PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between rambo slice (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Riku Tiirismaa (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Riku Tiirismaa has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

slice
vs
Tiirismaa

170 cm
18
180 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

180 cm
18
175 lbs
1 - 3 - 0

BJJ Brown Belt
Counter striker
Cuts easily

BJJ Blue Belt
Basic striking
Solid 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 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, rambo slice!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 3 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Riku Tiirismaa!
The judges for this bout are Konstantin Menshow, Illya Tyunina and Vladimir Khabensky.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Tiirismaa moves into range and clinches up with slice.

Tiirismaa's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
slice fails with a takedown attempt.

The fight moves into the clinch position.
Tiirismaa content to slow the pace in the clinch.
slice tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.
slice wants a takedown but no success here.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for rambo slice. That's going to take a lot out of him.
slice fails to pull the fight into his guard.
Tiirismaa stalling the fight.

Tiirismaa breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
A left lands for Tiirismaa.

Tiirismaa looking for a takedown here - he's got it.

That's one minute gone in the round.
slice is doing well to control the posture of his opponent and prevent any damage.

Tiirismaa is holding a leg here, probably looking for an ankle lock - he drops back and goes for it! slice is in trouble! Is it all over??? No! slice has escaped and now he's on top!
slice wants to control from the top but Tiirismaa keeps moving.

Tiirismaa has his foot on slice's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. slice works his way back into a safe position though.
slice could do with loosing a few pounds - he looks very soft around the mid section, to put it politely.
Tiirismaa keeping moving, preventing slice from controlling successfully.

Tiirismaa had isolated an arm as going for an omaplata. slice is defending the submission well but is in a very vulnerable position. Tiirismaa Is leaning forward trying to finish the omaplata but decides to abandon it, and take slice's back instead.
Tiirismaa looks gassed!

slice is staying cool under pressure, defending well against the rear naked choke attempt from his opponent.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A few boos can be heard. I'm sure they will multiply if the fighters don't pick up the pace.
slice trying to control but not successfully.
You can see the frustration on slice's face… He knows he is in trouble unless he improves his position sooner rather than later.
Tiirismaa not allowing slice to control his hands.

Tiirismaa has his opponent's back and is working for the choke.
slice trying to control but not successfully.
slice wants to escape the position.
Tiirismaa is trying to stick to slice's back but slice is turning into Tiirismaa. He's managed to reverse the position - now he's in Tiirismaa's guard. Polite applause from the crowd in appreciation of some nice Jiu Jitsu by slice.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
slice wants to control from the top but Tiirismaa keeps moving.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.
slice shoots in but doesn't get the takedown

and Tiirismaa counters by moving into the clinch. Good anticipation by Tiirismaa.

Tiirismaa breaks the clinch.
Tiirismaa throws a right hand that slice ducks under and follows up with a left that slice also avoids with ease.
slice shoots and misses

and Tiirismaa counters into the clinch. Nicely done.
slice has Tiirismaa pressed up against the cage and is working for takedown. Tiirismaa manages to improve position though and keeps the fight standing.

Tiirismaa breaks the clinch.

slice shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Let's see what he's got on the mat.
The fighters are starting to get a bit slippery now, which will make submissions a bit more difficult.
Tiirismaa striking off his back but it's not causing slice any problems.
slice missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
slice trying to control the position from guard on top but Tiirismaa is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

Tiirismaa is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
slice's corner is telling him to maintain position.
slice's ground tactics aren't going to win him many fans. Let's hope he's got fireworks for us if he gets back to his feet because he's not doing much on the ground.
Tiirismaa utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.

Tiirismaa looking for subs off his back but slice has passed one foot through into half guard.
Tiirismaa is refusing to be controlled, as slice sits in half guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Tiirismaa has hold of slice's hands but slice slips his arm to the side and lands an elbow.
slice perhaps working for something from half guard, or maybe not. It looks like he's just sitting there.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Riku Tiirismaa dominated that round.
That's time! slice's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight.

slice misses with a takedown attempt
and Tiirismaa counters with a low kick, right behind slice 's knee.
slice doesn't succeed with the takedown
and Tiirismaa counters with a left and a right that stings slice.
slice moves out of range of the leg kick from Tiirismaa.

slice looking to shoot here. He's gone for it and he's landed a takedown into mount! Oh, that's bad for Tiirismaa!
Tiirismaa manages to regain half guard. Good work.
slice is nestled in close to Tiirismaa, controlling him well. He's worked in a nice elbow to the side of the head as well, for good measure.
slice performing his best blanket impression for a moment.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Tiirismaa looking for submissions from an awkward position here.
slice content to control rather than advance.
Tiirismaa is looking to improve his position.
slice seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Tiirismaa does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.
slice is looking to stall here but Tiirismaa recovers full guard.

