PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Hannu Niinivaara (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Luimunaama Lare (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Lare has chosen AC/DC - Hell's Bells as his entrance music. Hannu Niinivaara has the edge in experience - let's see if he can make that count tonight.

Niinivaara
vs
Lare

198 cm
22
212 lbs
5 - 2 - 0

178 cm
24
220 lbs
6 - 5 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Very strong

BJJ Blue Belt
Decent boxing
Granite chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the light heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 5 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Hannu Niinivaara!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 6 - 5 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Luimunaama Lare!
The judges for this bout are Ben Zyskovitsi, Matti Vanhoillinen and Marco Blurström.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Lare throws a hook but Niinivaara blocks it.
Niinivaara defending well as Lare loads up on a big left hand.

Niinivaara clinches with his opponent.
Lare has had enough of the clinch and is looking to separate.
Niinivaara tries to work over Lare's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
Lare blocks an elbow strike.
Niinivaara is working hard here but doesn't seem to be able to control effectively, up against the cage.

Lare breaks from the clinch.
Like a baseball bat into the meat of his leg there - nice leg kick by Niinivaara.
Niinivaara misses the shot to the body.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Lare is defended easily by Niinivaara.
Wow, both these guys are really going for it!
Niinivaara connects with a solid leg kick.
Niinivaara keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
Niinivaara cracks the inside of Lare's front leg.
A jab from Niinivaara does it's job there.

It looks like Luimunaama Lare has been cut.
Lare looks gassed!
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
A jab from Lare finds it's way through Niinivaara's defenses.

Lare decides to change it up a bit and drives through with a nice takedown into half guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Niinivaara makes his way to full guard. A much better position for Niinivaara.
Lare postures up in Niinivaara's guard and throws a big left but Niinivaara blocks it.
Lare has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
Niinivaara is pulling down on Lare's head. It's preventing any offense from Lare, at least for the moment.
Niinivaara tries to land a sweep but no joy.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Niinivaara seems keen to control rather than go for a submission, at least for now.
Niinivaara wants to sweep but no luck.
Lare postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Both fighters really going for it on the ground here!
Niinivaara looking for a sweep. Not yet Niinivaara, not yet.
Niinivaara on his back here. We all know that wrestlers don't like being on their back so let's see if Niinivaara tries to get out of the position.
Niinivaara manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Lare manages to get himself to full guard.
Lare working a defensive guard here.
Niinivaara stops Lare from standing up.
Lare tries to strike from the bottom.
Niinivaara throwing strikes from guard but Lare blocks nicely.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Lare tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Niinivaara trying to control but Lare is working from the bottom.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are hurling abuse towards the fighters... You can hardly blame them though because there isn't a lot going on in the fight.
Niinivaara looking to control the position here, rather than advance.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.
A cross from Lare lands.
Niinivaara fakes a head punch and goes low to the body. Nicely done.
Niinivaara looks to land a right hand but Lare moved out of range.
Lare bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
Lare misses with a looping right.
Niinivaara connects with a body shot.
Niinivaara swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
Lare connects with a looping right hand.

Niinivaara has closed the distance and engaged Lare in a clinch.
Some stalling of biblical proportions here from Niinivaara.
Lare tries to circle away but Niinivaara has him pinned against the cage.
Niinivaara throws an elbow that misses.
Niinivaara misses with an elbow over the top.
Lare wants to break free but Niinivaara has control.
Niinivaara lands a damaging elbow.
Lare avoiding damage as Niinivaara throws knees to the body.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Lare breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
An inside leg kick from Niinivaara misses.
Niinivaara tries to score with a leg kick but it misses it's target.
Lare throws a right and a left that Niinivaara avoids nicely.
Luimunaama Lare seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Lare lunges at Niinivaara with a hook that half lands and is half blocked by Niinivaara's hand.

