PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Ryan McNeil (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Fernando Nurmi (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Nurmi is bobbing his head along to his entrance song: Who Let the Dogs out. Man, I cannot wait for this one!

McNeil
vs
Nurmi

215 cm
23
170 lbs
3 - 3 - 0

177 cm
22
180 lbs
2 - 1 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter striker
Good chin

Good takedowns
Basic striking
Solid chin

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 3 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Ryan McNeil!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Fernando Nurmi!
The judges for this bout are Marco Blurström, Arvi Lind and Johanna Lukiainen.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
McNeil tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.

Nurmi closes the distance and looks for a trip takedown... aaaand he's got it - Nurmi lands in his opponent's guard.
Nurmi looking to pass the guard.
Nurmi trying to control the position from guard on top but McNeil is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
McNeil controls Nurmi momentarily but Nurmi frees himself.

McNeil has his foot on Nurmi's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Nurmi works his way back into a safe position though.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
McNeil wants to get back to his feet but Nurmi is in a dominant position and won't allow it.
McNeil can't do much from the bottom at the moment, as Nurmi controls the pace.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Nurmi stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. McNeil swivels though and keeps the full guard.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.

Nurmi shoots in for a takedown! He's got it and he's managed to land in full mount! That's better than Nurmi was expecting from the takedown attempt, I'm sure!
Nurmi manages to capitalize on a mistake by McNeil to take his back!

Nurmi has his opponent's back and is working for the choke.
McNeil really does look like a pencil wearing a pair of gloves. Let's hope he has a gameplan to suit that ridiculous body shape.

Nurmi is working really hard to secure the rear naked choke. McNeil defends successfully for a significant amount of time. Both fighters are looking very determined.

Nurmi is staying calm and holding on to the back position, whilst working on a rear naked choke. McNeil is defending well though. Nurmi let's go of the attempt for now.
Nurmi looks gassed!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here.
McNeil is trying to break free.

Nurmi working for a RNC but it's not happening just yet.

McNeil defends a rear naked choke attempt by controlling one of Nurmi's arms.
Nurmi avoiding McNeil 's attempts to control his hands.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Nurmi tries to keep control of the position but McNeil is staying busy.
McNeil is trying to stand back up.

Nurmi is working really hard to secure the rear naked choke. McNeil defends successfully for a significant amount of time. Both fighters are looking very determined.
Nurmi tries to get the hooks in deep but McNeil pushed the leg off.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are hurling abuse towards the fighters... You can hardly blame them though because there isn't a lot going on in the fight.
Nurmi is trying to stick to McNeil's back but McNeil is turning into Nurmi. He's managed to reverse the position - now he's in Nurmi's guard. Polite applause from the crowd in appreciation of some nice Jiu Jitsu by McNeil.
Nurmi keeping moving, preventing McNeil from controlling successfully.
McNeil postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Nurmi takes a jab right on the nose. That must have hurt but he shrugs his shoulders and looks to return the favor.
McNeil misses with a head kick.

Nurmi looks for a takedown. He's got it. We're now in half guard.

Nurmi is working for a submission of some sort.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

Nurmi wants to work for an arm triangle but McNeil is really keeping half guard well and defending the submission attempt.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Fernando Nurmi dominated that round.
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.

Nurmi shoots for a double leg takedown but McNeil sprawls well. He's pushed Nurmi's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.

McNeil moves into range and clinches up with Nurmi.
A knee to the head by McNeil.
Nurmi throws a nice elbow but it doesn't land.
McNeil wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.
Nurmi misses with an elbow strike.
Nurmi tries to pull guard but McNeil won't allow it.
McNeil blocks an elbow strike.

Nurmi decides to pull guard.
McNeil showing good wrestling skills to control the position.

Nurmi escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. McNeil gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.

