PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Oroku Saki (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Vasilios Nicko (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Saki
vs
Nicko

178 cm
23
163 lbs
6 - 0 - 0

176 cm
23
165 lbs
5 - 1 - 0

Good takedowns
Basic striking
Big heart

Good takedowns
Counter striker
Solid chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 5 rounds, for the lightweight championship of the world!
Introducing the champion to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 6 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Oroku Saki!
And introducing the challenger to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 5 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Vasilios Nicko!
The judges for this bout are , and Timothy Bukovac.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Saki tries to clinch there but Nicko circles away.

Nicko shoots in for a takedown! He's got it and he's managed to land in full mount! That's better than Nicko was expecting from the takedown attempt, I'm sure!
Saki is wriggling around trying to escape.
Nicko pushing the pace here, looking to move to his opponents back and work for a finish.
Nicko takes his opponent's back. Perhaps a chance to lock up a rear naked choke here.

Saki showing good submission defense here.
Saki is keeping busy.

Nicko is looking to finish the fight by rear naked choke. Saki knows exactly what he's got planned though, so he's defending well. Maybe a few strikes would soften Saki for a finish.
Nicko avoiding Saki 's attempts to control his hands.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
I really don't envy Saki right now.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Nicko doesn't have the hooks in and Saki manages to turn into his guard.
Nicko trying to keep a closed guard but Saki is proving a slippery customer.

Nicko had isolated an arm as going for an omaplata. Saki is defending the submission well but is in a very vulnerable position. Nicko Is leaning forward trying to finish the omaplata but decides to abandon it, and take Saki's back instead.

Saki defends a rear naked choke attempt by controlling one of Nicko's arms.
Saki tries to escape the position - he's now mounted. Is that better or worse? Hard to tell!
Saki tries to reverse the position but Nicko maintains control.
Nicko wants to take his opponent's back but Saki doesn't allow it.

Nicko working to secure an arm triangle but it's not happening for him just yet.
Nicko looks gassed!
Saki is looking to improve his position but Nicko isn't that keen on the idea.
Nicko wants to control the pace but Saki is squirming around nicely.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Well. There's a bit of a lull in the action here and the crowd are starting to get restless.
Saki is writhing around trying to get back to his feet.
Nicko looking to control but Saki is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

Nicko working for a submission but Saki is keeping him at bay.
Saki can't escape the position.
Saki manages to regain half guard. Good work.

Saki looking for submissions off his back.
Nicko wants to control but Saki is keeping him busy.
Saki is pressing down on Nicko's left leg trying to get back to full guard. He's managed it.
Nicko tries to free his leg and advance position but Saki is retaining full guard.
Both fighters really going for it on the ground here!

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Saki escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Nicko gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.

Saki looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
Nicko works a leg free and moves into half guard.

Nicko seems to be working for a kimura but Saki defends the submission attempt.
Saki tries to get to full guard but Nicko has control of the leg.

Nicko looking for a kimura but he'll have to free his other leg if he wants to finish that. Perhaps he's just using it as a distraction technique.
Saki wants to get back to full guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Nicko is working for submissions here but there's nothing on.

Nicko is trying to work for a kimura but Saki is defending well.
Saki moves into full guard.
Saki working a defensive guard here.
Nicko stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Saki swivels though and keeps the full guard.

Saki working for a triangle but Nicko defends it easily.

Saki is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Vasilios Nicko will probably get the nod.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin!

Saki shoots and misses

and Nicko counters with a nice double leg into guard.
Saki keeping moving, preventing Nicko from controlling successfully.
Nicko slips effortlessly into side control - very nice.

Nicko thinks about going for a far side armbar but bails out and retains the dominant position instead.
Saki is sneaking out the side here. He's bucked Nicko off and has taken his back!
Saki is trying to stick to Nicko's back but Nicko is turning into Saki. He's managed to reverse the position - now he's in Saki's guard. Polite applause from the crowd in appreciation of some nice Jiu Jitsu by Nicko.
Saki lands a beautiful switch and he's in full mount! That could spell trouble for Nicko!
Nicko working to try and regain half guard.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Saki trying to control but he's not successful this time.
Nicko is trying to escape the mount.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Nicko tries to lock up and control but Saki gives him a forearm to the face and pushes him away.
Nicko is trying to escape the mount.
Saki unloading with bombs!
Nicko keeping his composure momentarily, calmly looking to get back to half guard.
Nicko is bucking up trying to escape but Saki cracks him with another couple of good strikes.
Nicko is squirming around, avoiding Saki's attempts to control the action.
Nicko is writhing around trying to get back to his feet.

Saki is working on an americana here. Ooh, that looks pretty nasty! Nope, Nicko has managed to escape the submission attempt.

Saki is going olschool here, as he tries to force Nicko to tap using a forearm choke. This isn't 1993 though, so Nicko shrugs it off.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
There's not a lot going on here and the crowd are letting the fighters know they're not willing to tolerate a lack of action.

Saki wants to finish this one by submission but Nicko is holding onto his waist, trying to prevent any attacks from Saki.
Nicko keeping his composure momentarily, calmly looking to get back to half guard.
Nicko sneaks a leg back under and regains half guard and is working straight away to try and get back to guard. He hasn't managed just yet though.
Nicko wants to control but Saki is keeping busy and won't allow it.
Nicko manages to get to full guard.

