PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Matti Nykanen (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and mazaman man (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Nykanen's entrance music is Elama on laiffii. A fine choice. mazaman man has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Nykanen
vs
man

183 cm
22
167 lbs
6 - 4 - 0

176 cm
25
162 lbs
9 - 2 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Excellent MT
Very strong

Good wrestler
Solid Muay Thai
Powerful

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the lightweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 6 - 4 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Matti Nykanen!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 9 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, mazaman man!
The judges for this bout are Ben Zyskovitsi, Roosa Järviläinen and Matti Vanhoillinen.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Nykanen drives through and clinches with man against the cage.
man blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.

man turns his hips and lands a very nice judo throw into side control!
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
man grinds an elbow into Nykanen's temple.
man wants to control but Nykanen is keeping him busy.
man looking to punish the body of his opponent here but Nykanen is avoiding damage well.
man looking to punish the body of his opponent here but Nykanen is avoiding damage well.
Nykanen takes an elbow right on the bridge of the nose and winces in pain.
man postures up a little and throws a couple of hammerfists but they don't connect properly.
Nykanen parries the strikes from man easily there. man is wary of posturing up too much because it might enable Nykanen to escape.
Nykanen parries the strikes from man easily there. man is wary of posturing up too much because it might enable Nykanen to escape.
man trying to control the action but Nykanen is working from the bottom.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
man tries to score with some ground and pound. Nykanen controls his posture well this time though and the shots don't do any damage.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Nykanen is not content to let man control the position.
Nykanen on his back here. We all know that wrestlers don't like being on their back so let's see if Nykanen tries to get out of the position.
An elbow from man crashes against the mat.
man prevents Nykanen from escaping the position.
man throws a knee to the body but it doesn't do much damage.
Nykanen prevents man from improving position.
man laying and praying for a moment but Nykanen takes advantage and regains half guard.
Nykanen regains full guard, whilst avoiding punches from man.
man trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are hurling abuse towards the fighters... You can hardly blame them though because there isn't a lot going on in the fight.
man throwing strikes but missing.
man trying to control but Nykanen is working from the bottom.
man not doing a lot at the moment. He'll have to show some more aggression or the fight will get stood up.
man trying to control but Nykanen is working from the bottom.
man throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
If this pace continues, the referee will definitely step in and force a standup.
man looking to pass the guard.
man throws a big right hand that misses.
Nykanen preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
man content to strike from guard, landing some decent shots.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
man's corner is telling him to maintain position.
man must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.
man trying to control the position from guard on top but Nykanen is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
man thows a big elbow that misses.
man stops Nykanen from standing up.
man throwing strikes from guard but Nykanen blocks nicely.
man throwing strikes from guard but Nykanen blocks nicely.
man missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Nykanen avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
man pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Nykanen is keeping the position for now.

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.
Nykanen is looking to stand up but man isn't so interested in that idea.
man trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
man prevents Nykanen from getting back to his feet.
man loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
man trying to control but Nykanen is working from the bottom.
man postures up in Nykanen's guard and throws a big left but Nykanen blocks it.
man trying to control the position from guard on top but Nykanen is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

mazaman man dominated that round.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

Nykanen walks forward and throws out a flicking leg kick. man checks it nicely though, as he moves to the side.
Nykanen pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Nykanen lands with a nice low kick. That'll leave a bruise.
Nykanen stuffs the takedown.
man shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Nykanen pinned against the cage. Nykanen gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
man shoots in but no luck this time.
Matti Nykanen has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of mazaman man.
man takes a body kick right on the floating rib. Ouchie.
Ouch! a nice leg kick from Nykanen, right into the meat.
man has his head slapped from side to side by a 3 punch combination. That must have hurt him.
Nykanen displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from man.
Nykanen throws a low kick, looking for man's leg but man calmly moves out of range.
Nykanen throws a head kick that connects with a bit of head and a bit of hand.
man shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Nykanen as he avoids it easily.

man scores with a nice takedown into half guard. Let's see what he's got on the ground.
man thows a huge punch but Nykanen dodges it nicely.

That's one minute gone in the round.
man wants to lay and pray for a moment but Nykanen keeps working.
man missing with the ground and pound from half guard.
Nykanen is trying to stand.
man thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.
man is looking to take a break and control but Nykanen is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
man thows a huge punch but Nykanen dodges it nicely.
man perhaps working for something from half guard, or maybe not. It looks like he's just sitting there.
Nykanen is trying to stand back up but man is controlling him
man not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
man wants to free his trapped foot but Nykanen is holding on for dear life with his legs.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.
Nykanen looks like he's trying to stand up.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
man scoring with strikes to the body and head.
man throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
The referee walks around the fighters to get a better view of the action. man lands a nice short elbow.
Still in half guard, man seems content to control.
man wants to take a breather but Nykanen is having none of it.
man prevents Nykanen from standing back up.
man throwing shots but Nykanen is blocking nicely.
man not doing much here.

