PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Sauli Niinisto (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Pencil Neck (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Neck has chosen Rolling Stones - Paint it black as his entrance music. Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

Niinisto
vs
Neck

190 cm
23
178 lbs
11 - 0 - 0

182 cm
26
178 lbs
9 - 13 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Decent elbows
Granite chin

BJJ Purple Belt
Good kicks
Knockout power

BALCO MMA ELITE

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 11 - 0 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Sauli Niinisto!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 9 - 13 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Pencil Neck!
The judges for this bout are Dmitry Maklakov, Illya Tyunina and Sergei Dronov.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Nice takedown defense from Niinisto. No joy for Neck on that attempt.
Neck avoids a kick to the body.
Niinisto misses with a head kick.
Neck throws a sloppy head kick
and Niinisto counters with a good low kick that Neck was not able to check.
Neck blocks a low kick nicely.
Neck shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Niinisto misses with a head kick.
Neck fails with a takedown attempt.
Sauli Niinisto has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Pencil Neck.
Neck shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Niinisto as he avoids it easily.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Neck looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Niinisto is fending him off so far but Neck persists. Nope, Niinisto circles away and we're back to standing.
Niinisto fakes a couple of low kicks, before throwing one on the third attempt. It connects and Neck has to reset his feet before getting ready to engage.
Niinisto misses with a head kick.

Niinisto tries to keep at a distance but Neck has taken the fight into the clinch.

That's one minute gone in the round.
With the fighters up against the cage, Niinisto throws an elbow but misses.
With the two fighters working up against the cage, Niinisto just misses with a elbow thrown towards Neck's brow.
Neck blocks the elbow strike.
Neck is trying to drag Niinisto to the mat but Niinisto just about manages to keep his footing. He used the cage to his advantage there.
With the two fighters working up against the cage, Niinisto just misses with a elbow thrown towards Neck's brow.
Niinisto keeps the fight in the clinch, despite Neck's efforts to push away.
Niinisto misses with an elbow strike.
Neck avoiding damage as Niinisto throws knees to the body.
Niinisto lands an elbow inside that Neck shrugs off.
Neck tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. Niinisto just stands there and leans against the cage.
Neck is trying to break the clinch but Niinisto has him pressed against the cage.
Neck takes an elbow to the forehead.

It looks like Pencil Neck has been cut.
Niinisto lands a knee to the body.
Niinisto is struggling to control the position.
Niinisto throws an elbow but it misses.
Neck lands a shoulder strike.
Niinisto lands an elbow inside that Neck shrugs off.
Neck is trying to break the clinch but Niinisto has him pressed against the cage.
Kneeeeees! The crowd are calling for knees to the body. Niinisto obliges.
Neck looks gassed!
With the two fighters working up against the cage, Niinisto just misses with a elbow thrown towards Neck's brow.
Niinisto lands an elbow just above Neck 's eye.
Niinisto stalling.
Niinisto comes over the top with an elbow. That landed flush.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Niinisto lands an elbow that stopped Neck in his tracks for a moment.
Niinisto landing knees to the body.
Niinisto is stalling here.
Neck takes an elbow to the forehead.
Niinisto throws an elbow that misses.
Niinisto slowing the pace effectively.
Niinisto unloads a knee to the mid-section.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Niinisto lands a nice elbow from the clinch.
Neck avoids the elbow strike from Niinisto, against the cage.
Neck tries to break free but Niinisto pushes him back against the cage.
Niinisto lands an elbow inside that Neck shrugs off.
Knees in the clinch landing for Neck.
Neck blocks the elbow strike.
Niinisto lands a knee to the body.
Niinisto lands a glancing elbow in the clinch.
Neck dodges an elbow strike from Niinisto.
Neck letting Niinisto take a breather here.
Niinisto creates a bit of space for himself and sneaks an elbow through Neck's defenses.
Neck blocks an elbow strike from Niinisto.
Niinisto lands an elbow just above Neck 's eye.
Knees to the body from Niinisto.
Niinisto pushes off and fires off an elbow that misses, before clinching up again, against the cage.

Neck pulls Niinisto into guard.
Niinisto won't allow Neck to get back to his feet.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Niinisto trying to stand up but can't free himself from Neck's guard.

Niinisto stands up from Neck's guard - Niinisto perhaps looking for a knockout.
Neck tries to score a power double leg takedown but Niinisto sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Neck somewhat.

Niinisto closes the distance and clinches.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Niinisto landing knees to the body. They look like they could hurt.
Neck working hard to break the clinch.
With the fighters up against the cage, Neck throws an elbow but misses.
Niinisto unloads a knee to the mid-section.
Neck dodges an elbow strike from Niinisto.
Niinisto lands a nice knee to the body.
Neck is trying to stall.
Niinisto misses with an elbow strike.
Niinisto lands a good knee to the midsection. Neck won't want to take too many of those.
Niinisto scores a nice knee to the body.
With the two fighters working up against the cage, Niinisto just misses with a elbow thrown towards Neck's brow.
Kneeeeees! The crowd are calling for knees to the body. Niinisto obliges.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Niinisto lands an elbow inside that Neck shrugs off.
Niinisto lands a good knee to the midsection. Neck won't want to take too many of those.
Niinisto unloads a knee to the mid-section.
Neck takes an elbow to the forehead.
Niinisto lands a glancing elbow in the clinch.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Niinisto stalling the fight.
Niinisto lands a damaging elbow.
Niinisto is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Neck is defending well for now.
Neck blocks the elbow strike.
Niinisto comes over the top with an elbow. That landed flush.
Niinisto lands an elbow just above Neck 's eye.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Sauli Niinisto dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Pencil Neck's cut.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

