PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Jonny Stevens (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Matti Nykanen (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). These two fighters really are very evenly matched on the feet - it will be fascinating to see who can assert themselves in that aspect of the fight.

Stevens
vs
Nykanen

175 cm
27
138 lbs
13 - 11 - 0

165 cm
30
133 lbs
17 - 10 - 0

Powerful takedowns
Dangerous knees
Very strong

Good wrestler
Excellent boxer
Good gas tank

FinnSubs

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the featherweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 13 - 11 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Jonny Stevens!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 17 - 10 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Matti Nykanen!
The judges for this bout are Ben Zyskovitsi, Tarja Halkonen and Anni Minnemäki.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Nykanen misses with a hook.
Stevens has his takedown stuffed
and Nykanen counters with a right hand to the body.
Stevens shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Nykanen but Nykanen pushes him off and we're back to square one.
Stevens has his takedown stuffed
and Nykanen counters with a left to the body.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Jonny Stevens. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Nykanen lands a nice hook to Stevens's body. Stevens takes it in his stride and looks to land his own strikes.
Stevens with a poor takedown

and Nykanen counters with a shoot takedown. Stevens fights it but they end up in guard.
We could do with one of the fighters taking the initiative a bit more on the ground - they're both waiting to capitalize on a mistake.
If this pace continues, the referee will definitely step in and force a standup.
Nykanen throwing strikes from guard but Stevens blocks nicely.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Nykanen postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Nykanen throws a strike but Stevens rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.
Stevens wants to control from the top but Nykanen keeps moving.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Nykanen bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Stevens's guard.
Stevens looking for a sweep. Not yet Stevens, not yet.
Nykanen scoring with some ground and pound.
Nykanen in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Nykanen postures up.
Nykanen missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Nykanen trying to control the position from guard on top but Stevens is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Nykanen engaging in some classic timewasting tactics.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Nykanen missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Stevens not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Stevens utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Stevens keeping moving, preventing Nykanen from controlling successfully.
Nykanen throws a big right hand that misses.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.
Stevens misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
Nykanen fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Stevens manages to avoid it.
Nykanen throws a body punch but Stevens moves out of range.

The fight moves into the clinch position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Nykanen tightens his grip and picks Stevens up, before dumping him to the ground. Stevens manages to land in guard.
Nykanen won't allow Stevens to sweep him here.
Stevens keeping full guard, as Nykanen tries to pass.
Nykanen throws an elbow that misses. Stevens uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in Nykanen's guard. Nice move by Stevens!
Stevens content to stall in guard here.
Stevens trying to control but Nykanen is working from the bottom.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Nykanen managing to control the position.
Stevens trying to control but Nykanen is working from the bottom.

The ref stands the fighters back up because Jonny Stevens just wasn't active enough.
Stevens fails with the takedown
and Nykanen makes him pay by landing a nice hook to the body before moving out of range.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Nykanen jabs at Stevens's body.

Stevens gets a double leg takedown into Nykanen's guard.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Stevens wants to control from the top but Nykanen keeps moving.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Matti Nykanen dominated that round.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business.

Stevens fails to land the takedown.
Nice takedown defense from Nykanen. No joy for Stevens on that attempt.
Stevens shoots and misses

