PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Art Vandalay (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Niko Sirkiä (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). The crowd seem to be enjoying Sirkiä's choice of entrance music: Thergothon - Elemental. Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Vandalay
vs
Sirkiä

195 cm
35
240 lbs
27 - 9 - 0

178 cm
30
231 lbs
24 - 7 - 0

Good wrestling
World class boxer
Cardio machine

Excellent grappler
World class boxer
Granite chin

Hellbent

Merciless Gladiators

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 27 - 9 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Art Vandalay!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 24 - 7 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Niko Sirkiä!
The judges for this bout are James Ackerman, Donald Grub and Steven Brown.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Sirkiä moves away from the strike by Vandalay.
Sirkiä takes a body kick right on the floating rib. Ouchie.
Vandalay misses with the body kick

and Sirkiä counters with a single leg into guard. Vandalay didn't expect that.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
The referee looks like he's ready to step in and stand the fighters back up.
Vandalay trying to keep a closed guard but Sirkiä is proving a slippery customer.
Sirkiä lands a couple of decent looking shots.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Vandalay has Sirkiä pulled in close to control his posture.
Sirkiä stopping the sweep attempt from Vandalay.
Vandalay is trying to keep Sirkiä in close.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Sirkiä working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Vandalay trying to control the position.
Vandalay will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.

Art Vandalay has forced the referee to step in and bring the fight back to the feet.
Vandalay throws a solid leg kick but Sirkiä takes the impact on his shin and smiles at Vandalay.
Sirkiä moves away from the strike by Vandalay.
Sirkiä keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Vandalay throws a right hand that misses

and Sirkiä counters with a takedown into side control.
Vandalay gets back to half guard.
Sirkiä throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
Vandalay trying to hold on to Sirkiä's head to control him but Sirkiä postures up.
Sirkiä looks towards his corner to check for any instructions. The corner give him nothing to work with, so he cracks Vandalay with a short hammerfist. I guess that's as good as any advice he could get in this position.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Vandalay tries to roll over but Sirkiä keeps him under control.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Sirkiä has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
Vandalay trying to hold on to Sirkiä's head to control him but Sirkiä postures up.
Sirkiä throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
Vandalay blocking the ground and pound attempt from Sirkiä.
Vandalay is trying to get back to full guard.
Vandalay is looking to control Sirkiä's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Vandalay avoid being mounted?
Sirkiä passes to side control.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Vandalay taking punishment in the form of punches.
Sirkiä landing strikes.
Vandalay takes an elbow right on the bridge of the nose and winces in pain.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Sirkiä landing strikes.
Sirkiä working the body and head with strikes.
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Vandalay is trying to improve his position.
Sirkiä postures up a little and throws a couple of hammerfists but they don't connect properly.
Sirkiä working the ground and pound.
Vandalay tries to buck Sirkiä off but Sirkiä is having none of it.
Vandalay is trying to control Sirkiä's posture but Sirkiä avoids it.
Vandalay gets one leg under and gets the fight to half guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Sirkiä is looking for a kimura. It's going to be difficult to finish that from half guard though and Vandalay defends it well.
Sirkiä wants to lay and pray for a moment but Vandalay keeps working.
Vandalay is trying to control but can't.
Vandalay tries to get to full guard but Sirkiä has control of the leg.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Sirkiä lands a big shot. The thud that echoes around the arena is like music to the fans' ears.
Vandalay tries to get to full guard but Sirkiä has control of the leg.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Niko Sirkiä dominated that round.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

Vandalay throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Vandalay misses with a looping left.

Vandalay moves into the clinch.
Sirkiä letting Vandalay take a breather here.
Vandalay misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Vandalay swings wildly with an uppercut but Sirkiä uses good head movement to avoid it.
Sirkiä avoiding damage.
Vandalay misses with a hook from the clinch.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Sirkiä is trying to push Vandalay away but Vandalay has him pressed against the cage, so he's going nowhere.
Vandalay lands a left hand that snaps the head of Sirkiä backwards.

