PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Richard Imer (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Sakari Nurmi (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Nurmi has chosen Turisas -Take the day! as his entrance music. These two fighters really are very evenly matched on the feet - it will be fascinating to see who can assert themselves in that aspect of the fight.

Imer
vs
Nurmi

176 cm
35
175 lbs
23 - 11 - 0

176 cm
33
172 lbs
19 - 21 - 0

Abu Dhabi Champ
Excellent boxer
Insanely flexible

Good wrestler
World class boxer
Granite 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 23 - 11 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Richard Imer!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 19 - 21 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Sakari Nurmi!
The judges for this bout are Patrick Alders, Paul Aken and Paulsen Ambrosius.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Imer takes a shot right to the bread basket.
A head kick misses from Nurmi.
A looping hook to the body misses from Nurmi. Imer does a little dance to reset his feet.
Nurmi throws a right and a left that Imer avoids nicely.
Imer tries to score with a low kick but Nurmi moves his leg out of the way.
Imer fakes with a right hand and throws a good leg kick, right into the thigh. That had to hurt Nurmi.
Imer misses with an uppercut
and Nurmi counters with a stiff right hand.
Nurmi wants to clinch up but Imer keeps it at a distance.
Richard Imer seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Some wild striking there from Imer.
Nurmi swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Imer jabbing away but nothing is landing.
Imer keeps the fight on the outside.
Nurmi tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Imer throws out a powerful jab.
Imer scores with a reasonable looking shot to the body. Nurmi doesn't seem bothered though.
Nurmi misses with a series of wild punches.
Nurmi keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
A big left from Imer misses.
Nurmi keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Imer thuds his right hand into Nurmi's forehead from close range. That could be painful for both fighters.
Imer closes the distance and clinches up with Nurmi, looking for a takedown. Imer pushes Nurmi against the cage but Nurmi circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
Imer misses the shot to the body.
Nurmi fakes a jab and throws a low kick but Imer checks it well.
Imer closes this distance looking for a takedown but Nurmi circles away.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Richard Imer. That's going to take a lot out of him.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Nurmi throws a nice looking combination but Imer bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Nurmi wants to clinch.
Nurmi tries to score with a leg kick but it misses it's target.
Nurmi avoids a punch combination nicely.
Imer ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Nurmi moves away.
Imer misses the shot to the body.
Nurmi tries to clinch up but Imer circles away and keeps his distance.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Nurmi throws a body shot but no joy.
Imer fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Nurmi manages to avoid it.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Imer lands with a good body shot.
Imer throws a leg kick but Nurmi moved away.
Imer keeping at a good range here, avoiding a leg kick.
Nurmi lands a leg kick and bounces back out of range.
Nurmi throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Imer looks to throw the jab but Nurmi is out of range.
Nice body punch from Imer.
Imer connects with a body shot that sends Nurmi's belly button to the back.
A combination from Nurmi does no damage.
Imer scores with a jab to the body.
A lazy left from Imer finds it's target.

It looks like Sakari Nurmi has been cut.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.

Imer has managed to clinch.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Nurmi tightens his grip and picks Imer up, before dumping him to the ground. Imer manages to land in guard.
Imer is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.

Imer is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Nurmi is aware though and is defending well.
Imer preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Nurmi trying to control but Imer is working from the bottom.
Nurmi works over Imer with some ground and pound from guard.
Nurmi throws a big elbow that misses.
Nurmi wants to pass the guard but Imer is keeping the position.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.

Imer looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.

Imer is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Richard Imer dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Sakari Nurmi's cut.
That's time! Back to the action!

Imer wants to clinch.
Imer lands with a nice low kick. That'll leave a bruise.
Nurmi moves to clinch but Imer breaks away

and Imer counters with a takedown into side control! That could mean trouble for Nurmi!

Imer swings around for an armbar but Nurmi sees it coming a mile off and turns beautifully into Imer's guard.
Nurmi works over Imer with some ground and pound from guard.
Imer is trying to control the position but Nurmi postures up.
Nurmi wants to control from the top but Imer keeps moving.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Nurmi working some strikes from top position.
Nurmi lands a nice shot whilst sitting in his opponent's guard.
Imer wants to sweep but no luck.

Imer is active off his back here, looking for submissions.

Imer working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Nurmi doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Nurmi manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.
Nurmi cracks Imer with a solid left hand.
Imer not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Imer keeping moving, preventing Nurmi from controlling successfully.

Imer had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Nurmi defends it easily.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Nurmi looking to pass the guard.
Nurmi in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.

Imer looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.

Imer is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Nurmi defends well.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Nurmi throws a strike but Imer rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.
Imer controlling from the top position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Imer trying to control the position from guard on top but Nurmi is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Nurmi manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Imer manages to get himself to full guard.
Nurmi landing with the ground and pound.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Nurmi with a flurry of punches that miss.

Imer is looking for a triangle but Nurmi pushes his legs off easily.
Nurmi works over Imer with some ground and pound from guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Nurmi trying to control but Imer is working from the bottom.
Nurmi throwing strikes but missing.
Imer is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Imer looking to sweep here. No luck so far.

Imer looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close second round but I would say that Richard Imer will probably get the nod.
The cut man is working on Sakari Nurmi's cut.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action! Let's get this one finished - here comes the final round!

Imer pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Nurmi moves away from the strike by Imer.
Imer misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Nurmi.

The fight moves into the clinch position.

Nurmi turns his hips and lands a very nice judo throw into side control!

Nurmi is trying to get an arm triangle but Imer is defending well.
Imer struggling a bit here.
Nurmi misses with the ground and pound.
Sakari Nurmi has got the better of the ground game so far.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Nurmi working the ground and pound but he's contacting the mat, not the fighter.
Nurmi cracks Imer with an elbow. That is naaassty.
Nurmi throwing strikes but missing, from side control.
Nurmi throws a knee to the body but it doesn't do much damage.
Nurmi wants to control but Imer is keeping him busy.

Nurmi tries for a kimura. Not really close to a finish though.
Imer prevents Nurmi from improving position.
Nurmi in side control lands a nice looking series of punches and elbows.
Richard Imer is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Nurmi lands a nice forearm strike.
Imer gets back to half guard.
Nurmi scores with a couple of good hammerfists.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Imer trying to control here.

Imer looking for submissions off his back.
Imer is staying active underneath Nurmi, who seems content to just control the action from this position.
Nurmi content to sit in half guard and control for a moment.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Nurmi is just content to waste time from the top position. Imer takes advantage of the situation and regains full guard.
Nurmi won't allow Imer to sweep him here.
Nurmi throws a strike but Imer rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.
Nurmi controls Imer momentarily but Imer frees himself.
Our spies down at at Sanitarium inform us that Nurmi has really been working on his submissions in the buildup to this fight. Will it pay off?
Nurmi keeping moving, preventing Imer from controlling successfully.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Nurmi looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
Nurmi working a defensive guard but Imer manages to pass into side control anyway.
Sakari Nurmi has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Imer taking a breather here.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.

And that's the end of the fight!
Sakari Nurmi comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Imer has won this one but let's see what the judges have to say. 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 Patrick Alders scores the fight 29:28
Judge Paul Aken scores the fight 29:28
Judge Paulsen Ambrosius scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Richard Imer!