PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Niilo Vaaka (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Jordan McLeod (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Niilo Vaaka has a significant reach advantage - let's see if he can make it count.

Vaaka
vs
McLeod

187 cm
20
181 lbs
4 - 2 - 0

176 cm
24
165 lbs
5 - 1 - 0

Decent wrestler
Solid boxing
Very strong

BJJ Purple Belt
Basic striking
Determined

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 4 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Niilo Vaaka!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 5 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, Jordan McLeod!
The judges for this bout are Roosa Järviläinen, Tarja Halkonen and Arvi Lind.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Vaaka keeps the fight on the outside.
Vaaka is looking to counter with a shot to the body.
McLeod has done a lot of speed work in the buildup to this fight.
McLeod fails in his attempt to clinch.
McLeod doesn't react quick enough there as he takes a shot to the body.
Vaaka just misses with a punch to the body.
McLeod shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Vaaka as he avoids it easily.
Vaaka misses with a wild combination.
And an attempted straight right on the counter from McLeod! But no joy.
We've been told by Vaaka's head coaches at Nordic Top Team that he's been working on his takedown defense in preparation for this fight.

The fight moves into the clinch position.
Knees to the body from McLeod.
McLeod leaning his opponent against the cage.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Vaaka blocks a body shot from McLeod.
Vaaka looks like he'd prefer to be striking at range right now.
McLeod tries to throw a body punch but Vaaka avoids it by throwing McLeod back against the cage.
McLeod working Vaaka over with knees to the body.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Vaaka blocks a body shot from McLeod.
Vaaka blocks an elbow strike from McLeod.
McLeod is stalling here.

Vaaka manages to break the clinch.

McLeod has taken the fight to the clinch.
McLeod throws a nice elbow but it doesn't land.

Vaaka manages to break the clinch.
Vaaka looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Left hook, right uppercut from Vaaka.
Vaaka fails to land with a series of punches.
Vaaka circles away from the clinch attempt.
Horrible takedown attempt by McLeod or perhaps it was just good defense by Vaaka, which made it look bad.
McLeod tries to close the distance and clinch up but Vaaka swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Vaaka throws a series of punches but McLeod avoids them all with ease.
McLeod looks like he wants to counter punch here.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
McLeod doesn't manage to clinch there - Vaaka circles away.
McLeod doesn't manage to clinch there - Vaaka circles away.
No joy there for Vaaka, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
McLeod wants to clinch up but Vaaka keeps it at a distance.
Vaaka scores with a jab to the body.
McLeod moves in looking to clinch but Vaaka pushes him off.
Vaaka throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
McLeod tries to clinch but Vaaka is having none of it.
Vaaka is looking for a counter combo.

McLeod takes the fight into the clinch.

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

Vaaka gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.
McLeod missing with knees to the body.

Vaaka's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
McLeod tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Vaaka paws at him with a jab and circles away.
McLeod is looking to clinch.
McLeod showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Vaaka.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
McLeod throws a decent looking leg kick but it doesn't land clean.
Vaaka uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from McLeod.
A slow jab from McLeod misses its intended target.
Vaaka digs a good hook to McLeod's body.

McLeod moves into range and clinches up with Vaaka.
Both fighters working to control the clinch.
Vaaka wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.

Vaaka breaks the clinch.
Vaaka lands a jab-cross combination.
Vaaka swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Vaaka moves out of range as McLeod strikes.
McLeod scores with the left hand. Vaaka knows he should have avoided that one.
McLeod tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. Vaaka manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.

Vaaka moves into range and clinches up with McLeod.
Vaaka blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
McLeod is trying to maintain a safe position but Vaaka gets an underhook and turns McLeod into the cage.
Vaaka wants to break the clinch but can't.
With the fighters up against the cage, McLeod throws an elbow but misses.
McLeod tries to throw a body punch but Vaaka avoids it by throwing McLeod back against the cage.
Vaaka blocks the elbow strike.
Vaaka prevents a takedown attempt there.
Niilo Vaaka has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Jordan McLeod.
McLeod looking to slow down the pace here.
Vaaka lands a short shot on the inside that snaps the head of McLeod backwards.
Vaaka effectively controlling the action here.
McLeod tries to land knees in the clinch but Vaaka avoids the damage to the body.
McLeod has Vaaka pushed against the cage.
McLeod is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Vaaka is defending well for now.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Niilo Vaaka dominated that round.
That's time! Back to the action!

