PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Riku Tiirismaa (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Keeper Flame (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). I don't know about you partner, but I'm pumped for this one!

Tiirismaa
vs
Flame

180 cm
18
175 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

184 cm
22
190 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Basic striking
Good chin

BJJ White Belt
Brawler
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 - 0 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Riku Tiirismaa!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Keeper Flame!
The judges for this bout are Aleksandr Martynov, Viktor Lagutenko and Fedor Mirinova.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Tiirismaa lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Flame circles away quickly and effectively.

The fight moves into the clinch position.

Flame jumps guard.
Flame really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Tiirismaa. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.
Flame is doing well to control the posture of his opponent and prevent any damage.
Tiirismaa looking to pass the guard.
Tiirismaa prevents Flame from getting back to his feet.
We get told so often about how wrestlers don't like to be on their backs. Let's see if Flame can do anything to dispel that myth.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Flame controlling Tiirismaa's posture.
Tiirismaa trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Flame looking to hit a scissor sweep but Tiirismaa is one step ahead there.
Tiirismaa wants to control from the top but Flame keeps moving.
Flame has his hands on Tiirismaa's head, controlling the position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
My god... these two guys really need to pick up the pace or everyone will leave to go get a beer.
Flame trying to keep a closed guard but Tiirismaa is proving a slippery customer.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.

Flame clinches with his opponent.
Flame wants a takedown.

Flame breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
An inside leg kick from Tiirismaa misses.
Nice sprawl there from Tiirismaa as Flame shoots in.
Flame shoots in for a takedown but Tiirismaa shows good takedown defense.
Riku Tiirismaa has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Keeper Flame.

Tiirismaa rushes Flame and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.
Tiirismaa is breathing heavily.
Tiirismaa blocks the elbow strike.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Flame pulls guard successfully.
Tiirismaa looking to pass the guard.
Flame looking to sweep using the butterfly guard but Tiirismaa puts pay to that idea as he passes nicely into half guard.
Tiirismaa is trying to control the action in half guard but Flame is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.
Flame gets full guard.
Flame looking to control the pace of the fight rather than finish it.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Let's hope that Flame has the urge to step up the pace any second now because for the last 15 or 20 seconds he's just been holding on tight.
Flame wants to stand and escape but Tiirismaa is having none of it.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
A real slowdown in the pace of the fight for a moment, as Flame holds on and takes a little breather.

Flame working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Tiirismaa doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Tiirismaa manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Keeper Flame dominated that round.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business.

Tiirismaa looks for a takedown but Flame sprawls well.

Flame closes the distance, clinches up and gets a nice trip takedown into side control. Very smooth.
Flame advances nicely into full mount.
Flame unloads with some shots from mount but Tiirismaa bucks and avoids them well.
Flame content just to control the position here.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Flame sends his fist crashing into the mat - the crowd let out a collective ooooooh. Let's hope he's not broken it!
Flame sitting in mount, just looking to control for the moment.
Flame landing strikes, looking to finish!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Flame sitting in mount, just looking to control for the moment.

Despite being in the dominant position, Keeper Flame just isn't active enough and the referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Flame fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
Flame shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Tiirismaa as he avoids it easily.
Riku Tiirismaa is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Flame lands a nice looking kick to the body. Tiirismaa takes a step back to recover.

Flame forces Tiirismaa back against the cage and clinches.

Flame breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Tiirismaa stuffs the takedown attempt from Flame. Flame gets slowly back to his feet.
Riku Tiirismaa has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Keeper Flame.

Flame has Tiirismaa up against the cage in a clinch.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Flame breaks from the clinch.

Flame closes the distance and clinches.
Flame jumps guard but Tiirismaa stands there with Flame around his waist. Flame gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.
A hook to the body from Flame.
Flame drops down looking for an ankle pick but Tiirismaa pulls his leg out and moves away.

Flame clinches.
Flame tries to pull guard but Tiirismaa won't allow it.
Flame goes for a takedown attempt but Tiirismaa pushes him away and we're back to fighting at a distance.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Flame shoots in but no luck this time.
Flame shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.

Flame has managed to clinch.
Tiirismaa tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. Flame just stands there and leans against the cage.
Flame drops down for a takedown but doesn't get it.

Flame breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Flame throws a wild body kick that Tiirismaa sees coming a mile off.
Tiirismaa shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Flame as he jumps to the side.
Flame shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Tiirismaa pinned against the cage. Tiirismaa gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Keeper Flame showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action! So, we enter the final round. Let's see if either fighter can bring us a finish, or whether we're going to the judges scorecards.

Flame tries to clinch

and Tiirismaa counters with a shoot takedown. Flame fights it but they end up in guard.
Flame wants to stand but Tiirismaa is controlling the position.
Flame tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Flame keeping moving, preventing Tiirismaa from controlling successfully.
Flame wants to sweep here but Tiirismaa controlling him for the moment.

Flame escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Tiirismaa gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Flame striking off his back but it's not causing Tiirismaa any problems.
Flame seems keen to control rather than go for a submission, at least for now.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
Flame closes the distance and clinches up with Tiirismaa, looking for a takedown. Flame pushes Tiirismaa against the cage but Tiirismaa circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
Flame tries a head kick but it misses.

Flame rushes Tiirismaa and presses him up against the cage.

Flame breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.
Flame shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Flame shoots for a double leg takedown but Tiirismaa sprawls well. He's pushed Flame's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
Riku Tiirismaa has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Keeper Flame.
Flame misses with a head kick.
Flame fails with an attempt to clinch.

Tiirismaa closes the distance, clinches up and gets a nice trip takedown into side control. Very smooth.

Tiirismaa is trying to land an Americana. He has the arm isolated but Flame is keeping cool and he's avoided the danger for now.
Flame is not content to let Tiirismaa control the position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Flame wants to control but Tiirismaa postures up.
Flame is positioning himself to get back to half guard.

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.
Tiirismaa working away.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Flame is moving his hips around well on the bottom and has managed to get back to half guard.
Flame wants to control but Tiirismaa is keeping busy and won't allow it.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.
Flame fails with the takedown.
Flame fails to land the takedown.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Tiirismaa misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
Riku Tiirismaa has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Keeper Flame is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Flame changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Tiirismaa tries to avoid it but Flame manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Tiirismaa to the ground. Tiirismaa escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.

And that's the end of the fight!
Riku Tiirismaa showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Flame has won this one but let's see whether the judges agree with me. 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 Aleksandr Martynov scores the fight 28:29
Judge Viktor Lagutenko scores the fight 28:29
Judge Fedor Mirinova scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Keeper Flame!