PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Robsao Emelianenko (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Mylly Nyrkki (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Emelianenko comes into the arena with Pantera - Walk blaring out of the sound system. The crowd giving both fighters a great reception on their way into the arena. That's good to see.

Emelianenko
vs
Nyrkki

185 cm
22
185 lbs
1 - 1 - 0

185 cm
20
184 lbs
1 - 1 - 0

BJJ Brown Belt
Counter striker
Prefers ground

BJJ Purple Belt
Counter striker
Solid chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the middleweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 1 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Robsao Emelianenko!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Mylly Nyrkki!
The judges for this bout are Tiny Johnson, Stewart Dunkirk and George Francis.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Nyrkki rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Emelianenko moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Nyrkki stuffs the takedown attempt from Emelianenko. Emelianenko gets slowly back to his feet.
Emelianenko throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Nyrkki's waist but Nyrkki gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Emelianenko off to one side.
Nyrkki misses with a two punch combination.
Nyrkki misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Nice sprawl there from Nyrkki as Emelianenko shoots in.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Robsao Emelianenko. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Emelianenko takes a kick to the side of the head.
A jab-cross combination lands for Nyrkki and sends Emelianenko crashing to the mat! Nyrkki follows him down to the mat - Emelianenko regains half guard but he's not out of trouble yet!

Emelianenko is rocked!
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

Nyrkki seems to be working for a kimura but Emelianenko defends the submission attempt.
Oh Emelianenko is still in real trouble! Will he be able to recover?!!
Nyrkki is just sitting in half guard, waiting for something to happen.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Emelianenko tries to roll over but Nyrkki keeps him under control.
Emelianenko seems to have got his legs back now.
Nyrkki missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.
Emelianenko wants to improve his position but Nyrkki is controlling well.

Nyrkki gets to his feet - back to striking we go!
Some wild striking there from Nyrkki.
Horrible takedown by Emelianenko or perhaps it was just good defense by Nyrkki which made him look bad.

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.
Emelianenko fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
Emelianenko is looking to take this fight into the clinch.

Nyrkki closes the distance and clinches.

Nyrkki pulls Emelianenko into guard.
Emelianenko stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Nyrkki swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Nyrkki trying to strike from the bottom but really, it's not the best position to be doing that from!

Nyrkki is active off his back here, looking for submissions.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Emelianenko stops Nyrkki from standing up.
Nyrkki looks gassed!
Emelianenko stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Nyrkki swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Nyrkki is looking to stand up but Emelianenko isn't so interested in that idea.

Emelianenko is trying to work a guillotine from the top, or something like that? Don't know how he thinks he's going to get a finish from there.
Emelianenko looking to pass the guard.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.
Horrible takedown by Emelianenko or perhaps it was just good defense by Nyrkki which made him look bad.

Emelianenko closes the distance and gets a double leg, slamming Nyrkki to the mat! Nyrkki manages to get full guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A real slowdown in the pace of the fight for a moment, as Nyrkki holds on and takes a little breather.
Emelianenko wants to pass the guard but Nyrkki is keeping the position.
Emelianenko forces his way into half guard.
Emelianenko wants to free his trapped foot but Nyrkki is holding on for dear life with his legs.

Emelianenko is trying for a guillotine from the top but the pressure isn't in the right place so Nyrkki is just riding it out for now. Emelianenko eventually gives up the hold.
Emelianenko prevents Nyrkki from improving his position.

Emelianenko is trying to work for a kimura but Nyrkki is defending well.

Emelianenko is looking for a kimura here.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Nyrkki throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Nyrkki throws a low kick but Emelianenko avoids it.
Nyrkki doesn't manage to clinch there - Emelianenko circles away.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Emelianenko checks a low kick from Nyrkki.
Emelianenko shoots for a takedown but Nyrkki saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
Some wild striking there from Nyrkki.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Emelianenko fails with the takedown.
Emelianenko looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Nyrkki is fending him off so far but Emelianenko persists. Nope, Nyrkki circles away and we're back to standing.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Robsao Emelianenko. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Nyrkki misses with a jab, cross combination.
Emelianenko shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Nyrkki as he jumps to the side.
Nyrkki throws a right and a left that both miss.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
My god... these two guys really need to pick up the pace or everyone will leave to go get a beer.
Emelianenko shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Nyrkki pinned against the cage. Nyrkki gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
Nice sprawl there from Nyrkki as Emelianenko shoots in.
Nyrkki throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Emelianenko.
Emelianenko tries to check the leg kick but that clearly hurt him.
Robsao Emelianenko is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Nyrkki throws a hook to the side of Emelianenko's head but Emelianenko sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
Emelianenko tries to clinch up but Nyrkki circles away and keeps his distance.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Emelianenko tries to clinch
and Nyrkki counters with a left and a right that stings Emelianenko.

