PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Palkki Niskavuori (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Esko Salo (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Niskavuori's entrance music is Torture killer - Obsessed with homicide. A fine choice. Esko Salo has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Niskavuori
vs
Salo

192 cm
21
182 lbs
8 - 1 - 0

175 cm
22
184 lbs
11 - 4 - 0

BJJ Brown Belt
World class MT
Very strong

Good wrestler
Excellent MT
Heavy handed

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the welterweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 8 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Palkki Niskavuori!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 11 - 4 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Esko Salo!
The judges for this bout are Tarja Halkonen, Roosa Järviläinen and Johanna Lukiainen.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
A big left from Salo misses.
Niskavuori pivots as if he's going to throw a leg kick but stops half way.
Salo misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Niskavuori.
Salo throws the left hand but Niskavuori avoids the punch easily.
Niskavuori throws a head kick but Salo moves out of range.
Salo lands a slapping body shot.
That's a knee to de groin and it's over and out! Salo crumples to the ground after an illegal strike from Niskavuori - the referee stops the clock and Salo gets 5 minutes to recover from that one. "I'm sorry" says Niskavuori. Salo manages to get back to his feet and the fight resumes.
A punch combination from Salo misses.
Salo feints with a shoulder and throws a nice leg kick to Niskavuori's calf.
Salo misses with a straight left.
Salo wings a very wild body shot but it does the job and lands to the midsection.
Esko Salo seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Nice body kick from Niskavuori.
Salo throws a jab but it's blocked by Niskavuori.
Salo connects with a body shot.
Salo thows a body shot but no joy.
Niskavuori uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Salo.
Salo tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Niskavuori was well out of range. Poor timing from Salo.
Niskavuori on the wrong end of a nice hook.
Salo throws a hook but Niskavuori blocks it.
Niskavuori tries to clinch up.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Niskavuori throws a front kick that sends Salo stumbling back into the cage.
Niskavuori tries to check the leg kick but that clearly hurt him.
Niskavuori fakes with the hands and throws a leg kick but Salo is out of range.
Niskavuori connects with a leg kick. He turned his hip over nicely there.
Salo lands a nice looking body shot.
Niskavuori slips a jab and a cross from Salo.
Niskavuori attempts a low kick but it misses it's target.
Nice uppercut there from Salo.
Salo swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
Salo throws a body punch but Niskavuori moves out of range.
Salo misses with a straight left.
Salo cracks Niskavuori with a good shot that sees him stumbling back into the cage.
Salo lands with a nice combination. Niskavuori backs away looking to recover.

Niskavuori closes the distance and pushes Salo back into the cage.
Salo lands a body shot.

Salo breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Salo looks to throw the jab but Niskavuori is out of range.
Salo keeps the fight on the outside.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Salo connects with a lovely right hand, straight down the pipe.
Nice defenses there by Niskavuori.
Salo motions for Niskavuori to come forward. Salo throws a leg kick but it misses it's target.
Salo tries to bum rush Niskavuori with a series of wild strikes but Niskavuori uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Salo lands a nice hook to Niskavuori's body. Niskavuori takes it in his stride and looks to land his own strikes.
Well, he's not going to score with shots like that. A lazy body kick attempt from Salo.
Salo thuds a left hand into Niskavuori's body.
Salo scores with a punch to the gut of his opponent.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Niskavuori bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
Salo connects with a jab.
Niskavuori slips under a jab.
Salo misses with a two punch combination.
Salo slips a jab from Niskavuori.
Nice uppercut there from Salo.
Salo looks to land a left hand but Niskavuori moved out of range nicely.
A shot to the liver by Salo. Beautiful body shot.
Salo takes a step back and watches a body kick go sailing past his mid section.
Salo throws a leg kick which misses Niskavuori's front leg but catches the back leg as Niskavuori tries to avoid it.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Niskavuori has Salo up against the cage in a clinch.
Salo misses with some punches.

