PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Rik McRae (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Arttu Nieminen (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Rik McRae had a look across the cage there at his opponent. He definitely means business

McRae
vs
Nieminen

189 cm
21
198 lbs
2 - 0 - 0

182 cm
20
183 lbs
3 - 3 - 0

BJJ Brown Belt
Basic striking
Cardio machine

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter striker
Solid chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the middleweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 2 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Rik McRae!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 3 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Arttu Nieminen!
The judges for this bout are Matti Vanhoillinen, Marco Blurström and Ben Zyskovitsi.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
McRae lands an overhand right.
Nieminen takes a shot to the body in his stride.
McRae dances in quickly and lands a nice inside leg kick on Nieminen. That did some damage!
Nieminen fails with an attempt to clinch.
A punch lands to the side of Nieminen 's head but he takes it in his stride.
Nieminen takes a shot to the eye socket. That's gotta hurt.
Well, he's not going to score with shots like that. A lazy body kick attempt from McRae.

McRae shoots in and gets a takedown into half guard. McRae showed some decent athleticism there.
Nieminen looks like he's trying to stand up.

McRae is trying a forearm choke… I don't think that's going to do much at this level of the game.
Nieminen keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.

McRae trying to work for an americana but Nieminen has managed to regain full guard.
McRae passes Nieminen's left leg - he's now in half guard.
McRae has been looking to land a fair amount of strikes on the ground. He might be looking to soften his opponent up in order to work for a submission.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Nieminen pushes McRae off looking to stand but McRae dives back in and keeps control.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

Nieminen is defending against the submission attempts here by McRae.

McRae is sneakily working for an arm triangle but Nieminen sees it coming and defends easily.
Nieminen pushes McRae off looking to stand but McRae dives back in and keeps control.
Nieminen won't allow McRae to pass to mount.
McRae trying to control from half guard but Nieminen is working away.
McRae is pressing down on Nieminen's thigh, looking to free his foot. Nieminen is holding on for now.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Well. There's a bit of a lull in the action here and the crowd are starting to get restless.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
The fight stays on the outside here - Nieminen looks like he's thinking about clinching though.

McRae looking to shoot here. He's gone for it and he's landed a takedown into mount! Oh, that's bad for Nieminen!
McRae unloading with bombs!

It looks like Arttu Nieminen has been cut.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Nieminen is trying to escape but when you're mounted that's not too easy.
Nieminen in a bad spot here, taking shots to the head.
McRae working away from the top, dropping strikes.
Nieminen holding onto his opponent's waist for dear life, as McRae tries to land some strikes to get him to release his grip.

McRae has control of Nieminen's right arm, working for a kimura. It's a bit of a token attempt though and Nieminen regains control of the situation pretty easily.

McRae jumps to side control looking for an arm triangle but Nieminen manages to avoid the submission attempt.
McRae is breathing heavily.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

McRae is trying to get an arm triangle but Nieminen is defending well.

McRae is looking to finish here, going for an Americana. Nieminen knows the correct defense though, so he's OK.
McRae prevents Nieminen from escaping the position.

McRae tries for a kimura. Not really close to a finish though.
Nieminen is pushing McRae's head away, looking to escape. McRae manages to hold on to the position though.

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.
McRae scoring with punches from side control.

McRae thinks about going for a far side armbar but bails out and retains the dominant position instead.
McRae wants to control but Nieminen is keeping him busy.

Nieminen throws McRae to one side and escapes!
Nieminen looks for a takedown but McRae sprawls well.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
McRae uses good footwork to get in and out, landing a nice hook.
McRae throws a push kick but Nieminen slaps the foot to one side.
McRae chopping away at his opponent's legs.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Rik McRae dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Arttu Nieminen's cut.
That's the end of the interval. I'm sure that seemed a lot quicker than a minute for our two fighters! Back to the action.

McRae circles away from the clinch attempt.
McRae lands with a nice low kick. That'll leave a bruise.
Nieminen on the wrong end of a kick to the body.
Nieminen walks into a straight right hand from McRae.

McRae shoots in from a long way out. He's driving through with the takedown attempt and he eventually gets it, landing in Nieminen's guard.
McRae wants to control from the top but Nieminen keeps moving.
McRae advances position into side control!

McRae is looking to finish here, going for an Americana. Nieminen knows the correct defense though, so he's OK.

McRae looking for an arm triangle but it's way too loose to do anything.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Nieminen is trying to buck McRae off.

