PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Matti Nukku (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Adam Baxter (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Nukku comes to the cage accompanied by Enter Sandman. We have two fighters making their debuts here, so let's see who comes out of this one with their first professional victory.

Nukku
vs
Baxter

170 cm
21
154 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

180 cm
20
150 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter striker
Good chin

BJJ White Belt
Brawler
Fast

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the featherweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Matti Nukku!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Adam Baxter!
The judges for this bout are Gwen Towbar, Robert Twigg and George Francis.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Baxter blocks a low kick nicely.
Baxter fails to land the takedown.

Nukku darts in and clinches Baxter up against the cage.
Baxter tries to pull guard but Nukku holds him up against the cage and eventually Baxter drops back down to his feet.
Baxter wants to break free but Nukku has control.
Nukku can't get the takedown.
Nukku prevents a takedown attempt there.
Matti Nukku has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Adam Baxter.

Nukku gets a trip takedown into half guard.

Nukku is looking for a kimura but Baxter is holding onto that half guard position, so it's hard for Nukku to get the leverage.
Ground and pound from Nukku.
Baxter is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Nukku lands with a punch from half guard.
The two fighters exchange a few words. I couldn't hear what they were saying but maybe it's more fun if you make it up yourself. Nukku connects with a nice short shot to Baxter's temple.
Nukku missing with the ground and pound from half guard.
Nukku working the head and body with strikes.
Nukku is looking to advance position but Baxter won't allow it.

That's one minute gone in the round.
The two fighters exchange a few words. I couldn't hear what they were saying but maybe it's more fun if you make it up yourself. Nukku connects with a nice short shot to Baxter's temple.
Nukku throwing shots but Baxter is blocking nicely.
Baxter is trying to get back to full guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Nukku slips a nice elbow through Baxter's hands, connecting with Baxter's forehead.
Nukku is breathing heavily.
Nukku lands with a punch from half guard.
Baxter is looking to control Nukku's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Baxter avoid being mounted?
Nukku thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Baxter's head.
Baxter trying to control here.
Nukku is pressing down on Baxter's thigh, looking to free his foot. Baxter is holding on for now.
Baxter regains full guard. Nicely done.
Baxter trying to keep a closed guard but Nukku is proving a slippery customer.
Nukku is looking to work some ground and pound but Baxter has wrist control.
Nukku postures up in Baxter's guard and throws a big left but Baxter blocks it.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
Baxter closes the distance and clinches up with Nukku, looking for a takedown. Baxter pushes Nukku against the cage but Nukku circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.

Baxter scores a trip takedown into side control. Nice.
Baxter is looking to take a break and control but Nukku is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Nukku is positioning himself to get back to half guard.
Nukku sneaks a leg under to get back to half guard.
Baxter is pressing down on Nukku's thigh, looking to free his foot. Nukku is holding on for now.
Baxter wants to take a breather but Nukku is having none of it.
Nukku tries to strike from the bottom but it doesn't land.
Baxter prevents Nukku from improving his position.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Baxter lands a front kick.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Nukku changes levels and drives through with a really nice takedown into side control. Baxter looks really pissed at himself for not defending that better.
Baxter struggling a bit here.
Nukku cracks Baxter with a big elbow.
Nukku passes to full mount! That's big trouble for Baxter!
A nice elbow there by Nukku.

Baxter is rocked!
Nukku has been looking to land a fair amount of strikes on the ground. He might be looking to soften his opponent up in order to work for a submission.
Baxter in a bad spot here, taking shots to the head.
Baxter is still in real trouble! Can Nukku finish him?
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Baxter wriggling around on the bottom manages to avoid the strikes thrown by Nukku.
Nukku misses with a series of strikes from mount. He'll no doubt be working on his ground and pound when he gets back to the gym.
Baxter wriggling around on the bottom manages to avoid the strikes thrown by Nukku.
Nukku thuds his fist into the canvas! Oooouch!
Nukku looking to ground and pound but Baxter is blocking nicely.
Baxter wriggling around on the bottom manages to avoid the strikes thrown by Nukku.
Baxter avoids a series of strikes thrown by Nukku.
Baxter seems to have recovered his senses.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Baxter is writhing around trying to get back to his feet.
Nukku landing strikes from the mount.
Baxter wants to try and get back to his feet.
Nukku lands a couple of nice shots there from mount.
Baxter tries to hold on but Nukku postures up.
Nukku landing strikes, looking to finish!
Nukku fakes a shot to the body and cracks his opponent in the head. Nice ground and pound there!
The referee warns Baxter that he has to improve his position here as he takes two more clean shots to the head.
Baxter is in a horrible position here, under a barrage of strikes, he's managing to avoid any damage.
Nukku with shots to the head and body - Baxter looks very uncomfortable down there.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Baxter is looking to improve his position but Nukku isn't that keen on the idea.
Baxter tries to hold on but Nukku postures up.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Nukku looking to ground and pound but Baxter is blocking nicely.
Baxter in a bad spot here, taking shots to the head.
Baxter regains half guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Baxter clinches with his opponent.

Nukku breaks from the clinch.

Nukku clinches.
Baxter fails to pull the fight into his guard.
Baxter has had enough of the clinch but Nukku keeps him there for the moment.
Baxter tries to pull guard but Nukku holds him up against the cage and eventually Baxter drops back down to his feet.
Nukku drops down looking for an ankle pick but Baxter pulls his leg out and moves away.
Nukku moves in looking to clinch but Baxter pushes him off.
Some wild striking there from Baxter.

Nukku moves into the clinch.

