PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Antti Kantola (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Kake Nyrkki (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). I can't wait for this one - let's get the fighter introductions out of the way and get this one started!

Kantola
vs
Nyrkki

176 cm
33
182 lbs
15 - 15 - 0

186 cm
37
185 lbs
24 - 21 - 2

Abu Dhabi Champ
Excellent boxer
Cardio machine

Good wrestler
World class MT
Powerful

FinnFighter Nutrition (Five 160Q supps!)
Perkele!

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the welterweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 15 - 15 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Antti Kantola!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 24 - 21 - 2, fighting out of Helsinki, Kake Nyrkki!
The judges for this bout are Marco Blurström, Anni Minnemäki and Matti Vanhoillinen.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Nyrkki blocks the body kick.
Nyrkki is looking to clinch.
Kantola throws a counter high kick but Nyrkki was just alert enough to avoid it.
Nyrkki 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.
Nyrkki sizes up Kantola with a pawing jab and scores with a straight right down the middle.
Kantola ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Nyrkki moves away.
Nyrkki throws a low kick but it's checked well by Kantola.
Kake Nyrkki seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Nyrkki throws a chopping leg kick but Kantola manages to avoid taking any serious damage.
Nyrkki bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
Kantola scores with a hook.

It looks like Kake Nyrkki has been cut.
Nyrkki throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Kantola uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Nyrkki.
Some wild striking there from Kantola.
Kantola moves forwards but Nyrkki connects with a nice, crisp jab.
Nyrkki moves in looking to clinch but Kantola pushes him off.
Nyrkki shoots in but Kantola avoids the takedown attempt easily.
Kantola lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Nyrkki circles away quickly and effectively.
Kantola misses with an attempted mid kick.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kantola connects with a body shot.
Kantola has his hands up protecting his head but a hook from Nyrkki finds it's way round the side to connect with Kantola's head.
Kantola connects with a looping left hand that seems like it dazed Nyrkki momentarily.
Nyrkki tries to close the distance and clinch but Kantola swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Nyrkki scoring well with a low kick there.
A looping hook to the body misses from Nyrkki. Kantola does a little dance to reset his feet.
It looked like Kantola wanted to counter with a hook but didn't fully commit.
Nyrkki misses with a straight left.
Nyrkki scores with a punch to the head.
Kantola connects with a single shot there.
Nyrkki scores with a jab. Kantola acknowledges it with a nod of the head.
Kantola lands with a head kick! That's gotta hurt.
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!
Kantola fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Nyrkki manages to avoid it.
Nyrkki tries to move into range but Kantola moves to the side and lands with a nice right hand.
Nyrkki misses with a wild body shot.
Nyrkki has used his reach advantage pretty well so far tonight.
Nyrkki tries to work over Kantola's front leg with a kick but Kantola checks it.
Nyrkki uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Kantola.
Nyrkki closes the distance looking to clinch
and Kantola counters with a right hand to the body.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Nyrkki takes a really solid shot there but just smiles back and shrugs his shoulders.
Kantola steps to his left, right into the path of a big body kick from Nyrkki. That one must have hurt.
Nyrkki shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Kantola sprawls well. Kantola wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Nyrkki gets slowly back to his feet.
Nyrkki cracks a nice hook into Kantola's ribs.
No luck for Nyrkki with that takedown attempt.
Antti Kantola has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Kake Nyrkki.
Nyrkki dips to his left and cracks Kantola with an uppercut!
Kantola lands the left hand.

Nyrkki gets a double leg takedown into Kantola's guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kantola has his hands on Nyrkki's head, controlling the position.
Nyrkki prevents Kantola from getting back to his feet.

Kantola throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
Nyrkki showing good wrestling skills to control the position.
Nyrkki trying to control the position from guard on top but Kantola is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

Kantola throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.

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.
Nyrkki wants to pass the guard but Kantola is keeping the position.

Kantola is looking for a triangle here but Nyrkki uses the submission attempt to pass into side control.
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Nyrkki wants to take a breather but Kantola manages to regain guard - a lesson learnt for Nyrkki.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Kantola can't do much from the bottom at the moment, as Nyrkki controls the pace.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close round but I would say that Antti Kantola will probably get the nod.
The cut man is working on Kake Nyrkki's cut.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

Kantola keeping at a good range here, avoiding a leg kick.
Kantola on the wrong end of an overhand right that came out of nowhere.
Kantola checks a leg kick.
Antti Kantola is winning the standup battle so far.
Kantola stumbles momentarily as he takes a strong leg kick from Nyrkki.
Nyrkki tries to clinch but Kantola is having none of it.
Kantola was looking to counter that last move with a shot to the body but he didn't commit.
Nyrkki takes a thudding leg kick, right into the meat of the thigh.
Kantola checks a leg kick nicely.
Kantola swats away the attempt to clinch by Nyrkki.
Nyrkki cracks Kantola with a right hand to the side of the head.
Nyrkki scores with a head kick.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Kantola misses with a few strikes there.
Nyrkki throws a head kick that connects with a bit of head and a bit of hand.

