PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Beni Nikaido (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Max Terrell (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Terrell is bouncing up and down as he enters the arena, backed by Brimstone Gate. 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.

Nikaido
vs
Terrell

174 cm
21
150 lbs
7 - 5 - 0

170 cm
25
155 lbs
5 - 3 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Basic striking
Good chin

BJJ Brown Belt
Decent boxing
Granite chin

Evil Spirit Clothing Co. (KOF partner)
ENDLESS 152

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the featherweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 7 - 5 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Beni Nikaido!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 5 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Max Terrell!
The judges for this bout are Aafke Stam, Albert Achterberg and Patrick Alders.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Nikaido fails with a takedown attempt.
Terrell misses with a looping left.
Nikaido slips a jab from Terrell.
Terrell moves forwards but Nikaido connects with a nice, crisp jab.
Terrell takes a shot to the nose. Hopefully that hasn't broken it.
A big right from Nikaido misses.
A punch combination from Nikaido misses.
Nikaido throws a head kick that misses.
Terrell ducks under a wild hook from Nikaido.
Nikaido moves away from the strike by Terrell.
Terrell cracks Nikaido with a good shot that sees him stumbling back into the cage.
Nikaido slips in close and lands a nice hook before moving back out of range.
Terrell getting the better of the striking in that exchange.
Nikaido is looking to land body kicks.
Nikaido misses with a wild body shot.
Terrell throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
Terrell loads up on a big right hand but Nikaido slips the punch.

Nikaido closes the distance and gets a double leg, slamming Terrell to the mat! Terrell manages to get full guard.
Nikaido won't allow Terrell to sweep him here.
Nikaido stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Terrell swivels though and keeps the full guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Nikaido controlling from the top position.
Terrell not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Nikaido works a leg free and moves into half guard.
Nikaido trying to control from half guard but Terrell is working away.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Terrell has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Nikaido is working away from the top position though.

Nikaido is thinking about going for an arm triangle but he can't free his leg.
Terrell moves his hips nicely and gets into full guard.
Terrell looking to control the pace of the fight rather than finish it.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A few boos can be heard. I'm sure they will multiply if the fighters don't pick up the pace.
Nikaido won't allow Terrell to sweep him here.

Nikaido thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.
Nikaido advances to half guard.

Nikaido is trying for a guillotine from the top but the pressure isn't in the right place so Terrell is just riding it out for now. Nikaido eventually gives up the hold.
Nikaido wants to free his trapped foot but Terrell is holding on for dear life with his legs.
Terrell wants to control but Nikaido is keeping busy.
Terrell is looking to escape.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Nikaido throws a jab to the body, straight down the pipe. Boom. That sent Terrell stumbling backwards but he manages to regain his composure quickly.
A jab from Terrell finds it's way through Nikaido's defenses.
Max Terrell seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
A jab from Terrell does it's job there.
Nikaido throws a series of punches but Terrell moves out of range.
Nikaido swings wildly with a hook that is half blocked by Terrell.
Nikaido fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Terrell manages to avoid it.
Nikaido misses with the combination.
Terrell throws a couple of head shots and lands with the final one - a decent hook, which struck Nikaido on the side of the head.
Terrell loads up on a big right hand but Nikaido slips the punch.
Nikaido swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Nikaido misses with a few strikes there.
Terrell throws a looping overhand right but Nikaido ducks down to avoid it.
Nikaido throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Nikaido takes a swing at Terrell's ribcage but misses.
A big left from Terrell misses.
Terrell throws a hook to the side of Nikaido's head but Nikaido sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Nikaido lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Terrell circles away quickly and effectively.
Terrell throws a sloppy head kick
and Nikaido makes him pay by landing a thudding low kick.
Nikaido uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Terrell.
Terrell misses with a hook.
Nikaido lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Terrell circles away quickly and effectively.

Nikaido shoots in looking for a single leg takedown. Terrell is trying to defend but Nikaido finishes it well and ends up in half guard. Let's see if he can advance position further.
Terrell is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.

Nikaido is looking for a kimura but he's never going to get it from there.

Nikaido is looking for a kimura but he's never going to get it from there.
Terrell is staying active underneath Nikaido, who seems content to just control the action from this position.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Beni Nikaido dominated that round.
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.

Boom, another hit is landed. "You're gunna get knocked out" taunts Terrell, as that shot connected.
Terrell thows a body shot but no joy.
Nikaido misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Nikaido ducks low and lands a nice hook to the body of his opponent.
Nikaido tries a head kick but it misses.
Beni Nikaido is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Nikaido lands a jab followed by a nice looking cross.

