PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Iikka Nikkinen (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Ibbe Ribbler (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). The crowd seem to be enjoying Ribbler's choice of entrance music: Madball - For my enemies. Iikka Nikkinen looks tired to me. Hopefully he has got enough gas left in the tank to put in a good performance.

Nikkinen
vs
Ribbler

168 cm
19
155 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

180 cm
22
160 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Basic striking
KO power

Good takedowns
Basic striking
Very confident

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 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Iikka Nikkinen!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Ibbe Ribbler!
The judges for this bout are Arvi Lind, Ben Zyskovitsi and Roosa Järviläinen.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Ribbler takes a shot right to the bread basket.
Ribbler is looking to take this fight into the clinch.

Ribbler clinches up with Nikkinen and pushes him back against the cage.

Nikkinen manages to break the clinch.

Ribbler has Nikkinen up against the cage in a clinch.
Ribbler tries to break the clinch but Nikkinen is controlling the position.
Nikkinen prevents the takedown attempt.
Ribbler wants to break free but Nikkinen has control.

Nikkinen escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Ribbler fails to land with a series of punches.

Ribbler closes the distance and looks for a trip takedown... aaaand he's got it - Ribbler lands in his opponent's guard.
Ribbler passes into half guard.
Ribbler not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
Nikkinen might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.
Nikkinen trying to hold on to Ribbler's head to control him but Ribbler postures up.
Ribbler wants to pass the guard but Nikkinen is defending well.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Ribbler seems to be trying to get a kimura but instead Nikkinen has recovered full guard.
Ribbler stops Nikkinen from standing up.
Ribbler not doing a lot at the moment. He'll have to show some more aggression or the fight will get stood up.
Nikkinen is trying to hold Ribbler in close to prevent damage but Ribbler has managed to pass into half guard.
Nikkinen is breathing heavily.
Ribbler wants to free his trapped foot but Nikkinen is holding on for dear life with his legs.
Ribbler missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.

Ribbler is trying a forearm choke… I don't think that's going to do much at this level of the game.

Ribbler is trying for a guillotine from the top but the pressure isn't in the right place so Nikkinen is just riding it out for now. Ribbler eventually gives up the hold.
Ribbler perhaps working for something from half guard, or maybe not. It looks like he's just sitting there.

Ribbler seems to be looking for submissions.
Nikkinen tries to get to full guard but Ribbler has control of the leg.
Ribbler wants to control but Nikkinen is keeping him busy.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Ribbler wants to pass to mount but Nikkinen is defending the position.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.
Horrible takedown by Nikkinen or perhaps it was just good defense by Ribbler which made him look bad.
Ribbler looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Nikkinen shoots for a takedown but Ribbler saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
Ribbler tries to score with a low kick but Nikkinen moves his leg out of the way.
Nikkinen is looking to slow Ribbler down with leg kicks.
Ribbler tries to clinch but Nikkinen is having none of it.
Ribbler throws a wild combination but nothing lands.

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.
Nikkinen gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily

and Ribbler counters with a nice shoot takedown that brings the fighters to the ground.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Iikka Nikkinen. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Nikkinen is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.
Nikkinen keeping moving, preventing Ribbler from controlling successfully.

Ribbler drops back for a leg! It's a sloppy attempt though and Ribbler jumps back into guard quickly, to retain the dominant position.
Nikkinen manages to land a sweep and now he's in mount on top!
Ribbler tries to hold on but Nikkinen postures up.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Ibbe Ribbler dominated that round.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

Ribbler is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Nikkinen takes a hook to the side of the head. I wonder if that's got his ears ringing.
The fight stays on the outside here - Nikkinen looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Nikkinen fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
Ribbler throws out a leg kick but Nikkinen moves out of range and Ribbler only half commits.
Ribbler throws a low kick but it's checked well by Nikkinen.

Ribbler looking for a takedown here - he's got it.
Ribbler wants to control from the top but Nikkinen keeps moving.
Ribbler passes Nikkinen's left leg - he's now in half guard.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Ribbler passes to full mount!

That's one minute gone in the round.
Ribbler pausing momentarily but resumes with a couple of decent strikes that do a bit of damage.

Ribbler looking for an armbar but decides to keep the dominant position instead.

Ribbler working for a submission but Nikkinen is keeping him at bay.
Nikkinen regains half guard.
Nikkinen pushes Ribbler off looking to stand but Ribbler dives back in and keeps control.
Nikkinen is trying to defend against the ground and pound but Ribbler scores with a couple of nice shots.
Ribbler uses his free foot to push down on Nikkinen's thigh. Eventually he works his other foot free and he's advanced to mount - this is trouble for Nikkinen.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Ribbler jumps to side control looking for an arm triangle but Nikkinen manages to avoid the submission attempt.

