PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Yushuri Nakatano (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Niilo Tykyraato (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). The crowd giving both fighters a great reception on their way into the arena. That's good to see.

Nakatano
vs
Tykyraato

186 cm
23
170 lbs
3 - 0 - 0

167 cm
23
175 lbs
5 - 2 - 0

BJJ Brown Belt
Basic striking
KO power

BJJ Purple Belt
Brawler
Solid chin

Takomo

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 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Yushuri Nakatano!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 5 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Niilo Tykyraato!
The judges for this bout are Anni Minnemäki, Arvi Lind and Roosa Järviläinen.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Nakatano decides to change it up a bit and drives through with a nice takedown into half guard.

Tykyraato looking for submissions from an awkward position here.
Nakatano has freed up his trapped foot and advances to mount.
Tykyraato tries to get back to half guard but can't.
Tykyraato is persisting with the attempt to improve his position.

Nakatano is in full mount, looking to secure a guillotine but Tykyraato is surviving well by controlling Nakatano's body position as best he can.
Tykyraato is wriggling around trying to escape.
Nakatano is in the full mount, landing strikes.
Tykyraato is looking to get to half guard.

Nakatano working to secure an arm triangle but it's not happening for him just yet.

Tykyraato bucks up and throws Nakatano to the side - he's got back to his feet. Great escape!

Nakatano drives through with a takedown into guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Nakatano stopping the sweep attempt from Tykyraato.
Nakatano tries to free his leg and advance position but Tykyraato is retaining full guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Nakatano pushing down on Tykyraato's thigh, trying to pass to half guard. He's managed it... Nice work.
Nakatano prevents Tykyraato from standing back up.
Tykyraato makes his way to full guard. A much better position for Tykyraato.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

Nakatano is trying to work a guillotine from the top, or something like that? Don't know how he thinks he's going to get a finish from there.

Tykyraato is looking for a triangle but Nakatano pushes his legs off easily.
Tykyraato wants to sweep here but Nakatano controlling him for the moment.

Nakatano is trying to work a guillotine from the top, or something like that? Don't know how he thinks he's going to get a finish from there.
Both fighters really going for it on the ground here!
Nakatano is breathing heavily.

Tykyraato looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
Nakatano passes easily into side control. Nice work.
Tykyraato is looking for a sweep.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Nakatano working hard here to secure a kimura but he's not really in the right position for it.
Tykyraato tries to buck Nakatano off but Nakatano is having none of it.

Nakatano tries for an arm triangle. That looks pretty tight to me. Is this one over!?! Possibly, maybe, no Nakatano has let go of the choke. Obviously it wasn't as tight as we thought!
Tykyraato tries to buck Nakatano off but Nakatano is having none of it.
Tykyraato is putting a lot of effort into getting back to his feet here.
Tykyraato is looking to regain half guard here but Nakatano keeps moving and retains side control.
Tykyraato is putting a lot of effort into getting back to his feet here.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Nakatano lands some shots froms side control.
Nakatano has knee on belly and now moves to full mount! Trouble for Tykyraato!
Nakatano will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.
Tykyraato can't escape the position.
Nakatano looking to ground and pound his opponent to a finish here.
Tykyraato is working to get back to half guard.
A nice elbow there by Nakatano.
Nakatano scoring with strikes but Tykyraato is staying in there.

Nakatano jumps to side control looking for an arm triangle but Tykyraato manages to avoid the submission attempt.
Tykyraato sneaks back into half guard.
Tykyraato is pressing down on Nakatano's left leg trying to get back to full guard. He's managed it.
Nakatano preventing the sweep.
Tykyraato wants to stand up but Nakatano is controlling him.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Tykyraato looking for a sweep. Not yet Tykyraato, not yet.
Nakatano lands a nice shot whilst sitting in his opponent's guard.

Tykyraato has his foot on Nakatano's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Nakatano works his way back into a safe position though.
Nakatano works a leg free and moves into half guard.
Tykyraato wants to get back to full guard.
Tykyraato taking some punishment here, with Nakatano in his half guard.
The referee walks around the fighters to get a better view of the action. Nakatano lands a nice short elbow.

Nakatano is thinking about going for an arm triangle but he can't free his leg.
Tykyraato is looking to improve his position.
Nakatano working over Tykyraato with some ground and pound. Tykyraato looks like he wants out of this position, which is understandable.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.
Nakatano changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Tykyraato tries to avoid it but Nakatano manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Tykyraato to the ground. Tykyraato escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
Tykyraato tries for a takedown but Nakatano circles away easily

and Nakatano counters with a nice double leg into side control. Tykyraato won't be happy with that.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Yushuri Nakatano dominated that round.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

Tykyraato looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
Tykyraato with a lazy takedown attempt

and Nakatano counters with a nice double leg into guard.
Nakatano preventing the sweep.
Nakatano works a leg free and moves into half guard.

Nakatano is trying a forearm choke… I don't think that's going to do much at this level of the game.
Nakatano takes advantage of the dominant position to land a couple of big hammer fists.

Tykyraato looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.
Nakatano is looking to pass the guard... He's managed it - he's now in full mount!
Tykyraato throwing punches from his back but nothing is landing.
Tykyraato is bucking up trying to escape but Nakatano cracks him with another couple of good strikes.
Tykyraato working to try and regain half guard.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Nakatano looks like he's working for a submission but he's not found anything just yet.
Nakatano pausing momentarily but resumes with a couple of decent strikes that do a bit of damage.
Tykyraato slips a leg in and gets back to half guard.
Tykyraato makes his way to full guard. A much better position for Tykyraato.
Tykyraato wants to stand and escape but Nakatano is having none of it.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Nakatano accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.