OK we're going to have a standup here. mazaman man hasn't been effective enough on the ground and the referee wants a restart.
man shoots in for a double leg but Nykanen sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Nykanen throws a head kick but man moves out of range.
Nykanen stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Nykanen wants it to stay on the feet.
Nykanen cracks man with a good jab.
man stuffs the takedown.
Nykanen lands with a cross to side of his opponent's head.
Matti Nykanen seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Nykanen lands with a head kick! That's gotta hurt.
man takes one to the chin there.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from man is defended easily by Nykanen.
man takes a kick to the side of the head.
Nykanen goes for a spinning back kick but it misses.

man has managed to clinch.
man has Nykanen pressed up against the cage and is working for takedown. Nykanen manages to improve position though and keeps the fight standing.

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

man shoots in for a takedown and gets it.
Nykanen blocking the ground and pound attempt from man.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
man not landing any meaningful shots this time.
man throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
Nykanen is trying to stand up here but man is controlling him well.
Nykanen is staying active underneath man, who seems content to just control the action from this position.
man passes to full mount!
man lands a nice shot to the head.
Nykanen is bucking up trying to escape but man cracks him with another couple of good strikes.
man wants to control the pace but Nykanen is squirming around nicely.
Nykanen wants to try and get back to his feet.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

mazaman man showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action! And we move into the final round!

man tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Nykanen swivels and escapes.
man on the receiving end of a decent leg kick there by Nykanen. Nykanen obviously looking to wear him down.

man closes the distance and gets a trip takedown into side control. Nykanen quickly recovers to half guard.
Nykanen is looking to escape.
man thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.
man is keen to just control but Nykanen is a slippery customer.
man lands with an elbow from half guard - that looked like it hurt.
man not landing any meaningful shots this time.
man looks over to his corner - he wants some instructions but his corner are not responding.
Nykanen is staying active underneath man, who seems content to just control the action from this position.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Nykanen is trying to defend against the ground and pound but man scores with a couple of nice shots.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Nykanen is staying active underneath man, who seems content to just control the action from this position.

Nykanen has one foot on man's thigh - he pushes off and manages to get back to his feet.
A head kick misses from Nykanen.
Well, he's not going to score with shots like that. A lazy body kick attempt from Nykanen.
man swings for the body but Nykanen moves out of range.
man shoots in looking for a takedown. Nykanen tries to sprawl out of it but man keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Nykanen manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
Nykanen tries to score with an inside leg kick but telegraphs it and man is able to avoid easily.
man fails with a takedown attempt.
Matti Nykanen has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of mazaman man.
Ouch! a nice leg kick from man, right into the meat.
man fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Nykanen avoids it really well and circles away.
man has a takedown stuffed.

A momentary lapse in concentration from Nykanen enables man to shoot in and score with a neat double leg. Nykanen manages to secure a closed guard as the fighters hit the mat.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
man postures up and lands some nice ground and pound.
man sneaks a leg through and gets to half guard. That was like a knife through butter how easily he passed Nykanen's guard.
man trying to control from half guard but Nykanen is working away.
man is stalling here. Nykanen is in no mood to hang around though. He's locked up a kimura from the bottom! man seems to be keeping calm but he's forced to roll out of the hold and Nykanen has ended up in side control on the top. Nice work.
mazaman man has got the better of the ground game so far.

Nykanen decides to stand up, so the ref orders man to his feet.

Nykanen rushes man and presses him up against the cage.
man tries for a takedown but Nykanen manages to get underhooks.
Nykanen misses with a knee to the head.
man drops to a knee looking for a takedown but Nykanen gets the underhooks and prevents it.
man is trying to drag Nykanen to the mat but Nykanen just about manages to keep his footing. He used the cage to his advantage there.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Nykanen prevents a takedown attempt there.
man tries to pull guard but Nykanen holds him up against the cage and eventually man drops back down to his feet.

Nykanen breaks from the clinch.
mazaman man is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Nykanen misses with a low kick.
Nykanen lands a leg kick and bounces back out of range.
man looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Nykanen is fending him off so far but man persists. Nope, Nykanen circles away and we're back to standing.
man shoots in looking for a takedown. Nykanen tries to sprawl out of it but man keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Nykanen manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
man shoots in for a takedown but Nykanen shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
Nykanen chopping away at his opponent's legs.
man shoots in but doesn't get the takedown

and Nykanen counters with a driving takedown into guard. Nice work there by Nykanen.
Nykanen has decided he wants to stand but the closed guard of man is proving hard to escape from.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
man working a defensive guard here.
man is in a good position here but he's just trying to control... And he's not even managing to do that successfully.
man has a closed guard, preventing Nykanen from standing up.
Matti Nykanen has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

Nykanen gets to his feet. man looking to butt scoot but the ref puts an end to that. On your feet son!
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
man with a lazy takedown attempt
and Nykanen counters with a kick to the head that grazes his opponent. man is lucky that one didn't land flush.
Nykanen slaps away a takedown attempt from man, before circling back to the center of the mat.

And that's the end of the fight!
Matti Nykanen showed his dominance in that final round.
I think man 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 Ben Zyskovitsi scores the fight 28:29
Judge Roosa Järviläinen scores the fight 28:29
Judge Matti Vanhoillinen scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... mazaman man!