PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Jake Roberts (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Sauli Niinisto (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Roberts comes to the cage accompanied by Go to Sleep. Sauli Niinisto is staring across the cage at his opponent, tweaking his nipples.

Roberts
vs
Niinisto

180 cm
26
183 lbs
5 - 4 - 0

190 cm
23
178 lbs
10 - 0 - 0

Good wrestling
Excellent boxer
Very quick

BJJ Purple Belt
Good elbows
Granite chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 5 rounds, in the welterweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 5 - 4 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Jake Roberts!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 10 - 0 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Sauli Niinisto!
The judges for this bout are Fedor Mirinova, Igor Prikhodko and Viktor Lagutenko.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Niinisto finds nothing but air with that leg kick attempt.
Niinisto on the wrong end of a vicious looking body shot.
Roberts closes the distance looking to clinch
and Niinisto counters with a slapping leg kick.
Niinisto cracks Roberts with a right hand to the side of the head.
Niinisto throws a front kick aimed at Roberts's knee but Roberts avoids it well.
Roberts is looking to clinch.
Jake Roberts seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Roberts tries to clinch but Niinisto moves away

and Niinisto counters by clinching up.
Niinisto lands an elbow inside.
Roberts is looking for a takedown up against the cage. Niinisto gets underhooks though and prevents the takedown attempt.
A left hand lands to the body for Roberts.
Niinisto throws an elbow but it misses.
Niinisto tries to land knees in the clinch but Roberts avoids the damage to the body.
Niinisto throws an elbow but it's blocked.
Niinisto lands a glancing elbow in the clinch.
Roberts avoiding damage as Niinisto throws knees to the body.
A nice left hand lands by Roberts.
Niinisto throws a nice elbow but it doesn't land.
Niinisto has Roberts pressed against the cage.
Niinisto throws an elbow but it's blocked.
Roberts wants a takedown.
Niinisto lands a damaging elbow.

That's one minute gone in the round.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Niinisto.
Niinisto scores a nice knee to the body.
Niinisto misses with an elbow over the top.
Good anti-grappling being displayed by Niinisto as Roberts tries to tie him up.
Niinisto unloads a knee to the mid-section.
Niinisto gets an overhook and lands an elbow to the side of the head.
Roberts blocks an elbow strike from Niinisto.
Niinisto lands an elbow inside that Roberts shrugs off.
Niinisto throws an elbow but it misses.
Niinisto tries to land knees in the clinch but Roberts avoids the damage to the body.
Niinisto gets an overhook and lands an elbow to the side of the head.
Niinisto throws an elbow that misses.
Roberts blocks the elbow strike.
Roberts takes an elbow to the forehead.
Roberts doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Roberts works for underhooks and lands a body shot in the process.
Niinisto lands a nice knee to the body.
Roberts tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Both guys are working to get underhooks.
Roberts can't get the takedown.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Jake Roberts. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Roberts is breathing heavily.

Roberts has clasped his hands together around Niinisto's back... aaand, he's got a takedown into side control. Nicely done.
Roberts is trying to ground and pound but Niinisto uses the momentary lack of control by Roberts to regain half guard.
Roberts wants to take a breather but Niinisto is having none of it.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Well, if Roberts is going to just lie there, perhaps we should talk about what we're having for dinner tonight… I'm having a ham and pineapple pizza… Yum. Can't wait.
Niinisto really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Roberts. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.
Niinisto blocking the ground and pound attempt from Roberts.
Roberts throwing shots but Niinisto is blocking nicely.
Roberts controlling the action here.
Roberts throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Niinisto is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Roberts wants to take a breather but Niinisto is having none of it.
Roberts is scoring with some nice ground and pound from the dominant position.
Roberts controlling the action here.
Roberts frees up his trapped foot and advances to mount.
Roberts thowing strikes but they're hitting the gloves, not doing any damage.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Roberts unloads with some shots from mount but Niinisto bucks and avoids them well.
Roberts throwing sloppy strikes here. Perhaps if he tightened up his striking from such a dominant position, he'd be able to finish easier.
Roberts trying to control but Niinisto is having none of it.
Roberts throws an elbow from mount that misses. Lucky escape for Niinisto because Roberts loaded up on that one.

