PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Eero Niinimaa (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Whisper Welker (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). These two fighters really are very evenly matched on the feet - it will be fascinating to see who can assert themselves in that aspect of the fight.

Niinimaa
vs
Welker

178 cm
26
193 lbs
13 - 10 - 0

185 cm
26
190 lbs
11 - 9 - 0

Good wrestling
World class boxer
Cardio machine

Good wrestler
Excellent MT
Good gas tank

Conviction
FinnFighter Nutrition (Five 160Q supps!)

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 13 - 10 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Eero Niinimaa!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 11 - 9 - 0, fighting out of London, Whisper Welker!
The judges for this bout are Don Winkell, Frank Antenori and Timothy Bukovac.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Welker swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
Welker has been spending a lot of time sparring his boxing in the run up to the fight, trying to sharpen up those hands and look for a knockout.
Horrible takedown attempt by Niinimaa or perhaps it was just good defense by Welker, which made it look bad.
Niinimaa takes a nice looking leg kick right on the meat of his thigh there.
Welker dances in quickly and lands a nice inside leg kick on Niinimaa. That did some damage!
Welker throws a decent looking leg kick but it doesn't land clean.
Welker tries to clinch there but Niinimaa circles away.
The sound of bone on bone echoes around the arena as Niinimaa checks a leg kick.
Jab, jab by Welker - just one landing.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Welker throws out a loose jab but Niinimaa uses good head movement to avoid it.
Welker misses with an attempted mid kick.
Welker scores with a leg kick.
Welker throws a looping overhand right but Niinimaa ducks down to avoid it.
Niinimaa checks the leg kick nicely there.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Welker misses with a low kick as Niinimaa jumps back.
Welker feints with a shoulder and throws a nice leg kick to Niinimaa's calf.
Niinimaa displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Welker.
A clash of legs there as Niinimaa blocks the low kick.
Niinimaa shoots for a takedown but Welker saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
Niinimaa ducks under a wild hook from Welker.
Niinimaa went nuts there looking for a big combo counter but none of the flurry connected.
Welker blocks a leg kick.
A looping hook to the body misses from Welker. Niinimaa does a little dance to reset his feet.
Niinimaa throws a big counter combination but Welker scrambles out of danger and avoids any damage.
Niinimaa attempts a leg kick but it's missed by a good margin.
Welker connects with a hook to the side of his opponent's head.
Welker connects with a right hand. Niinimaa shakes it off.
Niinimaa throws out a leg kick but Welker moves out of range and Niinimaa only half commits.
Welker slips a jab and a cross from Niinimaa.
Welker changes levels for a counter takedown but doesn't follow through with his attempt.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Welker throws a nice outside leg kick.
Niinimaa misses with a low kick as Welker jumps back.
Welker tries to clinch but Niinimaa is having none of it.
Welker blocks a leg kick.
Welker swings for the body but Niinimaa moves out of range.
Welker lands with a thumping leg kick.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Niinimaa shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Eero Niinimaa. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Welker cracks the inside of Niinimaa's front leg.
Niinimaa lands a lovely overhand right.

The fight moves into the clinch position.

Niinimaa breaks from the clinch.
Welker thumps Niinimaa with a low kick.
A solid leg kick lands there for Niinimaa.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Welker misses with a low kick.
Niinimaa throwing a counter right hand but Welker manages to avoid it.
Niinimaa throws a jab to the body, straight down the pipe. Boom. That sent Welker stumbling backwards but he manages to regain his composure quickly.
Niinimaa takes an uppercut right on the button but keeps his composure.
A chopping leg kick lands by Welker.
Welker throws a nice inside leg kick.
Niinimaa looks to land a body kick but Welker moved away.
Welker drops down looking to force a counter takedown but Niinimaa defends it well.
Welker throws a body kick that misses.
Welker moves in looking to clinch but Niinimaa pushes him off.
Niinimaa appeared to be looking to counter that last move with a leg kick.
Nice defenses there by Niinimaa.

Niinimaa drives through with a takedown into Welker's guard. Let's see what he can do from the top position.
Niinimaa looking to pass the guard.
Niinimaa trying to control but Welker is working from the bottom.
Niinimaa looking to sit in guard and control but Welker gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.

