PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Ranta Ringen (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Mikolaj Nowak (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). The crowd giving both fighters a great reception on their way into the arena. That's good to see.

Ringen
vs
Nowak

180 cm
19
165 lbs
0 - 3 - 0

170 cm
18
165 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Great elbows
Very quick

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Solid chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the lightweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Ranta Ringen!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Mikolaj Nowak!
The judges for this bout are Tarja Halkonen, Johanna Lukiainen and Arvi Lind.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Ringen misses with a few strikes there.

Ringen closes the distance and clinches.

Ringen breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.

Nowak closes the distance, clinches up and gets a nice trip takedown into side control. Very smooth.
I wouldn't like to be where Ringen is right now.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Ringen is positioning himself to get back to half guard.
Nowak connects with a decent looking elbow from side control that caused Ringen some visible discomfort.
Nowak working away.
Ringen is being controlled here.
Nowak wants to lay and pray for a moment but Ringen keeps working.
Ringen is looking to slip a leg under and get half guard but Nowak is one step ahead and moves to full mount!

That's one minute gone in the round.
Nowak content just to control the position here.
Ringen has given up his back.
Ringen trying to control but not successfully.
A lull in the action here.
Ringen covering up well under a barage of strikes.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Ringen is being controlled on the ground here - he must escape this position otherwise surely the end is near.
Nowak lands with a couple of good shots - one to the side of the head and one questionable shot that could be viewed as to the back of the head but the referee lets it go.
Ringen wants to escape the position.
Nowak lands shots from the back.
Nowak tries to get the hooks in deep but Ringen pushed the leg off.
Nowak punishes Ringen with strikes from the back mount.
Nowak controlling the position well here. Ringen rolled but Nowak kept the hooks locked in and stayed in the dominant position.
Ringen rolls, trying to escape but Nowak keeps control of the position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Nowak struggling to land strikes to the head as Ringen covers up.
Ringen wants to escape the position.

Ringen defending nicely against the rear naked choke attempt.
Nowak doesn't have the hooks in and Ringen manages to turn into his guard.
Ringen trying to control the position from guard on top but Nowak is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

Nowak pushes Ringen off for just long enough to get back to his feet. Very athletic spring there.
Nowak looks gassed!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Nowak fails with a takedown attempt.

Nowak gets caught flat footed, as Ringen shoots in with a quick takedown into guard.
Nowak keeping moving, preventing Ringen from controlling successfully.

Ringen avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
Ringen has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.
Nowak not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Ringen rushes Nowak and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.
Ringen utilising his Muay Thai to score with a knee to the body.

Ringen manages to pull guard.
Ringen is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Ringen is doing well to control the posture of his opponent and prevent any damage.
Nowak won't allow Ringen to get back to his feet.
Nowak is stalling in the full guard.
Ringen keeping moving, preventing Nowak from controlling successfully.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Ringen wants to stand up but Nowak is controlling him.
Ringen controls Nowak momentarily but Nowak frees himself.
Ringen looking to sweep here. No luck so far.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.
Nowak swats away the attempt to clinch by Ringen.
Ringen has his takedown stuffed

and Nowak counters by moving into the clinch.

That's two 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.
Ringen tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.
Ringen is trying to drag Nowak to the mat but Nowak just about manages to keep his footing. He used the cage to his advantage there.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Ranta Ringen. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Nowak lands a knee to the head.
Nowak misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Ringen.

Nowak jumps guard.
Ringen wants to pass the guard but Nowak is keeping the position.

Nowak scrambles and gets back to his feet.

Nowak shoots in for a takedown from distance. He catches Ringen napping and manages to drive through into side control!
Ringen tries to get back to half guard but can't.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Ringen manages to land a sweep and he's now on top! Lovely Jiu Jitsu!
Ringen trying to pass the guard but Nowak defending well.
Nice strikes from Ringen there.
Nowak is positioning himself well to prevent Ringen advancing to mount.
Ringen throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
Nowak trying to hold on to Ringen's head to control him but Ringen postures up.

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.
Ringen perhaps working for something from half guard, or maybe not. It looks like he's just sitting there.
Nowak wants to control but Ringen passes into side.
Ringen tries to score with some ground and pound. Nowak controls his posture well this time though and the shots don't do any damage.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Ringen working the ground and pound from side control.
Ringen wants to lay and pray for a moment but Nowak keeps working.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Nowak gets one leg under and gets the fight to half guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Mikolaj Nowak 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!

Nice sprawl there from Nowak as Ringen shoots in.
Ringen looks to land a combination but Nowak avoids it well.
Nowak pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Ringen closes the distance looking to clinch

and Nowak counters with a nice single leg takedown and he's in Ringen's guard now.
Mikolaj Nowak has got the better of the ground game so far.
Ringen can't do much from the bottom at the moment, as Nowak controls the pace.
Nowak trying to control but Ringen is working from the bottom.

Nowak drops back for a leg! It's a sloppy attempt though and Nowak jumps back into guard quickly, to retain the dominant position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Ringen tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Ringen avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Nowak looking to pass the guard.
Ringen not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Nowak wants to get up but he can't break Ringen'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.
Ringen shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Nowak as he jumps to the side.
Nowak stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Nowak wants it to stay on the feet.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Ranta Ringen. That's going to take a lot out of him.

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.
Ringen with a lazy takedown attempt

and Nowak counters with a takedown into full mount! That could mean trouble for Ringen!
Ringen is writhing around trying to get back to his feet.
Ringen is looking to get to half guard.
Nowak tries to control but Ringen wriggling away.
Nowak landing strikes from the mount and Ringen is in trouble!
Ringen is hanging on here. He's in a desperate position.
Nowak is landing with some decent strikes but Ringen is trying to advance his position so the referee is letting the fight continue.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Nowak landing punches.
Nowak connects with a couple of good shots from mount.
BOOM! Nowak connects with a massive shot to the dome!
Ringen working to try and regain half guard.
Ringen sneaks a leg back under and regains half guard and is working straight away to try and get back to guard. He hasn't managed just yet though.
Ringen knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Nowak on the ground.
Nowak prevents Ringen from improving his position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.
Nowak landing with strikes to the body and head, softening up his opponent.
Ringen blocking the ground and pound attempt from Nowak.
Nowak wants to pass the guard but Ringen is defending well.
Ringen is not content to let Nowak control the position.
Ringen tries to roll over but Nowak keeps him under control.
Nowak with a momentary lay and pray from half guard.

And that's the end of the fight!
Mikolaj Nowak comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Nowak winning every round here. Surely the decision will go his way and he'll pick up a well deserved decision victory. 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 Tarja Halkonen scores the fight 27:30
Judge Johanna Lukiainen scores the fight 27:30
Judge Arvi Lind scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Mikolaj Nowak!