Roberts swings around for an armbar but it's a sloppy attempt and Niinisto is now in Roberts's guard. A big mistake from Roberts there, giving up the dominant position!

Roberts working for a triangle but Niinisto defends it easily.

That's five minutes gone in the round.

Roberts had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Niinisto defends it easily.
Roberts controls Niinisto momentarily but Niinisto frees himself.

Roberts throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.

Niinisto avoids a guillotine attempt easily.

That's six 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.
Niinisto trying to control the position from guard on top but Roberts is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Niinisto looking to pass the guard.
Roberts wants to control here, rather than go for any submissions from the bottom. At least for now.
Niinisto won't allow Roberts to sweep him here.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

That's seven minutes gone in the round.

Roberts has an active guard here but Niinisto has managed to pass into half guard.
Roberts is looking to get full guard. It looks like he might be successful but at the last minute Niinisto jumps into side control!
Roberts is positioning himself to get back to half guard.
Roberts manages to land a sweep and he's now on top! Lovely Jiu Jitsu!
Roberts 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.
Niinisto is trying to stand.

Roberts is looking for a kimura. It's going to be difficult to finish that from half guard though and Niinisto defends it well.
Roberts throws a strike but Niinisto avoids it easily and moves to full guard.

That's eight minutes gone in the round.
Roberts thows a big elbow that misses.
Niinisto controlling the position.
Roberts slips nicely into half guard.
Niinisto controlling the position well.

That's nine minutes gone in the round.
Niinisto won't allow Roberts to pass to mount.
Niinisto is refusing to be controlled, as Roberts sits in half guard.

Roberts wants to work for an arm triangle but Niinisto is really keeping half guard well and defending the submission attempt.
Roberts wants to free his trapped foot but Niinisto is holding on for dear life with his legs.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close round but I would say that Jake Roberts will probably get the nod.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

Niinisto looking to take his opponent's legs away with the low kicks.
Roberts wants to clinch
and he gets countered with a snapping leg kick.
Roberts lands with a shot to the body.
Roberts misses with a wild body shot.
Roberts checks a low kick from Niinisto.
Roberts looks for a takedown but Niinisto sprawls well.
Roberts moves to clinch but Niinisto breaks away
and Niinisto counters with an inside leg kick.
Niinisto misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Roberts wants to clinch but Niinisto slips to the side
and Niinisto counters with a nice uppercut.
Roberts moves to clinch but Niinisto breaks away
and Niinisto counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Ouch! a nice leg kick from Niinisto, right into the meat.
Roberts shoots in for a double leg but Niinisto sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
Roberts fails with a takedown attempt.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Jake Roberts. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Niinisto shapes like he's going to throw a leg kick but settles back down.
Roberts wants to clinch but Niinisto slips to the side

