PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Raffaele Callegari (ranked 2378 p4p, 2356 weight class) and Pierre Nikolas (ranked 297 p4p, 292 weight class). Callegari kept the crowd waiting but all that was forgotten when his ring entrance music started. The incomparable musical genius that is Made Of Hate - Bullet In Your Head. Both these guys have solid standup skills and neither is particularly fantastic on the ground, so let's hope for a nice standup war!

Callegari
vs
Nikolas

187 cm
27
194
4 - 1 - 0

182 cm
26
190
6 - 1 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Excellent boxer
Very quick

BJJ White Belt
Excellent boxer
Powerful

Brooklyn Apothecary

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the middleweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 4 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Raffaele Callegari!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 6 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Pierre Nikolas!
The judges for this bout are Radbod Blank, Patrick Alders and Paul Aken.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Callegari lands a jab followed by a nice looking cross.

It looks like Pierre Nikolas has been cut.
Nikolas throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Nikolas blocks a jab.
Callegari misses with a double jab
and Nikolas cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Callegari throws a poor cross that misses
and Nikolas counters with a stiff right hand.
Nikolas swings widly with a right hand
and Callegari connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Nikolas swings for the body but Callegari moves out of range.
Both fighters are looking to counter, which isn't making for the most exciting fight in the world.
Nikolas lands with a cross.
Callegari looks to have improved his striking defense since last time we saw him fight.
Callegari throws a combination that misses
and Nikolas counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Nikolas works his jab well there, keeping his opponent at a distance.
Callegari throws a body shot but no joy.
Callegari swings for the body but Nikolas moves out of range.
Nikolas misses with a double jab
and Nikolas takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
Nikolas feints a straight left to the body, then turns around with a flashy move and hits Callegaris jaw with a dramatic spinning back fist!
The fighters circling - Nikolas throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
Callegari scores with a punch to the gut of his opponent.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Callegari misses with a double jab
and Nikolas counters with a stiff right hand.
Callegari dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
Callegari throws a nice looking combination but Nikolas bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
A little jabbing left from Nikolas on the counter but it doesn't find it's target.

Callegari throws a left that rocks Nikolas and follows with a right that sends him tumbling to the canvas! Callegari dives into side control, looking to finish! Can Nikolas regain composure!

Nikolas is rocked!
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.

Callegari stands up and we're back to a striking position.
Callegari's jab looks to have found its range, popping Nikolas under the eye.
Nikolas is still on wobbly legs! Can Callegari finish him?

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Callegari throws a series of punches but Nikolas avoids them all with ease.
Nikolas seems to have recovered his senses.
Callegari is pinned up against the cage taking some big shots here. The referee is looking closely deciding whether he should stop the fight.
Nikolas doesn't react quick enough there as he takes a shot to the body.
Nice straight punches there by Nikolas. You know Roy Jones Jr respects the hands of Nikolas.
Nikolas cracks Callegari with a nice right hand that draws applause from the crowd.
Callegari misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Nikolas.
A nice side step and Nikolas releases a counter shot to the body, but it doesn't find it's home.
Raffaele Callegari seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Nikolas throws a hard body shot but it just misses.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Nikolas uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Callegari.
Callegari scores with a punch to the gut of his opponent.
Callegari dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
Nikolas scores with a straight right hand, right through his opponent's guard.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Callegari throws a right and a left that Nikolas avoids nicely.
Nikolas looked like he wanted to counter with a punch but didn't throw it.
Nikolas throws the left hand but Callegari avoids the punch easily.
Nikolas has been working his punching technique in the buildup to the fight and it appears to be paying off.
Callegari misses the jab.
Nikolas might want to mix his strikes up a bit more. He's just going for head shots at the moment and that can become a bit predictable.
Nikolas throws an off balance right hand
enabling Callegari to counter with a crisp jab.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Raffaele Callegari dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Pierre Nikolas'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.

Nikolas connects with a body shot.
A punch combination from Callegari misses.
Nikolas swings away with a counter right hand but no contact made.
Callegari is looking to wear down Nikolas with body shots, infact he's throwing more body shots than head shots at the moment.
Callegari swings and misses with a shot to the body
and Nikolas counters with a right hand to the body.
Callegari is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Nikolas can do to turn this around?
Nikolas loads up on a big right hand but Callegari slips the punch.
Callegari appears to be looking for a big counter.
Callegari throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Callegari lands a jab. Then a cross. Then finally a nice hook to the body. Good work there by Callegari.

