PBP Commentary

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

West
vs
Nieminen

159 cm
22
135 lbs
4 - 3 - 0

170 cm
22
143 lbs
3 - 2 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Improved boxing
Good chin

Decent wrestler
Counter striker
Likes ground

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the bantamweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 4 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, James West!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 3 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Matti Nieminen!
The judges for this bout are Anni Minnemäki, Marco Blurström and Arvi Lind.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
West paws at his opponent with the jab and then lunges in with a straight, right on the button.
James West seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
West misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
West throws out a loose jab but Nieminen uses good head movement to avoid it.

West gets caught flat footed, as Nieminen shoots in with a quick takedown into guard.
West avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
West working a defensive guard but Nieminen passes into half guard.
Nieminen is trying to control the action in half guard but West is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.
Nieminen drops an elbow to the side of West's head.
Nieminen wants to take a breather but West is having none of it.
Nieminen has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
Nieminen working over West with some ground and pound. West looks like he wants out of this position, which is understandable.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Nieminen is controlling the pace.
West won't allow Nieminen to pass to mount.
West throws a strike from the bottom that misses.
The referee walks around the fighters to get a better view of the action. Nieminen lands a nice short elbow.
Nieminen looks to score some points with some ground and pound.
West is looking to improve his position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Nieminen with a momentary lay and pray from half guard.
West taking some punishment here, with Nieminen in his half guard.
Ground and pound from Nieminen.
Nieminen wants to pass to mount but West is defending the position.
West wants to get back to his feet.
Nieminen throwing shots but West is blocking nicely.
Nieminen winds up and cracks West with a swinging punch to the side of the head.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
West taking some punishment here, with Nieminen in his half guard.
West might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.
Nieminen is tying to control. West wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.
West is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.

Nieminen is trying to work for a kimura. He's got his hands clasped together - this could be trouble! No, West has managed to free his arm - good work.
Nieminen looks gassed!
Nieminen sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. West defending well though.

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.
West avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Nieminen.
West is trying to get back to full guard.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
West connects nicely with a jab. Noted by the judges no doubt.
A punch combination from West misses.
West misses with a series of wild punches.
West doesn't succeed with the takedown

and Nieminen counters with a driving takedown into guard. Nice work there by Nieminen.
West 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.
Nieminen lands a couple of elbows.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Nieminen stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. West swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Nieminen loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
West keeping moving, preventing Nieminen from controlling successfully.
Nieminen content to strike from guard, landing some decent shots.
Nieminen postures up and lands some nice ground and pound.
West 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.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.
West throws the left hand but Nieminen avoids the punch easily.
West misses with a looping left.

Nieminen drives through with a really nice takedown into side control.
Nieminen taking a breather here.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Nieminen scores with a couple of short elbows.
Nieminen scoring with punches and elbows.
Nieminen connects with a decent looking elbow from side control that caused West some visible discomfort.
West can't do much from the bottom here.
Nieminen working the head and body with strikes.

Nieminen is looking for a kimura. He might have it! No, West has escaped the position, nice work there.
The ground and pound from Nieminen seems to be hitting the mat more than his opponent.
West tries to improve position but can't.
Nieminen wants to lay and pray for a moment but West keeps working.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Matti Nieminen dominated that round.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

West throws a shot from downtown. Nieminen moves away and avoids it.

Nieminen drives through with a takedown into guard.
Nieminen advances to half guard.
Nieminen takes advantage of the dominant position to land a couple of big hammer fists.
West is trying to maintain the position but Nieminen is very close to passing his half guard.
West is refusing to be controlled, as Nieminen sits in half guard.
West is trying to defend against the ground and pound but Nieminen scores with a couple of nice shots.
Nieminen lands strikes from half guard.
West is trying to defend against the ground and pound but Nieminen scores with a couple of nice shots.
Nieminen looks to score some points with some ground and pound.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Nieminen looks towards his corner to check for any instructions. The corner give him nothing to work with, so he cracks West with a short hammerfist. I guess that's as good as any advice he could get in this position.
Nieminen drops an elbow to the side of West's head.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Nieminen lands with a punch from half guard.
Nieminen wants to free his trapped foot but West is holding on for dear life with his legs.
West is trying to stand.
Nieminen is looking to pass the guard... He's managed it - he's now in full mount!
Nieminen looking to control and managing it successfully.
Nieminen with good strikes from the mount here!
Nieminen punishing his opponent with strikes.
Nieminen with good strikes from the mount here!
The referee warns West that he has to improve his position here as he takes two more clean shots to the head.
Nieminen unloading with bombs!
West is really trying hard to get back to his feet.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Nieminen dominating with strikes here.
Matti Nieminen has got the better of the ground game so far.
Nieminen landing strikes, looking to finish!

Nieminen has hold of West's left arm, perhaps looking for a submission. The two fighters tussle over control of the isolated limb and West manages to get his arm back to his side and away from danger.
West really trying hard to get back to half guard here.
Nieminen landing strikes from the mount.
Nieminen with shots to the head and body - West looks very uncomfortable down there.
Nieminen lands a shot to the body, followed up by a shot to the exposed head of his trapped opponent.
Nieminen cracks West with a nasty head shot there - the crowd let out an audible gasp there, as the noise reverberated around the arena.
West's corner are shouting for him to stand up but that's bad cornering - how is he meant to stand up when he's mounted? He should be looking to improve his position on the ground before trying to stand back up.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Nieminen lands with some strikes.
West takes a big shot to the head but keeps on trying to improve his position.
Nieminen is landing with some decent strikes but West is trying to advance his position so the referee is letting the fight continue.
Nieminen lands with some strikes.
West tries to get back to half guard but can't.
Nieminen landing strikes from the mount and West is in trouble!

West is rocked!
West takes a big shot to the dome and his eyes have rolled back in his head! Nieminen's killer instinct has kicked in as he finishes the fight with more strikes. Impressive finish.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 3:40 of round 2, we have a winner by way of TKO (Strikes). Matti Nieminen!