PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Jake Roberts (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Matti Nykanen (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Both fighters will be looking to make this an exciting fight for the fans, I'm sure!

Roberts
vs
Nykanen

165 cm
20
145 lbs
9 - 4 - 0

165 cm
27
133 lbs
9 - 3 - 0

Powerful takedowns
Basic striking
Very strong

Good wrestler
Decent boxing
Determined

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 9 - 4 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Jake Roberts!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 9 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Matti Nykanen!
The judges for this bout are Anni Minnemäki, Marco Blurström and Matti Vanhoillinen.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Nykanen ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Roberts moves away.
Nykanen lands three nice shots there - that looked like it hurt!
Roberts fails with the takedown
letting Nykanen counter with a right hand.
Nykanen scores with a punch to the head.
Roberts tries for a takedown but Nykanen circles away easily
and Nykanen counters with a left to the body.
Roberts fails with the takedown
and Roberts takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Jake Roberts. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Roberts with a poor takedown
enabling Nykanen to counter with a crisp jab.
Roberts throws an off balance right hand
and Roberts takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
Roberts gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily

so Nykanen counters with a double leg into guard. Good agility.
Nykanen wants to control from the top but Roberts keeps moving.

Roberts is active off his back here, looking for submissions.

Nykanen got a little sloppy there for a moment and Roberts has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Nykanen has managed to get both his arms back between Roberts's legs - danger averted.
Roberts is breathing heavily.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Nykanen wants to control from the top but Roberts keeps moving.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Roberts working for a triangle but Nykanen defends it easily.
Roberts working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Nykanen.

Roberts is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
Nykanen in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Nykanen is stalling in the full guard.
Nykanen's corner are shouting for him to control the position and he seems happy to oblige.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Roberts looking for a guillotine here but Nykanen defends easily.
Nykanen stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Roberts swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Nykanen wants to control from the top but Roberts keeps moving.

Roberts looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
Nykanen's corner is telling him to maintain position.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!

Roberts looking for a guillotine here but Nykanen defends easily.

Roberts throws his legs up looking to secure a triangle. Oh, that looks pretty tight, I gotta say! Nykanen escapes and throws Roberts's legs to the side, diving into side control!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Nykanen postures up a little and throws a couple of hammerfists but they don't connect properly.
Roberts is looking for a sweep.
Nykanen wants to lay and pray for a moment but Roberts keeps working.
Roberts manages to get back to half guard.
Nykanen scores with a couple of good hammerfists.

Roberts looking for submissions from an awkward position here.
The referee calls for the fighters to work.
Roberts is working for an escape here. He's hooked one of Nykanen's legs and he's managed to sneak out and take Nykanen's back!
Nykanen trying to get back to his feet but Roberts is in full control for now.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Roberts is working for the rear naked choke. He has one arm under the chin but Nykanen has hold of the other arm. A bit of a stalemate here.
Nykanen wants to get back to his feet.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Nykanen has his hands over his head blocking the strikes from Roberts.
Nykanen has the hand control, trying to stop the rear naked choke.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.

Roberts looking for the choke but no joy.

Roberts is working really hard to secure the rear naked choke. Nykanen defends successfully for a significant amount of time. Both fighters are looking very determined.
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 Jake Roberts will probably get the nod.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business.

Roberts tries for a takedown but Nykanen circles away easily
and Nykanen counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
Roberts with a poor takedown
and Nykanen makes him pay by landing a nice hook to the body before moving out of range.
Nykanen clobbers Roberts with an overhand right that has the crowd gasping. That made a horrendous noise.
Nykanen keeps his opponent at a distance with a nice jab.
Roberts shoots and misses
and Nykanen counters with a left to the body.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Jake Roberts. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Nykanen swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Roberts with a poor takedown
and Nykanen counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
Nykanen scores with the left hand. Roberts knows he should have avoided that one.
Roberts with a poor takedown
enabling Nykanen to counter with a crisp jab.
Roberts shoots in but doesn't get the takedown
letting Nykanen counter with a right hand.

Nykanen looking for a takedown here - he's got it.
Roberts working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Nykanen.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Nykanen pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Roberts is keeping the position for now.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Nykanen slows down the pace of the fight, as he sits in guard.

Roberts escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Nykanen gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
Roberts keeping full guard, as Nykanen tries to pass.

Roberts had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Nykanen defends it easily.
Nykanen works a leg free and moves into half guard.
Roberts is trying to get back to full guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Nykanen wants to control but Roberts is keeping him busy.
Nykanen prevents Roberts from improving his position.
Nykanen wants to control but Roberts is keeping him busy.
Roberts is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.

Roberts is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Nykanen pulls his head out easily.
Roberts is looking for a sweep. Nykanen is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Nykanen missing with the ground and pound from half guard.
Roberts is trying to defend against the ground and pound but Nykanen scores with a couple of nice shots.
Nykanen throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Nykanen is controlling the pace.
Nykanen thows a huge punch but Roberts dodges it nicely.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Roberts is looking to improve his position.
Nykanen controlling the action here.

