PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Seppo Raty (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Joonas Niemi (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Seppo Raty has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Raty
vs
Niemi

190 cm
21
220 lbs
5 - 5 - 0

190 cm
19
220 lbs
4 - 2 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter striker
Experienced

BJJ White Belt
Basic striking
Knockout power

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 5 - 5 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Seppo Raty!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 4 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Joonas Niemi!
The judges for this bout are Chris Downing, Daniel Franklin and Wesley Smith.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Raty shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Niemi pinned against the cage. Niemi gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
Raty shoots in looking for a takedown. Niemi tries to sprawl out of it but Raty keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Niemi manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
Niemi moves in looking to clinch but Raty pushes him off.
Raty circles away from the clinch attempt.
Raty keeps the fight on the outside.
No luck for Raty with that takedown attempt.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Seppo Raty. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Niemi doesn't succeed with the takedown

and Raty counters with a takedown into full mount! That could mean trouble for Niemi!
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

Raty wants to finish this one by submission but Niemi is holding onto his waist, trying to prevent any attacks from Raty.
Niemi has given up his back - I don’t know if this is a deliberate ploy to try and escape or if he is just struggling down there.

Raty is working really hard to secure the rear naked choke. Niemi defends successfully for a significant amount of time. Both fighters are looking very determined.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Raty has his hand under the chin of his opponent looking for the choke. He's nearly got it! This one could be all over! But no, Niemi has freed his hand and lives to survive another… well, another couple of seconds at least!

Raty has his opponent's back and is working for the choke.
Raty is breathing heavily.
Raty doesn't have the hooks in and Niemi manages to turn into his guard.
Niemi wants to stand and escape but instead Raty has hit a sweep and he's now on top in guard.

Niemi uses the cage to get back to his feet.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Niemi wants to clinch but Raty slips to the side

and Raty counters with a nice double leg into half guard.
Niemi throws a strike from the bottom but Raty passes into side control!
Niemi is trying to improve his position.
Niemi is not content to let Raty control the position.
Niemi gets one leg under and gets the fight to half guard.
Niemi is pressing down on Raty's left leg trying to get back to full guard. He's managed it.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Niemi lands some strikes from the bottom.
Niemi is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.

Raty is trying to work a guillotine from the top, or something like that? Don't know how he thinks he's going to get a finish from there.
Niemi wants to stand up but Raty is controlling him.
Raty wants to control from the top but Niemi keeps moving.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are getting on the fighters' backs, as the pace has dropped off in the last minute or so.
Raty looking to pass the guard.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.

Niemi clinches up with Raty and pushes him back against the cage.
Raty tries to pull guard but Niemi won't allow it.

Niemi escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Niemi tries to clinch but Raty moves away

and Raty counters with a driving takedown into guard. Nice work there by Raty.
Niemi is trying to control the position from the bottom.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Niemi keeping moving, preventing Raty from controlling successfully.
Niemi is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Seppo Raty dominated that round.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin!

Niemi has his takedown stuffed

and Raty counters with a single leg into guard. Niemi didn't expect that.
Niemi wants to stand up but Raty is controlling him.
Raty wants to control from the top but Niemi keeps moving.
Seppo Raty overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Raty preventing the sweep.
Niemi keeping moving, preventing Raty from controlling successfully.
Niemi throws a couple of shots from the bottom but they don't land.
Niemi really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Raty. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.
Niemi keeping full guard, as Raty tries to pass.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Raty drops back, looking for a kneebar! Niemi looks panicked! The fighters roll across the mat, one looking to finish, one looking to escape. Niemi looks to have wriggled free... Yes, he's got his leg free and he's dived into side control! Good work there from Niemi!
Raty tries to work a leg under to get back to half guard but Niemi wriggles his own leg back out and remains in side control.
Raty is looking to get back to his feet here but Niemi is keeping cool and he's managed to take Raty's back.
Niemi controlling well, preventing Raty from escaping the position.
Niemi not allowing Raty to control his hands.
Raty breaks Niemi's hooks off and manages to turn into his guard.
Niemi trying to punch from his back but it's not doing any damage.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are getting on the fighters' backs, as the pace has dropped off in the last minute or so.
Raty trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Raty postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Raty throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Niemi's waist but Niemi gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Raty off to one side.
Raty shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Niemi but Niemi pushes him off and we're back to square one.

Raty feints and as Niemi raises his hands in defense, Raty changes levels and drives through with a takedown into guard.

Raty postures up as if he's going to throw some strikes but drops back for an ankle! Niemi is in big trouble! He looks ready to tap! But no, he's escaped and dives on top of Raty, into his guard.
Raty throws some sloppy strikes off his back.
Raty manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Niemi manages to get himself to full guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Raty trying to control the position from guard on top but Niemi is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Raty is taking a break and basically stalling. The referee will not allow him to do that for long.

Niemi has an active guard here but Raty has managed to pass into half guard.

Raty stands up from half guard... He's had enough of that ground malarky for the time being.

That's four 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.
Raty looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Seppo Raty. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Raty shoots in but doesn't get the takedown

and Niemi counters into the clinch. Nicely done.

Niemi breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.

Raty scores with a nice takedown into half guard. Let's see what he's got on the ground.
Raty trying to control the action but Niemi is working from the bottom.
Raty is looking for the mount but instead finds himself back in full guard.
Raty stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Niemi swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Raty content to stall in guard here.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Seppo Raty dominated that second round.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action. Let's hear some noise people - this is the final round!

Niemi throws a nice looking combination but Raty bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Niemi looks to land a combination but Raty avoids it well.
Nice straight punches there by Niemi. You know Roy Jones Jr respects the hands of Niemi.
Raty has his takedown stuffed
and Niemi counters with a nice uppercut.
Niemi fails with an attempt to clinch.
Raty gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily
and Niemi counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
Niemi lands a jab-cross combination.

Raty closes the distance and clinches up, looking for a takedown. He shifts his weight and gets a nice trip into half guard.
Niemi regains full guard, whilst avoiding punches from Raty.
Raty trying to control the position from guard on top but Niemi is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Raty preventing the sweep.
Niemi wants to stand up but Raty is controlling him.
Raty trying to control but Niemi is working from the bottom.
Raty slips effortlessly into side control - very nice.
Niemi parries the strikes from Raty easily there. Raty is wary of posturing up too much because it might enable Niemi to escape.
Niemi is looking for a sweep.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Raty tries to move into full mount but can't pass Niemi's legs.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.
Niemi doesn't succeed with the takedown

and Raty counters with a nice double leg into guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Raty wants to control from the top but Niemi keeps moving.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Raty is looking for a triangle but Niemi pushes his legs off easily.
Raty tries to land a sweep but no joy.

Raty working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Niemi doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Niemi manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.
Raty is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.
Raty passes the guard and advances to mount!
Niemi is working to get back to half guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Niemi is trying to stand but he's just given Raty his back.
Niemi is defending well here and trying to improve his position.

Raty looking for the RNC.
Niemi is keeping busy.
Joonas Niemi has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Niemi is trying to stand back up.
Niemi turns into Raty and is now in his guard.

And that's the end of the fight!
Seppo Raty showed his dominance in that final round.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Raty, 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 Chris Downing scores the fight 30:27
Judge Daniel Franklin scores the fight 30:27
Judge Wesley Smith scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Seppo Raty!