Salo escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Niskavuori wants to clinch up but Salo keeps it at a distance.
Niskavuori uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Salo.
Salo lands a slapping body shot.
Salo moves out of range of the body kick.
Salo misses with a jab, cross combination.
Good shot there by Salo.
A slow jab from Salo misses its intended target.
A jab from Salo misses.
Niskavuori throws a body kick but he wasn't in range.
Niskavuori misses with a low kick.
Salo lands a slapping body shot.
Salo throws a leg kick
and Niskavuori counters with a nice kick to the body.
Salo thows a left - swing and a miss!
Salo swings and misses with a hook to the body.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A slow jab from Niskavuori misses its intended target.
Salo misses with a body shot.
Salo misses the shot to the body.
Salo scores with a reasonable looking shot to the body. Niskavuori doesn't seem bothered though.
A jab from Salo misses.
Niskavuori moves out of range of the strikes.
Salo misses with a telegraphed body shot
and Niskavuori counters with a nice body shot.
Salo cracks Niskavuori with a right hand to the side of the head.
Salo throws a combination that misses
and Niskavuori counters with a nice kick to the body.
A good leg kick by Niskavuori.
Niskavuori takes an uppercut right on the jaw but it doesn't phase him.
Salo throws a jab when Niskavuori was well out of range.
A shot to the body from Salo misses
letting Niskavuori counter with a right hand.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
A slow jab from Salo misses its intended target.
Niskavuori scores with a big left there. The judges will like that one.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Niskavuori takes a jab on the nose there. A little bit of blood seems to be coming out. Hopefully that won't affect his breathing.
Salo throws a combination that misses
and Niskavuori counters with an outside leg kick.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Esko Salo will probably get the nod.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

Salo misses the jab.
Salo throws a leg kick
and Niskavuori counters with a slapping leg kick.
Salo throws a lazy right hand but Niskavuori sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Niskavuori keeps Salo at a distance using the push kick.
Niskavuori paws at his opponent with the jab and then lunges in with a straight, right on the button.
Niskavuori lands with a kick to the ribs.
Salo tries to move into range but Niskavuori moves to the side and lands with a nice right hand.

Niskavuori moves into range and clinches up with Salo.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Niskavuori lands a nice elbow.
Niskavuori throws a nice elbow but it doesn't land.
Niskavuori scores with an uppercut up the middle.
Niskavuori throws a nice elbow but it doesn't land.
Niskavuori is using his height advantage well here, landing a good percentage of his punches.
Salo wants to break the clinch but can't.
A nice left hand lands by Niskavuori.
Still in the clinch, Niskavuori scores with a nice short uppercut.
Salo wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Niskavuori has him pressed against the cage.
Niskavuori lands a nice elbow from the clinch.
Salo is breathing heavily.
Niskavuori putting his Muay Thai to good use. He has Salo in a tight clinch and is doing some damage with knees to the body.
Nice elbow from Niskavuori.

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

Salo tries to keep at a distance but Niskavuori has taken the fight into the clinch.
Salo has developed a nice purple lump on his ribcage, as a result of some heavy body kicks from Niskavuori.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Nice elbow from Niskavuori.
Salo takes an elbow to the temple.
Niskavuori unloads a knee to the mid-section. Salo lets out a prehistoric sounding urrrrgh.
Niskavuori gets an overhook and lands an elbow to the side of the head.
An uppercut to the body lands inside from Niskavuori.
Niskavuori lands a knee to the body.
Niskavuori unloads a knee to the mid-section.
Salo takes an elbow to the forehead.
Niskavuori unloads a knee to the mid-section.
Niskavuori lands a nice shot to the body.
A short right hand to the side of the head by Niskavuori.
Niskavuori tries to land knees in the clinch but Salo avoids the damage to the body.
Niskavuori comes over the top with an elbow. That landed flush.

