PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Salmon Chase (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Paco Nykanen (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Nykanen is bouncing up and down as he enters the arena, backed by Jeff Mills - The Bells. The fight MMA fans around the world have waited their entire lives for!

Chase
vs
Nykanen

180 cm
23
162 lbs
6 - 2 - 0

170 cm
23
164 lbs
4 - 1 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Solid boxing
Very strong

BJJ Purple Belt
Basic striking
Granite chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the lightweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 6 - 2 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Salmon Chase!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 4 - 1 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Paco Nykanen!
The judges for this bout are Ivan Kurochkin, Fedor Mirinova and Viktor Lagutenko.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
A big left from Chase misses.
Chase throws a looping overhand right but Nykanen ducks down to avoid it.
Nykanen pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
Chase scores with a nice head shot.

Nykanen closes the distance and scores a nice trip takedown into half guard. Chase did well to prevent Nykanen getting side control.
Chase is trying to stand back up but Nykanen is controlling him
Chase manages to get to full guard.

Nykanen got a little sloppy there for a moment and Chase has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Nykanen has managed to get both his arms back between Chase's legs - danger averted.
Chase looking for a sweep. Not yet Chase, not yet.
Nykanen postures up and lands a big shot to Chase's brow.
Chase has momentary wrist control but Nykanen slips an elbow through the middle.

Chase is looking for a triangle but Nykanen pushes his legs off easily.
Chase has momentary wrist control but Nykanen slips an elbow through the middle.
Nykanen postures up and lands a big shot to Chase's brow.
Nykanen passes Chase's left leg - he's now in half guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Chase wants to get back to his feet.
Chase is breathing heavily.
Chase is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Nykanen slips a nice elbow through Chase's hands, connecting with Chase's forehead.
Nykanen looks to score some points with some ground and pound.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Nykanen is scoring with some nice ground and pound from the dominant position.
Chase wants to get back to full guard.
Nykanen lands with an elbow from half guard - that looked like it hurt.
Nykanen working some ground and pound from close in. He's looking to maintain this position and strike for a while by the looks of things... although he'll probably advance to full mount in a minute now I've said that.
Both fighters really going for it on the ground here!

Nykanen is looking for a kimura. It's going to be difficult to finish that from half guard though and Chase defends it well.
Chase looks like he's trying to stand up.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Chase taking some punishment here, with Nykanen in his half guard.
Chase is looking for a sweep. Nykanen is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Nykanen lands strikes from half guard.

Nykanen is looking for a kimura. It's going to be difficult to finish that from half guard though and Chase defends it well.
Nykanen looks towards his corner to check for any instructions. The corner give him nothing to work with, so he cracks Chase with a short hammerfist. I guess that's as good as any advice he could get in this position.
Chase wants to get back to full guard.
Nykanen is keeping good posture, landing some ground and pound.

Chase looking for submissions off his back.

Nykanen is sneakily working for an arm triangle but Chase sees it coming and defends easily.
Nykanen lands with a punch from half guard.

Nykanen is working for a submission of some sort.
Chase is looking to improve his position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Chase is looking to escape.
Nykanen lands a big shot. The thud that echoes around the arena is like music to the fans' ears.
Nykanen with a momentary lay and pray from half guard.
Chase pushes Nykanen off looking to stand but Nykanen dives back in and keeps control.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

Nykanen is trying for a guillotine from the top but the pressure isn't in the right place so Chase is just riding it out for now. Nykanen eventually gives up the hold.
Chase moves his hips nicely and gets into full guard.
Nykanen won't allow Chase to get back to his feet.

That's four 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.
Nykanen throws a big right hand that misses.
Nykanen advances to half guard.
Nykanen working some ground and pound from close in. He's looking to maintain this position and strike for a while by the looks of things... although he'll probably advance to full mount in a minute now I've said that.
Chase wants to improve his position but Nykanen is controlling well.
Nice strikes from Nykanen there.