and Niinisto holds on and brings the fighters into a clinch.
Roberts dodges an elbow strike from Niinisto.
Niinisto misses with an elbow strike.
Niinisto lands a glancing elbow in the clinch.
Roberts tries for a takedown. No joy.
Niinisto pushes off an throws an elbow but Roberts leans to the side and avoids it. We're back to clinching against the cage.
Niinisto tries to land knees in the clinch but Roberts avoids the damage to the body.
A bit of stalling here from Niinisto.
Roberts on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
Niinisto tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Roberts avoids it.
Roberts dodges an elbow strike from Niinisto.
Niinisto lands an elbow inside.
Niinisto is stalling here.
Nice elbow from Niinisto.
Niinisto looking to slow down the pace here.
Roberts is working for a takedown up against the cage. He can't get it on this occasion though.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Niinisto stalls.
Roberts throws a punch but it's blocked by Niinisto.
Niinisto comes over the top with an elbow. That landed flush.
Niinisto lands an elbow inside that Roberts shrugs off.
Niinisto misses with an elbow over the top.
A nice glancing elbow lands by Niinisto.
Roberts is looking to control Niinisto's arms but Niinisto gets an underhook and turns him. Now Roberts has his back to the cage.
Roberts working aggressively here.
Roberts blocks the elbow strike.
Kneeeeees! The crowd are calling for knees to the body. Niinisto obliges.
Roberts can't find room to land a body shot as Niinisto controls the action.
Niinisto stalling.
Niinisto gets double underhooks to prevent a takedown attempt from Roberts.
Roberts looking for a takedown.
Niinisto wants to stall.
Niinisto lands an elbow inside that Roberts shrugs off.
Roberts swings wildly with an uppercut but Niinisto uses good head movement to avoid it.
Roberts avoids a wild elbow strike from Niinisto.
Roberts managing to block the knees to the body from Niinisto.
Nice elbow from Niinisto.
Niinisto throws a nice elbow but it doesn't land.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Roberts tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
With the two fighters working up against the cage, Niinisto just misses with a elbow thrown towards Roberts's brow.
Roberts blocks an elbow strike from Niinisto.
Niinisto looks to throw an elbow but misses.
A head punch on the inside from Roberts fails to land.
Roberts pushes Niinisto back against the cage and lands a hook to the side of the head.
A quick uppercut on the inside from Roberts.
Roberts drops down for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Niinisto landing knees to the head.
Niinisto looks to throw an elbow but misses.
Niinisto lands an elbow that stopped Roberts in his tracks for a moment.
Niinisto content to slow the pace in the clinch.
Niinisto utilising his Muay Thai to score with a knee to the body.
Niinisto missing with knees to the body.
Niinisto gets an overhook and lands an elbow to the side of the head.
Niinisto lands an elbow inside.
Roberts misses with a hook to the ribs.
Niinisto comes over the top with an elbow. That landed flush.
Niinisto stalling in the clinch but Roberts improves position.
Niinisto lands a damaging elbow.
Niinisto is working hard here but doesn't seem to be able to control effectively, up against the cage.
Roberts avoids the elbow strike from Niinisto, against the cage.
Roberts misses with a hook from the clinch.
Roberts tries for a takedown. No joy.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Niinisto pushes off and fires off an elbow that misses, before clinching up again, against the cage.
A nice glancing elbow lands by Niinisto.
Niinisto leaning against his opponent.
Roberts dodges an elbow strike from Niinisto.
Roberts goes for a takedown attempt but Niinisto pushes him away and we're back to fighting at a distance.
Niinisto wants to slow Roberts down by chopping away at his legs.

Niinisto clinches.
Niinisto connects with a knee to the head.
Niinisto lands an elbow just above Roberts 's eye.
Roberts misses with a short punch on the inside.
Niinisto working Roberts over with knees to the body.
Roberts gets through Niinisto's defenses to land a nice punch to the side of the head.
Niinisto comes over the top with an elbow. That landed flush.
Niinisto pushes off an throws an elbow but Roberts leans to the side and avoids it. We're back to clinching against the cage.
Both guys are working to get underhooks.
Niinisto stalling against the cage.
Niinisto trying to land knees to the body.
Roberts avoids a wild elbow strike from Niinisto.
Roberts tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.

That's five minutes gone in the round.

Roberts gets double underhooks and manages to take the fight to the ground.
Roberts trying to pass the guard. He's being very persistent here but Niinisto manages to land a sweep and now he's on top!
Roberts tries to land a sweep but no joy.

Roberts looking for submissions from the bottom but instead Niinisto passes into side control.
Niinisto just content to control the position.
Niinisto's corner are shouting for him to control the position and he seems happy to oblige.

That's six minutes gone in the round.
Niinisto tries to get to his feet but he's trapped momentarily.
Roberts is trying to control Niinisto's posture but Niinisto avoids it.

