PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Sauli Niinisto (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Jake York (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Sauli Niinisto has the edge in experience - let's see if he can make that count tonight.

Niinisto
vs
York

190 cm
19
178 lbs
2 - 0 - 0

200 cm
22
167 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Good knees
Granite chin

Good takedowns
Brawler
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 2 - 0 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Sauli Niinisto!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Jake York!
The judges for this bout are Vladimir Khabensky, Illya Tyunina and Viktor Lagutenko.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Niinisto darts in and clinches York up against the cage.
York looks really tired already! That doesn't bode well for a good, competitive fight!
York is working for a takedown up against the cage. He can't get it on this occasion though.
York wants a takedown but no success here.
Niinisto unloads a knee to the mid-section. York lets out a prehistoric sounding urrrrgh.
Niinisto stalling in the clinch but York improves position.
Niinisto landing knees to the head.

It looks like Jake York has been cut.
Niinisto landing knees to the head.
Niinisto lands a nice elbow.
York takes a knee right on the jaw!
Niinisto lands a damaging elbow.
Niinisto lands a nice elbow from the clinch.
Niinisto with a knee to the head.

York is rocked!
Niinisto is trying to wear down his opponent with knees to the body.
York is still on wobbly legs! Can Niinisto finish him?
Niinisto crunches a lovely knee into York's ribcage.
York seems to have recovered his senses.
Niinisto connects with a knee to the head.
Niinisto connects with a knee to the head.
Niinisto comes over the top with an elbow. That landed flush.
Niinisto lands a knee to the head.
York takes a knee to the side of the body.
York looking for a takedown.
Sauli Niinisto has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Jake York.
York goes for a takedown attempt but Niinisto pushes him away and we're back to fighting at a distance.
York takes a head kick and keeps coming.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.

Niinisto instigates a clinch.
Niinisto lands an elbow just above York 's eye.
York takes a knee right on the jaw!
York is trying to work for a single leg takedown but Niinisto pulls him back up using the underhooks.
Niinisto gets underhooks to prevent York's takedown attempt.
Niinisto with a knee to the head.

That's one minute gone in the round.
York takes a knee right on the jaw!
Niinisto landing some nice looking knees to the body.
Niinisto lands a knee to the head there! That was nasty!
Niinisto scores with a knee to the head.
Niinisto lands a knee to the head there! That was nasty!
York changes levels and goes for a takedown here. Niinisto fights it off and pushes away nicely.
York fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
York misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.

Niinisto rushes York and presses him up against the cage.
York tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. Niinisto just stands there and leans against the cage.
Niinisto connects with a nasty looking knee right to York's face.
York tries for a takedown but Niinisto manages to get underhooks.
Nice elbow from Niinisto.
Niinisto scores with a knee to the head.
Niinisto connects with a knee to the head.
Niinisto trying to control the position but instead, York has worked for underhooks and has pushed Niinisto into the cage.
York drops to a knee looking for a takedown but Niinisto gets the underhooks and prevents it.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Niinisto landing knees to the body.
York is working for takedown but Niinisto is calmly controlling the position for now.
Niinisto scores with a knee to the head.
Niinisto prevents a takedown attempt there.
Niinisto with the Thai clinch, lands a knee to the head.
Niinisto unloads a knee to the mid-section. York lets out a prehistoric sounding urrrrgh.
Niinisto prevents a takedown attempt there.
York is looking for a takedown up against the cage. Niinisto gets underhooks though and prevents the takedown attempt.
Niinisto connects with a knee to the head.
Niinisto with the Thai clinch, lands a knee to the head.
York goes for a takedown attempt but Niinisto pushes him away and we're back to fighting at a distance.