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!
Welker pushes down on Niinimaa's leg and manages to get into half guard.
Niinimaa is looking for a sweep. Welker is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Niinimaa wants to control but Welker is keeping busy.
Ground and pound from Welker.
Niinimaa is looking to improve his position.
Welker throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
Welker works his way into side control.
Niinimaa tries to improve position but can't.
Niinimaa is trying to get back to his feet.
Welker is working Niinimaa over with some ground and pound from side control.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Whisper Welker dominated that round.
That's time! Back to the action!

Niinimaa displaying good standup as he scores with a three punch combination.
Niinimaa changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Welker tries to avoid it but Niinimaa manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Welker to the ground. Welker escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
Niinimaa blocks a low kick nicely.
Welker scores with a jab to the jaw of his opponent.
Welker connects with a leg kick. He turned his hip over nicely there.
Niinimaa takes a step back and watches a body kick go sailing past his mid section.
Welker throws a hook but Niinimaa blocks it.

Welker shoots in with a lovely double leg takedown. Niinimaa manages to land in full guard to minimise the damage.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Niinimaa is trying to keep Welker in close.
Welker sitting in guard, not really doing much.
Niinimaa wants to stand up but Welker is controlling him.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Niinimaa is edging up against the cage. He's using the cage to get back to his feet. Nice work there - the fighters are clinched.
Niinimaa trying to stall but Welker improves his position.
Niinimaa is hobbling a little on that front leg after taking quite a few leg kicks so far in this fight.
Welker lands a shoulder strike that jolts his opponent's head backwards.
Welker lands with a right to the head.
Welker fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
A left hand lands to the body for Welker.
Welker lands a left hand.
A short uppercut from Welker.
I was talking to Niinimaa's coach per-fight and he was telling me that they'd been working on the clinch in the runup to this fight.
Both guys are working to get underhooks.
Niinimaa wants to break the clinch but can't.
Welker lands with a quick shot inside that doesn't really do much damage.

Welker escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Welker tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Niinimaa swivels and escapes.
A kick lands to the mid section there for Welker.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Welker moves into range and lands a nice leg kick.
Niinimaa's hands are dropping dangerously low here and Welker connects clean with a right hook that sends him down to one knee! Niinimaa scrambles back to his feet.
Welker misses with an uppercut. Niinimaa saw that one coming.
Welker throws a body punch but Niinimaa moves out of range.
Welker misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Welker bobs and weaves and unloads with a good uppercut.
Welker misses with a right hand
and Niinimaa counters with a two punch combo.
Welker throws a leg kick
and Niinimaa counters with a nice body shot.
Niinimaa uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Welker.
Niinimaa throws a right and a left that both miss.
Welker is looking to land body kicks.
As Welker looks to move away, Niinimaa throws a big counter combo bu Welker just gets out of the way.
Niinimaa lets the fists fly and connects with a left straight followed by a right hook.
Welker throws a leg kick which misses Niinimaa's front leg but catches the back leg as Niinimaa tries to avoid it.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Welker misses with a combination
and Niinimaa counters with a three punch combination, finished off with a leg kick. Nice work.
Welker throws a hook but Niinimaa avoids it easily.
Whisper Welker seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Niinimaa throws a front kick aimed at Welker's knee but Welker avoids it well.
Well, he's not going to score with shots like that. A lazy body kick attempt from Welker.
Niinimaa throwing a counter right hand but Welker manages to avoid it.
Welker misses with a body kick.
Niinimaa appears to be looking for a big counter.
Niinimaa bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
Welker has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Welker goes for a spinning back kick but it misses.
Welker throws a leg kick but Niinimaa moved away.
Niinimaa fails to land the takedown.
Welker scores with a leg kick.
Whisper Welker seems to be getting the better of the standup.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Niinimaa swats away the attempt to clinch by Welker.
Welker throws a body kick but he wasn't in range.
Welker swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Like a baseball bat into the meat of his leg there - nice leg kick by Welker.
Welker throws a hook but Niinimaa avoids it easily.
A solid leg kick lands there for Welker.
Welker scores with a crisp jab that stopped Niinimaa in his tracks.
Niinimaa swats away the attempt to clinch by Welker.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Welker throws a leg kick but Niinimaa checks it.
Eero Niinimaa is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
A solid leg kick lands there for Niinimaa.
Nice sprawl there from Welker as Niinimaa shoots in.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Whisper Welker showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
That's time! Back to the action! Let's get this one finished - here comes the final round!

