PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Niko Nyrkki (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Khalid Abdullah (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Man, I cannot wait for this one!

Nyrkki
vs
Abdullah

225 cm
20
195 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

180 cm
22
185 lbs
0 - 1 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Basic striking
Big heart

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter striker
Solid 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 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Niko Nyrkki!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Khalid Abdullah!
The judges for this bout are Matti Vanhoillinen, Ben Zyskovitsi and Marco Blurström.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Abdullah stuffs the takedown.
Nice takedown defense from Abdullah. No joy for Nyrkki on that attempt.
Nyrkki shoots in for a double leg but Abdullah sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Niko Nyrkki. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Nyrkki takes a thudding leg kick, right into the meat of the thigh.
Abdullah misses with the combination.
Abdullah misses with a few strikes there.
Nyrkki tries to score a power double leg takedown but Abdullah sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Nyrkki somewhat.
Nyrkki fails with a takedown attempt.
Abdullah throws a nice outside leg kick.
Nyrkki is breathing heavily.
Abdullah keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.

Abdullah moves into the clinch.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Abdullah jumps guard.
Abdullah wants to stand but Nyrkki is controlling the position.

Abdullah pushes Nyrkki off and gets back to his feet.
Abdullah lands with a nice combination. Nyrkki backs away looking to recover.
Abdullah misses with a jab, cross combination.
Abdullah lands a nice looking body kick.
Abdullah throws a nice inside leg kick.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Abdullah scores with a leg kick.
Abdullah cracks Nyrkki with a hook to the jaw. Both fighters smile at eachother and high-five before getting back down to business.

Abdullah gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.
Nyrkki throws a knee to the head but misses.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Abdullah has Nyrkki pressed up against the cage. He's trying to work for a single leg takedown. Abdullah pulls back from the cage and twists to the side, sending Nyrkki tumbling to the mat - Abdullah dives into Nyrkki's guard.
Nyrkki has a closed guard, preventing Abdullah from standing up.
Nyrkki is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Abdullah is controlling him.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Abdullah stands up from guard. Let's bang!
A low kick from Nyrkki is predictable there
and Abdullah counters with a straight punch to the midsection.
Abdullah misses with a head kick.
Abdullah thows a left - swing and a miss!
Nyrkki doesn't succeed with the takedown

and Abdullah holds on and brings the fighters into a clinch.

Abdullah gets a trip takedown into half guard.
Abdullah seems to have lost interest with the ground game and is thinking about standing back up.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Nyrkki is looking to improve his position.
Abdullah tries to stand and escape but Nyrkki is controlling the position.
Nyrkki tries to roll over but Abdullah keeps him under control.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Abdullah wants to stand up but Nyrkki is controlling the position.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Khalid Abdullah dominated that round.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

Abdullah takes the fight into the clinch.
Nyrkki drops to a knee looking for a takedown but Abdullah gets the underhooks and prevents it.
Abdullah gets underhooks to prevent Nyrkki's takedown attempt.
Abdullah tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.
Nyrkki goes for a takedown attempt but Abdullah pushes him away and we're back to fighting at a distance.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Niko Nyrkki. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Nyrkki tries for a takedown but Abdullah circles away easily
and Abdullah counters with a one-two to the body.
Nyrkki on the receiving end of a decent leg kick there by Abdullah. Abdullah obviously looking to wear him down.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Nyrkki takes a really solid shot there but just smiles back and shrugs his shoulders.
No joy there for Abdullah, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Abdullah lands with a hook. Nyrkki tried to avoid it but it clipped the top of his head.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Abdullah ducks down and throws a hook to the body.
Abdullah throws a wild combination but nothing lands.

Abdullah moves into the clinch.
This is turning into a torrid day at the office for Nyrkki. He's trying desperately to land a takedown but he's failing miserably and getting slapped silly on the feet to compound his misery.
Nyrkki fails to pull the fight into his guard.

Abdullah pulls guard effortlessly.
Nyrkki looking to sit in guard and control but Abdullah gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.
Abdullah wants to get up but he can't break Nyrkki's closed guard. He needs to be careful trying to break the legs open, as he's open to submissions here.
Nyrkki will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Abdullah gets to his feet and steps away from his opponent.
Abdullah lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Nyrkki circles away quickly and effectively.
Nyrkki clinches but Abdullah breaks the clinch
and Abdullah counters with a nice low kick that buckles Nyrkki's knee momentarily.
Nyrkki misses with a takedown
and Abdullah counters with a flying knee. Nice.
Nyrkki shoots and misses

and Abdullah counters by clinching up.

