PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Vesa Nieminen (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and rolf rolfson (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Both these guys have really solid chins. Will we see a standup war or will they both decide that a knockout is unlikely and try to win the fight elsewhere?

Nieminen
vs
rolfson

176 cm
22
170 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

185 cm
22
170 lbs
0 - 2 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Good chin

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter striker
Granite 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 Helsinki, Vesa Nieminen!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, rolf rolfson!
The judges for this bout are Matti Vanhoillinen, Johanna Lukiainen and Ben Zyskovitsi.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Nieminen tries to clinch up.
Nieminen tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but rolfson paws at him with a jab and circles away.
rolfson dives in and grabs Nieminen's left leg, looking for a takedown. Nieminen pushes down on rolfson's head and hops out.
Nieminen tries to clinch there but rolfson circles away.
Nieminen misses with a kick to the body.
Nieminen tries to clinch up but rolfson circles away and keeps his distance.

Nieminen moves into range and clinches up with rolfson.
Nieminen lands a left hand.
rolfson wants to stall.

Nieminen pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Nieminen moves in looking to clinch but rolfson pushes him off.
rolfson shoots in looking for a takedown. Nieminen tries to sprawl out of it but rolfson keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Nieminen manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
rolfson looks gassed!
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
rolfson circles away from the clinch attempt.

Excellent takedown into side control there by Nieminen.

Nieminen stands up and we're back to a striking position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Nieminen shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. rolfson defends it nicely.

rolfson drops down and drives through with a powerful takedown into guard.

Nieminen is edging up against the cage. He's using the cage to get back to his feet. Nice work there - the fighters are clinched.

Nieminen pulls rolfson into guard.
Nieminen wants to stand and escape but rolfson is having none of it.
Nieminen is pulling down on rolfson's head to control his posture.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Nieminen has butterfly guard. He's looking to stand up here. He pushes rolfson off him and springs to his feet nicely. The crowd applauds.
Nieminen tries to clinch but rolfson moves out of range.
rolfson circles away from the clinch attempt.
Nieminen wants to clinch.
Nieminen tries to clinch but rolfson is having none of it.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
rolfson keeps the fight on the outside.
Nieminen moves in looking to clinch but rolfson pushes him off.
rolfson staying out of range there.
rolfson showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Nieminen.
Nieminen fails in his attempt to clinch.
rolfson avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Nieminen throws a right and a left that both miss.
rolfson lands a jab-cross combination.

rolfson clinches with his opponent.

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

rolfson has Nieminen up against the cage in a clinch.
Nieminen is trying to break the clinch but rolfson is controlling him.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.

rolfson ties up his opponent against the cage and manages to drag the fight down to the ground. rolfson no doubt will be looking to work submissions from his guard.
Nieminen trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Nieminen tries to stand but rolfson is controlling from the bottom.

Nieminen stands up from rolfson's guard - Nieminen perhaps looking for a knockout.
The fight stays on the outside here - rolfson looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Vesa Nieminen seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Nieminen tries to clinch but rolfson moves away

and rolfson counters with a nice double leg into side control. Nieminen won't be happy with that.
Nieminen is trying to control rolfson's posture but rolfson avoids it.
A lull in the action here as rolfson stalls from top position.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close round but I would say that Vesa Nieminen will probably get the nod.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

The fight stays on the outside here - Nieminen looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
rolfson tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Nieminen throws an overhand right that lands on rolfson's shoulder, as rolfson tries to avoid the shot.
Nieminen tries to clinch up but rolfson circles away and keeps his distance.
Nieminen wants to clinch but rolfson slips to the side

and rolfson decides to take the opportunity to score a takedown. He's landed in Nieminen's guard.

Nieminen pushes rolfson off and scrambles back to his feet.
rolfson takes a punch to the jaw and another one to the bread basket.

It looks like rolf rolfson has been cut.
Nieminen wants to clinch but rolfson slips to the side
and rolfson counters nicely by changing levels and landing a hook to the body.
rolfson avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Nieminen wants to clinch but rolfson slips to the side
and rolfson counters with a flying knee. Nice.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Nieminen tries to clinch but rolfson moves away

and rolfson counters with a single leg into guard. Nieminen didn't expect that.
rolf rolfson has got the better of the ground game so far.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Nieminen looking for a sweep. Not yet Nieminen, not yet.
Nieminen keeping moving, preventing rolfson from controlling successfully.
Nieminen has rolfson pulled in close to control his posture.
rolfson prevents Nieminen from getting back to his feet.

