PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Hannu Niinivaara (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Kalevi Sorsa (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). The fight MMA fans around the world have waited their entire lives for!

Niinivaara
vs
Sorsa

198 cm
26
213 lbs
14 - 9 - 0

188 cm
28
218 lbs
13 - 9 - 1

Decent wrestler
Solid boxing
Very strong

Good wrestler
Excellent boxer
Granite chin

M/S Paint Fightwear *** Cheapest in town ***

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the light heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 14 - 9 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Hannu Niinivaara!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 13 - 9 - 1, fighting out of St Petersburg, Kalevi Sorsa!
The judges for this bout are Aleksandr Martynov, Konstantin Menshow and Igor Prikhodko.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Niinivaara lands a right hook to the body.
Niinivaara tries to close the distance and clinch up but Sorsa swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Sorsa throws a lazy uppercut
and Sorsa takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
Jab, cross, leg kick. Nice combination by Sorsa!

Excellent takedown into side control there by Sorsa.

Sorsa is trying to land an Americana. He has the arm isolated but Niinivaara is keeping cool and he's avoided the danger for now.
Niinivaara is trying to improve his position.
Niinivaara on his back here. We all know that wrestlers don't like being on their back so let's see if Niinivaara tries to get out of the position.
Sorsa lands a decent elbow from side control.
Niinivaara tries to buck Sorsa off but Sorsa is having none of it.
Sorsa has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
Niinivaara isn't going anywhere.
Sloppy strikes there by Sorsa.
Sorsa controlling from side mount.
Niinivaara tries to bench press Sorsa off him but Sorsa keeps the position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Niinivaara being controlled for a moment.
Niinivaara struggling a bit here.
Niinivaara is looking to reverse the position.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Niinivaara is not content to let Sorsa control the position.
Niinivaara is trying to control Sorsa's posture but Sorsa avoids it.

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.
Sorsa controls the position from side control.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.
Niinivaara avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
Sorsa with a poor takedown
and Niinivaara counters with a right hand to the body.
Hannu Niinivaara is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Sorsa misses with a left hand
and Niinivaara counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
Niinivaara fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.

Sorsa gets tackled into the cage by Niinivaara. Niinivaara maintains the clinch.
Niinivaara is trying to slow down the pace of the fight but Sorsa is keeping busy.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Niinivaara.
Sorsa is trying to slow down the pace in the clinch, to catch his breath.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Niinivaara leaning against his opponent.
Niinivaara scores with a hook to the body.
Niinivaara is trying to force a seperation but Sorsa has the dominant position.
Good anti-grappling being displayed by Niinivaara as Sorsa tries to tie him up.
Niinivaara leaning his opponent against the cage.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Sorsa.
Niinivaara misses with an elbow strike.

Sorsa breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.

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.
Sorsa throws a poor cross that misses
and Niinivaara counters with a lovely shot to the body.
Sorsa throws a left and a right that both miss
and Niinivaara counters with a two punch combo.
Sorsa bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
Sorsa throws a right hand that misses
and Niinivaara counters with a nice uppercut.
Niinivaara throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Sorsa.
Sorsa shoots in but doesn't get the takedown
and Niinivaara counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
Sorsa looks gassed!
Niinivaara keeps his opponent at a distance with a nice jab.
Sorsa throws out a leg kick but Niinivaara moves out of range and Sorsa only half commits.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Sorsa has his front leg slapped to the side - a nice low kick landing there from Niinivaara.
Sorsa throws an off balance right hand

and Niinivaara holds on and brings the fighters into a clinch.
Sorsa letting Niinivaara take a breather here.
A short right from Niinivaara on the inside.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Hannu Niinivaara dominated that round.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin!

Niinivaara scores with a shot to the body.
Kalevi Sorsa seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Sorsa on the wrong end of a vicious looking body shot.
Niinivaara is moving around nicely and scores here with a single head shot.
Sorsa throws a combination that misses
and Niinivaara counters with a stiff right hand.