A bone on bone clash there as Welker blocks the leg kick.
Welker tries to score with an inside leg kick but telegraphs it and Niinimaa is able to avoid easily.
Welker dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
Niinimaa slips a straight right by Welker.
Niinimaa is looking for a counter combo.
Welker checks the leg kick nicely there.
A low kick from Welker is predictable there
and Niinimaa counters with a series of strikes. Welker will be more careful next time no doubt.
Welker throws a leg kick but Niinimaa checks it.
Niinimaa misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Welker.
Welker misses with a straight right.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
A slapping leg kick lands for Welker.
Welker shoots in but no luck this time.
Welker misses with a leg kick.
Niinimaa was looking to counter that last move with a shot to the body but he didn't commit.
Niinimaa looks to land a combination but Welker avoids it well.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Niinimaa stumbles momentarily as he takes a strong leg kick from Welker.
Niinimaa looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
Niinimaa takes a hook to the side of the head. I wonder if that's got his ears ringing.
Welker fakes with a right hand and throws a good leg kick, right into the thigh. That had to hurt Niinimaa.
Good leg kick by Niinimaa there. It's the ones that make that thud noise that hurt and that was an almighty thud.
An inside leg kick lands from Welker.
Welker throws a good cross that connects.
Niinimaa ducks low and lands a nice hook to the body of his opponent.
Welker is looking to slow Niinimaa down with leg kicks.
Welker throws a leg kick but he was too far away and it doesn't land.
Welker rushes in with a sloppy looking punch
and Niinimaa counters with a leg kick.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Welker connects with a high kick.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Niinimaa avoids the body shot from Welker.
Niinimaa has his front leg slapped to the side - a nice low kick landing there from Welker.
Welker throws a sloppy head kick and Niinimaa moves out of range easily.
Niinimaa throws a series of punches but Welker avoids them all with ease.
Niinimaa throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Welker throws a push kick but Niinimaa slaps the foot to one side.
Niinimaa throws a leg kick but Welker sees it coming and checks it nicely.
Niinimaa will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Good standup being displayed there by Welker as he connects with a hook.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Niinimaa darts in looking for a takedown but Welker gets double underhooks and turns Niinimaa into the cage.
Niinimaa takes an uppercut right on the button but keeps his composure.
Welker fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Niinimaa manages to avoid it.
Niinimaa connects with a leg kick. He turned his hip over nicely there.
Welker goes for a spinning back kick but it misses.
Welker misses with a body kick.
Welker moving in and out of range nicely, whilst landing the scoring shot.
Welker smiles there as he lands a nice right hand right on the button.
A jab from Welker misses.
Niinimaa chopped to the floor by a nice leg kick but he springs right back up before Welker can pounce on him.
Niinimaa sees a low kick coming and goes to check it, but it's actually a body kick and it thuds into his unprotected ribs.
A nice leg kick lands there from Welker.
Welker looks for a takedown but Niinimaa sprawls well.
Niinimaa appears to be looking for a big counter.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Niinimaa throws a leg kick but Welker sees it coming and checks it nicely.
Welker lands an overhand right.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Welker scores with a leg kick.
Niinimaa looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Welker closes the distance and clinches up with Niinimaa, looking for a takedown. Welker pushes Niinimaa against the cage but Niinimaa circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
Eero Niinimaa has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Whisper Welker.
Welker throws a quick inside leg kick.
Welker throws a hook but Niinimaa avoids it easily.
Niinimaa avoids the head kick by Welker.
Niinimaa is trying hard to land a takedown here. Welker sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.
Niinimaa fakes a jab and scores with a low kick.
Eero Niinimaa has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Welker scoring well with a low kick there.

And that's the end of the fight!
Whisper Welker comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Welker 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 Don Winkell scores the fight 27:30
Judge Frank Antenori scores the fight 27:30
Judge Timothy Bukovac scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Whisper Welker!
Our winner, Whisper Welker, made sure he spent some time buttering up the crowd during his post fight interview, which will no doubt bring him a few more fans.