Niinisto stands up.
Roberts fails to land the takedown.

That's seven minutes gone in the round.
Niinisto throws a head kick that misses.
Niinisto attempts a leg kick but it's missed by a good margin.
Roberts throws a hard body shot but it just misses.

Niinisto pushes Roberts up against the cage in a clinch.
Niinisto throws an elbow that misses.
Niinisto throws a nice elbow but it doesn't land.
Niinisto tries a knee to the head but he's missed.
Roberts on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
Roberts scores with a shot to the side of Niinisto's head.
Roberts blocks the elbow strike.

Roberts has Niinisto pressed up against the cage. He's trying to work for a single leg takedown. Roberts pulls back from the cage and twists to the side, sending Niinisto tumbling to the mat - Roberts dives into Niinisto's guard.
Roberts stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Niinisto swivels though and keeps the full guard.

That's eight minutes gone in the round.

Roberts drops back for a leg but he's not going to get it - he lets go and Niinisto dives on top into guard.
Roberts wants to sweep but no luck.

Roberts looking for a guillotine here but Niinisto defends easily.
Jake Roberts overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Roberts wants to sweep but no luck.

That's nine minutes gone in the round.
Niinisto stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Roberts swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Roberts seems keen to control Niinisto's posture.
Niinisto must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.
Roberts not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.

Roberts is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Niinisto is aware though and is defending well.
Roberts looking to sweep here. No luck so far.

Roberts throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Sauli Niinisto showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action.

Niinisto throws a quick inside leg kick.
Roberts darts in trying to clinch
and Niinisto counters with a low kick, right behind Roberts 's knee.

Niinisto closes the distance and clinches.
Niinisto gets double underhooks to prevent a takedown attempt from Roberts.
A head punch on the inside from Roberts fails to land.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Niinisto.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Niinisto scores a nice knee to the body.
Roberts blocks an elbow strike.
Niinisto landing some nice looking knees to the body.
Roberts blocks the elbow strike.
Niinisto lands a good knee to the midsection. Roberts won't want to take too many of those.
Niinisto utilising his Muay Thai to score with a knee to the body.
Roberts changes levels and goes for a takedown here. Niinisto fights it off and pushes away nicely.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Niinisto throws a low kick but it's checked well by Roberts.
Niinisto misses with a kick to the body.
Sauli Niinisto is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Niinisto misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Niinisto throws a body kick that sends a sickening thudding noise reverberating around the arena.
Niinisto circles away from the clinch attempt

and Niinisto moves into the clinch.
Roberts tries for a takedown. No joy.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Jake Roberts. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Roberts throws a head punch that misses.
Niinisto lands an elbow inside that Roberts shrugs off.
Niinisto creates a bit of space for himself and sneaks an elbow through Roberts's defenses.
Niinisto misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Roberts.
Both guys are working to get underhooks.
Niinisto lands a knee to the body.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Niinisto looks to throw an elbow but misses.
Niinisto throws a nice elbow but it doesn't land.
Niinisto is pressed up against the cage. Roberts has hold of a leg and is looking to drag Niinisto down to the mat. Niinisto avoids the attempt though and has circled away. We're back to striking at a distance.
Ouch! a nice leg kick from Niinisto, right into the meat.
Niinisto tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Niinisto misses with a low kick as Roberts jumps back.
Niinisto wants to slow Roberts down by chopping away at his legs.
Roberts swings and misses with a hook to the body.