Ribbler tries for a kimura but Nikkinen is defending well.
Nikkinen is not in a great position here, taking some shots.
A lull in the action here.

Ribbler is looking for a kimura. He might have it! No, Nikkinen has escaped the position, nice work there.
Nikkinen is looking to reverse the position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Nikkinen is trying to control Ribbler's posture but Ribbler avoids it.
Ibbe Ribbler has got the better of the ground game so far.
Nikkinen takes an elbow right on the bridge of the nose and winces in pain.
Nikkinen is looking to reverse the position.
Ribbler trying to control the action but Nikkinen is working from the bottom.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Nikkinen is looking to regain half guard here but Ribbler keeps moving and retains side control.
Ribbler trying to control the action but Nikkinen is working from the bottom.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.
Ribbler throws a push kick but Nikkinen slaps the foot to one side.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.
Nikkinen scores with the left hand. Ribbler knows he should have avoided that one.
Iikka Nikkinen is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.

Ribbler instigates a clinch.

Ribbler breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Ribbler looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.

Ribbler shoots in for a takedown! He's got it and he's managed to land in full mount! That's better than Ribbler was expecting from the takedown attempt, I'm sure!
Nikkinen is squirming around, avoiding Ribbler's attempts to control the action.
Ribbler seems to be looking to move to his opponent's back but Nikkinen is holding on tight.
Ribbler thowing shots but they're missing.
Nikkinen wants to control but Ribbler is having none of it.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Ibbe Ribbler 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!

Nikkinen lands with a nice body kick.

Ribbler decides to change it up a bit and drives through with a nice takedown into half guard.
Ribbler stalling away here and it's allowed Nikkinen to slip out his trapped foot and regain full guard.
Ribbler stays in close to Nikkinen's body and controls the position.
Nikkinen is trying to keep Ribbler in close.

Nikkinen has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Ribbler can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
Ribbler wants to pass the guard but Nikkinen is keeping the position.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Nikkinen keeping moving, preventing Ribbler from controlling successfully.

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

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Nikkinen lands a jab. Then a cross. Then finally a nice hook to the body. Good work there by Nikkinen.
Nikkinen lands with a nice combination. Ribbler backs away looking to recover.
Ribbler throws a sloppy head kick and Nikkinen moves out of range easily.
Nikkinen wants to clinch up but Ribbler keeps it at a distance.
Nikkinen chopping away at his opponent's legs.

Nikkinen tries to keep at a distance but Ribbler has taken the fight into the clinch.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.

Nikkinen breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Ribbler misses with a jab, cross combination.
Ribbler gets off balance looking for a body kick
and Nikkinen counters with a stiff right hand.
Ribbler fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Nikkinen manages to avoid it.
Ribbler is looking to clinch but Nikkinen is avoiding it.
Ribbler tries to score with a leg kick but it misses it's target.
Nikkinen looks to land a combination. Ribbler sees it coming but can only parry a couple of the shots.
Nikkinen keeps the fight on the outside.

Ribbler closes the distance, clinches up and gets a nice trip takedown into side control. Very smooth.
Nikkinen taking punishment in the form of punches.
Ribbler tries to move into full mount but can't pass Nikkinen's legs.
Nikkinen is trying to escape and get back to his feet.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Ribbler goes for an armbar here - this could be all over! But no, Nikkinen has escaped beautifully and is now on top in side control! Oh, that's unlucky for Ribbler but great work by Nikkinen.
Nikkinen is maintaining the dominant position - no doubt Ribbler will start to get frustrated soon if he's not already.

Nikkinen tries for a kimura but Ribbler is defending well.
Ribbler regains half guard.
Ribbler gets back to full guard.
Ribbler is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.

Ribbler escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Nikkinen gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
Iikka Nikkinen has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Nikkinen postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.

Ribbler looking for submissions from the bottom but instead Nikkinen passes into side control.

Nikkinen stands up and beckons Ribbler to his feet.

Nikkinen drops down and drives through with a powerful takedown into guard.
Nikkinen stays in close to Ribbler's body and controls the position.

Nikkinen gets to his feet. Ribbler looking to butt scoot but the ref puts an end to that. On your feet son!
Ribbler will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.

And that's the end of the fight!
That was a close round. You could make an argument for either fighter but I would give it to Iikka Nikkinen.
I think Ribbler has won this one but let's see whether the judges agree with me. 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 Arvi Lind scores the fight 28:29
Judge Ben Zyskovitsi scores the fight 28:29
Judge Roosa Järviläinen scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Ibbe Ribbler!