Neck fails with the takedown
and Niinisto counters with a good low kick that Neck was not able to check.
Neck checks the leg kick.
Niinisto fakes with a right hand and throws a good leg kick, right into the thigh. That had to hurt Neck.
Niinisto throws a leg kick but Neck sees it coming and checks it nicely.
Niinisto moves into range and lands a nice leg kick.
Neck shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Niinisto pinned against the cage. Niinisto gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
Neck throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Neck closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.
Neck is breathing heavily.
Niinisto lands an elbow inside that Neck shrugs off.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Niinisto gets double underhooks to prevent a takedown attempt from Neck.
Sauli Niinisto has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Pencil Neck.
Neck throws an elbow that misses.
Neck doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Neck is trying to drag Niinisto to the mat but Niinisto just about manages to keep his footing. He used the cage to his advantage there.
Niinisto lands a damaging elbow.
Neck blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
Niinisto lands a nice elbow.
The fighters are going at a pretty good pace and they're both starting to sweat now.
Niinisto managing to block the knees to the body from Neck.

Neck successfully pulls guard.
Neck is striking off his back. Niinisto thinks nothing of it though and passes easily into half guard.
Neck trying to get back to full guard but Niinisto takes advantage of the position and moves to full mount!
Neck is trying to reverse the position but instead Niinisto has taken his back - oops!
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Niinisto is riding his opponent, not letting Neck buck him off.
Neck trying to control the action but Niinisto just sinks the hooks in.
Neck is trying to break free.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Niinisto keeps control of the position easily here as Neck tries to buck him off.
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.
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.
Neck is trying to get back to his feet but he's not managed it yet.
Neck is trying to break free.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Neck just trying to survive but Niinisto is wriggling into a better position, looking to finish.
So, who will make the next big move? In this position it could be crucial.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Sauli Niinisto dominated that second round.
The cut man is working on Pencil Neck's cut.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action. This is the final round!

Neck rushes Niinisto and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.
Niinisto lands a nice elbow from the clinch.
Neck jumps guard but Niinisto stands there with Neck around his waist. Neck gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.
Neck blocks an elbow strike.
Neck stalling.
Niinisto missing with knees to the body.
Niinisto throws an elbow that misses.
Sauli Niinisto has scored more points in the clinch so far.
Niinisto trying to land knees to the body.
Neck is looking to break free of the clinch but Niinisto has double underhooks.
Niinisto crunches a lovely knee into Neck's ribcage.
Niinisto lands a good knee to the midsection. Neck won't want to take too many of those.
Neck tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. Niinisto just stands there and leans against the cage.
Niinisto putting his Muay Thai to good use. He has Neck in a tight clinch and is doing some damage with knees to the body.
Niinisto scores a nice knee to the body.
Neck takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Niinisto creates a bit of distance and throws an elbow that only just misses.
Niinisto lands a nice elbow.
Niinisto using the Thai clinch to land knees to the body.
Niinisto pushes off an throws an elbow but Neck leans to the side and avoids it. We're back to clinching against the cage.
Niinisto trying to land knees to the body.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Niinisto landing knees to the body.
Niinisto lands an elbow inside.
Niinisto lands a damaging elbow.
Neck on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
Niinisto lands a nice elbow.
Niinisto throws an elbow but it misses.
Neck tries to work over Niinisto's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
Nice elbow from Niinisto.
Niinisto trying to land knees to the body.
Niinisto trying to land knees to the body.
Niinisto tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Neck avoids it.
Niinisto is clearly stalling here... Pick up the pace son.

Neck breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Neck fails with the takedown.
Sauli Niinisto has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Pencil Neck.
Niinisto throws a leg kick but Neck checks it.
Niinisto throws a quick inside leg kick.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Neck takes a body punch that cleary hurt but he's trying not to show any weakness.
Neck throws a head kick that half lands.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Neck.
Niinisto stuns Neck with a nice body shot, before stepping back out of range.
Good leg kick by Niinisto there. It's the ones that make that thud noise that hurt and that was an almighty thud.
Neck on the wrong end of a nice low kick. He's acting like it's no big deal but he doesn't want to take many more of those.
Niinisto throws a shot to the body.
Neck throws the kick towards the body but Niinisto avoids it.
Neck fails to land the takedown.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Niinisto rushes Neck and presses him up against the cage.
Niinisto has Neck pressed against the cage.
A nice glancing elbow lands by Niinisto.
Neck jumps guard but Niinisto stands there with Neck around his waist. Neck gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.

Neck turns his hips and lands a very nice judo throw into side control!
Niinisto keeps Neck under control for a moment.
Niinisto gets back to half guard.

Niinisto makes some distance and scrambles quickly back to his feet. Nice work!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Neck throws a sloppy head kick
and Niinisto counters with a good low kick that Neck was not able to check.
Neck shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Niinisto defends it nicely.

Niinisto gets a clinch.
Niinisto lands an elbow just above Neck 's eye.
Neck is trying to drag Niinisto to the mat but Niinisto just about manages to keep his footing. He used the cage to his advantage there.
Pencil Neck has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Niinisto holding his opponent close, against the cage.
Neck connects with a nasty looking knee right to Niinisto's face.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Niinisto landing knees to the body. They look like they could hurt.
Niinisto lands a damaging elbow.
The pace slowing considerably in the clinch, as Niinisto takes a break from that fighting nonsense to think about the finer things in life.
Niinisto lands an elbow inside.
Niinisto lands an elbow that stopped Neck in his tracks for a moment.

And that's the end of the fight!
Sauli Niinisto showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Niinisto has outscored his opponent in every aspect of the fight today. Only a scarily incompetent judge or two will keep him from a well deserved win... 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 Dmitry Maklakov scores the fight 30:27
Judge Illya Tyunina scores the fight 30:26
Judge Sergei Dronov scores the fight 30:27

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