PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Yayi Zinsou (ranked 2930 p4p, 3794 weight class) and Meltdown Miettinen (ranked 340 p4p, 404 weight class). Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Zinsou
vs
Miettinen

199 cm
42
273
37 - 50 - 0

191 cm
30
235
3 - 6 - 0

Good wrestling
Solid boxing
Cardio machine

Good wrestler
World class boxer
Good gas tank

The Huntington New Age Wellness Community
Bondi MMA ðŸï¸

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 37 - 50 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Yayi Zinsou!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 3 - 6 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Meltdown Miettinen!
The judges for this bout are Wagner Zegers, Paul Aken and Patrick Alders.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Zinsou wants to clinch but Miettinen slips to the side

and Miettinen counters with a nice double leg into side control. Zinsou won't be happy with that.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Miettinen is staying tight to Zinsou's torso, preventing him from escaping.
Miettinen advances to full mount.
Zinsou knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Miettinen on the ground.
Miettinen is still in mount, landing shots to his trapped opponent. Zinsou can't stay in a position like this for much longer.
Miettinen trying to control but Zinsou is having none of it.
Zinsou tries to get back to half guard but can't.
Zinsou tries to hold on but Miettinen postures up.
Zinsou is wriggling around trying to escape.
Miettinen tucks in and makes sure he doesn't lose the dominant position.
Zinsou wants to control but Miettinen is having none of it.
Zinsou is trying desperately to improve position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Zinsou's corner are shouting for him to stand up but that's bad cornering - how is he meant to stand up when he's mounted? He should be looking to improve his position on the ground before trying to stand back up.
Zinsou tries to get back to half guard but can't.
Zinsou in a bad spot here, taking shots to the head.
Zinsou is looking to get to half guard.
Miettinen looking to control and managing it successfully.
Zinsou is squirming around, avoiding Miettinen's attempts to control the action.
Zinsou is looking to get to half guard.
Zinsou tries to hold on but Miettinen pushes him away.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Zinsou is wriggling around trying to escape.
Miettinen looking to control and managing it successfully.
Zinsou is trying desperately to improve position.
Zinsou is trying to stand.
Miettinen lands a shot to the body, followed up by a shot to the exposed head of his trapped opponent.
Zinsou is desperately trying to get back to half guard.

Miettinen has hold of Zinsou's left arm, perhaps looking for a submission. The two fighters tussle over control of the isolated limb and Zinsou manages to get his arm back to his side and away from danger.
Zinsou is writhing around trying to get back to his feet.
Zinsou is trying to stand up.
Miettinen working away from the top, dropping strikes.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Miettinen prevents Zinsou from getting the reversal.
Miettinen looking to control and managing it successfully.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Zinsou slips a leg in and gets back to half guard.
Miettinen performing his best blanket impression for a moment.
Miettinen has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
Miettinen throwing shots but Zinsou is blocking nicely.

Miettinen is working for a submission of some sort.
Zinsou scrambles, trying to get to his feet, but Miettinen manages to mount him!
Zinsou is wriggling around trying to escape.
Miettinen misses with a series of strikes from mount. He'll no doubt be working on his ground and pound when he gets back to the gym.
Zinsou can't escape the position.
Miettinen takes a little breather and maintains the position. The referee will be looking for him to stay active from such a dominant position though.

Miettinen with some aggressive grappling here. He's looking for submissions here, rather than waiting for the opportunity to counter.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Miettinen punishing his opponent with strikes.
Zinsou is squirming around, avoiding Miettinen's attempts to control the action.

Miettinen is working for a guillotine from mount but Zinsou frees his head quite easily.
Miettinen blocks Zinsou's feeble attempts to strike from the bottom.
Zinsou tries to reverse the position but Miettinen maintains control.
Zinsou tries to lock up and control but Miettinen gives him a forearm to the face and pushes him away.
Zinsou is in a horrible position here, under a barrage of strikes, he's managing to avoid any damage.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Miettinen controlling from the full mount.
Miettinen is trying to take his opponent's back.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Meltdown Miettinen dominated that round.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare each other down, ready to get back to the action.

Zinsou shoots in but Miettinen avoids the takedown attempt easily.
Miettinen tries a counter takedown but it's more of a dummy move, and he uses it to push himself away.
Zinsou misses with a body shot.
Zinsou jabs at Miettinen's body.
Zinsou shoots in looking for a takedown but Miettinen manages to keep the fight standing, pushing Zinsou's face into the canvas for good measure before circling away.
Miettinen stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Miettinen wants it to stay on the feet.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Yayi Zinsou. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Miettinen throws out a loose jab but Zinsou uses good head movement to avoid it.
Yayi Zinsou seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

Miettinen closes the distance and pushes Zinsou back into the cage.

Miettinen has managed to pull guard. Let's see whether he can work an aggressive guard. It will also be interesting to see what tactics Zinsou uses from the top position.
Miettinen looking to hit a scissor sweep but Zinsou is one step ahead there.
Zinsou trying to control the position from guard on top but Miettinen is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Miettinen lands a beautiful sweep and he's now moved into his opponent's guard.

