PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Jari Nieminen (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Pavel Dimitra (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Chooooooooon! I think Nieminen might be my favorite fighter, now he's come out to Raised Fist - Wounds. Jari Nieminen had real problems making weight for this fight. After initially coming in at 171.8lbs, he had two hours to make the official fight weight. He made it but it will have taken a lot out of him to cut those extra few pounds. Jari Nieminen has a significant reach advantage - let's see if he can make it count.

Nieminen
vs
Dimitra

182 cm
23
178 lbs
5 - 5 - 0

170 cm
22
175 lbs
3 - 1 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter striker
Very strong

Good takedowns
Brawler
Tends to cut

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 5 - 5 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Jari Nieminen!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 3 - 1 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Pavel Dimitra!
The judges for this bout are Viktor Lagutenko, Konstantin Menshow and Valeri Chadov.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Dimitra drives through with a really nice takedown into side control.
Nieminen looks exhausted already! Oh dear, he should have come in in better shape than this!
Dimitra controls the position from side control.
Nieminen tries to wriggle free to get back to his feet but he's given up his back! Oops.
Dimitra controls the action.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Let's hope that Dimitra has the urge to step up the pace any second now because for the last 15 or 20 seconds he's just been holding on tight.
I looks like Dimitra might be adopting somewhat of a lay and pray gameplan here, which I'm sure won't go down too well with the paying fans in attendance... Or the ring announcers come to think of it.

That's two 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.

Despite being in the dominant position, Pavel Dimitra just isn't active enough and the referee decides to stand the fighters back up.

Dimitra shoots in for a takedown and gets it.
Dimitra throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
Dimitra throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
Dimitra tries to stand but his hand is stuck under Nieminen.
Dimitra perhaps working for something from half guard, or maybe not. It looks like he's just sitting there.
Nieminen blocking the ground and pound attempt from Dimitra.
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.
Dimitra controlling the action here.
Dimitra is pressing down on Nieminen's thigh, looking to free his foot. Nieminen is holding on for now.
Dimitra passes the half guard and he's now in mount! Big trouble for Nieminen!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are getting on the fighters' backs, as the pace has dropped off in the last minute or so.
Dimitra controlling his opponent.
Nieminen wants to hold on but Dimitra pushes him away.
Nieminen holding onto his opponent's waist for dear life, as Dimitra tries to land some strikes to get him to release his grip.
Dimitra controlling from mount.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Dimitra wants to control the pace but Nieminen is squirming around nicely.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Pavel Dimitra dominated that round.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

Excellent takedown into side control there by Nieminen.
Dimitra manages to get back to half guard.
Nieminen is stalling here. Dimitra is in no mood to hang around though. He's locked up a kimura from the bottom! Nieminen seems to be keeping calm but he's forced to roll out of the hold and Dimitra has ended up in side control on the top. Nice work.
Dimitra content to control the pace. The referee will try and keep them active though.

The ref stands the fighters back up, due to lack of action by Pavel Dimitra.

Dimitra shoots in and bounces Nieminen off the cage to secure the takedown into guard.
Dimitra tries to stand but Nieminen is controlling from the bottom.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Nieminen looking to control.
Dimitra pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Nieminen is keeping the position for now.
Nieminen tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Dimitra stays in close to Nieminen's body and controls the position.
Dimitra stands and throws Nieminen's legs to the side, diving into side control.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
A lull in the action here.
Dimitra lands some shots froms side control.
Dimitra creates some space and throws a big elbow, but Nieminen sees it coming and moves his head just enough to avoid the strike.

Nieminen explodes and escapes back to his feet! Nice escape there!
Dimitra fails with the takedown

and Nieminen counters with a shoot takedown. Dimitra fights it but they end up in guard.
Dimitra has his hands on Nieminen's head, controlling the position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Nieminen trying to control the position from guard on top but Dimitra is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

Dimitra is looking for a triangle here but Nieminen uses the submission attempt to pass into side control.
Dimitra looks to move to half guard but instead Nieminen has passed into mount! Damn!

Nieminen is working for a guillotine from mount but Dimitra frees his head quite easily.

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.
Nieminen controlling the pace for now.

Nieminen jumps to the side looking to secure the arm triangle…. Ooooh, that looks tight… Dimitra is gargling but he's managed to escape! Nice work there by Dimitra and Nieminen has given up the dominant position trying to land that submission.
Dimitra can't do much from the bottom here.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Jari Nieminen dominated that second round.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action. Let's get this one finished - here comes the final round!

Dimitra misses with a takedown
and Nieminen counters with a left to the body.

Dimitra shoots in and gets a takedown into half guard. Dimitra showed some decent athleticism there.
Dimitra trying to control the pace.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Nieminen is refusing to be controlled, as Dimitra sits in half guard.
Nieminen pushes Dimitra off looking to stand but Dimitra dives back in and keeps control.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Still in half guard, Dimitra seems content to control.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Dimitra trying to mount his opponent but Nieminen defends it.
Dimitra is thwarting Nieminen's attempts to control the position.
Nieminen keeping hold of Dimitra's head, controlling as best he can.
Nieminen looks like he's trying to stand up.
Dimitra wants to stand up but Nieminen is controlling the position.

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.

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

so Nieminen counters with a double leg into guard. Good agility.
Dimitra is looking to sweep but instead, Nieminen has passed into half guard.
Dimitra is not content to let Nieminen control the position.

Dimitra has one foot on Nieminen's thigh - he pushes off and manages to get back to his feet.

Dimitra looks for a takedown. He's got it. We're now in half guard.
Dimitra wants to get back to his feet.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Dimitra wants to advance to full mount but Nieminen doesn't think that's going to happen and regains full guard instead.
Nieminen keeping moving, preventing Dimitra from controlling successfully.
Dimitra looking to sit in guard and control but Nieminen gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.
Dimitra is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.

That's four 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.

Dimitra is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
Nieminen won't allow Dimitra to sweep him here.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.
Nieminen gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily

and Dimitra counters with a nice double leg into guard.
Nieminen looking to control.
Dimitra controlling from the guard. I say controlling but really, he's stalling.

And that's the end of the fight!
Pavel Dimitra comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Dimitra 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 Viktor Lagutenko scores the fight 28:29
Judge Konstantin Menshow scores the fight 28:29
Judge Valeri Chadov scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Pavel Dimitra!