PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Jani Reuhkala (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Eero Niinimaa (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Jani Reuhkala has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Reuhkala
vs
Niinimaa

179 cm
19
197 lbs
5 - 1 - 0

178 cm
20
193 lbs
4 - 1 - 0

Decent wrestler
Excellent boxer
Very strong

BJJ Blue Belt
Excellent boxer
Good gas tank

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the middleweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 5 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Jani Reuhkala!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 4 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Eero Niinimaa!
The judges for this bout are Anni Minnemäki, Matti Vanhoillinen and Arvi Lind.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Reuhkala on the wrong end of a decent looking cross there.
Niinimaa looks to land a left hand but Reuhkala moved out of range nicely.
Niinimaa misses with an uppercut
enabling Reuhkala to counter with a crisp jab.
Niinimaa keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Reuhkala.
Niinimaa connects with the punch.
A slow jab from Niinimaa misses its intended target.
Reuhkala slips a jab and a cross from Niinimaa.
Reuhkala looks to land a combination but Niinimaa avoids it well.
Niinimaa throws an overhand right that lands on Reuhkala's shoulder, as Reuhkala tries to avoid the shot.
Niinimaa throws a body punch but Reuhkala moves out of range.
A punch combination from Niinimaa misses.
Niinimaa misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Reuhkala.
Reuhkala throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
Reuhkala cracks Niinimaa with a good shot that sees him stumbling back into the cage.

It looks like Eero Niinimaa has been cut.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Reuhkala ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
Nice jab there from Reuhkala.
Niinimaa swings and misses with a hook to the body.
A lazy left from Niinimaa finds it's target.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Reuhkala bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
Jab, cross, leg kick. Nice combination by Niinimaa!
Niinimaa's jab looks to have found its range, popping Reuhkala under the eye.
Niinimaa lands a jab to Reuhkala's midsection.
Niinimaa connects with the punch.
Reuhkala throws a hook to the side of Niinimaa's head but Niinimaa sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
Niinimaa throws a hook to the side of Reuhkala's head but Reuhkala sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
Niinimaa moves into range and connects with a jab.
Niinimaa throws a hook but Reuhkala avoids it easily.
Reuhkala takes a really solid shot there but just smiles back and shrugs his shoulders.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Niinimaa ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Reuhkala moves away.
Niinimaa throws the left hand but Reuhkala avoids the punch easily.
Reuhkala steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Niinimaa.
Niinimaa lands a jab to the nose.
Reuhkala tries to move into range but Niinimaa moves to the side and lands with a nice right hand.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Niinimaa cracks a nice hook into Reuhkala's ribs.
Reuhkala on the wrong end of a nice hook.
Niinimaa misses with a body shot.
Niinimaa lands an overhand right.
Reuhkala takes a jab right on the nose. That must have hurt but he shrugs his shoulders and looks to return the favor.
Niinimaa throws a jab when Reuhkala was well out of range.
Nice body punch from Niinimaa.
Niinimaa scores with a nice strike.
Niinimaa throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
Niinimaa thows a body shot but no joy.
Niinimaa throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Niinimaa ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Reuhkala moves away.
Niinimaa slips a jab from Reuhkala.
Niinimaa throws a hook to the side of Reuhkala's head but Reuhkala sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
Reuhkala bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Niinimaa throws a hook to the side of Reuhkala's head but Reuhkala sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
Good exchange - Niinimaa coming out on top.
Niinimaa fakes a jab and then connects with a hook.
Reuhkala misses with a body shot.
Reuhkala moves his head to the side to avoid a jab but walks straight into a cross.
Niinimaa lands a right hook to the body.
Reuhkala drops his hands and takes a jab to the jaw for his troubles.
Niinimaa misses with a jab, cross combination.
Niinimaa misses with a wild body shot.
Niinimaa wings a very wild body shot but it does the job and lands to the midsection.
Niinimaa throws a jab to the body, straight down the pipe. Boom. That sent Reuhkala stumbling backwards but he manages to regain his composure quickly.
Niinimaa comes forward and lands a shot to the body, then darts back out of range.
Niinimaa works Reuhkala's body with a nice hook.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Reuhkala fails to land with a series of punches.
Niinimaa throws a right and a left that both miss.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Niinimaa scores with a jab.
Eero Niinimaa seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Niinimaa blocks a jab.
Niinimaa looks to land a right hand but Reuhkala moved out of range.
Niinimaa is landing a lot of head punches in this opening round! Reuhkala had better start moving his head a bit unless he wants his face to turn into pâté.
Niinimaa changes levels and scores with a jab to the body.
Reuhkala misses with a two punch combination.
Niinimaa dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
Reuhkala waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Niinimaa.
Niinimaa throws an overhand right that lands on Reuhkala's shoulder, as Reuhkala tries to avoid the shot.
Niinimaa throws an overhand right that lands on Reuhkala's shoulder, as Reuhkala tries to avoid the shot.
Niinimaa dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
A telegraphed right hand from Niinimaa misses the target.
This fight brought to you by 5M nutrition - it's mmmmm tasty. Nice jab by Reuhkala.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Niinimaa works Reuhkala's body with a nice hook.
Niinimaa connects with a looping left hand that seems like it dazed Reuhkala momentarily.
Reuhkala uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Niinimaa.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Eero Niinimaa dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Eero Niinimaa'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.

