PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Miilo Nurkkanen (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Janusz Nowak (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Nurkkanen comes to the cage accompanied by When im gone remixed by DJ Darkjuice . Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

Nurkkanen
vs
Nowak

190 cm
21
190 lbs
1 - 3 - 1

188 cm
26
200 lbs
1 - 2 - 0

Powerful takedowns
Basic striking
Cardio machine

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Granite chin

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 1 - 3 - 1, fighting out of Helsinki, Miilo Nurkkanen!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 2 - 0, fighting out of London, Janusz Nowak!
The judges for this bout are Marco Blurström, Arvi Lind and Tarja Halkonen.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Nurkkanen closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.
Nowak is defending well against a takedown attempt.

Nurkkanen breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Nowak slaps away a takedown attempt from Nurkkanen, before circling back to the center of the mat.

Nurkkanen gets a double leg takedown into Nowak's guard.
Nurkkanen seems content to control from guard here. He's going to have to remain active though if he doesn't want to get stood back up.
Nurkkanen wants to pass the guard but Nowak is keeping the position.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Nurkkanen controlling from the guard. I say controlling but really, he's stalling.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Nurkkanen works a leg free and moves into half guard.
Nurkkanen moves nicely into side control.
Nurkkanen is maintaining the dominant position - no doubt Nowak will start to get frustrated soon if he's not already.
Nowak is looking to regain half guard here but Nurkkanen keeps moving and retains side control.
Nowak is trying to escape the position but Nurkkanen is controlling the position.
Nowak can't do much from the bottom here.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Nurkkanen just content to control the position.

Nurkkanen tries for a kimura but Nowak is defending well.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Nurkkanen tries to advance to mount but can't.
Nurkkanen advances to mount.
We've been hearing good reports from Nurkkanen's training camp. Apparently he has been rolling around with some good quality BJJ practitioners and has been sharpening his skills. Let's see if that has an impact on the fight today.
Nurkkanen takes a little breather and maintains the position. The referee will be looking for him to stay active from such a dominant position though.

Nurkkanen looking for an armbar but decides to keep the dominant position instead.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Nurkkanen has hold of Nowak's left arm, perhaps looking for a submission. The two fighters tussle over control of the isolated limb and Nowak manages to get his arm back to his side and away from danger.
Nowak has given up his back. Will we see Nurkkanen going for some submissions?
Nurkkanen just keeping the dominant position. He can't wait too long though, otherwise the referee will stand them back up.
Nowak wants to escape the position.

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.

Nurkkanen has his hand under the chin of his opponent looking for the choke. He's nearly got it! This one could be all over! But no, Nowak has freed his hand and lives to survive another… well, another couple of seconds at least!
Nowak felt the need to train up his defensive grappling in the buildup to the fight. Presumably he was expecting to be in a difficult position like this, so let's see if he can get out of it.
Nowak tries to escape the position.
Nurkkanen controlling from the back.
Nurkkanen has controlled the position for a good 20 seconds, which will no doubt be starting to frustrate his opponent.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Nurkkanen seems to have a rather negative gameplan on the ground. He seems keen to just score the takedown and hold down Nowak for as long as he can get away with.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Miilo Nurkkanen dominated that round.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action.

Nurkkanen fakes an overhand right and shoots for a takedown. Nowak sprawls well initially but Nurkkanen persists and gets the takedown into half guard.
Nurkkanen is looking to pass the guard... He's managed it - he's now in full mount!
Nurkkanen takes a little breather and maintains the position. The referee will be looking for him to stay active from such a dominant position though.
Nurkkanen seems to be looking to move to his opponent's back but Nowak is holding on tight.
Nurkkanen controlling from the full mount.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
This is a sustained period of stalling by Nurkkanen.
Nowak is looking to improve his position but Nurkkanen isn't that keen on the idea.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Nurkkanen sitting in mount, just looking to control for the moment.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Nowak has given up his back.

Nurkkanen has his hand under the chin of his opponent looking for the choke. He's nearly got it! This one could be all over! But no, Nowak has freed his hand and lives to survive another… well, another couple of seconds at least!
Nowak is being controlled on the ground here - he must escape this position otherwise surely the end is near.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Nurkkanen continues to stall.
Nurkkanen's ground tactics aren't going to win him many fans. Let's hope he's got fireworks for us if he gets back to his feet because he's not doing much on the ground.
Miilo Nurkkanen overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.

Nowak is staying cool under pressure, defending well against the rear naked choke attempt from his opponent.
Nowak is being controlled on the ground here - he must escape this position otherwise surely the end is near.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Nurkkanen is working on the RNC. He looks like he's got it but Nowak won't tap... Oh, he's out! The ref rips Nurkkanen off his unconscious opponent!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 3:26 of round 2, we have a winner by way of Submission (RNC). Miilo Nurkkanen!
After winning the bout, Miilo Nurkkanen thanked all his fans and promised he'd do even better in his next fight. The crowd seemed to love his humility.