PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Nyymi Roiggoballi (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Sean Cunningham (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Nyymi Roiggoballi has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Roiggoballi
vs
Cunningham

188 cm
19
192 lbs
1 - 2 - 0

190 cm
22
185 lbs
1 - 2 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Good chin

BJJ Blue Belt
Basic striking
Intelligent

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 1 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Nyymi Roiggoballi!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Sean Cunningham!
The judges for this bout are Ben Zyskovitsi, Matti Vanhoillinen and Johanna Lukiainen.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Cunningham looking to shoot here. He's gone for it and he's landed a takedown into mount! Oh, that's bad for Roiggoballi!
BOOM! Cunningham connects with a massive shot to the dome!
Cunningham prevents Roiggoballi from getting the reversal.
Cunningham breaks from Roiggoballi's wrist control and lands an elbow.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Roiggoballi manages to regain half guard. Good work.
Cunningham throwing shots but Roiggoballi is blocking nicely.
Roiggoballi is trying to get back to full guard.
Cunningham thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Roiggoballi's head.
Cunningham throwing shots but Roiggoballi is blocking nicely.
Cunningham throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
Roiggoballi is trying to defend against the ground and pound but Cunningham scores with a couple of nice shots.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Cunningham sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Roiggoballi defending well though.
Cunningham is thwarting Roiggoballi's attempts to control the position.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
Roiggoballi misses with a takedown
and Cunningham counters with a stiff right hand.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Roiggoballi with a lazy takedown attempt

and Cunningham counters with a single leg into guard. Roiggoballi didn't expect that.
Cunningham missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Roiggoballi is breathing heavily.
Cunningham working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Roiggoballi trying to control the position.
Roiggoballi wants to sweep here but Cunningham controlling him for the moment.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Cunningham postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Roiggoballi utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Cunningham cracks Roiggoballi with a solid left hand.
Roiggoballi on his back here. We all know that wrestlers don't like being on their back so let's see if Roiggoballi tries to get out of the position.
Cunningham is fighting to break Roiggoballi's control of his arms but Roiggoballi is doing a good job of controlling the position at the moment.
Cunningham working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Cunningham postures up and lands a big shot to Roiggoballi's brow.
Cunningham postures up in Roiggoballi's guard and throws a big left but Roiggoballi blocks it.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Roiggoballi 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.
Cunningham postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Cunningham is working the ground and pound from guard. He might want to try advancing position though to get more of an impact.
Cunningham scoring with punches to the head and body.
Cunningham scores with a decent looking elbow strike.
Cunningham with a nice head shot there.
Cunningham with a nice head shot there.
Cunningham lands a couple of decent looking shots.
Cunningham landing some decent shots from guard.
Cunningham connects with a couple of short punches.
Roiggoballi trying to keep a closed guard but Cunningham is proving a slippery customer.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Cunningham working in close now, lands a nice elbow to the side of Roiggoballi's head.
Cunningham chips away with some ground and pound.
Cunningham working from the guard for now, landing some ground and pound.
Roiggoballi looking to hit a scissor sweep but Cunningham is one step ahead there.
Roiggoballi working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Cunningham.
Roiggoballi is looking to stand up but Cunningham isn't so interested in that idea.
Cunningham distracts Roiggoballi with his right hand and drops a big elbow with his other arm.
Cunningham distracts Roiggoballi with his right hand and drops a big elbow with his other arm.
Roiggoballi 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.

That's four 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.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.
Roiggoballi misses with a takedown
enabling Cunningham to counter with a crisp jab.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Nyymi Roiggoballi. That's going to take a lot out of him.

Cunningham looks for a takedown. He's got it. We're now in half guard.
Cunningham missing with the ground and pound from half guard.
Roiggoballi taking some punishment here, with Cunningham in his half guard.
Roiggoballi trying to hold on to Cunningham's head to control him but Cunningham postures up.
Cunningham looks towards his corner to check for any instructions. The corner give him nothing to work with, so he cracks Roiggoballi with a short hammerfist. I guess that's as good as any advice he could get in this position.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Roiggoballi wants to get back to his feet.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Sean Cunningham dominated that round.
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.