and Nykanen counters with a shoot takedown into half guard.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Jonny Stevens. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Nykanen prevents Stevens from improving his position.
Nykanen not landing any meaningful shots this time.
Nykanen performing his best blanket impression for a moment.
The two fighters exchange a few words. I couldn't hear what they were saying but maybe it's more fun if you make it up yourself. Nykanen connects with a nice short shot to Stevens's temple.
Stevens keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Nykanen is taking a breather. Stevens says something to him but it's hard to make out. Perhaps he's telling him to get on with it and actually do something.
Stevens taking some punishment here, with Nykanen in his half guard.
Nykanen takes advantage of the dominant position to land a couple of big hammer fists.
Nykanen winds up and cracks Stevens with a swinging punch to the side of the head.
Nykanen tries to pass the half guard into mount. Stevens knows what he's doing though and prevents the attempt.
Nykanen thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Stevens's head.
Nykanen wants to free his trapped foot but Stevens is holding on for dear life with his legs.
Nykanen thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Stevens is refusing to be controlled, as Nykanen sits in half guard.
Stevens slips a foot under and gets full guard. Nice work.
Nykanen not doing a lot at the moment. He'll have to show some more aggression or the fight will get stood up.
Stevens 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.
Nykanen looking to pass the guard.
Nykanen passes Stevens's right leg, so he's now in half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Nykanen throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
Matti Nykanen has got the better of the ground game so far.
Nykanen thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Stevens's head.
Nykanen controlling the pace.
Nykanen passes the half guard and he's now in mount! Big trouble for Stevens!
Nykanen lands an elbow that was bordering on illegal but the referee lets it go with a warning.
Stevens tries to lock up and control but Nykanen gives him a forearm to the face and pushes him away.
Stevens is desperately trying to improve his position but Nykanen has a good base and remains in mount.
Nykanen postures up and cracks his opponent a couple of times before moving back into close ground control. Stevens looks a forlorn figure.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Nykanen looking to control but Stevens is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.
Nykanen controlling his opponent.
BOOM! Nykanen connects with a massive shot to the dome!
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Nykanen working Stevens over with strikes here.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Stevens is bucking up trying to escape but Nykanen cracks him with another couple of good strikes.
Nykanen lands with some vicious ground and pound - can Stevens hang on?
Nykanen trying to control but Stevens is having none of it.
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.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin! This is the final round!

Stevens shoots in but doesn't get the takedown
and Nykanen counters with a nice uppercut.
Nykanen displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Stevens.
Nykanen is throwing a lot of body shots here, looking to wear down Stevens rather than just go for the knockout.
Stevens keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Nykanen throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Stevens sees it coming and avoids it easily.

Stevens scores a trip takedown into side control. Nice.
A lull in the action here.
Nykanen manages to get one leg in to regain half guard.
Stevens is looking to take a break and control but Nykanen is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Nykanen is trying to stand up here but Stevens is controlling him well.

Stevens is working for a kimura but Nykanen is defending it quite comfortably.
Stevens trying to mount his opponent but Nykanen defends it.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Nykanen has his hands clasped together around Stevens's back. He's all about the action.
Stevens not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
Stevens seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Nykanen does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.

The ref stands the fighters back up because Jonny Stevens just wasn't active enough.
Stevens tries for a takedown but Nykanen circles away easily
and Nykanen cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Jonny Stevens. That's going to take a lot out of him.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Nykanen wings a very wild body shot but it does the job and lands to the midsection.
Stevens shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.

Nykanen manages to get an easy takedown there - catching Stevens on his heels. He'll look to pass Stevens's guard now, I'm sure.
Nykanen wants to control from the top but Stevens keeps moving.
Nykanen throws a big right hand that misses.
Nykanen postures up.
Nykanen won't allow Stevens to get back to his feet.
Nykanen connects with a couple of short punches.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Stevens looking for a sweep. Not yet Stevens, not yet.
Nykanen trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Nykanen controls from within his opponent's guard.
Jonny Stevens has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
The referee is pacing around the two fighters - he looks like he's thinking about a standup.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
The fighters circle momentarily. Nykanen darts into range and connects with a nice straight punch.
Matti Nykanen is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Nykanen lands a lovely overhand right.
A lazy left from Nykanen finds it's target.
Stevens shoots in for a takedown but Nykanen shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.

And that's the end of the fight!
I would just about give that final round to Matti Nykanen.
I've got Nykanen winning every round here. Surely the decision will go his way and he'll pick up a well deserved decision victory. 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 Tarja Halkonen scores the fight 27:30
Judge Anni Minnemäki scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Matti Nykanen!
Matti Nykanen very nearly forgot to thank FinnSubs amongst all the excitement of his win but just as the interview came to a close, he screamed their name. Hopefully he'll get a few nice freebies in the mail as a thank you.