Niinivaara drives through and clinches with Sorsa against the cage.
Come on Niinivaara - let's have some action - none of this stalling nonsense.
Niinivaara seems to have come into the fight with the intention of avoiding any damage in the clinch, rather than actually showing any aggression.
Niinivaara stays in close to his opponent and throws a right hand to the body.
Sorsa is breathing heavily.
Niinivaara digs a right hand underneath Sorsa's ribcage. Sorsa let out a lung full of air as it connected.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Niinivaara lands an uppercut.
Sorsa is working hard here but doesn't seem to be able to control effectively, up against the cage.
Niinivaara slowing the pace effectively.
Niinivaara lands a left hand that snaps the head of Sorsa backwards.
Kneeeeees! The crowd are calling for knees to the body. Niinivaara obliges.
Niinivaara lands a nice uppercut.
Niinivaara lands a body punch - he's looking to wear down Sorsa.
Niinivaara scores with a shoulder strike.
Niinivaara lands punches inside but they're not really causing much damage.
Niinivaara digs a right hand underneath Sorsa's ribcage. Sorsa let out a lung full of air as it connected.
Niinivaara taking a breather.

Niinivaara manages to break the clinch.
Niinivaara swings wildly with a hook that is half blocked by Sorsa.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Niinivaara cracks Sorsa with a good jab.
Sorsa takes a body punch but keeps moving.
Niinivaara fails to land with a series of punches.
Niinivaara listening to his corner there, landing a nice uppercut.
The crowd cheers as Niinivaara lands an impressive looking overhand right. Sorsa doesn't seem phased though.
Niinivaara scores with a nice head shot.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Niinivaara scores with a straight right hand, right through his opponent's guard.
Niinivaara lands a beauty of a right hand that gets the crowd cheering.
Niinivaara wants to slow Sorsa down by chopping away at his legs.
Sorsa misses with a left hand

and Niinivaara holds on and brings the fighters into a clinch.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Sorsa.
Niinivaara misses with a hook from the clinch.
Niinivaara is using his height advantage well here, landing a good percentage of his punches.
A short right from Sorsa.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
A short left from Niinivaara.
A left hand lands to the body for Niinivaara.
With the fighters clinched against the cage, Niinivaara creates a bit of distance for himself and scores with a nice uppercut.
Niinivaara lands a hook to the side of the head.
Niinivaara avoiding damage.
Niinivaara lands with a left to the head.
Niinivaara has had enough of the clinch but Sorsa keeps him there for the moment.
Sorsa taking a breather.
A body shot lands from Niinivaara.
Niinivaara lands a left hand.
Niinivaara works on Sorsa's body with a couple of short punches.
Niinivaara lands a body shot.
Niinivaara will no doubt start fighting again in a minute but for now he's just having a little rest, leaning Sorsa up against the cage.
Niinivaara swings away with an uppercut that misses.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Niinivaara lands with a short punch from the clinch.
With the fighters clinched against the cage, Niinivaara creates a bit of distance for himself and scores with a nice uppercut.
Niinivaara lands a body punch - he's looking to wear down Sorsa.
Niinivaara scores with an uppercut up the middle.
Niinivaara scores with a shot to the side of Sorsa's head.
Niinivaara lands a body shot.
Niinivaara lands a hook that snaps the head of Sorsa backwards.

Niinivaara breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Sorsa gets cracked there but stands up to it.
Niinivaara lands a nice shot that snaps Sorsa's head back.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Sorsa takes a shot right to the liver - Bas would have been proud of that punch.
Kalevi Sorsa is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Niinivaara tries to clinch but Sorsa is having none of it.
Sorsa slips a jab and a cross from Niinivaara.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Hannu Niinivaara dominated that second round.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business. This is the final round!

