PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Tin Lau (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Matti Nykanen (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Tin Lau has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Lau
vs
Nykanen

175 cm
27
153 lbs
15 - 8 - 0

165 cm
29
133 lbs
14 - 7 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Excellent MT
Granite chin

Good wrestler
Decent boxing
Good gas tank

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the featherweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 15 - 8 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Tin Lau!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 14 - 7 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Matti Nykanen!
The judges for this bout are Matti Vanhoillinen, Roosa Järviläinen and Arvi Lind.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Lau ducks under a wild hook from Nykanen.
Lau tries to clinch there but Nykanen circles away.

Nykanen shoots in for a takedown from distance. He catches Lau napping and manages to drive through into side control!
We may be looking at a referee standup if the pace doesn't pick up soon.
Nykanen tries to land with some ground and pound but misses.
Nykanen controls the position.
Nykanen scores with a couple of short elbows.
Nykanen lands some shots froms side control.
Nykanen is moving around in side control but his primary objective seems to be to maintain the position.
Lau dodges the ground and pound from Nykanen.
Nykanen lands some shots froms side control.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Lau pushes Nykanen away and creates a bit of space to escape. He's almost out here... but no, Nykanen gets a good hold of his legs and remains firmly in side control.
Nykanen scores with a couple of short elbows.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Nykanen trying to control the action but Lau is working from the bottom.
Lau is trying to get back to half guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Nykanen working the ground and pound.
Nykanen in side control, trying to ground and pound but not landing this time.
Nykanen in side control lands a nice looking series of punches and elbows.
Nykanen working the ground and pound.
Nykanen trying to control the position but Lau is working away.
Lau is trying to control Nykanen's posture but Nykanen avoids it.
Nykanen looks up at the clock and then as Lau takes his cue and looks up at the clock too, Nykanen smacks him right in the chops with a big elbow! How rude!
Lau is moving his hips around well on the bottom and has managed to get back to half guard.
The referee walks around the fighters to get a better view of the action. Nykanen lands a nice short elbow.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Nykanen is trying to control. Lau wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.
Nykanen missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.
Ground and pound from Nykanen.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Nykanen wants to lay and pray for a moment but Lau keeps working.
Nykanen throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
Nykanen is scoring with some nice ground and pound from the dominant position.
Nykanen winds up and cracks Lau with a swinging punch to the side of the head.
Nykanen missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.
Nykanen keeping composed on the top, looking to control the action.
It looks like Nykanen 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.
Nykanen is trying to control the action in half guard but Lau is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Nykanen wants to pass the guard but Lau is defending well.
Nykanen lands strikes from half guard.
Lau wants to improve his position but Nykanen is controlling well.
Lau taking some punishment here, with Nykanen in his half guard.
Nykanen lands with an elbow from half guard - that looked like it hurt.
Nykanen perhaps working for something from half guard, or maybe not. It looks like he's just sitting there.
The referee walks around the fighters to get a better view of the action. Nykanen lands a nice short elbow.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Nykanen works his way into full mount!
Nykanen in mount throwing good strikes here, bouncing his opponent's head off the canvas.
Nykanen lands a heavy elbow.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Lau is looking to get to half guard.
Nykanen with shots to the head and body - Lau looks very uncomfortable down there.
Lau can't escape the position.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Nykanen lands an elbow that was bordering on illegal but the referee lets it go with a warning.
Nykanen working the ground and pound effectively.
Lau working to try and regain half guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Lau jabbing away but nothing is landing.
Nykanen misses with a straight right.
Lau tries to clinch up but Nykanen circles away and keeps his distance.
Lau moves out of range as Nykanen strikes.
Nykanen slips a straight right by Lau.
Lau throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Lau throws a body punch but Nykanen moves out of range.
Nykanen throws a hook but Lau blocks it.
Nykanen keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Nykanen throws a lazy right hand but Lau sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Nykanen bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
Nykanen throws out a powerful jab.
Lau takes a jab right on the nose. That must have hurt but he shrugs his shoulders and looks to return the favor.
Nykanen misses with a body shot.
Lau showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Nykanen.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Lau tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in the close the distance. Nykanen manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Lau moves away from the strike by Nykanen.
Nykanen throws an off balance right hand
letting Lau counter with a right hand.
Lau ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Nykanen moves away.
Lau has his head snapped back a nice jab. A little nod from Lau there as he acknowledges the shot.
Nykanen fails to land with a series of punches.

