PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Matti Nieminen (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Vihtori Reponen (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Reponen has chosen Tuhlaajapoika as his entrance music. Reponen has a niggling injury. He would have liked to come in 100% fit but that's not always possible. Vihtori Reponen has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Nieminen
vs
Reponen

170 cm
23
143 lbs
7 - 6 - 0

150 cm
22
145 lbs
0 - 1 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Counter striker
Experienced

BJJ Blue Belt
Good kicks
Tends to cut

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the featherweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 7 - 6 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Matti Nieminen!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Vihtori Reponen!
The judges for this bout are Matti Vanhoillinen, Tarja Halkonen and Anni Minnemäki.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Reponen is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Vihtori Reponen seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Jeez, both these guys look absolutely knackered already, that's not a good sign!
Nieminen lands with a nice body punch.
Reponen should think about turning a few of those tyres round his middle into muscle if he wants people to take him seriously as an athlete.

Nieminen looking for a takedown here - he's got it.
Reponen has momentary wrist control but Nieminen slips an elbow through the middle.
Nieminen in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Nieminen tries to free his leg and advance position but Reponen is retaining full guard.
Nieminen is sitting in guard, working some ground and pound.
Nieminen throwing strikes from guard but Reponen blocks nicely.
Nieminen with a flurry of punches that miss.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Nieminen is intent on slowing down the pace of the fight, simply looking to control.
Nieminen wants to control from the top but Reponen keeps moving.
Nieminen in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.

Nieminen shoots in from a long way out. He's driving through with the takedown attempt and he eventually gets it, landing in Reponen's guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Reponen preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Reponen utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Nieminen is looking to work some ground and pound but Reponen has wrist control.
Nieminen will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.
Reponen working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Nieminen.
Reponen being controlled here, momentarily.
Nieminen is looking to work some ground and pound but Reponen has wrist control.
Nieminen distracts Reponen with his right hand and drops a big elbow with his other arm.
Nieminen throws a big right hand that misses.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.
Reponen tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Nieminen paws at him with a jab and circles away.

Nieminen shoots in from a long way out. He's driving through with the takedown attempt and he eventually gets it, landing in Reponen's guard.
Nieminen in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Nieminen postures up and scores with a shot to the body and a follow up elbow to the head.
Reponen is looking to stand up but Nieminen isn't so interested in that idea.
Nieminen throwing strikes but missing.
Nieminen throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Nieminen throws a big right hand that misses.
Nieminen postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Reponen is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Nieminen is controlling him.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.
Reponen moves in looking to clinch but Nieminen pushes him off.

Nieminen shoots in for a takedown and gets it.
Nieminen wants to take a breather but Reponen is having none of it.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Matti Nieminen dominated that round.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

A jab from Reponen does it's job there.
Reponen doesn't react quick enough there as he takes a shot to the body.

Nieminen closes the distance and gets a double leg, slamming Reponen to the mat! Reponen manages to get full guard.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Nieminen accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Reponen wants to stand and escape but Nieminen is having none of it.
Nieminen trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Nieminen wants to control from the top but Reponen keeps moving.
Nieminen throws a big right hand that misses.
Nieminen working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Nieminen throws and elbow that misses. Reponen uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in Nieminen's guard. Nice move by Reponen!
Reponen trying to control but Nieminen is working from the bottom.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Reponen tries to close the distance and clinch but Nieminen swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.

Nieminen scores with a nice takedown into half guard. Let's see what he's got on the ground.
Reponen makes his way to full guard. A much better position for Reponen.
Nieminen trying to control but Reponen is working from the bottom.
Nieminen 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.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Reponen wants to stand up but Nieminen is controlling him.
Nieminen throwing strikes from guard but Reponen blocks nicely.
Nieminen missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Nieminen postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Reponen keeping full guard, as Nieminen tries to pass.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Nieminen missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.
Reponen fails in his attempt to clinch.

Nieminen shoots in from a long way out. He's driving through with the takedown attempt and he eventually gets it, landing in Reponen's guard.
Reponen keeping full guard, as Nieminen tries to pass.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Nieminen accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Reponen preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Nieminen throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Reponen works some decent striking defense from the bottom.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Nieminen showing good wrestling skills to control the position.
Nieminen throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Reponen works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Nieminen postures up and lands a big shot to Reponen's brow.
Nieminen working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.
Reponen misses with a low kick.
Reponen moves in looking to clinch but Nieminen pushes him off.
Reponen wants to clinch.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Matti Nieminen dominated that second round.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business. This is the final round!

Nieminen looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Reponen is fending him off so far but Nieminen persists. Nope, Reponen circles away and we're back to standing.
A head kick misses from Reponen.
Nieminen fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
Reponen tries to close the distance and clinch but Nieminen swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Reponen moves in looking to clinch but Nieminen pushes him off.
Reponen stuffs the takedown.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Matti Nieminen. That's going to take a lot out of him.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Reponen fails in his attempt to clinch.
Reponen is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Reponen tries to close the distance and clinch up but Nieminen swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Nieminen throws a jab when Reponen was well out of range.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Reponen throws a sloppy head kick and Nieminen moves out of range easily.
Nieminen shoots in looking for a takedown. Reponen tries to sprawl out of it but Nieminen keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Reponen manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.

Nieminen closes the distance and clinches up, looking for a takedown. He shifts his weight and gets a nice trip into half guard.
Nieminen trying to pass the guard but Reponen defending well.
Nieminen is keen to just control but Reponen is a slippery customer.
Reponen looks like he's trying to stand up.
Nieminen misses with a head shot. Reponen uses the momentum to regain guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Nieminen throwing strikes from guard but Reponen blocks nicely.
Nieminen pushes down on Reponen's leg and manages to get into half guard.
Reponen won't allow Nieminen to pass to mount.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Reponen keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.
Nieminen throwing shots but Reponen is blocking nicely.
Nieminen working over Reponen with some ground and pound. Reponen looks like he wants out of this position, which is understandable.
Nieminen thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.
Nieminen not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
Nieminen is looking to take a break and control but Reponen is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Nieminen missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.
Nieminen on the receiving end of a decent leg kick there by Reponen. Reponen obviously looking to wear him down.
We're hearing some news coming in from back stage. It's official - Reponen has eaten all the pies!
Nieminen swats away the attempt to clinch by Reponen.
Nieminen keeping at a good range here, avoiding a leg kick.
Nieminen swats away the attempt to clinch by Reponen.
Reponen is looking to land body kicks.
Matti Nieminen is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Reponen tries to clinch but Nieminen is having none of it.

Nieminen feints and as Reponen raises his hands in defense, Nieminen changes levels and drives through with a takedown into guard.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Nieminen is looking to work some ground and pound but Reponen has wrist control.
Nieminen tries to free his leg and advance position but Reponen is retaining full guard.

And that's the end of the fight!
Matti Nieminen showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Nieminen 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 Tarja Halkonen scores the fight 30:27
Judge Anni Minnemäki scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Matti Nieminen!