and Luuttu counters with a nice double leg into side control. O Neill won't be happy with that.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
O Neill gets back to half guard.
Luuttu with the ground and pound but O Neill uses the opportunity to regain guard.
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 Martin O Neill will probably get the nod.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action! Let's get this one finished - here comes the final round!

O Neill scores a trip takedown into side control. Nice.
O Neill throwing shots but missing, from side control.
Martin O Neill overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Luuttu is trying to buck O Neill off.
O Neill misses with the ground and pound.
Luuttu pushes O Neill away and creates a bit of space to escape. He's almost out here... but no, O Neill gets a good hold of his legs and remains firmly in side control.

O Neill tries for a kimura but Luuttu is defending well.

O Neill is looking to finish here, going for an Americana. Luuttu knows the correct defense though, so he's OK.
Luuttu is trying to get back to his feet.
O Neill is working Luuttu over with some ground and pound from side control.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
O Neill is looking to take a break and control but Luuttu is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.

That's one minute gone in the round.
O Neill connects with a decent looking elbow from side control that caused Luuttu some visible discomfort.
Luuttu wants to escape from the position here - easier said than done!
The ground and pound from O Neill seems to be hitting the mat more than his opponent.
Luuttu managing to avoid any damage from the strikes thrown by O Neill.
O Neill throws a knee to the body but it doesn't do much damage.
Sloppy strikes there by O Neill.
Luuttu is putting a lot of effort into getting back to his feet here.
O Neill works a knee to the body and follows up with a nice elbow to the head.
Luuttu is trying to escape and get back to his feet.
O Neill creates a bit of distance and throws down some hard shots.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Luuttu takes an elbow right on the bridge of the nose and winces in pain.
O Neill cracks Luuttu with an elbow. That is naaassty.
O Neill in side control lands a decent elbow.
Luuttu pushes O Neill away and creates a bit of space to escape. He's almost out here... but no, O Neill gets a good hold of his legs and remains firmly in side control.

O Neill is trying to get an arm triangle but Luuttu is defending well.
O Neill scoring with punches from side control.
O Neill lands a decent elbow from side control.
O Neill throws a strike aimed at the side of Luuttu's head but Luuttu avoids it well.
O Neill throws a strike aimed at the side of Luuttu's head but Luuttu avoids it well.

Luuttu bucks up and manages to escape back to his feet!
Luuttu throws a big shot that misses.
O Neill fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
This has been an exciting period of action!
O Neill shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Luuttu as he avoids it easily.
Martin O Neill is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Luuttu drops down and drives through with a powerful takedown into guard.
O Neill manages to land a sweep and now he's in mount on top!
Luuttu is trying to stand up.
Luuttu is using up a lot of energy trying to get back to his feet. Perhaps he should improve his position first.
O Neill wants to control the pace but Luuttu is squirming around nicely.
O Neill looking to control and managing it successfully.
O Neill landing strikes from the mount.
Luuttu is squirming around, avoiding O Neill's attempts to control the action.
Luuttu is trying to get to the cage to help him get back to his feet.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
O Neill with shots to the head and body - Luuttu looks very uncomfortable down there.
Matto Luuttu has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
O Neill pausing momentarily but resumes with a couple of decent strikes that do a bit of damage.
O Neill connects with a couple of good shots from mount.
O Neill working away from the top, dropping strikes.
O Neill working away from the top, dropping strikes.
O Neill tries to control but Luuttu wriggling away.
O Neill is going to have to think about doing something other than just controlling because Luuttu is managing to avoid having the position dictated to him.
O Neill throwing sloppy strikes here. Perhaps if he tightened up his striking from such a dominant position, he'd be able to finish easier.
Luuttu wants to use the cage to get back to his feet here.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
O Neill putting on the heat here with some good ground and pound!
O Neill has his opponent pinned against the cage, landing some nasty ground and pound that is really making a bit of a mess out of Luuttu's face.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
O Neill breaks from Luuttu's wrist control and lands an elbow.

And that's the end of the fight!
Martin O Neill showed his dominance in that final round.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for O Neill, winning every round. Will the judges agree? They are the ones who matter, even if they are often depressingly incompetent. 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 Paul Aken scores the fight 30:27
Judge Nard Betker scores the fight 30:27
Judge Albert Achterberg scores the fight 30:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Martin O Neill!