PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Nate Tonkins (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Russ Noble (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). The atmosphere really building for this one as we go over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Tonkins
vs
Noble

165 cm
24
180 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

185 cm
25
170 lbs
3 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Granite chin

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Tends to cut

SHINTO

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 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Nate Tonkins!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 3 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Russ Noble!
The judges for this bout are Matti Vanhoillinen, Roosa Järviläinen and Johanna Lukiainen.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Tonkins throws a body shot but no joy.
A little jabbing left from Noble on the counter but it doesn't find it's target.
Tonkins really is a fat lump.
Noble fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
Tonkins goes for a spinning back kick but it misses.
Noble swings away with a counter right hand but no contact made.
Both fighters are looking to counter, which isn't making for the most exciting fight in the world.
No luck for Tonkins with that takedown attempt.
Noble wants to counter with a clinch but Tonkins pushes him away.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Tonkins has taken the fight to the clinch.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Noble is defending well against a takedown attempt.
Tonkins fails to pull the fight into his guard.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Nate Tonkins. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Noble wants to break the clinch but can't.
Tonkins is trying to pull guard but being pressed up against the cage enables Noble to keep the fight standing.
Tonkins misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Noble.

Tonkins manages to pull guard. Let's see whether he can land a sub off his back.

Noble stands up from Tonkins's guard - Noble perhaps looking for a knockout.
Tonkins shoots in but doesn't get the takedown
and Noble counters with a straight punch to the midsection.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Tonkins has taken the fight to the clinch.
Noble has had enough of the clinch and is looking to separate.
Tonkins landing knees to the body.
Tonkins jumps guard but Noble turns him against the cage and keeps the fight standing.
Noble has had enough of the clinch but Tonkins keeps him there for the moment.
Tonkins is trying to pull guard but Noble turns him against the cage and we stay in the clinch.
Noble wants to break the clinch but can't.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Noble is trying to push Tonkins away but Tonkins has him pressed against the cage, so he's going nowhere.
Tonkins drops down looking for an ankle pick but Noble pulls his leg out and moves away.
Tonkins shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Noble but Noble pushes him off and we're back to square one.
A countering left hand to the body from Noble misses.
Tonkins takes one to the side of the head.

Tonkins has Noble up against the cage in a clinch.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Tonkins is pushing Noble up against the cage, for a bit of lean and pray action. Action being used the in the loosest possible sense of the word.
Tonkins gets underhooks to prevent Noble's takedown attempt.
Noble looks winded!
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Tonkins tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. Noble smiles and moves away.

Tonkins darts in and clinches Noble up against the cage.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Tonkins clinches.
Noble just leaning against Tonkins, taking a breather.

Tonkins lands a nice trip takedown into half guard.
Tonkins working some ground and pound from close in. He's looking to maintain this position and strike for a while by the looks of things... although he'll probably advance to full mount in a minute now I've said that.
Tonkins wants to control but Noble is keeping him busy.
Noble trying to control from the bottom.
Tonkins takes a deep breath and rests his weight momentarily on top of his opponent, to control the position.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Noble is in trouble now - Tonkins has advanced to mount!
Tonkins can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as Noble is looking to escape.
Tonkins content just to control the position here.
Noble is breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Noble is wriggling around here but as he tries to escape, Tonkins has taken his back.
So, who will make the next big move? In this position it could be crucial.
Noble 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.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.

Tonkins looking for the RNC.

Noble is having to fend off submission attempts from Tonkins, who is looking to sink in the choke. Tonkins doesn't have the hooks in though and Noble manages to reverse position! He's now on top, in his opponent's guard.
Noble stopping the sweep attempt from Tonkins.
Tonkins bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Noble's guard.

Tonkins not doing a lot at the moment. He'll have to show some more aggression or the fight will get stood up.
Tonkins wants to control from the top but Noble keeps moving.
Tonkins might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Tonkins pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Noble is keeping the position for now.
Tonkins controls from within his opponent's guard.

Noble has his foot on Tonkins's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Tonkins works his way back into a safe position though.
Tonkins not doing a lot at the moment. He'll have to show some more aggression or the fight will get stood up.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Well. There's a bit of a lull in the action here and the crowd are starting to get restless.
Tonkins has controlled the position for a good 20 seconds, which will no doubt be starting to frustrate his opponent.
Noble wants to get back to his feet but Tonkins is in a dominant position and won't allow it.
The referee wants the fighters to be more active or he's going to reset them on the feet.
Tonkins showing good wrestling skills to control the position.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up. He just wasn't happy with the level of activity.

Tonkins clinches up against the cage.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Nate Tonkins dominated that second round.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin! The crowd applaud as we get ready to start the final round!

Tonkins has taken the fight to the clinch.
Noble wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.
Tonkins using the Thai clinch to land knees to the body.
Noble looks like he'd prefer to be striking at range right now.

Tonkins manages to pull guard.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Noble tries to stand but Tonkins is controlling from the bottom.
Noble takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Noble stopping the sweep attempt from Tonkins.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Tonkins looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
Tonkins being controlled here, momentarily.
Tonkins trying to control the position.
Noble wanted to stand there but Tonkins had control of the position.
We've had a lack of effective grappling in the last minute or so, which could well see a referee standup.
Tonkins has a closed guard, preventing anything of note from happening. Perhaps he's looking to stall.

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.

That's two 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.

Tonkins clinches up with Noble and pushes him back against the cage.
Tonkins jumps guard but Noble turns him against the cage and keeps the fight standing.
Tonkins tries to pull guard but Noble forces him back to his feet, against the cage.
The fighters are pressed against the cage, as the pace of the fight slows.
Tonkins tries to pull guard but Noble holds him up against the cage and eventually Tonkins drops back down to his feet.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Nate Tonkins. That's going to take a lot out of him.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Noble breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.

Tonkins gets a clinch.
Tonkins prevents Noble from breaking the clinch.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.
Noble working hard to break the clinch.
Tonkins leaning his opponent against the cage.
Tonkins tries to pull guard but Noble won't allow it.
Russ Noble has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Nate Tonkins has scored more points in the clinch so far.
Noble is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!

Noble breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Nate Tonkins is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Tonkins throws a shot to the body.

And that's the end of the fight!
Nate Tonkins showed his dominance in that final round.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Tonkins, 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 Matti Vanhoillinen scores the fight 30:27
Judge Roosa Järviläinen scores the fight 30:27
Judge Johanna Lukiainen scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Nate Tonkins!