Roberts is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Nykanen pulls his head out easily.
Matti Nykanen has got the better of the ground game so far.

Roberts looking for submissions from an awkward position here.
Nykanen is pressing down on Roberts's thigh, looking to free his foot. Roberts is holding on for now.
Nykanen is looking to take a break and control but Roberts is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Roberts is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Nykanen really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Roberts. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.
Nykanen throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
Nykanen seems content to maintain position for now, rather than mounting any offense.

The ref stands the fighters back up. Matti Nykanen was stalling too much, according to the referee.
Roberts shoots and misses
letting Nykanen counter with a right hand.
Roberts misses with a straight left.
Roberts takes an uppercut right on the button but keeps his composure.
Nykanen goes to the watering hole and comes back with a big thumbs up from the judges as he scores a three punch combo.
Roberts shoots in but doesn't get the takedown
and Nykanen counters with a lovely shot to the body.
Roberts is pinned up against the cage taking some big shots here. The referee is looking closely deciding whether he should stop the fight.
Roberts walks into a stiff left hand from Nykanen.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Roberts with a lazy takedown attempt
and Nykanen counters with a straight right hand.
Roberts gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily
and Nykanen counters with a straight punch to the midsection.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Jab, jab by Nykanen - just one landing.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Matti Nykanen showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action! This is the final round!

Nykanen scores with a nice right hand.
Nykanen swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Nykanen jabs away that one connects to the head of his opponent.

A momentary lapse in concentration from Roberts enables Nykanen to shoot in and score with a neat double leg. Roberts manages to secure a closed guard as the fighters hit the mat.
Roberts keeping moving, preventing Nykanen from controlling successfully.

Roberts throws his legs up looking to secure a triangle. Oh, that looks pretty tight, I gotta say! Nykanen escapes and throws Roberts's legs to the side, diving into side control!
Roberts taking a bit of punishment here - Nykanen scoring with strikes.
Roberts is looking to regain half guard here but Nykanen keeps moving and retains side control.
Nykanen is working Roberts over with some ground and pound from side control.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Nykanen wants to lay and pray for a moment but Roberts keeps working.
Nykanen tries to score with some ground and pound. Roberts controls his posture well this time though and the shots don't do any damage.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Roberts sneaks back into half guard.
Roberts works his way to full guard. Good work.
Nykanen forces his way into half guard.

Roberts is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Nykanen pulls his head out easily.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Nykanen wants to control but Roberts is keeping him busy.

Roberts looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.
Roberts tries to get to full guard but Nykanen has control of the leg.
Nykanen is looking to take a break and control but Roberts is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.

Roberts is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Nykanen pulls his head out easily.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Nykanen is controlling the pace.
Nykanen seems to have lost interest with the ground game and is thinking about standing back up.
Nykanen trying to control the action but Roberts is working from the bottom.
Nykanen controlling the pace.

The ref stands the fighters back up. Matti Nykanen was stalling too much, according to the referee.
Roberts is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Nykanen.
Nykanen digs a good body shot into Roberts's ribs.
Roberts with a poor takedown
and Nykanen cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Roberts tries for a takedown but Nykanen circles away easily
and Nykanen connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Roberts takes a shot to the eye socket. That's gotta hurt.
Nykanen lands with a hook. Roberts tried to avoid it but it clipped the top of his head.
Roberts shoots and misses
enabling Nykanen to counter with a crisp jab.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Jake Roberts. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Nykanen lands a nice shot to the body.
Nykanen lands a jab, followed by a cross and another cross, as Roberts backs up against the cage.
Nykanen slips in close and lands a nice hook before moving back out of range.
Roberts shoots in but doesn't get the takedown
and Nykanen makes him pay by landing a nice hook to the body before moving out of range.
Nykanen lands a jab, followed by a cross and another cross, as Roberts backs up against the cage.
Roberts with a lazy takedown attempt
and Nykanen counters with a straight right hand.
Roberts takes a jab on the nose. He smiles like he loves it and keeps coming.
Nykanen digs a good body shot into Roberts's ribs.
Nykanen connects with a body shot that sends Roberts's belly button to the back.
Roberts is on the wrong end of a nice combination from Nykanen.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Roberts walks straight into an uppercut. Luckily it didn't land flush.
Nykanen lands a jab to Roberts's midsection.
Roberts doesn't succeed with the takedown
and Nykanen counters with a straight punch to the midsection.
Nykanen cracks a nice hook into Roberts's ribs.
A shot to the body from Roberts misses

and Nykanen counters with a nice shoot takedown that brings the fighters to the ground.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Nykanen is frustrating his opponent with some stalling tactics from top position.

Roberts is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
Nykanen stays in close to Roberts's body and controls the position.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Nykanen loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.

And that's the end of the fight!
Matti Nykanen comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Nykanen has outworked and out performed his opponent in all aspects of the game today. He was simply too good and the decision should be no more than a formality. 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 28:29
Judge Marco Blurström scores the fight 28:29
Judge Matti Vanhoillinen scores the fight 28:29

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