PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Matti Nykanen (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Mike White (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Nykanen comes to the cage accompanied by Elama on laiffii. Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

Nykanen
vs
White

183 cm
20
167 lbs
1 - 1 - 0

180 cm
20
158 lbs
2 - 2 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Decent elbows
Very strong

Good takedowns
Counter striker
Very confident

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the lightweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 1 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Matti Nykanen!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Mike White!
The judges for this bout are Roosa Järviläinen, Tarja Halkonen and Marco Blurström.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Nykanen throws a head kick but White moves out of range.
Nykanen tries to clinch up.

Nykanen rushes White and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.
Nykanen gets underhooks to prevent White's takedown attempt.
The two fighters are working to gain dominance in the clinch.
Nykanen lands an elbow just above White 's eye.

It looks like Mike White has been cut.
White takes an elbow to the temple.
Kneeeeees! The crowd are calling for knees to the body. Nykanen obliges.
Nykanen lands a knee to the head.
White looking for a takedown.
Knees to the body from Nykanen.
White being controlled against the cage.
Knees in the clinch landing for Nykanen.
Nykanen misses with a knee strike.
Nice elbow from Nykanen.
Nykanen stalling against the cage.
Nykanen lands a nice knee to the body.
White looks gassed!

That's one minute gone in the round.
Nykanen stalling in the clinch.
White is working for takedown but Nykanen is calmly controlling the position for now.
Matti Nykanen has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Mike White.
White tries for a takedown but Nykanen manages to get underhooks.
Nykanen is trying to wear down his opponent with knees to the body.
Nice elbow from Nykanen.
Nykanen unloads a knee to the mid-section. White lets out a prehistoric sounding urrrrgh.
Nice elbow from Nykanen.
Nykanen taking a break, stalling in the clinch.
Nykanen lands an elbow inside.
Kneeeeees! The crowd are calling for knees to the body. Nykanen obliges.
Nykanen lands a damaging elbow.

That has opened up Mike White's cut even more.
Nykanen lands a glancing elbow in the clinch.
White takes an elbow to the forehead.
Nykanen pressing his opponent against the cage.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Nykanen lands an elbow just above White 's eye.
Nykanen creates a bit of space for himself and sneaks an elbow through White's defenses.
Nykanen lands a knee to the head there! That was nasty!
Nykanen with the Thai clinch, lands a knee to the head.

White is rocked!
Nykanen lands a knee to the head.
White is still on wobbly legs! Can Nykanen finish him?

The cut above Mike White's eye is starting to cause him problems now.
Nykanen lands an elbow that stopped White in his tracks for a moment.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Nykanen scores with a knee to the head.
Nykanen lands a knee to the head there! That was nasty!
Nykanen stalling the fight.
Nykanen lands a knee to the head.
Nice elbow from Nykanen.
White takes a knee right on the jaw!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Nykanen lands a damaging elbow.
White takes an elbow to the temple.
White seems to have recovered his senses.
Nice elbow from Nykanen.
Nykanen using the Thai clinch to land knees to the body.
White tries for a takedown. No joy.
Nykanen connects with a knee to the head.
Knees in the clinch landing for Nykanen.
Nykanen stalling in the clinch.
Nykanen connects with a nasty looking knee right to White's face.
The referee calls for Nykanen to work.
White tries to score a body lock takedown but Nykanen shows good agility there to stay on his feet.
Nykanen creates a bit of space for himself and sneaks an elbow through White's defenses.
The two fighters are working to gain dominance in the clinch.
Nykanen lands a nice elbow from the clinch.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Nykanen lands an elbow that stopped White in his tracks for a moment.
Nykanen is clearly stalling here... Pick up the pace son.
The ref breaks the fighters up, due to lack of action by Matti Nykanen.
A left and a right from Nykanen both land. Nice combination.
Nykanen stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Nykanen wants it to stay on the feet.
Nykanen throws a nice outside leg kick.
Nykanen swings for the body but White moves out of range.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.

Nykanen takes the fight into the clinch.
Nykanen scores a nice knee to the body.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Matti Nykanen dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Mike White's cut.
That's time! Back to the action!

Nykanen moves in looking to clinch but White pushes him off.
Nykanen tries a head kick but it misses.

Nykanen pushes White up against the cage in a clinch.
White takes an elbow to the forehead.
Nykanen lands a nice elbow from the clinch.
Nykanen with the Thai clinch, lands a knee to the head.
Matti Nykanen has scored more points in the clinch so far.
Knees to the body from Nykanen.
Nykanen creates a bit of space for himself and sneaks an elbow through White's defenses.
Nykanen lands a glancing elbow in the clinch.
White takes a knee right on the jaw!
Nykanen lands an elbow just above White 's eye.
Nykanen tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and White avoids it.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Nykanen lands an elbow inside.
Nykanen lands a knee to the head.
White takes an elbow to the temple.
Nykanen lands a glancing elbow in the clinch.

