PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Thomas Nieminen (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Henry The Spida (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Nieminen kept the crowd waiting but all that was forgotten when his ring entrance music started. The incomparable musical genuis that is Scream, Aim, Fire!. The Spida has chosen aqua as his entrance music. Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Nieminen
vs
The Spida

174 cm
22
154 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

177 cm
22
147 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Brawler
Prefers ground

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Likes ground

Attliction

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the featherweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Thomas Nieminen!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Henry The Spida!
The judges for this bout are Arvi Lind, Matti Vanhoillinen and Roosa Järviläinen.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Nieminen shoots in but no luck this time.
Nieminen shoots in and drives through. The Spida sprawls well.
Nieminen shoots for a takedown but The Spida saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Thomas Nieminen. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Nieminen looks to land a combination but The Spida avoids it well.
The Spida keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
The Spida moves into range and throws a combination. A nice jab followed by a hook to the body.
Nieminen will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
The Spida avoids a low kick by using good footwork.
Nieminen fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
Nieminen is breathing heavily.
Nice takedown defense from The Spida. No joy for Nieminen on that attempt.

The Spida darts in and lands a nice takedown into half guard.
The Spida throwing shots but Nieminen is blocking nicely.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
The Spida is keen to just control but Nieminen is a slippery customer.
The Spida might have to switch it up a bit here because his efforts to control Nieminen kaven't been going to plan, at least at the current moment in time.
The Spida works his way into full mount!
The Spida lands a couple of nice shots there from mount.

Nieminen is rocked!

That's one minute gone in the round.
The Spida landing shots from mount.
Oh Nieminen is still in real trouble! Will he be able to recover?!!
Both fighters really going for it on the ground here!
The Spida scoring with some good ground and pound from mount here. Will he manage to finish Nieminen?
The Spida controlling the pace for now.
The Spida lands a nice shot to the head.
The Spida is landing with some decent strikes but Nieminen is trying to advance his position so the referee is letting the fight continue.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
The Spida landing strikes from the mount and Nieminen is in trouble!
The Spida cracks Nieminen with a nasty head shot there - the crowd let out an audible gasp there, as the noise reverberated around the arena.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
The Spida lands a couple of nice shots there from mount.
The Spida controlling from mount.
The Spida landing strikes, looking to finish!
The Spida lands a couple of nice shots there from mount.
The Spida takes a little breather and maintains the position. The referee will be looking for him to stay active from such a dominant position though.
The Spida with shots to the head and body - Nieminen looks very uncomfortable down there.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The Spida controlling from the full mount.
The Spida lands a nice shot to the head.
The Spida lands a shot to the body, followed up by a shot to the exposed head of his trapped opponent.
The Spida has his opponent pinned against the cage, landing some nasty ground and pound that is really making a bit of a mess out of Nieminen's face.
Nieminen tries to hold on but The Spida pushes him away.
The Spida in mount throwing good strikes here, bouncing his opponent's head off the canvas.
The Spida content just to control the position here.
The Spida landing strikes from the mount.
Nieminen tries to reverse the position but The Spida maintains control.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
The Spida has his opponent pinned against the cage, landing some nasty ground and pound that is really making a bit of a mess out of Nieminen's face.
The Spida scoring with some good ground and pound from mount here. Will he manage to finish Nieminen?
The Spida raining down shots from the mount!
Nieminen is in a horrible position here. The Spida smacks him with another shot as he tries to escape the position.
Nieminen keeping his composure momentarily, calmly looking to get back to half guard.
A nice elbow there by The Spida.
The Spida cracks Nieminen with a nasty head shot there - the crowd let out an audible gasp there, as the noise reverberated around the arena.

The Spida looking for an armbar but decides to keep the dominant position instead.
The Spida looking to ground and pound but Nieminen is blocking nicely.
The Spida thowing shots but they're missing.
The Spida looking to ground and pound but Nieminen is blocking nicely.

