PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Nathan Wallace (ranked 942 p4p, 50 weight class) and Oskar Friman (ranked 1349 p4p, 76 weight class). Nathan Wallace has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Wallace
vs
Friman

176 cm
34
146 lbs
20 - 13 - 0

170 cm
29
135 lbs
11 - 7 - 0

Good wrestling
World class boxer
Insanely flexible

Olympic wrestler
World class boxer
Good gas tank

Groove Gear

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the bantamweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 20 - 13 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, Nathan Wallace!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 11 - 7 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Oskar Friman!
The judges for this bout are Dean Styles, Russell Pearce and John Roberts.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Wallace drops his hands and takes a jab to the jaw for his troubles.
Friman blocks a low kick nicely.

Friman shoots in for a takedown! He's got it and he's managed to land in side control! That's better than Friman was expecting from the takedown attempt, I'm sure!

Wallace explodes and escapes back to his feet! Nice escape there!
Wallace throws a nice looking combination but Friman bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Wallace misses with a low kick as Friman jumps back.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Wallace works over Friman's head and body with a nice combination.
Wallace throws a combination that misses
and Friman counters with a nice uppercut.
Nathan Wallace seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

Friman has managed to clinch.
Wallace prevents a takedown attempt there.

Friman breaks the clinch.
Wallace throws a right hand that Friman ducks under and follows up with a left that Friman also avoids with ease.
Friman scores with a shot to the body.
Wallace feints with a shoulder and throws a nice leg kick to Friman's calf.
Friman throws a shot from downtown. Wallace moves away and avoids it.
Wallace fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Wallace lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Friman circles away quickly and effectively.
Friman lets it all go there with a big combo counter but none of the punches connected.

That's one minute gone in the round.
A looping hook to the body misses from Friman. Wallace does a little dance to reset his feet.

Friman rushes Wallace and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.
Wallace working hard to break the clinch.

Friman is trying to trip Wallace. He has hold of a leg but Wallace is hopping around, keeping his balance for the moment. Friman persists though and gets the takedown into guard.
Friman trying to control the position from guard on top but Wallace is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Friman advances position into side control!
Friman throws a knee to the body but it doesn't do much damage.
Friman working the ground and pound.
Friman tries to land with some ground and pound but misses.
Friman working the ground and pound but he's contacting the mat, not the fighter.
Wallace managing to avoid any damage from the strikes thrown by Friman.
Friman wants to control but Wallace is keeping him busy.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Wallace takes a big shot right to the temple there but he's taken it well.
Friman is looking to take a break and control but Wallace is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Friman scores with punches from side control.

Wallace bucks up and manages to escape back to his feet!
This has been an exciting period of action!
Wallace's hands are dropping dangerously low here and Friman connects clean with a right hook that sends him down to one knee! Wallace scrambles back to his feet.
Friman is looking to score with low kicks.
Wallace misses with a body kick.
Friman throws a couple of head shots and lands with the final one - a decent hook, which struck Wallace on the side of the head.
Friman shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Wallace defends it nicely.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Friman connects with a right hand. Wallace shakes it off.
Friman throws a leg kick but Wallace sees it coming and moves out of range.
Wallace slips under a jab from Friman.
Wallace goes for a spinning back kick but it misses.
Wallace takes one on the button.
Friman digs a good body shot into Wallace's ribs.
Friman avoids a punch combination nicely.
A jab from Friman does it's job there.
Wallace misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
And an attempted straight right on the counter from Friman! But no joy.
Friman lunges at Wallace with a hook that half lands and is half blocked by Wallace's hand.
Wallace on the wrong end of a decent looking cross there.
Wallace tries to land a front kick but Friman steps back. That was a bit too telegraphed.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Friman swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Friman with a nice cross.
Wallace throws a combination that misses

and Friman counters with a nice double leg into guard.
Friman postures up and scores with a shot to the body and a follow up elbow to the head.
Wallace wants to stand up but Friman is controlling him.
Wallace trying desperately to get back to his feet here but he's not having any joy at all. He's going to tire himself out if he's not careful.
Friman landing with the ground and pound.
Friman stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Wallace swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Wallace seems to have improved his submission grappling technique since last time we saw him. Let's see if he can pull off a submission.
The crowd applaud the fighters' efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Friman postures up and scores with a shot to the body and a follow up elbow to the head.
Friman trying to control but Wallace is working from the bottom.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Oskar Friman dominated that round.
That's time! Wallace's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight.