That's one minute gone in the round.
White swings wildly with an uppercut but Nykanen uses good head movement to avoid it.
Nykanen connects with a nasty looking knee right to White's face.
Nykanen prevents the takedown attempt.
Nykanen lands a knee to the head.
The two fighters are working to gain dominance in the clinch.
Nice elbow from Nykanen.
Nykanen lands a nice elbow from the clinch.
White takes an elbow to the temple.
Nykanen slowing the pace effectively.
Nykanen looking to throw knees to the head but White is blocking nicely.
Nykanen missing with knees to the body.
White is trying to work for a single leg takedown but Nykanen pulls him back up using the underhooks.
Nykanen gets an overhook and lands an elbow to the side of the head.
Nykanen landing some nice looking knees to the body.
Nykanen using the Thai clinch to land knees to the body.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Nykanen gets an overhook and lands an elbow to the side of the head.
Nykanen lands a nice elbow.
White takes an elbow to the forehead.
White takes an elbow to the temple.
Nykanen lands an elbow just above White 's eye.
Nykanen lands a damaging elbow.
White tries for a takedown but Nykanen manages to get underhooks.
Matti Nykanen has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Mike White.
Nykanen landing knees to the head.
White takes an elbow to the temple.
White tries to circle away but Nykanen has him pinned against the cage.
Nykanen lands a nice elbow.
Nykanen stalling here - the referee won't stand for too much of that.
Nykanen lands a nice elbow from the clinch.
Nykanen lands a knee to the body.
Nykanen stalling here - the referee won't stand for too much of that.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
White misses with a hook to the ribs.
White takes a knee right on the jaw!

Mike White's cut is absolute horrible now. This looks like something out of a horror film with blood covering both fighters.
Nykanen is clearly stalling here... Pick up the pace son.
White looks like he'd prefer to be striking at range right now.
White avoiding damage as Nykanen throws knees to the body.
White takes an elbow to the temple.
Nykanen landing some nice looking knees to the body.
White takes an elbow to the temple.
Nykanen taking a breather.
Nykanen tries a knee to the head but he's missed.
Nykanen tries to land a knee to the head but White blocks with his arms.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Nykanen lands an elbow just above White 's eye.
White looking to stall.
Nykanen is trying to wear down his opponent with knees to the body.
Nykanen lands an elbow inside that White shrugs off.
White takes an elbow to the forehead.
Nykanen unloads a knee to the mid-section. White lets out a prehistoric sounding urrrrgh.
Nykanen lands a nice elbow from the clinch.
Nykanen lands a glancing elbow in the clinch.
Nykanen lands a knee to the head.
Nykanen using the Thai plumb to throw knees but White has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
Nykanen throws a nice elbow but it doesn't land.
Knees in the clinch landing for Nykanen.
White trying to control the position but instead, Nykanen has worked for underhooks and has pushed White into the cage.
Nykanen misses with a knee to the head.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Matti Nykanen dominated that second round.
The cut man is working on Mike White's cut.
That's time! Nykanen's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight. This is the final round!

White changes levels and drives through with a really nice takedown into side control. Nykanen looks really pissed at himself for not defending that better.

White goes for an armbar here - this could be all over! But no, Nykanen has escaped beautifully and is now on top in side control! Oh, that's unlucky for White but great work by Nykanen.
We could do with one of the fighters taking the initiative a bit more on the ground - they're both waiting to capitalize on a mistake.

Nykanen stands up and we're back to a striking position.
Nykanen tries to clinch up.
White swats away the attempt to clinch by Nykanen.

Nykanen closes the distance and clinches.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Nykanen lands a damaging elbow.
Nykanen content to slow the pace in the clinch.
Nykanen connects with a knee to the head.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Nykanen throws a knee to the head but misses.
Nykanen throws a knee to the head but misses.
Nykanen with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.
White tries for a takedown but Nykanen manages to get underhooks.
Nykanen crunches a lovely knee into White's ribcage.
Nykanen using the Thai plumb to throw knees but White has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
Nykanen throws an elbow but it's blocked.
White blocks an elbow strike from Nykanen.
Nykanen is pressed up against the cage. White has hold of a leg and is looking to drag Nykanen down to the mat. Nykanen avoids the attempt though and has circled away. We're back to striking at a distance.
Nykanen fails with an attempt to clinch.
A head kick misses from Nykanen.

White looking for a takedown here - he's got it.

White drops back for a leg but he's not going to get it - he lets go and Nykanen dives on top into guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

White is working an open guard so Nykanen takes the opportunity to get back to his feet.
Nykanen tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but White paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Nykanen tries to clinch there but White circles away.
White circles away from the clinch attempt.
Nykanen wants to clinch.
White keeps the fight on the outside.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Nykanen gets a clinch.
Knees in the clinch landing for Nykanen.
White tries for a takedown. No joy.
Matti Nykanen has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Mike White.
Nykanen lands a glancing elbow in the clinch.
Nykanen creates a bit of space for himself and sneaks an elbow through White's defenses.
Nykanen lands a knee to the head there! That was nasty!
Nykanen lands an elbow inside.
White takes an elbow to the temple.
Nykanen comes over the top with an elbow. That landed flush.
Nykanen misses with a knee strike.
Nykanen comes over the top with an elbow. That landed flush.
Kneeeeees! The crowd are calling for knees to the body. Nykanen obliges.
Nykanen comes over the top with an elbow. That landed flush.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Nykanen comes over the top with an elbow. That landed flush.
Nykanen trying to land knees to the body.
Nykanen scores a nice knee to the body.
Matti Nykanen is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Nykanen has White pushed against the cage.
Nykanen using the Thai plumb to throw knees but White has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
White fails to pull the fight into his guard.
Nykanen stalling in the clinch.
White is trying to work for a single leg takedown but Nykanen pulls him back up using the underhooks.

And that's the end of the fight!
Matti Nykanen showed his dominance in that final round.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Nykanen, 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 Roosa Järviläinen scores the fight 30:26
Judge Tarja Halkonen scores the fight 30:26
Judge Marco Blurström scores the fight 30:26

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Matti Nykanen!