PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Meltdown Miettinen (ranked 1979 p4p, 4039 weight class) and Jimmy Nickels (ranked 243 p4p, 465 weight class). Man, I cannot wait for this one!

Miettinen
vs
Nickels

191 cm
33
235
11 - 9 - 0

190 cm
47
245
20 - 20 - 0

Good wrestling
Excellent boxer
Very quick

Good wrestler
Great elbows
Granite chin

Shadow Realm Apparel
Fantasy Threads

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 11 - 9 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Meltdown Miettinen!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 20 - 20 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Jimmy Nickels!
The judges for this bout are Saam Ante, Daniel Blasius and Nard Betker.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Nickels throws a quick head kick that skims the top of Miettinen's head.

It looks like Meltdown Miettinen has been cut.
No joy there for Nickels, who threw a few shots but didn't land.

Miettinen gets in close and instigates a clinch.
Nickels stops a takedown attempt from Miettinen.
Miettinen tries for a takedown but Nickels manages to get underhooks.
Nickels fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Miettinen tries to pull guard but Nickels forces him back to his feet, against the cage.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Meltdown Miettinen. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Nickels wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.

Miettinen has double underhooks and is working for a body lock takedown. He's got it. The fighters land in half guard but Nickels regains guard immediately.
Miettinen looking to control the position here, rather than advance.
Miettinen has controlled the position for a good 20 seconds, which will no doubt be starting to frustrate his opponent.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Miettinen pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Nickels is keeping the position for now.
Nickels will have to put a bit more behind his punches if he's going to do any damage from this position.
Miettinen forces his way into half guard.
Miettinen tries to stand but his arm is trapped.
Still in half guard, Miettinen seems content to control.

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.
Nickels tries to strike from the bottom but it doesn't land.
Miettinen throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Miettinen winds up and cracks Nickels with a swinging punch to the side of the head.
Miettinen wants to pass the guard but Nickels is defending well.
Miettinen is taking a breather. Nickels says something to him but it's hard to make out. Perhaps he's telling him to get on with it and actually do something.
Miettinen tries to stand but his arm is trapped.
The referee is pacing around the two fighters, thinking about a standup.
Miettinen is looking to take a break and control but Nickels is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Nickels rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Miettinen moves out of range and avoids them all easily.

Nickels manages to get an easy takedown there - catching Miettinen on his heels. He'll look to pass Miettinen's guard now, I'm sure.
Nickels would like to get this fight back to the feet but can't get free from the closed guard.

Miettinen kicks Nickels off and gets to his feet.

Nickels has managed to clinch.
Miettinen jumps guard but his hands slip and he falls flat on his back. Well, he's made himself look a right mug there, as Nickels walks away with a smile on his face. Miettinen gets slowly back to his feet and shakes his head.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Nickels.
Miettinen shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Nickels but Nickels pushes him off and we're back to square one.
Nickels attempts a leg kick but it's missed by a good margin.
Nickels moves in looking to clinch but Miettinen pushes him off.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Nickels stuffs the takedown attempt from Miettinen. Miettinen gets slowly back to his feet.

Nickels looks for a takedown. He's got it. We're now in half guard.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Miettinen is trying to maintain the position but Nickels is very close to passing his half guard.
Nickels with the ground and pound but Miettinen uses the opportunity to regain guard.
Nickels scoring with some ground and pound.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Miettinen looking to hit a scissor sweep but Nickels is one step ahead there.
Nickels throws an elbow that misses. Miettinen uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in Nickels's guard. Nice move by Miettinen!

And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close round but I would say that Meltdown Miettinen will probably get the nod.
The cut man is working on Meltdown Miettinen's cut.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

Miettinen changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Nickels tries to avoid it but Miettinen manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Nickels to the ground. Nickels escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
And Nickels tries to counter it with a takedown but Miettinen pushes his down on his head and steps out.
Nickels throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.

Miettinen has Nickels up against the cage in a clinch.

Miettinen manages to break the clinch.

Nickels drives through with a really nice takedown into side control.
Nickels is looking to take a break and control but Miettinen is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Miettinen sneaks back into half guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Nickels keeping composed on the top, looking to control the action.
Miettinen is refusing to be controlled, as Nickels sits in half guard.
Miettinen tries to get to full guard but Nickels has control of the leg.
Nickels not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
Miettinen trying to control here.
Nickels wants to free his trapped foot but Miettinen is holding on for dear life with his legs.
Nickels is trying to control the action in half guard but Miettinen is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.
Meltdown Miettinen overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Neither fighter has done anything of merit for a good minute or two here and the crowd are not happy about it.
Miettinen is trying to maintain the position but Nickels is very close to passing his half guard.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Miettinen misses with a jab, cross combination.
Nickels misses with a wild combination.

