PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Gracij Nezmah (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Akseli Suokuokka (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Suokuokka has chosen The Bags - Cavemen Rejoice as his entrance music, which hasn't gone down very well with the crowd. Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

Gracij Nezmah
vs
Suokuokka

217 cm
24
275 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

189 cm
33
255 lbs
17 - 18 - 0

Good wrestling
Solid boxing
Granite chin

Good wrestler
World class boxer
Powerful

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 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Gracij Nezmah!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 17 - 18 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Akseli Suokuokka!
The judges for this bout are Damien Edna, Hugh Johnson and Chris Dean.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Suokuokka lands with a good body shot.
Oooooooooooh, not good. A low kick from Suokuokka lands where it shouldn't have, right in the... well, you know what he did? He kicked him in the penis. He's injured, injured bad. The referee sends both fighters to their corners and Nezmah has 5 minutes to recover. He's OK now though... a thumbs up from Nezmah and we're back underway with a touch of gloves.
Nezmah throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
Suokuokka connects with a looping left hand that seems like it dazed Nezmah momentarily.
Nezmah tries to clinch but Suokuokka moves out of range.
Nezmah avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Nezmah drops his hands and takes a jab to the jaw for his troubles.
Nezmah lands a powerful looking uppercut that connected with his opponent's jaw.

Nezmah gets a takedown into half guard.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Suokuokka manages to get to full guard.
Suokuokka is avoiding any damage by keeping wrist control.
Suokuokka looking to control.
Nezmah has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Nezmah stopping the sweep attempt from Suokuokka.
Suokuokka working a defensive guard here.
Nezmah stopping the sweep attempt from Suokuokka.
Suokuokka is trying to control the position but Nezmah postures up.

OK we're going to have a standup here. Akseli Suokuokka hasn't been effective enough on the ground and the referee wants a restart.
Suokuokka pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
Suokuokka blocks a jab.
Nezmah throws a hook to the side of Suokuokka's head but Suokuokka sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
Nezmah falls off balance throwing a combination
and Suokuokka counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
We can't be sure of the tactics at this early stage but we have heard that Suokuokka has been working on his takedowns a lot in the buildup to the fight and we can only assume he's going to look to take this to the mat.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Nezmah dives in and grabs Suokuokka's left leg, looking for a takedown. Suokuokka pushes down on Nezmah's head and hops out.
Nezmah throws an overhand right that lands on Suokuokka's shoulder, as Suokuokka tries to avoid the shot.
Suokuokka takes a step towards his opponent and connects with a left hand, before circling away.
Suokuokka misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Nezmah takes a body punch but keeps moving.
Nezmah misses with a jab, cross combination.
Suokuokka lands with a nice body punch.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Suokuokka fakes with a right hand and throws a good leg kick, right into the thigh. That had to hurt Nezmah.
The fight stays on the outside here - Suokuokka looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Suokuokka misses with the combination.
Suokuokka walks into a jab.
Suokuokka bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Suokuokka pushes Nezmah up against the cage in a clinch.
Both guys are working to get underhooks.
A nice left hand lands by Suokuokka.
A battle for position here, against the cage.
Suokuokka misses with a body punch.
Suokuokka using the Thai clinch to land knees to the body.
Nezmah looking to slow down the pace here.
Suokuokka lands with a good tight uppercut to the head.
Nezmah is trying to break the clinch but Suokuokka is controlling him.
Suokuokka goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Suokuokka works on Nezmah's body with a couple of short punches.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Suokuokka missing with knees to the body.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The referee is keeping an eye on Suokuokka - much more stalling and he will separate the fighters.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Nezmah.
Suokuokka lands a glancing elbow in the clinch.

It looks like Gracij Nezmah has been cut.

Suokuokka breaks the clinch.
Suokuokka fails to land with a series of punches.
Nezmah looks to land a right hand but Suokuokka moved out of range.
Akseli Suokuokka is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Nezmah lands with a cross to side of his opponent's head.
Nezmah ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
Nezmah misses with a looping right.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!

Suokuokka moves into the clinch successfully.
Still in the clinch, Suokuokka scores with a nice short uppercut.
A head punch on the inside from Suokuokka fails to land.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Akseli Suokuokka dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Gracij Nezmah's cut.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin!

Nezmah throws an off balance right hand
enabling Suokuokka to counter with a crisp jab.

Nezmah gets tackled into the cage by Suokuokka. Suokuokka maintains the clinch.

Suokuokka breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Akseli Suokuokka is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.

Suokuokka moves into the clinch.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Suokuokka.
Suokuokka stalling in the clinch.
Nezmah wants to take the fight to the mat but Suokuokka manages to get underhooks and keep the fight in the clinch.

Suokuokka escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Suokuokka tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. Nezmah manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Good exchange - Nezmah coming out on top.
Nezmah circles away from the clinch attempt.
Suokuokka swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
Nezmah throws a hook but Suokuokka blocks it.
Suokuokka scores with a three punch combo!
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Nezmah avoids the clinch attempt nicely.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Suokuokka moves into the clinch.
A quick uppercut on the inside from Suokuokka.

Suokuokka breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Suokuokka wants to clinch up but Nezmah keeps it at a distance.
Suokuokka tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Nezmah was well out of range. Poor timing from Suokuokka.
Suokuokka throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Nezmah is really head hunting here, hardly looking to strike to the body at all.
Suokuokka bobbing and weaving, closes the distance and lands a hook to the side of Nezmah's head.
Suokuokka has his head slapped from side to side by a 3 punch combination. That must have hurt him.
Suokuokka ducks right into an uppercut from Nezmah.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.

