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). Nieminen comes to the cage accompanied by Pantera - Walk. I'm sure you'll be fascinated to know that I was talking to some pointless Z list celebrity before the fight and he thought that rolf rolfson was going to win. Let's see if he was right.

Nieminen
vs
rolfson

176 cm
22
170 lbs
0 - 2 - 0

185 cm
22
170 lbs
1 - 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 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Vesa Nieminen!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, rolf rolfson!
The judges for this bout are Anni Minnemäki, Johanna Lukiainen and Marco Blurström.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Nieminen tries to close the distance and clinch up but rolfson swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Nieminen wants to clinch up but rolfson keeps it at a distance.
rolfson shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Nieminen but Nieminen pushes him off and we're back to square one.
Nieminen tries to close the distance and clinch but rolfson swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Some wild striking there from Nieminen.
rolfson lands a jab-cross combination.
rolfson bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
Nieminen tries to clinch up but rolfson circles away and keeps his distance.

Nieminen takes the fight into the clinch.

rolfson jumps into guard, dragging Nieminen to the mat.
Nieminen is looking to stand up but rolfson won't let him.
rolfson lands a beautiful switch and he's in full mount! That could spell trouble for Nieminen!
Nieminen is writhing around trying to get back to his feet.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Nieminen is really trying hard to get back to his feet.
Nieminen is writhing around trying to get back to his feet.
rolfson takes a little breather and maintains the position. The referee will be looking for him to stay active from such a dominant position though.

rolfson is standing up, even though he is in mount.
Nieminen fails in his attempt to clinch.
rolfson misses with a head kick.
Nieminen fails with the takedown

and rolfson counters with a nice double leg into side control. Nieminen won't be happy with that.
Nieminen is breathing heavily.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
rolfson tries to cartwheel into mount but he doesn't manage it.

rolfson stands up and beckons Nieminen to his feet.
Nieminen keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
rolfson closes this distance looking for a takedown but Nieminen circles away.
Vesa Nieminen has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of rolf rolfson.
rolfson rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Nieminen moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Nieminen closes the distance but rolfson moves to the side

and rolfson counters with a takedown into full mount! That could mean trouble for Nieminen!
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Nieminen is writhing around trying to get back to his feet.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

rolfson is in full mount, looking to secure a guillotine but Nieminen is surviving well by controlling rolfson's body position as best he can.
Nieminen is trying desperately to improve position.
rolfson controlling the position easily from mount.

That's four 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.
Nieminen is hanging on here. He's in a desperate position.
Nieminen tries to lock up and control but rolfson gives him a forearm to the face and pushes him away.
rolfson tries to control but Nieminen wriggling away.
rolfson controlling from the full mount.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Nieminen closes the distance looking to clinch

and rolfson counters with a takedown into full mount! That could mean trouble for Nieminen!
rolfson tries to control but Nieminen wriggling away.
Nieminen wants to try and get back to his feet.
Nieminen tries to hold on but rolfson pushes him away.
Nieminen has given up his back here.
rolfson controls the position.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Nieminen trying to control but he's just got himself in more trouble.
Nieminen staying busy and making it hard for rolfson to control.

Despite being in the dominant position, rolf rolfson just isn't active enough and the referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Nieminen closes the distance but rolfson moves to the side

and rolfson counters with a nice single leg takedown and he's in Nieminen's guard now.
rolf rolfson has got the better of the ground game so far.
Nieminen looking to control.
Nieminen wants to stand up but rolfson is controlling him.

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

rolfson closes the distance and gets a double leg, slamming Nieminen to the mat! Nieminen manages to get full guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
rolfson controls the pace of the fight for a moment.
rolfson won't allow Nieminen to get back to his feet.
Nieminen is looking to stand back up... there's a bit of a scramble and rolfson dives into side control.
Nieminen is trying to get back to half guard.
rolfson slows the pace down.
Nieminen tries to get back to half guard but can't.
Nieminen is working hard to escape and get back to his feet. After a battle for position, rolfson asserts his dominance and retains side control.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
rolfson working away.
Nieminen taking punishment in the form of punches.

rolfson has had enough of the ground for now and decides to stand.
rolfson lands three nice shots there - that looked like it hurt!
rolfson misses with a takedown attempt - Nieminen sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.

rolfson closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
rolfson blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Nieminen is trying to break the clinch but rolfson is controlling him.
Nieminen wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.
With the fighters up against the cage, Nieminen throws an elbow but misses.

rolfson has moved round to his opponent's back and is looking for a suplex! Oh snap! He's tossed Nieminen clear over his head and slammed him to the mat!
Nieminen can't escape the position.
Nieminen is very frustrated here, being controlled quite effectively by rolfson.

Nieminen manages to escape to his feet.
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 referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business. And we move into the final round!

rolfson pushes Nieminen up against the cage in a clinch.
rolfson lands an elbow just above Nieminen 's eye.
Nieminen swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Nieminen is working rolfson over against the cage.
A head punch on the inside from Nieminen fails to land.
Nieminen tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.
rolfson taking a breather.
Nieminen lands an elbow just above rolfson 's eye.
Nieminen takes a knee to the side of the body.

rolfson is working on a single leg takedown against the cage. Nieminen can't fight it off and eventually rolfson manages to take the fight to the floor. Nieminen looks annoyed but at least he's managed to land in guard.
Nieminen wants to stand but rolfson is controlling the position.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
rolfson content to stall in guard here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Nieminen is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst rolfson is controlling him.
rolfson seems content to control from guard here. He's going to have to remain active though if he doesn't want to get stood back up.
rolfson forces his way into half guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Neither fighter has done anything of merit for a good minute or two here and the crowd are not happy about it.

rolfson is working for a submission of some sort.
Nieminen is trying to get back to full guard.
rolfson blocks the strikes from Nieminen.
rolfson trying to control the pace.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Nieminen is trying to stand.
Nieminen trying to hold on to rolfson's head to control him but rolfson postures up.

rolfson seems to be looking for submissions.
rolfson trying to pass the guard but Nieminen defending well.

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

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

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
rolfson blocks an uppercut.
Nieminen can't break the clinch.

rolfson breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Vesa Nieminen has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Nieminen tries to grapple but his opponent circles
and rolfson counters with a lovely shot to the body.
Vesa Nieminen seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
rolfson lands with a slapping head kick.
rolfson shoots for a double leg takedown but Nieminen sprawls well. He's pushed rolfson's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
Nieminen swings wildly with a couple of big hooks

and rolfson counters with a driving takedown into guard. Nice work there by rolfson.
Nieminen wants to stand but rolfson is controlling the position.
Nieminen striking off his back but it's not causing rolfson any problems.

And that's the end of the fight!
rolf rolfson comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well rolfson 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 Anni Minnemäki scores the fight 27:30
Judge Johanna Lukiainen scores the fight 27:30
Judge Marco Blurström scores the fight 27:30

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