Abdullah's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Nyrkki tries to clinch but fails miserably
and Abdullah counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
Nyrkki fails with the takedown
and Abdullah counters with a body kick.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Nyrkki tries for a takedown but Abdullah circles away easily
and Abdullah counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
Khalid Abdullah seems to be getting the better of the standup.

Abdullah closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.
Nyrkki drops down for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Nyrkki looking for a takedown.

Abdullah jumps guard.
Nyrkki tries to free his leg and advance position but Abdullah is retaining full guard.
Abdullah is looking to stand up but Nyrkki isn't so interested in that idea.
Nyrkki stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Abdullah swivels though and keeps the full guard.

That's four 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.
Abdullah avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.

Abdullah has his feet on Nyrkki's hips. He pushes off and gets to his feet. Nice work.
Nyrkki has his takedown stuffed
and Abdullah counters with a two punch combo.
Nyrkki misses with a takedown attempt

and Abdullah counters by moving into the clinch.

Abdullah gets a trip takedown into half guard.
Nyrkki wants to control but Abdullah passes into side.
Nyrkki really does look like a pencil wearing a pair of gloves. Let's hope he has a gameplan to suit that ridiculous body shape.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.

Abdullah has had enough of the ground for now and decides to stand.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Khalid Abdullah showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action. Ladies and gentlemen, this is the final round!

Nyrkki doesn't succeed with the takedown
and Abdullah counters with a slapping leg kick.
Abdullah looks to land a combination but Nyrkki avoids it well.
Nyrkki misses with a takedown

and Abdullah counters by moving into the clinch.

Abdullah pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Nyrkki with a poor takedown
and Nyrkki takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Niko Nyrkki. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Nyrkki slips a jab from Abdullah.
Nyrkki slips under a jab from Abdullah.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Abdullah rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Nyrkki moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Nyrkki closes the distance but Abdullah moves to the side
and Abdullah counters with a one-two to the body.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Abdullah pivots, looking for a leg kick but Nyrkki is out of range and Abdullah settles back down.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Nyrkki fails with the takedown
letting Abdullah counter with a right hand.
Nyrkki has his takedown stuffed
and Abdullah counters with a two punch combo.
Nyrkki fails with the takedown
and Abdullah counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
Nyrkki gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily

and Abdullah moves into the clinch.
Abdullah has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Nyrkki swings away with an uppercut that misses.

Nyrkki has clasped his hands together around Abdullah's back... aaand, he's got a takedown into side control. Nicely done.

Nyrkki is looking to finish here, going for an Americana. Abdullah knows the correct defense though, so he's OK.

Nyrkki thinks about going for a far side armbar but bails out and retains the dominant position instead.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Nyrkki is looking to take a break and control but Abdullah is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Nyrkki wants to stand but Abdullah has his arm trapped.

Nyrkki goes for an armbar! This could be all over! Wait, no, Abdullah rolls with the submission and now he's on top in Nyrkki's guard! Nice work there by Abdullah!

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Abdullah decides to stand up and beckons his opponent to follow.
No joy there for Abdullah, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Nyrkki tries for a takedown but Abdullah circles away easily
and Abdullah counters with a straight right hand.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Abdullah throws a jab when Nyrkki was well out of range.
Nyrkki moves out of range as Abdullah throws a body kick.
Nyrkki misses with a takedown attempt

and Abdullah holds on and brings the fighters into a clinch.
Nyrkki has hold of a leg and is looking for a trip takedown. Abdullah avoids it nicely though and we remain in the clinch.

Abdullah decides to pull guard.
Nyrkki pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Abdullah is keeping the position for now.
Niko Nyrkki has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Abdullah utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Abdullah keeping full guard, as Nyrkki tries to pass.

Nyrkki has gone for a leg lock! Abdullah slips out almost immediately though and dives into Nyrkki's guard.

And that's the end of the fight!
Khalid Abdullah comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Abdullah 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 Matti Vanhoillinen scores the fight 25:30
Judge Ben Zyskovitsi scores the fight 25:30
Judge Marco Blurström scores the fight 25:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Khalid Abdullah!