PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Pekka Pouta (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Iikka Nikkinen (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Iikka Nikkinen is the more experienced fighter, so let's see if that makes a difference tonight.

Pouta
vs
Nikkinen

175 cm
18
160 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

168 cm
19
155 lbs
1 - 2 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Prefers ground

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Tends to cut

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the lightweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Pekka Pouta!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Iikka Nikkinen!
The judges for this bout are Matti Vanhoillinen, Roosa Järviläinen and Tarja Halkonen.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Nikkinen gets the takedown into side control.
Pouta is not content to let Nikkinen control the position.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

Nikkinen tries for a kimura but Pouta is defending well.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Pouta is trying to improve his position.
Pouta struggling a bit here.

Nikkinen is trying to get an arm triangle but Pouta is defending well.

Nikkinen stands up.
Nikkinen shoots in for a double leg but Pouta sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Nikkinen fails with a takedown attempt.
Pouta fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.

Pouta looking for a takedown here - he's got it.
Pouta connects with a couple of short punches.
Pouta trying to control the position from guard on top but Nikkinen is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Nikkinen being controlled here, momentarily.
Pouta wants to control from the top but Nikkinen keeps moving.
Nikkinen keeping full guard, as Pouta tries to pass.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Pouta wants to control from the top but Nikkinen keeps moving.
Pouta wants to get up but he can't break Nikkinen's closed guard. He needs to be careful trying to break the legs open, as he's open to submissions here.
Pouta throws and elbow that misses. Nikkinen uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in Pouta's guard. Nice move by Nikkinen!
Pouta trying to keep a closed guard but Nikkinen is proving a slippery customer.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.
Nikkinen tries to clinch up.

Nikkinen moves into the clinch.
Nikkinen leaning against his opponent.
Nikkinen lands a damaging elbow.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Nikkinen is working for a takedown up against the cage. He can't get it on this occasion though.
Pekka Pouta has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Iikka Nikkinen.

Nikkinen gets control of Pouta's arms and successfully pulls guard. Nikkinen will no doubt be looking for submissions off his back.
Pouta throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Nikkinen wants to control here, rather than go for any submissions from the bottom. At least for now.
Pouta wants to control from the top but Nikkinen keeps moving.
Nikkinen looking for a sweep. Not yet Nikkinen, not yet.

Nikkinen is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
Nikkinen looks gassed!
Pouta looking to sit in guard and control but Nikkinen gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.
Pouta is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Pouta is looking to sweep but instead, Nikkinen has passed into half guard.
Pouta wants to control but Nikkinen is keeping busy.
Nikkinen is controlling the pace.

Nikkinen is trying for a guillotine from the top but the pressure isn't in the right place so Pouta is just riding it out for now. Nikkinen eventually gives up the hold.
Nikkinen prevents Pouta from improving his position.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Pouta with a poor takedown

and Nikkinen counters with a nice single leg takedown and he's in Pouta's guard now.
Nikkinen preventing the sweep.
Nikkinen not doing a lot at the moment. He'll have to show some more aggression or the fight will get stood up.
Pouta working a defensive guard here.
Pouta is going to have to think about doing something other than just controlling because Nikkinen is managing to avoid having the position dictated to him.
Nikkinen trying to control the position from guard on top but Pouta is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Pouta trying to control the position.
Pouta can't do much from the bottom at the moment, as Nikkinen controls the pace.
Pouta trying to control the position.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

That's one minute gone in the round.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Nikkinen fails in his attempt to clinch.
Pouta throws a right hand that Nikkinen ducks under and follows up with a left that Nikkinen also avoids with ease.
Nikkinen doesn't succeed with the takedown

and Pouta counters with a nice shoot takedown that brings the fighters to the ground.
Nikkinen is pulling down on Pouta's head to control his posture.
Pouta has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.
Pouta looking to sit in guard and control but Nikkinen gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.
Nikkinen is stalling in the full guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Nikkinen postures up and lands a big shot to Pouta's brow.
Pouta being controlled here, momentarily.
Nikkinen postures up.