Chase pushes Nykanen off and gets back to his feet.
Nice jab there from Nykanen.
Chase takes one to the chin there.
Nykanen throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
This fight brought to you by 5M nutrition - it's mmmmm tasty. Nice jab by Chase.
Chase pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Chase misses with a double jab.
Nykanen swings for the body but Chase moves out of range.
A telegraphed right hand from Chase misses the target.

Nykanen scores with a nice takedown into half guard. Let's see what he's got on the ground.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Paco Nykanen dominated that round.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin!

Nykanen thows a body shot but no joy.
Chase pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
Chase avoids a punch combination nicely.
A slow jab from Chase misses its intended target.
A swing and a miss from Nykanen.
Chase misses with an uppercut.
Nykanen misses with a wild body shot.
Chase misses the jab.
Nykanen lets the fists fly and connects with a left straight followed by a right hook.
Nykanen misses with a hook.
Chase misses with a hook.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Chase with a jab.
Nykanen has his hands up protecting his head but a hook from Chase finds it's way round the side to connect with Nykanen's head.
Chase keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Nykanen misses with a looping right.
Nykanen slips under a jab.
Nykanen has a takedown stuffed.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Nykanen scores with a crisp jab that stopped Chase in his tracks.
Nykanen fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Chase manages to avoid it.
Chase throws a shot from downtown. Nykanen moves away and avoids it.
Nykanen moves out of range as Chase strikes.
Nykanen jabs Chase right on the nose. Chase blinks but takes it well.

Nykanen scores with a nice takedown into half guard. Let's see what he's got on the ground.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

Chase actively working from the bottom here.
Chase tries to get to full guard but Nykanen has control of the leg.
Nykanen drops an elbow to the side of Chase's head.
Nykanen moves into full mount! Chase won't be happy about that!
Nykanen fakes a shot to the body and cracks his opponent in the head. Nice ground and pound there!
Nykanen dominating with strikes here.
Chase tries to reverse the position but Nykanen maintains control.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Nykanen lands with some strikes.
Nykanen landing punches.
Nykanen is landing with some decent strikes but Chase is trying to advance his position so the referee is letting the fight continue.
Nykanen in mount throwing good strikes here, bouncing his opponent's head off the canvas.
Nykanen lands a nice shot to the head.
Nykanen working the ground and pound effectively.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Chase really wants to buck Nykanen off and get back to his feet.
Chase is bucking up trying to escape but Nykanen cracks him with another couple of good strikes.
Nykanen unloading with bombs!
Nykanen lands with some vicious ground and pound - can Chase hang on?
Chase can't escape the position.
Nykanen with shots to the head and body - Chase looks very uncomfortable down there.
Chase working to try and regain half guard.
Nykanen lands a shot to the body, followed up by a shot to the exposed head of his trapped opponent.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Nykanen landing shots from mount.
Nykanen prevents Chase from getting the reversal.
Nykanen pausing momentarily but resumes with a couple of decent strikes that do a bit of damage.
Nykanen raining down shots from the mount!
Nykanen postures up and cracks his opponent a couple of times before moving back into close ground control. Chase looks a forlorn figure.
Nykanen breaks from Chase's wrist control and lands an elbow.
Chase tries to get back to half guard but can't.
Nykanen scoring with some good ground and pound from mount here. Will he manage to finish Chase?
Chase really trying hard to get back to half guard here.
Nykanen scoring with strikes but Chase is staying in there.
Nykanen postures up and cracks his opponent a couple of times before moving back into close ground control. Chase looks a forlorn figure.
Nykanen looking to ground and pound his opponent to a finish here.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Nykanen looking to finish Chase with some ground and pound. This is bad for Chase!
Chase is bucking up trying to escape but Nykanen cracks him with another couple of good strikes.
Chase is desperately trying to get back to half guard.
Chase taking shots to the head.
Nykanen lands a big elbow.
Nykanen prevents Chase from getting the reversal.
Nykanen in mount throwing good strikes here, bouncing his opponent's head off the canvas.
Chase is in a horrible position here. Nykanen smacks him with another shot as he tries to escape the position.

