PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Nick Flynn (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Joe Roger (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). We have two fighters making their debuts here, so let's see who comes out of this one with their first professional victory.

Flynn
vs
Roger

189 cm
24
178 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

169 cm
25
170 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Cuts easily

BJJ Blue Belt
Solid Muay Thai
Very confident

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 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Nick Flynn!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Joe Roger!
The judges for this bout are Matti Vanhoillinen, Johanna Lukiainen and Anni Minnemäki.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Roger looking to score a takedown here. Flynn is defending well but Roger drives through and ends up in Flynn's guard.

Roger gets to his feet. Flynn looking to butt scoot but the ref puts an end to that. On your feet son!
Roger tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.

Roger feints and as Flynn raises his hands in defense, Roger changes levels and drives through with a takedown into guard.

Flynn is looking for a triangle but Roger pushes his legs off easily.
Flynn trying to control the position.
Flynn can't keep his opponent in guard - Roger advances to half guard, no doubt looking to mount.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Flynn is staying active underneath Roger, who seems content to just control the action from this position.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!

Roger is trying a forearm choke… I don't think that's going to do much at this level of the game.
Roger is figuring out what he wants to do next.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Flynn looking for submissions off his back.
Flynn is not content to let Roger control the position.
Flynn is looking to escape.
Flynn misses with some strikes from the bottom.
Flynn gets back to full guard.
Roger loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Flynn keeping moving, preventing Roger from controlling successfully.
Roger looking to sit in guard and control but Flynn gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.

Flynn drops back looking for a leg! Roger is in trouble here! The fighters roll with the hold and Roger manages to kick Flynn off! Flynn jumps back into Roger's guard.

Roger throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Roger is trying to control the position but Flynn postures up.
Roger might have to switch it up a bit here because his efforts to control Flynn haven't been going to plan, at least at the current moment in time.

Flynn drops back, looking for a kneebar! Roger looks panicked! The fighters roll across the mat, one looking to finish, one looking to escape. Roger looks to have wriggled free... Yes, he's got his leg free and he's dived into side control! Good work there from Roger!
Flynn is moving his hips around well on the bottom and has managed to get back to half guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Flynn is looking to escape.

Roger seems to be working for a kimura but Flynn defends the submission attempt.
Flynn wants to get back to full guard.
Flynn wants to get back to his feet.
Roger looking to pass the half guard. Not this time.
Roger blocks the strikes from Flynn.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Flynn holds on for dear life, maintaining half guard for now.
Roger is looking for the mount but instead finds himself back in full guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Joe Roger dominated that round.
That's time! Flynn's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight.

Flynn gets caught flat footed, as Roger shoots in with a quick takedown into guard.

Roger stands up from guard. Let's bang!
Flynn looks for the body kick but Roger saw that one coming.

Roger closes the distance and gets a double leg, slamming Flynn to the mat! Flynn manages to get full guard.

Roger stands up and waves to Flynn to follow him.

Roger drives through and clinches with Flynn against the cage.
Roger is trying to stall.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Roger gets the body lock takedown. After a quick scramble, Flynn regains guard.
Flynn is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Flynn is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.
Flynn throws a couple of weedy looking strikes off his back.
Flynn is trying to control the position but Roger postures up.
Flynn will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.
Flynn looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Flynn not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.

The ref stands the fighters back up. Nick Flynn wasn't doing enough on the ground.
Roger tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.

Roger closes the distance and scores a nice trip takedown into half guard. Flynn did well to prevent Roger getting side control.
Roger is breathing heavily.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Roger wants to take a breather but Flynn is having none of it.
Roger tries to pass to full mount but Flynn defends it.
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!
Roger is looking to stall here but Flynn recovers full guard.
Flynn looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Flynn wants to get back to his feet but Roger is in a dominant position and won't allow it.

Flynn is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Roger is aware though and is defending well.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Roger looking to sit in guard and control but Flynn gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.
Flynn throws a big right hand that misses.
Roger seems keen to control Flynn's posture.
Roger should think about turning a few of those tyres round his middle into muscle if he wants people to take him seriously as an athlete.

Flynn drops back, looking for a kneebar! Roger looks panicked! The fighters roll across the mat, one looking to finish, one looking to escape. Roger looks to have wriggled free... Yes, he's got his leg free and he's dived into side control! Good work there from Roger!
Roger trying to control the action but Flynn is working from the bottom.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Roger fails to land a wild elbow strike.
Flynn is trying to get back to his feet.

Roger is trying to land an Americana. He has the arm isolated but Flynn is keeping cool and he's avoided the danger for now.
Flynn is looking to regain half guard here but Roger keeps moving and retains side control.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.

Roger stands up and beckons Flynn to his feet.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Joe Roger showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
That's time! Back to the action! The crowd applaud as we get ready to start the final round!

Roger shoots in for a takedown! He's got it and he's managed to land in side control! That's better than Roger was expecting from the takedown attempt, I'm sure!
Flynn is pushing Roger's head away, looking to escape. Roger manages to hold on to the position though.
Joe Roger has got the better of the ground game so far.
Flynn is looking to reverse the position.

Roger tries for a kimura but Flynn is defending well.
Flynn is looking to reverse the position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Flynn is trying to get back to half guard. He's pushing on Roger's leg. He's managed it. Nice work.
Flynn is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Flynn moves into full guard.
Flynn wants to stand and escape but Roger is having none of it.
Roger trying to stand up but can't free himself from Flynn's guard.
Flynn is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.

Flynn working for a triangle but Roger defends it easily.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Roger controls the pace of the fight for a moment.
Roger trying to control but Flynn is working from the bottom.
Flynn tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Roger trying to control but Flynn is working from the bottom.

The ref stands the fighters back up. Joe Roger was stalling too much, according to the referee.

Roger shoots in for a takedown and gets it.
Roger takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Flynn tries to kick Roger off but Roger keeps his base steady and stays in half guard.
Flynn strikes from the bottom but Roger passes into mount!
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

Roger is looking to secure an arm. He's managed it! He's pivoting for an armbar - that looks tight! But Flynn has managed to get out of it and now he's in a dominant position. Nice work from Flynn!
Roger is trying to control the position from the bottom.

Roger isolates an arm and boxes in a triangle. Flynn stacks Roger on his neck as he steps over and passes to the side. He's now in a much more dominant position where he can look to do some serious damage. Nice move by Flynn!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Roger takes a nasty elbow to the side of the head.

Flynn is looking to finish here, going for an Americana. Roger knows the correct defense though, so he's OK.
Roger manages to get back to half guard.

And that's the end of the fight!
I would just about give that final round to Joe Roger.
Well Roger 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 Johanna Lukiainen scores the fight 27:30
Judge Anni Minnemäki scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Joe Roger!