PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Jorma Niemi (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Kurt Max (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Jorma Niemi had a look across the cage there at his opponent. He definitely means business

Niemi
vs
Max

175 cm
18
158 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

180 cm
24
150 lbs
2 - 1 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Good kicks
Cardio machine

BJJ Blue Belt
Solid Muay Thai
Determined

AnonymouS

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the featherweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of New York, Jorma Niemi!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 1 - 0, fighting out of New York, Kurt Max!
The judges for this bout are Jorge Garcia, Russell Pearce and Bruno Lombardi.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Max is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
An attempted straight right counter from Niemi misses the target.

Max moves into the clinch successfully.
Niemi avoiding damage as Max throws knees to the body.
Niemi tries to break free but Max pushes him back against the cage.
Max landing some nice looking knees to the body.
Niemi avoiding damage as Max throws knees to the body.
Max throws a knee to the head but misses.
Max lands a knee to the head.
Max crunches a lovely knee into Niemi's ribcage.
Niemi has had enough of the clinch and is looking to separate.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Max tries a knee to the head but he's missed.
Niemi wants to break the clinch but can't.
Max keeps control of Niemi as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.
A frustrated look appears on Niemi's face as he tries to break the clinch.
Max tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Niemi avoids it.
Niemi managing to block the knees to the body from Max.
Niemi tries to circle away but Max has him pinned against the cage.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Max tries to land knees in the clinch but Niemi avoids the damage to the body.
Niemi definitely looks more muscular than last time we saw him fight.
Max tries a knee to the head but Niemi blocks it.
Max scores with a knee to the head.
Max looking to throw knees to the head but Niemi is blocking nicely.
Max keeps the fight in the clinch, despite Niemi's efforts to push away.
Niemi tries to circle away but Max has him pinned against the cage.
Max scores a nice knee to the body.
Niemi tries a body shot but Max blocks it.
Max tries a knee to the head but Niemi blocks it.
Niemi tries to break free but Max pushes him back against the cage.
Max tries to land a knee to the head but misses.
Niemi lands a body shot in the clinch.
Max throws a knee to the head but misses.
Max throws a knee to the head but misses.
Niemi is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.
Niemi lands with a short head shot on the inside.
Max blocks a body shot from Niemi.
Max keeps the fight in the clinch, despite Niemi's efforts to push away.
A right handed body shot lands from Niemi.
Max looks winded!
Niemi working some nice short punches in the clinch.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Niemi scores with a hook to the body.
Max blocks the elbow strike.
Max throws a knee to the head but misses.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Niemi is trying to break the clinch but Max is controlling him.
Niemi is trying to force a seperation but Max has the dominant position.
Niemi digs a right hand into Max's ribs. Those have got to be taking their toll on Max's gas tank.
Max tries to land a knee to the head but misses.
Niemi digs a right hand underneath Max's ribcage. Max let out a lung full of air as it connected.
Niemi is trying to break the clinch but Max is controlling him.
A nice left hand lands by Niemi.
Niemi tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Max's elbow.
Niemi lands a hook to the body. It's hard to tell if that hurt Max or not.
Niemi wants to break free but Max has control.
Niemi wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.
Niemi wants to get back to striking at distance but Max won't allow it.
Max misses with a knee strike.
Max with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.
Niemi lands a shoulder strike.
Niemi lands a right hand.
Niemi doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Niemi wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
With the fighters clinched against the cage, Niemi creates a bit of distance for himself and scores with a nice uppercut.
Max keeps the fight in the clinch, despite Niemi's efforts to push away.
Niemi misses with a punch to the body.
Niemi blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
Niemi looks like he'd prefer to be striking at range right now.
Niemi takes a knee to the side of the body.
Niemi lands punches inside but they're not really causing much damage.
Max has Niemi pressed against the cage, preventing Niemi from circling away and getting back to striking at range.
Niemi blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
Niemi tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
A frustrated look appears on Niemi's face as he tries to break the clinch.
Niemi has had enough of the clinch but Max keeps him there for the moment.
Niemi wants to break free but Max has control.
Niemi wants to break the clinch but can't.
Max looking to throw knees to the head but Niemi is blocking nicely.
Max keeps control of Niemi as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.
Max misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Niemi.
Niemi on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
Max tries to land knees in the clinch but Niemi avoids the damage to the body.
Max takes a shot to the head.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A short right hand to the side of the head by Niemi.
Niemi is trying to break free.
Max keeps control of Niemi as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.
Niemi is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.
Max tries a knee to the head but he's missed.
Max is trying to wear down his opponent with knees to the body.