Pouta looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Nikkinen sitting in guard here, content to control.

Pouta is working an open guard so Nikkinen takes the opportunity to get back to his feet.
Nikkinen misses with a head kick.
Pouta closes the distance but Nikkinen moves to the side

and Nikkinen holds on and brings the fighters into a clinch.
Nikkinen can't get the takedown.
Nikkinen avoiding damage.
Pouta has hold of a leg and is looking for a trip takedown. Nikkinen avoids it nicely though and we remain in the clinch.
Nikkinen scores with a hook to the body.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Pouta pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Nikkinen tries to clinch there but Pouta circles away.
Nikkinen has his takedown stuffed

and Pouta counters with a takedown into full mount! That could mean trouble for Nikkinen!
Pekka Pouta has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Iikka Nikkinen.
Pouta trying to control but Nikkinen is having none of it.
Nikkinen is in all sorts of trouble here.
Pouta working away from the top, dropping strikes.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Nikkinen is trying to get back to his feet but can't.
Pouta lands a shot to the body, followed up by a shot to the exposed head of his trapped opponent.
Nikkinen wants to hold on but Pouta pushes him away.
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 Pekka Pouta will probably get the nod.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business. This is the final round!

Like a baseball bat into the meat of his leg there - nice leg kick by Pouta.
Pouta shoots and misses

and Nikkinen counters with a nice double leg into guard.

Pouta looking for a guillotine here but Nikkinen defends easily.
Nikkinen is intent on slowing down the pace of the fight, simply looking to control.
Pouta looking to control but Nikkinen passes into half guard.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Nikkinen controlling the action here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Pouta avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Nikkinen.
Pouta wants to get back to full guard.
Nikkinen trying to control the pace.
Pouta is trying to control but can't.
Nikkinen seems content to maintain position for now, rather than mounting any offense.
Pouta tries to get to full guard but Nikkinen has control of the leg.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Well. There's a bit of a lull in the action here and the crowd are starting to get restless.
The referee calls for the fighters to work.
Iikka Nikkinen has got the better of the ground game so far.
Pouta is in trouble now - Nikkinen has advanced to mount!
Nikkinen tucks in and makes sure he doesn't lose the dominant position.
Let's hope that Nikkinen has the urge to step up the pace any second now because for the last 15 or 20 seconds he's just been holding on tight.

Despite being in the dominant position, Iikka Nikkinen just isn't active enough and the referee decides to stand the fighters back up.

Nikkinen gets in close and instigates a clinch.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Nikkinen breaks the clinch.
Nikkinen misses with a takedown attempt

and Pouta counters with a driving takedown into guard. Nice work there by Pouta.
Nikkinen looking to control but Pouta passes into half guard.
Pouta trying to control the action but Nikkinen is working from the bottom.
Nikkinen is in trouble now - Pouta has advanced to mount!
Nikkinen wants to control but Pouta is having none of it.
Pouta trying to control but he's not successful this time.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Nikkinen slips a leg in and gets back to half guard.

Pouta decides he's had enough of the ground and stands up.
Pouta misses with a takedown

and Nikkinen holds on and brings the fighters into a clinch.
Pouta is working for a takedown up against the cage. He can't get it on this occasion though.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Pekka Pouta. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Pouta is pressed up against the cage. Nikkinen has hold of a leg and is looking to drag Pouta down to the mat. Pouta avoids the attempt though and has circled away. We're back to striking at a distance.

Nikkinen looking for a takedown here - he's got it.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Pouta controls Nikkinen momentarily but Nikkinen frees himself.
Pouta will have to put a bit more behind his punches if he's going to do any damage from this position.

And that's the end of the fight!
Iikka Nikkinen comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Nikkinen has won this one but let's see whether the judges agree with me. 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 Roosa Järviläinen scores the fight 27:30
Judge Tarja Halkonen scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Iikka Nikkinen!