PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Arman Alizad (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Matti Nieminen (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Alizad comes to the cage accompanied by Gortoz A Ran - J'attends. Arman Alizad could well score a knockout today. He has the power to get to Matti Nieminen's chin.

Alizad
vs
Nieminen

174 cm
19
150 lbs
4 - 0 - 0

170 cm
23
143 lbs
5 - 2 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Very strong

BJJ Purple Belt
Counter striker
Knockout power

Combat Pro Design

Firebird Designs

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 5 rounds, for the lightweight championship of the world!
Introducing the champion to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 4 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Arman Alizad!
And introducing the challenger to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 5 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Matti Nieminen!
The judges for this bout are Roosa Järviläinen, Matti Vanhoillinen and Anni Minnemäki.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Alizad throws a low kick but his opponent is out of range.
Alizad misses with a double jab.

Nieminen looking to shoot here. He's gone for it and he's landed a takedown into mount! Oh, that's bad for Alizad!
Alizad working to try and regain half guard.
Nieminen trying to control but he's not successful this time.
Alizad is trying to escape the mount.
Alizad wants to hold on but Nieminen pushes him away.
Nieminen thuds his fist into the canvas! Oooouch!
Alizad regains half guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Nieminen takes a deep breath and rests his weight momentarily on top of his opponent, to control the position.
Alizad is looking to escape.
Alizad is in trouble now - Nieminen has advanced to mount!
Nieminen throwing sloppy strikes here. Perhaps if he tightened up his striking from such a dominant position, he'd be able to finish easier.
Nieminen throwing sloppy strikes, which aren't doing any damage.
Nieminen punching from mount but Alizad doing a good job of avoiding damage.
Nieminen landing strikes from the mount and Alizad is in trouble!
Nieminen pausing momentarily but resumes with a couple of decent strikes that do a bit of damage.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Alizad tries to reverse the position but Nieminen maintains control.
A nice elbow there by Nieminen.
Nieminen has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
Alizad is looking to get back to his feet - it's going to be hard from this position.
Nieminen lands a big elbow.
A nice elbow there by Nieminen.
Nieminen punching from mount but Alizad doing a good job of avoiding damage.
Nieminen misses with a head shot.
Nieminen avoids the attempt from Alizad to control.
Nieminen misses with a head shot.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Alizad is writhing around trying to get back to his feet.
Nieminen scoring with strikes but Alizad is staying in there.
Nieminen landing strikes from the mount and Alizad is in trouble!
Alizad holding onto his opponent's waist for dear life, as Nieminen tries to land some strikes to get him to release his grip.
Nieminen lands a big shot there that rocks Alizad but he's holding on and managing to survive for now.
Nieminen with the ground and pound from mount.
Nieminen unloading with bombs!
Nieminen landing strikes from the mount.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Alizad holding onto his opponent's waist for dear life, as Nieminen tries to land some strikes to get him to release his grip.
Alizad regains half guard.
Nieminen sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Alizad defending well though.
Nieminen throwing shots but Alizad is blocking nicely.
Nieminen tries to pass the half guard into mount. Alizad knows what he's doing though and prevents the attempt.
Alizad is looking to control Nieminen's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Alizad avoid being mounted?
Nieminen trying to control the action but Alizad is working from the bottom.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Matti Nieminen 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.

Alizad tries to land a front kick but Nieminen steps back. That was a bit too telegraphed.
Alizad blocks a head kick by Nieminen.

Alizad gets caught flat footed, as Nieminen shoots in with a quick takedown into guard.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Nieminen accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Nieminen trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Alizad utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Nieminen throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Alizad works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Nieminen trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Alizad is trying to control the position but Nieminen postures up.
Nieminen with a flurry of punches that miss.
Alizad is trying to control the position but Nieminen postures up.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.
Good standup being displayed there by Alizad as he connects with a hook.
Alizad throws a head kick that misses

and Nieminen counters with a single leg into guard. Alizad didn't expect that.
Alizad is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.
Alizad can't keep his opponent in guard - Nieminen advances to half guard, no doubt looking to mount.
Nieminen looks to land a strike but Alizad avoids it nicely and regains full guard.

Alizad pushes Nieminen off for just long enough to get back to his feet. Very athletic spring there.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Nieminen shoots in but Alizad avoids the takedown attempt easily.
Nieminen is breathing heavily.
Nieminen misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Arman Alizad is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Alizad looks for the body kick but Nieminen saw that one coming.
Nieminen throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Alizad.
A head kick misses from Alizad.

Alizad pushes Nieminen up against the cage in a clinch.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Alizad missing with knees to the body.
Nieminen wants to break the clinch but can't.
Alizad prevents the takedown attempt.
Alizad scores with a hook to the body.
Alizad lands with a right to the head.
Alizad looking to slow down the pace here.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Nieminen blocks an elbow strike.
Alizad lands a body punch - he's looking to wear down Nieminen.

Alizad breaks the clinch.
Alizad blocks a head kick by Nieminen.
Alizad thuds a left hand into Nieminen's body.
Arman Alizad is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Alizad bobs and weaves and throws out a fast jab that snaps Nieminen's head backwards.
Nieminen moves out of range of the body kick.
Alizad lands with a big right hook that stumbles Nieminen - he's out on his feet here! Alizad follows up with another monster hook that separates Nieminen from consciousness! Nieminen falls, almost in slow motion to the canvas! Alizad stands and admires his work as the crowd go wild.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 3:42 of round 2, we have a winner by way of KO (Punches). Arman Alizad!
Arman Alizad retains his lightweight title!