Nykanen looking to secure an arm triangle but Chase defends it well.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Chase is working to get back to half guard.
Chase is working hard here to advance position.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Paco Nykanen showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action. This is the final round!

Nykanen takes a swing at Chase's ribcage but misses.
Nykanen shoots in for a double leg but Chase sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
Nykanen fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
Nykanen staying out of range there.
Nykanen fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Chase manages to avoid it.
Chase throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Chase looks shocked there as he takes a right hand to the temple.
Nykanen lands with a straight right. Chase didn't see that one coming.
Chase lands a with a good body shot.
Salmon Chase seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Nykanen throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Chase is really head hunting here, hardly looking to strike to the body at all.
Nykanen paws at his opponent with the jab and then lunges in with a straight, right on the button.
Chase thows a left - swing and a miss!
Nykanen moves away from the strike by Chase.
Chase misses with a telegraphed body shot
and Nykanen counters with a stiff right hand.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Chase misses the shot to the body.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Nykanen closes the distance, clinches up and gets a nice trip takedown into side control. Very smooth.
Paco Nykanen has got the better of the ground game so far.
Chase manages to get one leg in to regain half guard.
Nykanen prevents Chase from improving his position.
Nykanen drops an elbow to the side of Chase's head.

Chase is defending against the submission attempts here by Nykanen.

Nykanen wants to work for an arm triangle but Chase is really keeping half guard well and defending the submission attempt.

Chase pushes Nykanen off and gets back to his feet.
Chase misses with a wild combination.
Nykanen lands with a nice body punch.
Nykanen misses with a hook. Chase ducked under it nicely.
Salmon Chase has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Nykanen bobs and weaves into range and then changes levels and scores with a nice takedown into side control.
Chase tries to work a leg under to get back to half guard but Nykanen wriggles his own leg back out and remains in side control.
Nykanen landing with strikes to the head and body from side control.
Nykanen landing a few strikes.
Chase tries to work a leg under to get back to half guard but Nykanen wriggles his own leg back out and remains in side control.
Nykanen lands a decent elbow from side control.
Nykanen gets to mount! Chase was on the offensive and wasn't defending properly.
Nykanen wants to control the pace but Chase is squirming around nicely.
A nice elbow there by Nykanen.
Chase is trying to escape but when you're mounted that's not too easy.
Nykanen with shots to the head and body - Chase looks very uncomfortable down there.
Chase is in a horrible position here. Nykanen smacks him with another shot as he tries to escape the position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Chase takes a big shot to the head but keeps on trying to improve his position.
Nykanen looking to ground and pound his opponent to a finish here.
Nykanen working Chase over with strikes here.
Chase really trying hard to get back to half guard here.
A nice elbow there by Nykanen.
Chase is working to get back to half guard.
Paco Nykanen is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Nykanen cracks Chase with a nasty head shot there - the crowd let out an audible gasp there, as the noise reverberated around the arena.
Chase is trying desperately to improve position.
Nykanen dominating with strikes here.
Chase is wriggling around trying to escape.

That's four 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.
Nykanen putting on the heat here with some good ground and pound!

Nykanen wants to finish this one by submission but Chase is holding onto his waist, trying to prevent any attacks from Nykanen.

Nykanen looks like he's working for a submission but he's not found anything just yet.
Chase is squirming around, avoiding Nykanen's attempts to control the action.
Chase keeping his composure momentarily, calmly looking to get back to half guard.
Nykanen landing punches.
BOOM! Nykanen connects with a massive shot to the dome!

And that's the end of the fight!
Paco Nykanen comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Nykanen 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 Ivan Kurochkin scores the fight 27:30
Judge Fedor Mirinova scores the fight 27:30
Judge Viktor Lagutenko scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Paco Nykanen!