Nikaido closes the distance and scores a nice trip takedown into half guard. Terrell did well to prevent Nikaido getting side control.
Terrell is trying to stand back up but Nikaido is controlling him
Nikaido seems content to maintain position for now, rather than mounting any offense.
Nikaido tries to pass to full mount but Terrell defends it.
Terrell is refusing to be controlled, as Nikaido sits in half guard.

Nikaido is looking for a kimura but he's never going to get it from there.
Nikaido works his foot free and advances to mount.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Terrell tries to hold on but Nikaido pushes him away.

Nikaido is in full mount, looking to secure a guillotine but Terrell is surviving well by controlling Nikaido's body position as best he can.
Terrell keeping his composure momentarily, calmly looking to get back to half guard.
Terrell is persisting with the attempt to improve his position.
Nikaido controlling the position easily from mount.

Nikaido goes for an armbar but Terrell turns quickly into his guard - lovely anticipation from Terrell.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

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.
Terrell looking to pass the guard.
Nikaido controls Terrell momentarily but Terrell frees himself.
Terrell trying to control but Nikaido is working from the bottom.
Nikaido is pulling down on Terrell's head to control his posture.

Nikaido had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Terrell defends it easily.
Terrell pushing down on Nikaido's thigh, trying to pass to half guard. He's managed it... Nice work.

Terrell is working for a kimura but Nikaido is defending it quite comfortably.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Nikaido is looking to control Terrell's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Nikaido avoid being mounted?
Terrell trying to mount his opponent but Nikaido defends it.
Nikaido trying to control from the bottom.
Nikaido gets back to full guard.
Terrell being controlled here momentarily.

That's four 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.
Terrell trying to pass the guard. He's being very persistent here but Nikaido manages to land a sweep and now he's on top!
Nikaido trying to control but Terrell is working from the bottom.
Terrell is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Nikaido pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Terrell is keeping the position for now.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Nikaido trying to control the position from guard on top but Terrell is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Beni Nikaido dominated that second round.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business. This is the final round!

Terrell misses with a wild body shot.
Terrell slips a jab from Nikaido.
Nikaido misses with a kick to the body.
Nikaido moves into range and connects with a jab.
Nikaido slips a straight right by Terrell.
Nikaido misses the shot to the body.
Nikaido fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
Terrell 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.
A big right from Terrell misses.
Nikaido fails with a takedown attempt.
Terrell misses with a looping right.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
A big left from Terrell misses.
Nikaido misses with a body shot.
Terrell dodges the punch combination from Nikaido.

Terrell gets caught on his heels momentarily as he allows Nikaido to score an easy takedown into full guard.
Nikaido trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Nikaido won't allow Terrell to get back to his feet.

Nikaido drops back looking for a heel hook - he quickly realises he's not going to get it but Terrell manages to dive on top of him before he can escape and now Nikaido has Terrell in his guard.
Terrell pushing down on Nikaido's thigh, trying to pass to half guard. He's managed it... Nice work.
Terrell wants to free his trapped foot but Nikaido is holding on for dear life with his legs.
Nikaido is refusing to be controlled, as Terrell sits in half guard.
Terrell passes the half guard and he's now in mount! Big trouble for Nikaido!
Terrell can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as Nikaido is looking to escape.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Nikaido is trying to escape the mount.
Terrell forces the positional change into back control.

Nikaido showing good submission defense here.
Nikaido prevents Terrell from getting a body triangle.
Well, with Terrell on his back, surely it's only a matter of time before Nikaido is tapping out... Can he escape the position?
Nikaido turns into Terrell and is now in his guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Terrell is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.
Terrell takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Nikaido slips a foot under and gets full guard. Nice work.

Nikaido throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
Nikaido lands a beautiful switch and he's in full mount! That could spell trouble for Terrell!
Terrell tries to get back to half guard but can't.

Nikaido has control of Terrell's right arm, working for a kimura. It's a bit of a token attempt though and Terrell regains control of the situation pretty easily.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Terrell tries to get back to half guard but can't.
Beni Nikaido overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Nikaido tries to control but Terrell wriggling away.
Terrell regains half guard.

Nikaido seems to be looking for submissions.
Terrell manages to get to full guard.
Terrell tries to land a sweep but no joy.

And that's the end of the fight!
Max Terrell comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Nikaido has won this one but let's see what the judges have to say. 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 Aafke Stam scores the fight for Beni Nikaido!
Judge Albert Achterberg scores the fight for Beni Nikaido!
Judge Patrick Alders scores the fight for Beni Nikaido!

Beni Nikaido wins by unanimous decision!