PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Juha Nimmaki (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Heiki Sagoras (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Heiki Sagoras is staring across the cage at his opponent, tweaking his nipples.

Nimmaki
vs
Sagoras

170 cm
23
140 lbs
5 - 2 - 0

165 cm
26
145 lbs
1 - 2 - 0

Good takedowns
Brawler
Granite chin

Dangerous GnP
Excellent boxer
Granite chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the bantamweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 5 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Juha Nimmaki!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Heiki Sagoras!
The judges for this bout are Roosa Järviläinen, Marco Blurström and Ben Zyskovitsi.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Nimmaki with poor footwork there. He got himself in a bit of a tangle, enabling Sagoras to score with a decent uppercut.
Sagoras just misses with a punch to the body.

Nimmaki instigates a clinch.
Nimmaki keeps control of Sagoras as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.

Sagoras has picked Nimmaki up - he's going for a ride! Sagoras dumps his opponent to the mat with a thud and settles into half guard.
Sagoras throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
Nimmaki keeping hold of Sagoras's head, controlling as best he can.
Sagoras missing with the ground and pound from half guard.
Nimmaki keeps control of the position for the meantime.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Sagoras throws a big elbow that misses, also allowing Nimmaki to regain full guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Nimmaki avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Sagoras working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Nimmaki preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Sagoras tries to stand but Nimmaki is controlling from the bottom.
Sagoras loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Sagoras throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Nimmaki works some decent striking defense from the bottom.

Nimmaki has managed to wall walk up one of the corner posts to get back to his feet. Sagoras is pushing him up against the cage, looking to control the position.

Nimmaki drags the fight down to the ground.
Nimmaki lands a beautiful sweep and he's now moved into his opponent's guard.

The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Nimmaki is standing up over Sagoras. Sagoras looks to escape but Nimmaki dives into side control.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Sagoras tries to get back to his feet but has found himself mounted instead. Damn, that's gotta suck.
Sagoras is trying to get back to his feet but can't.
Sagoras is trying to stand but he's not in a good position to be doing that! Nimmaki has taken his back!
Sagoras is trying to stand back up.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Sagoras is in a world of trouble here. He's outmatched on the ground here and he'd better get Nimmaki off his back sharpish unless he wants to be submitted.

That's four 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.
Nimmaki is controlling his opponent, waiting for an opportunity to finish.
Sagoras wants to get back to his feet.

Nimmaki gets back to his feet - a bit of a stange decision given the position he was in.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Sagoras slips a jab and a cross from Nimmaki.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Juha Nimmaki 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.

Sagoras jabs. That one connects to the head of his opponent.
Sagoras lands with a nice combination. Nimmaki backs away looking to recover.
Sagoras is looking to clinch but Nimmaki is avoiding it.
Nimmaki has not gone for a single takedown so far in this fight, which seems like a very strange tactic when you consider that he has the superior wrestling and BJJ.
Nimmaki tries a head kick but it misses.
A bone on bone clash there as Sagoras blocks the leg kick.

Sagoras closes the distance and gets a double leg, slamming Nimmaki to the mat! Nimmaki manages to get full guard.
Sagoras throws a big right hand that misses.
Sagoras throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Nimmaki works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Sagoras trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Sagoras postures up in Nimmaki's guard and throws a big left but Nimmaki blocks it.
Sagoras postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.

Sagoras gets to his feet. Nimmaki looking to butt scoot but the ref puts an end to that. On your feet son!
Sagoras blocks a jab.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Sagoras circles away from the clinch attempt.

Nimmaki clinches with his opponent.
Nimmaki is looking for a takedown.
Sagoras tries to throw a body punch but Nimmaki avoids it by throwing Sagoras back against the cage.

Nimmaki gets double underhooks and manages to take the fight to the ground.
Nimmaki stops Sagoras from standing up.
Nimmaki is standing up over Sagoras. Sagoras looks to escape but Nimmaki dives into side control.

Nimmaki decides to take the fight back to the feet.
Nimmaki uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Sagoras.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Nimmaki uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Sagoras.
Sagoras scores with a hook.
Nimmaki throws a head kick but Sagoras moves out of range.
Nimmaki walks straight into a jab right on the nose. That one stung - he's blinking and trying to clear his head.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Sagoras waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Nimmaki.
Nimmaki bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
Nimmaki tries to clinch up.
Heiki Sagoras seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Sagoras feints a straight left to the body, then turns around with a flashy move and hits Nimmakis jaw with a dramatic spinning back fist!
Nimmaki tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. Sagoras manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Sagoras swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
Sagoras throws a looping overhand right but Nimmaki ducks down to avoid it.
The fighters circling - Sagoras throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
Nimmaki misses with a body kick.
Nimmaki blocks a jab.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
A big right from Sagoras misses.
Sagoras scores with a three punch combo!
Nimmaki blocks a jab.
Sagoras might want to mix his strikes up a bit more. He's just going for head shots at the moment and that can become a bit predictable.
Sagoras checks a leg kick.
Sagoras misses with a wild combination.
Sagoras is breathing heavily.
Nimmaki fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Sagoras manages to avoid it.
Sagoras throws out a loose jab but Nimmaki uses good head movement to avoid it.
Sagoras throws a shot from downtown. Nimmaki moves away and avoids it.
Sagoras misses with a wild combination.

