PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Nick Laos (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Hiro Kikui (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Nick Laos has a significant reach advantage - let's see if he can make it count.

Laos
vs
Kikui

190 cm
25
196 lbs
0 - 1 - 0

178 cm
23
178 lbs
2 - 0 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Great elbows
Very strong

Decent wrestler
Basic striking
Solid chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the middleweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, Nick Laos!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, Hiro Kikui!
The judges for this bout are , and .

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Kikui circles away from the clinch attempt
and Kikui counters with a straight right hand.

Kikui shoots in from a long way out. He's driving through with the takedown attempt and he eventually gets it, landing in Laos's guard.
Kikui trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Kikui won't allow Laos to sweep him here.
Kikui passes easily into side control. Nice work.
Laos knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Kikui on the ground.
Laos tries to buck Kikui off but Kikui is having none of it.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Kikui staying calm.
Kikui has knee on belly and now moves to full mount! Trouble for Laos!

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kikui lands a big elbow.
Laos working to try and regain half guard.
Laos tries to hold on but Kikui postures up.
Kikui takes a little breather and maintains the position. The referee will be looking for him to stay active from such a dominant position though.
It looks like Kikui might be adopting somewhat of a lay and pray gameplan here, which I'm sure won't go down too well with the paying fans in attendance... Or the ring announcers come to think of it.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The referee is pacing around the two fighters - he looks like he's thinking about a standup.

Kikui gets to his feet and calls his opponent to stand. Here come the fireworks!
Kikui shoots for a double leg takedown but Laos sprawls well. He's pushed Kikui's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
Kikui circles away from the clinch attempt.
Kikui circles away from the clinch attempt.
Kikui will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
Kikui circles away from the clinch attempt

and Kikui counters with a nice single leg takedown and he's in Laos's guard now.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Kikui engaging in some classic timewasting tactics.
Laos looking to sweep here. No luck so far.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kikui works a leg free and moves into half guard.

Kikui stands, ready to strike. The ref makes him back up and allows Laos to get to his feet.

Kikui shoots in and gets a takedown into Laos's guard.
Kikui slows down the pace of the fight, as he sits in guard.

Kikui drops back for a leg! It's a sloppy attempt though and Kikui jumps back into guard quickly, to retain the dominant position.
Kikui controlling from the top position.
Kikui passes into half guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Kikui seems content to maintain position for now, rather than mounting any offense.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Hiro Kikui dominated that round.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

Laos moves in looking to clinch but Kikui pushes him off.

A momentary lapse in concentration from Laos enables Kikui to shoot in and score with a neat double leg. Laos manages to secure a closed guard as the fighters hit the mat.
Kikui controlling from the top position.
Laos is trying to control the position but Kikui postures up.
Kikui content to stall in guard here.
Kikui is pushing down on Laos's leg trying to pass to half guard. Laos is fighting to maintain full guard but Kikui has managed to sneak the leg through.
Kikui is just sitting in half guard, waiting for something to happen.

That's one minute gone in the round.
It looks like the ref is thinking about a standup.
Laos trying to control but Kikui postures up.
Kikui controlling the action here.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Laos looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Laos dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
Nice takedown defense from Laos. No joy for Kikui on that attempt.
Wow, both these guys are really going for it!
Laos getting the better of the striking in that exchange.
Kikui misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
Laos darts in trying to clinch

and Kikui counters with a nice double leg into half guard.
Kikui is breathing heavily.
Laos tries to get to full guard but Kikui has control of the leg.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Kikui not landing any meaningful shots this time.

Kikui is looking for an arm triangle, whilst trying to pass to side control. Laos doesn't seem that keen to cooperate though. No luck this time Kikui.
Laos trying to hold on to Kikui's head to control him but Kikui postures up.
The step up in weight doesn't seem to be a problem for Kikui. He's performing admirably here against the bigger man.
Kikui is scoring with some nice ground and pound from the dominant position.
Kikui passes to full mount!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Laos wants to control but Kikui is having none of it.
Kikui controlling his opponent.
Laos tries to hold on but Kikui postures up.

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.
Kikui takes a little breather and maintains the position. The referee will be looking for him to stay active from such a dominant position though.

OK we're going to have a standup here. Hiro Kikui hasn't been effective enough on the ground and the referee wants a restart.

Laos tries to sprawl but Kikui drives through with a takedown into half guard.

Kikui is working for a kimura but Laos is defending it quite comfortably.
Kikui is controlling the pace.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Hiro Kikui showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action! The crowd applaud as we get ready to start the final round!

Kikui throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Laos's waist but Laos gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Kikui off to one side.
Kikui shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Laos pinned against the cage. Laos gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
Kikui shoots in for a takedown but Laos shows good takedown defense.
Nick Laos has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Hiro Kikui.
Laos darts in trying to clinch

and Kikui decides to take the opportunity to score a takedown. He's landed in Laos's guard.
Kikui wants to pass the guard but Laos is keeping the position.
Laos trying to control the position.
Laos will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.
Kikui passes Laos's right leg, so he's now in half guard.
Kikui takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Kikui controlling the pace.
Hiro Kikui has got the better of the ground game so far.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Kikui is trying for a kimura here. Laos looks like he's in a lot of pain... and he's tapping out! Kikui wins by kimura!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 1:22 of round 3, we have a winner by way of Submission (Kimura). Hiro Kikui!