PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Bob Worthington (ranked 2871 p4p, 4009 weight class) and Rivo Niskanen (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). We have two fighters making their debuts here, so let's see who comes out of this one with their first professional victory.

Worthington
vs
Niskanen

188 cm
20
185
0 - 0 - 0

188 cm
18
188
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Self confident

BJJ White Belt
Excellent MT
Determined

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 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of London, Bob Worthington!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Rivo Niskanen!
The judges for this bout are Phil Schofield, Colin Fotheringham and Andrew Berry.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Niskanen scores with a sloppy punch to the body. Not much technique there but it did the business.
Worthington closes the distance and clinches up with Niskanen, looking for a takedown. Worthington pushes Niskanen against the cage but Niskanen circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
Worthington takes one to the chin there.
Worthington shoots in for a takedown but Niskanen shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
Worthington moves in looking to clinch but Niskanen pushes him off.
Niskanen smiles there as he lands a nice right hand right on the button.
Worthington throws a big shot that misses.
Niskanen fakes low and throws an overhand right that catches Worthington on the side of the head.
Niskanen tries to clinch but Worthington moves out of range.
Niskanen darts in trying to clinch

so Worthington counters with a double leg into guard. Good agility.
Worthington sitting in guard here, content to control.
Hammerfist, elbow! yells Worthington's corner. There ya go! There ya go!
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Worthington advances to half guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Niskanen wants to control but Worthington is keeping busy and won't allow it.
Worthington is taking a breather. Niskanen says something to him but it's hard to make out. Perhaps he's telling him to get on with it and actually do something.
Worthington has controlled the position for a good 20 seconds, which will no doubt be starting to frustrate his opponent.
Niskanen has hold of Worthington's hands but Worthington slips his arm to the side and lands an elbow.
Worthington stalling.

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.

Worthington is trying to work for a kimura but Niskanen is defending well.
Niskanen has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Worthington is working away from the top position though.
Worthington controlling the action here.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Worthington not landing any meaningful shots this time.

Worthington is working for a kimura but Niskanen is defending it quite comfortably.
Nice strikes from Worthington there.
Worthington performing his best blanket impression for a moment.
Worthington is keeping good posture, landing some ground and pound.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Worthington is trying to work for a kimura but Niskanen is defending well.
Worthington is figuring out what he wants to do next.
Worthington throwing shots but Niskanen is blocking nicely.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.

Worthington is looking for a kimura but Niskanen is holding onto that half guard position, so it's hard for Worthington to get the leverage.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Bob Worthington 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.

Worthington shoots in looking for a takedown but Niskanen manages to keep the fight standing, pushing Worthington's face into the canvas for good measure before circling away.
Worthington misses with a looping left.
Niskanen now looks to counter with a shot at the body.
Niskanen tries to close the distance and clinch but Worthington swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Worthington is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Niskanen can do to turn this around?
Worthington changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Niskanen tries to avoid it but Worthington manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Niskanen to the ground. Niskanen escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
Niskanen tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Niskanen lands a pitter patter jab to the forehead of his opponent.
Nice uppercut there from Niskanen.
Bob Worthington is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Worthington takes one on the button.

Niskanen forces Worthington back against the cage and clinches.
Niskanen wants to stall.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Niskanen lands with a light punch inside.
Niskanen is pushing Worthington up against the cage, for a bit of lean and pray action. Action being used the in the loosest possible sense of the word.
Niskanen just leaning against Worthington, taking a breather.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Niskanen is stalling here.
A short right from Niskanen.
Niskanen gets double underhooks to prevent a takedown attempt from Worthington.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Bob Worthington. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Niskanen pressing his opponent against the cage.

Worthington ties up his opponent against the cage and manages to drag the fight down to the ground. Worthington no doubt will be looking to work submissions from his guard.
Worthington keeping moving, preventing Niskanen from controlling successfully.
Worthington 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.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Worthington is actively looking for submissions from his back. He's worked himself a little space on the bottom and seems to be going for a triangle. No, he's switched into an armbar! That was slick! Niskanen rolls with it to try and escape but Worthington cranks on the arm and Niskanen is forced to tap out! This one is aaaaaaaaall over!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 2:20 of round 2, we have a winner by way of Submission (Armbar). Bob Worthington!