Niinisto instigates a clinch.
Sauli Niinisto seems to be working more effectively in the clinch in the fight so far.
A nice glancing elbow lands by Niinisto.
Roberts is working for a takedown up against the cage. He can't get it on this occasion though.
Niinisto lands a glancing elbow in the clinch.
Niinisto unloads a knee to the mid-section.
Niinisto lands a good knee to the midsection. Roberts won't want to take too many of those.
The pace really dropping off here, momentarily.
Niinisto throws a knee to the head but misses.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Niinisto with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.
Roberts is trying to slow down the pace of the fight but Niinisto is keeping busy.
Both guys are working to get underhooks.
Niinisto misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Roberts.
Niinisto's head jolts backwards as he takes an uppercut right on the button!
Niinisto prevents the takedown attempt.
Niinisto unloads a knee to the mid-section. Roberts lets out a prehistoric sounding urrrrgh.
Roberts managing to block the knees to the body from Niinisto.
Niinisto lands a damaging elbow.
Roberts misses with a hook from the clinch.
Roberts misses with a hook from the clinch.
Niinisto tries to land knees in the clinch but Roberts avoids the damage to the body.
Roberts lands a hook to the body. It's hard to tell if that hurt Niinisto or not.
Niinisto missing with knees to the body.
Roberts lands a shot to the body.
Niinisto is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Roberts is defending well for now.
Roberts working some nice short punches in the clinch.
Roberts lands with a right to the head.
Both guys are working to get underhooks.
Niinisto lands a good knee to the midsection. Roberts won't want to take too many of those.
A real battle for position is taking place between these two warriors.
Niinisto gets an overhook and lands an elbow to the side of the head.
Niinisto lands a nice elbow from the clinch.
Roberts takes an elbow to the forehead.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are getting on the fighters' backs, as the pace has dropped off in the last minute or so.
Roberts avoids a wild elbow strike from Niinisto.
Roberts dodges an elbow strike from Niinisto.

Roberts lands a nice trip takedown into half guard.
The fighters are battling for position here. Niinisto manages to regain full guard. Nice work.
Niinisto is trying to keep Roberts in close.
Roberts throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Niinisto works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Roberts throwing strikes from guard but Niinisto blocks nicely.

Roberts drops back for a leg! It's a sloppy attempt though and Roberts jumps back into guard quickly, to retain the dominant position.
Roberts passes Niinisto's left leg - he's now in half guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

That's five minutes gone in the round.
Niinisto tries to get to full guard but Roberts has control of the leg.
Roberts trying to control the action but Niinisto is working from the bottom.
Niinisto is working for an escape here. He's hooked one of Roberts's legs and he's managed to sneak out and take Roberts's back!
Roberts trying to control the hands but Niinisto won't let him.

That's six 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.
Roberts holding both Niinisto 's hands and preventing any damage.
Roberts rolls and manages to get back to half guard. Nicely done.

Roberts looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.

That's seven minutes gone in the round.
Niinisto prevents Roberts from improving his position.
Niinisto wants to lay and pray for a moment but Roberts keeps working.
Niinisto trying to pass the guard but Roberts defending well.
Niinisto controlling the pace.

Roberts looking for subs from the bottom but Niinisto mounts him!

That's eight minutes gone in the round.
Neither fighter has done anything of merit for a good minute or two here and the crowd are not happy about it.
Roberts is looking to improve his position but Niinisto isn't that keen on the idea.
Niinisto controlling from the full mount.
Niinisto with some aggressive grappling here, looking for the finish.
Roberts regains half guard.

That's nine minutes gone in the round.

Roberts looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.
Roberts wants to control but Niinisto is keeping busy.
Roberts gets back to full guard.
Roberts keeping moving, preventing Niinisto from controlling successfully.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Sauli Niinisto really 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.

Roberts shoots in looking for a takedown but Niinisto manages to keep the fight standing, pushing Roberts's face into the canvas for good measure before circling away.
Niinisto misses with a shot to the body
and Roberts counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
Niinisto swings for the body but Roberts moves out of range.
Roberts throws out a loose jab but Niinisto uses good head movement to avoid it.
A telegraphed right hand from Niinisto misses the target.
Roberts tries to clinch but fails miserably
and Niinisto finishes the little exchange by landing a big kick to the body.
Niinisto throws a decent looking leg kick but it doesn't land clean.
Roberts is looking to wear down Niinisto with body shots, infact he's throwing more body shots than head shots at the moment.
Roberts changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Niinisto tries to avoid it but Roberts manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Niinisto to the ground. Niinisto escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
It's got to the stage where if one of these guys blows hard enough, the other might fall over.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Roberts doesn't succeed with the takedown
and Niinisto connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Jake Roberts. That's going to take a lot out of him.

