PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Rod Brave (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Matti Nykanen (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Brave comes to the cage accompanied by Eco, Eco (somos de taleco). Matti Nykanen has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Brave
vs
Nykanen

170 cm
23
150 lbs
10 - 10 - 0

165 cm
26
133 lbs
7 - 0 - 0

Good wrestling
Solid boxing
Insanely flexible

Good wrestler
Counter striker
Determined

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, for the featherweight championship of the world!
Introducing the champion to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 10 - 10 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Rod Brave!
And introducing the challenger to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 7 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Matti Nykanen!
The judges for this bout are Ben Zyskovitsi, Matti Vanhoillinen and Tarja Halkonen.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Nykanen feints and as Brave raises his hands in defense, Nykanen changes levels and drives through with a takedown into guard.
Brave working a defensive guard here.
Brave has Nykanen pulled in close to control his posture.
Nykanen trying to control the position from guard on top but Brave is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Nykanen throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Brave utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Brave looking to hit a scissor sweep but Nykanen is one step ahead there.
Nykanen throws and elbow that misses. Brave uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in Nykanen's guard. Nice move by Brave!
Nykanen keeping full guard, as Brave tries to pass.
Brave loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Brave lands a couple of elbows.
Brave trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Nykanen is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Brave is controlling him.
Nykanen keeping moving, preventing Brave from controlling successfully.
Nykanen is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.
Brave with a flurry of punches that miss.
We get told so often about how wrestlers don't like to be on their backs. Let's see if Nykanen can do anything to dispel that myth.
Brave trying to control 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.
Nykanen is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.
Brave pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Nykanen is keeping the position for now.
Both fighters really going for it on the ground here!
Brave throwing strikes but missing.
Nykanen utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Nykanen really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Brave. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.
Brave trying to control the position from guard on top but Nykanen is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Nykanen is looking to stand up but Brave isn't so interested in that idea.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Brave passes Nykanen's left leg - he's now in half guard.
Brave wants to control but Nykanen is keeping him busy.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Nykanen tries to kick Brave off but Brave keeps his base steady and stays in half guard.
Brave thows a huge punch but Nykanen dodges it nicely.
Brave prevents Nykanen from standing back up.
Brave trying to control from half guard but Nykanen is working away.

Nykanen manages to escape and get back to his feet!
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Ouch! a nice leg kick from Brave, right into the meat.
Brave lands with a nice body kick.
Nykanen looks gassed!
Brave throws a lazy right hand but Nykanen sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
A nice leg kick lands there from Brave.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Brave moves into the clinch successfully.
A knee to the head by Brave.
Brave lands an elbow just above Nykanen 's eye.
Brave with the Thai clinch, lands a knee to the head.
Knees in the clinch landing for Brave.
Brave gets through Nykanen's defenses to land a nice punch to the side of the head.
Brave connects with a knee to the head.
Brave unloads a knee to the mid-section. Nykanen lets out a prehistoric sounding urrrrgh.
Brave lands a damaging elbow.
Brave lands a good knee to the midsection. Nykanen won't want to take too many of those.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Kneeeeees! The crowd are calling for knees to the body. Brave obliges.
Brave lands a nice uppercut.
Brave lands a knee to the head.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Brave crunches a lovely knee into Nykanen's ribcage.
Brave lands a left hand that snaps the head of Nykanen backwards.

Nykanen is rocked!
Brave unloads a knee to the mid-section.

Brave pulls guard successfully.
Brave looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Brave not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Nykanen wants to control from the top but Brave keeps moving.
Brave controls Nykanen momentarily but Nykanen frees himself.
Nykanen throws a big right hand that misses.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Brave lands a beautiful switch and he's in full mount! That could spell trouble for Nykanen!
Brave wants to control the pace but Nykanen is squirming around nicely.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Rod Brave 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.

Brave is looking to score with low kicks.
Brave lands a straight punch to the body, keeping Nykanen at a distance.
Brave tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Brave throws a low kick but his opponent is out of range.
Rod Brave seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Nykanen throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
A head kick misses from Brave.

Nykanen gets tackled into the cage by Brave. Brave maintains the clinch.
Brave tries to land knees in the clinch but Nykanen avoids the damage to the body.
Brave is trying to wear down his opponent with knees to the body.

Nykanen wants the takedown. Brave is fighting it off but Nykanen persists and manages to bring the fight to the ground, ending up in Brave's guard against the cage.
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!

Brave looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
Nykanen is breathing heavily.
Brave manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Nykanen manages to get himself to full guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Nykanen can't keep his opponent in guard - Brave advances to half guard, no doubt looking to mount.

