PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Vasilios Nicko (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and John Strife (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). These two fighters really are very evenly matched on the feet - it will be fascinating to see who can assert themselves in that aspect of the fight.

Nicko
vs
Strife

176 cm
23
165 lbs
6 - 1 - 0

180 cm
24
165 lbs
7 - 2 - 0

Good takedowns
Counter striker
Good chin

BJJ Purple Belt
Solid Muay Thai
Very confident

Supersize Me

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 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Vasilios Nicko!
And introducing the challenger to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 7 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, John Strife!
The judges for this bout are Frank Antenori, Timothy Bukovac and .

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Strife throws the kick towards the body but Nicko avoids it.
An inside leg kick from Strife misses.
Strife stuffs the takedown.
Strife misses with a double jab.
Strife throws an overhand right that lands on Nicko's shoulder, as Nicko tries to avoid the shot.
No joy there for Strife, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Strife throws a body kick that digs right into the meat.
Strife wants to land a leg kick but Nicko is out of range.
Strife misses with a wild body shot.
Strife misses with a hook. Nicko ducked under it nicely.
A telegraphed right hand from Strife misses the target.
Strife tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
John Strife seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Strife throws and low kick but Nicko moves out of range easily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Strife throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
John Strife is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Strife swings for the body but Nicko moves out of range.
Strife tries to clinch there but Nicko circles away.
Strife throws a solid leg kick but Nicko takes the impact on his shin and smiles at Strife.
Strife is looking to clinch.
Strife throws a jab but it's blocked by Nicko.
Strife jabbing away but nothing is landing.
Strife throws a lazy right hand but Nicko sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Nicko circles away from the clinch attempt.
Strife misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Strife misses with an uppercut.
Well, he's not going to score with shots like that. A lazy body kick attempt from Strife.

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.
Strife throws a jab but it's blocked by Nicko.
Strife jabbing away but nothing is landing.
Nicko uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Strife.
Nicko defending well as Strife loads up on a big left hand.
Nicko staying out of range there.
An inside leg kick from Strife misses.
Nicko checks a low kick. Bone on bone - not my idea of a good time.
Strife tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Nicko fails with the takedown.
Nicko circles away from the clinch attempt.
Strife tries to clinch up.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Strife looks for the body kick but Nicko saw that one coming.
Strife tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Nicko takes a jab on the nose. He smiles like he loves it and keeps coming.

It looks like Vasilios Nicko has been cut.
Nicko avoids the body shot from Strife.
Strife moves in looking to clinch but Nicko pushes him off.
Strife misses with a hook. Nicko ducked under it nicely.
Strife scores with a nice head shot.
Strife connects with a lovely jab that went straight through the gap between Nicko's hands.

Nicko looking to shoot here. He's gone for it and he's landed a takedown into mount! Oh, that's bad for Strife!
Nicko wants to take his opponent's back but he's not managed it.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Nicko goes for an armbar but Strife turns quickly into his guard - lovely anticipation from Strife.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Strife preventing the sweep.
Strife stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Nicko swivels though and keeps the full guard.

Nicko working away from the bottom but not quite defensive enough there because Strife has passed into half guard!
Nicko is looking for a sweep. Strife is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

John Strife dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Vasilios Nicko's cut.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business.

Strife throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Nicko sees it coming and avoids it easily.
Strife tries to bum rush Nicko with a series of wild strikes but Nicko uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
An inside leg kick from Strife misses.
A big right from Strife misses.
Strife looks to land a combination but Nicko avoids it well.
Strife misses with a wild combination.
Nicko staying out of range there.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Nicko gets a takedown into half guard.

Nicko is working for a kimura here but Strife manages to reverse the position and he's now in Nicko's guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Nicko throws his legs up looking to secure a triangle. Oh, that looks pretty tight, I gotta say! Strife escapes and throws Nicko's legs to the side, diving into side control!
Nicko struggling a bit here.
Nicko is being controlled here.
Nicko tries to buck Strife off but Strife is having none of it.

Strife decides to stand up, so the ref orders Nicko to his feet.
Strife misses with a body kick.
Strife throws a head kick but Nicko moves out of range.

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.
Strife tries to clinch up but Nicko circles away and keeps his distance.
Nicko staying out of range there.
Strife tries to clinch there but Nicko circles away.
Nicko shoots for a takedown but Strife saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
Nicko swats away the attempt to clinch by Strife.
Vasilios Nicko is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Strife misses with a head kick.
Strife does a little shimmy and throws a leg kick. The leg kick missed by a considerable margin though, making him look a little bit silly for doing the shimmy.
Strife takes a swing at Nicko's ribcage but misses.
Strife shapes like he's going to throw a leg kick but settles back down.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Nicko blocks a leg kick.
A good leg kick by Strife.
Nicko takes a body punch that cleary hurt but he's trying not to show any weakness.
Nicko shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Strife but Strife pushes him off and we're back to square one.
Nicko closes the distance and clinches up with Strife, looking for a takedown. Nicko pushes Strife against the cage but Strife circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Vasilios Nicko. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Strife pivots as if he's going to throw a leg kick but stops half way.
Nicko ducks under a wild hook from Strife.
Strife misses with an uppercut.
Nicko avoids a punch combination nicely.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Strife swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.

Nicko shoots in and bounces Strife off the cage to secure the takedown into guard.
Nicko stops Strife from standing up.
Strife is breathing heavily.
Nicko trying to control but Strife is working from the bottom.
Nicko passes Strife's left leg - he's now in half guard.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Nicko is working hard to pass the guard. He's done it - he's now in full mount! Trouble for Strife!
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close second round but I would say that Vasilios Nicko will probably get the nod.
The cut man is working on Vasilios Nicko's cut.
That's the end of the interval. I'm sure that seemed a lot quicker than a minute for our two fighters! Back to the action.

