PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Pencil Neck (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Jari Nurmelainen (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Chooooooooon! I think Neck might be my favorite fighter, now he's come out to Rolling Stones - Paint it black. Pencil Neck has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Neck
vs
Nurmelainen

182 cm
20
178 lbs
3 - 3 - 0

175 cm
19
175 lbs
4 - 4 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Brawler
Self confident

BJJ Purple Belt
Counter striker
Knockout power

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, Pencil Neck!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 4 - 4 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Jari Nurmelainen!
The judges for this bout are Matti Vanhoillinen, Roosa Järviläinen and Arvi Lind.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Nurmelainen shoots for a takedown but Neck saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
Neck misses with a takedown attempt

and Nurmelainen counters with a nice double leg into guard.
Neck is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Neck controlling the action here.

Nurmelainen looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.
Neck prevents Nurmelainen from improving his position.
Nurmelainen controlling the position well.
Neck seems content to maintain position for now, rather than mounting any offense.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Neck is trying for a guillotine from the top but the pressure isn't in the right place so Nurmelainen is just riding it out for now. Neck eventually gives up the hold.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Neck wants to take a breather but Nurmelainen is having none of it.
Nurmelainen is trying to get back to full guard.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.
Neck clinches but Nurmelainen breaks the clinch
and Nurmelainen counters with a straight right hand.

Neck gets the takedown into side control.
Nurmelainen looks gassed!
Neck advances to mount.
Nurmelainen is working to get back to half guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Neck looking to control but Nurmelainen is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.
Neck unloading with bombs!

It looks like Jari Nurmelainen has been cut.
Neck forces the positional change into back control.

Nurmelainen showing good submission defense here.

Nurmelainen fending off the submission attempt from Neck.
Neck is hanging on to Nurmelainen's back as he tries to escape.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Nurmelainen preventing the rear naked choke attempt from Neck.
Neck controlling from the back.
Nurmelainen is trying to break free.

Nurmelainen showing good submission defense here.
Nurmelainen tries to escape the position - he's now mounted. Is that better or worse? Hard to tell!
Nurmelainen wants to control but Neck is having none of it.

That's four 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.
Nurmelainen is in all sorts of trouble here.
Neck tries to control but Nurmelainen wriggling away.
Nurmelainen regains half guard.
Nurmelainen flails away from the bottom but he's not doing any damage.

Nurmelainen looking for submissions off his back.

Neck is sneakily working for an arm triangle but Nurmelainen sees it coming and defends easily.
Nurmelainen moves into full guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Pencil Neck dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Jari Nurmelainen's cut.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

Nurmelainen shoots in but doesn't get the takedown
and Neck counters with a head kick. That will keep Nurmelainen thinking before he tries any more sloppy attacks!
Neck throws a nice head kick!

Nurmelainen shoots in from a long way out. He's driving through with the takedown attempt and he eventually gets it, landing in Neck's guard.

Neck has his feet on Nurmelainen's hips. He pushes off and gets to his feet. Nice work.

Neck closes the distance and clinches up, looking for a takedown. He shifts his weight and gets a nice trip into half guard.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!

Neck is trying to work for a kimura. He's got his hands clasped together - this could be trouble! No, Nurmelainen has managed to free his arm - good work.
Neck trying to control the action but Nurmelainen is working from the bottom.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Neck thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.
Nurmelainen wants to get back to full guard.
Still in half guard, Neck seems content to control.

Neck is trying to work for a kimura but Nurmelainen is defending well.
Nurmelainen makes his way to full guard. A much better position for Nurmelainen.

Nurmelainen throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
Neck preventing the sweep.

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.
Neck works a leg free and moves into half guard.
Neck prevents Nurmelainen from improving his position.
Neck has freed up his trapped foot and advances to mount.
Neck trying to control but Nurmelainen is having none of it.
Nurmelainen is looking to get to half guard.
Neck manages to capitalize on a mistake by Nurmelainen to take his back!

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Neck is looking for the choke from the back position but Nurmelainen is controlling his hands well.
Nurmelainen is really stuck here.
Neck is looking to finish with some ground and pound!
Neck doesn't have the hooks in and Nurmelainen manages to turn into his guard.
Neck keeping moving, preventing Nurmelainen from controlling successfully.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Neck is on top in guard.
Nurmelainen keeping moving, preventing Neck from controlling successfully.
Nurmelainen tries to land a sweep but no joy.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Neck gets to his feet - Nurmelainen follows without any prompting.

Neck feints and then dives in with a takedown. That was a long way out but the feint bought him enough time to close the distance and complete the takedown. Now we'll play guard for a bit and see who can get the better of that position.
Neck has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.
Neck slows down the pace of the fight, as he sits in guard.

Neck decides he's had enough of playing guard and decides to stand. Come on Nurmelainen, up you get!
Nurmelainen shoots for a takedown but Neck saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.

Neck drives through with a takedown into guard.
Pencil Neck overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Neck looking to pass the guard.
Neck with a couple of shots to the head there. Not particularly brutal.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Pencil Neck dominated that second round.
The cut man is working on Jari Nurmelainen's cut.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action. This is the final round!

Nurmelainen shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Oh and he's advanced to full mount straight away.
Neck bucks up and manages to get a nice reversal! He's in guard on the top - nicely done!

Neck has gone for a leg lock! Nurmelainen slips out almost immediately though and dives into Neck's guard.

Neck escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Nurmelainen gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
Neck throws a couple of shots from the bottom but they don't land.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Nurmelainen pushing down on Neck's thigh, trying to pass to half guard. He's managed it... Nice work.
Nurmelainen stops Neck from getting back to his feet.
Neck is refusing to be controlled, as Nurmelainen sits in half guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Neck is looking for a sweep. Nurmelainen is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Neck manages to get to full guard.
Neck keeping full guard, as Nurmelainen tries to pass.
Neck looking to control.
Neck manages to land a sweep and now he's in mount on top!
Nurmelainen is trying to escape the mount.

That's two 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.
Neck has his opponent pinned against the cage, landing some nasty ground and pound that is really making a bit of a mess out of Nurmelainen's face.
Neck landing punches.
Neck scoring with some good ground and pound from mount here. Will he manage to finish Nurmelainen?
Nurmelainen working to try and regain half guard.
Neck manages to capitalize on a mistake by Nurmelainen to take his back!
Nurmelainen is in bad spot here.
Neck wants to control but Nurmelainen is keeping busy.
Neck keeps control of the position easily here as Nurmelainen tries to buck him off.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Nurmelainen can't escape the position.

Nurmelainen preventing the rear naked choke attempt from Neck.
Can Nurmelainen hold on?! Neck is landing more strikes to his hapless foe.

Nurmelainen fending off the submission attempt from Neck.
Neck is trying to stick to Nurmelainen's back but Nurmelainen is turning into Neck. He's managed to reverse the position - now he's in Neck's guard. Polite applause from the crowd in appreciation of some nice Jiu Jitsu by Nurmelainen.

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.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Neck is on top in guard.
Nurmelainen wants to sweep here but Neck controlling him for the moment.
Neck content to stall in guard here.

Neck stands up from Nurmelainen's guard - Neck perhaps looking for a knockout.
Pencil Neck seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Nurmelainen throws out a token jab with nothing on it.

And that's the end of the fight!
Pencil Neck showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Neck 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 Matti Vanhoillinen scores the fight 30:27
Judge Roosa Järviläinen scores the fight 30:27
Judge Arvi Lind scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Pencil Neck!