PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Max Fightmaster (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Petri Nieminen (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Nieminen has chosen Born an OG as his entrance music, which hasn't gone down very well with the crowd. Petri Nieminen acknowledges the crowd's support as he enters the cage.

Fightmaster
vs
Nieminen

175 cm
22
140 lbs
3 - 0 - 0

170 cm
18
130 lbs
4 - 3 - 0

Good wrestling
Brawler
Granite chin

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Knockout power

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, Max Fightmaster!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 4 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Petri Nieminen!
The judges for this bout are Ben Zyskovitsi, Roosa Järviläinen and Arvi Lind.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Fightmaster feints and then dives in with a takedown. That was a long way out but the feint bought him enough time to close the distance and complete the takedown. Now we'll play guard for a bit and see who can get the better of that position.
Both fighters really going for it on the ground here!
Fightmaster preventing the sweep.
Fightmaster knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Nieminen on the ground.
Fightmaster throws a big right hand that misses.
Fightmaster throws a big right hand that misses.

Nieminen has his foot on Fightmaster's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Fightmaster works his way back into a safe position though.
Fightmaster postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Fightmaster won't allow Nieminen to sweep him here.
Fightmaster postures up and scores with a shot to the body and a follow up elbow to the head.
Nieminen throws some sloppy strikes off his back.

Nieminen is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Fightmaster works over Nieminen with some ground and pound from guard.
Fightmaster stopping the sweep attempt from Nieminen.
Fightmaster trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Fightmaster wants to pass the guard but Nieminen is keeping the position.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Nieminen lands a beautiful switch and he's in full mount! That could spell trouble for Fightmaster!
Fightmaster is looking to get to half guard.
Nieminen throws an elbow from mount that misses. Lucky escape for Fightmaster because Nieminen loaded up on that one.
Nieminen thowing shots but they're missing.
Fightmaster avoids a series of strikes thrown by Nieminen.
Nieminen wants to take his opponent's back but Fightmaster doesn't allow it.
Nieminen looking to control but Fightmaster is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.

The fighters are starting to get a bit slippery now, which will make submissions a bit more difficult.
Nieminen wants to finish this one by submission but Fightmaster is holding onto his waist, trying to prevent any attacks from Nieminen.
Nieminen looking to control but Fightmaster is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.
Nieminen prevents Fightmaster from getting the reversal.
Nieminen looking to control but Fightmaster is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.
Fightmaster tries to hold on but Nieminen postures up.

Nieminen jumps to side control looking for an arm triangle but Fightmaster manages to avoid the submission attempt.
Nieminen looks gassed!

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fight is doing enough on the ground.
Nice takedown defense from Nieminen. No joy for Fightmaster on that attempt.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
A combination from Nieminen does no damage.
Nieminen uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Fightmaster.
Fightmaster fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
Nieminen swats away the attempt to clinch by Fightmaster.
Fightmaster misses with a takedown attempt - Nieminen sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Max Fightmaster. That's going to take a lot out of him.
A left lands for Nieminen.
Nieminen closes the distance and lands a one-two.
Nieminen scores with a nice looking left hook and follows it up with an uppercut!
Fightmaster fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
Fightmaster takes a swing at Nieminen's ribcage but misses.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Fightmaster tries for a takedown but Nieminen sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
Fightmaster fails to land the takedown.

Fightmaster fakes an overhand right and shoots for a takedown. Nieminen sprawls well initially but Fightmaster persists and gets the takedown into half guard.
Nieminen is looking for a sweep. Fightmaster is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Fightmaster is tying to control. Nieminen wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.
Nieminen trying to control here.
Fightmaster winds up and cracks Nieminen with a swinging punch to the side of the head.
Nieminen is trying to control but can't.
Nieminen makes his way to full guard. A much better position for Nieminen.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Nieminen looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Fightmaster working from the guard for now, landing some ground and pound.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Fightmaster shoots for a takedown but Nieminen saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
Fightmaster tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Nieminen swivels and escapes.
Nice takedown defense from Nieminen. No joy for Fightmaster on that attempt.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Max Fightmaster. That's going to take a lot out of him.

Nieminen shoots in and gets a takedown into half guard. Nieminen showed some decent athleticism there.
Nieminen prevents Fightmaster from improving his position.
Fightmaster is working hard here to advance position.
Nieminen works his foot free and advances to mount.
Poor strikes thrown by Nieminen there. More accuracy and less frantic strikes would help!
Nieminen controlling his opponent.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Nieminen blocks Fightmaster's feeble attempts to strike from the bottom.