Sorsa takes a jab right on the nose. That must have hurt but he shrugs his shoulders and looks to return the favor.
Sorsa takes a punch to the jaw and another one to the bread basket.
Niinivaara throws the left hand but Sorsa avoids the punch easily.
Sorsa is really struggling to land any decent head shots against his taller opponent.
Niinivaara connects with a slap. Keep your fist closed son.

Niinivaara fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Sorsa, pushing him back against the cage.

Niinivaara pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Niinivaara just misses with a punch to the body.
Sorsa misses with a right hand
and Niinivaara counters with a straight punch to the midsection.
Sorsa tries for a takedown but Niinivaara circles away easily
letting Niinivaara counter with a right hand.
Sorsa takes a shot right to the liver - Bas would have been proud of that punch.
Sorsa takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Niinivaara works Sorsa's body with a nice hook.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Niinivaara lands a jab to the nose.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Niinivaara explodes with a nice body kick and back out of range. Nice work.
Niinivaara is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Sorsa can do to turn this around?
Niinivaara cracks Sorsa with a nice right hand that draws applause from the crowd.
Niinivaara scores with a sloppy right hand. Sorsa should have avoided that one.
Niinivaara throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Sorsa.
Niinivaara is moving around nicely and scores here with a single head shot.
Niinivaara moving in and out of range nicely, whilst landing the scoring shot.
Niinivaara is looking to clinch but Sorsa is avoiding it.
Niinivaara thows a body shot but no joy.
Niinivaara lands a body shot.
Good shot there by Niinivaara.
Sorsa walks into a stiff left hand from Niinivaara.
Kalevi Sorsa has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Sorsa takes a shot to the eye socket. That's gotta hurt.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
A punch lands to the side of Sorsa 's head but he takes it in his stride.
Niinivaara bobs and weaves and unloads with a good uppercut.
Jab from Niinivaara.

Niinivaara moves into the clinch successfully.
Niinivaara lands a nice looking hook to the body, against the cage.
Nice body punch from Niinivaara.
Sorsa has a pretty nasty looking mouse under his right eye.
Sorsa has Niinivaara pressed against the cage, preventing Niinivaara from circling away and getting back to striking at range.
Niinivaara slows down the pace here.
Niinivaara lands with a short punch from the clinch.
Sorsa looking to slow down the pace here.
Niinivaara lands a hook to the side of the head.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Niinivaara has a couple of punches blocked by Sorsa.
A real battle for position is taking place between these two warriors.
Niinivaara is clearly stalling here... Pick up the pace son.
Niinivaara lands with a short shot to the head.
Niinivaara lands a hook to the body. It's hard to tell if that hurt Sorsa or not.
Good body shot from Niinivaara.
The referee calls for Niinivaara to work.
Still in the clinch, Niinivaara scores with a nice short uppercut.
A body shot lands from Niinivaara.
A nice left hand lands by Niinivaara.
With the fighters up against the cage, Niinivaara throws an elbow but misses.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A left hand lands to the body for Niinivaara.
Niinivaara holding his opponent close, against the cage.
Niinivaara pushes Sorsa back against the cage and lands a hook to the side of the head.
A shot in the inside from Niinivaara.
Niinivaara is pushing Sorsa up against the cage, for a bit of lean and pray action. Action being used the in the loosest possible sense of the word.
Niinivaara lands a left hand that snaps the head of Sorsa backwards.
Niinivaara scores with an uppercut up the middle.
A short uppercut from Niinivaara.
Niinivaara doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Sorsa blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Stalling in the clinch from Niinivaara.
Niinivaara scores with an uppercut up the middle.
Sorsa controlling the action here for a moment.

And that's the end of the fight!
Hannu Niinivaara showed his dominance in that final round.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Niinivaara, winning every round. Will the judges agree? They are the ones who matter, even if they are often depressingly incompetent. 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 Aleksandr Martynov scores the fight 30:25
Judge Konstantin Menshow scores the fight 30:25
Judge Igor Prikhodko scores the fight 30:25

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Hannu Niinivaara!