Niskavuori breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Niskavuori lands a leg kick. The shin dug right into the meat of the thigh.
Salo tries to check the leg kick but that clearly hurt him.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Good exchange - Niskavuori coming out on top.
Niskavuori scores with a kick to the body.
Niskavuori lands with a thumping leg kick.
Niskavuori connects with a good right hand that stumbles Salo. Salo circles away out of range and recomposes himself.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Niskavuori is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Salo connects with a hook to the side of his opponent's head.
Niskavuori scores with a sloppy punch to the body. Not much technique there but it did the business.
A kick lands to the mid section there for Niskavuori.
Niskavuori lands a jab to Salo's midsection.
Niskavuori scoring well with a low kick there.
Niskavuori darts in and out, connecting with a jab.
Salo swings wildly with a couple of big hooks
and Niskavuori connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Niskavuori scoring well with a low kick there.
Niskavuori fakes with a right hand and throws a good leg kick, right into the thigh. That had to hurt Salo.
Salo stumbles momentarily as he takes a strong leg kick from Niskavuori.
The fighters are going at a pretty good pace and they're both starting to sweat now.
Salo walks into a stiff left hand from Niskavuori.
Salo's leg has a nasty welt from taking a succession of leg kicks. That must be slowing him down.
Niskavuori throws a head kick that misses.
Niskavuori misses with an attempted mid kick.
Niskavuori defending well as Salo loads up on a big left hand.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Niskavuori steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Salo.
Niskavuori looks to land a left hand but Salo moved out of range nicely.
Niskavuori tests Salo's chin there with a solid looking shot.
Niskavuori buckles his opponent's knee momentarily with a nice leg kick.
Niskavuori scores with a crisp jab that stopped Salo in his tracks.
Salo misses with a shot to the body
and Niskavuori counters with a thumping low kick.
Niskavuori throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Niskavuori tries a head kick but it misses.
Niskavuori throws a nice outside leg kick.
Niskavuori dances in quickly and lands a nice inside leg kick on Salo. That did some damage!
Salo blocks a head kick by Niskavuori.
The sound of bone on bone echoes around the arena as Salo checks a leg kick.

Niskavuori closes the distance and clinches.
Salo scores with an uppercut up the middle.
Salo wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Niskavuori has him pressed against the cage.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Kneeeeees! The crowd are calling for knees to the body. Niskavuori obliges.
Niskavuori throws an elbow but it misses.
Salo takes a knee to the side of the body.
A nice left hand lands by Niskavuori.
Niskavuori digs a right hand underneath Salo's ribcage. Salo let out a lung full of air as it connected.
Niskavuori lands a shoulder strike.
Niskavuori lands a knee to the body.
Niskavuori is leaning against Salo and scores with a nice uppercut to the body.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Niskavuori lands a body shot in the clinch.
Niskavuori landing knees to the body. They look like they could hurt.
Salo managing to block the knees to the body from Niskavuori.
Niskavuori working some nice short punches in the clinch.
A right hook to the body lands for Niskavuori.
Niskavuori lands a glancing elbow in the clinch.

Niskavuori manages to break the clinch.
Niskavuori cracks Salo with an open hand slap.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Niskavuori slips a straight right by Salo.
Niskavuori wants to slow Salo down by chopping away at his legs.
Salo ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Niskavuori moves away.
Salo throws a sloppy body shot
and Niskavuori counters with an outside leg kick.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Palkki Niskavuori dominated that second round.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action. Let's get this one finished - here comes the final round!

Niskavuori fakes a head punch and goes low to the body. Nicely done.
Salo misses the body punch
and Niskavuori connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Salo lands a straight punch to the body, keeping Niskavuori at a distance.
A low kick from Salo misses
and Niskavuori cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Niskavuori throws a nice inside leg kick.
A jab from Salo misses.
Niskavuori is using his reach advantage well here, landing the more effective single shots from range.
Niskavuori sizes up Salo with a pawing jab and scores with a straight right down the middle.
Salo takes a thudding leg kick, right into the meat of the thigh.
Niskavuori scores with a jab to the jaw of his opponent.
Salo misses with a body shot
and Niskavuori counters with a slapping leg kick.
Salo tries to land a leg kick but Niskavuori saw it coming and moves away.
A solid leg kick lands there for Niskavuori.
Salo just misses with a punch to the body.
Salo takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
A big right from Niskavuori misses.
Salo thows a body shot but no joy.
Salo tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Niskavuori was well out of range. Poor timing from Salo.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Salo moves out of range of the strikes.
Niskavuori pushes Salo away with a front kick.
Boom, another hit is landed. "You're gunna get knocked out" taunts Niskavuori, as that shot connected.
Salo swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
Salo ducks under a wild hook from Niskavuori.
Palkki Niskavuori is winning the standup battle so far.
Niskavuori scores with a straight right hand, right through his opponent's guard.
Salo avoids a kick to the body.
Salo misses with an uppercut.
A cross from Niskavuori lands.
Salo thows a leg kick but Niskavuori checks it
and Niskavuori counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
Salo throws a body kick the misses
and Niskavuori counters with a body kick that brings a smile to the face of both fighters.
Niskavuori jabs Salo right on the nose. Salo blinks but takes it well.
Salo has his head snapped back a nice jab. A little nod from Salo there as he acknowledges the shot.
Niskavuori misses with a body shot.
Salo throws a series of punches but Niskavuori avoids them all with ease.
Salo throws a head kick that misses

