PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Mike Miller (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Jari Nurmelainen (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Jari Nurmelainen is the more experienced fighter, so let's see if that makes a difference tonight.

Miller
vs
Nurmelainen

185 cm
18
176 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

175 cm
18
175 lbs
1 - 2 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Prefers ground

BJJ Purple Belt
Counter striker
Tends to cut

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 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Mike Miller!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Jari Nurmelainen!
The judges for this bout are Arvi Lind, Tarja Halkonen and Matti Vanhoillinen.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Nurmelainen keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
Mike Miller seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Miller shoots in but no luck this time.
Miller shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Nurmelainen as he avoids it easily.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Mike Miller. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Miller throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Nurmelainen's waist but Nurmelainen gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Miller off to one side.
Miller shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Nurmelainen as he avoids it easily.

Nurmelainen shoots in and gets a takedown into half guard. Nurmelainen showed some decent athleticism there.
Miller is working for an escape here. He's hooked one of Nurmelainen's legs and he's managed to sneak out and take Nurmelainen's back!
You can see the frustration on Nurmelainen's face… He knows he is in trouble unless he improves his position sooner rather than later.
Miller gets his hands free as Nurmelainen looks to control.
Nurmelainen can't escape the position.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Nurmelainen is persisting with the attempt to improve his position.
Both fighters really going for it on the ground here!
Miller struggling to keep hold of the position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Miller gets his hands free as Nurmelainen looks to control.
Miller is hanging on to Nurmelainen's back as he tries to escape.
Miller is riding his opponent, not letting Nurmelainen buck him off.
Miller is breathing heavily.
Miller keeps control of the position as Nurmelainen tries to break free.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Nurmelainen manages to reverse the position and now he's in Miller's guard. Nice work there by Nurmelainen.

Nurmelainen drops back for a leg! It's a sloppy attempt though and Nurmelainen jumps back into guard quickly, to retain the dominant position.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fight is doing enough on the ground.
Miller scores with a head kick.

It looks like Jari Nurmelainen has been cut.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Miller gets caught flat footed, as Nurmelainen shoots in with a quick takedown into guard.
Nurmelainen throws a big right hand that misses.
Miller trying to keep a closed guard but Nurmelainen is proving a slippery customer.
Nurmelainen throws and elbow that misses. Miller uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in Nurmelainen's guard. Nice move by Miller!
Miller won't allow Nurmelainen to sweep him here.
Miller trying to stand up but can't free himself from Nurmelainen's guard.
Miller looking to sit in guard and control but Nurmelainen gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.
Nurmelainen trying to control the position from guard on top but Miller is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Nurmelainen stopping the sweep attempt from Miller.
Miller wants to stand and escape but Nurmelainen is having none of it.
Miller is looking to sweep but instead, Nurmelainen has passed into half guard.
Miller moves into full guard.
Miller seems keen to control rather than go for a submission, at least for now.
Nurmelainen trying to control the position from guard on top but Miller is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Miller not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Miller manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Nurmelainen manages to get himself to full guard.
Miller slows down the pace of the fight, as he sits in guard.
Miller slips nicely into half guard.
Miller with the ground and pound but Nurmelainen uses the opportunity to regain guard.
Miller trying to control but Nurmelainen is working from the bottom.
Miller is just sitting in guard, looking to avoid any submissions.
Miller trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Jari Nurmelainen will probably get the nod.
The cut man is working on Jari Nurmelainen'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.

Miller doesn't succeed with the takedown

and Nurmelainen counters with a shoot takedown into half guard.
Miller is doing well to control the position and prevent Nurmelainen from advancing to side control.
Nurmelainen trying to control the action but Miller is working from the bottom.

Nurmelainen is working for submissions here but there's nothing on.
Miller is trying to get back to full guard.

Nurmelainen is looking for a kimura but he's never going to get it from there.
Ground and pound from Nurmelainen.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

Nurmelainen seems to be working for a kimura but Miller defends the submission attempt.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Nurmelainen wants to work for an arm triangle but Miller is really keeping half guard well and defending the submission attempt.

Nurmelainen is trying a forearm choke… I don't think that's going to do much at this level of the game.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fight is doing enough on the ground.

Nurmelainen scores with a takedown into Miller's guard.
Nurmelainen postures up and lands some nice ground and pound.
Nurmelainen wants to control from the top but Miller keeps moving.
Nurmelainen might have to switch it up a bit here because his efforts to control Miller kaven't been going to plan, at least at the current moment in time.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Nurmelainen passes Miller's left leg - he's now in half guard.
Nurmelainen seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Miller does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.
Miller controlling the position for now.

Nurmelainen is looking for an arm triangle, whilst trying to pass to side control. Miller doesn't seem that keen to cooperate though. No luck this time Nurmelainen.
Nurmelainen has freed up his trapped foot and advances to mount.
Jari Nurmelainen has got the better of the ground game so far.
Miller wants to hold on but Nurmelainen pushes him away.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Miller defends a decent attempt at a guillotine from Nurmelainen.
Nurmelainen is in the full mount, landing strikes.
Miller tries to control the position but Nurmelainen now has his back.
Miller tries to escape the position.

Nurmelainen is looking to finish the fight by rear naked choke. Miller knows exactly what he's got planned though, so he's defending well. Maybe a few strikes would soften Miller for a finish.
Nurmelainen doesn't have the hooks in and Miller manages to turn into his guard.
Miller content to stall in guard here.
Miller postures up in Nurmelainen's guard and throws a big left but Nurmelainen blocks it.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Miller looking to control the position here, rather than advance.

Nurmelainen looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
Miller wanted to stand there but Nurmelainen had control of the position.
Miller stays in close to Nurmelainen's body and controls the position.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Jari Nurmelainen showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The cut man is working on Jari Nurmelainen's cut.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business. So, we enter the final round. Let's see if either fighter can bring us a finish, or whether we're going to the judges scorecards.

Miller shoots and misses

so Nurmelainen counters with a double leg into guard. Good agility.
Miller keeping full guard, as Nurmelainen tries to pass.
Miller wants to get back to his feet but Nurmelainen is in a dominant position and won't allow it.
Nurmelainen postures up.
Nurmelainen postures up in Miller's guard and throws a big left but Miller blocks it.
Miller is pulling down on Nurmelainen's head. It's preventing any offense from Nurmelainen, at least for the moment.

Nurmelainen thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.

Nurmelainen drops back for a leg! It's a sloppy attempt though and Nurmelainen jumps back into guard quickly, to retain the dominant position.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Miller manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Nurmelainen manages to get himself to full guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Nurmelainen wants to sweep here but Miller controlling him for the moment.
Nurmelainen manages to land a sweep and now he's in mount on top!

Nurmelainen swings around for an armbar and he's got it! Wow, that came out of nowhere! What a finish!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 1:56 of round 3, we have a winner by way of Submission (Armbar). Jari Nurmelainen!