PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Cerventes Bison (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Esko Nikkari (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Chooooooooon! I think Bison might be my favorite fighter, now he's come out to The Beast by Tech N9ne. Nikkari is bouncing up and down as he enters the arena, backed by Koto - Jabdah . 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.

Bison
vs
Nikkari

190 cm
23
218 lbs
8 - 2 - 0

185 cm
25
223 lbs
17 - 8 - 0

Good wrestling
Excellent boxer
Very quick

Good wrestler
Dangerous knees
Powerful

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 8 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Cerventes Bison!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 17 - 8 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Esko Nikkari!
The judges for this bout are Dmitry Maklakov, Konstantin Menshow and Viktor Lagutenko.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Nikkari misses with a looping left.
Nikkari takes a jab on the nose there. A little bit of blood seems to be coming out. Hopefully that won't affect his breathing.
Nikkari fakes a jab and throws a low kick but Bison checks it well.
Bison lands a jab.
Esko Nikkari seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Nikkari throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Nikkari throws a lazy head kick
and Bison counters with a left to the body.
Nikkari scores with a kick to the midsection.
Nikkari lands with a thumping leg kick.
Some wild striking there from Nikkari.
Nikkari misses with a takedown attempt
and Bison counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
Bison throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
Nikkari misses with a right hand

and Bison counters with a shoot takedown. Nikkari fights it but they end up in guard.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Bison throws a big right hand that misses.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Nikkari wants to control here, rather than go for any submissions from the bottom. At least for now.
Bison wants to pass the guard but Nikkari is keeping the position.
Bison trying to control but Nikkari is working from the bottom.
Bison is in close to Nikkari's body, working some short punches and elbows.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Bison accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Nikkari looking to control the pace of the fight rather than finish it.

That's two 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.

Nikkari is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
Bison stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Nikkari swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Bison trying to control but Nikkari is working from the bottom.
Hammerfist, elbow! yells Bison's corner. There ya go! There ya go!
Nikkari utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Nikkari keeping moving, preventing Bison from controlling successfully.
Nikkari controlling Bison's posture.
Bison throws and elbow that misses. Nikkari uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in Bison's guard. Nice move by Nikkari!
Nikkari thows a big elbow that misses.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Nikkari engaging in some classic timewasting tactics.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Nikkariis looking to pass into half guard but Bison pushes him away with his feet and jumps on top - now Bison is in guard.
Bison connects with a couple of short punches.
Nikkari working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Bison.
Bison postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Hammerfist, elbow! yells Bison's corner. There ya go! There ya go!
Bison throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Bison thows a big elbow that misses.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Cerventes Bison dominated that round.
That's time! Bison's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight.

Bison throws a looping overhand right but Nikkari ducks down to avoid it.
Bison has a takedown stuffed.
Bison uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Nikkari.
Nikkari has his takedown stuffed
and Bison counters with a left to the body.
Bison connects with a body shot that sends Nikkari's belly button to the back.
Nikkari throws a leg kick but Bison sees it coming and moves out of range.
Nikkari staying out of range there.
A cross from Bison lands.
Nikkari misses with a takedown
and Bison counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Nikkari gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily
and Bison counters with a shot to the ribs. That looked like it hurt.
Cerventes Bison has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Esko Nikkari.
Nikkari is breathing heavily.
A looping hook to the body misses from Nikkari. Bison does a little dance to reset his feet.
Bison swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Bison has his takedown stuffed
and Nikkari counters with a good, hard body kick but Bison shrugs it off.
Nikkari swings and misses with a shot to the body
and Nikkari takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
Nikkari slaps away a takedown attempt from Bison, before circling back to the center of the mat.
Bison rushes in with a sloppy looking punch
and Nikkari counters with a nice jab to the body that keeps Bison thinking.
Nikkari lands a nice hook to Bison's body. Bison takes it in his stride and looks to land his own strikes.
Nikkari takes a punch right to his stomach. That took the wind out of him momentarily.
Nikkari misses with a shot to the body
and Bison counters with a left to the body.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Bison misses with a left hand