Miettinen postures up.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Miettinen trying to control but Zinsou is working from the bottom.
Miettinen preventing the sweep.
Miettinen throwing strikes but missing.
Miettinen controls from within his opponent's guard.
Zinsou looks to be in better condition than last time we saw him fight. Obviously he's been working hard on his cardio.
Miettinen won't allow Zinsou to sweep him here.
Miettinen wants to control from the top but Zinsou keeps moving.
The step up in weight doesn't seem to be a problem for Miettinen. He's performing admirably here against the bigger man.
Zinsou wants to sweep here but Miettinen controlling him for the moment.
Miettinen postures up and lands some nice ground and pound.
Miettinen slows down the pace of the fight for a moment. He'll need to remain active if he doesn't want to see the fight stood back up.
Miettinen postures up.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
My god... these two guys really need to pick up the pace or everyone will leave to go get a beer.
Zinsou looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Zinsou trying to control the position.
Miettinen prevents Zinsou from getting back to his feet.
Zinsou 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.
Meltdown Miettinen has got the better of the ground game so far.
Miettinen slips nicely into half guard.
Miettinen thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Zinsou's head.
Zinsou misses with some strikes from the bottom.

Miettinen is working for submissions here but there's nothing on.
Miettinen trying to control the pace.

Miettinen decides to return to a standing position.
Zinsou defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Miettinen.
Zinsou attempts a counter takedown but Miettinen avoids it well and moves away.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Zinsou lands a jab.
Zinsou is looking to take this fight into the clinch.

Miettinen tries to sprawl but Zinsou drives through with a takedown into half guard.
Miettinen is refusing to be controlled, as Zinsou sits in half guard.
Miettinen has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Miettinen blocking the ground and pound attempt from Zinsou.
Miettinen has found himself in a tricky position here. He's been working his transitions in training so let's see if he can work his way out of it.
Zinsou is looking to take a break and control but Miettinen is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Miettinen blocking the ground and pound attempt from Zinsou.
Miettinen wants to control but Zinsou is keeping busy.
Zinsou with the ground and pound but Miettinen uses the opportunity to regain guard.
Zinsou throwing strikes from guard but Miettinen blocks nicely.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Miettinen working a defensive guard here.
Zinsou wants to pass the guard but Miettinen is keeping the position.
Zinsou passes easily into side control. Nice work.
Miettinen tries to escape but Zinsou is in control.
Miettinen struggling a bit here.
Miettinen is trying to get back to half guard. He's pushing on Zinsou's leg. He's managed it. Nice work.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Miettinen is staying active underneath Zinsou, who seems content to just control the action from this position.
Miettinen wants to control but Zinsou is keeping busy.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Meltdown Miettinen showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business. This is the final round!

A momentary lapse in concentration from Zinsou enables Miettinen to shoot in and score with a neat double leg. Zinsou manages to secure a closed guard as the fighters hit the mat.
Miettinen postures up and lands a big shot to Zinsou's brow.
Miettinen wants to control from the top but Zinsou keeps moving.
Miettinen stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Zinsou swivels though and keeps the full guard.

Miettinen stands up from guard. Let's bang!
Miettinen takes a jab right on the nose. That must have hurt but he shrugs his shoulders and looks to return the favor.
Miettinen shoots in but no luck this time.

Miettinen feints and then dives in with a takedown. That was a long way out but the feint bought him enough time to close the distance and complete the takedown. Now we'll play guard for a bit and see who can get the better of that position.
Miettinen trying to control the position from guard on top but Zinsou is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Miettinen controls from within his opponent's guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Miettinen working in close now, lands a nice elbow to the side of Zinsou's head.
Miettinen controls from within his opponent's guard.
Miettinen wants to pass the guard but Zinsou is keeping the position.
Miettinen works a leg free and moves into half guard.
Zinsou flails away from the bottom but he's not doing any damage.
Miettinen thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.
Zinsou tries to get to full guard but Miettinen has control of the leg.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Zinsou is looking to control Miettinen's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Zinsou avoid being mounted?
Miettinen moves nicely into side control.
Miettinen is looking to take a break and control but Zinsou is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Miettinen landing with strikes to the head and body from side control.
Miettinen wants to lay and pray for a moment but Zinsou keeps working.
Zinsou tries to improve position but can't.
Miettinen tries to land with some ground and pound but misses.
Zinsou is looking to reverse the position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Miettinen decides to take the fight back to the feet.
Zinsou tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Miettinen was well out of range. Poor timing from Zinsou.

Miettinen scores a trip takedown into side control. Nice.
Zinsou wants to get back to his feet but Miettinen is dominant here and he's now got Zinsou's back!
Zinsou is really stuck here.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Zinsou is working hard here to advance position.

Miettinen is working hard for the rear naked choke here.
Meltdown Miettinen is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
Miettinen has the hooks sunk in and you can see the will to fight slowly draining out of Zinsou's body.
Zinsou looks to control his opponent's hands but he's not mananging it at the moment.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.

Miettinen has his opponent's back and is working for the choke.
Well, with Miettinen on his back, surely it's only a matter of time before Zinsou is tapping out... Can he escape the position?
Zinsou is being controlled on the ground here - he must escape this position otherwise surely the end is near.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Let's hope that Miettinen 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.
We're seeing a lot of stalling here from Miettinen.
Zinsou is trying to stand back up.
You can see the frustration on Zinsou's face… He knows he is in trouble unless he improves his position sooner rather than later.
Yayi Zinsou has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Miettinen is trying to stick to Zinsou's back but Zinsou is turning into Miettinen. He's managed to reverse the position - now he's in Miettinen's guard. Polite applause from the crowd in appreciation of some nice Jiu Jitsu by Zinsou.

And that's the end of the fight!
Meltdown Miettinen comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Miettinen winning every round here. Surely the decision will go his way and he'll pick up a well deserved decision victory. 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 Wagner Zegers scores the fight 27:30
Judge Paul Aken scores the fight 27:30
Judge Patrick Alders scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Meltdown Miettinen!
After winning the bout, Meltdown Miettinen thanked all his fans and promised he'd do even better in his next fight. The crowd seemed to love his humility.