PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Victor Selassie (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Pertti Nieminen (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.

Selassie
vs
Nieminen

186 cm
27
225 lbs
5 - 0 - 0

200 cm
25
265 lbs
2 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Basic striking
Granite chin

Decent wrestler
Decent boxing
Heavy handed

Pitt Nutrition 160Q@$149

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 5 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Victor Selassie!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Pertti Nieminen!
The judges for this bout are Ben Zyskovitsi, Anni Minnemäki and Matti Vanhoillinen.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Selassie checks the leg kick.

Selassie darts in and lands a nice takedown into half guard.
Nieminen pushes Selassie off but Selassie dives into side control.
Selassie tries to cartwheel into mount but he doesn't manage it.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
We get told so often about how wrestlers don't like to be on their backs. Let's see if Nieminen can do anything to dispel that myth.
Nieminen takes an elbow right on the bridge of the nose and winces in pain.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Nieminen is pushing Selassie's head away, looking to escape. Selassie manages to hold on to the position though.

Selassie wants to work for a kimura but he's foiled early by Nieminen, who protects the arm well.
Selassie looking to punish the body of his opponent here but Nieminen is avoiding damage well.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Selassie trying to control the position but Nieminen is working away.
Selassie tries to advance to mount but Nieminen denies him.
Nieminen being controlled for a moment.
Selassie working the ground and pound but he's contacting the mat, not the fighter.
Nieminen tries to escape but Selassie is in control.
Selassie working away diligently from side control. Landing strikes effectively there - that will score him some points on the judges scorecards.
Selassie 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.
Nieminen is putting a lot of effort into getting back to his feet here.
Nieminen wants to get back to his feet but Selassie is dominant here and he's now got Nieminen's back!
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd hopeful of a finish here - Selassie's supporters are on their feet, screaming for him to go for the rear naked choke.

Nieminen showing good submission defense here.
Selassie connects with a big shot to the side of Nieminen's head.
Nieminen trying to get back to his feet but Selassie is in full control for now.
A lull in the action here.
Nieminen is trying to remain composed but Selassie is hammering down strikes to the side of his head.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Nieminen is trying to stand back up.
Selassie trying to control momentarily.
So, who will make the next big move? In this position it could be crucial.

Nieminen defending nicely against the rear naked choke attempt.
A lull in the action here.
Nieminen is taking damage to the body and head.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
So, who will make the next big move? In this position it could be crucial.
Selassie lands a shot to the body.
Nieminen trying to get back to his feet but Selassie is in full control for now.
Selassie tries to keep control of the position but Nieminen is staying busy.

Selassie is working really hard to secure the rear naked choke. Nieminen defends successfully for a significant amount of time. Both fighters are looking very determined.
Nieminen is taking damage to the body and head.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Selassie trying to secure his dominant position for a moment - making sure Nieminen doesn't escape.
Nieminen trying to get back to his feet but Selassie is in full control for now.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Victor Selassie dominated that round.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

Selassie tries to clinch but Nieminen moves out of range.
Nieminen is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Selassie.
Selassie shoots in for a double leg but Nieminen sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
Nieminen swinging wildly here.
Selassie avoids a punch combination nicely.
Nieminen lands a jab followed by a nice looking cross.

It looks like Victor Selassie has been cut.
A cross from Nieminen lands.

Selassie takes the fight into the clinch.
Nieminen tries to break the clinch but Selassie is controlling the position.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Selassie misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Nieminen.
Nieminen takes an elbow to the temple.

It looks like Pertti Nieminen has been cut.
Nieminen wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Selassie taking a break, stalling in the clinch.
Nieminen is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.

Nieminen pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Pertti Nieminen is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Selassie misses with a combination

and Nieminen counters by moving into the clinch. Good anticipation by Nieminen.
Nieminen stops a takedown attempt from Selassie.
Nieminen working hard to break the clinch.
Selassie tries for a takedown but Nieminen manages to get underhooks.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Victor Selassie. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Nieminen wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Nieminen.
Nieminen wants to break the clinch but can't.
Selassie has been working on his balance at DiscoClub, so perhaps that has help him stuff some of the takedown attempts by Nieminen.
Selassie fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Nieminen is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.
Selassie tries to score a body lock takedown but Nieminen shows good agility there to stay on his feet.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Nieminen has had enough of the clinch but Selassie keeps him there for the moment.
Nieminen wants to get back to striking at distance but Selassie won't allow it.
Selassie leaning against his opponent.
Selassie pressing his opponent against the cage.
Selassie misses with a punch to the body.
Selassie tries to pull guard but Nieminen holds him up against the cage and eventually Selassie drops back down to his feet.
Nieminen tries to break the clinch but Selassie is controlling the position.
Nieminen managing to block the knees to the body from Selassie.
Selassie lands on the inside with an uppercut.
Selassie pushes off an throws an elbow but Nieminen leans to the side and avoids it. We're back to clinching against the cage.

Selassie gets the body lock takedown. After a quick scramble, Nieminen regains guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Nieminen wants to stand but Selassie is controlling the position.
Selassie wants to control from the top but Nieminen keeps moving.
Nieminen wants to stand but Selassie is controlling the position.
Hammerfist, elbow! yells Selassie's corner. There ya go! There ya go!
Selassie wants to control from the top but Nieminen keeps moving.

Nieminen pushes Selassie off and gets back to his feet.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Nieminen with poor footwork there. He got himself in a bit of a tangle, enabling Selassie to score with a decent uppercut.
Selassie blocks a low kick nicely.
Nieminen misses with a right hand
and Selassie counters with a nice body kick.
Selassie drops his hands momentarily and Nieminen takes advantage with a crisp shot to the head.
Nieminen circles away from the clinch attempt.
A big right from Nieminen misses.
Selassie walks into a straight right hand from Nieminen.
A combination from Nieminen does no damage.
Selassie is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Nieminen can do to turn this around?
Danga de danga de dang - Selassie scores with a four punch combination!
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Nieminen throws a lazy uppercut
enabling Selassie to counter with a crisp jab.
Selassie paws at his opponent with the jab and then lunges in with a straight, right on the button.

Nieminen is rocked!
Nieminen gets tagged by a hook that puts him to sleep! Selassie points and yells something to his unconcious foe before strutting off. Nieminen wakes up just in time to hear Selassie thank his coaches in the post fight interview.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 4:56 of round 2, we have a winner by way of KO (Punch). Victor Selassie!