The fight stays on the outside here - Friman looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Wallace appears to be looking for a big counter.
Friman lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Wallace circles away quickly and effectively.
Wallace throws a big counter combination but Friman scrambles out of danger and avoids any damage.
Friman scores with a jab to the body.
Friman showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Wallace.
Nathan Wallace is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Wallace rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Friman moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Friman looked like he wanted to counter with a punch but didn't throw it.
Wallace fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Wallace moves forwards but Friman connects with a nice, crisp jab.
Wallace keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
Wallace throws a decent looking leg kick but it doesn't land clean.
Friman moves out of range of the body kick from Wallace.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Friman scores with a body shot.
A combination from Wallace does no damage.

Friman clinches up with Wallace and pushes him back against the cage.
Friman has Wallace pressed up against the cage and is working for takedown. Wallace manages to improve position though and keeps the fight standing.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Friman has Wallace pressed up against the cage and is working for takedown. Wallace manages to improve position though and keeps the fight standing.
Nathan Wallace has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Oskar Friman.

Friman pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Wallace throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Friman.
Friman looks to score with a jab to the body but Wallace is just out of range.
Wallace circles away from the clinch attempt.
Wallace seem to be loading up, looking for a big counter.
Friman blocks the body kick.
Wallace avoids the body shot from Friman.
Friman lands a nice hook to Wallace's body. Wallace takes it in his stride and looks to land his own strikes.
Good standup being displayed there by Friman as he connects with a hook.
Friman thuds a left hand into Wallace's body.
Friman fakes low and throws an overhand right that catches Wallace on the side of the head.
Nathan Wallace is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Wallace uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Friman.
Friman avoids a punch combination nicely.
Friman with the counter takedown but Wallace avoids it easily.

Wallace drops Friman with a beautiful combination! Friman stares up at his opponent, who ushers him back to his feet - Wallace is looking for the KO!

Friman is rocked!
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Wallace looks for the body kick but Friman saw that one coming.
Wallace turns his hip over beautifully as he lands a nice leg kick.
Wallace swings wildly with a couple of big hooks

and Friman counters with a takedown into side control! That could mean trouble for Wallace!

Wallace sneaks out the side door and pushes Friman away - he's back to his feet. The crowd show their appreciation for the escape.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Wallace on the wrong end of a nice jab.

Friman closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.

Wallace escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Wallace swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Friman fakes a head shot and lands one to the body.
Wallace misses with a jab, cross combination.
Wallace throws a right hand that Friman ducks under and follows up with a left that Friman also avoids with ease.
And Friman responds with a good body kick, but Wallace manages to step out the way in time.
Wallace throws a body kick but he was well out of range there.
Wallace tries to bum rush Friman with a series of wild strikes but Friman uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Friman fakes and then throws a beautiful body shot. Wallace looks a bit winded and takes a step backwards to take a breath.
Friman jabs. That one connects to the head of his opponent.
Friman sizes up Wallace with a pawing jab and scores with a straight right down the middle.
Friman moves in looking to clinch but Wallace pushes him off.
Wallace throws a series of punches but Friman avoids them all with ease.
Friman throws a leg kick but Wallace sees it coming and checks it nicely.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Friman misses with a wild body shot.
Wallace on the wrong end of a vicious looking body shot.

Friman pushes Wallace up against the cage in a clinch.
Wallace misses with a body punch.

Friman has Wallace pressed up against the cage. He's trying to work for a single leg takedown. Friman pulls back from the cage and twists to the side, sending Wallace tumbling to the mat - Friman dives into Wallace's guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Friman won't allow Wallace to get back to his feet.
Friman is looking to advance position but Wallace has hit a scissor sweep - now he's on top in mount!

Wallace avoids the attempt from Friman to control.

Wallace stands up from the dominant position. He obviously fancies his chances standing.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Wallace throws a mid kick that lands with a slap.
Friman is on the wrong end of a nice combination from Wallace.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Wallace misses with a head kick.
Wallace looks shocked there as he takes a right hand to the temple.
Nathan Wallace is winning the standup battle so far.
Friman shoots in looking for a takedown. Wallace tries to sprawl out of it but Friman keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Wallace manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
Wallace throws a right and a left that both miss.
Jab, jab by Friman - just one landing.
Wallace misses with a double jab.
Friman takes a kick to the body and keeps moving.
Friman misses with a straight right.

