PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Archie Burks (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Teemu Nieminen (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.

Burks
vs
Nieminen

176 cm
18
177 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

170 cm
18
180 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Cuts easily

Good wrestler
Basic striking
Solid chin

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, Archie Burks!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Teemu Nieminen!
The judges for this bout are Matti Vanhoillinen, Ben Zyskovitsi and Johanna Lukiainen.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Nieminen shoots in looking for a takedown but Burks manages to keep the fight standing, pushing Nieminen's face into the canvas for good measure before circling away.
Nieminen shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Burks fails miserably with a takedown attempt.

Nieminen drives through with a takedown into Burks's guard. Let's see what he can do from the top position.
The referee wants the fighters to be more active or he's going to reset them on the feet.
Burks wants to stand but Nieminen is controlling the position.
Nieminen wants to pass the guard but Burks is keeping the position.
Nieminen 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.
Nieminen wants to control from the top but Burks keeps moving.

Nieminen postures up as if he's going to throw some strikes but drops back for an ankle! Burks is in big trouble! He looks ready to tap! But no, he's escaped and dives on top of Nieminen, into his guard.
Burks scores with a decent looking elbow strike.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Nieminen escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Burks gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.

Nieminen working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Burks doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Burks manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.
Nieminen really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Burks. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.

Nieminen isolates an arm and boxes in a triangle. Burks stacks Nieminen 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 Burks!
Nieminen looking for a sweep but Burks has passed into full mount! Oh no!
Burks is in the full mount, landing strikes.
Burks looking to finish Nieminen with some ground and pound. This is bad for Nieminen!
We get told so often about how wrestlers don't like to be on their backs. Let's see if Nieminen can do anything to dispel that myth.
Nieminen tries to get back to half guard but can't.
Burks scoring with some good ground and pound from mount here. Will he manage to finish Nieminen?

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Nieminen tries to hold on but Burks pushes him away.
Nieminen is working to get back to half guard.
Burks 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.
Nieminen tries to hold on but Burks pushes him away.
Nieminen is desperately trying to get back to half guard.
Burks lands a big shot there that rocks Nieminen but he's holding on and managing to survive for now.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Burks raining down hammerfists from mount.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Nieminen is looking to improve his position but Burks isn't that keen on the idea.
Nieminen keeps trying to improve his position.

Burks with some aggressive grappling here. He's looking for submissions here, rather than waiting for the opportunity to counter.
Burks breaks from Nieminen's wrist control and lands an elbow.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Nieminen is trying to escape the mount.
Nieminen wants to hold on but Burks pushes him away.
Nieminen keeping his composure momentarily, calmly looking to get back to half guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Nieminen gets back to half guard.

Nieminen actively working from the bottom here.

Burks is working for a submission of some sort.
Nieminen wants to improve his position but Burks is controlling well.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Nieminen is pressing down on Burks's left leg trying to get back to full guard. He's managed it.

Nieminen had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Burks defends it easily.
Burks lands a nice shot whilst sitting in his opponent's guard.

Burks got a little sloppy there for a moment and Nieminen has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Burks has managed to get both his arms back between Nieminen's legs - danger averted.
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!

Nieminen looking for submissions from the bottom but instead Burks passes into side control.
Nieminen sneaks back into half guard.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.

Nieminen is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Burks pulls his head out easily.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Teemu Nieminen dominated that round.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

Nieminen shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Let's see what he's got on the mat.
Burks wants to stand and escape but Nieminen is having none of it.

Burks pushes Nieminen off and gets back to his feet.

Nieminen drives through with a takedown into Burks's guard. Let's see what he can do from the top position.
Nieminen trying to control the position from guard on top but Burks is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Nieminen stands and throws Burks's legs to the side, diving into side control.
Nieminen prevents Burks from escaping the position.

Nieminen is trying to get an arm triangle but Burks is defending well.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.

Nieminen swings around for an armbar but Burks sees it coming a mile off and turns beautifully into Nieminen's guard.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Nieminen is active off his back here, looking for submissions.

