PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Luther Conrad (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Joni Nikulainen (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.

Conrad
vs
Nikulainen

180 cm
25
150 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

170 cm
21
154 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

Good wrestling
Brawler
Cuts easily

BJJ Purple Belt
Basic striking
Enjoys gardening

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the featherweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Luther Conrad!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Joni Nikulainen!
The judges for this bout are Trevor Gratis, Gregory Folan and Yves DeLean.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Conrad closes the distance and clinches up, looking for a takedown. He shifts his weight and gets a nice trip into half guard.
Nikulainen is looking to improve his position.
Conrad missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.
Conrad throws a strike but Nikulainen avoids it easily and moves to full guard.
Conrad is working Nikulainen over from the guard. He should look to pass the guard and do a little more damage with these strikes.
Conrad trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Nikulainen working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Conrad.
Conrad throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Nikulainen works some decent striking defense from the bottom.

Nikulainen looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
Conrad with a flurry of punches that miss.
Conrad knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Nikulainen on the ground.
Conrad thows a big elbow that misses.
Nikulainen working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Conrad.
Conrad working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Conrad throwing strikes but missing.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Conrad accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Conrad advances to half guard.
Nikulainen wants to improve his position but Conrad is controlling well.
Conrad thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.

Conrad is looking for an arm triangle, whilst trying to pass to side control. Nikulainen doesn't seem that keen to cooperate though. No luck this time Conrad.
Nikulainen is trying to stand back up but Conrad is controlling him

Nikulainen is defending against the submission attempts here by Conrad.
Nikulainen flails away from the bottom but he's not doing any damage.

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.
Conrad throwing shots but Nikulainen is blocking nicely.
Nikulainen makes his way to full guard. A much better position for Nikulainen.
Conrad throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Nikulainen works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Conrad has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Conrad accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Conrad throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Nikulainen works some decent striking defense from the bottom.

Nikulainen is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Conrad defends well.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Conrad working in close now, lands a nice elbow to the side of Nikulainen's head.

Nikulainen is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Conrad is aware though and is defending well.
Conrad is looking to work some ground and pound but Nikulainen has wrist control.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Nikulainen avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.

Conrad drops back looking for a heel hook - he quickly realises he's not going to get it but Nikulainen manages to dive on top of him before he can escape and now Conrad has Nikulainen in his guard.
Nikulainen postures up in Conrad's guard and throws a big left but Conrad blocks it.
Conrad wants to control here, rather than go for any submissions from the bottom. At least for now.
Nikulainen trying to control the position from guard on top but Conrad is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

That's four 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.
Nikulainen thows a big elbow that misses.
Nikulainen controlling from the guard. I say controlling but really, he's stalling.
Nikulainen trying to control the position from guard on top but Conrad is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Luther Conrad dominated that round.
That's the end of the interval. I'm sure that seemed a lot quicker than a minute for our two fighters! Back to the action.

Conrad gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.

Nikulainen turns his hips and lands a very nice judo throw into side control!
Nikulainen controlling from side mount.
Conrad struggling a bit here.

Nikulainen swings around for an armbar but Conrad sees it coming a mile off and turns beautifully into Nikulainen's guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Conrad throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Conrad postures up in Nikulainen's guard and throws a big left but Nikulainen blocks it.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Conrad missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Conrad accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Conrad throws a strike but Nikulainen rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.
Nikulainen missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Nikulainen is stalling in the full guard.
Nikulainen wants to stand and escape but instead Conrad has hit a sweep and he's now on top in guard.

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.
Conrad throwing strikes from guard but Nikulainen blocks nicely.
Conrad thows a big elbow that misses.
Nikulainen preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Conrad throwing strikes but missing.

Nikulainen is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.

Conrad drops back for a leg! It's a sloppy attempt though and Conrad jumps back into guard quickly, to retain the dominant position.
Conrad throwing strikes from guard but Nikulainen blocks nicely.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Conrad throwing strikes from guard but Nikulainen blocks nicely.

Nikulainen is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
Nikulainen 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.

Conrad drops back for a leg here. A bit of a high risk move... He's looking for a kneebar by the looks of things. Now both of them are looking for submissions. Conrad seems to have locked his on tight now - Nikulainen screams in pain and taps out furiously! It certainly was a high risk move but it's paid off for Conrad, as he picks up the win!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 3:57 of round 2, we have a winner by way of Submission (Kneebar). Luther Conrad!