Nicko escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Saki gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
Nicko trying to control the position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Nicko is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.
Saki is looking for a sweep. Nicko is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Nicko is trying to control. Saki wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.
Saki gets full guard.

Saki working for a triangle but Nicko defends it easily.
Saki looking for a sweep. Not yet Saki, not yet.
Nicko trying to control the position from guard on top but Saki is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

Nicko drops back looking for a leg! Saki is in trouble here! The fighters roll with the hold and Saki manages to kick Nicko off! Nicko jumps back into Saki's guard.

Saki throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Saki can't keep his opponent in guard - Nicko advances to half guard, no doubt looking to mount.
Nicko tries to pass to full mount but Saki defends it.
Saki is pressing down on Nicko's left leg trying to get back to full guard. He's managed it.
Nicko tries to free his leg and advance position but Saki is retaining full guard.

Saki is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
Nicko slips nicely into half guard.
Nicko is controlling the pace.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Vasilios Nicko showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
That's time! Back to the action!

Saki fails with the takedown

and Nicko decides to take the opportunity to score a takedown. He's landed in Saki's guard.
Nicko tries to free his leg and advance position but Saki is retaining full guard.

Nicko drops back looking for a leg! Saki is in trouble here! The fighters roll with the hold and Saki manages to kick Nicko off! Nicko jumps back into Saki's guard.
Saki manages to land a sweep and now he's in mount on top!
Saki with a couple of short strikes.

Saki wants to finish this one by submission but Nicko is holding onto his waist, trying to prevent any attacks from Saki.
Saki avoids the attempt from Nicko to control.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

Saki working to secure an arm triangle but it's not happening for him just yet.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Nicko is desperately trying to improve his position but Saki has a good base and remains in mount.
Poor strikes thrown by Saki there. More accuracy and less frantic strikes would help!

Saki goes for an armbar but he's fallen flat on his backside there and now Nicko is on top in guard.

Nicko thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.

Nicko drops back looking for a leg! Saki is in trouble here! The fighters roll with the hold and Saki manages to kick Nicko off! Nicko jumps back into Saki's guard.

Saki looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
Nicko is pushing down on Saki's leg trying to pass to half guard. Saki is fighting to maintain full guard but Nicko has managed to sneak the leg through.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Nicko wants to pass the guard but Saki is defending well.
Nicko moves into full mount! Saki won't be happy about that!
Vasilios Nicko has got the better of the ground game so far.
Saki bucks up and manages to get a nice reversal! He's in guard on the top - nicely done!
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Nicko is on top in guard.

Nicko thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.
Saki looking to control.

Saki working for a triangle but Nicko defends it easily.

Saki looking for submissions from the bottom but instead Nicko passes into side control.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Nicko is trying to get an arm triangle but Saki is defending well.
Saki is trying to get back to half guard. He's pushing on Nicko's leg. He's managed it. Nice work.
Nicko is looking to pass the guard... He's managed it - he's now in full mount!
Saki gets back to half guard.
Nicko wants to free his trapped foot but Saki is holding on for dear life with his legs.
Nicko wants to advance to full mount but Saki doesn't think that's going to happen and regains full guard instead.

Saki has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Nicko can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Nicko wants to pass the guard but Saki is keeping the position.
Nicko trying to control but Saki is working from the bottom.

Saki has his foot on Nicko's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Nicko works his way back into a safe position though.
Saki trying to keep a closed guard but Nicko is proving a slippery customer.
Nicko looking to pass the guard.

Saki throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
Nicko passes Saki's right leg, so he's now in half guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close third round but Vasilios Nicko just about did enough to take it.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

Saki fails with the takedown

and Nicko counters with a nice single leg takedown and he's in Saki's guard now.
Saki keeping full guard, as Nicko tries to pass.
Nicko is pushing down on Saki's leg trying to pass to half guard. Saki is fighting to maintain full guard but Nicko has managed to sneak the leg through.

Saki looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.

Nicko is working for submissions here but there's nothing on.
Nicko wants to control but Saki is keeping him busy.
The fighters are battling for position here. Saki manages to regain full guard. Nice work.
Nicko trying to control but Saki is working from the bottom.
It's got to the stage where if one of these guys blows hard enough, the other might fall over.

Saki looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Nicko preventing the sweep.
Nicko passes Saki's left leg - he's now in half guard.
Saki is looking for a sweep. Nicko is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Nicko uses his free foot to push down on Saki's thigh. Eventually he works his other foot free and he's advanced to mount - this is trouble for Saki.
Saki stops Nicko from taking his back. Still, being mounted isn't any better.
Nicko works his way to his opponent's back.
Saki tries to break free.

Nicko is persistently looking for the submission but Saki is defending it well.
Saki looking very determined here, making life difficult for Nicko.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Saki rolls and manages to get back to half guard. Nicely done.
Saki gets back to full guard.

Saki is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
Saki keeping moving, preventing Nicko from controlling successfully.

Nicko avoids a guillotine attempt easily.

Nicko drops back for a leg here. A bit of a high risk move... He's looking for a kneebar by the looks of things. Now both of them are looking for submissions. Nicko seems to have locked his on tight now - Saki screams in pain and taps out furiously! It certainly was a high risk move but it's paid off for Nicko, as he picks up the win!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 3:03 of round 4, we have a winner by way of Submission (Kneebar). Vasilios Nicko!
Vasilios Nicko is the new lightweight champion!