Nykanen manages to get an easy takedown there - catching Lau on his heels. He'll look to pass Lau's guard now, I'm sure.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Nykanen looking to pass the guard.
Nykanen lands a couple of digs.
Nykanen trying to control but Lau is working from the bottom.
Nykanen is in a good position here but he's just trying to control... And he's not even managing to do that successfully.
Nykanen won't allow Lau to sweep him here.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Nykanen wants to control from the top but Lau keeps moving.
Nykanen scores with a decent looking elbow strike.
Nykanen preventing the sweep.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Lau is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Nykanen scoring with punches to the head and body.
Nykanen throwing strikes but missing.
Lau keeping moving, preventing Nykanen from controlling successfully.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Lau wants to sweep but no luck.
Lau being controlled here, momentarily.
Lau looking to control.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Nykanen accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.
Lau connects with a single shot there.
Lau ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Nykanen moves away.
Lau missing with a left hand there. Nykanen was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
Nykanen swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Lau takes a jab right on the kisser.
Nykanen ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Lau moves away.
Nykanen lands an overhand right.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Lau bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
Lau takes a shot to the nose. Hopefully that hasn't broken it.
Lau looks to land a left hand but Nykanen moved out of range nicely.
Nykanen throws a jab when Lau was well out of range.
Nykanen throws a body punch but Lau moves out of range.
Lau swings for the body but Nykanen moves out of range.
Nykanen scores with a nice right hand.
Lau tries to clinch up but Nykanen circles away and keeps his distance.
Lau misses with a straight left.
Lau looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.

Nykanen shoots in and gets a takedown into half guard. Nykanen showed some decent athleticism there.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Lau is trying to defend against the ground and pound but Nykanen scores with a couple of nice shots.
Nykanen is looking to advance position but Lau won't allow it.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Matti Nykanen showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
That's time! Back to the action! This is the final round!

A big left from Nykanen misses.
Lau with a hook.
Lau misses with an uppercut.
A jab from Nykanen does it's job there.
Lau slaps away a takedown attempt from Nykanen, before circling back to the center of the mat.
Nykanen will need to close the distance a bit before he attacks - that leg kick was thrown from too far away.
Nykanen has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Nykanen tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Lau was well out of range. Poor timing from Nykanen.
Nykanen pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
Lau fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Nykanen manages to avoid it.
Lau lands with a nice body punch.
Lau throws a jab to the body, straight down the pipe. Boom. That sent Nykanen stumbling backwards but he manages to regain his composure quickly.
Nykanen fails with the takedown.
Nykanen lands a pitter patter jab to the forehead of his opponent.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Lau misses with a telegraphed body shot

and Nykanen decides to take the opportunity to score a takedown. He's landed in Lau's guard.
Lau utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Nykanen pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Lau is keeping the position for now.
Lau keeping moving, preventing Nykanen from controlling successfully.

Nykanen got a little sloppy there for a moment and Lau has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Nykanen has managed to get both his arms back between Lau's legs - danger averted.
Nykanen pushing down on Lau's thigh, trying to pass to half guard. He's managed it... Nice work.
Nykanen seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Lau does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Lau keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.
Matti Nykanen has got the better of the ground game so far.
The fans in attendance giving it up for the two fighters, who have really let it all hang out in the last minute or so!
Nykanen is just sitting in half guard, waiting for something to happen.
Nykanen drops an elbow to the side of Lau's head.
Lau is refusing to be controlled, as Nykanen sits in half guard.
The fighters are battling for position here. Lau manages to regain full guard. Nice work.
Nykanen looking to pass the guard.
Lau trying to control the position.
Tin Lau has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Lau working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Nykanen doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Nykanen manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.
Nykanen makes a bit of distance and scores with some ground and pound, still in guard.
Nykanen is working Lau over from the guard. He should look to pass the guard and do a little more damage with these strikes.
Nykanen trying to control the position from guard on top but Lau is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Lau working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Nykanen.
Nykanen throws a strike but Lau rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.
Nykanen wants to sweep here but Lau controlling him for the moment.
Matti Nykanen is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Lau throws a big right hand that misses.

And that's the end of the fight!
Matti Nykanen comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Nykanen 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 Matti Vanhoillinen scores the fight 27:30
Judge Roosa Järviläinen scores the fight 27:30
Judge Arvi Lind scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Matti Nykanen!