Cunningham gets the takedown into side control.
Cunningham in side control lands a nice looking series of punches and elbows.
Roiggoballi wants to control but Cunningham postures up.
Cunningham throws an elbow but Roiggoballi slips to the side and avoids it well.
The ground and pound from Cunningham seems to be hitting the mat more than his opponent.
Cunningham throwing strikes but missing, from side control.
The ground and pound from Cunningham seems to be hitting the mat more than his opponent.
Roiggoballi sneaks back into half guard.
Cunningham is keeping good posture, landing some ground and pound.
Sean Cunningham has got the better of the ground game so far.
Roiggoballi trying to control here.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Roiggoballi misses with a takedown

and Cunningham decides to take the opportunity to score a takedown. He's landed in Roiggoballi's guard.
Cunningham stopping the sweep attempt from Roiggoballi.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Cunningham postures up and scores with a shot to the body and a follow up elbow to the head.
Roiggoballi is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Cunningham working in close now, lands a nice elbow to the side of Roiggoballi's head.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Roiggoballi is on top in guard.
Roiggoballi wants to stand and escape but instead Cunningham has hit a sweep and he's now on top in guard.
Cunningham throws a strike but Roiggoballi rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Roiggoballi forces his way into half guard.
Roiggoballi wants to control but Cunningham is keeping him busy.

Cunningham pushes Roiggoballi off and gets back to his feet.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Roiggoballi lands a front kick.

Cunningham scores with a takedown into Roiggoballi's guard.
Cunningham throws a big right hand that misses.
Roiggoballi wants to sweep but no luck.
Roiggoballi trying to control the position.
Cunningham working from the guard for now, landing some ground and pound.
Roiggoballi working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Cunningham.
Cunningham throwing strikes from guard but Roiggoballi blocks nicely.

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

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.

Cunningham changes levels and drives through with a really nice takedown into side control. Roiggoballi looks really pissed at himself for not defending that better.
Roiggoballi takes a nasty elbow to the side of the head.
Roiggoballi tries to bench press Cunningham off him but Cunningham keeps the position.
Cunningham lands an elbow.
Cunningham cracks Roiggoballi with a big elbow.
Roiggoballi is looking for a sweep.
Cunningham lands a few punches from side control.
Cunningham tries to land with some ground and pound but misses.
Roiggoballi manages to land a sweep and he's now on top! Lovely Jiu Jitsu!
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Sean Cunningham showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action! This is the final round!

Cunningham scores with a nice looking left hook and follows it up with an uppercut!
Cunningham misses with a takedown attempt

so Roiggoballi counters with a double leg into guard. Good agility.
Roiggoballi sitting in guard here, content to control.
Cunningham working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Roiggoballi.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Roiggoballi accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Roiggoballi wants to control from the top but Cunningham keeps moving.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Roiggoballi wants to pass the guard but Cunningham is keeping the position.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Roiggoballi wanted to stand there but Cunningham had control of the position.
Roiggoballi trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.
Roiggoballi wants to get up but he can't break Cunningham's closed guard. He needs to be careful trying to break the legs open, as he's open to submissions here.

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

Roiggoballi gets taken down but at least he's managed to land in guard.
Roiggoballi lands an upkick as Cunningham stands over him.
Roiggoballi striking off his back but it's not causing Cunningham any problems.
Cunningham stops Roiggoballi from standing up.

Roiggoballi looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
Cunningham postures up and scores with a shot to the body and a follow up elbow to the head.
Cunningham must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.
Roiggoballi preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Roiggoballi lands a beautiful switch and he's in full mount! That could spell trouble for Cunningham!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Roiggoballi working some short elbows here. He postures up to throw some more ground and pound but Cunningham slips a leg through to get back to half guard. Nice work.
Roiggoballi perhaps working for something from half guard, or maybe not. It looks like he's just sitting there.
Roiggoballi is looking to advance position but Cunningham won't allow it.

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.
Roiggoballi stalling away here and it's allowed Cunningham to slip out his trapped foot and regain full guard.
Roiggoballi trying to control but Cunningham is working from the bottom.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Roiggoballi looking to sit in guard and control but Cunningham gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.

And that's the end of the fight!
Nyymi Roiggoballi showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Cunningham 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 Ben Zyskovitsi scores the fight 28:29
Judge Matti Vanhoillinen scores the fight 27:29
Judge Johanna Lukiainen scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Sean Cunningham!