Kantola is rocked!
Nyrkki tries to clinch but Kantola moves out of range.
Oh Kantola is still all over the place! His legs are completely gone! Will he be able to recover?!!
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Kantola ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Nyrkki moves away.
Nyrkki lands with a two punch combination before moving back out of range.
Kantola works Nyrkki's body with a nice hook.
Nyrkki tries a head kick but it misses.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Nyrkki is looking to clinch.
Kantola takes a thudding leg kick, right into the meat of the thigh.
Nyrkki drops his hands momentarily and Kantola takes advantage with a crisp shot to the head.
Nyrkki scoring well with a low kick there.
Nice straight punches there by Kantola. You know Roy Jones Jr respects the hands of Kantola.
Kantola seems to have got his legs back now.
Nyrkki misses with a body shot.
Kantola scores with a reasonable looking shot to the body. Nyrkki doesn't seem bothered though.
Horrible takedown attempt by Nyrkki or perhaps it was just good defense by Kantola, which made it look bad.
Kantola throwing a counter right hand but Nyrkki manages to avoid it.
Oooooooooooh, not good. A low kick from Nyrkki 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 Kantola has 5 minutes to recover. He's OK now though... a thumbs up from Kantola and we're back underway with a touch of gloves.
This fight brought to you by 5M nutrition - it's mmmmm tasty. Nice jab by Nyrkki.
Nyrkki tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. Kantola manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Nice body punch from Kantola.
Kantola loads up on a big right hand but Nyrkki slips the punch.
Kantola connects with a body shot.
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!
Nyrkki doesn't succeed with the takedown
and Kantola cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Nyrkki is breathing heavily.
Nyrkki tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Kantola was well out of range. Poor timing from Nyrkki.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Nyrkki tries to close the distance and clinch up but Kantola swats him away and circles back towards the center.
A combination from Nyrkki does no damage.
Boom, another hit is landed. "You're gunna get knocked out" taunts Kantola, as that shot connected.
Kantola lands a leg kick and bounces back out of range.
A telegraphed right hand from Nyrkki misses the target.
Nyrkki is looking to clinch but Kantola is avoiding it.
Kantola fakes a head shot and lands one to the body.
Nyrkki lands a high kick!
Kantola misses with a wild combination.
Nyrkki now looks to counter with a shot at the body.

Kantola gets a clinch.
Nyrkki prevents a body shot from Kantola.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Nyrkki.
Kantola lands a body punch in the clinch.
Nyrkki has Kantola pressed up against the cage and is working for takedown. Kantola manages to improve position though and keeps the fight standing.
Antti Kantola has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Kake Nyrkki.
Nyrkki is looking to control Kantola's arms but Kantola gets an underhook and turns him. Now Nyrkki has his back to the cage.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kantola manages to get underhooks and slows down the pace for a moment.

Nyrkki breaks from the clinch.
Kantola looks to land a body kick but Nyrkki moved away.
Nyrkki tries to score with an inside leg kick but telegraphs it and Kantola is able to avoid easily.
An attempted straight right counter from Kantola misses the target.
Nyrkki fails with the takedown
and Kantola counters with a right hand to the body.
Nyrkki tries to clinch up but Kantola circles away and keeps his distance.
Nyrkki throws a nice looking combination but Kantola bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Nyrkki buckles his opponent's knee momentarily with a nice leg kick.
Nyrkki is looking to chop away at Kantola's legs.
Nyrkki keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Nyrkki throws a sloppy body shot
and Kantola counters with a nice body kick.
Nyrkki lands a leg kick that knocks Kantola off balance momentarily.
Nyrkki takes an uppercut right on the jaw but it doesn't phase him.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Kantola has taken the fight to the clinch.
A short right from Nyrkki on the inside.
Kantola lands a nice looking hook to the body, against the cage.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Nyrkki working aggressively here.
Nyrkki misses with a short punch on the inside.
A left hand lands to the body for Kantola.
Kantola is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Nyrkki is defending well for now.
Nyrkki misses with some punches.

Nyrkki breaks the clinch.
A looping hook to the body misses from Kantola. Nyrkki does a little dance to reset his feet.
Kantola connects with a single shot there.
Nyrkki tries a head kick but it misses.
Nyrkki throws a right and a left that both miss.
The crowd applaud the fighters' efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Nyrkki sees a low kick coming and goes to check it, but it's actually a body kick and it thuds into his unprotected ribs.
Kantola scores with a kick to the midsection.
Kantola looking to take his opponent's legs away with the low kicks.
Jab, jab by Kantola - just one landing.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close second round but I would say that Antti Kantola will probably get the nod.
The cut man is working on Kake Nyrkki's cut.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action! This is the final round!

