PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Mike Gonzaga (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Torsti Monivamma (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.

Gonzaga
vs
Monivamma

177 cm
18
168 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

180 cm
22
180 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Brown Belt
Counter striker
Very quick

Good takedowns
Counter striker
Intelligent

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 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Mike Gonzaga!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Torsti Monivamma!
The judges for this bout are Matti Vanhoillinen, Johanna Lukiainen and Arvi Lind.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Gonzaga closes the distance and clinches up, looking for a takedown. He shifts his weight and gets a nice trip into half guard.
Both fighters really going for it on the ground here!
Monivamma tries to roll over but Gonzaga keeps him under control.

Gonzaga is working for a kimura but Monivamma is defending it quite comfortably.
Monivamma is trying to get back to full guard.
Monivamma is in trouble now - Gonzaga has advanced to mount!
Gonzaga tries to stand up but he's trapped just for the moment.

Gonzaga with some aggressive grappling here. He's looking for submissions here, rather than waiting for the opportunity to counter.
Monivamma really trying hard to get back to half guard here.
Monivamma is persisting with the attempt to improve his position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Monivamma sneaks a leg under to get to half guard.

Monivamma looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.
Gonzaga has freed up his trapped foot and advances to mount.
Gonzaga wants to take Monivamma's back here but Monivamma is holding on to an arm, himself looking to escape.

Gonzaga is working on an americana here. Ooh, that looks pretty nasty! Nope, Monivamma has managed to escape the submission attempt.
Gonzaga looking to control but Monivamma is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.

Gonzaga looks like he's working for a submission but he's not found anything just yet.
Monivamma can't escape the position.
Monivamma gets back to half guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Monivamma trying to control here.
Monivamma looks gassed!
The fighters are battling for position here. Monivamma manages to regain full guard. Nice work.
Gonzaga advances position into side control!

Gonzaga working hard here to secure a kimura but he's not really in the right position for it.

Gonzaga tries for a kimura. Not really close to a finish though.
Monivamma manages to land a sweep and he's now on top! Lovely Jiu Jitsu!
Gonzaga is in trouble now - Monivamma has advanced to mount!
A nice elbow there by Monivamma.
Gonzaga tries to lock up and control but Monivamma gives him a forearm to the face and pushes him away.
Monivamma is dominating on the ground here - he's now on his opponent's back, looking to sink in the hooks. Gonzaga is in real trouble.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Monivamma has his hand under the chin of his opponent looking for the choke. He's nearly got it! This one could be all over! But no, Gonzaga has freed his hand and lives to survive another… well, another couple of seconds at least!
Gonzaga breaks Monivamma's hooks off and manages to turn into his guard.
Monivamma will have to put a bit more behind his punches if he's going to do any damage from this position.

Monivamma looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
Gonzaga stopping the sweep attempt from Monivamma.

Monivamma working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Gonzaga doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Gonzaga manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.
Monivamma keeping moving, preventing Gonzaga from controlling successfully.
Monivamma is trying to control the position but Gonzaga postures up.
Gonzaga trying to control but Monivamma is working from the bottom.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Monivamma avoids the body shot from Gonzaga.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Gonzaga looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Gonzaga shoots for a takedown but Monivamma saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
Some wild striking there from Gonzaga.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Torsti Monivamma will probably get the nod.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin!

Gonzaga looks for a takedown but Monivamma sprawls well.

Gonzaga shoots in and bounces Monivamma off the cage to secure the takedown into guard.
Gonzaga wants to stand but Monivamma is controlling his posture from full guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Monivamma tries to land a sweep but no joy.

Monivamma had isolated an arm as going for an omaplata. Gonzaga is defending the submission well but is in a very vulnerable position. Monivamma Is leaning forward trying to finish the omaplata but decides to abandon it, and take Gonzaga's back instead.

Monivamma is working for the rear naked choke. He has one arm under the chin but Gonzaga has hold of the other arm. A bit of a stalemate here.
Monivamma doesn't have the hooks in and Gonzaga manages to turn into his guard.

Monivamma is looking for a triangle but Gonzaga pushes his legs off easily.
Monivamma is breathing heavily.

Gonzaga drops back looking for a leg! Monivamma is in trouble here! The fighters roll with the hold and Monivamma manages to kick Gonzaga off! Gonzaga jumps back into Monivamma's guard.
Gonzaga trying to stand up but can't free himself from Monivamma's guard.

Gonzaga is trying to work a guillotine from the top, or something like that? Don't know how he thinks he's going to get a finish from there.

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

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A few boos can be heard. I'm sure they will multiply if the fighters don't pick up the pace.

Monivamma working for a triangle but Gonzaga defends it easily.
Gonzaga trying to control the position from guard on top but Monivamma is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

Monivamma has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Gonzaga can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.

