PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Zhao Zhuo (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Kake Nyrkki (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Zhuo comes into the arena with Kung Fu You blaring out of the sound system. Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Zhuo
vs
Nyrkki

184 cm
35
177 lbs
26 - 19 - 0

186 cm
38
185 lbs
24 - 23 - 2

Abu Dhabi Champ
Excellent boxer
Cardio machine

Good wrestler
World class MT
Powerful

FinnFighter Nutrition (Five 160Q supps!)
Perkele!

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the welterweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 26 - 19 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Zhao Zhuo!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 24 - 23 - 2, fighting out of Helsinki, Kake Nyrkki!
The judges for this bout are Anni Minnemäki, Marco Blurström and Roosa Järviläinen.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Nyrkki tries to clinch but Zhuo moves out of range.
Nyrkki on the wrong end of a nice hook.

It looks like Kake Nyrkki has been cut.
Nyrkki throws a leg kick
and Nyrkki takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
Nyrkki takes one to the chin there.
Zhuo dodges the punch combination from Nyrkki.
Nyrkki takes a jab on the nose. He smiles like he loves it and keeps coming.
Zhuo looks to score with a jab to the body but Nyrkki is just out of range.
Zhuo works the jab nicely.
Zhuo takes a nice looking leg kick right on the meat of his thigh there.
Kake Nyrkki seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Zhuo throws an overhand right that lands on Nyrkki's shoulder, as Nyrkki tries to avoid the shot.
Nyrkki looks more muscular than last time we saw him. He must have been on the weights.
A telegraphed right hand from Nyrkki misses the target.
The fans in attendance giving it up for the two fighters, who have really let it all hang out in the last minute or so!
Ouch! a nice leg kick from Nyrkki, right into the meat.
Zhuo looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Nyrkki tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.

Zhuo shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Let's see what he's got on the mat.
Zhuo loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Zhuo postures up and scores with a shot to the body and a follow up elbow to the head.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Zhuo tries to free his leg and advance position but Nyrkki is retaining full guard.
Nyrkki keeping moving, preventing Zhuo from controlling successfully.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Zhuo controls the pace of the fight for a moment.
Zhuo prevents Nyrkki from getting back to his feet.
Zhuo has been looking to land a fair amount of strikes on the ground. He might be looking to soften his opponent up in order to work for a submission.
The referee is pacing around the two fighters - he looks like he's thinking about a standup.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.
A telegraphed right hand from Zhuo misses the target.
Nyrkki avoids the body shot from Zhuo.
Zhuo misses with a hook. Nyrkki ducked under it nicely.

Zhuo fakes a strike and closes the distance, dragging Nyrkki to the ground. Zhuo is now in Nyrkki's guard.
Zhuo trying to control the position from guard on top but Nyrkki is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Zhuo drops back looking for a heel hook - he quickly realises he's not going to get it but Nyrkki manages to dive on top of him before he can escape and now Zhuo has Nyrkki in his guard.

Nyrkki won't allow Zhuo to sweep him here.
Zhuo looking to control.
Zhuo trying to strike from the bottom but really, it's not the best position to be doing that from!
Zhuo not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Zhuo lands a beautiful sweep and he's now moved into his opponent's guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Nyrkki wants to get back to his feet but Zhuo is in a dominant position and won't allow it.

Zhuo has gone for a leg lock! Nyrkki slips out almost immediately though and dives into Zhuo's guard.

Nyrkki trying to control but Zhuo is working from the bottom.
Nyrkki preventing the sweep.

Zhuo looking for a guillotine here but Nyrkki defends easily.
Nyrkki won't allow Zhuo to sweep him here.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A few boos can be heard. I'm sure they will multiply if the fighters don't pick up the pace.

Zhuo looks to be working for a triangle here. Oh, it looks like he might have it! Nyrkki has picked Zhuo up and slammed him! Zhuo can't keep hold of the triangle and Nyrkki manages to pass to side control!
Nyrkki is staying tight to Zhuo's torso, preventing him from escaping.
Zhuo manages to work his way to half guard, despite Nyrkki's best efforts.
Zhuo is looking to get full guard. It looks like he might be successful but at the last minute Nyrkki jumps into side control!
Zhuo is positioning himself to get back to half guard.
Nyrkki working away.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Zhao Zhuo dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Kake Nyrkki's cut.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action.

