PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Robert Nichols (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Woima Karhu (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

Nichols
vs
Karhu

196 cm
22
169 lbs
2 - 0 - 1

182 cm
19
175 lbs
4 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
World class MT
Good chin

Powerful takedowns
Counter striker
Powerful

Kobra Clothing Inc.

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 2 - 0 - 1, fighting out of Helsinki, Robert Nichols!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 4 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Woima Karhu!
The judges for this bout are Marco Blurström, Arvi Lind and Johanna Lukiainen.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Nichols tries to clinch

and Karhu counters with a driving takedown into guard. Nice work there by Karhu.
Karhu slows down the pace of the fight, as he sits in guard.

Karhu is holding a leg here, probably looking for an ankle lock - he drops back and goes for it! Nichols is in trouble! Is it all over??? No! Nichols has escaped and now he's on top!
Karhu tries to land a sweep but no joy.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Karhu manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Nichols manages to get himself to full guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Karhu trying to control but Nichols is working from the bottom.
Karhu wants to pass the guard but Nichols is keeping the position.

Karhu drops back for a leg but he's not going to get it - he lets go and Nichols dives on top into guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Nichols wants to stand and escape but instead Karhu has hit a sweep and he's now on top in guard.
Karhu trying to control but Nichols is working from the bottom.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are getting on the fighters' backs, as the pace has dropped off in the last minute or so.
Karhu postures up in Nichols's guard and throws a big left but Nichols blocks it.
Nichols preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Karhu advances to half guard.
Karhu is pressing down on Nichols's thigh, looking to free his foot. Nichols is holding on for now.

Karhu is sneakily working for an arm triangle but Nichols sees it coming and defends easily.
Karhu wants to lay and pray for a moment but Nichols keeps working.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Karhu works his way into side control.
Nichols seems a little lost for a moment, as Karhu dominates the positioning.

Karhu tries for a kimura. Not really close to a finish though.
Nichols is moving his hips around well on the bottom and has managed to get back to half guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Karhu thows a huge punch but Nichols dodges it nicely.

Karhu seems to be looking for submissions.

The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Karhu looking for a kimura but he'll have to free his other leg if he wants to finish that. Perhaps he's just using it as a distraction technique.

Karhu is working for submissions here but there's nothing on.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Woima Karhu dominated that round.
That's time! Back to the action!

Nichols throws a head kick that misses.
Nichols throws a lazy right hand but Karhu sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Karhu fails with a takedown attempt.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
No luck for Karhu with that takedown attempt.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Jab, cross, leg kick. Nice combination by Nichols!
Robert Nichols is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Nichols thows a leg kick but Karhu checks it

and Karhu counters with a nice single leg takedown and he's in Nichols's guard now.
Karhu looking to pass the guard.
Nichols keeping moving, preventing Karhu from controlling successfully.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Karhu works a leg free and moves into half guard.
Karhu not doing much here.
Nichols is not content to let Karhu control the position.
Karhu is in a good position here but he's just trying to control... And he's not even managing to do that successfully.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
If this pace continues, the referee will definitely step in and force a standup.
Nichols tries to get to full guard but Karhu has control of the leg.
Karhu throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
Karhu is thwarting Nichols's attempts to control the position.
Karhu trying to advance position but Nichols counters by regaining guard.

Karhu postures up as if he's going to throw some strikes but drops back for an ankle! Nichols is in big trouble! He looks ready to tap! But no, he's escaped and dives on top of Karhu, into his guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are getting on the fighters' backs, as the pace has dropped off in the last minute or so.
Nichols stopping the sweep attempt from Karhu.
Karhu is looking to sweep but instead, Nichols has passed into half guard.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Karhu wants to sweep but Nichols has passed to side control!
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Woima Karhu showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action! This is the final round!

Nichols lands with a nice low kick. That'll leave a bruise.
Karhu looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
Robert Nichols seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Karhu dives in and grabs Nichols's left leg, looking for a takedown. Nichols pushes down on Karhu's head and hops out.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Nichols defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Karhu.
Robert Nichols has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Woima Karhu.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Karhu circles away from the clinch attempt

and Karhu counters with a single leg into guard. Nichols didn't expect that.
Karhu wants to pass the guard but Nichols is keeping the position.
Karhu advances position into side control!
Robert Nichols has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Karhu wants to take a breather but Nichols manages to regain guard - a lesson learnt for Karhu.
Karhuis looking to pass into half guard but Nichols pushes him away with his feet and jumps on top - now Nichols is in guard.

Nichols got a little sloppy there for a moment and Karhu has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Nichols has managed to get both his arms back between Karhu's legs - danger averted.
Karhu is trying to control the position but Nichols postures up.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Karhu wants to improve his position but instead Nichols has moved into half guard.
Nichols seems to have lost interest with the ground game and is thinking about standing back up.
Karhu is pressing down on Nichols's left leg trying to get back to full guard. He's managed it.

Karhu has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Nichols can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
Nichols will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.
Nichols slips nicely into half guard, despite the strikes coming from Karhu.
Woima Karhu has got the better of the ground game so far.

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.

Karhu looking for submissions from an awkward position here.
Karhu tries to roll over but Nichols keeps him under control.
Nichols wants to get back to his feet.
Woima Karhu is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Nichols really does look like a pencil wearing a pair of gloves. Let's hope he has a gameplan to suit that ridiculous body shape.
Nichols slips a nice elbow through Karhu's hands, connecting with Karhu's forehead.

And that's the end of the fight!
Woima Karhu comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Karhu winning every round here. Surely the decision will go his way and he'll pick up a well deserved decision victory. 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 Marco Blurström scores the fight 27:30
Judge Arvi Lind scores the fight 27:30
Judge Johanna Lukiainen scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Woima Karhu!