McLeod tries to clinch but Vaaka is having none of it.
McLeod wants to clinch.
Vaaka tries to bum rush McLeod with a series of wild strikes but McLeod uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
It seemed like McLeod was going to counter with the hook but didn't fully commit to it.
Niilo Vaaka is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Vaaka scores with a one two! McLeod had his feet all tangled up there and couldn't avoid the strikes.
Vaaka scores with a sloppy right hand. McLeod should have avoided that one.
Vaaka fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
McLeod looked like he wanted to counter with a punch but didn't throw it.

McLeod closes the distance and clinches.
McLeod looking to stall.
Vaaka gets underhooks to prevent McLeod's takedown attempt.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Vaaka blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
McLeod trying to land knees to the body.
McLeod is looking to control Vaaka's arms but Vaaka gets an underhook and turns him. Now McLeod has his back to the cage.

Vaaka escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Niilo Vaaka is winning the standup battle so far.

Vaaka clinches up with McLeod and pushes him back against the cage.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Vaaka breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Niilo Vaaka seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Vaaka throws a nice looking combination but McLeod bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Vaaka is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that McLeod can do to turn this around?
McLeod lands a beauty of a right hand that gets the crowd cheering.
Vaaka comes forward and lands a shot to the body, then darts back out of range.
McLeod tries to clinch but Vaaka is having none of it.
McLeod tries to clinch up.
Vaaka misses with a two punch combination.
McLeod lets it all go there with a big combo counter but none of the punches connected.
Vaaka avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Vaaka displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from McLeod.
Vaaka fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
McLeod tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. Vaaka manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Vaaka is looking for a counter combo.
McLeod misses the jab.
McLeod is looking to take this fight into the clinch.

Vaaka instigates a clinch.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
McLeod takes a shot to the head.
Vaaka takes a knee to the side of the body.
This has been an exciting period of action!
McLeod trying to land knees to the body.
Vaaka lands an uppercut.
McLeod has Vaaka pressed against the cage, preventing Vaaka from circling away and getting back to striking at range.
McLeod tries to throw a body punch but Vaaka avoids it by throwing McLeod back against the cage.
McLeod drops down for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Niilo Vaaka has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Jordan McLeod.
Both guys are working to get underhooks.
McLeod creates a bit of space for himself and sneaks an elbow through Vaaka's defenses.

Vaaka breaks from the clinch.
Vaaka throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
McLeod looked like he wanted to counter with a punch but didn't throw it.

Vaaka gets a clinch.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
The fighters are pressed against the cage, as the pace of the fight slows.
McLeod lands an elbow that stopped Vaaka in his tracks for a moment.
Vaaka avoids the elbow strike from McLeod, against the cage.
McLeod tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Vaaka avoids it.
McLeod tries to land knees in the clinch but Vaaka avoids the damage to the body.
Vaaka lands punches inside but they're not really causing much damage.
Vaaka blocks an elbow strike from McLeod.
McLeod tries to land knees in the clinch but Vaaka avoids the damage to the body.
McLeod tries a body shot but Vaaka blocks it.

