PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Niko Sirkiä (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Vaughn Shaunessey (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Sirkiä's ring entrance music is that housewives' favourite, Thergothon - Elemental. Niko Sirkiä has a significant reach advantage - let's see if he can make it count.

Sirkiä
vs
Shaunessey

178 cm
22
156 lbs
11 - 3 - 0

164 cm
21
152 lbs
9 - 1 - 0

Powerful takedowns
Solid boxing
Granite chin

BJJ Blue Belt
Good kicks
Good gas tank

(MFS) Macto Fight System
Hellraiser Fightgear (10$ clothing SALE)

(MFS) Macto Fight System

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 11 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, Niko Sirkiä!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 9 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, Vaughn Shaunessey!
The judges for this bout are Josh West, Roger Salmon and Jeff Smith.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Shaunessey scoring well with a low kick there.
Shaunessey misses with a kick to the body.
Shaunessey plants his feet and lands a nice head kick!

It looks like Niko Sirkiä has been cut.
Sirkiä avoids a low kick by using good footwork.
Shaunessey throws a jab, cross combination which is slipped

and Sirkiä counters with a shoot takedown. Shaunessey fights it but they end up in guard.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Sirkiä pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Shaunessey is keeping the position for now.
Sirkiä controlling from the top position.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Shaunessey avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Shaunessey keeping moving, preventing Sirkiä from controlling successfully.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Sirkiä missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Shaunessey not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Sirkiä is stalling in the full guard.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
Sirkiä takes a head kick and keeps coming.
Shaunessey looking to throw a kick but he's pulled out of it.
Shaunessey on the wrong end of a vicious looking body shot.
Some bone on bone action there as Sirkiä checks a low kick. Luckily it wasn't a particularly hard one.
A head kick by Shaunessey misses
and Sirkiä counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
Sirkiä connects with a looping right hand.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Shaunessey lets the fists fly and connects with a left straight followed by a right hook.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Shaunessey throws a chopping leg kick but Sirkiä manages to avoid taking any serious damage.
Sirkiä takes a shot right to the liver - Bas would have been proud of that punch.
Sirkiä scores with a jab to the jaw of his opponent.
Shaunessey throws out a leg kick but Sirkiä moves out of range and Shaunessey only half commits.
Sirkiä moves out of range of the body kick from Shaunessey.
Shaunessey fails in his attempt to clinch.
A combination from Sirkiä does no damage.
Shaunessey thows a body kick. Sirkiä tries to catch it but that hurt him.
Sirkiä fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Shaunessey avoids it really well and circles away.
Sirkiä avoids the body shot from Shaunessey.
Sirkiä moves out of range of the body kick from Shaunessey.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Shaunessey misses with a head kick.
Sirkiä moves out of range of the leg kick from Shaunessey.
Vaughn Shaunessey seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Shaunessey misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Shaunessey's hands are dropping dangerously low here and Sirkiä connects clean with a right hook that sends him down to one knee! Shaunessey scrambles back to his feet.
Shaunessey lands a nice shot to the body.
Shaunessey doesn't manage to clinch there - Sirkiä circles away.
Shaunessey throws a solid leg kick but Sirkiä takes the impact on his shin and smiles at Shaunessey.
Sirkiä looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
Shaunessey misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Sirkiä.
Shaunessey looking to take his opponent's legs away with the low kicks.
Sirkiä connects with a single shot there.
Sirkiä looks to land a left hand but Shaunessey moved out of range nicely.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Shaunessey ducks down and throws a hook to the body.
Sirkiä blocks a head kick by Shaunessey.
Like a baseball bat into the meat of his leg there - nice leg kick by Shaunessey.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
A jab from Sirkiä finds it's way through Shaunessey's defenses.
Sirkiä dives in and grabs Shaunessey's left leg, looking for a takedown. Shaunessey pushes down on Sirkiä's head and hops out.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Niko Sirkiä. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Shaunessey is looking to land body kicks.
Sirkiä throws a nice looking combination but Shaunessey bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Sirkiä thows a body shot but no joy.
Shaunessey avoids the head kick by Sirkiä.
Shaunessey swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Sirkiä throws a looping overhand right but Shaunessey ducks down to avoid it.
Sirkiä moves away from the strike by Shaunessey.
Shaunessey looking to land some kicks to the body here.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Vaughn Shaunessey dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Niko Sirkiä's cut.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business.