Emelianenko moves into range and clinches up with Nyrkki.

Nyrkki turns his hips and lands a very nice judo throw into side control!
Emelianenko gets one leg under and gets the fight to half guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Nyrkki scores with a couple of good hammerfists.
Nyrkki tries to stand but can't do so whilst Emelianenko controls his leg.
Nyrkki prevents Emelianenko from improving his position.
Emelianenko is working hard here to advance position.
Emelianenko tries to regain full guard. Instead though, Nyrkki has advanced to mount. Uh oh.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Emelianenko tries to reverse the position but Nyrkki maintains control.
Nyrkki dominating with strikes here.
Nyrkki prevents Emelianenko from getting the reversal.
Nyrkki lands with some strikes.
Emelianenko is wriggling around trying to escape.
Nyrkki looking to control but Emelianenko is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.
Emelianenko is desperately trying to get back to half guard.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Nyrkki controlling the position easily from mount.
Emelianenko is desperately trying to get back to half guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Mylly Nyrkki showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action. This is the final round!

Nyrkki throws a series of punches but Emelianenko moves out of range.
Emelianenko shoots and misses

and Nyrkki moves into the clinch.
Nyrkki can't get the takedown.
Emelianenko drops to a knee looking for a takedown but Nyrkki gets the underhooks and prevents it.

Nyrkki successfully pulls guard.
Emelianenko tries to free his leg and advance position but Nyrkki is retaining full guard.
Both fighters really going for it on the ground here!

Emelianenko postures up as if he's going to throw some strikes but drops back for an ankle! Nyrkki is in big trouble! He looks ready to tap! But no, he's escaped and dives on top of Emelianenko, into his guard.

Emelianenko looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Nyrkki controls the pace of the fight for a moment.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Emelianenko manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Nyrkki manages to get himself to full guard.
Nyrkki has control of Emelianenko's left arm, preventing Emelianenko from doing any damage.

Emelianenko drops back looking for a leg! Nyrkki is in trouble here! The fighters roll with the hold and Nyrkki manages to kick Emelianenko off! Emelianenko jumps back into Nyrkki's guard.

Emelianenko has gone for a leg lock! Nyrkki slips out almost immediately though and dives into Emelianenko's guard.
Nyrkki sneaks a leg through and gets to half guard. That was like a knife through butter how easily he passed Emelianenko's guard.
Emelianenko is looking to get back to full guard here but Nyrkki has managed to pass to side control instead.
Emelianenko is wriggling around trying to escape.
Nyrkki controlling the pace for now.
Emelianenko is looking to get to half guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Nyrkki pausing momentarily but resumes with a couple of decent strikes that do a bit of damage.
Emelianenko is in all sorts of trouble here.
Nyrkki sitting in mount, just looking to control for the moment.
Nyrkki with good strikes from the mount here!
Emelianenko is looking to improve his position but Nyrkki isn't that keen on the idea.
Nyrkki looking to finish Emelianenko with some ground and pound. This is bad for Emelianenko!
Emelianenko is wriggling around trying to escape.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Nyrkki controlling his opponent.
Nyrkki lands a couple of nice shots there from mount.
Nyrkki scores with a couple of good head shots there.
Nyrkki controlling from mount.
Emelianenko is desperately trying to improve his position but Nyrkki has a good base and remains in mount.
Nyrkki looking to control and managing it successfully.
Emelianenko is desperately trying to improve his position but Nyrkki has a good base and remains in mount.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
There's not a lot going on here and the crowd are letting the fighters know they're not willing to tolerate a lack of action.

Emelianenko defends a decent attempt at a guillotine from Nyrkki.
Emelianenko is looking to improve his position but Nyrkki isn't that keen on the idea.
Nyrkki tucks in and makes sure he doesn't lose the dominant position.
Emelianenko is desperately trying to improve his position but Nyrkki has a good base and remains in mount.
Robsao Emelianenko has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Nyrkki controlling from mount.
Emelianenko is desperately trying to improve his position but Nyrkki has a good base and remains in mount.

And that's the end of the fight!
Mylly Nyrkki comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Nyrkki has outworked and out performed his opponent in all aspects of the game today. He was simply too good and the decision should be no more than a formality. 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 Tiny Johnson scores the fight 27:30
Judge Stewart Dunkirk scores the fight 27:30
Judge George Francis scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Mylly Nyrkki!