Niinivaara fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Lare, pushing him back against the cage.
Lare has had enough of the clinch and is looking to separate.
Niinivaara keeps control of Lare as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.
Lare tries to break the clinch but Niinivaara is controlling the position.
Lare trying to stall but Niinivaara improves his position.
Niinivaara lands a nice elbow from the clinch.
Niinivaara lands a right uppercut that snaps the head of Lare backwards.
Niinivaara misses with a short punch on the inside.
Lare is trying to break the clinch but Niinivaara has him pressed against the cage.
Niinivaara lands on the inside with an uppercut.
Lare has hold of a leg and is looking for a trip takedown. Niinivaara avoids it nicely though and we remain in the clinch.
Hannu Niinivaara has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Luimunaama Lare.
Niinivaara lands an elbow inside that Lare shrugs off.
Niinivaara throws an elbow but it misses.
Niinivaara lands a body punch in the clinch.
Niinivaara misses with a short punch on the inside.
Lare is trying to force a seperation but Niinivaara has the dominant position.
Niinivaara creates a bit of space for himself and sneaks an elbow through Lare's defenses.
Niinivaara misses with an elbow strike.
A short right hand to the side of the head by Niinivaara.
Niinivaara lands a nice elbow from the clinch.
Lare dodges an elbow strike from Niinivaara.
Lare is trying to break the clinch but Niinivaara is controlling him.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Lare is trying to break the clinch but Niinivaara has him pressed against the cage.
A nice left hand lands by Niinivaara.
Lare is trying to force a seperation but Niinivaara has the dominant position.
Nice elbow from Niinivaara.
Niinivaara lands a nice looking hook to the body, against the cage.
A short left from Niinivaara.
Niinivaara scores with an uppercut up the middle.
Niinivaara misses with an elbow strike.
Knees in the clinch landing for Niinivaara.
Niinivaara misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Lare.
Nice elbow from Niinivaara.
Niinivaara lands a left hand.
Lare tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Niinivaara's elbow.

Niinivaara gets a trip takedown into half guard.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Niinivaara drops an elbow to the side of Lare's head.
Niinivaara looks towards his corner to check for any instructions. The corner give him nothing to work with, so he cracks Lare with a short hammerfist. I guess that's as good as any advice he could get in this position.
Lare tries to roll over but Niinivaara keeps him under control.
Niinivaara is trying to control the action in half guard but Lare is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Nice strikes from Niinivaara there.
Niinivaara working Lare over with strikes.
Lare tries to roll over but Niinivaara keeps him under control.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Hannu Niinivaara dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Luimunaama Lare's cut.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business.

Lare misses with a hook.
Lare tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Niinivaara paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Niinivaara ducks low and lands a nice hook to the body of his opponent.
Niinivaara misses with a looping left.
Niinivaara tests Lare's chin there with a solid looking shot.
Lare scores to the head and body with a nice combination!
Lare throws a hook but Niinivaara avoids it easily.
Niinivaara wants to land a leg kick but Lare is out of range.
Niinivaara attempts a low kick but it misses it's target.
Niinivaara is moving around nicely and scores here with a single head shot.
Niinivaara misses with a hook.

Niinivaara forces Lare back against the cage and clinches.
Niinivaara misses with an elbow over the top.
Niinivaara misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Lare.

Niinivaara has dropped down and is working for a takedown. Lare is trying to keep an underhook but Niinivaara manages to get the takedown into half guard.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Lare is trying to maintain the position but Niinivaara is very close to passing his half guard.
Lare is trying to stand up here but Niinivaara is controlling him well.
Niinivaara working some ground and pound from close in. He's looking to maintain this position and strike for a while by the looks of things... although he'll probably advance to full mount in a minute now I've said that.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Niinivaara wants to control but Lare is keeping him busy.
Niinivaara working the head and body with strikes.
Niinivaara throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
Niinivaara missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.
Lare punching from the bottom.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.
Niinivaara ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
Niinivaara takes a swing at Lare's ribcage but misses.
No joy there for Niinivaara, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Niinivaara ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
A decent looking cross lands there for Lare.
Niinivaara tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Lare was well out of range. Poor timing from Niinivaara.
Niinivaara misses the shot to the body.
A jab from Niinivaara misses.
Lare throws a jab but it's blocked by Niinivaara.
Niinivaara connects with a looping left hand that seems like it dazed Lare momentarily.