Nickels closes the distance and gets a trip takedown into side control. Miettinen quickly recovers to half guard.
Nickels is trying to control the action in half guard but Miettinen is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.
Miettinen moves his hips nicely and gets into full guard.
Miettinen 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 three minutes gone in the round.
Nickels wants to stand and escape but instead Miettinen has hit a sweep and he's now on top in guard.

Nickels wants to stand up but Miettinen is controlling him.
Nickels can't do much from the bottom at the moment, as Miettinen controls the pace.
Nickels wants to control but Miettinen passes easily into half guard.
Miettinen prevents Nickels from standing back up.
Nickels trying to control here.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Neither fighter is being very active at the moment, with Miettinen in particular looking to stall.

Miettinen seems to be working for a kimura but Nickels defends the submission attempt.
Miettinen keeping composed on the top, looking to control the action.
Nickels is trying to control but Miettinen manages to pass to mount!
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Nickels is trying to reverse the position but instead Miettinen has taken his back - oops!
I would not like to be Nickels right now.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Meltdown Miettinen dominated that second round.
The cut man is working on Meltdown Miettinen's cut.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin! This is the final round!

Nickels fails to land the takedown.
Miettinen shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Nickels as he avoids it easily.
Nickels tries to bum rush Miettinen with a series of wild strikes but Miettinen uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Nickels tries to drive through with a takedown attempt but Miettinen defends well and Nickels ends up having to push Miettinen into the cage where they will battle it out in the clinch.
Nickels looking to throw a kick but he's pulled out of it.
Nickels tries to close the distance and clinch but Miettinen swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Nickels swings wildly with a couple of big hooks

and Miettinen counters with a takedown into side control! That could mean trouble for Nickels!
Miettinen takes a little break here. Nickels wants to take advantage but he is being controlled well.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Miettinen decides to stand up, so the ref orders Nickels to his feet.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Miettinen throws a front kick that sends Nickels stumbling back into the cage.
Nickels takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.

Miettinen darts in and clinches Nickels up against the cage.
Nickels taking a breather.
Miettinen drops down for a takedown but doesn't get it.

Nickels breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Miettinen fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Meltdown Miettinen. That's going to take a lot out of him.

Miettinen darts in and clinches Nickels up against the cage.
Miettinen is trying to pull guard but Nickels turns him against the cage and we stay in the clinch.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Nickels tightens his grip and picks Miettinen up, before dumping him to the ground. Miettinen manages to land in guard.
Miettinen pulls Nickels in close to prevent any damage.
This is a sustained period of stalling by Miettinen.
Nickels would like to get this fight back to the feet but can't get free from the closed guard.

Nickels stands up and waves to Miettinen to follow him.
Miettinen has a takedown stuffed.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Miettinen misses with a head kick.
Miettinen misses with a looping right.
Miettinen tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Nickels swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
A head kick misses from Nickels.
Meltdown Miettinen is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Miettinen closes this distance looking for a takedown but Nickels circles away.
Nickels throws a half hearted mid kick.

Miettinen gets in close and instigates a clinch.
Nickels wants to break free but Miettinen has control.
Nickels wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.
Miettinen has dropped down and is looking to force the takedown but it's defended by Nickels after a bit of a struggle.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The pace slowing considerably in the clinch, as Miettinen takes a break from that fighting nonsense to think about the finer things in life.

Miettinen breaks the clinch.

Nickels tries to keep at a distance but Miettinen has taken the fight into the clinch.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Miettinen.
Jimmy Nickels has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Nickels tries to circle away but Miettinen has him pinned against the cage.

Nickels breaks the clinch.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Miettinen tries for a takedown but Nickels sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
Nickels tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Nickels wants to clinch.

And that's the end of the fight!
I would just about give that final round to Jimmy Nickels.
I think Miettinen has won this one but let's see what the judges have to say. 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 Saam Ante scores the fight 29:28
Judge Daniel Blasius scores the fight 30:28
Judge Nard Betker scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by split decision... Meltdown Miettinen!
A relieved looking Meltdown Miettinen thanked the fans for their support and gave the usual line about them being amazing. They seemed to believe that he actually meant it.