PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Tomasz Szczerek (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Sakari Nurmi (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Szczerek comes to the cage accompanied by Sobota feat. chór Montu - Do góry łeb. Nurmi has chosen Turisas -Take the day! as his entrance music. Both fighters look pumped up here. Let's hope this is a good fight!

Szczerek
vs
Nurmi

190 cm
25
185 lbs
11 - 3 - 1

176 cm
26
172 lbs
12 - 6 - 0

Good wrestling
Lethal high kicks
Cardio machine

Good wrestler
Excellent boxer
Granite chin

5th Round Clothing
Mango Nutrition (90% Laundry)

Black Hand Fight Gear & Laundry

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 11 - 3 - 1, fighting out of Helsinki, Tomasz Szczerek!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 12 - 6 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Sakari Nurmi!
The judges for this bout are Johanna Lukiainen, Tarja Halkonen and Ben Zyskovitsi.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Szczerek tries a low kick but Nurmi avoids it.
Szczerek tries to clinch up but Nurmi circles away and keeps his distance.
Szczerek fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
Szczerek fakes a jab and scores with a low kick.
Szczerek throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Nurmi fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
Szczerek scores with a head kick. Nurmi tried to block it but didn't get his arm up in time.

It looks like Sakari Nurmi has been cut.

Nurmi looks for a takedown. He's got it. We're now in half guard.
Nurmi is stalling here. Szczerek is in no mood to hang around though. He's locked up a kimura from the bottom! Nurmi seems to be keeping calm but he's forced to roll out of the hold and Szczerek has ended up in side control on the top. Nice work.
Szczerek is looking to take a break and control but Nurmi is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.

Szczerek is trying to land an Americana. He has the arm isolated but Nurmi is keeping cool and he's avoided the danger for now.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Szczerek is trying to get an arm triangle but Nurmi is defending well.

Szczerek is looking for a kimura. He might have it! No, Nurmi has escaped the position, nice work there.
Nurmi is positioning himself to get back to half guard.
Szczerek is looking to take a break and control but Nurmi is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Nurmi is positioning himself to get back to half guard.
Nurmi is persisting with the attempt to improve his position.

Szczerek looking for an arm triangle but it's way too loose to do anything.

Szczerek tries for a kimura but Nurmi is defending well.

Szczerek is trying to get an arm triangle but Nurmi is defending well.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Szczerek wants to control but Nurmi is keeping him busy.
Nurmi is trying to control Szczerek's posture but Szczerek avoids it.
Szczerek controlling the position.

Szczerek is trying to land an Americana. He has the arm isolated but Nurmi is keeping cool and he's avoided the danger for now.
Szczerek wants to lay and pray for a moment but Nurmi keeps working.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Szczerek goes for an armbar here - this could be all over! But no, Nurmi has escaped beautifully and is now on top in side control! Oh, that's unlucky for Szczerek but great work by Nurmi.
Nurmi lands some shots froms side control.
Nurmi working away.
Szczerek is looking for a sweep.
Szczerek is working hard here to advance position.
Nurmi landing with strikes to the head and body from side control.
Nurmi trying to control the position but Szczerek is working away.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Szczerek is looking for a sweep.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Nurmi cracks Szczerek with a big right hand but Szczerek just smiles back at him and invites him to have another go.
Nurmi moves into full mount!
Szczerek is trying to escape the mount.
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 Tomasz Szczerek will probably get the nod.
The cut man is working on Sakari Nurmi's cut.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action.

Nurmi changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Szczerek tries to avoid it but Nurmi manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Szczerek to the ground. Szczerek escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
Nurmi shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Szczerek sprawls well. Szczerek wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Nurmi gets slowly back to his feet.
Szczerek feints and then cracks Nurmi's leading leg with a nice low kick. He's obviously looking to slow Nurmi down.

Nurmi clinches up with Szczerek and pushes him back against the cage.

Nurmi tightens his grip and picks Szczerek up, before dumping him to the ground. Szczerek manages to land in guard.

Nurmi avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
Nurmi stopping the sweep attempt from Szczerek.

Szczerek looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.

Szczerek is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Nurmi trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Nurmi scores with a decent looking elbow strike.
Nurmi throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Nurmi wants to control from the top but Szczerek keeps moving.
Nurmi working from the guard for now, landing some ground and pound.
Nurmi must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.
Szczerek keeping moving, preventing Nurmi from controlling successfully.
Nurmi is in a good position here but he's just trying to control... And he's not even managing to do that successfully.