Strife looks for the body kick but Nicko saw that one coming.
Nicko takes a hook to the side of the head. I wonder if that's got his ears ringing.
Nicko uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Strife.
Nicko moves out of range of the leg kick from Strife.
Nicko blocks a head kick by Strife.
Strife misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Nicko avoids the head kick by Strife.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Nicko fails with a takedown attempt.
Strife takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Strife lands an overhand right.
Nicko takes an uppercut right on the jaw but it doesn't phase him.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Nicko bobs and weaves into range and then changes levels and scores with a nice takedown into side control.
Strife is trying to control Nicko's posture but Nicko avoids it.
Nicko is looking to take a break and control but Strife is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Strife tries to bench press Nicko off him but Nicko keeps the position.

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.
Strife is not content to let Nicko control the position.
Nicko is really struggling to control Strife but he's trying to hold on to the position.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Strife misses with a looping left.
Strife throws a leg kick but Nicko moved away.
Nice takedown defense from Strife. No joy for Nicko on that attempt.
Nicko avoids a low kick by using good footwork.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Strife misses with a hook. Nicko ducked under it nicely.
Strife swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
Strife throws the left hand but Nicko avoids the punch easily.
Strife doesn't manage to clinch there - Nicko circles away.
Strife thumps Nicko with a low kick.
Strife moves in looking to clinch but Nicko pushes him off.
Nicko blocks the body kick.
Nicko slips a straight right by Strife.
Nicko misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Vasilios Nicko. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Strife throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Nicko sees it coming and avoids it easily.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.
Strife misses with a body shot.
Strife fails in his attempt to clinch.
Strife throws and low kick but Nicko moves out of range easily.
Strife throws a nice looking combination but Nicko bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
A big left from Strife misses.
Nicko fails with the takedown.
Strife misses with a straight left.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Strife stuffs the takedown.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

John Strife really dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Vasilios Nicko's cut.
That's the end of the interval. I'm sure that seemed a lot quicker than a minute for our two fighters! Back to the action.

Nicko tries to score a power double leg takedown but Strife sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Nicko somewhat.
Nicko shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Strife pinned against the cage. Strife gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
Strife misses with a double jab.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Strife fails with an attempt to clinch.
Strife defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Nicko.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Vasilios Nicko. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Strife tries to clinch up.
Nicko shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Strife pinned against the cage. Strife gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Strife is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Nicko avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Nicko ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
Nicko staying out of range there.
Nicko circles away from the clinch attempt.
Nicko fails miserably with a takedown attempt.

Nicko decides to change it up a bit and drives through with a nice takedown into half guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Strife is trying to get back to full guard.
Nicko is looking to advance position but Strife won't allow it.
Strife makes his way to full guard. A much better position for Strife.
Nicko slips effortlessly into side control - very nice.

Nicko tries for a kimura but Strife is defending well.
It's got to the stage where if one of these guys blows hard enough, the other might fall over.
Nicko wants to control for a moment but Strife uses the opportunity to move back to half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Strife throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
Strife stalling.
Strife wants to pass the guard but Nicko is defending well.
Nicko wants to get back to full guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Nicko regains full guard. Nicely done.
Nicko working a defensive guard but Strife passes into half guard.
Nicko is looking to improve his position.
Strife trying to control the action but Nicko is working from the bottom.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

Nicko looking for submissions off his back.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!

Strife gets to his feet - back to striking we go!
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close fourth round but John Strife will probably get the nod - 10:9.
The cut man is working on Vasilios Nicko'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. 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.

Strife tries to clinch but Nicko moves out of range.
Strife throws a jab but it's blocked by Nicko.
Strife throws a body kick but he wasn't in range.

Nicko closes the distance and scores a nice trip takedown into half guard. Strife did well to prevent Nicko getting side control.

Nicko trying to work for an americana but Strife has managed to regain full guard.
Strife is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.
Vasilios Nicko overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Nicko looking to pass the guard.
Both of our modern day gladiators look out of it here - an gruelling 5 rounds of action taking it's toll on them, no doubt.
Nicko content to stall in guard here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Strife is looking to stand up but Nicko isn't so interested in that idea.
Nicko wants to pass the guard but Strife is keeping the position.
Strife seems keen to control rather than go for a submission, at least for now.

Nicko is holding a leg here, probably looking for an ankle lock - he drops back and goes for it! Strife is in trouble! Is it all over??? No! Strife has escaped and now he's on top!
Strife passes into half guard.

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.
Nicko is trying to maintain the position but Strife is very close to passing his half guard.
Strife trying to control the action but Nicko is working from the bottom.
Nicko tries to get to full guard but Strife has control of the leg.
Strife thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Nicko's head.
Strife with a momentary lay and pray from half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Strife prevents Nicko from improving his position.
Strife is trying to control the action in half guard but Nicko is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Strife scores with a nice right hand.
Nicko tries to score a power double leg takedown but Strife sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Nicko somewhat.
Nicko keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
John Strife is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.

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.
Strife throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Strife throws a jab when Nicko was well out of range.
Strife is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Nicko.
Strife is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Strife misses with a few strikes there.
Vasilios Nicko has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Strife wants to clinch up but Nicko keeps it at a distance.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
A telegraphed right hand from Strife misses the target.
Ouch! a nice leg kick from Strife, right into the meat.
Nicko ducks under a wild hook from Strife.

And that's the end of the fight!
John Strife comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Strife 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 5 rounds of action, we go to the scorecards for a decision.
Judge Frank Antenori scores the fight 46:50
Judge Timothy Bukovac scores the fight 45:50
Judge Percy O'Donnell scores the fight 47:48

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... John Strife!
John Strife is the new lightweight champion!