Vaaka breaks from the clinch.
Vaaka lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but McLeod circles away quickly and effectively.
McLeod on the wrong end of an overhand right that came out of nowhere.
McLeod tries to clinch but Vaaka moves out of range.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
McLeod tries to move into range but Vaaka moves to the side and lands with a nice right hand.
Vaaka misses with a jab, cross combination.
McLeod moves in looking to clinch but Vaaka pushes him off.
Vaaka throws a nice looking combination but McLeod bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
McLeod changes levels for a counter takedown but doesn't follow through with his attempt.
Vaaka is looking to wear down McLeod with body shots, infact he's throwing more body shots than head shots at the moment.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
McLeod moves in looking to clinch but Vaaka pushes him off.
Vaaka lets the fists fly and connects with a left straight followed by a right hook.
McLeod is looking to clinch but Vaaka is avoiding it.
Vaaka swings wildly with a hook that is half blocked by McLeod.
McLeod tries to clinch there but Vaaka circles away.
McLeod tries to clinch up.
Vaaka displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from McLeod.
McLeod fails with an attempt to clinch.
McLeod is looking to clinch but Vaaka is avoiding it.
McLeod tries to close the distance and clinch up but Vaaka swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Vaaka is looking to counter with a shot to the body.
Vaaka pushes forward with a 1-2 combination that forces McLeod back to the cage. Vaaka follows up with a solid lead hook to the liver.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Niilo Vaaka dominated that second round.
That's time! Vaaka's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight. This is the final round!

McLeod tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. Vaaka manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
A counter left hand to the body from Vaaka misses its target.
Vaaka scores with a sloppy right hand. McLeod should have avoided that one.

McLeod clinches up with Vaaka and pushes him back against the cage.
McLeod goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
McLeod tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Vaaka avoids it.
McLeod misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Vaaka.

Vaaka breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Vaaka throws a nice looking combination but McLeod bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Vaaka circles away from the clinch attempt.
McLeod wants to clinch.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
McLeod looks to clinch
and Vaaka counters with a straight right hand.
McLeod wants to clinch.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Vaaka throws a shot to the body.
McLeod is looking to clinch but Vaaka is avoiding it.
Vaaka swats away the attempt to clinch by McLeod.
The fight stays on the outside here - McLeod looks like he's thinking about clinching though.

The fight moves into the clinch position.
Vaaka is trying to break the clinch but McLeod is controlling him.
Vaaka managing to block the knees to the body from McLeod.

Vaaka breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
McLeod keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
McLeod tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. Vaaka manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Vaaka drives through and clinches with McLeod against the cage.
Vaaka managing to block the knees to the body from McLeod.
McLeod is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Vaaka is defending well for now.
McLeod unloads a knee to the mid-section. Vaaka lets out a prehistoric sounding urrrrgh.
A right hook to the body lands for Vaaka.
Vaaka working on landing some head shots here - that one got through nicely.
Vaaka managing to block the knees to the body from McLeod.
Vaaka avoiding damage as McLeod throws knees to the body.
A quick uppercut on the inside from McLeod.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Vaaka is trying to force a seperation but McLeod has the dominant position.

Vaaka breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
A punch combination from Vaaka misses.
Vaaka fails to land with a series of punches.
Vaaka is using his reach advantage well here, landing the more effective single shots from range.

McLeod closes the distance and clinches.
Niilo Vaaka is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Vaaka controlling the action here for a moment.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
The referee calls for McLeod to work.
McLeod is trying to drag Vaaka to the mat but Vaaka just about manages to keep his footing. He used the cage to his advantage there.
McLeod trying to land knees to the body.
McLeod doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
McLeod throws a punch but it's blocked by Vaaka.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Neither fighter has done anything of merit for a good minute or two here and the crowd are not happy about it.

Vaaka manages to break the clinch.
Vaaka throws a series of punches but McLeod avoids them all with ease.

Vaaka closes the distance and pushes McLeod back into the cage.
McLeod misses with an elbow strike.
McLeod swings away with an uppercut that misses.
McLeod drops down looking for an ankle pick but Vaaka pulls his leg out and moves away.
McLeod tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Vaaka paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Vaaka lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but McLeod circles away quickly and effectively.
Vaaka circles away from the clinch attempt.
Niilo Vaaka is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Vaaka just misses with a punch to the body.
McLeod appears to be waiting to throw a counter punch to the body.
McLeod tries to clinch up.

McLeod gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.
Vaaka avoiding damage as McLeod throws knees to the body.

And that's the end of the fight!
Niilo Vaaka showed his dominance in that final round.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Vaaka, winning every round. Will the judges agree? They are the ones who matter, even if they are often depressingly incompetent. 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 30:27
Judge Tarja Halkonen scores the fight 30:27
Judge Arvi Lind scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Niilo Vaaka!