Suokuokka drives through and clinches with Nezmah against the cage.
Suokuokka stalling against the cage.
Suokuokka throws a punch but it's blocked by Nezmah.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Suokuokka misses with the head strike.
Suokuokka misses with a short punch on the inside.
Suokuokka goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Suokuokka dictating the pace here, as the fighters clinch against the cage.
Nezmah controlling the action here for a moment.

Suokuokka breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Suokuokka is looking to clinch but Nezmah is avoiding it.
Suokuokka cracks Nezmah with a good jab.
Suokuokka is looking to clinch.
Sloppy strikes from Nezmah. Those never looked like landing.
Suokuokka throws a series of punches but Nezmah avoids them all with ease.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Suokuokka dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
Nezmah takes a jab on the nose there. A little bit of blood seems to be coming out. Hopefully that won't affect his breathing.
Nezmah checks the leg kick nicely there.
Nezmah ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Suokuokka moves away.
Suokuokka steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Nezmah.
Nezmah tries to clinch but Suokuokka moves out of range.
Nezmah moving in and out of range nicely, whilst landing the scoring shot.
Suokuokka fails with an attempt to clinch.
Akseli Suokuokka seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Suokuokka staying out of range there.
Suokuokka misses with a hook
and Nezmah counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Suokuokka cracks the inside of Nezmah's front leg.
Nezmah doesn't manage to clinch there - Suokuokka circles away.
A combination from Suokuokka does no damage.
Nezmah misses with a looping right.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
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!
Good shot there by Nezmah.
Suokuokka rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Nezmah moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Suokuokka digs a good body shot into Nezmah's ribs.
Nezmah misses with a jab, cross combination.
Nezmah throws a hook but Suokuokka avoids it easily.
Suokuokka fakes a jab and then connects with a hook.
Suokuokka tries to clinch up but Nezmah circles away and keeps his distance.
Suokuokka throws a leg kick but he was too far away and it doesn't land.
Suokuokka scores with a nice head shot.

Suokuokka fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Nezmah, pushing him back against the cage.
Suokuokka misses with a punch on the inside.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Suokuokka lands an elbow inside that Nezmah shrugs off.
Suokuokka lands a body punch.
Suokuokka keeps the fight in the clinch, despite Nezmah's efforts to push away.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Akseli Suokuokka showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The cut man is working on Gracij Nezmah's cut.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action! The crowd applaud as we get ready to start the final round!

Nezmah cracks Suokuokka with a good jab.
Nezmah lands a really nice looking cross but Suokuokka seems unphased.
Nezmah tries to drive through with a takedown attempt but Suokuokka defends well and Nezmah ends up having to push Suokuokka into the cage where they will battle it out in the clinch.
Akseli Suokuokka seems to be working more effectively in the clinch in the fight so far.
Stalling in the clinch from Suokuokka.
Nezmah blocks an uppercut.
Suokuokka creates a bit of distance and throws an elbow that only just misses.
Suokuokka wants to take the fight to the mat but Nezmah manages to get underhooks and keep the fight in the clinch.
Suokuokka scores with a nice hook to the head.

Suokuokka breaks the clinch.
Suokuokka throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Suokuokka is looking to clinch but Nezmah is avoiding it.
Oooooooooooh, not good. A low kick from Suokuokka lands where it shouldn't have, right in the... well, you know what he did? He kicked him in the penis. He's injured, injured bad. The referee sends both fighters to their corners and Nezmah has 5 minutes to recover. He's OK now though... a thumbs up from Nezmah and we're back underway with a touch of gloves.
Suokuokka will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Suokuokka fakes with a right hand and throws a good leg kick, right into the thigh. That had to hurt Nezmah.
Suokuokka misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Nezmah.
Nezmah misses with a wild body shot.
Nezmah tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Suokuokka was well out of range. Poor timing from Nezmah.
Nezmah thows a left - swing and a miss!
Suokuokka tests Nezmah's chin there with a solid looking shot.
Suokuokka showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Nezmah.
Nice defenses there by Suokuokka.
Akseli Suokuokka seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Nezmah lunges at Suokuokka with a hook that half lands and is half blocked by Suokuokka's hand.
Suokuokka tries to clinch but Nezmah moves out of range.
Suokuokka wants to clinch up but Nezmah keeps it at a distance.
Akseli Suokuokka is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Suokuokka gets taken down but at least he's managed to land in guard.
Nezmah slows down the pace of the fight, as he sits in guard.
Suokuokka tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Suokuokka is pulling down on Nezmah's head to control his posture.
Suokuokka wants to sweep but no luck.
Suokuokka has his hands on Nezmah's head, controlling the position.

The ref stands the fighters back up. Akseli Suokuokka was stalling too much, according to the referee.

Nezmah closes the distance and clinches.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
The referee calls for Nezmah to work.
Suokuokka tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Nezmah's elbow.
Nezmah is trying to force a seperation but Suokuokka has the dominant position.
Nezmah is trying to slow down the pace of the fight but Suokuokka is keeping busy.

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.
Suokuokka misses with a hook from the clinch.
Suokuokka can't find room to land a body shot as Nezmah controls the action.

Suokuokka breaks the clinch.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Suokuokka tries to clinch but Nezmah moves out of range.
Suokuokka thows a left - swing and a miss!
Gracij Nezmah has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Suokuokka takes a shot to the eye socket. That's gotta hurt.
Suokuokka closes the distance and takes a jab right on the nose as he does so.

And that's the end of the fight!
Gracij Nezmah showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Suokuokka 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 Damien Edna scores the fight 28:29
Judge Hugh Johnson scores the fight 28:29
Judge Chris Dean scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Akseli Suokuokka!