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

Brave gets taken down but at least he's managed to land in guard.
Brave lands a beautiful switch and he's in full mount! That could spell trouble for Nykanen!
Nykanen is bucking up trying to escape but Brave cracks him with another couple of good strikes.
Nykanen takes a big shot to the head but keeps on trying to improve his position.
Nykanen avoids a series of strikes thrown by Brave.
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!
Brave looking to ground and pound but Nykanen is blocking nicely.
Rod Brave overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Brave with shots to the head and body - Nykanen looks very uncomfortable down there.
Nykanen is still in real trouble! Can Brave finish him?
Brave throwing sloppy strikes here. Perhaps if he tightened up his striking from such a dominant position, he'd be able to finish easier.
Brave misses with a head shot.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Nykanen somehow manages to escape the mount and get back to his feet!

Brave feints and as Nykanen raises his hands in defense, Brave changes levels and drives through with a takedown into guard.
Nykanen is looking to stand up but Brave isn't so interested in that idea.
Brave thows a big elbow that misses.
Nykanen seems to have recovered his senses.
Brave forces his way into half guard.
Brave trying to pass the guard but Nykanen defending well.
The referee calls for the fighters to work.
Brave not landing any meaningful shots this time.
Brave not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
Brave trying to control the action but Nykanen is working from the bottom.
Brave not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Brave wants to pass to mount but Nykanen is defending the position.
Brave trying to control from half guard but Nykanen is working away.
Nykanen blocking the ground and pound attempt from Brave.

Brave is thinking about going for an arm triangle but he can't free his leg.
Brave stops Nykanen from getting back to his feet.
Brave thows a huge punch but Nykanen dodges it nicely.
Nykanen is staying active underneath Brave, who seems content to just control the action from this position.
Brave wants to pass the guard but Nykanen is defending well.

Brave wants to work for an arm triangle but Nykanen is really keeping half guard well and defending the submission attempt.
Brave not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
Nykanen is trying to stand up here but Brave is controlling him well.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Brave thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.
Nykanen wants to get back to his feet.
Brave lands strikes from half guard.
Nykanen is refusing to be controlled, as Brave sits in half guard.

Brave is trying to work for a kimura. This could be trouble! No, Nykanen has managed to free his arm - good work.
Brave is pressing down on Nykanen's thigh, looking to free his foot. Nykanen is holding on for now.
Brave prevents Nykanen from standing back up.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Nykanen is staying active underneath Brave, who seems content to just control the action from this position.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Brave missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.
Nykanen is trying to stand up here but Brave is controlling him well.
Brave passes the guard and advances to mount!
Nykanen is trying to stand up.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Rod Brave dominated that second round.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action. This is the final round!

Nykanen tries to check the leg kick but that clearly hurt him.

Brave has Nykanen up against the cage in a clinch.

Nykanen works for the underhooks and manages to get a trip takedown into guard.
Brave seems keen to control rather than go for a submission, at least for now.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Nykanen accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Brave is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Nykanen can do to turn this around?
Nykanen distracts Brave with his right hand and drops a big elbow with his other arm.
Brave keeping moving, preventing Nykanen from controlling successfully.
Nykanen throws a big right hand that misses.

Brave looking for a guillotine here but Nykanen defends easily.
Nykanen connects with a couple of short punches.
Nykanen takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Brave bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Nykanen's guard.
Brave's corner is telling him to maintain position.
Nykanen wants to stand up but Brave is controlling him.
Brave keeps in close for a moment and lands a decent shot to the side of Nykanen's head.
Brave trying to control but Nykanen is working from the bottom.
Brave prevents Nykanen from getting back to his feet.
Nykanen preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Nykanen keeping moving, preventing Brave from controlling successfully.
Nykanen wants to stand and escape but Brave is having none of it.
Brave tries to free his leg and advance position but Nykanen is retaining full guard.
The referee is pacing around the two fighters - he looks like he's thinking about a standup.
Brave passes easily into side control. Nice work.
Nykanen wants to get back to his feet but Brave drags him back down.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Brave throws an elbow but Nykanen slips to the side and avoids it well.

Brave working hard here to secure a kimura but he's not really in the right position for it.
Brave tries to land with some ground and pound but misses.
Brave works to advance to full mount. Nykanen defends for a few seconds but eventually he succumbs.
Brave pausing momentarily but resumes with a couple of decent strikes that do a bit of damage.

Brave has control of Nykanen's right arm, working for a kimura. It's a bit of a token attempt though and Nykanen regains control of the situation pretty easily.
Brave postures up and throws a couple of big shots that have Nykanen in real trouble here! The ref calls for Nykanen to improve his position which he doesn't do, so the referee has no choice but to end the fight due to the strikes!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 3:03 of round 3, we have a winner by way of TKO (Strikes). Rod Brave!
Rod Brave retains his featherweight title!