PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Silence Freeman (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Nakamura Minskiy (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Both fighters really staring each other down here, as Nakamura Minskiy enters the cage!

Freeman
vs
Minskiy

175 cm
24
225 lbs
0 - 1 - 0

193 cm
25
220 lbs
0 - 1 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Inexperienced

Dangerous GnP
Excellent boxer
Heavy handed

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 0 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Silence Freeman!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Nakamura Minskiy!
The judges for this bout are Arvi Lind, Anni Minnemäki and Tarja Halkonen.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Freeman dodges the punch combination from Minskiy.
A cross from Minskiy lands.
Minskiy throws a series of punches but Freeman avoids them all with ease.
Nakamura Minskiy seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
No joy there for Minskiy, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
We can't be sure of the tactics at this early stage but we have heard that Minskiy has been working on his takedowns a lot in the buildup to the fight and we can only assume he's going to look to take this to the mat.
Freeman tries to clinch but Minskiy moves out of range.
Minskiy throws a right and a left that Freeman avoids nicely.
Minskiy misses with a series of wild punches.

Freeman fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Minskiy, pushing him back against the cage.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Minskiy working hard to break the clinch.
Freeman will no doubt start fighting again in a minute but for now he's just having a little rest, leaning Minskiy up against the cage.
Minskiy tries to break the clinch but Freeman is controlling the position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Minskiy is trying to break free.
Minskiy wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.
Freeman is looking for a takedown.

Freeman manages to break the clinch.
Minskiy misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Minskiy throws a series of punches but Freeman avoids them all with ease.
Freeman showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Minskiy.
Freeman misses with the combination.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Minskiy throws a right and a left that both miss.
Minskiy throws a combination that misses
and Freeman counters with a left to the body.
Minskiy looks winded!

Freeman closes the distance and looks for a trip takedown... aaaand he's got it - Freeman lands in his opponent's guard.
Minskiy is wriggling around but Freeman manages to pass to half guard.

Minskiy is refusing to be controlled, as Freeman sits in half guard.
Freeman throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
We get told so often about how wrestlers don't like to be on their backs. Let's see if Minskiy can do anything to dispel that myth.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Freeman trying to control the action but Minskiy is working from the bottom.

Freeman is looking for a kimura but he's never going to get it from there.
Freeman trying to control from half guard but Minskiy is working away.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Freeman has freed up his trapped foot and advances to mount.
Freeman is still in mount, landing shots to his trapped opponent. Minskiy can't stay in a position like this for much longer.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Freeman punching from mount but Minskiy doing a good job of avoiding damage.
Minskiy really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Freeman. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.
Minskiy is in a horrible position here, under a barrage of strikes, he's managing to avoid any damage.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Nakamura Minskiy will probably get the nod.
That's time! Freeman's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight.

Freeman fakes the leg kick and cracks Minskiy in the body.
Minskiy misses with a combination

and Freeman holds on and brings the fighters into a clinch.

Freeman breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Freeman shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Minskiy sprawls well. Minskiy wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Freeman gets slowly back to his feet.
Freeman ducks right into an uppercut from Minskiy.
Minskiy is breathing heavily.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Freeman lands a jab.
Freeman shoots in and drives through. Minskiy sprawls well.
Freeman ducks right into an uppercut from Minskiy.
Freeman lands with a thumping leg kick.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Freeman throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Minskiy rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Freeman moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Freeman doesn't manage to clinch there - Minskiy circles away.
Minskiy swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
Minskiy scores with a nice one two combo and darts back out of range to avoid anything coming in the opposite direction.
Freeman misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Silence Freeman. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Freeman ducks right into an uppercut from Minskiy.
Minskiy misses the jab.
Minskiy avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Minskiy throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Minskiy swats away the attempt to clinch by Freeman.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Freeman drops down and drives through with a powerful takedown into guard.

