PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Miilo Nurkkanen (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Las Mambo (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Nurkkanen comes to the cage accompanied by When im gone remixed by DJ Darkjuice . Las Mambo will no doubt be trying to keep this one on the feet, where he has a distinct advantage.

Nurkkanen
vs
Mambo

190 cm
23
190 lbs
2 - 5 - 1

185 cm
34
194 lbs
22 - 18 - 0

Abu Dhabi Champ
Basic striking
Cardio machine

Good wrestler
Good elbows
Good gas tank

PED Nutrition

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the middleweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 2 - 5 - 1, fighting out of Helsinki, Miilo Nurkkanen!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 22 - 18 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Las Mambo!
The judges for this bout are Ben Zyskovitsi, Tarja Halkonen and Roosa Järviläinen.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Nurkkanen darts in and lands a nice takedown into half guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Mambo is trying to maintain the position but Nurkkanen is very close to passing his half guard.
Mambo moves into full guard.
Nurkkanen content to stall in guard here.
Nurkkanen trying to control but Mambo is working from the bottom.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Mambo tries to land a sweep but no joy.

Mambo is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Nurkkanen is aware though and is defending well.
Nurkkanen seems content to control from guard here. He's going to have to remain active though if he doesn't want to get stood back up.
Nurkkanen seems to have a rather negative gameplan on the ground. He seems keen to just score the takedown and hold down Mambo for as long as he can get away with.

That's one minute gone in the round.

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.

Mambo closes the distance, clinches up and gets a nice trip takedown into side control. Very smooth.
Nurkkanen manages to land a sweep and he's now on top! Lovely Jiu Jitsu!
Nurkkanen is keen to just control but Mambo is a slippery customer.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Nurkkanen not doing much here.

Mambo is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Nurkkanen pulls his head out easily.
Nurkkanen trying to control the pace.
Mambo is looking for a sweep. Nurkkanen is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Nurkkanen trying to control the action but Mambo is working from the bottom.
Mambo has been taking part in the yoga sessions down at Cozad MMA Helsinki. Presumably he's going to look for a slick submission... Or maybe he's looking to avoid one.
Neither fighter is being very active at the moment, with Nurkkanen in particular looking to stall.
Mambo is looking for a sweep. Nurkkanen is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Mambo trying to hold on to Nurkkanen's head to control him but Nurkkanen postures up.
Nurkkanen takes a deep breath and rests his weight momentarily on top of his opponent, to control the position.
Nurkkanen prevents Mambo from standing back up.

Mambo actively working from the bottom here.

Mambo is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Nurkkanen pulls his head out easily.
Mambo wants to get back to full guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Nurkkanen is looking to take a break and control but Mambo is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Mambo connects with a body shot.

Nurkkanen has managed to clinch.
Nurkkanen is trying to drag Mambo to the mat but Mambo just about manages to keep his footing. He used the cage to his advantage there.
Mambo is looking for a takedown up against the cage. Nurkkanen gets underhooks though and prevents the takedown attempt.

Mambo tightens his grip and picks Nurkkanen up, before dumping him to the ground. Nurkkanen manages to land in guard.

Nurkkanen is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
Nurkkanen keeping moving, preventing Mambo from controlling successfully.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.

Nurkkanen looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
Mambo is intent on slowing down the pace of the fight, simply looking to control.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Las Mambo will probably get the nod.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

Nurkkanen shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Mambo as he jumps to the side.
Mambo misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Nurkkanen shoots in for a double leg but Mambo sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
Mambo looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
Las Mambo is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Nurkkanen fails to land the takedown.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Miilo Nurkkanen. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Horrible takedown attempt by Mambo or perhaps it was just good defense by Nurkkanen, which made it look bad.

Mambo gets caught napping as Nurkkanen dives in and scores a takedown. Mambo manages to retain guard.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Mambo throwing some rather feeble looking strikes off his back.
Nurkkanen engaging in some classic timewasting tactics.

Mambo has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Nurkkanen can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Nurkkanen trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Nurkkanen not doing a lot at the moment. He'll have to show some more aggression or the fight will get stood up.
Nurkkanen trying to control the position from guard on top but Mambo is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Miilo Nurkkanen overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.

Nurkkanen got a little sloppy there for a moment and Mambo has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Nurkkanen has managed to get both his arms back between Mambo's legs - danger averted.
Mambo trying to keep a closed guard but Nurkkanen is proving a slippery customer.
We've been hearing good reports from Nurkkanen's training camp. Apparently he has been rolling around with some good quality BJJ practitioners and has been sharpening his skills. Let's see if that has an impact on the fight today.
Nurkkanen trying to control the position from guard on top but Mambo is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Mambo throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Nurkkanen's waist but Nurkkanen gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Mambo off to one side.