Nyrkki connects with a lovely jab that went straight through the gap between Zhuo's hands.
Zhuo takes one on the chin but keeps coming.
Good leg kick by Nyrkki there. It's the ones that make that thud noise that hurt and that was an almighty thud.
Nyrkki is looking to clinch.
Nice uppercut lands for Zhuo. That snapped Nyrkki's head back.
Zhao Zhuo is winning the standup battle so far.
Nyrkki motions for Zhuo to come forward. Nyrkki throws a leg kick but it misses it's target.
Zhuo attempts a counter takedown but Nyrkki avoids it well and moves away.
Zhuo checks a leg kick.
Zhuo swings widly with a right hand
and Nyrkki counters with a nice body shot.
Nyrkki on the wrong end of a decent looking cross there.
Nyrkki scores with the left hand. Zhuo knows he should have avoided that one.
Zhuo takes a shot right to the liver - Bas would have been proud of that punch.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Nyrkki takes a punch right to his stomach. That took the wind out of him momentarily.
Zhuo throws a hook to the side of Nyrkki's head but Nyrkki sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
Zhuo shoots for a double leg takedown but Nyrkki sprawls well. He's pushed Zhuo's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
No joy there for Zhuo, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Zhuo shoots for a takedown but Nyrkki saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
An inside leg kick from Nyrkki misses.
Nyrkki looking to throw a kick but he's pulled out of it.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Zhuo lunges at Nyrkki with a hook that half lands and is half blocked by Nyrkki's hand.
Nyrkki throws a right high kick that is partially blocked by Zhuo.
Nyrkki ducks right into an uppercut from Zhuo.
Zhuo smiles there as he lands a nice right hand right on the button.
Zhuo throws out a loose jab but Nyrkki uses good head movement to avoid it.
Nyrkki looking to take his opponent's legs away with the low kicks.
Zhuo cracks Nyrkki with a good shot that sees him stumbling back into the cage.
Nyrkki ducks under a wild hook from Zhuo.
Zhuo shoots in looking for a takedown but Nyrkki manages to keep the fight standing, pushing Zhuo's face into the canvas for good measure before circling away.
Nyrkki tries a quick counter leg kick but Zhuo is wise to it.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Zhao Zhuo. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Zhuo thows a left - swing and a miss!
A left and a right from Zhuo both land. Nice combination.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Nyrkki misses with a low kick.
It looked like Zhuo was trying to counter with a body shot coming off that last attack from Nyrkki.
An inside leg kick from Nyrkki misses.
Nyrkki throws a lazy head kick

and Zhuo counters with a nice shoot takedown that brings the fighters to the ground.

Nyrkki is rocked!
Zhuo being controlled here momentarily.
Nyrkki is looking to stand up but Zhuo isn't so interested in that idea.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Zhuo postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Nyrkki can't keep his opponent in guard - Zhuo advances to half guard, no doubt looking to mount.
Zhuo throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.

Zhuo is working for submissions here but there's nothing on.
Nyrkki has hold of Zhuo's hands but Zhuo slips his arm to the side and lands an elbow.
Zhuo landing with strikes to the body and head, softening up his opponent.
Zhuo not landing any meaningful shots this time.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Zhuo is trying a forearm choke… I don't think that's going to do much at this level of the game.
Zhuo stalling away here and it's allowed Nyrkki to slip out his trapped foot and regain full guard.
Nyrkki seems keen to control Zhuo's posture.
Zhuo trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Zhuo landing with the ground and pound.

That has opened up Kake Nyrkki's cut even more.
Nyrkki preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Zhuo is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Nyrkki can do to turn this around?

Zhuo drops back looking for a heel hook - he quickly realises he's not going to get it but Nyrkki manages to dive on top of him before he can escape and now Zhuo has Nyrkki in his guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Zhuo can't do much from the bottom at the moment, as Nyrkki controls the pace.
Zhuo is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Zhuo looking to hit a scissor sweep but Nyrkki is one step ahead there.

Zhuo is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
Zhuo trying to keep a closed guard but Nyrkki is proving a slippery customer.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Zhao Zhuo dominated that second round.
The cut man is working on Kake Nyrkki's cut.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin! So, we enter the final round. Let's see if either fighter can bring us a finish, or whether we're going to the judges scorecards.