Niemi breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Max closes the distance looking to clinch
and Niemi connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Sloppy strikes from Niemi. Those never looked like landing.
Kurt Max seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Max tries to clinch but Niemi moves away
and Niemi counters with a lovely straight right hand!

Max rushes Niemi and presses him up against the cage.
Max prevents Niemi from breaking the clinch.
Max prevents Niemi from breaking the clinch.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close round but I would say that Jorma Niemi will probably get the nod.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

Max looks to clinch
and Niemi counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
Max throws an ugly left hook that misses
and Niemi counters with a nice uppercut.

Max gets a clinch.
Niemi tries to break the clinch but Max is controlling the position.
Max's head jolts backwards as he takes an uppercut right on the button!
Max tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Niemi avoids it.
Max blocks a body shot from Niemi.
Max with the Thai clinch, lands a knee to the head.
Kneeeeees! The crowd are calling for knees to the body. Max obliges.
Niemi wants to break the clinch but can't.
Max prevents a body shot from Niemi.
Niemi blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Niemi is trying to force a seperation but Max has the dominant position.
Max has Niemi pressed against the cage, preventing Niemi from circling away and getting back to striking at range.
Niemi throws a hook to the body. More of an arm punch but it's all scoring with the judges.
A nice right hand lands inside from Niemi.

Niemi breaks from the clinch.
Max tries to clinch
and Niemi counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Max tries to clinch
and Niemi counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
No joy there for Niemi, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Max steps in looking to clinch after the strikes miss from Niemi.
Max tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Max tries to clinch but Niemi is having none of it.

Max fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Niemi, pushing him back against the cage.
Max keeps control of Niemi as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.
Knees to the body from Max.
Niemi wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.
Niemi managing to block the knees to the body from Max.
Max trying to land knees to the body.
Niemi is trying to break the clinch but Max has him pressed against the cage.
Niemi misses with a hook to the ribs.
Niemi has had enough of the clinch and is looking to separate.
Niemi working hard to break the clinch.
Niemi is trying to break free.
Max prevents Niemi from breaking the clinch.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Niemi tries to break free but Max pushes him back against the cage.
Niemi blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
Niemi misses with some punches.
Max is trying to wear down his opponent with knees to the body.
Niemi is looking to break free of the clinch but Max has double underhooks.
Max with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.
Niemi is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.
Niemi wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.
Niemi is trying to push Max away but Max has him pressed against the cage, so he's going nowhere.
Niemi lands a short shot on the inside that snaps the head of Max backwards.
Max crunches a lovely knee into Niemi's ribcage.
Max using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Niemi has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
Max tries to land a knee to the head but Niemi blocks with his arms.
Max is breathing heavily.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Max misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Niemi.
Max with the Thai clinch, lands a knee to the head.
Max misses with a knee strike.
Kurt Max seems to be working more effectively in the clinch in the fight so far.
Max lands a knee to the head.
Niemi is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.
Niemi has had enough of the clinch but Max keeps him there for the moment.
Max tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Niemi avoids it.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Max missing with knees to the body.
Niemi is trying to break free.
Niemi managing to block the knees to the body from Max.
Max tries to land a knee to the head but Niemi blocks with his arms.
Niemi wants to get back to striking at distance but Max won't allow it.
Max tries a knee to the head but Niemi blocks it.
Niemi is looking to break free of the clinch but Max has double underhooks.
With the fighters clinched against the cage, Niemi creates a bit of distance for himself and scores with a nice uppercut.
Niemi wants to break the clinch but can't.
Niemi misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Niemi tries a body shot but Max blocks it.
Max missing with knees to the body.
Niemi wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.
A short uppercut from Niemi.
Max trying to land knees to the body.
Max throws a knee to the head but misses.

Niemi breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Nice jab there from Niemi.
Niemi pushing out the jab but it's not landing.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Ouch! a nice leg kick from Niemi, right into the meat.
Niemi fakes a couple of low kicks, before throwing one on the third attempt. It connects and Max has to reset his feet before getting ready to engage.
Max tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.