Niinisto clinches with his opponent.
A head punch on the inside from Roberts fails to land.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Niinisto prevents a takedown attempt there.
Niinisto gets an overhook and lands an elbow to the side of the head.
Niinisto working Roberts over with knees to the body.
Niinisto throws an elbow but it misses.
Both fighters working to control the clinch.
Niinisto is stalling here. The referee will be looking to step in if he doesn't pick up the pace.
A battle for position here, against the cage.
Niinisto gets an overhook and lands an elbow to the side of the head.
Niinisto is struggling to control the position.
Roberts misses with the head strike.
Roberts wants a takedown but no success here.
Niinisto using the Thai clinch to land knees to the body.
Nice elbow from Niinisto.
Niinisto lands a nice elbow from the clinch.
Niinisto working Roberts over with knees to the body.
A nice glancing elbow lands by Niinisto.
Roberts takes an elbow to the forehead.
Niinisto leaning against his opponent.
Niinisto comes over the top with an elbow. That landed flush.
Niinisto tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Roberts avoids it.
Niinisto lands a damaging elbow.
Niinisto blocks an uppercut.
Roberts avoids a wild elbow strike from Niinisto.
Roberts avoids a wild elbow strike from Niinisto.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Roberts avoiding damage as Niinisto throws knees to the body.
Niinisto comes over the top with an elbow. That landed flush.
A head punch on the inside from Roberts fails to land.
Roberts avoids a wild elbow strike from Niinisto.
Roberts dodges an elbow strike from Niinisto.
Roberts wants a takedown.
Niinisto lands a nice elbow from the clinch.
Roberts blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
Niinisto lands an elbow inside.
Roberts avoids the elbow strike from Niinisto, against the cage.
Niinisto misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Roberts.
Niinisto misses with an elbow over the top.
Niinisto pushes off and fires off an elbow that misses, before clinching up again, against the cage.
Niinisto landing knees to the body.
Roberts is looking to control Niinisto's arms but Niinisto gets an underhook and turns him. Now Roberts has his back to the cage.
Niinisto looks to throw an elbow but misses.
Roberts is looking for a takedown up against the cage. Niinisto gets underhooks though and prevents the takedown attempt.
Niinisto lands a nice elbow.
Niinisto missing with knees to the body.
With the two fighters working up against the cage, Niinisto just misses with a elbow thrown towards Roberts's brow.

Roberts works for the underhooks and manages to get a trip takedown into guard.
The fans in attendance giving it up for the two fighters, who have really let it all hang out in the last minute or so!
Roberts in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Roberts tries to free his leg and advance position but Niinisto is retaining full guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Roberts trying to control but Niinisto is working from the bottom.
Niinisto keeping full guard, as Roberts tries to pass.
Niinisto looking for a sweep. Not yet Niinisto, not yet.
Roberts stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Niinisto swivels though and keeps the full guard.
It looks like the ref is thinking about a standup.
Roberts is working hard here to advance position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are getting on the fighters' backs, as the pace has dropped off in the last minute or so.
Roberts throws a strike but Niinisto rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.

Roberts is looking for a triangle but Niinisto pushes his legs off easily.
Roberts has a butterfly guard looking to sweep but Niinisto has passed into side control.
You can see the frustration on Roberts's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.

That's five minutes gone in the round.
Roberts tries to work a leg under to get back to half guard but Niinisto wriggles his own leg back out and remains in side control.

Niinisto is looking to finish here, going for an Americana. Roberts knows the correct defense though, so he's OK.
Niinisto wants to lay and pray for a moment but Roberts keeps working.

That's six minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.
Roberts is trying to improve his position.
Niinisto wants to stand but Roberts is controlling his arm.
Roberts is trying to improve his position.
You can see the frustration on Roberts's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.
Niinisto controls the position from side control.