Niinisto pushes York up against the cage in a clinch.
York tries for a takedown but Niinisto manages to get underhooks.
Niinisto lands a knee to the head.
York fails to pull the fight into his guard.
Niinisto lands an elbow just above York 's eye.
Niinisto lands a knee to the head there! That was nasty!
York has hold of a leg and is looking for a trip takedown. Niinisto avoids it nicely though and we remain in the clinch.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
York wants a takedown but no success here.
Niinisto connects with a nasty looking knee right to York's face.
York is looking for a takedown up against the cage. Niinisto gets underhooks though and prevents the takedown attempt.
Niinisto lands a nice knee to the body.
Niinisto landing knees to the head.
Niinisto lands a nice elbow from the clinch.
York wants a takedown.
York wants a takedown.
York takes an elbow to the forehead.
York is looking for a takedown up against the cage. Niinisto gets underhooks though and prevents the takedown attempt.
York takes a knee to the side of the body.
Niinisto working York over with knees to the body.
York wants a takedown.
Stalling in the clinch from Niinisto.
Niinisto stops a takedown attempt from York.
York has a body lock and is looking for a takedown. Niinisto is bouncing around trying to prevent the takedown and somehow he has indeed managed to stay on his feet.
York has Niinisto pressed up against the cage and is working for takedown. Niinisto manages to improve position though and keeps the fight standing.
York drops down for a takedown but doesn't get it.
York is working for takedown but Niinisto is calmly controlling the position for now.
Niinisto avoiding damage.
A knee to the head by Niinisto.
Niinisto connects with a nasty looking knee right to York's face.
York is trying to work for a single leg takedown but Niinisto pulls him back up using the underhooks.
Niinisto lands a nice elbow from the clinch.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
York takes a knee to the side of the body.
York goes for a takedown attempt but Niinisto pushes him away and we're back to fighting at a distance.
Niinisto is looking to clinch.

York tries to keep at a distance but Niinisto has taken the fight into the clinch.
York goes for a takedown in the clinch but Niinisto prevents it.
Niinisto scores with a knee to the head.
Niinisto lands a knee to the head there! That was nasty!
Niinisto landing some nice looking knees to the body.
A knee to the head by Niinisto.
York drops down for a takedown but doesn't get it.
York is trying to work for a single leg takedown but Niinisto pulls him back up using the underhooks.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
York takes a knee right on the jaw!
York is trying to drag Niinisto to the mat but Niinisto just about manages to keep his footing. He used the cage to his advantage there.
York tries to pull guard but Niinisto won't allow it.
York has Niinisto pressed up against the cage and is working for takedown. Niinisto manages to improve position though and keeps the fight standing.
Niinisto connects with a nasty looking knee right to York's face.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Sauli Niinisto dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Jake York's cut.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

York tries to close the distance and clinch but Niinisto swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.

Niinisto has managed to clinch.
Niinisto lands a knee to the head there! That was nasty!
The pace really dropping off here, momentarily.
York drops down looking for an ankle pick but Niinisto pulls his leg out and moves away.

Niinisto gets in close and instigates a clinch.
Niinisto is trying to wear down his opponent with knees to the body.
York takes a knee right on the jaw!
Niinisto lands an elbow inside that York shrugs off.
York drops to a knee looking for a takedown but Niinisto gets the underhooks and prevents it.
Niinisto crunches a lovely knee into York's ribcage.
Niinisto connects with a nasty looking knee right to York's face.
Niinisto landing knees to the head.
York tries to pull guard but Niinisto won't allow it.
Sauli Niinisto has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Jake York.
Niinisto gets underhooks to prevent York's takedown attempt.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Niinisto with the Thai clinch, lands a knee to the head.
York is trying to drag Niinisto to the mat but Niinisto just about manages to keep his footing. He used the cage to his advantage there.
Both guys are working to get underhooks.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Niinisto prevents the takedown attempt.
Niinisto using the Thai clinch to land knees to the body.
Niinisto creates a bit of space for himself and sneaks an elbow through York's defenses.
Niinisto gets underhooks to prevent York's takedown attempt.
York is a painfully thin specimen of a man. You do wonder whether a good body kick would snap him clean in two.
York has Niinisto pressed up against the cage and is working for takedown. Niinisto manages to improve position though and keeps the fight standing.
Nice elbow from Niinisto.
Niinisto creates a bit of space for himself and sneaks an elbow through York's defenses.
Niinisto using the Thai clinch to land knees to the body.
Niinisto lands a nice knee to the body.
York wants a takedown.
York takes a knee right on the jaw!
Niinisto connects with a knee to the head.
York wants a takedown but no success here.
York drops down looking for an ankle pick but Niinisto pulls his leg out and moves away.
York doesn't manage to clinch there - Niinisto circles away.
The fighters circle momentarily. Niinisto darts into range and connects with a nice straight punch.