The referee stands the fighters back up. rambo slice just wasn't active enough from the dominant position.
slice fails with the takedown

and Tiirismaa holds on and brings the fighters into a clinch.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for rambo slice. That's going to take a lot out of him.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
slice changes levels and goes for a takedown here. Tiirismaa fights it off and pushes away nicely.
slice shoots in but doesn't get the takedown

and Tiirismaa counters with a takedown into full mount! That could mean trouble for slice!
Tiirismaa sends his fist crashing into the mat - the crowd let out a collective ooooooh. Let's hope he's not broken it!
slice is desperately trying to improve his position but Tiirismaa has a good base and remains in mount.

slice bucks up and throws Tiirismaa to the side - he's got back to his feet. Great escape!

Tiirismaa moves into the clinch successfully.
Tiirismaa lands a knee to the head there! That was nasty!
An uppercut to the body lands inside from Tiirismaa.

Tiirismaa escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Like a baseball bat into the meat of his leg there - nice leg kick by Tiirismaa.
Riku Tiirismaa seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

Tiirismaa has slice up against the cage in a clinch.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Tiirismaa's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.

Tiirismaa clinches up with slice and pushes him back against the cage.
slice drops to a knee looking for a takedown but Tiirismaa gets the underhooks and prevents it.

Tiirismaa pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
slice misses with a takedown attempt

and Tiirismaa counters with a shoot takedown. slice fights it but they end up in guard.

Tiirismaa stands and steps away. slice gets to his feet too and we're back to the striking game.

Tiirismaa closes the distance and gets a double leg, slamming slice to the mat! slice manages to get full guard.
Tiirismaa postures up and lands some nice ground and pound.
slice is trying to control the position but Tiirismaa postures up.
slice managing to control the position.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Tiirismaa is trying to work a guillotine from the top, or something like that? Don't know how he thinks he's going to get a finish from there.
slice looking for a sweep. Not yet slice, not yet.

Tiirismaa drops back for a leg! It's a sloppy attempt though and Tiirismaa jumps back into guard quickly, to retain the dominant position.
Tiirismaa being controlled here momentarily.
Tiirismaa trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Tiirismaa must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
slice bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Tiirismaa's guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Riku Tiirismaa showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
That's time! Back to the action! This is the final round!

slice shoots and misses

and Tiirismaa counters with a takedown into side control.
Riku Tiirismaa has got the better of the ground game so far.
The ground and pound from Tiirismaa seems to be hitting the mat more than his opponent.

Tiirismaa is looking for a kimura. He might have it! No, slice has escaped the position, nice work there.
You can see the frustration on slice's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.
slice tries to improve position but can't.
slice wants to control but Tiirismaa postures up.
slice striking from the bottom but nothing landed.
You can see the frustration on slice's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.

slice drives through with a really nice takedown into side control.

That's one minute gone in the round.
slice trying to control the action but Tiirismaa is working from the bottom.
Tiirismaa tries to work a leg under to get back to half guard but slice wriggles his own leg back out and remains in side control.
slice wants to lay and pray for a moment but Tiirismaa keeps working.
Tiirismaa is sneaking out the side here. He's bucked slice off and has taken his back!

Tiirismaa has his hand under the chin of his opponent looking for the choke. He's nearly got it! This one could be all over! But no, slice has freed his hand and lives to survive another… well, another couple of seconds at least!

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

Tiirismaa is staying calm and holding on to the back position, whilst working on a rear naked choke. slice is defending well though. Tiirismaa let's go of the attempt for now.
slice manages to reverse the position and now he's in Tiirismaa's guard. Nice work there by slice.
slice is working the ground and pound from guard. He might want to try advancing position though to get more of an impact.

slice drops back looking for a leg! Tiirismaa is in trouble here! The fighters roll with the hold and Tiirismaa manages to kick slice off! slice jumps back into Tiirismaa's guard.

Tiirismaa looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
Tiirismaa doesn't do any damage with a couple of strikes from the bottom.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
slice passes Tiirismaa's right leg, so he's now in half guard.
slice is scoring with some nice ground and pound from the dominant position.
slice frees up his trapped foot and advances to mount.
Tiirismaa is desperately trying to get back to half guard.
slice controlling the pace for now.
slice landing strikes from the mount.
Tiirismaa is looking to get to half guard.

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.
slice dominating with strikes here.
slice looking to control but Tiirismaa is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.
slice takes a little breather and maintains the position. The referee will be looking for him to stay active from such a dominant position though.
Tiirismaa tries to get back to half guard but can't.
slice scoring with strikes but Tiirismaa is staying in there.
slice sitting in mount, just looking to control for the moment.
slice seems to have a rather negative gameplan on the ground. He seems keen to just score the takedown and hold down Tiirismaa for as long as he can get away with.
rambo slice has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Riku Tiirismaa is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Tiirismaa is working to get back to half guard.

And that's the end of the fight!
That was a close round. You could make an argument for either fighter but I would give it to rambo slice.
Well Tiirismaa has outworked and out performed his opponent in all aspects of the game today. He was simply too good and the decision should be no more than a formality. 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 Konstantin Menshow scores the fight 28:29
Judge Illya Tyunina scores the fight 28:29
Judge Vladimir Khabensky scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Riku Tiirismaa!