PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Matti Nykanen (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Horst Kruger (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Kruger has chosen Guerilla Black - Heart Of Fire as his entrance music. We have two fighters making their debuts here, so let's see who comes out of this one with their first professional victory.

Nykanen
vs
Kruger

165 cm
25
133 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

175 cm
21
142 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

Good wrestling
Counter striker
Very quick

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter striker
Intelligent

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the bantamweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Matti Nykanen!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Horst Kruger!
The judges for this bout are Anni Minnemäki, Matti Vanhoillinen and Arvi Lind.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Kruger jabs at Nykanen's body.
Kruger moves in looking to clinch but Nykanen pushes him off.

Kruger closes the distance and after a bit of a stuggle, scores a takedown into Nykanen's guard.
Nykanen keeping moving, preventing Kruger from controlling successfully.
Nykanen is looking to stand back up... there's a bit of a scramble and Kruger dives into side control.
Nykanen knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Kruger on the ground.
Nykanen is putting a lot of effort into getting back to his feet here.
Nykanen might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.
Kruger trying to control the position but Nykanen is working away.
Nykanen bucks up and tries to throw Kruger off but instead Kruger has got his back!
Kruger is looking to control Nykanen but Nykanen is wriggling around and keeping busy.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Nykanen has the hand control, trying to stop the rear naked choke.
Nykanen staying busy and making it hard for Kruger to control.
Nykanen controlling the position well but he knows he's in a bad position.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

Kruger is looking for the choke from the back position but Nykanen is controlling his hands well.
Kruger trying desperately to keep hold of the dominant position.
Kruger is looking to finish with some ground and pound!
Nykanen is keeping busy.

Kruger has his opponent's back but Nykanen is looking to stand. He manages to get to his feet and shakes off Kruger.
Horst Kruger seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Nykanen shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Let's see what he's got on the mat.
Kruger controlling Nykanen's posture.
Nykanen working in close now, lands a nice elbow to the side of Kruger's head.
Kruger looking to hit a scissor sweep but Nykanen is one step ahead there.
Nykanen trying to control but Kruger is working from the bottom.
Nykanen working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Nykanen throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Kruger works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Nykanen is looking to work some ground and pound but Kruger has wrist control.
Kruger preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Kruger is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.
Kruger looks gassed!

Nykanen pushes Kruger off and gets back to his feet.
A head kick misses from Kruger.
Nykanen avoids the body shot from Kruger.

Kruger gets caught on his heels momentarily as he allows Nykanen to score an easy takedown into full guard.
Nykanen trying to control the position from guard on top but Kruger is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Nykanen is looking to work some ground and pound but Kruger has wrist control.

Kruger throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
Nykanen works over Kruger with some ground and pound from guard.
Kruger thows some rabbit punches from the bottom but they don't do any damage.
Nykanen stands up over Kruger, holding his feet. He dives back in and lands a decent shot to the head.
Kruger not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Nykanen distracts Kruger with his right hand and drops a big elbow with his other arm.
Nykanen working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Nykanen postures up and scores with a shot to the body and a follow up elbow to the head.
Nykanen trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Nykanen throwing strikes but missing.
Nykanen trying to control but Kruger is working from the bottom.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close round but I would say that Matti Nykanen will probably get the nod.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