That's seven minutes gone in the round.
Roberts is positioning himself to get back to half guard.
Roberts sneaks a leg under to get back to half guard.

That's eight minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Roberts wants to control but Niinisto is keeping busy and won't allow it.

Roberts actively working from the bottom here.
Still in half guard, Niinisto seems content to control.

Roberts looking for submissions off his back.
Roberts moves into full guard.

Roberts working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Niinisto doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Niinisto manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.

That's nine minutes gone in the round.

Roberts looking for submissions from the bottom but instead Niinisto passes into half guard.
Niinisto looks over to his corner - he wants some instructions but his corner are not responding.
Roberts moves his hips nicely and gets into full guard.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Roberts controls Niinisto momentarily but Niinisto frees himself.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Sauli Niinisto dominated that fourth round.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business. This is the final round!

A chopping leg kick lands by Niinisto.
Roberts is hobbling a little on that front leg after taking quite a few leg kicks so far in this fight.
Roberts slips a jab from Niinisto.
Niinisto misses with an attempted mid kick.
Niinisto throws a chopping leg kick but Roberts manages to avoid taking any serious damage.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Roberts is defended easily by Niinisto.
Niinisto connects with a nice looking jab.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Roberts has a takedown stuffed.
Roberts swings away with a body shot that misses
and Niinisto counters with a good low kick that Roberts was not able to check.
Both of our modern day gladiators look out of it here - an gruelling 5 rounds of action taking it's toll on them, no doubt.

Niinisto has closed the distance and engaged Roberts in a clinch.
Knees in the clinch landing for Niinisto.
Niinisto throws a nice elbow but it doesn't land.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Niinisto putting his Muay Thai to good use. He has Roberts in a tight clinch and is doing some damage with knees to the body.
Good anti-grappling being displayed by Roberts as Niinisto tries to tie him up.
Roberts blocks an elbow strike.
Nice elbow from Niinisto.
Knees to the body from Niinisto.
Niinisto lands an elbow just above Roberts 's eye.
Niinisto lands a damaging elbow.
Niinisto is trying to stall.
Roberts blocks an elbow strike from Niinisto.
Niinisto comes over the top with an elbow. That landed flush.
Niinisto is trying to slow down the pace in the clinch, to catch his breath.
Roberts blocks an elbow strike.
Roberts goes for a takedown in the clinch but Niinisto prevents it.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Jake Roberts. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Roberts blocks the elbow strike.
Roberts avoids a wild elbow strike from Niinisto.
Roberts is looking for a takedown up against the cage. Niinisto gets underhooks though and prevents the takedown attempt.
Niinisto connects with a knee to the head.
Niinisto putting his Muay Thai to good use. He has Roberts in a tight clinch and is doing some damage with knees to the body.
Niinisto throws an elbow that misses.
Roberts avoiding damage as Niinisto throws knees to the body.
Niinisto putting his Muay Thai to good use. He has Roberts in a tight clinch and is doing some damage with knees to the body.
Niinisto lands a nice knee to the body.
Roberts tries a body shot but Niinisto blocks it.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Niinisto tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Roberts avoids it.
Roberts takes an elbow to the temple.
Niinisto lands an elbow that stopped Roberts in his tracks for a moment.
Niinisto throws an elbow but it's blocked.
Roberts scores with a shot to the side of Niinisto's head.
Roberts tries for a takedown. No joy.
Niinisto throws a nice elbow but it doesn't land.
Roberts struggles to land a body shot inside as Niinisto controls his hands.
Niinisto lands a damaging elbow.
Roberts misses with a short punch on the inside.
Knees to the body from Niinisto.
Roberts drops down looking for an ankle pick but Niinisto pulls his leg out and moves away.
Niinisto fakes a couple of low kicks, before throwing one on the third attempt. It connects and Roberts has to reset his feet before getting ready to engage.
Roberts checks a low kick from Niinisto.

