PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Nick Story (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Riku Reipas (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Both these guys have really solid chins. Will we see a standup war or will they both decide that a knockout is unlikely and try to win the fight elsewhere?

Story
vs
Reipas

160 cm
28
140 lbs
21 - 7 - 0

175 cm
28
148 lbs
15 - 10 - 0

Good wrestling
Excellent boxer
Insanely flexible

ADCC Champion
Basic striking
Good gas tank

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the bantamweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 21 - 7 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Nick Story!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 15 - 10 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Riku Reipas!
The judges for this bout are Anni Minnemäki, Tarja Halkonen and Johanna Lukiainen.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Reipas doesn't succeed with the takedown
and Story counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Story lands with a shot to the body.
Reipas shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Story as he jumps to the side.
Reipas walks into a straight right hand from Story.
Riku Reipas seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Reipas needs to keep his hands up - Story had a free shot at his head there.
Story throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
Reipas throws a chopping leg kick but Story manages to avoid taking any serious damage.

Story rushes Reipas and presses him up against the cage.

Story manages to break the clinch.
Story misses with a few strikes there.

Story feints and as Reipas raises his hands in defense, Story changes levels and drives through with a takedown into guard.
The referee is asking the fighters to pick up the pace.

Reipas working for a triangle but Story defends it easily.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Story is just sitting in guard, looking to avoid any submissions.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Story advances position into side control!
Reipas isn't going anywhere.
Reipas tries to work a leg under to get back to half guard but Story wriggles his own leg back out and remains in side control.
You can see the frustration on Reipas's face as Story controls the position.
Story looks up at the clock and then as Reipas takes his cue and looks up at the clock too, Story smacks him right in the chops with a big elbow! How rude!
Reipas is trying to improve his position.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Story scores with a couple of nice shots to the head there. The referee takes a look at Reipas to see if he's OK.
Reipas is looking for a sweep.
Reipas managing to avoid any damage from the strikes thrown by Story.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Story is pausing for a moment. What's he doing? It looks like he's clearing his nose. Oh dude! He's shot a load of snot all down Reipas's shoulder. That is not cool.
Story connects with a decent looking elbow from side control that caused Reipas some visible discomfort.
Story taking a breather here.
Story trying to control the position but Reipas is working away.
The referee asks Story politely if he wouldn't mind getting on with it and actually doing something. Story prefers to stall for the moment though.
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!
Reipas tries to get back to half guard but can't.

Story decides to stand back up. Story steps back and let's Reipas get back to his feet.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Story throws a nice looking combination but Reipas bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Reipas fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Story avoids it really well and circles away.
Nick Story has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Riku Reipas.
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Reipas looks to land a right hand but Story moved out of range.
Reipas needs to keep his hands up - Story had a free shot at his head there.
Story lands a straight punch to the body, keeping Reipas at a distance.
Reipas throws a leg kick but he was too far away and it doesn't land.
A big right from Story misses.
Reipas fails with the takedown
and Story counters with a left to the body.
A jab from Story misses.
Story with a hook.
A big right from Story misses.
Reipas misses with a takedown attempt - Story sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
Story connects with a looping right hand.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Good standup being displayed there by Story as he connects with a hook.
Reipas throws a low kick but Story avoids it.
Reipas walks straight into a jab right on the nose. That one stung - he's blinking and trying to clear his head.
Nice body punch from Story.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.

Story moves into range and clinches up with Reipas.
Story working on landing some head shots here - that one got through nicely.
Reipas tries to pull guard but Story forces him back to his feet, against the cage.

Story breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Reipas shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Story pinned against the cage. Story gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
Reipas takes a solid shot to the body. That one hurt him but he's trying not to show it.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Story moves out of range of the leg kick from Reipas.
Story getting the better of the striking in that exchange.
Story looks to score with a jab to the body but Reipas is just out of range.
Reipas with a lazy takedown attempt
and Story counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Nick Story 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.

Reipas uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Story.
Story fakes and then throws a beautiful body shot. Reipas looks a bit winded and takes a step backwards to take a breath.
Story keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
A telegraphed right hand from Story misses the target.
Story misses with a hook.

Excellent takedown into side control there by Story.

Story decides to take the fight back to the feet.
Reipas with a lazy takedown attempt
and Story connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Story scores with a straight right hand, right through his opponent's guard.
Reipas fails in his attempt to clinch.
Story works his jab well there, keeping his opponent at a distance.
Reipas throws a body kick but he was well out of range there.
Reipas shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Story but Story pushes him off and we're back to square one.
Reipas takes a shot to the eye socket. That's gotta hurt.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Reipas is pinned up against the cage taking some big shots here. The referee is looking closely deciding whether he should stop the fight.
Reipas wants to clinch up but Story keeps it at a distance.
Story throws a jab when Reipas was well out of range.
Story misses with a looping right.
Story keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
Nick Story has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Riku Reipas.
Reipas tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in the close the distance. Story manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Reipas changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Story tries to avoid it but Reipas manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Story to the ground. Story escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
Story thows a left - swing and a miss!
Reipas tries for a takedown but Story circles away easily
and Story counters with a lovely shot to the body.
Reipas tries for a takedown but Story circles away easily
and Story counters with a straight right hand.
Reipas shoots in but doesn't get the takedown
and Story counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Reipas is breathing heavily.
Reipas misses with a takedown

and Story counters by clinching up.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Reipas tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. Story just stands there and leans against the cage.
A short left from Story.