The Spida jumps to side control looking for an arm triangle but Nieminen manages to avoid the submission attempt.
The Spida lands some shots froms side control.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A bit of a lull in the action. I'm sure it will pick up again soon... even if the ref has to physically pick them up and put them back on their feet.
Nieminen takes an elbow right on the bridge of the nose and winces in pain.
The Spida looks up at the clock and then as Nieminen takes his cue and looks up at the clock too, The Spida smacks him right in the chops with a big elbow! How rude!

The Spida tries for an arm triangle. That looks pretty tight to me. Is this one over!?! Possibly, maybe, no The Spida has let go of the choke. Obviously it wasn't as tight as we thought!

The Spida is looking for a kimura. He might have it! No, Nieminen has escaped the position, nice work there.
The Spida lands a knee to the body and a forearm to the face.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
The Spida scores with a couple of nice shots to the head there. The referee takes a look at Nieminen to see if he's OK.
The Spida creates a bit of distance and throws down some hard shots.
The Spida working the head with strikes.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
The Spida cracks Nieminen with an elbow. That is naaassty.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Henry The Spida dominated that round.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin!

The Spida misses with a wild body shot.
Henry The Spida seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
The Spida is looking to clinch but Nieminen is avoiding it.
The Spida fails to land with a series of punches.
Thomas Nieminen is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
The Spida takes a swing at Nieminen's ribcage but misses.
The Spida gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily
and The Spida takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
Nice takedown defense from Nieminen. No joy for The Spida on that attempt.
The Spida throws a body punch but Nieminen moves out of range.
The Spida misses the shot to the body.
Nieminen avoids the head kick by The Spida.
The Spida tries to clinch but Nieminen is having none of it.
The Spida pulls out of a head kick attempt.
The Spida throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
A big right from The Spida misses.
The Spida shoots in for a double leg but Nieminen sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
Thomas Nieminen has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Henry The Spida.
The Spida misses with a takedown attempt - Nieminen sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
The Spida misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Nieminen.
Nieminen uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by The Spida.
A big right from The Spida misses.
A combination from The Spida does no damage.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Nieminen moves away from the strike by The Spida.
The Spida throws a head kick but Nieminen moves out of range.
The Spida fails with an attempt to clinch.
The Spida fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
The Spida fails to land the takedown.
The Spida is breathing heavily.
The Spida fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
The Spida throws a sloppy head kick and Nieminen moves out of range easily.
The Spida throws a nice looking combination but Nieminen bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
The Spida swinging wilding here.
The Spida throws a sloppy head kick and Nieminen moves out of range easily.
The Spida wants to clinch.
The Spida tries to score with a low kick but Nieminen moves his leg out of the way.
Nieminen moves out of range as The Spida strikes.
The Spida pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
The Spida pivots as if he's going to throw a leg kick but stops half way.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Well. There's a bit of a lull in the action here and the crowd are starting to get restless.
The Spida throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
The Spida misses with a head kick.
The Spida wants to slow Nieminen down by chopping away at his legs.
The Spida tries a head kick but it misses.
The Spida misses with an uppercut. Nieminen saw that one coming.
The Spida throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
The Spida is throwing a lot of body shots here, looking to wear down Nieminen rather than just go for the knockout.
The Spida will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
The Spida throws a lazy right hand but Nieminen sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
The Spida takes a swing at Nieminen's ribcage but misses.
Nieminen showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from The Spida.
Nieminen keeps the fight on the outside.
The Spida takes a swing at Nieminen's ribcage but misses.
The Spida throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
The Spida misses with a series of wild punches.
The Spida misses with a looping right.
The Spida throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
The Spida throws a lazy right hand but Nieminen sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Nieminen circles away from the clinch attempt.
The Spida throws a right hand that Nieminen ducks under and follows up with a left that Nieminen also avoids with ease.
The Spida is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
The Spida misses with a two punch combination.
The Spida fails in his attempt to clinch.
The Spida tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
The Spida throws a head kick that misses.
The Spida tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
The Spida will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
The Spida throws a decent looking leg kick but it doesn't land clean.
The Spida takes a swing at Nieminen's ribcage but misses.
The Spida wants to clinch.
The Spida misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Nieminen.
The Spida throws a right and a left that Nieminen avoids nicely.
The Spida fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Nieminen manages to avoid it.
The Spida throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Nieminen keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Neither fighter has done anything of merit for a good minute or two here and the crowd are not happy about it.
The Spida slow jab from Nieminen misses its intended target.
The Spida swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
The Spida shoots in and drives through. Nieminen sprawls well.
A swing and a miss from The Spida.
The Spida throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
The Spida looks to land a right hand but Nieminen moved out of range.
Nieminen uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by The Spida.
The Spida shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Nieminen as he avoids it easily.
Nieminen showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from The Spida.
The Spida throws a head kick but Nieminen moves out of range.
The Spida tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Nieminen swivels and escapes.
A head kick misses from The Spida.
Nieminen stuffs the takedown attempt from The Spida. The Spida gets slowly back to his feet.
The Spida fails with a takedown attempt.
The Spida tries to close the distance and clinch up but Nieminen swats him away and circles back towards the center.
The Spida misses with a wild combination.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Thomas Nieminen dominated that second round.
That's the end of the interval. I'm sure that seemed a lot quicker than a minute for our two fighters! Back to the action. This is the final round!