Nykanen manages to get an easy takedown there - catching Kruger on his heels. He'll look to pass Kruger's guard now, I'm sure.
Kruger preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Kruger looking to control.
Kruger working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Nykanen.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Nykanen throwing strikes from guard but Kruger blocks nicely.
Nykanen wants to control from the top but Kruger keeps moving.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Nykanen accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Nykanen passes Kruger's right leg, so he's now in half guard.
Kruger is breathing heavily.
Nykanen lands with a punch from half guard.
Kruger regains full guard. Nicely done.
Nykanen trying to control the position from guard on top but Kruger is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Nykanen stands up over Kruger, holding his feet. He dives back in and lands a decent shot to the head.
Nykanen postures up.
Nykanen throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Kruger works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Nykanen throwing strikes but missing.
Nykanen stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Kruger swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Nykanen stopping the sweep attempt from Kruger.
Nykanen stands and throws Kruger's legs to the side, diving into side control.
Kruger takes a big shot right to the temple there but he's taken it well.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A few boos can be heard. I'm sure they will multiply if the fighters don't pick up the pace.
Kruger is positioning himself to get back to half guard.
Nykanen wants to lay and pray for a moment but Kruger keeps working.
Nykanen working the ground and pound.
Nykanen cracks Kruger with a big elbow.
Nykanen scores with punches from side control.
Nykanen working the body and head with strikes.
Nykanen working the head with strikes.
Nykanen in side control, just content to control the action for now.
Nykanen grinds an elbow into Kruger's temple.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Nykanen lands a nice forearm strike.
Nykanen is working Kruger over with some ground and pound from side control.
Nykanen scores with a couple of nice shots to the head there. The referee takes a look at Kruger to see if he's OK.
Kruger is not content to let Nykanen control the position.
Nykanen working the ground and pound.
Kruger is trying to control Nykanen's posture but Nykanen avoids it.
Nykanen connects with a decent looking elbow from side control that caused Kruger some visible discomfort.
Kruger is not in a great position here, taking some shots.
Nykanen controlling from side mount.
Nykanen cracks Kruger with an elbow. That is naaassty.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Nykanen is working Kruger over with some ground and pound from side control.
Kruger is not content to let Nykanen control the position.
Nykanen lands some shots froms side control.
Nykanen scores with a couple of nice shots to the head there. The referee takes a look at Kruger to see if he's OK.
Nykanen taking a breather here.
Kruger taking punishment in the form of punches.
Nykanen is staying tight to Kruger's torso, preventing him from escaping.
Nykanen grinds an elbow into Kruger's temple.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Nykanen shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Let's see what he's got on the mat.
Nykanen lands a nice shot whilst sitting in his opponent's guard.
Kruger avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Nykanen working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Nykanen landing with the ground and pound.
Nykanen stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Kruger swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Nykanen makes a bit of distance and scores with some ground and pound, still in guard.
Kruger takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Nykanen scoring with some ground and pound.
Nykanen with a couple of shots to the head there. Not particularly brutal.
Nykanen stands up over Kruger, holding his feet. He dives back in and lands a decent shot to the head.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Nykanen throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Nykanen trying to control the position from guard on top but Kruger is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Nykanen missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Nykanen has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.
Nykanen trying to control but Kruger is working from the bottom.
Nykanen is sitting in guard, working some ground and pound.
Nykanen is working Kruger over from the guard. He should look to pass the guard and do a little more damage with these strikes.
Nykanen makes a bit of distance and scores with some ground and pound, still in guard.
Nykanen throwing strikes from guard but Kruger blocks nicely.
Nykanen distracts Kruger with his right hand and drops a big elbow with his other arm.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A few boos can be heard. I'm sure they will multiply if the fighters don't pick up the pace.
Nykanen is working Kruger over from the guard. He should look to pass the guard and do a little more damage with these strikes.
Kruger has momentary wrist control but Nykanen slips an elbow through the middle.
Nykanen controlling from the top position.
Nykanen landing with the ground and pound.
Nykanen is in close to Kruger's body, working some short punches and elbows.
Nykanen throws a big right hand that misses.
Nykanen with a nice head shot there.
Nykanen wants to control from the top but Kruger keeps moving.
Nykanen postures up and lands some nice ground and pound.
Nykanen stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Kruger swivels though and keeps the full guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kruger has momentary wrist control but Nykanen slips an elbow through the middle.
Nykanen in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Nykanen postures up and scores with a shot to the body and a follow up elbow to the head.
Nykanen lands a couple of digs.
Nykanen thows a big elbow that misses.
Kruger working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Nykanen.
Nykanen cracks Kruger with a solid left hand.
Nykanen trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Nykanen slips nicely into half guard.
Nykanen working the head and body with strikes.
Kruger has hold of Nykanen's hands but Nykanen slips his arm to the side and lands an elbow.
Nykanen working some ground and pound from close in. He's looking to maintain this position and strike for a while by the looks of things... although he'll probably advance to full mount in a minute now I've said that.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Kruger trying to control here.
Nykanen looks towards his corner to check for any instructions. The corner give him nothing to work with, so he cracks Kruger with a short hammerfist. I guess that's as good as any advice he could get in this position.
Kruger has hold of Nykanen's hands but Nykanen slips his arm to the side and lands an elbow.
Nykanen working some ground and pound from close in. He's looking to maintain this position and strike for a while by the looks of things... although he'll probably advance to full mount in a minute now I've said that.
Nykanen is keeping good posture, landing some ground and pound.
Kruger is trying to defend against the ground and pound but Nykanen scores with a couple of nice shots.
Kruger won't allow Nykanen to pass to mount.
Kruger blocking the ground and pound attempt from Nykanen.
Nykanen working the head and body with strikes.
Matti Nykanen is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Kruger blocking the ground and pound attempt from Nykanen.
Nykanen working over Kruger with some ground and pound. Kruger looks like he wants out of this position, which is understandable.
Nykanen takes a deep breath and rests his weight momentarily on top of his opponent, to control the position.
Horst Kruger has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

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 Anni Minnemäki scores the fight 30:26
Judge Matti Vanhoillinen scores the fight 29:28
Judge Arvi Lind scores the fight 30:26

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