PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Matti Nykanen (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Karel De Grote (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Matti Nykanen had a look across the cage there at his opponent. He definitely means business

Nykanen
vs
De Grote

165 cm
26
133 lbs
3 - 0 - 0

160 cm
25
133 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

Good wrestling
Counter striker
Very quick

Good wrestler
Counter striker
Granite chin

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 3 - 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, Karel De Grote!
The judges for this bout are Ben Zyskovitsi, Anni Minnemäki and Roosa Järviläinen.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
De Grote shoots in but doesn't get the takedown
and Nykanen counters with a shot to the ribs. That looked like it hurt.
De Grote misses with a hook

and Nykanen counters with a nice single leg takedown and he's in De Grote's guard now.
De Grote utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Nykanen throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as De Grote works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Nykanen trying to control the position from guard on top but De Grote is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Nykanen throwing strikes from guard but De Grote blocks nicely.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Nykanen thows a big elbow that misses.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Nykanen trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Nykanen throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Nykanen postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Nykanen lands a couple of elbows.
Nykanen postures up in De Grote's guard and throws a big left but De Grote blocks it.
Nykanen trying to control the position from guard on top but De Grote is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Nykanen looking to sit in guard and control but De Grote gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.
Nykanen wants to stand and escape but De Grote is having none of it.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
De Grote trying to control the position from guard on top but Nykanen is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
De Grote might have to switch it up a bit here because his efforts to control Nykanen kaven't been going to plan, at least at the current moment in time.
Nykanen wants to get back to his feet but De Grote is in a dominant position and won't allow it.
De Grote is just sitting in guard, looking to avoid any submissions.

The ref stands the fighters back up, due to lack of action by Karel De Grote.
De Grote fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Nykanen manages to avoid it.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
De Grote fails with a takedown attempt.
De Grote will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
Matti Nykanen has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Karel De Grote.
De Grote tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Nykanen was well out of range. Poor timing from De Grote.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.
Nykanen fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but De Grote avoids it really well and circles away.
De Grote tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Nykanen was well out of range. Poor timing from De Grote.
Nykanen slaps away a takedown attempt from De Grote, before circling back to the center of the mat.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Nykanen shoots in for a takedown but De Grote shows good takedown defense.
The fighters circling - De Grote throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
De Grote misses with an uppercut

and Nykanen counters with a single leg into guard. De Grote didn't expect that.
De Grote preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Nykanen trying to pass the guard. He's being very persistent here but De Grote manages to land a sweep and now he's on top!
De Grote won't allow Nykanen to get back to his feet.

That's one minute gone in the round.
De Grote trying to control the position from guard on top but Nykanen is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Nykanen is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst De Grote is controlling him.
De Grote seems content to control from guard here. He's going to have to remain active though if he doesn't want to get stood back up.
Nykanen is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.
De Grote misses with a telegraphed body shot
and Nykanen counters nicely by changing levels and landing a hook to the body.
Nykanen shoots in but no luck this time.
Nykanen stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Nykanen wants it to stay on the feet.
De Grote gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily

and Nykanen counters with a nice double leg into half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Nykanen not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
Nykanen wants to free his trapped foot but De Grote is holding on for dear life with his legs.
De Grote looks like he's trying to stand up.
Nykanen thows a huge punch but De Grote dodges it nicely.
Nykanen frees up his trapped foot and advances to mount.
De Grote is in a horrible position here, under a barrage of strikes, he's managing to avoid any damage.
Nykanen content just to control the position here.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Nykanen punching from mount but De Grote doing a good job of avoiding damage.
De Grote tries to hold on but Nykanen pushes him away.
Nykanen cracks De Grote with a nasty head shot there - the crowd let out an audible gasp there, as the noise reverberated around the arena.
Nykanen misses with a series of strikes from mount. He'll no doubt be working on his ground and pound when he gets back to the gym.
Nykanen working the ground and pound effectively.
Nykanen throws some wild stikes that De Grote manages to avoid easily.
The fans in attendance giving it up for the two fighters, who have really let it all hang out in the last minute or so!
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Nykanen tries to control but De Grote wriggling away.
Nykanen connects with a couple of good shots from mount.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Matti Nykanen dominated that second round.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin! Ladies and gentlemen, this is the final round!

No luck with that takedown attempt from Nykanen.

Nykanen shoots in and gets a takedown into De Grote's guard.
Nykanen loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Matti Nykanen overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Nykanen trying to control the position from guard on top but De Grote is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Nykanen looking to pass the guard.
Nykanen loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Nykanen stopping the sweep attempt from De Grote.
Nykanen cracks De Grote with a solid left hand.
De Grote preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Nykanen postures up in De Grote's guard and throws a big left but De Grote blocks it.
Nykanen postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
De Grote avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
De Grote preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Karel De Grote has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Nykanen wants to control from the top but De Grote keeps moving.
Nykanen looking to pass the guard.
De Grote avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Nykanen preventing the sweep.
Nykanen throwing strikes but missing.
De Grote is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.
De Grote takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Nykanen is trying to stand up here but De Grote is controlling him well.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Nykanen kicks off De Grote and gets to his feet.
Karel De Grote seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Nykanen looks for a takedown but De Grote sprawls well.
Nykanen looks for a takedown but De Grote sprawls well.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Matti Nykanen. That's going to take a lot out of him.
De Grote throws a jab when Nykanen was well out of range.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A big left from De Grote misses.
De Grote throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Matti Nykanen is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
De Grote misses with a looping left.
Nykanen avoids the body shot from De Grote.

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 Ben Zyskovitsi scores the fight 30:27
Judge Anni Minnemäki scores the fight 30:27
Judge Roosa Järviläinen scores the fight 30:27

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