PBP Commentary

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

Nyholm
vs
Raith

178 cm
23
175 lbs
5 - 0 - 0

188 cm
27
175 lbs
16 - 14 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Counter striker
Good chin

BJJ Purple Belt
Basic striking
Determined

Reaper Combatwear

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 5 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Fred Nyholm!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 16 - 14 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Thomas Raith!
The judges for this bout are Johanna Lukiainen, Matti Vanhoillinen and Tarja Halkonen.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Nyholm throws a combination that misses
and Raith counters with a left and a right that stings Nyholm.
Raith looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
Raith changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Nyholm tries to avoid it but Raith manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Nyholm to the ground. Nyholm escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
Raith fails with the takedown.
Fred Nyholm has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Thomas Raith.
Nyholm swings for the body but Raith moves out of range.
Nyholm misses the shot to the body.
Nyholm fails to land with a series of punches.
Raith misses with a takedown
and Nyholm counters with a series of strikes. Raith will be more careful next time no doubt.
Nyholm's corner calls for a 1, 2 combination and Nyholm duly obliges.
Nyholm stuffs the takedown.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Raith fails with the takedown

and Nyholm counters with a nice double leg into half guard.
We've had a lack of effective grappling in the last minute or so, which could well see a referee standup.

Nyholm is trying a forearm choke… I don't think that's going to do much at this level of the game.
Nyholm is trying to control. Raith wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.
Raith wants to get back to full guard.
Nyholm seems to be taking a bit of a break to think of his next move. He lands a short punch in the meantime.
Nyholm lands a big shot. The thud that echoes around the arena is like music to the fans' ears.
Nyholm is keen to just control but Raith is a slippery customer.
Nyholm tries to pass the half guard into mount. Raith knows what he's doing though and prevents the attempt.
Nyholm throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Nyholm takes a deep breath and rests his weight momentarily on top of his opponent, to control the position.
Nyholm is trying to control the action in half guard but Raith is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.

Nyholm is looking for a kimura but he's never going to get it from there.
Nyholm wants to pass to mount but Raith is defending the position.
Ground and pound from Nyholm.
Raith manages to get to full guard.
Nyholm trying to control but Raith is working from the bottom.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Raith is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Nyholm wants to control from the top but Raith keeps moving.
Nyholm is just sitting in guard, looking to avoid any submissions.
Nyholm works a leg free and moves into half guard.
Nyholm slips a nice elbow through Raith's hands, connecting with Raith's forehead.
Nyholm wants to take a breather but Raith is having none of it.
Nyholm wants to pass the guard but Raith is defending well.
Nyholm not landing any meaningful shots this time.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Raith keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.
Nyholm tries to pass to full mount but Raith defends it.

Nyholm is looking for an arm triangle, whilst trying to pass to side control. Raith doesn't seem that keen to cooperate though. No luck this time Nyholm.
Nyholm wants to lay and pray for a moment but Raith keeps working.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Nyholm throws a strike but Raith avoids it easily and moves to full guard.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Nyholm slips nicely into half guard.
Nyholm not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Fred Nyholm dominated that round.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

Nyholm changes levels and scores with a jab to the body.
Raith fails with the takedown
and Nyholm counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.

Raith gets caught flat footed, as Nyholm shoots in with a quick takedown into guard.
Nyholm trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Nyholm is in close to Raith's body, working some short punches and elbows.
Nyholm content to strike from guard, landing some decent shots.
Raith keeping moving, preventing Nyholm from controlling successfully.

Raith working for a triangle but Nyholm defends it easily.
Nyholm chips away with some ground and pound.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Nyholm trying to control the position from guard on top but Raith is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Nyholm postures up and scores with a shot to the body and a follow up elbow to the head.
Nyholm wants to pass the guard but Raith is keeping the position.
Raith tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Nyholm throws a big elbow that misses.
Nyholm stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Raith swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Raith manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Nyholm manages to get himself to full guard.
Nyholm manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Raith manages to get himself to full guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Nyholm makes a bit of distance and scores with some ground and pound, still in guard.
Fred Nyholm overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Nyholmis looking to pass into half guard but Raith pushes him away with his feet and jumps on top - now Raith is in guard.
Raith throws a big elbow that misses.
Nyholm is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.
Raith trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Nyholm working a defensive guard but Raith passes into half guard.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Nyholm wants to get back to full guard.
Nyholm trying to control here.
Nyholm tries to get to full guard but Raith has control of the leg.
Nyholm is working hard here to advance position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Nyholm is controlling Raith's position as best he can from this difficult position.
Raith perhaps working for something from half guard, or maybe not. It looks like he's just sitting there.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.
Raith tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Nyholm paws at him with a jab and circles away.