Nimmaki moves into the clinch successfully.

Nimmaki breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.

Sagoras tries to keep at a distance but Nimmaki has taken the fight into the clinch.
Sagoras tries to break the clinch but Nimmaki is controlling the position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Nimmaki lands a nice trip takedown into half guard.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Sagoras tries to kick Nimmaki off but Nimmaki keeps his base steady and stays in half guard.

Nimmaki decides he's had enough of the ground and stands up.
The fighters circling - Sagoras throws out the jab but it was never going to land.

Nimmaki closes the distance and clinches.
Nimmaki is trying to work for a single leg takedown but Sagoras pulls him back up using the underhooks.
Sagoras tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Sagoras tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Nimmaki's elbow.
Sagoras is trying to break the clinch but Nimmaki has him pressed against the cage.

Nimmaki manages to break the clinch.
Heiki Sagoras seems to be getting the better of the standup.

Nimmaki has Sagoras up against the cage in a clinch.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Heiki Sagoras showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
That's time! Nimmaki's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight. This is the final round!

Nimmaki gets in close and instigates a clinch.
Sagoras can't find room to land a body shot as Nimmaki controls the action.

Nimmaki manages to pull guard.
Sagoras throws a big elbow that misses.
Sagoras wants to stand and escape but instead Nimmaki has hit a sweep and he's now on top in guard.

Sagoras wants to get back to his feet but Nimmaki passes into half guard.
Sagoras wants to get back to his feet.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Sagoras wants to stand back up but Nimmaki manages to pass into side control.

Nimmaki has had enough of the ground for now and decides to stand.
Nimmaki slips under a jab.

Nimmaki rushes Sagoras and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.

Nimmaki breaks from the clinch.
A punch combination from Nimmaki misses.
Sagoras misses with a straight right.
Nimmaki misses with the combination.
Sagoras throws a lazy right hand but Nimmaki sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Nimmaki uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Sagoras.
Sagoras throws a hook but Nimmaki blocks it.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Sagoras lands a beauty of a right hand that gets the crowd cheering.
Nimmaki is looking to clinch.
Sagoras swinging wildly here.
Sagoras shuffles to his left behind two crisp jabs. Nimmaki eats them both and turns towards Sagoras to reposition himself and eats a stinging right hand-left hook combo.
Sagoras takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Sagoras fails to land with a series of punches.
Sagoras blocks a head kick by Nimmaki.
Nimmaki uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Sagoras.
Sagoras misses the jab.
Nimmaki walks into a stiff left hand from Sagoras.
Nimmaki tries to close the distance and clinch but Sagoras swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Nimmaki moves out of range as Sagoras strikes.
Nimmaki tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.

Sagoras drives through with a takedown into Nimmaki's guard. Let's see what he can do from the top position.
Sagoras throws a strike but Nimmaki rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Sagoras is wriggling around but Nimmaki manages to pass to half guard.
Sagoras felt the need to train up his defensive grappling in the buildup to the fight. Presumably he was expecting to be in a difficult position like this, so let's see if he can get out of it.
Sagoras is striking from the bottom but he's now found himself mounted! Oh dear - not enough focus on defense there.
Juha Nimmaki overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.

Nimmaki stands up from mount. Strange move.

Sagoras gets tackled into the cage by Nimmaki. Nimmaki maintains the clinch.
Nimmaki is trying to pull guard but being pressed up against the cage enables Sagoras to keep the fight standing.
Nimmaki is trying to pull guard but being pressed up against the cage enables Sagoras to keep the fight standing.
Sagoras misses with a body punch.
Sagoras gets underhooks to prevent Nimmaki's takedown attempt.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Juha Nimmaki. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Sagoras tries a body shot but Nimmaki blocks it.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Sagoras is trying to push Nimmaki away but Nimmaki has him pressed against the cage, so he's going nowhere.
Sagoras tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Nimmaki's elbow.
Sagoras wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.

Nimmaki pulls guard effortlessly.
Sagoras chips away with some ground and pound.
Sagoras throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Nimmaki works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Nimmaki is controlling Sagoras's posture.
Sagoras postures up in Nimmaki's guard and throws a big left but Nimmaki blocks it.
Sagoras must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.
Sagoras throwing strikes but missing.
Sagoras stands up over Nimmaki, holding his feet. He dives back in and lands a decent shot to the head.

And that's the end of the fight!
I would just about give that final round to Heiki Sagoras.
I think Sagoras 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 Roosa Järviläinen scores the fight 29:28
Judge Marco Blurström scores the fight 29:28
Judge Ben Zyskovitsi scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by split decision... Juha Nimmaki!