Nieminen uses the cage to get back to his feet.
Nieminen fails in his attempt to clinch.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Nieminen tries to clinch up

and rolfson counters with a nice double leg into guard.
Nieminen is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.
rolfson postures up.
Nieminen is controlling rolfson's posture.
Nieminen is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Nieminen is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst rolfson is controlling him.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Nieminen wants to get back to his feet but rolfson passes into half guard.
Nieminen is looking to improve his position.
rolfson stops Nieminen from getting back to his feet.

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

rolfson fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Nieminen, pushing him back against the cage.
Nieminen fails to land with a short punch on the inside.

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

and rolfson moves into the clinch.

That's four 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.
Nieminen has a couple of punches blocked by rolfson.
A short right from Nieminen on the inside.
Nieminen lands with a short head shot on the inside.
Nieminen misses with a punch to the body.
rolfson is working for a takedown up against the cage. He can't get it on this occasion though.
rolfson drops down looking for an ankle pick but Nieminen pulls his leg out and moves away.
Nieminen wants to clinch
enabling rolfson to counter with a crisp jab.
rolfson circles away from the clinch attempt.
Nieminen tries to clinch

and rolfson counters into the clinch. Nicely done.
Nieminen lands a short shot on the inside that snaps the head of rolfson backwards.
Nieminen lands a shoulder strike.
rolfson has had enough of the clinch but Nieminen keeps him there for the moment.
Nieminen wants to break free but rolfson has control.
Nieminen tries to stall but rolfson uses the opportunity to gain a better position.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

rolf rolfson showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The cut man is working on rolf rolfson's cut.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business. This is the final round!

rolfson drives through and clinches with Nieminen against the cage.
Nieminen just leaning against rolfson, taking a breather.
A head punch blocked on the inside by rolfson.
Nieminen misses with a short punch on the inside.
Nieminen tries to break free but rolfson pushes him back against the cage.
Nieminen wants to break free but rolfson has control.
Nieminen tries a knee to the head but he's missed.
rolfson connects with a knee to the head.
Nieminen is stalling here. The referee will be looking to step in if he doesn't pick up the pace.
Nieminen swings wildly with an uppercut but rolfson uses good head movement to avoid it.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
rolfson blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Nieminen misses with the head strike.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Nieminen tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.

That's one minute gone in the round.
A hook to the body from Nieminen.
rolfson jumps guard but his hands slip and he falls flat on his back. Well, he's made himself look a right mug there, as Nieminen walks away with a smile on his face. rolfson gets slowly back to his feet and shakes his head.
rolfson tries to score a power double leg takedown but Nieminen sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten rolfson somewhat.
Nieminen tries to clinch

and rolfson counters with a nice single leg takedown and he's in Nieminen's guard now.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Nieminen pulls rolfson in to control the position.

Nieminen wriggles free and stands up.
Nieminen fails with an attempt to clinch.
rolfson slaps away a takedown attempt from Nieminen, before circling back to the center of the mat.
rolfson fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
Vesa Nieminen has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of rolf rolfson.
Nieminen tries to bum rush rolfson with a series of wild strikes but rolfson uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
rolfson avoids the clinch attempt nicely.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Nieminen is looking to clinch but rolfson is avoiding it.
Nieminen tries to close the distance and clinch up but rolfson swats him away and circles back towards the center.
rolfson jabs away that one connects to the head of his opponent.
Nieminen misses with a leg kick

and rolfson holds on and brings the fighters into a clinch.
rolfson blocks an elbow strike.
rolfson comes over the top with an elbow. That landed flush.
Nieminen misses with the head strike.
Nieminen takes an elbow to the temple.
rolfson is working for takedown but Nieminen is calmly controlling the position for now.
Nieminen throws a punch but it's blocked by rolfson.
Nieminen looks like he'd prefer to be striking at range right now.
Nieminen tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. rolfson just stands there and leans against the cage.

Nieminen manages to pull guard. Let's see whether he can land a sub off his back.
Nieminen being controlled here, momentarily.
rolfson stops Nieminen from standing up.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Nieminen keeping moving, preventing rolfson from controlling successfully.
Nieminen is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.
Nieminen is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst rolfson is controlling him.

That's four 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.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.
Nieminen darts in trying to clinch

and rolfson counters with a driving takedown into guard. Nice work there by rolfson.

rolfson postures up as if he's going to throw some strikes but drops back for an ankle! Nieminen is in big trouble! He looks ready to tap! But no, he's escaped and dives on top of rolfson, into his guard.

Nieminen gets to his feet - rolfson follows without any prompting.
Nieminen looks to clinch
and rolfson counters with a two punch combo.

And that's the end of the fight!
rolf rolfson comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think rolfson has won this one but let's see whether the judges agree with me. 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 28:29
Judge Johanna Lukiainen scores the fight 28:29
Judge Ben Zyskovitsi scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... rolf rolfson!