Lare decides to change it up a bit and drives through with a nice takedown into half guard.
Niinivaara is holding on to half guard well.
Lare is nestled in close to Niinivaara, controlling him well. He's worked in a nice elbow to the side of the head as well, for good measure.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Lare thows a huge punch but Niinivaara dodges it nicely.
Niinivaara gets back to full guard.
Niinivaara bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Lare's guard.
Niinivaara is looking to work some ground and pound but Lare has wrist control.
Niinivaara loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Lare bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Niinivaara's guard.
Niinivaara is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Lare preventing the sweep.
Lare in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Lare throwing strikes but missing.
Lare has decided he wants to stand but the closed guard of Niinivaara is proving hard to escape from.
Lare content to strike from guard, landing some decent shots.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Lare is looking to work some ground and pound but Niinivaara has wrist control.
Niinivaara pulls Lare in close to prevent any damage.
Niinivaara will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
Lare takes a body punch that cleary hurt but he's trying not to show any weakness.
Lare waving his hands out infront of him, looking to distract Niinivaara.
Niinivaara tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Lare was well out of range. Poor timing from Niinivaara.
Lare moves his head to the side to avoid a jab but walks straight into a cross.
Niinivaara tries to clinch up.
Lare avoids the body shot from Niinivaara.
Lare misses with a hook. Niinivaara ducked under it nicely.

Niinivaara moves into the clinch successfully.

Lare breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Lare throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
Niinivaara misses with an uppercut. Lare saw that one coming.
Lare lands a nice shot to the body.
Niinivaara fails with an attempt to clinch.
Lare waving his hands out infront of him, looking to distract Niinivaara.
Lare throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Nice sprawl there from Niinivaara as Lare shoots in.
Niinivaara lands the left hand.
Lare uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Niinivaara.
Lare swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Lare 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.
Lare on the wrong end of a vicious looking body shot.
Hannu Niinivaara is winning the standup battle so far.
Nice defenses there by Lare.
Niinivaara stuns Lare with a nice body shot, before stepping back out of range.
Niinivaara dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
Lare moves his head to the side to avoid a jab but walks straight into a cross.
A telegraphed right hand from Lare misses the target.
Niinivaara stooping low to avoid any incoming strikes and then lunges in with an uppercut come cross that lands flush.

Niinivaara pushes Lare up against the cage in a clinch.
Niinivaara is using his reach advantage well here, landing the more effective single shots from range.
Lare being controlled against the cage.

Lare has Niinivaara pressed up against the cage. He's trying to work for a single leg takedown. Lare pulls back from the cage and twists to the side, sending Niinivaara tumbling to the mat - Lare dives into Niinivaara's guard.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Lare working some strikes from top position.
Lare tries to free his leg and advance position but Niinivaara is retaining full guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Hannu Niinivaara dominated that second round.
The cut man is working on Luimunaama Lare's cut.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin! So, we enter the final round. Let's see if either fighter can bring us a finish, or whether we're going to the judges scorecards.

Lare takes a shot to the body in his stride.
Niinivaara with a nice looking leg kick. You could hear that one land in a back row.
Niinivaara cracks Lare with a nice right hand that draws applause from the crowd.
Lare misses the jab.
Niinivaara works his jab well there, keeping his opponent at a distance.
Niinivaara scores with a hook to the body. Lare takes a step back and tries to catch his breath.
Lare takes one on the button.
Niinivaara dips to his left and cracks Lare with an uppercut!
Lare takes a punch right to his stomach. That took the wind out of him momentarily.

Niinivaara forces Lare back against the cage and clinches.
Niinivaara softening up his opponent with strikes, against the cage.
Lare wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.
Niinivaara lands an elbow inside that Lare shrugs off.
Niinivaara lands a shoulder strike that jolts his opponent's head backwards.
Niinivaara missing with knees to the body.
Lare is looking to break free of the clinch but Niinivaara has double underhooks.