Story breaks the clinch.
Reipas closes the distance and takes a jab right on the nose as he does so.
Reipas fails with the takedown

so Story counters with a double leg into guard. Good agility.
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!
Story controlling from the guard. I say controlling but really, he's stalling.

Reipas is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.

Reipas has an active guard here but Story has managed to pass into half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Story lands with an elbow from half guard - that looked like it hurt.
Story trying to mount his opponent but Reipas defends it.
Story works his way into side control.
Reipas tries to bench press Story off him but Story keeps the position.

Story decides to stand up, so the ref orders Reipas to his feet.
Reipas tries for a takedown but Story circles away easily
and Story counters with a stiff right hand.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Story punishes Reipas's body with a nice straight punch.
Story dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
Reipas closes the distance looking to clinch

and Story counters with a nice double leg into side control. Reipas won't be happy with that.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.

Story decides to stand back up. Story steps back and let's Reipas get back to his feet.
Reipas shoots in but doesn't get the takedown
and Story counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
Story moving in and out of range nicely, whilst landing the scoring shot.
Reipas slips under a jab from Story.
Reipas walks into a left hand.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Story stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Story wants it to stay on the feet.
Reipas shoots in for a double leg but Story sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
Story slips a straight right by Reipas.
Story lands a lovely overhand right.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Nick Story dominated that second 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. The crowd applaud as we get ready to start the final round!

Reipas with a poor takedown
and Story connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Story lands with a right hand.
Reipas moves out of range of the strikes.
Story throws a lazy right hand but Reipas sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Story dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
Reipas shoots in but doesn't get the takedown
and Story counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
Reipas tries for a takedown but Story circles away easily
enabling Story to counter with a crisp jab.
Nick Story has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Riku Reipas.

Story scores a trip takedown into side control. Nice.
Reipas is trying to get back to half guard.
Reipas takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Story landing strikes.

Story decides to stand back up. Story steps back and let's Reipas get back to his feet.
Story darts in and out, connecting with a jab.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Reipas shoots in for a double leg but Story sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
Nick Story is winning the standup battle so far.
Reipas takes a punch right to his stomach. That took the wind out of him momentarily.
Reipas misses with a takedown
and Story makes him pay by landing a nice hook to the body before moving out of range.
Story scores with the left hand. Reipas knows he should have avoided that one.
Story misses the shot to the body.

Reipas gets caught on his heels momentarily as he allows Story to score an easy takedown into full guard.
Reipas being controlled here, momentarily.
Story wants to control from the top but Reipas keeps moving.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up, due to lack of activity on the part of Nick Story.
Story getting the better of the striking in that exchange.
Reipas tries for a takedown but Story circles away easily

and Story counters with a shoot takedown. Reipas fights it but they end up in guard.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Story is in close to Reipas's body, working some short punches and elbows.
Story trying to control but Reipas is working from the bottom.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Reipas keeping full guard, as Story tries to pass.
Story controlling from the guard. I say controlling but really, he's stalling.

We're going to have a standup here because Nick Story wasn't active enough for the referee's liking.
Reipas has a takedown stuffed.
Reipas tries to clinch but Story is having none of it.

Story moves into range and clinches up with Reipas.
Story throws a blind hook that connects with the side of Reipass head.
Story throws a hook to the body. More of an arm punch but it's all scoring with the judges.

Story's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Story misses with a body shot.
Riku Reipas has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Reipas needs to keep his hands up - Story had a free shot at his head there.
Story throws a hook to the side of Reipas's head but Reipas sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
Reipas with poor footwork there. He got himself in a bit of a tangle, enabling Story to score with a decent uppercut.
Reipas with a lazy takedown attempt
letting Story counter with a right hand.

Story drives through with a takedown into Reipas's guard. Let's see what he can do from the top position.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Story wants to control from the top but Reipas keeps moving.
Story stays in close to Reipas's body and controls the position.
Reipas looking to hit a scissor sweep but Story is one step ahead there.
Story might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Story passes easily into side control. Nice work.

And that's the end of the fight!
Nick Story showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Story 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 Anni Minnemäki scores the fight 30:27
Judge Tarja Halkonen scores the fight 30:27
Judge Johanna Lukiainen scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Nick Story!
After winning the bout, Nick Story thanked all his fans and promised he'd do even better in his next fight. The crowd seemed to love his humility.