so Nikkari counters with a double leg into guard. Good agility.
Bison lands a beautiful switch and he's in full mount! That could spell trouble for Nikkari!
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Bison prevents Nikkari from getting the reversal.
Bison wants to control the pace but Nikkari is squirming around nicely.
Bison avoids the attempt from Nikkari to control.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Poor strikes thrown by Bison there. More accuracy and less frantic strikes would help!
Nikkari tries to hold on but Bison pushes him away.
Nikkari in a bad spot here, taking shots to the head.
Nikkari can't escape the position.
Bison postures up and cracks his opponent a couple of times before moving back into close ground control. Nikkari looks a forlorn figure.
Bison punishing his opponent with strikes.
Nikkari keeping his composure momentarily, calmly looking to get back to half guard.

Bison working for a guillotine from mount but Nikkari is in no mood to give up.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Bison looking to ground and pound his opponent to a finish here.
Nikkari tries to lock up and control but Bison gives him a forearm to the face and pushes him away.
Nikkari is desperately trying to get back to half guard.
Nikkari is persisting with the attempt to improve his position.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Bison fakes a shot to the body and cracks his opponent in the head. Nice ground and pound there!
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Cerventes Bison dominated that second round.
That's time! Back to the action! The crowd applaud as we get ready to start the final round!

Nikkari misses with a leg kick
enabling Bison to counter with a crisp jab.
Nikkari throws a leg kick that is checked
and Bison counters with a right hand to the body.
Bison misses with a hook. Nikkari ducked under it nicely.
Nikkari blocks a jab.
Bison throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Nikkari misses with a telegraphed body shot
and Bison counters with a nice jab to the body that keeps Nikkari thinking.
Nikkari misses with a leg kick
and Bison counters with a shot to the ribs. That looked like it hurt.
Bison lands with a thumping leg kick.
Nikkari uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Bison.
A low kick from Nikkari is predictable there
and Bison counters with a lovely shot to the body.
Bison throws a right hand that misses
and Nikkari cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Bison lands a glancing blow to the side of Nikkari's head.
Cerventes Bison is winning the standup battle so far.
Nikkari takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Nikkari throws a body kick, spinning off balance
and Bison counters with a straight punch to the midsection.
Bison scores with a jab to the jaw.
Bison will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.

Bison clinches.
Nikkari swings wildly with an uppercut but Bison uses good head movement to avoid it.
Nikkari gets double underhooks to prevent a takedown attempt from Bison.
Nikkari prevents the takedown attempt.

Bison gets double underhooks and manages to take the fight to the ground.
Bison throws a strike but Nikkari rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.
Nikkari stays in close to Bison's body and controls the position.
Esko Nikkari has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Bison working for a triangle but Nikkari defends it easily.
Bison is trying to control the position but Nikkari postures up.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Bison wants to sweep but no luck.
Bison wants to stand and escape but Nikkari is having none of it.
Cerventes Bison overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.

Bison is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Nikkari is aware though and is defending well.
Nikkari looking to sit in guard and control but Bison gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.
Bison trying to pass the guard. He's being very persistent here but Nikkari manages to land a sweep and now he's on top!
Nikkari is in close to Bison's body, working some short punches and elbows.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Bison is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.
Nikkari tries to roll over but Bison keeps him under control.
Bison misses with a head shot. Nikkari uses the momentum to regain guard.
Bison keeps in close for a moment and lands a decent shot to the side of Nikkari's head.

And that's the end of the fight!
Cerventes Bison showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Bison has outscored his opponent in every aspect of the fight today. Only a scarily incompetent judge or two will keep him from a well deserved win... 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 Dmitry Maklakov scores the fight 30:27
Judge Konstantin Menshow scores the fight 30:27
Judge Viktor Lagutenko scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Cerventes Bison!