Niinisto moves into the clinch.
Roberts has Niinisto pressed against the cage.
With the two fighters working up against the cage, Niinisto just misses with a elbow thrown towards Roberts's brow.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Roberts lands a shot to the body.
Roberts doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Niinisto lands an elbow that stopped Roberts in his tracks for a moment.
Niinisto has used his reach advantage pretty well so far tonight.
Niinisto pushes off an throws an elbow but Roberts leans to the side and avoids it. We're back to clinching against the cage.
Niinisto lands a nice elbow from the clinch.
Roberts trying to stall but Niinisto improves his position.
Roberts misses with a short punch on the inside.
Niinisto gets an overhook and lands an elbow to the side of the head.
Niinisto comes over the top with an elbow. That landed flush.
Roberts managing to block the knees to the body from Niinisto.
Roberts lands with a good tight uppercut to the head.
Roberts lands a hook to the body. It's hard to tell if that hurt Niinisto or not.
The referee is keeping an eye on Roberts - much more stalling and he will separate the fighters.
Niinisto throws an elbow but it misses.
With the two fighters working up against the cage, Niinisto just misses with a elbow thrown towards Roberts's brow.
Roberts blocks an elbow strike.
Roberts has a couple of punches blocked by Niinisto.
Roberts jumps guard but Niinisto stands there with Roberts around his waist. Roberts gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.
Roberts lands a nice shot to the body.
Niinisto misses with an elbow over the top.
Niinisto throws an elbow but it's blocked.
Niinisto lands a nice knee to the body.
A nice glancing elbow lands by Niinisto.
Roberts lands punches inside but they're not really causing much damage.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Niinisto stalls.
Roberts lands on the inside with an uppercut.

Roberts lands a takedown into guard.
Niinisto looking to hit a scissor sweep but Roberts is one step ahead there.
Niinisto keeping moving, preventing Roberts from controlling successfully.
Niinisto is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Roberts throwing strikes from guard but Niinisto blocks nicely.

That's five minutes gone in the round.
Roberts postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Roberts trying to control but Niinisto is working from the bottom.
Roberts throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Niinisto keeping moving, preventing Roberts from controlling successfully.

Roberts drops back looking for a heel hook - he quickly realises he's not going to get it but Niinisto manages to dive on top of him before he can escape and now Roberts has Niinisto in his guard.
Roberts working a defensive guard here.

That's six 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.

Roberts looking for submissions from the bottom but instead Niinisto passes into half guard.
Niinisto is looking to take a break and control but Roberts is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Niinisto uses his free foot to push down on Roberts's thigh. Eventually he works his other foot free and he's advanced to mount - this is trouble for Roberts.

That's seven minutes gone in the round.
Roberts is looking to improve his position but Niinisto isn't that keen on the idea.
Roberts is trying to reverse the position but instead Niinisto has taken his back - oops!
Niinisto trying to secure his dominant position for a moment - making sure Roberts doesn't escape.

That's eight minutes gone in the round.
Neither fighter has done anything of merit for a good minute or two here and the crowd are not happy about it.
Niinisto keeps control of the position as Roberts tries to break free.
Roberts staying busy and making it hard for Niinisto to control.
You can see the frustration on Roberts's face… He knows he is in trouble unless he improves his position sooner rather than later.
Roberts rolls and manages to get back to half guard. Nicely done.
Roberts wants to sweep but Niinisto has passed to side control!
Niinisto wants to stand but Roberts has his arm trapped.

That's nine minutes gone in the round.
Niinisto is looking to take a break and control but Roberts is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Roberts is positioning himself to get back to half guard.

And that's the end of the fight!
Sauli Niinisto comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Niinisto 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 5 rounds of action, we go to the scorecards for a decision.
Judge Fedor Mirinova scores the fight 46:49
Judge Igor Prikhodko scores the fight 46:49
Judge Viktor Lagutenko scores the fight 45:50

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Sauli Niinisto!