PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Fernando Nurmi (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Maksim Smirnov (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Nurmi's ring entrance music is that housewives' favourite, Who Let the Dogs out. Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Nurmi
vs
Smirnov

177 cm
22
180 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

185 cm
18
178 lbs
0 - 1 - 0

Good takedowns
Basic striking
Good chin

BJJ Blue Belt
Excellent MT
Determined

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 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Fernando Nurmi!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Maksim Smirnov!
The judges for this bout are Tarja Halkonen, Matti Vanhoillinen and Marco Blurström.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Smirnov throws a head kick but Nurmi moves out of range.
Smirnov looks to land a combination but Nurmi avoids it well.

Nurmi drops down and drives through with a powerful takedown into guard.
Smirnov really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Nurmi. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.
Nurmi wants to control from the top but Smirnov keeps moving.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Nurmi wants to pass the guard but Smirnov is keeping the position.
Nurmi seems content to control from guard here. He's going to have to remain active though if he doesn't want to get stood back up.
Nurmi passes into half guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Nurmi tries to pass to full mount but Smirnov defends it.
Nurmi trying to control from half guard but Smirnov is working away.
Nurmi is pressing down on Smirnov's thigh, looking to free his foot. Smirnov is holding on for now.

Nurmi looking for a kimura but he'll have to free his other leg if he wants to finish that. Perhaps he's just using it as a distraction technique.
Nurmi trying to mount his opponent but Smirnov defends it.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Nurmi looks over to his corner - he wants some instructions but his corner are not responding.
Nurmi is pressing down on Smirnov's thigh, looking to free his foot. Smirnov is holding on for now.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Smirnov goes for a spinning back kick but it misses.

Nurmi darts in and lands a nice takedown into half guard.
Smirnov is trying to stand.
Nurmi is figuring out what he wants to do next.
Nurmi is keen to just control but Smirnov is a slippery customer.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The fighters are starting to get a bit slippery now, which will make submissions a bit more difficult.
Nurmi takes a deep breath and rests his weight momentarily on top of his opponent, to control the position.
Nurmi wants to pass the guard but Smirnov is defending well.
Neither fighter is being very active at the moment, with Nurmi in particular looking to stall.

Nurmi seems to be looking for submissions.
Nurmi is breathing heavily.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Nurmi looking to pass the half guard. Not this time.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Fernando Nurmi dominated that round.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

Smirnov will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.

Nurmi forces Smirnov back against the cage and clinches.

Nurmi has managed to pull guard. Let's see whether he can work an aggressive guard. It will also be interesting to see what tactics Smirnov uses from the top position.
Nurmi looking to sweep here. No luck so far.

Nurmi has his foot on Smirnov's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Smirnov works his way back into a safe position though.
Nurmi wants to hit a switch here but Smirnov passes into full mount! Oh no, disaster for Nurmi there!
Nurmi is in all sorts of trouble here.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Nurmi tries to hold on but Smirnov pushes him away.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Smirnov controlling his opponent.
Nurmi is in all sorts of trouble here.
Nurmi is working hard here to advance position.
Smirnov controlling from mount.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Well. There's a bit of a lull in the action here and the crowd are starting to get restless.
Smirnov trying to control but Nurmi is having none of it.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Nurmi tries to get back to half guard but can't.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Smirnov avoids the attempt from Nurmi to control.
Smirnov with some aggressive grappling here, looking for the finish.
Nurmi is trying desperately to improve position.
Smirnov wants to stand but Nurmi is holding on to him, trying to stop him posturing up.
Nurmi tries to hold on but Smirnov pushes him away.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Nurmi tries to reverse the position but Smirnov maintains control.
Smirnov wants to get back to his feet but Nurmi is holding on tight.
Nurmi gets back to half guard.
Nurmi wants to get back to full guard but Smirnov has mounted him!
Nurmi tries to get back to half guard but can't.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Nurmi regains half guard.
Nurmi wants to get back to full guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Fernando Nurmi dominated that second round.
That's time! Back to the action! This is the final round!

Nurmi shoots in for a takedown but Smirnov shows good takedown defense.
Nurmi looks for a takedown but Smirnov sprawls well.

Nurmi closes the distance and gets a double leg, slamming Smirnov to the mat! Smirnov manages to get full guard.
Nurmi pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Smirnov is keeping the position for now.
Smirnov is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Smirnov keeping full guard, as Nurmi tries to pass.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Smirnov looking for a sweep. Not yet Smirnov, not yet.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Nurmi is looking to advance position but Smirnov has hit a scissor sweep - now he's on top in mount!
Nurmi is in all sorts of trouble here.
Nurmi tries to hold on but Smirnov pushes him away.
Nurmi is desperately trying to improve his position but Smirnov has a good base and remains in mount.
Smirnov avoids the attempt from Nurmi to control.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Well. There's a bit of a lull in the action here and the crowd are starting to get restless.
Nurmi keeping his composure momentarily, calmly looking to get back to half guard.
Nurmi tries to hold on but Smirnov pushes him away.
Nurmi wants to improve position but instead he's given up his back.
Smirnov is controlling his opponent, waiting for an opportunity to finish.
Nurmi is defending well here and trying to improve his position.
So, who will make the next big move? In this position it could be crucial.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Nurmi tries to escape the position - he's now mounted. Is that better or worse? Hard to tell!
Nurmi tries to get back to half guard but can't.
Nurmi tries to hold on but Smirnov pushes him away.
Nurmi really trying hard to get back to half guard here.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A few boos can be heard. I'm sure they will multiply if the fighters don't pick up the pace.
Nurmi manages to regain half guard. Good work.
Maksim Smirnov has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Nurmi is trying to maintain the position but Smirnov is very close to passing his half guard.
Nurmi regains full guard. Nicely done.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Nurmi trying to keep a closed guard but Smirnov is proving a slippery customer.
Nurmi seems keen to control rather than go for a submission, at least for now.

And that's the end of the fight!
Fernando Nurmi showed his dominance in that final round.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Nurmi, winning every round. Will the judges agree? They are the ones who matter, even if they are often depressingly incompetent. 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 Tarja Halkonen scores the fight 30:27
Judge Matti Vanhoillinen scores the fight 30:27
Judge Marco Blurström scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Fernando Nurmi!