Fightmaster defends a decent attempt at a guillotine from Nieminen.
Nieminen is breathing heavily.
Fightmaster wants to hold on but Nieminen pushes him away.
Fightmaster is desperately trying to get back to half guard.
Nieminen can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as Fightmaster is looking to escape.
Fightmaster is looking to improve his position but Nieminen isn't that keen on the idea.

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.
Fightmaster tries to hold on but Nieminen postures up.

Nieminen looking for an armbar but decides to keep the dominant position instead.
Fightmaster gets back to half guard.
Fightmaster is looking to get back to is feet but Nieminen passes into side control.
Nieminen tries to advance to mount but can't.
Fightmaster tries to work a leg under to get back to half guard but Nieminen wriggles his own leg back out and remains in side control.

Nieminen tries for a kimura. Not really close to a finish though.
Fightmaster on his back here. We all know that wrestlers don't like being on their back so let's see if Fightmaster tries to get out of the position.
Fightmaster sneaks a leg under to get back to half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Fightmaster tries to get to full guard but Nieminen has control of the leg.
Nieminen trying to control the pace.
Fightmaster has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Nieminen is working away from the top position though.
Nieminen frees up his trapped foot and advances to mount.

Nieminen is in full mount, looking to secure a guillotine but Fightmaster is surviving well by controlling Nieminen's body position as best he can.
Fightmaster wants to get back to his feet.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
My god... these two guys really need to pick up the pace or everyone will leave to go get a beer.
Fightmaster is desperately trying to get back to half guard.
Nieminen throws an elbow from mount that misses. Lucky escape for Fightmaster because Nieminen loaded up on that one.
Fightmaster is looking to get to half guard.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Petri Nieminen showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business. Ladies and gentlemen, this is the final round!

Nieminen throws a right hand that Fightmaster ducks under and follows up with a left that Fightmaster also avoids with ease.
Fightmaster misses with a takedown
and Nieminen counters with a nice uppercut.
Nieminen throws a right and a left that Fightmaster avoids nicely.
Fightmaster tries for a takedown but Nieminen circles away easily
and Nieminen counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
Fightmaster misses with a takedown attempt

and Nieminen counters with a nice double leg into guard.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Max Fightmaster. That's going to take a lot out of him.

Nieminen is trying to work a guillotine from the top, or something like that? Don't know how he thinks he's going to get a finish from there.
Fightmaster wants to sweep but no luck.
Fightmaster not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Fightmaster is on top in guard.
Nieminen takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Fightmaster landing some decent shots from guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Fightmaster advances to half guard.
Fightmaster 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.
Fightmaster wants to control but Nieminen is keeping him busy.
Fightmaster is keeping good posture, landing some ground and pound.
Fightmaster scores with a couple of good hammerfists.
Fightmaster 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.
Fightmaster drops an elbow to the side of Nieminen's head.
Fightmaster seems to be taking a bit of a break to think of his next move. He lands a short punch in the meantime.
Nieminen wants to improve his position but Fightmaster is controlling well.

Nieminen looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Nieminen has hold of Fightmaster's hands but Fightmaster slips his arm to the side and lands an elbow.

Nieminen looking for submissions off his back.
Nieminen manages to get to full guard.

Nieminen escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Fightmaster gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.

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

Nieminen looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Fightmaster lands a couple of digs.
Nieminen working a defensive guard here.
Fightmaster passes easily into side control. Nice work.
Fightmaster tries to land with some ground and pound but misses.
Nieminen is looking for a sweep.
Nieminen manages to land a sweep and he's now on top! Lovely Jiu Jitsu!
Petri Nieminen has got the better of the ground game so far.
Nieminen stalling away here and it's allowed Fightmaster to slip out his trapped foot and regain full guard.
Nieminen preventing the sweep.
Fightmaster is trying to control the position but Nieminen postures up.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Fightmaster utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Nieminen stops Fightmaster from standing up.
Nieminen won't allow Fightmaster to sweep him here.
Fightmaster bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Nieminen's guard.
Fightmaster won't allow Nieminen to sweep him here.
Fightmaster works over Nieminen with some ground and pound from guard.
Nieminen working a defensive guard here.

Nieminen working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Fightmaster doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Fightmaster manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.
Max Fightmaster has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Nieminen will have to put a bit more behind his punches if he's going to do any damage from this position.

And that's the end of the fight!
Petri Nieminen comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Nieminen 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 Ben Zyskovitsi scores the fight 27:30
Judge Roosa Järviläinen scores the fight 27:30
Judge Arvi Lind scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Petri Nieminen!