Max gets in close and instigates a clinch.
Niemi is trying to break the clinch but Max has him pressed against the cage.
Max misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Niemi.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Niemi wants to get back to striking at distance but Max won't allow it.
Niemi throws a punch but it's blocked by Max.
A frustrated look appears on Niemi's face as he tries to break the clinch.
Niemi is trying to break the clinch but Max has him pressed against the cage.
Max tries to land a knee to the head but misses.
Max tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Niemi avoids it.
Niemi lands on the inside with an uppercut.
Niemi lands a body punch in the clinch.
Niemi wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Max has him pressed against the cage.
Niemi wants to break the clinch but can't.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close second round but I would say that Jorma Niemi will probably get the nod.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin! This is the final round!

Niemi circles away from the clinch attempt
and Niemi connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Niemi lands with a hook. Max tried to avoid it but it clipped the top of his head.
Max closes the distance but Niemi moves to the side
and Max takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
Niemi pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
Niemi rushes in with a sloppy looking punch

and Max counters into the clinch. Nicely done.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Niemi lands a shoulder strike that jolts his opponent's head backwards.
Max has Niemi pressed against the cage, preventing Niemi from circling away and getting back to striking at range.
Niemi tries to circle away but Max has him pinned against the cage.
Niemi blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
Niemi avoiding damage as Max throws knees to the body.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Max using the Thai clinch to land knees to the body.
Niemi lands with a short head shot on the inside.
Max blocks a body shot from Niemi.
Max throws a knee to the head but misses.
Max takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Niemi blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
Niemi wants to break free but Max has control.
Max landing knees to the body. They look like they could hurt.
Max misses with a knee strike.
Max looking to throw knees to the head but Niemi is blocking nicely.
Niemi lands with a short punch from the clinch.

Max is rocked!
Niemi misses with a punch to the body.
Max is still on wobbly legs! Can Niemi finish him?
Nice body punch from Niemi.
Niemi wants to break free but Max has control.
Niemi tries to break free but Max pushes him back against the cage.
Max is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Niemi is defending well for now.
Niemi is trying to push Max away but Max has him pressed against the cage, so he's going nowhere.
Max seems to have recovered his senses.
Niemi scores with a hook to the body.
Niemi tries to break the clinch but Max is controlling the position.
Niemi lands a hook that snaps the head of Max backwards.
Max keeps the fight in the clinch, despite Niemi's efforts to push away.
Jorma Niemi is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Max with an attempt at a knee that misses.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Niemi.
Max throws a knee to the head but misses.
Niemi on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
Niemi wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Max has him pressed against the cage.
Max keeps the fight in the clinch, despite Niemi's efforts to push away.
Niemi digs a right hand into Max's ribs. Those have got to be taking their toll on Max's gas tank.
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!
Niemi wants to break free but Max has control.
Max looking to throw knees to the head but Niemi is blocking nicely.
Max throws a knee to the head but misses.
Max blocks a body shot from Niemi.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Max tries a knee to the head but Niemi blocks it.
Max tries to land knees in the clinch but Niemi avoids the damage to the body.
Max tries a knee to the head but Niemi blocks it.
Niemi misses with an elbow over the top.
Niemi misses with an elbow strike.
Niemi lands a nice uppercut.
A body shot lands from Niemi.
Max landing some nice looking knees to the body.
Niemi blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
Max with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.
Niemi lands a body shot.
Niemi tries to break the clinch but Max is controlling the position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Max with an attempt at a knee that misses.
Niemi stays in close to his opponent and throws a right hand to the body.
Niemi avoiding damage as Max throws knees to the body.
Max with a knee to the head.
Niemi is trying to push Max away but Max has him pressed against the cage, so he's going nowhere.
Niemi blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
Niemi blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
A frustrated look appears on Niemi's face as he tries to break the clinch.
Max tries a knee to the head but Niemi blocks it.
Niemi gets through Max's defenses to land a nice punch to the side of the head.
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!
Niemi struggles to land a body shot inside as Max controls his hands.
Max with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.
Kurt Max has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Niemi is trying to break the clinch but Max is controlling him.

And that's the end of the fight!
That was a close round. You could make an argument for either fighter but I would give it to Jorma Niemi.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Niemi, winning every round. Will the judges agree? They are the ones who matter, even if they are often depressingly incompetent. 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 Jorge Garcia scores the fight 30:27
Judge Russell Pearce scores the fight 30:27
Judge Bruno Lombardi scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Jorma Niemi!