PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Nikolai Beryia (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Otto Kaikkonen (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Kaikkonen has chosen Duran Duran - WIld Boys as his entrance music. Nikolai Beryia has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Beryia
vs
Kaikkonen

183 cm
18
205 lbs
2 - 1 - 0

187 cm
25
205 lbs
7 - 11 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Granite chin

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Determined

Future Pharmaceuticals (144 for $15)

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the light heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 2 - 1 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Nikolai Beryia!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 7 - 11 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Otto Kaikkonen!
The judges for this bout are Valeri Chadov, Sergei Dronov and Illya Tyunina.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Kaikkonen slaps away a takedown attempt from Beryia, before circling back to the center of the mat.
Beryia tries to close the distance and clinch up but Kaikkonen swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Nice sprawl there from Kaikkonen as Beryia shoots in.

Kaikkonen gets in close and instigates a clinch.
Kaikkonen blocks an elbow strike.
Kaikkonen connects with a nasty looking knee right to Beryia's face.

It looks like Nikolai Beryia has been cut.

Kaikkonen pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.

Beryia drops down and drives through with a powerful takedown into guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Kaikkonen avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Kaikkonen keeping moving, preventing Beryia from controlling successfully.

Beryia decides he's had enough of playing guard and decides to stand. Come on Kaikkonen, up you get!

Kaikkonen darts in and lands a nice takedown into half guard.
Kaikkonen wants to stand up but Beryia has a hold of him and won't allow it.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kaikkonen has decided to stand back up but his arm is trapped. Whilst he's worrying about his arm, Beryia works to full guard.
Beryia is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.

Kaikkonen gets to his feet and steps away from his opponent.
Kaikkonen fails with a takedown attempt.
Beryia blocks a head kick by Kaikkonen.
Kaikkonen tries for a takedown but Beryia sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
Kaikkonen looks gassed!
Beryia tries to clinch up but Kaikkonen circles away and keeps his distance.
Beryia tries to clinch but Kaikkonen moves out of range.
Kaikkonen pushes Beryia away with a front kick.
Beryia shoots for a takedown but Kaikkonen saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Nikolai Beryia. That's going to take a lot out of him.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Kaikkonen shoots for a takedown but Beryia saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
Beryia doesn't succeed with the takedown

and Kaikkonen counters with a nice double leg into side control. Beryia won't be happy with that.
Beryia wants to control but Kaikkonen postures up.

Kaikkonen decides to stand back up.
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!
Kaikkonen connects with the punch.
Kaikkonen tries to clinch up but Beryia circles away and keeps his distance.
Kaikkonen is looking to take this fight into the clinch.

Kaikkonen gets caught on his heels momentarily as he allows Beryia to score an easy takedown into full guard.
Beryia landing with the ground and pound.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Beryia tries to free his leg and advance position but Kaikkonen is retaining full guard.
Beryia prevents Kaikkonen from getting back to his feet.
Beryia is taking a break and basically stalling. The referee will not allow him to do that for long.
Beryia sneaks a leg through and gets to half guard. That was like a knife through butter how easily he passed Kaikkonen's guard.
Beryia trying to control the action but Kaikkonen is working from the bottom.
Neither fighter is being very active at the moment, with Beryia in particular looking to stall.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.

Beryia decides to stand up.
Beryia throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Kaikkonen's waist but Kaikkonen gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Beryia off to one side.
Nice takedown defense from Kaikkonen. No joy for Beryia on that attempt.
Nice shot by Kaikkonen.

Kaikkonen closes the distance and pushes Beryia back into the cage.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.

Kaikkonen's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Beryia fails with a takedown attempt.

Kaikkonen fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Beryia, pushing him back against the cage.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Otto Kaikkonen dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Nikolai Beryia's cut.
That's time! Beryia's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight.

Beryia avoids a punch combination nicely.
Kaikkonen closes this distance looking for a takedown but Beryia circles away.
Beryia darts in trying to clinch

and Kaikkonen counters by moving into the clinch. Good anticipation by Kaikkonen.

Beryia pulls guard.
Beryia throws some sloppy strikes off his back.
Kaikkonen wants to stand but Beryia is controlling his posture from full guard.

Beryia scrambles and gets back to his feet.
Beryia misses with a takedown attempt
and Kaikkonen counters with a right hand to the body.
Beryia is trying hard to land a takedown here. Kaikkonen sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Beryia tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Kaikkonen was well out of range. Poor timing from Beryia.
Kaikkonen looks to clinch

and Beryia counters with a nice double leg into half guard.