Nyholm closes the distance and gets a trip takedown into side control. Raith quickly recovers to half guard.
Nyholm throws a strike but Raith avoids it easily and moves to full guard.
Nyholm advances to half guard.
Nyholm working the head and body with strikes.
Nyholm is looking for the mount but instead finds himself back in full guard.

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

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Nyholm is looking to work some ground and pound but Raith has wrist control.
Nyholm throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Raith works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
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!
Nyholm wants to control from the top but Raith keeps moving.
Nyholm trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.

Raith looking for a guillotine here but Nyholm defends easily.
Raith is breathing heavily.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Nyholm is pushing down on Raith's leg trying to pass to half guard. Raith is fighting to maintain full guard but Nyholm has managed to sneak the leg through.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Fred Nyholm dominated that second round.
That's time! Nyholm's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight. Let's hear some noise people - this is the final round!

Raith shoots and misses
and Nyholm cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Raith changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Nyholm tries to avoid it but Raith manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Nyholm to the ground. Nyholm escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
Raith misses with a takedown
and Nyholm counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
Fred Nyholm has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Thomas Raith.

Nyholm drops down and drives through with a powerful takedown into guard.
Nyholm pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Raith is keeping the position for now.
Raith keeping moving, preventing Nyholm from controlling successfully.
Nyholm advances position into side control!
Nyholm scoring with punches from side control.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Raith gives up the full mount - oops, sloppy defensive grappling there!
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

Nyholm goes for an armbar but Raith turns quickly into his guard - lovely anticipation from Raith.
Nyholm seems keen to control Raith's posture.
Raith trying to control the position from guard on top but Nyholm is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Nyholm is pulling down on Raith's head. It's preventing any offense from Raith, at least for the moment.
Nyholm keeping full guard, as Raith tries to pass.
Nyholm controls Raith momentarily but Raith frees himself.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Raith being controlled here momentarily.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.

Raith shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Oh and he's advanced to full mount straight away.

Raith working for a guillotine from mount but Nyholm is in no mood to give up.
Raith takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Nyholm gets back to half guard.
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!
Nyholm is looking to improve his position.
Nyholm is pressing down on Raith's left leg trying to get back to full guard. He's managed it.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Raith is fighting to break Nyholm's control of his arms but Nyholm is doing a good job of controlling the position at the moment.
Raith postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Nyholm managing to control the position.
Nyholm's ground tactics aren't going to win him many fans. Let's hope he's got fireworks for us if he gets back to his feet because he's not doing much on the ground.
We've had a lack of effective grappling in the last minute or so, which could well see a referee standup.
Nyholm is trying to control the position but Raith postures up.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.
Raith tries to clinch there but Nyholm circles away.
Nice sprawl there from Raith as Nyholm shoots in.
Raith throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Nyholm's waist but Nyholm gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Raith off to one side.

Nyholm scores a trip takedown into side control. Nice.
Raith is sneaking out the side here. He's bucked Nyholm off and has taken his back!
Nyholm tries to escape the position - he's now mounted. Is that better or worse? Hard to tell!
Nyholm doing his best to control the position. Can he escape?
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!
Nyholm is looking to get to half guard.
Thomas Raith has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Raith lands a big elbow.
Fred Nyholm is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Raith avoids the attempt from Nyholm to control.

And that's the end of the fight!
Fred Nyholm showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Nyholm has outscored his opponent in every aspect of the fight today. Only a scarily incompetent judge or two will keep him from a well deserved win... 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 Johanna Lukiainen scores the fight 30:27
Judge Matti Vanhoillinen scores the fight 30:27
Judge Tarja Halkonen scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Fred Nyholm!