PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Jeganathan Mondero (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Oupa Nieminen (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Oupa Nieminen has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Mondero
vs
Nieminen

210 cm
25
280 lbs
11 - 11 - 0

188 cm
27
258 lbs
15 - 8 - 0

Good wrestling
Solid boxing
Very strong

Good wrestler
Excellent boxer
Granite chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 11 - 11 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Jeganathan Mondero!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 15 - 8 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Oupa Nieminen!
The judges for this bout are John Mangel, Winston Howard and Damien Edna.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Mondero fails with an attempt to clinch.
Mondero dodges the punch combination from Nieminen.
Both fighters are looking to counter, which isn't making for the most exciting fight in the world.
Nieminen rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Mondero moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Nieminen throws a leg kick that misses.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Nieminen loads up on a big right hand but Mondero slips the punch.
Nieminen avoids a punch combination nicely.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Mondero checks a leg kick.
Nieminen falls off balance throwing a combination
and Nieminen takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
Nieminen jabbing away but nothing is landing.
Mondero shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Nieminen defends it nicely.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Nieminen misses with a two punch combination.
Mondero moves in looking to clinch but Nieminen pushes him off.
Mondero looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Nieminen misses with a wild combination.
Nieminen swings wildly with a couple of big hooks

and Mondero counters with a single leg into guard. Nieminen didn't expect that.
Mondero tries to free his leg and advance position but Nieminen is retaining full guard.
Mondero throws and elbow that misses. Nieminen uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in Mondero's guard. Nice move by Nieminen!
Nieminen passes Mondero's right leg, so he's now in half guard.
Nieminen is controlling the pace.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Mondero is concentrating on defense, preventing Nieminen from advancing position.
Mondero 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.
Nieminen is trying to control the action in half guard but Mondero is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.
Nieminen is taking a breather. Mondero says something to him but it's hard to make out. Perhaps he's telling him to get on with it and actually do something.

Nieminen is looking for a kimura. It's going to be difficult to finish that from half guard though and Mondero defends it well.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Nieminen trying to control the action but Mondero is working from the bottom.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Jeganathan Mondero dominated that round.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action.

Mondero shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Nieminen sprawls well. Nieminen wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Mondero gets slowly back to his feet.
Nieminen misses with a combination

and Mondero counters with a nice double leg into side control. Nieminen won't be happy with that.

Mondero tries for an arm triangle. That looks pretty tight to me. Is this one over!?! Possibly, maybe, no Mondero has let go of the choke. Obviously it wasn't as tight as we thought!
Nieminen tries to work a leg under to get back to half guard but Mondero wriggles his own leg back out and remains in side control.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Mondero wants to lay and pray for a moment but Nieminen keeps working.

Mondero tries for a kimura but Nieminen is defending well.

Mondero goes for an armbar! This could be all over! Wait, no, Nieminen rolls with the submission and now he's on top in Mondero's guard! Nice work there by Nieminen!
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Mondero keeping moving, preventing Nieminen from controlling successfully.

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.
Nieminen is in a good position here but he's just trying to control... And he's not even managing to do that successfully.
Mondero is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Nieminen is controlling him.
Mondero keeping moving, preventing Nieminen from controlling successfully.
The referee is asking the fighters to pick up the pace.
Nieminen trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.

The ref calls for a clean break and stands the fighters back up. Oupa Nieminen wasn't active enough on the ground.
Nieminen throws a combination that misses
and Mondero counters with a nice body kick.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Nieminen will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
The fight stays on the outside here - Mondero looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Mondero looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
There's not a lot going on here and the crowd are letting the fighters know they're not willing to tolerate a lack of action.
Mondero will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Jeganathan Mondero. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Nieminen throws a nice looking combination but Mondero bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Nieminen lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Mondero circles away quickly and effectively.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Mondero walks straight into a jab right on the nose. That one stung - he's blinking and trying to clear his head.
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 Jeganathan Mondero will probably get the nod.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business. This is the final round!

Nieminen with a poor takedown

and Mondero counters with a nice shoot takedown that brings the fighters to the ground.
Mondero postures up in Nieminen's guard and throws a big left but Nieminen blocks it.
Nieminen looking to control the pace of the fight rather than finish it.
Mondero throwing strikes from guard but Nieminen blocks nicely.
Mondero trying to control the position from guard on top but Nieminen is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Nieminen looking to sweep using the butterfly guard but Mondero puts pay to that idea as he passes nicely into half guard.

Mondero is sneakily working for an arm triangle but Nieminen sees it coming and defends easily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Nieminen avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Mondero.
Mondero lands a big shot. The thud that echoes around the arena is like music to the fans' ears.
Nieminen desperately trying to maintain half guard.
Nieminen slips a foot under and gets full guard. Nice work.
Mondero stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Nieminen swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Mondero is working hard here to advance position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Nieminen working a defensive guard here.
Mondero stands and throws Nieminen's legs to the side, diving into side control.
Nieminen is not content to let Mondero control the position.
Jeganathan Mondero is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Mondero just content to control the position.
Oupa Nieminen has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Mondero sitting in side control, looking to soften his opponent up with elbows and hammerfists but Nieminen is avoiding damage well and looking to escape the position.
Nieminen is letting Mondero control him for a moment.
Mondero has knee on belly momentarily but Nieminen bucks him off and regains half guard.

Nieminen is defending against the submission attempts here by Mondero.
Nieminen is in trouble now - Mondero has advanced to mount!

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.
Nieminen is wriggling around trying to escape.
Mondero can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as Nieminen is looking to escape.
Mondero prevents Nieminen from getting the reversal.

Mondero has hold of an arm here, looking to extend it. He's committed to the armbar attempt here! Will he get it?! Yes! Nieminen is forced to tap!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 4:55 of round 3, we have a winner by way of Submission (Armbar). Jeganathan Mondero!