The ref calls for a clean break and stands the fighters back up. Sakari Nurmi wasn't active enough on the ground.
Nurmi throws a leg kick
and Szczerek counters with a nice body kick.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Szczerek scores with a big left there. The judges will like that one.
Nurmi scores with a jab to the body.
Szczerek is looking to clinch.
Nurmi connects with a jab.
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!
Nurmi shoots in for a takedown but Szczerek shows good takedown defense.
Tomasz Szczerek has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Sakari Nurmi.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Nurmi is defended easily by Szczerek.
Szczerek throws a nice outside leg kick.
Nurmi misses with a lunging right hand
and Szczerek counters with a nice body shot.
Szczerek leaves Nurmi with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
Szczerek misses with a takedown attempt - Nurmi sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
Szczerek tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Nurmi throws a leg kick but Szczerek checks it.
Nurmi shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Nurmi shoots in but doesn't get the takedown
and Szczerek counters with a series of strikes. Nurmi will be more careful next time no doubt.
Nurmi is breathing heavily.
Szczerek shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Nurmi pinned against the cage. Nurmi gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
Good work by Szczerek as he checks the leg kick.
Szczerek takes one on the chin but keeps coming.
Nurmi looks to clinch
and Szczerek counters with a thumping low kick.
Nurmi with a poor takedown
and he gets countered with a snapping leg kick.
Szczerek wants to clinch.

Nurmi scores a trip takedown into side control. Nice.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Szczerek regains half guard.
Nurmi is looking to advance position but Szczerek won't allow it.
Szczerek is trying to get back to full guard.
Szczerek is pressing down on Nurmi's left leg trying to get back to full guard. He's managed it.
Szczerek controls Nurmi momentarily but Nurmi frees himself.

Nurmi got a little sloppy there for a moment and Szczerek has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Nurmi has managed to get both his arms back between Szczerek's legs - danger averted.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Szczerek controls Nurmi momentarily but Nurmi frees himself.
Nurmi trying to control but Szczerek is working from the bottom.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Sakari Nurmi will probably get the nod - 10:9.
The cut man is working on Sakari Nurmi's cut.
That's time! Back to the action! Let's hear some noise people - this is the final round!

Nurmi looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Szczerek is fending him off so far but Nurmi persists. Nope, Szczerek circles away and we're back to standing.
Nurmi is looking to clinch.
Nurmi bobs and weaves and throws out a fast jab that snaps Szczerek's head backwards.
Nurmi tries to close the distance and clinch up but Szczerek swats him away and circles back towards the center.

Nurmi clinches up with Szczerek and pushes him back against the cage.
Nurmi tries to score a body lock takedown but Szczerek shows good agility there to stay on his feet.
A short right hand to the side of the head by Szczerek.
Szczerek lands a left hand.
Nurmi tries to pull guard but Szczerek won't allow it.
Tomasz Szczerek has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Sakari Nurmi.
Nurmi gets underhooks to prevent Szczerek's takedown attempt.
Szczerek is looking to control Nurmi's arms but Nurmi gets an underhook and turns him. Now Szczerek has his back to the cage.
Nurmi working hard to break the clinch.
Nurmi is trying to work for a single leg takedown but Szczerek pulls him back up using the underhooks.
Szczerek prevents the takedown attempt.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Nurmi drops down looking for an ankle pick but Szczerek pulls his leg out and moves away.
Nurmi takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.

Szczerek scores a trip takedown into side control. Nice.
Nurmi is not in a great position here, taking some shots.

Szczerek tries for a kimura. Not really close to a finish though.
Szczerek trying to control the position but Nurmi is working away.
Nurmi tries to bench press Szczerek off him but Szczerek keeps the position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Szczerek tries for a kimura. Not really close to a finish though.
Szczerek trying to control the position but Nurmi is working away.
Szczerek tries to score with some ground and pound. Nurmi controls his posture well this time though and the shots don't do any damage.
Nurmi manages to get back to half guard.

Szczerek is working for a kimura but Nurmi is defending it quite comfortably.
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!
Nurmi wants to get back to full guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Szczerek is keen to just control but Nurmi is a slippery customer.

Szczerek is working for a kimura but Nurmi is defending it quite comfortably.
Szczerek is looking to take a break and control but Nurmi is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Szczerek is looking to pass Nurmi's guard but actually Nurmi recovers to full guard.

Nurmi working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Szczerek doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Szczerek manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Nurmi is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Szczerek pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Nurmi is keeping the position for now.
Szczerek looking to sit in guard and control but Nurmi gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Nurmi trying to control but Szczerek is working from the bottom.
Szczerek preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.

And that's the end of the fight!
Tomasz Szczerek showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Szczerek has won this one but let's see what the judges have to say. 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 29:29
Judge Tarja Halkonen scores the fight 29:28
Judge Ben Zyskovitsi scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by majority decision... Tomasz Szczerek!
During a confident post fight interview, Tomasz Szczerek thanked all his fans. He seemed very genuine when describing how motivated his fans keep him.