and Niskavuori counters by clinching up.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Niskavuori tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Salo avoids it.
Niskavuori misses with an elbow strike.

Salo's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Niskavuori is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Salo.
Niskavuori throws the kick towards the body but Salo avoids it.

Niskavuori clinches.
Salo tries a body shot but Niskavuori blocks it.
Salo takes an elbow to the forehead.
A nice glancing elbow lands by Niskavuori.
Salo throws a head punch that misses.
A nice left hand lands by Salo.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Niskavuori.
Niskavuori lands an elbow inside that Salo shrugs off.
Salo blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
Salo looks to throw an elbow but misses.
Niskavuori missing with knees to the body.
Salo misses with a short punch on the inside.
Niskavuori blocks a body shot from Salo.
Niskavuori is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Salo can do to turn this around?
Niskavuori is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Salo is defending well for now.

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

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Salo throws a nice looking combination but Niskavuori bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
A nice inside leg kick there by Niskavuori. That's going to slow Salo down.
Salo has a pretty nasty looking mouse under his right eye.
Niskavuori scores with a shot to the body.
Salo throws a hook but Niskavuori blocks it.
Salo moves out of range of the body kick from Niskavuori.
Niskavuori bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
Salo throws a sloppy body shot

and Niskavuori moves into the clinch.
Niskavuori throws a knee to the head but misses.
Salo tries a body shot but Niskavuori blocks it.
Salo is working Niskavuori over against the cage.
A shot in the inside from Salo.
Niskavuori tries a knee to the head but he's missed.
Salo with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.
Niskavuori lands a nice elbow from the clinch.
Salo tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Salo takes an elbow to the temple.
Salo is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.
Salo lands on the inside with an uppercut.
Niskavuori creates a bit of space for himself and sneaks an elbow through Salo's defenses.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Niskavuori breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Salo looks to score with a jab to the body but Niskavuori is just out of range.
Niskavuori doesn't manage to clinch there - Salo circles away.
Salo misses the jab.
Salo looks for the body kick but Niskavuori saw that one coming.
Niskavuori lands an overhand right.

Niskavuori rushes Salo and presses him up against the cage.
Salo misses with the head strike.
Palkki Niskavuori has scored more points in the clinch so far.
Salo blocks the elbow strike.
Salo is trying to break free.
Niskavuori lands a good knee to the midsection. Salo won't want to take too many of those.
Salo wants to break the clinch but can't.
Niskavuori keeps the fight in the clinch, despite Salo's efforts to push away.
Salo throws a head punch that misses.
Salo on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
A left hand lands to the body for Niskavuori.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Salo.
Niskavuori is trying to wear down his opponent with knees to the body.
Salo misses with a punch on the inside.

And that's the end of the fight!
Palkki Niskavuori showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Niskavuori has outscored his opponent in every aspect of the fight today. Only a scarily incompetent judge or two will keep him from a well deserved win... 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 Tarja Halkonen scores the fight 30:27
Judge Roosa Järviläinen scores the fight 30:26
Judge Johanna Lukiainen scores the fight 29:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Palkki Niskavuori!