Sirkiä breaks the clinch.
Vandalay swings away with a leg kick that misses.
Vandalay connects with a good right hand that stumbles Sirkiä. Sirkiä circles away out of range and recomposes himself.
Vandalay misses with a lunging right hand

and Sirkiä counters with a takedown into side control! That could mean trouble for Vandalay!
Vandalay takes a nasty elbow to the side of the head.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Sirkiä throwing shots but missing, from side control.
Sirkiä sitting in side control, looking to soften his opponent up with elbows and hammerfists but Vandalay is avoiding damage well and looking to escape the position.
Vandalay is trying to get back to half guard.

Sirkiä is looking for a kimura. He might have it! No, Vandalay has escaped the position, nice work there.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Vandalay tries to improve position but can't.
Sirkiä trying to control the position but Vandalay is working away.
Vandalay tries to get back to half guard but can't.
Sirkiä lands a few punches from side control.
Sirkiä creates a bit of distance and throws down some hard shots.
Sirkiä sitting in side control, looking to soften his opponent up with elbows and hammerfists but Vandalay is avoiding damage well and looking to escape the position.
Niko Sirkiä has got the better of the ground game so far.
Sirkiä connects with a decent looking elbow from side control that caused Vandalay some visible discomfort.
Vandalay wants to control but Sirkiä postures up.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Sirkiä landing a few strikes.
Sirkiä is chipping away with strikes.
Sirkiä in side control, trying to ground and pound but not landing this time.
Vandalay is positioning himself to get back to half guard.
Vandalay gets one leg under and gets the fight to half guard.
Sirkiä throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
Sirkiä wants to take a breather but Vandalay is having none of it.
Vandalay wants to improve his position but Sirkiä is controlling well.
Sirkiä trying to control from half guard but Vandalay is working away.
Sirkiä is scoring with some nice ground and pound from the dominant position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Vandalay is looking to improve his position.
Sirkiä missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.
Sirkiä working Vandalay over with strikes.

Sirkiä is looking for a kimura but Vandalay is holding onto that half guard position, so it's hard for Sirkiä to get the leverage.
Vandalay is trying to get back to full guard.
Sirkiä perhaps working for something from half guard, or maybe not. It looks like he's just sitting there.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Sirkiä prevents Vandalay from improving his position.
Vandalay avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Sirkiä.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Niko Sirkiä showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
That's time! Back to the action! This is the final round!

A swing and a miss from Vandalay.
Vandalay thows a body shot but no joy.
Vandalay throws an overhand right that lands on Sirkiä's shoulder, as Sirkiä tries to avoid the shot.
Vandalay misses with a lunging right hand

and Sirkiä counters with a takedown into side control! That could mean trouble for Vandalay!
Vandalay manages to get one leg in to regain half guard.
Sirkiä throws a big elbow that misses, also allowing Vandalay to regain full guard.
Sirkiä wants to control from the top but Vandalay keeps moving.
Vandalay is controlling Sirkiä's posture.
Sirkiä throws a big right hand that misses.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Vandalay is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Sirkiä is staying active underneath Vandalay, who seems content to just control the action from this position.
Vandalay passes to side control.
Sirkiä tries to improve position but can't.
Sirkiä regains half guard.
Vandalay wants to pass to mount but Sirkiä is defending the position.
Art Vandalay has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Sirkiä is trying to get back to full guard.
Vandalay throws a strike but Sirkiä avoids it easily and moves to full guard.
Vandalay has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.

Sirkiä looking for a guillotine here but Vandalay defends easily.
Vandalay is looking to stand up but Sirkiä won't let him.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Vandalay stopping the sweep attempt from Sirkiä.

Sirkiä is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Vandalay defends well.
Vandalay throwing strikes but missing.
Vandalay wants to control from the top but Sirkiä keeps moving.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Sirkiä looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
Vandalay postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Sirkiä looking to hit a scissor sweep but Vandalay is one step ahead there.
Vandalay wants to control from the top but Sirkiä keeps moving.

And that's the end of the fight!
Niko Sirkiä comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Sirkiä winning every round here. Surely the decision will go his way and he'll pick up a well deserved decision victory. 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 James Ackerman scores the fight 27:30
Judge Donald Grub scores the fight 27:30
Judge Steven Brown scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Niko Sirkiä!
Niko Sirkiä made sure to give a little speech post fight, saying '"That is not dead which can eternal lie, and with strange aeons even death may die." '.