Nurmi working for submissions but it's allowed McNeil to get to half guard.
Nurmi is breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Ground and pound from McNeil.
Nurmi tries to get to full guard but McNeil has control of the leg.
McNeil seems to have lost interest with the ground game and is thinking about standing back up.
McNeil wants to lay and pray for a moment but Nurmi keeps working.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
There's not a lot going on here and the crowd are letting the fighters know they're not willing to tolerate a lack of action.
Nurmi is looking to control McNeil's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Nurmi avoid being mounted?

McNeil decides to stand and escape the position.
Nurmi wants to clinch but McNeil slips to the side
and McNeil finishes the little exchange by landing a big kick to the body.
McNeil tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Nurmi paws at him with a jab and circles away.
McNeil shoots in for a takedown but Nurmi shows good takedown defense.
McNeil throws a head kick that Nurmi semi-blocks.
Nurmi tries to clinch but McNeil moves out of range.
McNeil throws a nice head kick!

Nurmi closes the distance and clinches.
McNeil avoids the elbow strike from Nurmi, against the cage.

McNeil is trying to trip Nurmi. He has hold of a leg but Nurmi is hopping around, keeping his balance for the moment. McNeil persists though and gets the takedown into guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Nurmi controls McNeil momentarily but McNeil frees himself.
McNeil preventing the sweep.

Nurmi has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but McNeil can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
McNeil trying to control the position from guard on top but Nurmi is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Nurmi tries to land a sweep but no joy.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
My god... these two guys really need to pick up the pace or everyone will leave to go get a beer.

Nurmi is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
Nurmi wants to sweep here but McNeil controlling him for the moment.
Nurmi has control of McNeil's left arm, preventing McNeil from doing any damage.

Nurmi is looking for a triangle here but McNeil uses the submission attempt to pass into side control.
Nurmi is looking to regain half guard here but McNeil keeps moving and retains side control.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Ryan McNeil dominated that second round.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action. 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.

No luck for McNeil with that takedown attempt.
McNeil misses with a takedown attempt - Nurmi sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.

Nurmi decides to change it up a bit and drives through with a nice takedown into half guard.
Nurmi takes a deep breath and rests his weight momentarily on top of his opponent, to control the position.
Nurmi moves nicely into side control.
McNeil tries to escape but Nurmi is in control.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Nurmi moving around in side mount but really he's just happy to control for now.

Nurmi is looking for a kimura. He might have it! No, McNeil has escaped the position, nice work there.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Nurmi laying and praying for a moment but McNeil takes advantage and regains half guard.

Nurmi is trying to work for a kimura but McNeil is defending well.

McNeil is defending against the submission attempts here by Nurmi.

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.
McNeil won't allow Nurmi to pass to mount.
McNeil is not content to let Nurmi control the position.
McNeil trying to control here.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
McNeil is staying active underneath Nurmi, who seems content to just control the action from this position.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.
Nurmi tries to clinch but McNeil moves away
and McNeil counters with a head kick.

Nurmi feints and as McNeil raises his hands in defense, Nurmi changes levels and drives through with a takedown into guard.

Nurmi decides to stand up and beckons his opponent to follow.
Nurmi doesn't succeed with the takedown
and McNeil counters with a left to the body.

Nurmi bobs and weaves into range and then changes levels and scores with a nice takedown into side control.
Nurmi working away.
Nurmi wants to lay and pray for a moment but McNeil keeps working.

Nurmi is trying to land an Americana. He has the arm isolated but McNeil is keeping cool and he's avoided the danger for now.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Nurmi stands up and beckons McNeil to his feet.

Nurmi feints and as McNeil raises his hands in defense, Nurmi changes levels and drives through with a takedown into guard.
Nurmi wants to control from the top but McNeil keeps moving.

Nurmi stands up and waves to McNeil to follow him.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.

Nurmi looks for a takedown. He's got it. We're now in half guard.

And that's the end of the fight!
Fernando Nurmi comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Nurmi 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 Marco Blurström scores the fight 28:29
Judge Arvi Lind scores the fight 28:29
Judge Johanna Lukiainen scores the fight 28:29

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