PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Daren Welch (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Niklas Backstrom (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Man, I cannot wait for this one!

Welch
vs
Backstrom

180 cm
22
162 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

183 cm
23
162 lbs
0 - 1 - 0

Decent wrestler
Brawler
Cuts easily

Good takedowns
Counter fighter
Determined

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 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Daren Welch!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Niklas Backstrom!
The judges for this bout are Ben Zyskovitsi, Roosa Järviläinen and Johanna Lukiainen.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Welch gets in close and instigates a clinch.

Welch gets a nice trip takedown into half guard.
If this pace continues, the referee will definitely step in and force a standup.
Backstrom is trying to maintain the position but Welch is very close to passing his half guard.
Backstrom tries to get to full guard but Welch has control of the leg.
Welch blocks the strikes from Backstrom.
Backstrom wants to get back to full guard.
Welch trying to mount his opponent but Backstrom defends it.

Backstrom looking for submissions from an awkward position here.
Welch wants to pass to mount but Backstrom is defending the position.
Backstrom is staying active underneath Welch, who seems content to just control the action from this position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Welch is trying to get back to his feet now but his leg is trapped.
Welch is just sitting in half guard, waiting for something to happen.

Backstrom is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Welch pulls his head out easily.
Welch controlling the action here.

Backstrom looking for submissions off his back.
Welch sitting and controlling from the half guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up, due to lack of activity on the part of Daren Welch.
Welch misses with a series of wild punches.
Welch throws a wild body kick that Backstrom sees coming a mile off.
Welch just misses with a punch to the body.
Daren Welch seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

Welch scores a trip takedown into side control. Nice.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Welch cracks Backstrom with a big elbow.
Welch trying to control the position but Backstrom is working away.
Backstrom is looking to regain half guard here but Welch keeps moving and retains side control.
Backstrom can't do much from the bottom here.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Backstrom manages to land a sweep and he's now on top! Lovely Jiu Jitsu!

Backstrom is sneakily working for an arm triangle but Welch sees it coming and defends easily.
Welch keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Backstrom is working for submissions here but there's nothing on.

Backstrom looking for a kimura but he'll have to free his other leg if he wants to finish that. Perhaps he's just using it as a distraction technique.
Welch is trying to get back to full guard.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Welch controlling the leg, holding on to half guard.
Welch wants to control but Backstrom is keeping busy.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Daren Welch dominated that round.
That's the end of the interval. I'm sure that seemed a lot quicker than a minute for our two fighters! Back to the action.

Welch pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Welch pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Daren Welch is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Welch shoots in but no luck this time.
Welch throws a series of punches but Backstrom avoids them all with ease.
Backstrom stuffs the takedown.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Welch.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Daren Welch. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Welch throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Backstrom.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Welch shoots in and drives through. Backstrom sprawls well.
Welch throws a head kick but Backstrom moves out of range.
Welch shoots for a takedown but Backstrom saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
Welch shoots in but Backstrom avoids the takedown attempt easily.
Backstrom stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Backstrom wants it to stay on the feet.
Welch shoots in and drives through. Backstrom sprawls well.
Welch shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Backstrom sprawls well. Backstrom wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Welch gets slowly back to his feet.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Backstrom shoots in for a takedown but Welch shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
Backstrom keeps the fight on the outside.

Welch gets a double leg takedown into Backstrom's guard.
Daren Welch overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.

Backstrom has his foot on Welch's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Welch works his way back into a safe position though.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!

Backstrom pushes a forearm under Welch's chin to create some space. He's escaped his hips and pivoted quickly for an armbar! Can he extend the arm? Yes, Welch is tapping out! Damn, that was fast!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 3:58 of round 2, we have a winner by way of Submission (Armbar). Niklas Backstrom!