Nyrkki uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Kantola.
Nyrkki closes the distance and takes a jab right on the nose as he does so.
Kantola rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Nyrkki moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Kantola uses good footwork to get in and out, landing a nice hook.
Nyrkki is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Kantola ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Nyrkki moves away.
Kantola uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Nyrkki.
An inside leg kick from Nyrkki misses.
Kantola is looking to counter punch.
Nyrkki tries to bum rush Kantola with a series of wild strikes but Kantola uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Kantola misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
It seemed like Nyrkki was going to counter with the hook but didn't fully commit to it.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Kantola checks a leg kick.
Nyrkki throws a nice hook to the body that draws an oooh from the crowd.
Kantola connects with a leg kick. He turned his hip over nicely there.
Kantola looks to land a right hand but Nyrkki moved out of range.
Kantola lunges in with an uppercut that skims his opponent's chin.
Nyrkki lands with a nice low kick. That'll leave a bruise.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Nyrkki looks for the body kick but Kantola saw that one coming.
Kantola keeping at a good range here, avoiding a leg kick.
Kantola throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Kantola cracks Nyrkki with a nice right hand that draws applause from the crowd.
Nyrkki throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Nyrkki throws a head kick that misses.
Nyrkki takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Kantola comes forward and lands a shot to the body, then darts back out of range.
Nyrkki swinging wildly here.
Kantola catches Nyrkki with a nice straight right. He seems pissed - ooooh, it's on now! On like donkey kong!
Kantola connects with a solid leg kick.
Nyrkki throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Kantola defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Nyrkki.
Kantola half committed to a counter leg kick.
Kantola throws a shot to the body.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Nyrkki looks to clinch
and Kantola counters with a lovely shot to the body.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Kantola connects with a leg kick. Nyrkki looked like he was expecting something else and didn't defend it.
An inside leg kick lands from Kantola.
A head kick misses from Kantola.
Kantola cracks Nyrkki with a nice right hand that draws applause from the crowd.
Nyrkki chopped to the floor by a nice leg kick but he springs right back up before Kantola can pounce on him.
Kantola finds nothing but air with that leg kick attempt.
Nyrkki throws a head kick that connects with a bit of head and a bit of hand.
Kantola misses with a jab, cross combination.
Nyrkki tries to clinch but Kantola is having none of it.
Kantola ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Nyrkki moves away.
Kantola lands a powerful looking uppercut that connected with his opponent's jaw.
Kantola tries to close the distance and clinch up but Nyrkki swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Nyrkki tries to clinch but Kantola is having none of it.
Kantola swings widly with a right hand

and Nyrkki holds on and brings the fighters into a clinch.
Nice body punch from Kantola - that landed with a thud.
Antti Kantola is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Nyrkki is clearly stalling here... Pick up the pace son.
Kantola blocking some punches.
Nyrkki has a couple of punches blocked by Kantola.
With the fighters clinched against the cage, Kantola creates a bit of distance for himself and scores with a nice uppercut.
Kantola lands a hook to the side of the head.
Kantola lands a nice uppercut.
Kantola is looking to control Nyrkki's arms but Nyrkki gets an underhook and turns him. Now Kantola has his back to the cage.
Nyrkki is working for a takedown up against the cage. He can't get it on this occasion though.
Nyrkki struggles to land a body shot inside as Kantola controls his hands.
Kantola lands a nice uppercut.
A quick uppercut on the inside from Kantola.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Nyrkki stalling in the clinch.
Nyrkki wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.
Kake Nyrkki has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Nyrkki's leg has a nasty welt from taking a succession of leg kicks. That must be slowing him down.
Nyrkki misses with a body punch.
Nyrkki pushes Kantola back against the cage and unloads with a body punch.
Nyrkki misses with a punch on the inside.
Nyrkki tries to stall but Kantola uses the opportunity to gain a better position.
Kantola tries to pull guard but Nyrkki won't allow it.
Nyrkki doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
A right handed body shot lands from Kantola.
A head punch on the inside from Nyrkki fails to land.
Nyrkki trying to stall but Kantola improves his position.
Nyrkki working aggressively here.
Kantola dictating the pace here, as the fighters clinch against the cage.
Kantola controlling the action here for a moment.

And that's the end of the fight!
Antti Kantola showed his dominance in that final round.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Kantola, 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 Marco Blurström scores the fight 30:27
Judge Anni Minnemäki scores the fight 30:28
Judge Matti Vanhoillinen scores the fight 30:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Antti Kantola!
Antti Kantola really struggled to get his t-shirt on before his hand was raised. Making sure that Perkele! logo gets some air time is pretty tricky when you're all sweaty.