PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Columbus Clay (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Matti Vuorinen (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Matti Vuorinen will no doubt be trying to keep this one on the feet, where he has a distinct advantage.

Clay
vs
Vuorinen

218 cm
21
193 lbs
1 - 1 - 0

190 cm
25
198 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Good in bed

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Very confident

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 1 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Columbus Clay!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Matti Vuorinen!
The judges for this bout are Anni Minnemäki, Johanna Lukiainen and Matti Vanhoillinen.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Clay gets in close and instigates a clinch.

Vuorinen breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Clay takes a solid shot to the body. That one hurt him but he's trying not to show it.
Vuorinen dives in and grabs Clay's left leg, looking for a takedown. Clay pushes down on Vuorinen's head and hops out.
A punch combination from Vuorinen misses.
Vuorinen is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Vuorinen fakes a couple of low kicks, before throwing one on the third attempt. It connects and Clay has to reset his feet before getting ready to engage.
Vuorinen shoots and misses

and Clay decides to take the opportunity to score a takedown. He's landed in Vuorinen's guard.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!

Clay drops back for a leg! It's a sloppy attempt though and Clay jumps back into guard quickly, to retain the dominant position.
Vuorinen trying to control the position.
Clay tries to free his leg and advance position but Vuorinen is retaining full guard.
Vuorinen is looking to stand back up but Clay counters by passing into half guard. Oops... bit sloppy there by Vuorinen.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Vuorinen misses with some strikes from the bottom.

Clay is trying to work for a kimura but Vuorinen is defending well.
Vuorinen is trying to get back to full guard.
Clay content to sit in half guard and control for a moment.
Vuorinen is trying to get back to full guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Clay is just sitting in half guard, waiting for something to happen.
Vuorinen strikes from the bottom but Clay uses the opportunity to move to side control.

Clay working hard here to secure a kimura but he's not really in the right position for it.
Vuorinen is trying to control Clay's posture but Clay avoids it.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Vuorinen tries to control but Clay manages to take his back.
Vuorinen turns into Clay and is now in his guard.
Vuorinen throws a big right hand that misses.
Vuorinen is working Clay over from the guard. He should look to pass the guard and do a little more damage with these strikes.
Clay preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Vuorinen looking to pass the guard.
Clay has control of Vuorinen's left arm, preventing Vuorinen from doing any damage.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Clay is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Vuorinen throwing strikes from guard but Clay blocks nicely.
Vuorinen throwing strikes from guard but Clay blocks nicely.
Vuorinen wants to control from the top but Clay keeps moving.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.
Vuorinen misses with a takedown attempt - Clay sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
Columbus Clay has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Matti Vuorinen.
Clay avoids a punch combination nicely.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.

Clay drives through with a really nice takedown into side control.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Vuorinen tries to improve position but can't.
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 Columbus Clay will probably get the nod.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business.

Clay is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Vuorinen avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Vuorinen is looking to clinch.

Clay fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Vuorinen, pushing him back against the cage.
Vuorinen fails to pull guard.

Vuorinen's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Clay avoids the clinch attempt nicely.

Clay clinches up with Vuorinen and pushes him back against the cage.
Vuorinen tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. Clay smiles and moves away.
Clay tries to score a power double leg takedown but Vuorinen sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Clay somewhat.
Matti Vuorinen seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Vuorinen looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
Columbus Clay has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Matti Vuorinen.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Clay is looking to clinch but Vuorinen is avoiding it.
Clay misses with a head kick.
Clay fails miserably with a takedown attempt.

Vuorinen decides to change it up a bit and drives through with a nice takedown into half guard.
Vuorinen winds up and cracks Clay with a swinging punch to the side of the head.
Vuorinen is looking to advance position but Clay won't allow it.

Vuorinen is looking for a kimura but he's never going to get it from there.
Vuorinen is breathing heavily.

Vuorinen is sneakily working for an arm triangle but Clay sees it coming and defends easily.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Clay gets back to full guard.
Vuorinen trying to control but Clay is working from the bottom.
Clay will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.
Vuorinen won't allow Clay to sweep him here.

Clay has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Vuorinen can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
Columbus Clay overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Vuorinen stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Clay swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Vuorinen must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.
This has been an exciting period of action!

Clay is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Vuorinen defends well.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Vuorinen throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Clay works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Vuorinen trying to control the position from guard on top but Clay is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

Clay is looking for a triangle but Vuorinen pushes his legs off easily.
Vuorinen is just sitting in guard, looking to avoid any submissions.
Clay wants to sweep but no luck.
Vuorinen scores with a decent looking elbow strike.
Vuorinen throws a strike but Clay rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Vuorinen has a closed guard, preventing Clay from standing up.
Vuorinen is pulling down on Clay's head. It's preventing any offense from Clay, at least for the moment.
Clay postures up.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Clay won't allow Vuorinen to sweep him here.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Matti Vuorinen showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action! Let's get this one finished - here comes the final round!

Vuorinen scores with a takedown into Clay's guard.
Clay is looking to stand up but Vuorinen isn't so interested in that idea.
Clay working a defensive guard but Vuorinen manages to pass into side control anyway.
Clay manages to get one leg in to regain half guard.
Vuorinen wants to pass the guard but Clay is defending well.
Clay is pressing down on Vuorinen's left leg trying to get back to full guard. He's managed it.

Vuorinen drops back for a leg but he's not going to get it - he lets go and Clay dives on top into guard.
Clay wants to control from the top but Vuorinen keeps moving.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Vuorinen looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
Vuorinen takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Clay postures up.
Clay wants to control from the top but Vuorinen keeps moving.
Clay stays in close to Vuorinen's body and controls the position.
The referee must be thinking about standing these guys back up.
Clay trying to stand up but can't free himself from Vuorinen's guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

The ref stands the fighters back up. Columbus Clay wasn't doing enough on the ground.
Vuorinen will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
Clay ducks under a wild hook from Vuorinen.
Vuorinen slips a jab and a cross from Clay.

Vuorinen shoots in looking for a single leg takedown. Clay is trying to defend but Vuorinen finishes it well and ends up in half guard. Let's see if he can advance position further.
Clay is staying active underneath Vuorinen, who seems content to just control the action from this position.
Clay makes his way to full guard. A much better position for Clay.
Vuorinen working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Clay avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Clay is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Vuorinen defends well.

Clay is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
Clay keeping moving, preventing Vuorinen from controlling successfully.
Clay really does look like a pencil wearing a pair of gloves. Let's hope he has a gameplan to suit that ridiculous body shape.
Clay is controlling Vuorinen's posture.
Vuorinen wants to control from the top but Clay keeps moving.
Vuorinen passes Clay's right leg, so he's now in half guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Clay is refusing to be controlled, as Vuorinen sits in half guard.
Vuorinen working some ground and pound from close in. He's looking to maintain this position and strike for a while by the looks of things... although he'll probably advance to full mount in a minute now I've said that.
Clay is positioning himself well to prevent Vuorinen advancing to mount.
Vuorinen not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
Vuorinen scoring with strikes to the body and head.
Clay controlling the leg, holding on to half guard.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Clay is refusing to be controlled, as Vuorinen sits in half guard.

And that's the end of the fight!
I would just about give that final round to Matti Vuorinen.
I think Vuorinen has won this one but let's see whether the judges agree with me. 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 28:29
Judge Johanna Lukiainen scores the fight 28:29
Judge Matti Vanhoillinen scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Matti Vuorinen!