PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Eino Nappi (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Timo Nieminen (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Nappi comes to the ring accompanied by O Fortuna. Nieminen has chosen Rentun Ruusu as his entrance music. Both fighters really staring eachother down here, as Timo Nieminen enters the ring!

Nappi
vs
Nieminen

161 cm
23
134 lbs
4 - 1 - 0

178 cm
22
133 lbs
2 - 0 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Brawler
Self confident

BJJ Purple Belt
Brawler
Solid chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the bantamweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 4 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Eino Nappi!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Timo Nieminen!
The judges for this bout are Roosa Järviläinen, Johanna Lukiainen and Marco Blurström.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Nieminen pulls out of a head kick attempt.
The fight stays on the outside here - Nappi looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Nieminen will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Nappi is looking to clinch.
Nappi avoids the head kick by Nieminen.
Nieminen stuffs the takedown.
Nieminen drops Nappi with a right and a left! Nieminen comes rushing in but Nappi regains his composure and manages to keep Nieminen in guard.

Nappi is rocked!

It looks like Eino Nappi has been cut.
Nieminen trying to control the position from guard on top but Nappi is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
The fighters are trapped in the ropes so we're going to have a reposition here. The ref calls for a break and repositions the fighters in the center of the ring.
Nieminen pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Nappi is keeping the position for now.

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

That's one minute gone in the round.
Nieminen throws some sloppy strikes off his back.
Nieminen keeping moving, preventing Nappi from controlling successfully.
Nieminen is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Nappi is controlling him.
Nappi is stalling in the full guard.

That's two 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.

Nieminen has an active guard here but Nappi has managed to pass into half guard.
Nappi trying to mount his opponent but Nieminen defends it.
Nieminen tries to strike from the bottom but it doesn't land.
Nappi seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Nieminen does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
The fighters are starting to get a bit slippery now, which will make submissions a bit more difficult.
The fighters are battling for position here. Nieminen manages to regain full guard. Nice work.
Nieminen trying to strike from the bottom but really, it's not the best position to be doing that from!
Nieminen wants to sweep but no luck.
Nieminen keeping moving, preventing Nappi from controlling successfully.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
Nieminen stuffs the takedown attempt from Nappi. Nappi gets slowly back to his feet.
Nappi tries to close the distance and clinch up but Nieminen swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Nappi looking to take his opponent's legs away with the low kicks.
Nieminen throws a hook but Nappi avoids it easily.
Nieminen keeps the fight on the outside.
Nappi is looking to clinch.
Nieminen looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Nappi misses with a combination
and Nieminen counters with a series of strikes. Nappi will be more careful next time no doubt.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Nieminen clinches.
Nappi drops down looking for an ankle pick but Nieminen pulls his leg out and moves away.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Eino Nappi. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Nappi doesn't manage to clinch there - Nieminen circles away.

Nappi instigates a clinch.

Nappi gets double underhooks and manages to take the fight to the ground.

Nieminen working for submissions but it's allowed Nappi to get to half guard.
Nappi is looking to take a break and control but Nieminen is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Nappi not doing much here.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Timo Nieminen dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Eino Nappi's cut.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

Nappi thuds a mid kick into his opponent's body. That will wear on Nieminen if he has to take too many more of those.
Nappi moves in looking to clinch but Nieminen pushes him off.
Nappi shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Nieminen as he avoids it easily.
Nappi wants to clinch.
Nieminen with a poor takedown

and Nappi counters with a shoot takedown. Nieminen fights it but they end up in guard.
Nieminen tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Nieminen bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Nappi's guard.
Nappi not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.

Nieminen drops back for a leg but he's not going to get it - he lets go and Nappi dives on top into guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Nieminen working a defensive guard but Nappi manages to pass into side control anyway.
Nappi remains in side control and seems content to stay there. It's a versatile position from which he can work both strikes and submissions, whilst maintaining that control, so maybe he'll sit here for a while.
Nieminen regains half guard.
Nieminen is looking to escape.

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.

Nieminen actively working from the bottom here.
Nieminen is breathing heavily.
Nappi is looking to stall here but Nieminen recovers full guard.
Nieminen looking to sweep using the butterfly guard but Nappi puts pay to that idea as he passes nicely into half guard.
Nieminen wants to improve his position but Nappi is controlling well.
Nappi wants to free his trapped foot but Nieminen is holding on for dear life with his legs.
Nappi passes the half guard and he's now in mount! Big trouble for Nieminen!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Nappi unloading with bombs!
Nieminen is desperately trying to improve his position but Nappi has a good base and remains in mount.
Nieminen is persisting with the attempt to improve his position.
Nieminen sneaks a leg under to get to half guard.
Nieminen has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Nappi is working away from the top position though.

That's four 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.
Nappi is looking to take a break and control but Nieminen is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
The fighters are tangled up in the ropes here. We might need a restart if the fighters can't break free themselves.
Nappi prevents Nieminen from improving his position.
Nieminen missing with punches from the bottom.
Nieminen is looking for a sweep. Nappi is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.

Nieminen is defending against the submission attempts here by Nappi.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Eino Nappi dominated that second round.
The cut man is working on Eino Nappi's cut.
That's time! Back to the action! This is the final round!

Nappi scores a trip takedown into side control. Nice.
Nappi controlling the position.
Nieminen manages to get one leg in to regain half guard.

Nieminen looking for a kimura from the bottom but Nappi passes into side control!
Nappi throws a strike aimed at the side of Nieminen's head but Nieminen avoids it well.
Nappi wants to control but Nieminen is keeping him busy.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Nappi swings around for an armbar but Nieminen sees it coming a mile off and turns beautifully into Nappi's guard.
Nappi controls Nieminen momentarily but Nieminen frees himself.
Nieminen trying to control but Nappi is working from the bottom.

Nappi has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Nieminen can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

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

Nieminen has gone for a leg lock! Nappi slips out almost immediately though and dives into Nieminen's guard.

Nieminen throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
Nieminen looking for a sweep. Not yet Nieminen, not yet.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Nappi wants to control from the top but Nieminen keeps moving.
Nappi content to stall in guard here.
Nieminen keeping moving, preventing Nappi from controlling successfully.
Nappi stays in close to Nieminen's body and controls the position.

Nieminen is looking for a triangle but Nappi pushes his legs off easily.
Nappi has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are hurling abuse towards the fighters... You can hardly blame them though because there isn't a lot going on in the fight.

Nieminen working away from the bottom but not quite defensive enough there because Nappi has passed into half guard!
Nappi looks over to his corner - he wants some instructions but his corner are not responding.
Nappi wants to lay and pray for a moment but Nieminen keeps working.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Nappi passes the guard and advances to mount!

And that's the end of the fight!
Eino Nappi showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Nappi has won this one but let's see what the judges have to say. 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 Roosa Järviläinen scores the fight 29:28
Judge Johanna Lukiainen scores the fight 29:28
Judge Marco Blurström scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Eino Nappi!