PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Kalevi Kostaja (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Joakim Nystroem (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Kalevi Kostaja could well score a knockout today. He has the power to get to Joakim Nystroem's chin.

Kostaja
vs
Nystroem

195 cm
22
270 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

220 cm
18
254 lbs
2 - 1 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Improved boxing
KO power

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter striker
Powerful

Lucid Nutrition

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 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Kalevi Kostaja!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Joakim Nystroem!
The judges for this bout are Johanna Lukiainen, Marco Blurström and Arvi Lind.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Kostaja throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
Kostaja looks exhausted already! Oh dear, he should have come in in better shape than this!
Nystroem keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Kostaja.
Nystroem steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Kostaja.
Kostaja throws a body kick but he was well out of range there.
Nystroem tries to clinch up but Kostaja circles away and keeps his distance.
Nystroem tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Kostaja paws at him with a jab and circles away.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Kostaja moves into the clinch.
Nystroem can't find room to land a body shot as Kostaja controls the action.
Kostaja is pressed up against the cage. Nystroem has hold of a leg and is looking to drag Kostaja down to the mat. Kostaja avoids the attempt though and has circled away. We're back to striking at a distance.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kostaja circles away from the clinch attempt
and Kostaja counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
Nystroem tries to clinch but fails miserably
enabling Kostaja to counter with a crisp jab.
Kostaja throws the left hand but Nystroem avoids the punch easily.
Nystroem tries to clinch but Kostaja moves out of range.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Kostaja swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Kostaja misses with a straight left.
Nystroem moves in looking to clinch but Kostaja pushes him off.
Nystroem moves in looking to clinch but Kostaja pushes him off.
The fight stays on the outside here - Nystroem looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Nystroem closes the distance looking to clinch
and Kostaja counters with a series of strikes. Nystroem will be more careful next time no doubt.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Nystroem tries to clinch up.

Nystroem moves into the clinch.

Nystroem gets a trip takedown into half guard.
Nystroem has freed up his trapped foot and advances to mount.
Nystroem controlling the pace for now.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Nystroem has hold of Kostaja's left arm, perhaps looking for a submission. The two fighters tussle over control of the isolated limb and Kostaja manages to get his arm back to his side and away from danger.
Nystroem wants to control the pace but Kostaja is squirming around nicely.

Nystroem working for a submission but Kostaja is keeping him at bay.
Kostaja is squirming around, avoiding Nystroem's attempts to control the action.
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 Kalevi Kostaja will probably get the nod.
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.

Kostaja throws a right hand that Nystroem ducks under and follows up with a left that Nystroem also avoids with ease.
Nice takedown defense from Kostaja. No joy for Nystroem on that attempt.
Kostaja lands a two punch combo.
Nystroem looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Kostaja is fending him off so far but Nystroem persists. Nope, Kostaja circles away and we're back to standing.
Nystroem fails to land the takedown.
Kalevi Kostaja has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Joakim Nystroem.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kostaja circles away from the clinch attempt
letting Kostaja counter with a right hand.
Nystroem is looking to clinch but Kostaja is avoiding it.
Kostaja misses with a few strikes there.
Nystroem tries to clinch but Kostaja moves out of range.

That's two 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.
Kostaja misses with a body kick.
Nystroem looks for a takedown but Kostaja sprawls well.
Kostaja throws an overhand right that lands on Nystroem's shoulder, as Nystroem tries to avoid the shot.
Nystroem uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Kostaja.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Nystroem has closed the distance and engaged Kostaja in a clinch.
Nystroem throws a punch but it's blocked by Kostaja.
Nystroem stalling here - the referee won't stand for too much of that.
Kostaja wants to break free but Nystroem has control.

Nystroem breaks from the clinch.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Nystroem.
Nystroem darts in trying to clinch
and Kostaja counters with a lovely straight right hand!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.
Nystroem tries to close the distance and clinch but Kostaja swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Joakim Nystroem seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Nystroem wants to clinch but Kostaja slips to the side

and Kostaja counters with a nice double leg into side control. Nystroem won't be happy with that.
Nystroem is looking to regain half guard here but Kostaja keeps moving and retains side control.
Nystroem is moving his hips around well on the bottom and has managed to get back to half guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

Nystroem is looking to sinch up a gullotine here but Kostaja pulls his head out easily.
Nystroem is looking to improve his position.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Kalevi Kostaja dominated that second round.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action! This is the final round!

Kostaja misses with a body shot.
Nystroem tries to clinch
letting Kostaja counter with a right hand.
Nystroem moves in looking to clinch but Kostaja pushes him off.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Nystroem tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Kostaja throws a shot from downtown. Nystroem moves away and avoids it.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Nystroem closes the distance but Kostaja moves to the side
and Kostaja counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
Horrible takedown by Nystroem or perhaps it was just good defense by Kostaja which made him look bad.
Nystroem wants to clinch up but Kostaja keeps it at a distance.
Nystroem tries to clinch but Kostaja moves out of range.

That's two 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.

Nystroem darts in and clinches Kostaja up against the cage.
Nystroem drops down looking for an ankle pick but Kostaja pulls his leg out and moves away.
The fight stays on the outside here - Nystroem looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Nystroem doesn't manage to clinch there - Kostaja circles away.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kostaja swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
Nystroem tries to clinch up.

Nystroem clinches.
The two fighters are working to gain dominance in the clinch.
A right hand to the body from Nystroem.
Nystroem holding his opponent close, against the cage.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Nystroem receives a warning from the referee for stalling.
Nystroem swings wildly with an uppercut but Kostaja uses good head movement to avoid it.
Nystroem throws a punch but it's blocked by Kostaja.
Kostaja stops a takedown attempt from Nystroem.
Kalevi Kostaja has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Joakim Nystroem.
The pace slowing considerably in the clinch, as Nystroem takes a break from that fighting nonsense to think about the finer things in life.
Kostaja gets double underhooks to prevent a takedown attempt from Nystroem.
Joakim Nystroem has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Nystroem misses with some punches.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Nystroem lands a shoulder strike that jolts his opponent's head backwards.
Nystroem is a painfully thin specimen of a man. You do wonder whether a good body kick would snap him clean in two.
Nystroem lands a left hand.
Kostaja stops a takedown attempt from Nystroem.

And that's the end of the fight!
Joakim Nystroem comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Kostaja has won this one but let's see what the judges have to say. 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 Johanna Lukiainen scores the fight 28:29
Judge Marco Blurström scores the fight 29:29
Judge Arvi Lind scores the fight 29:28

The fight is ruled a draw!