Niinimaa throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
Niinimaa looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Niinimaa falls off balance throwing a combination

and Reuhkala moves into the clinch.
Niinimaa is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.
Niinimaa wants to get back to striking at distance but Reuhkala won't allow it.
Niinimaa taking a breather.

Reuhkala breaks from the clinch.
Niinimaa misses with a body shot.
Niinimaa misses with a hook.
Niinimaa digs a good body shot into Reuhkala's ribs.
Reuhkala ducks under a wild hook from Niinimaa.
Reuhkala keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Some wild striking there from Niinimaa.
Niinimaa has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Niinimaa defending well as Reuhkala loads up on a big left hand.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Niinimaa throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
Reuhkala throws a series of punches but Niinimaa avoids them all with ease.
Jab, jab by Niinimaa - just one landing.
Niinimaa scores with a hook to the body. Reuhkala takes a step back and tries to catch his breath.
Jani Reuhkala is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Niinimaa thuds a left hand into Reuhkala's body.
Left hook, right uppercut from Niinimaa.
Eero Niinimaa seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Niinimaa ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Reuhkala moves away.
Niinimaa throws a shot from downtown. Reuhkala moves away and avoids it.
Niinimaa misses with a right hand

and Reuhkala counters by clinching up.
Niinimaa is trying to push Reuhkala away but Reuhkala has him pressed against the cage, so he's going nowhere.
Reuhkala lands with a left to the head.
A body shot lands from Reuhkala.

Reuhkala pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Reuhkala uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Niinimaa.
Reuhkala gets his head snapped back by a nice shot there.
Niinimaa pushing out the jab but it's not landing.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Reuhkala misses with a two punch combination.
Reuhkala throws a series of punches but Niinimaa moves out of range.
Reuhkala throws a right and a left that both miss.
Niinimaa ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Reuhkala moves away.
Reuhkala throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Niinimaa sees it coming and avoids it easily.
Niinimaa listening to his corner there, landing a nice uppercut.
Niinimaa throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Niinimaa lands with a good body shot.
Niinimaa with a jab.
Niinimaa comes forward and lands a shot to the body, then darts back out of range.
Reuhkala on the wrong end of a decent looking cross there.
Reuhkala tries to bum rush Niinimaa with a series of wild strikes but Niinimaa uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Reuhkala drops his hands and takes a jab to the jaw for his troubles.
Reuhkala looks like he's developed a pretty tasty lump over his left eye. He'll need to avoid taking much more damage to that.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Niinimaa misses the shot to the body.
Reuhkala misses with a hook.
Niinimaa uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Reuhkala.
Reuhkala slips a jab and a cross from Niinimaa.
Niinimaa misses with a hook. Reuhkala ducked under it nicely.
Niinimaa lands a jab followed by a nice looking cross.
Niinimaa throws a lazy right hand but Reuhkala sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Niinimaa thows a body shot but no joy.
Reuhkala slips under a jab from Niinimaa.
Niinimaa misses with a straight right.
Reuhkala misses with a series of wild punches.
Niinimaa jabs Reuhkala right on the nose. Reuhkala blinks but takes it well.
Reuhkala throws the left hand but Niinimaa avoids the punch easily.
Niinimaa with a jab.
Reuhkala is really head hunting here, hardly looking to strike to the body at all.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The fighters are going at a pretty good pace and they're both starting to sweat now.
Niinimaa throws a body punch but Reuhkala moves out of range.
Niinimaa drops his hands and takes a jab to the jaw for his troubles.
Niinimaa thows a left - swing and a miss!
Niinimaa tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Reuhkala was well out of range. Poor timing from Niinimaa.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Reuhkala throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Niinimaa listening to his corner there, landing a nice uppercut.
Reuhkala is pinned up against the cage taking some big shots here. The referee is looking closely deciding whether he should stop the fight.
Reuhkala moves out of range as Niinimaa strikes.
Reuhkala takes a really solid shot there but just smiles back and shrugs his shoulders.
Niinimaa looks to score with a jab to the body but Reuhkala is just out of range.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Jab, cross, leg kick. Nice combination by Reuhkala!
Reuhkala thuds a left hand into Niinimaa's body.
Reuhkala lands a jab-cross combination.
Niinimaa loads up on a big right hand but Reuhkala slips the punch.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Eero Niinimaa showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The cut man is working on Eero Niinimaa's cut.
That's the end of the interval. I'm sure that seemed a lot quicker than a minute for our two fighters! Back to the action. And we move into the final round!

