PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Sub Hero (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Timo Nieminen (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Hero's ring entrance music is that housewives' favourite, Giant Squid - Panthalassa. Nieminen comes into a darkened arena with his song building. Rentun Ruusu kicks in, the lights come on and the crowd goes wild! What a showman! Timo Nieminen has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Hero
vs
Nieminen

164 cm
23
143 lbs
7 - 0 - 0

178 cm
23
133 lbs
3 - 1 - 0

Good takedowns
Basic striking
Experienced

BJJ Purple Belt
Brawler
Solid chin

Combat Pro Design
Hell's Balls Nutrition

Combat Pro Design

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 5 rounds, for the bantamweight championship of the world!
Introducing the champion to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 7 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Sub Hero!
And introducing the challenger to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 3 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Timo Nieminen!
The judges for this bout are Anni Minnemäki, Arvi Lind and Johanna Lukiainen.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Hero scores with a nice takedown into half guard. Let's see what he's got on the ground.
Nieminen tries to roll over but Hero keeps him under control.
Hero trying to pass the guard but Nieminen defending well.
Hero working over Nieminen with some ground and pound. Nieminen looks like he wants out of this position, which is understandable.

Nieminen looking for submissions from an awkward position here.
Nieminen flails away from the bottom but he's not doing any damage.
Nice strikes from Hero there.
Hero passes to full mount!
Hero lands a big shot there that rocks Nieminen but he's holding on and managing to survive for now.

Hero working to secure an arm triangle but it's not happening for him just yet.
Hero with a couple of short strikes.
Hero dominating with strikes here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Nieminen is in all sorts of trouble here.
Nieminen is trying to get to the ropes to help him get back to his feet.
The fighters are tangled up in the ropes here. We might need a restart if the fighters can't break free themselves.
Nieminen working to try and regain half guard.

Hero jumps to side control looking for an arm triangle but Nieminen manages to avoid the submission attempt.
Nieminen tries to buck Hero off but Hero is having none of it.
Hero has knee on belly and moves into mount.
Hero lands a couple of nice shots there from mount.
Hero working Nieminen over with strikes here.
Nieminen is trying desperately to improve position.
Nieminen is a painfully thin specimen of a man. You do wonder whether a good body kick would snap him clean in two.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd growing excited in anticipation of a finish here! Right on cue, Hero cracks his opponent with a massive right hand that draws loud cheers!
Hero punishing his opponent with strikes.
Nieminen in a bad spot here, taking shots to the head.
Nieminen working to try and regain half guard.
Hero landing strikes from the mount and Nieminen is in trouble!
Nieminen is desperately trying to get back to half guard.

Hero goes for an armbar but Nieminen turns quickly into his guard - lovely anticipation from Nieminen.
Hero wants to sweep here but Nieminen controlling him for the moment.

Hero working for a triangle but Nieminen defends it easily.
Hero is breathing heavily.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Nieminen accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Hero lands a beautiful switch and he's in full mount! That could spell trouble for Nieminen!
Hero with a couple of short strikes.
Hero lands with some vicious ground and pound - can Nieminen hang on?

Hero is thinking about an arm triangle here, looking to tighten it up before moving to side control. Nieminen can see it coming though and defends well with a couple of strikes to the head and some good arm positioning.
Nieminen working to try and regain half guard.
Nieminen manages to regain half guard. Good work.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Hero throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
Hero missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.
Nieminen wants to improve his position but Hero is controlling well.
Hero wants to free his trapped foot but Nieminen is holding on for dear life with his legs.
Nieminen is looking to get back to full guard here but Hero has managed to pass to side control instead.
Nieminen can't escape the position.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Hero landing strikes from the mount.
Hero looking to control but Nieminen is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.
Hero scores with a couple of good head shots there.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Sub Hero dominated that round.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin!

Hero slips under a jab from Nieminen.
Nieminen doesn't manage to clinch there - Hero circles away.
Hero closes this distance looking for a takedown but Nieminen circles away.

Nieminen gets caught flat footed, as Hero shoots in with a quick takedown into guard.
Hero pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Nieminen is keeping the position for now.
Hero 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.
Hero is working hard here to advance position.
Nieminen throws some sloppy strikes off his back.
Hero scoring with some ground and pound.
Hero with a nice head shot there.

Nieminen working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Hero doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Hero manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.
Nieminen wants to sweep but no luck.
Hero wants to control from the top but Nieminen keeps moving.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Hero is intent on slowing down the pace of the fight, simply looking to control.
Nieminen is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.
Hero is looking for a sweep. Nieminen is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Nieminen scoring with strikes to the body and head.
Nieminen not landing any meaningful shots this time.
Sub Hero overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Hero works his way to full guard. Good work.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Hero lands a beautiful switch and he's in full mount! That could spell trouble for Nieminen!
Nieminen is in all sorts of trouble here.
Hero lands a nice shot to the head.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Nieminen taking shots to the head.
Hero lands a big elbow.
The referee warns Nieminen that he has to improve his position here as he takes two more clean shots to the head.
Nieminen sneaks a leg back under and regains half guard and is working straight away to try and get back to guard. He hasn't managed just yet though.
Hero missing with the ground and pound from half guard.
Hero slips a nice elbow through Nieminen's hands, connecting with Nieminen's forehead.
Hero tries to pass the half guard into mount. Nieminen knows what he's doing though and prevents the attempt.
Nieminen is looking for a sweep. Hero is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Hero slips a nice elbow through Nieminen's hands, connecting with Nieminen's forehead.
The fighters are battling for position here. Nieminen manages to regain full guard. Nice work.
Nieminen looking to hit a scissor sweep but Hero is one step ahead there.

Nieminen is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Nieminen utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.

Nieminen escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Hero gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
Nieminen wants to improve his position but instead Hero has moved into half guard.
Hero moves nicely into side control.
Hero wants to control but Nieminen is keeping him busy.

Hero is looking for a kimura. He might have it! No, Nieminen has escaped the position, nice work there.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Nieminen is looking for a sweep.
Hero working the ground and pound.
Nieminen takes a nasty elbow to the side of the head.
Nieminen wants to get back to his feet but Hero drags him back down.
Hero gets to mount! Nieminen was on the offensive and wasn't defending properly.
Nieminen taking shots to the head.
Hero controlling from mount.
Nieminen in a bad spot here, taking shots to the head.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Sub Hero dominated that second round.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

Hero closes the distance and looks for a trip takedown... aaaand he's got it - Hero lands in his opponent's guard.
Hero makes a bit of distance and scores with some ground and pound, still in guard.

Hero avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
Hero works a leg free and moves into half guard.
Hero scores with a couple of good hammerfists.
Hero working the head and body with strikes.
Hero thows a huge punch but Nieminen dodges it nicely.
Hero scoring with strikes to the body and head.
Hero winds up and cracks Nieminen with a swinging punch to the side of the head.
Nieminen tries to get to full guard but Hero has control of the leg.
Nieminen is trying to defend against the ground and pound but Hero scores with a couple of nice shots.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Hero seems to be looking for submissions.

Nieminen actively working from the bottom here.

Nieminen looking for submissions from an awkward position here.
Nieminen flails away from the bottom but he's not doing any damage.

Hero in half guard on the top. He's looking for a kimura... He's got it locked and he's managed to free his trapped foot. Nieminen tries to escape but it's on too tight and he has to tap! Great BJJ skills there from Hero!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 1:59 of round 3, we have a winner by way of Submission (Kimura). Sub Hero!
Sub Hero retains his bantamweight title!