Good leg kick by Shaunessey there. It's the ones that make that thud noise that hurt and that was an almighty thud.
Shaunessey tries to close the distance and clinch up but Sirkiä swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Nice shot lands for Sirkiä.
Shaunessey goes for a spinning back kick but it misses.
Sirkiä checks a low kick from Shaunessey.
Vaughn Shaunessey seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Sirkiä keeps the fight on the outside.
Sirkiä is using his height advantage well here, landing a good percentage of his punches.
Shaunessey is looking to land body kicks.
Shaunessey pushes Sirkiä away with a front kick.
Shaunessey throws a head kick but Sirkiä moves out of range.
Shaunessey tries to clinch but Sirkiä moves out of range.
Sirkiä checks a leg kick.
Shaunessey swings for the body but Sirkiä moves out of range.
Shaunessey misses with a right hand

and Sirkiä counters with a nice shoot takedown that brings the fighters to the ground.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Shaunessey wants to sweep here but Sirkiä controlling him for the moment.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Shaunessey keeping moving, preventing Sirkiä from controlling successfully.
Sirkiä landing with the ground and pound.
Sirkiä works over Shaunessey with some ground and pound from guard.
Sirkiä lands a nice shot whilst sitting in his opponent's guard.
Sirkiä postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Shaunessey keeping moving, preventing Sirkiä from controlling successfully.
Sirkiä is just sitting in guard, looking to avoid any submissions.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Sirkiä throwing strikes from guard but Shaunessey blocks nicely.
Sirkiä 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.
Sirkiä trying to control but Shaunessey is working from the bottom.
Sirkiä distracts Shaunessey with his right hand and drops a big elbow with his other arm.
Sirkiä works over Shaunessey with some ground and pound from guard.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Shaunessey has momentary wrist control but Sirkiä slips an elbow through the middle.
Shaunessey looking to control but Sirkiä passes into half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Sirkiä prevents Shaunessey from improving his position.
Nice strikes from Sirkiä there.
Sirkiä not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
Niko Sirkiä overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
The referee walks around the fighters to get a better view of the action. Sirkiä lands a nice short elbow.
Sirkiä looks towards his corner to check for any instructions. The corner give him nothing to work with, so he cracks Shaunessey with a short hammerfist. I guess that's as good as any advice he could get in this position.
Sirkiä controlling the action here.
Shaunessey is refusing to be controlled, as Sirkiä sits in half guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Sirkiä looks to score some points with some ground and pound.
Sirkiä thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Shaunessey's head.
Sirkiä will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Shaunessey punching from the bottom.
Shaunessey trying to control from the bottom.
Sirkiä lands with a punch from half guard.
Shaunessey really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Sirkiä. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Shaunessey tries to roll over but Sirkiä keeps him under control.

Sirkiä is trying for a guillotine from the top but the pressure isn't in the right place so Shaunessey is just riding it out for now. Sirkiä eventually gives up the hold.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Niko Sirkiä dominated that second round.
The cut man is working on Niko Sirkiä's cut.
That's time! Sirkiä's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight. This is the final round!

Sirkiä drives through with a takedown into guard.
Shaunessey throwing strikes off his back to little effect.
Shaunessey wants to stand but Sirkiä is controlling the position.
Sirkiä throws an elbow that misses. Shaunessey uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in Sirkiä's guard. Nice move by Shaunessey!
Sirkiä managing to control the position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Shaunessey wants to stand but Sirkiä is controlling his posture from full guard.
A real slowdown in the pace of the fight for a moment, as Sirkiä holds on and takes a little breather.

Shaunessey drops back for a leg but he's not going to get it - he lets go and Sirkiä dives on top into guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Sirkiä stays in close to Shaunessey's body and controls the position.
Shaunessey wants to sweep here but Sirkiä controlling him for the moment.
Sirkiä is frustrating his opponent with some stalling tactics from top position.
Sirkiä wants to control from the top but Shaunessey keeps moving.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

The ref stands the fighters back up. Niko Sirkiä wasn't doing enough on the ground.
Shaunessey throws a body kick that misses.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Well, he's not going to score with shots like that. A lazy body kick attempt from Shaunessey.
Sirkiä moves out of range of the body kick.
Shaunessey misses with a straight left.
Shaunessey misses with an attempted mid kick.
Shaunessey pulls out of a head kick attempt.

Sirkiä closes the distance and gets a double leg, slamming Shaunessey to the mat! Shaunessey manages to get full guard.
Sirkiä working from the guard for now, landing some ground and pound.
Sirkiä controls from within his opponent's guard.
Sirkiä wants to control from the top but Shaunessey keeps moving.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Shaunessey is trying to control the position but Sirkiä postures up.
Sirkiä wants to control from the top but Shaunessey keeps moving.
Sirkiä working some strikes from top position.
Sirkiä trying to control but Shaunessey is working from the bottom.
Sirkiä throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Sirkiä controlling from the top position.
Shaunessey working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Sirkiä.

And that's the end of the fight!
Niko Sirkiä showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Sirkiä 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 Josh West scores the fight 29:28
Judge Roger Salmon scores the fight 29:28
Judge Jeff Smith scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Niko Sirkiä!