That's one minute gone in the round.
McRae working the ground and pound from side control.
McRae wants to lay and pray for a moment but Nieminen keeps working.

McRae tries for a kimura but Nieminen is defending well.
Nieminen is not content to let McRae control the position.
Rik McRae overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.

McRae is trying to land an Americana. He has the arm isolated but Nieminen is keeping cool and he's avoided the danger for now.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Nieminen is not content to let McRae control the position.

McRae tries for a kimura but Nieminen is defending well.
Nieminen wants to escape from the position here - easier said than done!
The ground and pound from McRae seems to be hitting the mat more than his opponent.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
McRae tries to score with some ground and pound. Nieminen controls his posture well this time though and the shots don't do any damage.

McRae thinks about going for a far side armbar but bails out and retains the dominant position instead.

McRae is looking for a kimura. He might have it! No, Nieminen has escaped the position, nice work there.

McRae is trying to get an arm triangle but Nieminen is defending well.

McRae wants to work for a kimura but he's foiled early by Nieminen, who protects the arm well.
Nieminen wants to get back to his feet.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
My god... these two guys really need to pick up the pace or everyone will leave to go get a beer.

McRae wants to work for a kimura but he's foiled early by Nieminen, who protects the arm well.
Nieminen is pushing McRae's head away, looking to escape. McRae manages to hold on to the position though.

McRae tries for a kimura. Not really close to a finish though.

McRae is looking for a kimura. He might have it! No, Nieminen has escaped the position, nice work there.

McRae looking for an arm triangle but it's way too loose to do anything.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Rik McRae dominated that second round.
The cut man is working on Arttu Nieminen's cut.
That's time! McRae's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight. This is the final round!

Horrible takedown by Nieminen or perhaps it was just good defense by McRae which made him look bad.
Arttu Nieminen is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.

McRae throws the overhand right but ducks down into a quick takedown attempt. Nieminen was covering up waiting for the punch and McRae finishes the takedown easily into guard.
McRae landing with the ground and pound.

McRae 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 McRae, into his guard.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now McRae is on top in guard.
Nieminen utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
McRae looking to pass the guard.
McRae trying to control the position from guard on top but Nieminen is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
McRae with a flurry of punches that miss.
Nieminen wants to stand up but McRae is controlling him.
Nieminen keeping full guard, as McRae tries to pass.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as McRae accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
McRae wants to pass the guard but Nieminen is keeping the position.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
Nieminen doesn't succeed with the takedown

and McRae counters with a takedown into side control.
McRae fails to land a wild elbow strike.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

McRae tries for a kimura but Nieminen is defending well.
McRae prevents Nieminen from escaping the position.

McRae wants to work for a kimura but he's foiled early by Nieminen, who protects the arm well.

McRae is trying to land an Americana. He has the arm isolated but Nieminen is keeping cool and he's avoided the danger for now.
McRae misses with an attempted head punch from side control.
McRae is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Nieminen can do to turn this around?
McRae in side control, trying to ground and pound but not landing this time.

McRae tries for a kimura but Nieminen is defending well.
Nieminen is trying to get back to his feet.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Nieminen parries the strikes from McRae easily there. McRae is wary of posturing up too much because it might enable Nieminen to escape.
McRae prevents Nieminen from escaping the position.
Nieminen really doesn't want to stay on the ground with McRae. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
Nieminen misses with a takedown

and McRae counters with a takedown into full mount! That could mean trouble for Nieminen!
Rik McRae has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Arttu Nieminen.
McRae lands with some strikes.

McRae is thinking about an arm triangle here, looking to tighten it up before moving to side control. Nieminen can see it coming though and defends well with a couple of strikes to the head and some good arm positioning.

McRae is looking to secure an arm. He's managed it! He's pivoting for an armbar - that looks tight! But Nieminen has managed to get out of it and now he's in a dominant position. Nice work from Nieminen!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
McRae trying to control the position.

McRae is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Nieminen defends well.
McRae 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.

McRae is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Nieminen is aware though and is defending well.
McRae 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 throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as McRae works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Arttu Nieminen has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.

McRae has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Nieminen can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
McRae working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Nieminen.

And that's the end of the fight!
Rik McRae showed his dominance in that final round.
Well McRae has outscored his opponent in every aspect of the fight today. Only a scarily incompetent judge or two will keep him from a well deserved win... 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 30:27
Judge Marco Blurström scores the fight 30:27
Judge Ben Zyskovitsi scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Rik McRae!