Niinimaa throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
Reuhkala uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Niinimaa.
Niinimaa fails to land with a series of punches.
Niinimaa throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Reuhkala.
Niinimaa throws a body punch but Reuhkala moves out of range.
Niinimaa with a hook.
Reuhkala swings for the body but Niinimaa moves out of range.
Reuhkala slips a jab from Niinimaa.
Niinimaa scores with a hook.
Niinimaa throws a hook to the side of Reuhkala's head but Reuhkala sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
Niinimaa ducks down and throws a hook to the body.
Niinimaa connects with a good right hand that stumbles Reuhkala. Reuhkala circles away out of range and recomposes himself.
Niinimaa fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Reuhkala manages to avoid it.
Reuhkala throws a lazy right hand but Niinimaa sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Niinimaa ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Reuhkala moves away.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Niinimaa moves away from the strike by Reuhkala.
Niinimaa misses with a straight right.
Niinimaa scores with a straight right hand, right through his opponent's guard.
Niinimaa lands with an uppercut that bounces Reuhkala off the cage and back into range.
Reuhkala moves out of range as Niinimaa strikes.
Niinimaa throws a hook to the side of Reuhkala's head but Reuhkala sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
Niinimaa jabs Reuhkala to the body, keeping him at a distance.
Niinimaa misses with a wild combination.
Niinimaa lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Reuhkala circles away quickly and effectively.
Niinimaa uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Reuhkala.
Reuhkala uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Niinimaa.
Niinimaa connects with a body shot.
Reuhkala has his head snapped back a nice jab. A little nod from Reuhkala there as he acknowledges the shot.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Niinimaa scores with a decent looking hook.
The fighters circling - Niinimaa throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
Reuhkala misses with a hook. Niinimaa ducked under it nicely.
Reuhkala gets his head snapped back by a nice shot there.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Niinimaa throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Reuhkala avoids the body shot from Niinimaa.
Jani Reuhkala has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Niinimaa throws a jab but it's blocked by Reuhkala.
Niinimaa misses the body punch

and Reuhkala counters by clinching up.
Niinimaa looks like he'd prefer to be striking at range right now.
Reuhkala lands a nice shot to the body.
Reuhkala just leaning against Niinimaa, taking a breather.
Niinimaa is trying to force a seperation but Reuhkala has the dominant position.
Reuhkala keeps control of Niinimaa as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.
Reuhkala is working Niinimaa over against the cage.
A frustrated look appears on Niinimaa's face as he tries to break the clinch.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Good anti-grappling being displayed by Reuhkala as Niinimaa tries to tie him up.
Niinimaa is trying to break free.

Reuhkala's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Niinimaa throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Niinimaa on the wrong end of a nice jab.
A looping hook to the body misses from Niinimaa. Reuhkala does a little dance to reset his feet.
A jab from Niinimaa misses.
Niinimaa misses with an uppercut.
Niinimaa missing with a left hand there. Reuhkala was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
Niinimaa throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Niinimaa ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Reuhkala moves away.
Niinimaa slips a straight right by Reuhkala.
Niinimaa will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
A right-left combo lands from Niinimaa.
Niinimaa takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A slow jab from Niinimaa misses its intended target.
Reuhkala throws a hook but Niinimaa avoids it easily.
Reuhkala throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
Niinimaa ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Reuhkala moves away.
Reuhkala throws a lazy right hand but Niinimaa sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Niinimaa misses the shot to the body.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Reuhkala uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Niinimaa.
Reuhkala throws a nice looking combination but Niinimaa bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
A swing and a miss from Niinimaa.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Niinimaa jabs Reuhkala to the body, keeping him at a distance.
Reuhkala uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Niinimaa.
Niinimaa scores to the head and body with a nice combination!
Niinimaa swings and misses with a hook to the body.

And that's the end of the fight!
Eero Niinimaa comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Niinimaa 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 Anni Minnemäki scores the fight 27:30
Judge Matti Vanhoillinen scores the fight 27:30
Judge Arvi Lind scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Eero Niinimaa!