Tykyraato is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
Tykyraato can't keep his opponent in guard - Nakatano advances to half guard, no doubt looking to mount.
Tykyraato is trying to defend against the ground and pound but Nakatano scores with a couple of nice shots.
Tykyraato is trying to get back to full guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Nakatano drops an elbow to the side of Tykyraato's head.

Nakatano is looking for a kimura but he's never going to get it from there.
The fighters are battling for position here. Tykyraato manages to regain full guard. Nice work.
Nakatano pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Tykyraato is keeping the position for now.

Tykyraato looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
Nakatano working from the guard for now, landing some ground and pound.

Tykyraato looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
Nakatano keeps in close for a moment and lands a decent shot to the side of Tykyraato's head.
Tykyraato has momentary wrist control but Nakatano slips an elbow through the middle.
Tykyraato will have to put a bit more behind his punches if he's going to do any damage from this position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Nakatano trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.

Tykyraato is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.

Tykyraato is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
Tykyraato can't keep his opponent in guard - Nakatano advances to half guard, no doubt looking to mount.
Nakatano takes advantage of the dominant position to land a couple of big hammer fists.
Nakatano has been looking to land a fair amount of strikes on the ground. He might be looking to soften his opponent up in order to work for a submission.

Nakatano is working for a kimura but Tykyraato is defending it quite comfortably.
Tykyraato manages to get to full guard.
Tykyraato looking to sweep here. No luck so far.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Tykyraato escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Nakatano gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
Nakatano is pushing down on Tykyraato's leg trying to pass to half guard. Tykyraato is fighting to maintain full guard but Nakatano has managed to sneak the leg through.
Nakatano scoring with strikes to the body and head.

Nakatano is looking for an arm triangle, whilst trying to pass to side control. Tykyraato doesn't seem that keen to cooperate though. No luck this time Nakatano.
Tykyraato gets back to full guard.

Tykyraato is looking for a triangle but Nakatano pushes his legs off easily.
Nakatano working some strikes from top position.

Tykyraato is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Yushuri Nakatano dominated that second round.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin! This is the final round!

Tykyraato with a poor takedown

and Nakatano counters with a driving takedown into guard. Nice work there by Nakatano.

Tykyraato looking for a guillotine here but Nakatano defends easily.
Nakatano is pushing down on Tykyraato's leg trying to pass to half guard. Tykyraato is fighting to maintain full guard but Nakatano has managed to sneak the leg through.

Nakatano is looking for a kimura but he's never going to get it from there.
Tykyraato regains full guard. Nicely done.
Tykyraato wants to stand up but Nakatano is controlling him.
Nakatano pushing down on Tykyraato's thigh, trying to pass to half guard. He's managed it... Nice work.
Nakatano prevents Tykyraato from improving his position.
Nakatano is keeping good posture, landing some ground and pound.

Nakatano is trying a forearm choke… I don't think that's going to do much at this level of the game.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

Tykyraato looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Nakatano prevents Tykyraato from standing back up.
Tykyraato gets back to full guard.

Nakatano avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
Nakatano is pushing down on Tykyraato's leg trying to pass to half guard. Tykyraato is fighting to maintain full guard but Nakatano has managed to sneak the leg through.
Nakatano is scoring with some nice ground and pound from the dominant position.
Tykyraato is looking for a sweep. Nakatano is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Nakatano is looking to advance position but Tykyraato won't allow it.

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.

Nakatano is trying to work for a kimura. He's got his hands clasped together - this could be trouble! No, Tykyraato has managed to free his arm - good work.
Tykyraato regains full guard. Nicely done.
Nakatano passes Tykyraato's right leg, so he's now in half guard.
Tykyraato is looking for a sweep. Nakatano is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Nakatano uses his free foot to push down on Tykyraato's thigh. Eventually he works his other foot free and he's advanced to mount - this is trouble for Tykyraato.
Tykyraato keeping his composure momentarily, calmly looking to get back to half guard.

Nakatano looking to secure an arm triangle but Tykyraato defends it well.
The referee warns Tykyraato that he has to improve his position here as he takes two more clean shots to the head.
Nakatano is still in mount, landing shots to his trapped opponent. Tykyraato can't stay in a position like this for much longer.
Nakatano looking to finish with strikes here!

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Nakatano looking for a guillotine from mount but Tykyraato is having none of it.
Tykyraato is trying to escape the mount.

Nakatano is in full mount, looking to secure a guillotine but Tykyraato is surviving well by controlling Nakatano's body position as best he can.
Tykyraato is really trying hard to get back to his feet.
Yushuri Nakatano overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.

Nakatano wants to finish this one by submission but Tykyraato is holding onto his waist, trying to prevent any attacks from Nakatano.

Nakatano working for a guillotine from mount but Tykyraato is in no mood to give up.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Tykyraato is desperately trying to get back to half guard.
Tykyraato regains half guard.
Nakatano frees up his trapped foot and advances to mount.
Tykyraato is looking to improve his position but Nakatano isn't that keen on the idea.

Nakatano looks like he's working for a submission but he's not found anything just yet.
Nakatano working away from the top, dropping strikes.

And that's the end of the fight!
Yushuri Nakatano showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Nakatano has outscored his opponent in every aspect of the fight today. Only a scarily incompetent judge or two will keep him from a well deserved win... 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 30:27
Judge Arvi Lind scores the fight 30:27
Judge Roosa Järviläinen scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Yushuri Nakatano!