Zhuo swats away the attempt to clinch by Nyrkki.
Nyrkki scores with a reasonable looking shot to the body. Zhuo doesn't seem bothered though.
Zhuo throws a shot from downtown. Nyrkki moves away and avoids it.
Nyrkki fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Zhuo manages to avoid it.
Zhuo checks a low kick. Bone on bone - not my idea of a good time.
Zhuo tries to counter with a takedown but Nyrkki is quick to defend against it.
Nyrkki throws a right hand that Zhuo ducks under and follows up with a left that Zhuo also avoids with ease.
Nyrkki throws a solid leg kick but Zhuo takes the impact on his shin and smiles at Nyrkki.
Zhuo swung with a counter right hand that didn't connect.
Zhuo misses with a straight right.
Zhuo scores with a jab to the jaw of his opponent.
Nyrkki feints with a shoulder and throws a nice leg kick to Zhuo's calf.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Zhuo fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Nyrkki manages to avoid it.
Nyrkki fails in his attempt to clinch.
Zhuo connects with a slap. Keep your fist closed son.
Nyrkki scores with a nice one two combo and darts back out of range to avoid anything coming in the opposite direction.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Zhuo rushes in with a sloppy looking punch
and Nyrkki counters with a thumping low kick.

That's one minute gone in the round.
A lazy left from Nyrkki finds it's target.
Nyrkki misses the jab.
Zhuo attempts a counter takedown but Nyrkki avoids it well and moves away.
Zhuo shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Nyrkki as he jumps to the side.
Zhuo looks to score with a jab to the body but Nyrkki is just out of range.
Nyrkki pivots as if he's going to throw a leg kick but stops half way.
Zhuo avoids the head kick by Nyrkki.
Zhuo swung with a counter right hand that didn't connect.
A jab from Nyrkki misses.
Nyrkki dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
Zhuo is really head hunting here, hardly looking to strike to the body at all.
Nyrkki lands with a thumping leg kick.
Nyrkki thows a left - swing and a miss!
Zhuo stalks Nyrkki and leaps in with a furious combination of punches. Uppercuts and crosses smash into Nyrkki's face. Nyrkki staggers backwards, shaken.
Nyrkki tries to clinch
and Zhuo cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Nyrkki throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Nyrkki tried to score with a low kick but Zhuo checks it.
Nyrkki misses with a looping right.
Zhuo drops down looking for a counter takedown but Nyrkki sprawls and moves away.
Zhao Zhuo is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Zhuo slips a straight right by Nyrkki.
Zhuo feinted with a counter takedown.
Nyrkki throws a leg kick but Zhuo checks it.
Zhuo appears to be looking for a counter takedown.
Zhuo thuds his right hand into Nyrkki's forehead from close range. That could be painful for both fighters.
Nyrkki is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Zhuo.
Zhuo keeping at a good range here, avoiding a leg kick.
Nyrkki comes forward and lands a shot to the body, then darts back out of range.
Zhuo fakes low and throws an overhand right that catches Nyrkki on the side of the head.
Jab, jab by Zhuo - just one landing.
Nyrkki lands a leg kick. The shin dug right into the meat of the thigh.
Zhuo connects with the punch.
Zhuo scores to the head and body with a nice combination!
Nyrkki wants to land a leg kick but Zhuo is out of range.
Zhuo misses with a few strikes there.
A good leg kick by Nyrkki.
Zhuo connects with a jab.
Zhuo with a hook.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Nyrkki fakes with the hands and throws a leg kick but Zhuo is out of range.
Nyrkki takes a hook to the side of the head. I wonder if that's got his ears ringing.
Zhuo tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Nyrkki swivels and escapes.
Nyrkki misses with a low kick as Zhuo jumps back.
Zhuo fakes a jab and then connects with a hook.
A shot to the liver by Zhuo. Beautiful body shot.
Nyrkki lands a leg kick and bounces back out of range.
A head kick by Nyrkki misses

so Zhuo counters with a double leg into guard. Good agility.
Zhuo controlling from the top position.
Nyrkki keeping full guard, as Zhuo tries to pass.
Nyrkki keeping moving, preventing Zhuo from controlling successfully.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Kake Nyrkki has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Nyrkki is looking to stand up but Zhuo isn't so interested in that idea.
Zhuo is just sitting in guard, looking to avoid any submissions.
Nyrkki throwing some rather feeble looking strikes off his back.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.
Nice body punch from Zhuo.
A low kick from Nyrkki misses
and Nyrkki takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Nyrkki throws out a loose jab but Zhuo uses good head movement to avoid it.

And that's the end of the fight!
That was a close round. You could make an argument for either fighter but I would give it to Zhao Zhuo.
Well Zhuo has outscored his opponent in every aspect of the fight today. Only a scarily incompetent judge or two will keep him from a well deserved win... 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 Anni Minnemäki scores the fight 30:27
Judge Marco Blurström scores the fight 30:27
Judge Roosa Järviläinen scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Zhao Zhuo!
Zhao Zhuo made sure to mention his sponsor, Affaketion in his post fight interview.