PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Toni Niinimaki (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Mikko Hovimaki (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Niinimaki
vs
Hovimaki

176 cm
20
155 lbs
0 - 1 - 0

178 cm
22
163 lbs
6 - 4 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Brawler
Intelligent

Good wrestler
Decent boxing
Determined

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the lightweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Toni Niinimaki!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 6 - 4 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Mikko Hovimaki!
The judges for this bout are Marco Blurström, Roosa Järviläinen and Johanna Lukiainen.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Niinimaki tries for a takedown but Hovimaki circles away easily
and Hovimaki counters with a straight right hand.
Hovimaki connects with a body shot that sends Niinimaki's belly button to the back.
Hovimaki throws the left hand but Niinimaki avoids the punch easily.
Niinimaki shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Hovimaki sprawls well. Hovimaki wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Niinimaki gets slowly back to his feet.
Niinimaki goes for a double leg but Hovimaki avoids the attempt and the two fighters end up clinched against the cage as Hovimaki continues to drive forward.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Toni Niinimaki. That's going to take a lot out of him.

Hovimaki pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.

Niinimaki is looking for a takedown here. He's shot in and has managed to get it, finishing up in Hovimaki's half guard.
The referee claps his hands together and tells the fighters to work.

Hovimaki manages to create a bit of space in order to work his way back to his feet. Niinimaki keeps hold of his opponent and drives him back against the cage.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Hovimaki pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Niinimaki walks into a left hand.
Niinimaki shoots in looking for a takedown. Hovimaki tries to sprawl out of it but Niinimaki keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Hovimaki manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
Niinimaki fails with a takedown attempt.
Mikko Hovimaki is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Niinimaki with a poor takedown
and Hovimaki counters with a nice jab to the body that keeps Niinimaki thinking.
Niinimaki is breathing heavily.
Niinimaki fails to land the takedown.
Hovimaki defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Niinimaki.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Nice uppercut lands for Hovimaki. That snapped Niinimaki's head back.
Niinimaki with poor footwork there. He got himself in a bit of a tangle, enabling Hovimaki to score with a decent uppercut.
Niinimaki shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Hovimaki but Hovimaki pushes him off and we're back to square one.
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!
Hovimaki connects with a looping left hand that seems like it dazed Niinimaki momentarily.

Niinimaki is rocked!
Hovimaki closes the distance and lands a brutal uppercut that knocks Niinimaki out! We're looking at the replay now - he was out before he hit the floor!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 2:44 of round 1, we have a winner by way of KO (Punch). Mikko Hovimaki!
Mikko Hovimaki was full of energy after the big win and talked about how he thinks he can do big things in this sport. The crowd were appreciative of his determination to succeed.