Mambo closes the distance and scores a nice trip takedown into half guard. Nurkkanen did well to prevent Mambo getting side control.

Nurkkanen is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Mambo pulls his head out easily.

Nurkkanen looking for submissions off his back.

Mambo is looking for a kimura but he's never going to get it from there.
Mambo working over Nurkkanen with some ground and pound. Nurkkanen looks like he wants out of this position, which is understandable.

Nurkkanen actively working from the bottom here.
Mambo working Nurkkanen over with strikes.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Mambo seems to be taking a bit of a break to think of his next move. He lands a short punch in the meantime.

Nurkkanen looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.
Nurkkanen won't allow Mambo to pass to mount.

Nurkkanen looking for submissions off his back.

Nurkkanen is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Mambo pulls his head out easily.

Mambo is sneakily working for an arm triangle but Nurkkanen sees it coming and defends easily.
Nurkkanen is trying to defend against the ground and pound but Mambo scores with a couple of nice shots.
Mambo lands with a punch from half guard.

Nurkkanen looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Mambo wants to control but Nurkkanen is keeping him busy.

Nurkkanen is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Mambo pulls his head out easily.
The two fighters exchange a few words. I couldn't hear what they were saying but maybe it's more fun if you make it up yourself. Mambo connects with a nice short shot to Nurkkanen's temple.

Mambo is looking for a kimura here.

Mambo is working for a submission of some sort.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.

Nurkkanen looking for submissions off his back.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Las Mambo 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! Let's hear some noise people - this is the final round!

Nurkkanen doesn't succeed with the takedown
and Mambo counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
Nurkkanen is trying hard to land a takedown here. Mambo sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.
Mambo appears to be waiting to throw a counter punch to the body.

Mambo clinches with his opponent.
Mambo lands an elbow inside.

Nurkkanen gets a nice trip takedown into half guard.
Mambo wants to control but Nurkkanen is keeping busy and won't allow it.

Mambo looking for submissions off his back.
Mambo is not content to let Nurkkanen control the position.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Mambo is looking to improve his position.
Mambo won't allow Nurkkanen to pass to mount.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Nurkkanen trying to control the action but Mambo is working from the bottom.
Mambo makes his way to full guard. A much better position for Mambo.
Mambo can't do much from the bottom at the moment, as Nurkkanen controls the pace.
Nurkkanen wants to control from the top but Mambo keeps moving.

Mambo has his foot on Nurkkanen's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Nurkkanen works his way back into a safe position though.
Nurkkanen tries to free his leg and advance position but Mambo is retaining full guard.
Mambo keeping moving, preventing Nurkkanen from controlling successfully.
Mambo scores with a nice shot.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are hurling abuse towards the fighters... You can hardly blame them though because there isn't a lot going on in the fight.

Mambo looking for subs off his back but Nurkkanen has passed one foot through into half guard.
Mambo has been the more effective fighter overall so far.

Nurkkanen is working for a kimura but Mambo is defending it quite comfortably.
Nurkkanen trying to mount his opponent but Mambo defends it.
Nurkkanen not doing much here.
Nurkkanen wants to free his trapped foot but Mambo is holding on for dear life with his legs.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Mambo is staying active underneath Nurkkanen, who seems content to just control the action from this position.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Nurkkanen gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily
enabling Mambo to counter with a crisp jab.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Miilo Nurkkanen. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Nurkkanen fails with the takedown.
Mambo fails with an attempt to clinch.

Nurkkanen tries to sprawl but Mambo drives through with a takedown into half guard.

Nurkkanen actively working from the bottom here.
Mambo seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Nurkkanen does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.
Las Mambo is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.

Nurkkanen is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Mambo pulls his head out easily.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Mambo takes a deep breath and rests his weight momentarily on top of his opponent, to control the position.
Mambo is pressing down on Nurkkanen's thigh, looking to free his foot. Nurkkanen is holding on for now.

Mambo is looking for a kimura. It's going to be difficult to finish that from half guard though and Nurkkanen defends it well.
Mambo blocks the strikes from Nurkkanen.

Nurkkanen actively working from the bottom here.
Mambo controlling the pace.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Mambo trying to control from Nurkkanen's half guard. Nurkkanen has other ideas though and has regained full guard.
Miilo Nurkkanen has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Mambo trying to control but Nurkkanen is working from the bottom.

And that's the end of the fight!
Las Mambo comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Mambo 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 Ben Zyskovitsi scores the fight 27:30
Judge Tarja Halkonen scores the fight 27:30
Judge Roosa Järviläinen scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Las Mambo!
Las Mambo thanked the fans post fight for their support.