Kaikkonen is defending against the submission attempts here by Beryia.
Neither fighter is being very active at the moment, with Beryia in particular looking to stall.

Beryia is trying to work for a kimura. This could be trouble! No, Kaikkonen has managed to free his arm - good work.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Beryia wants to pass to mount but Kaikkonen is defending the position.
Beryia wants to control but Kaikkonen is keeping him busy.
Kaikkonen is trying to stand back up but Beryia is controlling him
Beryia with the ground and pound but Kaikkonen uses the opportunity to regain guard.
Beryia pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Kaikkonen is keeping the position for now.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.

Kaikkonen closes the distance and clinches.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kaikkonen tries to land a knee to the head but misses.
Beryia goes for a takedown in the clinch but Kaikkonen prevents it.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Nikolai Beryia. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Beryia tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. Kaikkonen just stands there and leans against the cage.

Kaikkonen escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
No luck for Beryia with that takedown attempt.
Kaikkonen tries to clinch but Beryia is having none of it.
Kaikkonen tries to clinch up.
Kaikkonen moves in looking to clinch but Beryia pushes him off.
Kaikkonen tries to clinch but Beryia is having none of it.
Otto Kaikkonen seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

Excellent takedown into side control there by Beryia.

Beryia is looking for a kimura. He might have it! No, Kaikkonen has escaped the position, nice work there.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Beryia wants to lay and pray for a moment but Kaikkonen keeps working.

Beryia decides to stand up, so the ref orders Kaikkonen to his feet.

Kaikkonen closes the distance and looks for a trip takedown... aaaand he's got it - Kaikkonen lands in his opponent's guard.
Nikolai Beryia overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.

Beryia has butterfly guard. He's looking to stand up here. He pushes Kaikkonen off him and springs to his feet nicely. The crowd applauds.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Nikolai Beryia dominated that second round.
The cut man is working on Nikolai Beryia's cut.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business. This is the final round!

Beryia shoots in for a double leg but Kaikkonen sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
Kaikkonen is looking to clinch.

Kaikkonen clinches up with Beryia and pushes him back against the cage.
Beryia wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.
Beryia prevents the takedown attempt.
Beryia tries for a takedown. No joy.
Kaikkonen with an attempt at a knee that misses.
Beryia takes a knee right on the jaw!
Kaikkonen with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.

Kaikkonen pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Beryia pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Kaikkonen misses with a takedown

and Beryia counters with a nice double leg into guard.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Beryia stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Kaikkonen swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Kaikkonen keeping moving, preventing Beryia from controlling successfully.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Beryia gets to his feet - Kaikkonen follows without any prompting.
Beryia throws a right and a left that Kaikkonen avoids nicely.
Beryia lets the fists fly and connects with a left straight followed by a right hook.
Beryia misses with a jab, cross combination.
Kaikkonen slaps away a takedown attempt from Beryia, before circling back to the center of the mat.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Nikolai Beryia. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Beryia swats away the attempt to clinch by Kaikkonen.
Beryia defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Kaikkonen.
Beryia tries to close the distance and clinch but Kaikkonen swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Kaikkonen tries to clinch up

and Beryia counters with a nice single leg takedown and he's in Kaikkonen's guard now.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Beryia stands up from guard. Let's bang!
Kaikkonen tries to clinch

and Beryia counters with a takedown into side control.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!

Beryia working hard here to secure a kimura but he's not really in the right position for it.

Beryia stands up.
Kaikkonen throws a nice looking combination but Beryia bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Beryia tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Kaikkonen paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Beryia shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Kaikkonen but Kaikkonen pushes him off and we're back to square one.
Kaikkonen doesn't succeed with the takedown
and Beryia counters with a left and a right that stings Kaikkonen.
Kaikkonen tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Beryia swivels and escapes.

Beryia decides to change it up a bit and drives through with a nice takedown into half guard.
Beryia works his foot free and advances to mount.
Beryia landing strikes, looking to finish!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Kaikkonen is not a happy chappy… he wants out of there.
Poor strikes thrown by Beryia there. More accuracy and less frantic strikes would help!

Beryia gets to his feet and calls his opponent to stand. Here come the fireworks!
Nikolai Beryia is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Beryia shoots in but doesn't get the takedown
and Kaikkonen counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
Kaikkonen swinging wildly here.
Kaikkonen shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Beryia as he jumps to the side.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Beryia fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
Kaikkonen with a hook.

And that's the end of the fight!
Nikolai Beryia showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Beryia 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 Valeri Chadov scores the fight 29:28
Judge Sergei Dronov scores the fight 29:28
Judge Illya Tyunina scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Nikolai Beryia!