Nukku tightens his grip and picks Baxter up, before dumping him to the ground. Baxter manages to land in guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Nukku distracts Baxter with his right hand and drops a big elbow with his other arm.
Baxter keeping full guard, as Nukku tries to pass.
Nukku scores with a decent looking elbow strike.
Baxter looking for a sweep. Not yet Baxter, not yet.
Nukku landing some decent shots from guard.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Baxter is on top in guard.
Baxter is breathing heavily.
Nukku wants to sweep here but Baxter controlling him for the moment.
Nukku on his back here. We all know that wrestlers don't like being on their back so let's see if Nukku tries to get out of the position.
Nukku is working hard here to advance position.
Nukku punching from the bottom.
Baxter must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.
Baxter stopping the sweep attempt from Nukku.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Baxter trying to control the position from guard on top but Nukku is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Nukku walks forward, straight into a front kick from Baxter.
Baxter tries to clinch

and Nukku counters with a takedown into full mount! That could mean trouble for Baxter!
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!
Nukku landing shots from mount.
Nukku throwing shots from mount but they're not landing.
Baxter is trying desperately to improve position.
Nukku with shots to the head and body - Baxter looks very uncomfortable down there.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Nukku with shots to the head and body - Baxter looks very uncomfortable down there.
Nukku has his opponent pinned against the cage, landing some nasty ground and pound that is really making a bit of a mess out of Baxter's face.
Nukku unloading with bombs!
Nukku scoring with some good ground and pound from mount here. Will he manage to finish Baxter?

It looks like Adam Baxter has been cut.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Baxter regains half guard.
Nukku thows a big elbow that misses, also allowing Baxter to regain full guard.
Nukku stopping the sweep attempt from Baxter.
Nukku postures up and lands some nice ground and pound.
Nukku postures up.
Nukku is looking to work some ground and pound but Baxter has wrist control.
Matti Nukku overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Nukku accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Nukku throwing strikes but missing.
Nukku is looking to work some ground and pound but Baxter has wrist control.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Nukku throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Baxter works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Baxter seems keen to control rather than go for a submission, at least for now.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fight is doing enough on the ground.
Nukku shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Baxter pinned against the cage. Baxter gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
Baxter is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Baxter tries to clinch but Nukku moves out of range.
Baxter fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
Matti Nukku has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Adam Baxter.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Baxter circles away from the clinch attempt.
Baxter keeps the fight on the outside.
Baxter shoots and misses
and Nukku counters with a nice leg kick.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Matti Nukku dominated that second round.
The cut man is working on Adam Baxter's cut.
That's the end of the interval. I'm sure that seemed a lot quicker than a minute for our two fighters! Back to the action. And we move into the final round!

Baxter with a lazy takedown attempt

and Nukku counters with a shoot takedown into half guard.
Baxter is looking to control Nukku's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Baxter avoid being mounted?
Nukku looks towards his corner to check for any instructions. The corner give him nothing to work with, so he cracks Baxter with a short hammerfist. I guess that's as good as any advice he could get in this position.
Nukku is looking to advance position but Baxter won't allow it.
Baxter trying to control but Nukku postures up.
Baxter manages to get to full guard.
Nukku won't allow Baxter to sweep him here.
Nukku cracks Baxter with a solid left hand.
Nukku preventing the sweep.
Nukku slips nicely into half guard.
Baxter regains full guard. Nicely done.
Nukku stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Baxter swivels though and keeps the full guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Nukku postures up.
Nukku works over Baxter with some ground and pound from guard.
Baxter keeping full guard, as Nukku tries to pass.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

Baxter working for a triangle but Nukku defends it easily.
Nukku stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Baxter swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Nukku stopping the sweep attempt from Baxter.
Nukku pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Baxter is keeping the position for now.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
Baxter fails with an attempt to clinch.
Baxter swats away the attempt to clinch by Nukku.

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.
Baxter tries to clinch up.
Nukku clinches but Baxter breaks the clinch
and Baxter counters with a three punch combo that has Nukku backing up. Nukku nods at Baxter to acknowledge the strikes.

Baxter gets a clinch.

Baxter pulls guard.
Baxter avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Nukku postures up and lands some nice ground and pound.
Nukku postures up in Baxter's guard and throws a big left but Baxter blocks it.
Nukku wants to pass the guard but Baxter is keeping the position.
Baxter is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.
Baxter trying to control from half guard but Nukku is working away.
Nukku manages to get to full guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Nukku wants to sweep here but Baxter controlling him for the moment.
Nukku lands a good elbow from the bottom.
Nukku lands a beautiful switch and he's in full mount! That could spell trouble for Baxter!
Baxter wants to control but Nukku is having none of it.
Nukku dominating with strikes here.
Baxter is wriggling around trying to escape.
Nukku looking to finish Baxter with some ground and pound. This is bad for Baxter!
Nukku raining down shots from the mount!
Baxter is in all sorts of trouble here.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Baxter sneaks a leg under to get to half guard.
The two fighters exchange a few words. I couldn't hear what they were saying but maybe it's more fun if you make it up yourself. Nukku connects with a nice short shot to Baxter's temple.
Nukku is trying to advance to mount but he's lost his balance and Baxter reverses the position - he's now on top in Nukku's guard.
Nukku looking to hit a scissor sweep but Baxter is one step ahead there.
Nukku throws a couple of weedy looking strikes off his back.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Nukku wants to sweep here but Baxter controlling him for the moment.
Baxter working in close now, lands a nice elbow to the side of Nukku's head.
Adam Baxter has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Baxter passes Nukku's left leg - he's now in half guard.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for leaving it all in the cage!
Nukku tries to strike from the bottom but it doesn't land.

And that's the end of the fight!
Matti Nukku showed his dominance in that final round.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Nukku, winning every round. Will the judges agree? They are the ones who matter, even if they are often depressingly incompetent. 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 Gwen Towbar scores the fight 30:27
Judge Robert Twigg scores the fight 30:27
Judge George Francis scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Matti Nukku!