Friman closes the distance and pushes Wallace back into the cage.
The crowd applaud the fighters' efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Friman is struggling to control the position.
A left hand lands to the body for Friman.
Friman just leaning against Wallace, taking a breather.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close second round but I would say that Nathan Wallace will probably get the nod.
That's time! Wallace's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight. This is the final round!

Wallace takes an uppercut right on the jaw but it doesn't phase him.
Wallace fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Wallace takes a jab on the nose. He smiles like he loves it and keeps coming.
Friman looks to land a right hand but Wallace moved out of range.
Friman fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Friman throws out a loose jab but Wallace uses good head movement to avoid it.
Wallace takes a body punch that cleary hurt but he's trying not to show any weakness.
Friman connects with a right hand. Wallace shakes it off.
The fight stays on the outside here - Friman looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Friman fails in his attempt to clinch.
Friman lands with a right hand.
Friman misses with a hook. Wallace ducked under it nicely.
Wallace will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
A punch combination from Wallace misses.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Wallace rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Friman moves out of range and avoids them all easily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Friman slips a jab and a cross from Wallace.
The fighters circling - Friman throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
Friman lands a right hook to the body.
Wallace takes a shot to the body in his stride.
Wallace's corner calls for a 1, 2 combination and Wallace duly obliges.
Wallace looks like he's developed a pretty tasty lump over his left eye. He'll need to avoid taking much more damage to that.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Friman scores with a slapping inside leg kick.
A combination from Wallace does no damage.
A punch combination from Wallace misses.

Friman drives through and clinches with Wallace against the cage.
Friman has been looking to improve his clinch game in recent weeks. Wallace seems to have the measure of him in the clinch so far, so let's see if Friman can turn it around.
Friman controlling the action here for a moment.
Wallace softening up his opponent with strikes, against the cage.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Friman softening up his opponent with strikes, against the cage.
Wallace working hard to break the clinch.
Wallace is trying to break the clinch but Friman is controlling him.

Wallace escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Friman dodges the punch combination from Wallace.
Friman is clearly trying to counter these attacks from Wallace with a body shot.
Wallace swats away the attempt to clinch by Friman.
Friman tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Wallace was well out of range. Poor timing from Friman.
Friman works the jab nicely.
Nice body punch from Friman.
Wallace missing with a left hand there. Friman was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
An inside leg kick lands from Wallace.
Wallace's hands are dropping dangerously low here and Friman connects clean with a right hook that sends him down to one knee! Wallace scrambles back to his feet.
Friman lands with a good body shot.
Wallace walks into a straight right hand from Friman.
Friman moves into range and connects with a jab.
Wallace throws a right hand that Friman ducks under and follows up with a left that Friman also avoids with ease.
Friman lands a jab followed by a nice looking cross.
Friman lands a right hook to the body.

Friman rushes Wallace and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Friman stalling in the clinch.

Wallace escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Some wild striking there from Wallace.
The crowd cheers as Friman lands an impressive looking overhand right. Wallace doesn't seem phased though.
Wallace misses with a series of wild punches.
Friman scores with a sloppy right hand. Wallace should have avoided that one.
Friman jabs Wallace to the body, keeping him at a distance.
Wallace rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Friman moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Jab by Friman.

Friman closes the distance and scores a nice trip takedown into half guard. Wallace did well to prevent Friman getting side control.
Friman has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Friman tries to pass to full mount but Wallace defends it.
Friman wants to lay and pray for a moment but Wallace keeps working.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Friman is scoring with some nice ground and pound from the dominant position.
Neither fighter is being very active at the moment, with Friman in particular looking to stall.
Friman prevents Wallace from standing back up.
Friman thows a huge punch but Wallace dodges it nicely.
Friman tries to pass the half guard into mount. Wallace knows what he's doing though and prevents the attempt.

And that's the end of the fight!
Oskar Friman comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Friman has outworked and out performed his opponent in all aspects of the game today. He was simply too good and the decision should be no more than a formality. 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 Dean Styles scores the fight 28:29
Judge Russell Pearce scores the fight 28:29
Judge John Roberts scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Oskar Friman!
After winning the bout, Oskar Friman thanked all his fans and promised he'd do even better in his next fight. The crowd seemed to love his humility.