Niinisto pushes York up against the cage in a clinch.
Niinisto trying to stall but York improves his position.
York goes for a takedown attempt but Niinisto pushes him away and we're back to fighting at a distance.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Niinisto throws a head kick that York semi-blocks.
Niinisto fails with an attempt to clinch.

Niinisto gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.
York tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.
Niinisto scores with a knee to the head.
Niinisto gets underhooks to prevent York's takedown attempt.
Niinisto landing some nice looking knees to the body.
York tries to score a body lock takedown but Niinisto shows good agility there to stay on his feet.
York tries to score a body lock takedown but Niinisto shows good agility there to stay on his feet.
Niinisto is trying to wear down his opponent with knees to the body.
York tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. Niinisto just stands there and leans against the cage.
Niinisto lands a glancing elbow in the clinch.
York drops to a knee looking for a takedown but Niinisto gets the underhooks and prevents it.
Niinisto lands an elbow that stopped York in his tracks for a moment.
Niinisto connects with a nasty looking knee right to York's face.
Niinisto using the Thai clinch to land knees to the body.
Niinisto scores with a knee to the head.
Niinisto with the Thai clinch, lands a knee to the head.
Niinisto connects with a knee to the head.
Sauli Niinisto has scored more points in the clinch so far.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Niinisto stalling.
York wants a takedown.
York wants a takedown but no success here.
York takes a knee right on the jaw!
York drops down looking for an ankle pick but Niinisto pulls his leg out and moves away.

Niinisto rushes York and presses him up against the cage.
Both guys are working to get underhooks.
Niinisto putting his Muay Thai to good use. He has York in a tight clinch and is doing some damage with knees to the body.
Niinisto using the Thai clinch to land knees to the body.
York goes for a takedown in the clinch but Niinisto prevents it.
York takes a knee right on the jaw!
Niinisto lands a nice elbow.
Niinisto scores with a knee to the head.
Niinisto with a knee to the head.
Knees to the body from Niinisto.
York is working for a takedown up against the cage. He can't get it on this occasion though.
The pace really dropping off here, momentarily.
York has hold of a leg and is looking for a trip takedown. Niinisto avoids it nicely though and we remain in the clinch.
Niinisto lands a knee to the body.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Niinisto landing knees to the body.
Niinisto crunches a lovely knee into York's ribcage.
Nice elbow from Niinisto.
York tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. Niinisto just stands there and leans against the cage.
Niinisto scores with a knee to the head.
York drops to a knee looking for a takedown but Niinisto gets the underhooks and prevents it.
Niinisto connects with a nasty looking knee right to York's face.
York takes a knee right on the jaw!
York has Niinisto pressed up against the cage and is working for takedown. Niinisto manages to improve position though and keeps the fight standing.
Niinisto trying to stall but York improves his position.
Niinisto gets double underhooks to prevent a takedown attempt from York.
York takes an elbow to the temple.
A real battle for position is taking place between these two warriors.
Niinisto is pressed up against the cage. York has hold of a leg and is looking to drag Niinisto down to the mat. Niinisto avoids the attempt though and has circled away. We're back to striking at a distance.
York tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Niinisto swivels and escapes.

Niinisto clinches.
York is working for takedown but Niinisto is calmly controlling the position for now.
Niinisto unloads a knee to the mid-section.
Niinisto landing knees to the head.
Niinisto lands a knee to the body.
Niinisto connects with a knee to the head.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Sauli Niinisto dominated that second round.
The cut man is working on Jake York'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!

York blocks a head kick by Niinisto.
Niinisto tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.

Niinisto moves into the clinch.
Niinisto landing knees to the body.
Niinisto putting his Muay Thai to good use. He has York in a tight clinch and is doing some damage with knees to the body.
Niinisto scores a nice knee to the body.
Niinisto gets underhooks to prevent York's takedown attempt.
Niinisto lands a knee to the head there! That was nasty!
Both fighters working to control the clinch.
Niinisto working York over with knees to the body.
A knee to the head by Niinisto.
Niinisto lands a knee to the head there! That was nasty!
Niinisto lands a good knee to the midsection. York won't want to take too many of those.
York drops down looking for an ankle pick but Niinisto pulls his leg out and moves away.

Niinisto closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.
York takes a knee right on the jaw!
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Niinisto lands a nice knee to the body.
Knees in the clinch landing for Niinisto.
York is working for a takedown up against the cage. He can't get it on this occasion though.
Sauli Niinisto has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Jake York.
Niinisto comes over the top with an elbow. That landed flush.
York takes a knee right on the jaw!
Niinisto stops a takedown attempt from York.