Nieminen looking for a guillotine here but Burks defends easily.

Nieminen looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.

Nieminen is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.

Nieminen has an omoplata and is looking to use it perhaps as a submission or perhaps to transition. Burks is in a bit of discomfort here, but he's managed to free himself and has dived into side control! That didn't work out too well for Nieminen.
Nieminen tries to work a leg under to get back to half guard but Burks wriggles his own leg back out and remains in side control.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Burks tries for a kimura. Not really close to a finish though.
Nieminen is trying to get back to half guard.
Nieminen is moving his hips around well on the bottom and has managed to get back to half guard.
Nieminen manages to get to full guard.
Burks trying to control the position from guard on top but Nieminen is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.

Nieminen escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Burks gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Nieminen is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Burks is aware though and is defending well.

Burks avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
Nieminen working a defensive guard here.
Burks throwing strikes from guard but Nieminen blocks nicely.

Nieminen looking for subs off his back but Burks has passed one foot through into half guard.
Nieminen wants to get back to full guard but Burks has mounted him!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Burks looking to finish Nieminen with some ground and pound. This is bad for Nieminen!
Nieminen tries to hold on but Burks postures up.
Burks lands a couple of nice shots there from mount.
Nieminen tries to get back to half guard but can't.

Burks jumps to side control looking for an arm triangle but Nieminen manages to avoid the submission attempt.
Nieminen is trying to control Burks's posture but Burks avoids it.
Nieminen is looking for a sweep.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Nieminen manages to get one leg in to regain half guard.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.

Nieminen actively working from the bottom here.
Nieminen manages to get to full guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Teemu Nieminen showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action! This is the final round!

Nieminen closes the distance and gets a trip takedown into side control. Burks quickly recovers to half guard.

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

Nieminen is sneakily working for an arm triangle but Burks sees it coming and defends easily.

Nieminen seems to be looking for submissions.

Nieminen is sneakily working for an arm triangle but Burks sees it coming and defends easily.
Burks is working for an escape here. He's hooked one of Nieminen's legs and he's managed to sneak out and take Nieminen's back!
Nieminen trying to control but he's just got himself in more trouble.
Burks lands an elbow to the side of the head.
Nieminen rolls and manages to get back to half guard. Nicely done.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Burks seems to be working for a kimura but Nieminen defends the submission attempt.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Nieminen has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Burks is working away from the top position though.
Nieminen manages to get to full guard.

Nieminen looking for a guillotine here but Burks defends easily.

Nieminen is active off his back here, looking for submissions.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Nieminen keeping moving, preventing Burks from controlling successfully.

Nieminen throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.

Nieminen looking for a guillotine here but Burks defends easily.

Nieminen throws his legs up looking to secure a triangle. Oh, that looks pretty tight, I gotta say! Burks escapes and throws Nieminen's legs to the side, diving into side control!
Nieminen is sneaking out the side here. He's bucked Burks off and has taken his back!

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Burks defending nicely against the rear naked choke attempt.
Burks is trying to get back to his feet but Nieminen has full control of the position and if anything, Burks has just worked his way into a worse spot.

Nieminen has his opponent's back and is working for the choke.

Nieminen seems to be going for a rear naked choke. He has an arm under Burks's chin but Burks turns very nicely into Nieminen's guard. Good BJJ skills being displayed there by Burks.
Nieminen is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Teemu Nieminen has got the better of the ground game so far.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Burks postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
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!

Nieminen has his foot on Burks's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Burks works his way back into a safe position though.

Nieminen looks to be working for a triangle here. Oh, it looks like he might have it! Burks has picked Nieminen up and slammed him! Nieminen can't keep hold of the triangle and Burks manages to pass to side control!
Nieminen is looking to reverse the position.
Nieminen is persisting with the attempt to improve his position.
Nieminen being controlled for a moment.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Nieminen is trying to improve his position.

And that's the end of the fight!
Teemu Nieminen comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Nieminen 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 Ben Zyskovitsi scores the fight 27:30
Judge Johanna Lukiainen scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Teemu Nieminen!