That has opened up Pierre Nikolas's cut even more.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
This fight brought to you by 5M nutrition - it's mmmmm tasty. Nice jab by Callegari.
Nikolas uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Callegari.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Nikolas jabs Callegari right on the nose. Callegari blinks but takes it well.
Nikolas scores with a jab to the body.
Raffaele Callegari is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Nikolas jabs at Callegari's body.
Callegari ducks under a wild hook from Nikolas.
Nikolas slips in close and lands a nice hook before moving back out of range.
Callegari throws a jab, cross combination which is slipped
and Nikolas counters with a straight right hand.
Callegari takes a body punch but keeps moving.
Nikolas uses good footwork to get in and out and land a nice right hand before Callegari has time to react.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Nikolas throws a right hand that Callegari ducks under and follows up with a left that Callegari also avoids with ease.
Callegari will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
A little jabbing left from Nikolas on the counter but it doesn't find it's target.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Nice shot lands for Nikolas.
Callegari swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Callegari moves away from the strike by Nikolas.
Callegari throwing a counter right hand but Nikolas manages to avoid it.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Nikolas throws a right hand that misses
and Callegari counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Nikolas tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Callegari was well out of range. Poor timing from Nikolas.
Nikolas just misses with a punch to the body.
Callegari misses with a series of wild punches.
Callegari looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
And an attempted straight right on the counter from Nikolas! But no joy.
Raffaele Callegari is winning the standup battle so far.
Callegari dodges the punch combination from Nikolas.
It looked like Callegari was trying to counter with a body shot coming off that last attack from Nikolas.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
No joy there for Nikolas, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Nikolas keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Nikolas throws a series of strikes that have Callegari backpedaling.
Nikolas throws a hook but Callegari blocks it.
Nikolas uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Callegari.
Nikolas misses with a body shot
and Callegari counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Callegari throws a nice looking combination but Nikolas bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
It seemed like Nikolas was going to counter with the hook but didn't fully commit to it.
Nikolas throws a good cross that connects.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Pierre Nikolas showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The cut man is working on Pierre Nikolas's cut.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action! This is the final round!

Callegari misses with a hook to the body
and Nikolas counters with a nice uppercut.

It looks like Raffaele Callegari has been cut.
Callegari throws a body punch but Nikolas moves out of range.
Callegari misses with a hook. Nikolas ducked under it nicely.
Nikolas dodges the punch combination from Callegari.
Nikolas scores with a jab to the head.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Nikolas is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Callegari.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Callegari's jab looks to have found its range, popping Nikolas under the eye.
Jab, jab by Nikolas - just one landing.
Callegari takes a shot right to the bread basket.
Callegari misses with a double jab
enabling Nikolas to counter with a crisp jab.
Callegari throws a body punch but Nikolas moves out of range.
Nice body punch from Nikolas.
Callegari swinging wildly here.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Nikolas rushes in with a sloppy looking punch
and Callegari counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
Callegari tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Nikolas was well out of range. Poor timing from Callegari.
Nikolas appears to be waiting to throw a counter punch to the body.
Callegari ducks down and throws a hook to the body.
Callegari misses with a wild body shot.
Nikolas now looks to counter with a shot at the body.
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!
Callegari throws an ugly left hook that misses
and Nikolas counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
Callegari takes a shot right to the liver - Bas would have been proud of that punch.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Callegari ducks under a wild hook from Nikolas.
Nikolas misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Some wild striking there from Callegari.
A swing and a miss from Callegari.
Callegari connects with a crisp jab.
Nikolas lands with a good body shot.
Callegari sizes up Nikolas with a pawing jab and scores with a straight right down the middle.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Nikolas slips a straight right by Callegari.
Callegari paws at his opponent with the jab and then lunges in with a straight, right on the button.
Nikolas lands with a cross to side of his opponent's head.
Callegari with poor footwork there. He got himself in a bit of a tangle, enabling Nikolas to score with a decent uppercut.
Callegari fakes a jab and then connects with a hook.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Nikolas scores with a punch to the gut of his opponent.
Nikolas lands a nice hook to Callegari's body. Callegari takes it in his stride and looks to land his own strikes.

And that's the end of the fight!
I would just about give that final round to Pierre Nikolas.
I think Nikolas has won this one but let's see whether the judges agree with me. 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 Radbod Blank scores the fight 28:29
Judge Patrick Alders scores the fight 28:29
Judge Paul Aken scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Pierre Nikolas!
A very excited looking Pierre Nikolas rambled incoherently for about 5 minutes post fight about how awesome he is. It was kinda funny for a while but then everyone got annoyed.