PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Niko Sirkiä (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Conquer This (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Sirkiä comes to the cage accompanied by Thergothon - Elemental. Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Sirkiä
vs
This

178 cm
30
231 lbs
25 - 7 - 0

192 cm
37
235 lbs
43 - 16 - 0

Abu Dhabi Champ
World class boxer
Insanely flexible

Good wrestler
World class MT
Good gas tank

Bloodlust Horde Fightwear

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 25 - 7 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Niko Sirkiä!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 43 - 16 - 0, fighting out of New York, Conquer This!
The judges for this bout are James Atkins, William Gold and James Glass.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
This throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
Sirkiä is pinned up against the cage taking some big shots here. The referee is looking closely deciding whether he should stop the fight.
This connects with a right hand. Sirkiä shakes it off.
This will need to close the distance a bit before he attacks - that leg kick was thrown from too far away.
This darts in trying to clinch

and Sirkiä counters with a nice shoot takedown that brings the fighters to the ground.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
We must be close to a standup if these guys don't pick up the pace.
This wants to stand up but Sirkiä is controlling him.
Sirkiä lands a couple of digs.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Sirkiä is working the ground and pound from guard. He might want to try advancing position though to get more of an impact.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

That's one minute gone in the round.
This preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Sirkiä missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.

Sirkiä drops back looking for a leg! This is in trouble here! The fighters roll with the hold and This manages to kick Sirkiä off! Sirkiä jumps back into This's guard.
This is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Sirkiä is controlling him.
This preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Sirkiä accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
This working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Sirkiä.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Sirkiä works over This with some ground and pound from guard.
Sirkiä trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Sirkiä content to strike from guard, landing some decent shots.
Sirkiä loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
This working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Sirkiä.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Sirkiä accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Sirkiä trying to control but This is working from the bottom.
Sirkiä throwing strikes from guard but This blocks nicely.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
This keeping moving, preventing Sirkiä from controlling successfully.
Sirkiä might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Sirkiä throws a big right hand that misses.
This preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Sirkiä with a flurry of punches that miss.
Sirkiä throwing strikes from guard but This blocks nicely.
Sirkiä wants to control from the top but This keeps moving.
This controlling the position.
Sirkiä throwing strikes but missing.
This utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
This working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Sirkiä.
Sirkiä wants to control from the top but This keeps moving.
Sirkiä with a couple of shots to the head there. Not particularly brutal.
This is looking to stand up but Sirkiä isn't so interested in that idea.
Sirkiä postures up.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Sirkiä postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

This fakes with a right hand and throws a good leg kick, right into the thigh. That had to hurt Sirkiä.
This swings widly with a right hand

and Sirkiä counters with a nice double leg into guard.
This is doing well to control the posture of his opponent and prevent any damage.
This is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Sirkiä lands a couple of digs.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
This avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Sirkiä with a flurry of punches that miss.
Sirkiä chips away with some ground and pound.
Sirkiä has been looking to land a fair amount of strikes on the ground. He might be looking to soften his opponent up in order to work for a submission.
This not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Sirkiä drops back for a leg! It's a sloppy attempt though and Sirkiä jumps back into guard quickly, to retain the dominant position.
Sirkiä throwing strikes from guard but This blocks nicely.
Sirkiä throwing strikes but missing.
Sirkiä trying to control the position from guard on top but This is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Niko Sirkiä overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Sirkiä in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
This preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Sirkiä cracks This with a solid left hand.
Sirkiä throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Sirkiä wants to control from the top but This keeps moving.

Sirkiä thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.
This utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Sirkiä postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Sirkiä postures up in This's guard and throws a big left but This blocks it.
Sirkiä trying to control the position from guard on top but This is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Sirkiä postures up in This's guard and throws a big left but This blocks it.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Sirkiä trying to control the position from guard on top but This is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Sirkiä postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Sirkiä wants to control from the top but This keeps moving.
This is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Sirkiä is controlling him.
The referee looks like he's ready to step in and stand the fighters back up.
Sirkiä with a flurry of punches that miss.
Sirkiä looking to pass the guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Sirkiä with a flurry of punches that miss.
This wants to stand up but Sirkiä is controlling him.
Sirkiä is looking to work some ground and pound but This has wrist control.
This wants to stand and escape but Sirkiä is having none of it.
Sirkiä throwing strikes from guard but This blocks nicely.
Sirkiä throwing strikes from guard but This blocks nicely.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Sirkiä throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as This works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Niko Sirkiä dominated that second round.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action! Ladies and gentlemen, this is the final round!

This finds nothing but air with that leg kick attempt.
This jabs Sirkiä to the body, keeping him at a distance.
This tries to close the distance and clinch but Sirkiä swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Sirkiä takes a push kick to the midsection and stumbles backwards.
Sirkiä takes a step back and watches a body kick go sailing past his mid section.
The fight stays on the outside here - This looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
This tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
This lands a head kick. Sirkiä smiles back at him and beckons him forward.

That's one minute gone in the round.
This misses with an uppercut. Sirkiä saw that one coming.
This looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Conquer This seems to be getting the better of the standup.
This lands with a head kick! That's gotta hurt.

This moves into the clinch successfully.
This struggles to land a body shot inside as Sirkiä controls his hands.
Sirkiä prevents a body shot from This.
This gets underhooks to prevent Sirkiä's takedown attempt.
A quick uppercut on the inside from This.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Sirkiä.
Sirkiä blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Conquer This has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for This.
This misses with a body punch.
Sirkiä is trying to break the clinch but This has him pressed against the cage.

Sirkiä has hold of one of This's legs. This is fighting the takedown attempt but Sirkiä gets the trip and lands the takedown into guard.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Sirkiä throwing strikes from guard but This blocks nicely.
This keeping full guard, as Sirkiä tries to pass.
Sirkiä in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.

This has his feet on Sirkiä's hips. He pushes off and gets to his feet. Nice work.

This has closed the distance and engaged Sirkiä in a clinch.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
This tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Sirkiä blocks an uppercut.
This lands a left hand.
This is trying to stall.
This tries to throw a body punch but Sirkiä avoids it by throwing This back against the cage.
Sirkiä is trying to drag This to the mat but This just about manages to keep his footing. He used the cage to his advantage there.
This tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
This swings wildly with an uppercut but Sirkiä uses good head movement to avoid it.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
This misses with a hook from the clinch.
This lands punches inside but they're not really causing much damage.
Sirkiä blocking some punches.
This tries to throw a body punch but Sirkiä avoids it by throwing This back against the cage.
This lands with a good tight uppercut to the head.
Sirkiä is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.
This slowing the pace effectively.
Sirkiä wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.
Sirkiä blocks a punch to the side of the head.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
This fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
This digs a right hand into Sirkiä's ribs. Those have got to be taking their toll on Sirkiä's gas tank.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
This scores with a shoulder strike.

And that's the end of the fight!
Conquer This comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Sirkiä has won this one but let's see what the judges have to say. 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 James Atkins scores the fight 29:28
Judge William Gold scores the fight 29:28
Judge James Glass scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Niko Sirkiä!
Niko Sirkiä took to the mic in his post fight interview and said '"That is not dead which can eternal lie, and with strange aeons even death may die." '.