Monivamma has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Gonzaga can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
Monivamma 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.

Monivamma looking for a guillotine here but Gonzaga defends easily.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Monivamma is active off his back here, looking for submissions.

Monivamma throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
Gonzaga preventing the sweep.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

Monivamma is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
Monivamma wants to sweep but no luck.

Gonzaga drops back looking for a leg! Monivamma is in trouble here! The fighters roll with the hold and Monivamma manages to kick Gonzaga off! Gonzaga jumps back into Monivamma's guard.
Monivamma wants to sweep here but Gonzaga controlling him for the moment.
Gonzaga trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
My god... these two guys really need to pick up the pace or everyone will leave to go get a beer.

Monivamma looking for a guillotine here but Gonzaga defends easily.

Monivamma looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.

Monivamma is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
Monivamma looking for a sweep. Not yet Monivamma, not yet.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Monivamma is on top in guard.
Monivamma pushing down on Gonzaga's thigh, trying to pass to half guard. He's managed it... Nice work.
Monivamma not landing any meaningful shots this time.
Torsti Monivamma has got the better of the ground game so far.
Gonzaga makes his way to full guard. A much better position for Gonzaga.
Gonzaga keeping moving, preventing Monivamma from controlling successfully.
Monivamma works a leg free and moves into half guard.

Monivamma is trying to work for a kimura but Gonzaga is defending well.
Gonzaga moves his hips nicely and gets into full guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Torsti Monivamma showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
That's time! Back to the action! This is the final round!

Gonzaga shoots in and gets a takedown into half guard. Gonzaga showed some decent athleticism there.
Gonzaga seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Monivamma does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.
Monivamma is looking for a sweep. Gonzaga is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Monivamma looking for submissions from an awkward position here.
Monivamma takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.

Gonzaga is trying a forearm choke… I don't think that's going to do much at this level of the game.

Gonzaga 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.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Gonzaga is looking for a kimura but Monivamma is holding onto that half guard position, so it's hard for Gonzaga to get the leverage.
The fighters are battling for position here. Monivamma manages to regain full guard. Nice work.

Monivamma is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
Gonzaga passes Monivamma's right leg, so he's now in half guard.
Gonzaga works his way into full mount!
Monivamma tries to improve his position but instead Gonzaga has taken his back!
Monivamma is really stuck here.
Monivamma manages to reverse the position and now he's in Gonzaga's guard. Nice work there by Monivamma.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Monivamma works a leg free and moves into half guard.
Gonzaga manages to get to full guard.

Gonzaga looking for a guillotine here but Monivamma defends easily.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Gonzaga looking for a guillotine here but Monivamma defends easily.
Monivamma wants to pass the guard but Gonzaga is keeping the position.

Monivamma is trying to work a guillotine from the top, or something like that? Don't know how he thinks he's going to get a finish from there.

Gonzaga throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
Monivamma trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Monivamma throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Gonzaga works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Gonzaga wants to sweep but no luck.
Monivamma trying to control the position from guard on top but Gonzaga is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

Gonzaga looking for a guillotine here but Monivamma defends easily.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Monivamma works a leg free and moves into half guard.
Gonzaga slips a foot under and gets full guard. Nice work.

Gonzaga looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
Monivamma trying to move into half guard but instead Gonzaga has managed to sweep!

Gonzaga is trying to work a guillotine from the top, or something like that? Don't know how he thinks he's going to get a finish from there.

Monivamma looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.

Monivamma is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
Gonzaga wants to control from the top but Monivamma keeps moving.
Monivamma manages to land a sweep and now he's in mount on top!
Monivamma won't let Gonzaga get back to his feet... He wants to keep the fight where it is for now.
Mike Gonzaga has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Gonzaga is trying desperately to improve position.
Monivamma trying to control but Gonzaga is having none of it.

Monivamma is in full mount, looking to secure a guillotine but Gonzaga is surviving well by controlling Monivamma's body position as best he can.
Gonzaga is looking to get to half guard.

Monivamma wants to finish this one by submission but Gonzaga is holding onto his waist, trying to prevent any attacks from Monivamma.
Monivamma looking to control and managing it successfully.

Monivamma wants to finish this one by submission but Gonzaga is holding onto his waist, trying to prevent any attacks from Monivamma.
Monivamma prevents Gonzaga from getting the reversal.

And that's the end of the fight!
That was a close round. You could make an argument for either fighter but I would give it to Mike Gonzaga.
Well Monivamma has outworked and out performed his opponent in all aspects of the game today. He was simply too good and the decision should be no more than a formality. 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 Matti Vanhoillinen scores the fight 27:30
Judge Johanna Lukiainen scores the fight 28:29
Judge Arvi Lind scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Torsti Monivamma!