That's one minute gone in the round.
York can't get the takedown.
York is trying to work for a single leg takedown but Niinisto pulls him back up using the underhooks.
Niinisto gets double underhooks to prevent a takedown attempt from York.
York has Niinisto pressed up against the cage and is working for takedown. Niinisto manages to improve position though and keeps the fight standing.
York takes a knee right on the jaw!
York goes for a takedown in the clinch but Niinisto prevents it.
York has Niinisto pressed up against the cage and is working for takedown. Niinisto manages to improve position though and keeps the fight standing.
Niinisto connects with a knee to the head.
Niinisto is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that York can do to turn this around?
York takes a knee right on the jaw!
Niinisto lands a nice knee to the body.
York tries for a takedown. No joy.
York looking for a takedown.
Niinisto landing knees to the body. They look like they could hurt.
York can't get the takedown.
York is looking for a takedown up against the cage. Niinisto gets underhooks though and prevents the takedown attempt.
Niinisto with the Thai clinch, lands a knee to the head.
York is looking for a takedown up against the cage. Niinisto gets underhooks though and prevents the takedown attempt.
Niinisto with the Thai clinch, lands a knee to the head.
A knee to the head by Niinisto.
Niinisto gets underhooks to prevent York's takedown attempt.
York takes a knee right on the jaw!
York has a body lock and is looking for a takedown. Niinisto is bouncing around trying to prevent the takedown and somehow he has indeed managed to stay on his feet.
York takes a knee right on the jaw!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Niinisto gets double underhooks to prevent a takedown attempt from York.
Niinisto with the Thai clinch, lands a knee to the head.
Niinisto stalling in the clinch but York improves position.
Niinisto landing knees to the body.
York takes a knee right on the jaw!
Niinisto is trying to wear down his opponent with knees to the body.
A knee to the head by Niinisto.
Niinisto prevents the takedown attempt.
Niinisto lands a knee to the head there! That was nasty!
Niinisto utilising his Muay Thai to score with a knee to the body.
Niinisto lands an elbow inside.
York tries for a takedown. No joy.
York tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. Niinisto just stands there and leans against the cage.
Niinisto using the Thai clinch to land knees to the body.
York drops down looking for an ankle pick but Niinisto pulls his leg out and moves away.
York takes a shot right to the bread basket.
York wants to clinch.

Niinisto closes the distance and clinches.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Niinisto unloads a knee to the mid-section. York lets out a prehistoric sounding urrrrgh.
Jake York has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Niinisto with a knee to the head.
Both guys are working to get underhooks.
Niinisto gets double underhooks to prevent a takedown attempt from York.
Niinisto scores with a knee to the head.
York takes a knee right on the jaw!
York is working for takedown but Niinisto is calmly controlling the position for now.
York wants a takedown but no success here.
Niinisto prevents a takedown attempt there.
York is looking for a takedown up against the cage. Niinisto gets underhooks though and prevents the takedown attempt.
York can't get the takedown.
Niinisto lands an elbow that stopped York in his tracks for a moment.
Niinisto trying to stall but York improves his position.
Niinisto lands a damaging elbow.
Niinisto scores a nice knee to the body.

York has picked Niinisto up - he's going for a ride! York dumps his opponent to the mat with a thud and settles into half guard.
York thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.
York winds up and cracks Niinisto with a swinging punch to the side of the head.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
York lands with a punch from half guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
York not landing any meaningful shots this time.
The two fighters exchange a few words. I couldn't hear what they were saying but maybe it's more fun if you make it up yourself. York connects with a nice short shot to Niinisto's temple.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
York drops an elbow to the side of Niinisto's head.
Niinisto is trying to get back to full guard.
York thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.

York wants to work for an arm triangle but Niinisto is really keeping half guard well and defending the submission attempt.
York throwing shots but Niinisto is blocking nicely.

And that's the end of the fight!
Sauli Niinisto showed his dominance in that final round.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Niinisto, 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 Vladimir Khabensky scores the fight 30:26
Judge Illya Tyunina scores the fight 30:26
Judge Viktor Lagutenko scores the fight 30:26

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Sauli Niinisto!