Niinivaara escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Niinivaara thuds a left hand into Lare's body.
Niinivaara moves out of range of the strikes.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Niinivaara tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.

Niinivaara has Lare up against the cage in a clinch.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Niinivaara wants a takedown.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Niinivaara throws a head punch that misses.
A short right hand to the side of the head by Niinivaara.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Lare.

Lare breaks the clinch.
Lare scores with the left hand. Niinivaara knows he should have avoided that one.

Lare shoots in and bounces Niinivaara off the cage to secure the takedown into guard.
Lare throwing strikes from guard but Niinivaara blocks nicely.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Niinivaara is on top in guard.

Lare is edging up against the cage. He's using the cage to get back to his feet. Nice work there - the fighters are clinched.
Lare wants a takedown.
Lare is looking to break free of the clinch but Niinivaara has double underhooks.
Niinivaara gets through Lare's defenses to land a nice punch to the side of the head.
Lare gets underhooks to prevent Niinivaara's takedown attempt.

Lare breaks the clinch.
Niinivaara scores with a nice right hand.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Lare misses with a looping right.
Lare takes one on the button.
Niinivaara throws a hook but Lare avoids it easily.
Niinivaara takes a shot to the eye socket. That's gotta hurt.
Lare misses with a wild combination.
A jab from Lare misses.
Niinivaara fakes and then throws a beautiful body shot. Lare looks a bit winded and takes a step backwards to take a breath.
Niinivaara doesn't manage to clinch there - Lare circles away.

Niinivaara clinches.
Lare wants to get back to striking at distance but Niinivaara won't allow it.
Lare is working for a takedown up against the cage. He can't get it on this occasion though.
A short body shot lands from Niinivaara as the two fighters clinch.
Niinivaara lands a hook to the body. It's hard to tell if that hurt Lare or not.

Niinivaara's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Lare missing with a left hand there. Niinivaara was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.

Niinivaara fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Lare, pushing him back against the cage.
Lare dodges an elbow strike from Niinivaara.
Niinivaara gets an overhook and lands an elbow to the side of the head.
Niinivaara trying to stall but Lare improves his position.
Lare changes levels and goes for a takedown here. Niinivaara fights it off and pushes away nicely.
Hannu Niinivaara has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Luimunaama Lare.
Niinivaara uses good footwork to get in and out, landing a nice hook.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Lare swats away the attempt to clinch by Niinivaara.

Lare shoots in looking for a single leg takedown. Niinivaara is trying to defend but Lare finishes it well and ends up in half guard. Let's see if he can advance position further.
Niinivaara blocking the ground and pound attempt from Lare.
Lare throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
Niinivaara keeping control of the position.
Niinivaara is looking to control Lare's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Niinivaara avoid being mounted?
Lare throws a strike but Niinivaara avoids it easily and moves to full guard.
Lare missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Lare postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Lare postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.
Niinivaara throws a shot to the body.
Niinivaara lands a nice leg kick that just misses Lare's sensitive parts.

Niinivaara rushes Lare and presses him up against the cage.
Lare on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
Lare lands a nice uppercut.
Niinivaara using the Thai clinch to land knees to the body.
With the fighters clinched against the cage, Niinivaara creates a bit of distance for himself and scores with a nice uppercut.
A short right from Niinivaara.
Niinivaara lands on the inside with an uppercut.
Niinivaara has Lare pressed against the cage, preventing Lare from circling away and getting back to striking at range.
Lare tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. Niinivaara just stands there and leans against the cage.
Luimunaama Lare has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Niinivaara drops down for a takedown but doesn't get it.

Lare breaks the clinch.
Lare throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Niinivaara lands a head shot.
Niinivaara wants to slow Lare down by chopping away at his legs.
Niinivaara misses with a straight left.
Niinivaara circles away from the clinch attempt
and Niinivaara counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.

And that's the end of the fight!
Hannu Niinivaara showed his dominance in that final round.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Niinivaara, 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 Ben Zyskovitsi scores the fight 30:27
Judge Matti Vanhoillinen scores the fight 30:27
Judge Marco Blurström scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Hannu Niinivaara!