Minskiy has his feet on Freeman's hips. He pushes off and gets to his feet. Nice work.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Minskiy throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Freeman scores with a head kick.
Minskiy fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Minskiy stuffs the takedown.
Minskiy defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Freeman.
A left and a right from Minskiy both land. Nice combination.
Minskiy misses with a jab, cross combination.
Minskiy throws a right and a left that Freeman avoids nicely.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Minskiy feints a jab promting Freeman to slip. Minskiy then demonstrates his capabilities by jabbing again. Freeman slips again and ducks right into an uppercut.
Minskiy has used his reach advantage pretty well so far tonight.
Minskiy fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Freeman changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Minskiy tries to avoid it but Freeman manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Minskiy to the ground. Minskiy escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
Minskiy slips a jab and a cross from Freeman.
Freeman moves out of range as Minskiy strikes.
Minskiy misses with a wild combination.
Minskiy keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
No joy there for Minskiy, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Freeman showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Minskiy.
Minskiy throws a left and a right that both miss
and Freeman connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Freeman looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
Sloppy strikes from Minskiy. Those never looked like landing.
Minskiy throws a jab, cross combination which is slipped
and Freeman makes him pay by landing a thudding low kick.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Minskiy misses with a jab, cross combination.
Minskiy throws a right hand that Freeman ducks under and follows up with a left that Freeman also avoids with ease.
Freeman jinks towards his opponent looking like he wants to counter with a mid kick but doesn't commit.
Sloppy strikes from Minskiy. Those never looked like landing.
Minskiy rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Freeman moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Freeman appears to be looking for a big counter.
Minskiy goes to the watering hole and comes back with a big thumbs up from the judges as he scores a three punch combo.
Nice body kick from Freeman.
Freeman takes an uppercut right on the button but keeps his composure.
A punch combination from Minskiy misses.
Minskiy takes a jab right on the nose. That must have hurt but he shrugs his shoulders and looks to return the favor.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Nakamura Minskiy showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business. Let's get this one finished - here comes the final round!

Freeman looks for a takedown. He's got it. We're now in half guard.

Minskiy has one foot on Freeman's thigh - he pushes off and manages to get back to his feet.
Nakamura Minskiy seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Some wild striking there from Minskiy.
Minskiy throws an off balance right hand
and Freeman counters with a body kick that brings a smile to the face of both fighters.
Minskiy has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Freeman staying out of range there.
Minskiy lands with a nice combination. Freeman backs away looking to recover.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.

Freeman gets in close and instigates a clinch.

Freeman breaks the clinch.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

Freeman closes the distance, clinches up and gets a nice trip takedown into side control. Very smooth.

Minskiy sneaks out the side door and pushes Freeman away - he's back to his feet. The crowd show their appreciation for the escape.
Nakamura Minskiy is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Minskiy throws a couple of head shots and lands with the final one - a decent hook, which struck Freeman on the side of the head.
Minskiy throws a combination that misses
and Freeman counters with a series of strikes. Minskiy will be more careful next time no doubt.
Minskiy misses with the combination.
Freeman slips a jab and a cross from Minskiy.
Freeman appears to be looking for a counter takedown.
Freeman wants to clinch up but Minskiy keeps it at a distance.
Minskiy misses with a hook. Freeman ducked under it nicely.
Minskiy throws a left and a right that both miss

and Freeman holds on and brings the fighters into a clinch.
The referee calls for Freeman to work.

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

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Decent striking displayed by Minskiy there.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Freeman misses with a takedown attempt - Minskiy sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
Minskiy throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Freeman.
Minskiy throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Freeman tries to counter by clinching up but Minskiy breaks away and moves out of range.
Freeman shoots in for a takedown but Minskiy shows good takedown defense.
Minskiy rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Freeman moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Minskiy pushes forward with a 1-2 combination that forces Freeman back to the cage. Minskiy follows up with a solid lead hook to the liver.
Minskiy fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Freeman is looking to counter the offense by Minskiy and move into the clinch.
Freeman dodges the punch combination from Minskiy.
A right-left combo lands from Minskiy.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Minskiy misses with an uppercut
and Freeman cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Minskiy looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Freeman throws a nice looking combination but Minskiy bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
No joy there for Minskiy, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Freeman looked to counter with a high kick but didn't commit.
Minskiy misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Freeman with a lazy takedown attempt

and Minskiy counters by moving into the clinch. Good anticipation by Minskiy.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Silence Freeman. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Minskiy wants to get back to striking at distance but Freeman won't allow it.
Freeman tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.
Freeman is trying to pull guard but Minskiy has him pressed against the cage.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Minskiy tries to break the clinch but Freeman is controlling the position.

Freeman jumps guard and drags Minskiy to the mat. He's obviously going to be looking for submissions off his back.
Freeman trying to control the position.

Minskiy gets to his feet. Freeman looking to butt scoot but the ref puts an end to that. On your feet son!
Freeman walks into a left hand.
Freeman shoots in looking for a takedown. Minskiy tries to sprawl out of it but Freeman keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Minskiy manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
Minskiy lands with a cross.

And that's the end of the fight!
Nakamura Minskiy comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Minskiy 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 Arvi Lind scores the fight 28:30
Judge Anni Minnemäki scores the fight 27:30
Judge Tarja Halkonen scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Nakamura Minskiy!
Nakamura Minskiy bigged himself up after the win. The crowd seemed to love it.