The Spida misses with a takedown attempt - Nieminen sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
The Spida swings for the body but Nieminen moves out of range.

The Spida rushes Nieminen and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.
The Spida tries to work over Nieminen's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
Nieminen drops to a knee looking for a takedown but The Spida gets the underhooks and prevents it.
The fighters are pressed against the cage, as the pace of the fight slows.
The Spida prevents a takedown attempt there.
Nieminen can't break the clinch.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Nieminen jumps guard and drags The Spida to the mat. He's obviously going to be looking for submissions off his back.
The Spida stopping the sweep attempt from Nieminen.
The Spida tries to free his leg and advance position but Nieminen is retaining full guard.

Nieminen had isolated an arm as going for an omaplata. The Spida is defending the submission well but is in a very vulnerable position. Nieminen Is leaning forward trying to finish the omaplata but decides to abandon it, and take The Spida's back instead.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Nieminen biding his time, looking for the opening.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

Nieminen has his opponent's back but The Spida is looking to stand. He manages to get to his feet and shakes off Nieminen.

Nieminen gets the takedown into side control.
The Spida is trying to buck Nieminen off.
The Spida is looking to regain half guard here but Nieminen keeps moving and retains side control.
Nieminen moves into full mount!
Nieminen tries to control but The Spida wriggling away.
Nieminen content just to control the position here.
Nieminen looking to ground and pound but The Spida is blocking nicely.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Nieminen goes for an armbar but he's not got it… The Spida turns into him and now he's in Nieminen's guard.
Nieminen bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in The Spida's guard.

Nieminen thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.

Nieminen drops back looking for a leg! The Spida is in trouble here! The fighters roll with the hold and The Spida manages to kick Nieminen off! Nieminen jumps back into The Spida's guard.
The Spida bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Nieminen's guard.
Nieminen lands a beautiful switch and he's in full mount! That could spell trouble for The Spida!
The Spida tries to buck Nieminen off but Nieminen takes his back!
Nieminen struggling to keep hold of the position.

Nieminen patiently working for the choke. Which fighter will keep their nerve here?
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for leaving it all in the cage!

Nieminen is working for the rear naked choke. He has one arm under the chin but The Spida has hold of the other arm. A bit of a stalemate here.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Nieminen has his opponent trapped and is landing shots. Not a good position for The Spida.
You can see the frustration on The Spida's face… He knows he is in trouble unless he improves his position sooner rather than later.

Nieminen is working hard for the rear naked choke here.
Nieminen controlling well, preventing The Spida from escaping the position.

Nieminen has his arm under The Spida's chin here. Game over son! Nieminen squeezes tightly and The Spida is forced to tap out!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 3:43 of round 3, we have a winner by way of Submission (RNC). Thomas Nieminen!