PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Saku Thirtynine (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Nikolo Halike (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Thirtynine comes into the arena with Speed 2 Remix by Tetsuya Komura blaring out of the sound system. The fight MMA fans around the world have waited their entire lives for!

Thirtynine
vs
Halike

178 cm
30
169 lbs
9 - 12 - 1

180 cm
29
165 lbs
10 - 4 - 0

Good wrestling
Solid boxing
Granite chin

Good wrestler
World class boxer
Heavy handed

Hellbent, Inc.™
Hell's Balls Recovery

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 2 rounds, in the lightweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 9 - 12 - 1, fighting out of Tokyo, Saku Thirtynine!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 10 - 4 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Nikolo Halike!
The judges for this bout are Yukihiro Shimada, Shigeki Sano and Kenichi Hosakawa.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Thirtynine swings wildly with a couple of big hooks
and Halike counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
Thirtynine throws a jab, cross combination which is slipped
and Halike counters with a nice leg kick.
Thirtynine with a lazy takedown attempt
and Halike counters with a leg kick.
Halike buckles his opponent's knee momentarily with a nice leg kick.
Thirtynine doesn't react quick enough there as he takes a shot to the body.
Thirtynine misses with a takedown
and Halike counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Thirtynine is breathing heavily.
A head kick from Halike lands but Thirtynine takes it in his stride.
Thirtynine misses with a double jab
and Halike connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Thirtynine gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily
and Halike counters with a nice body shot.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Saku Thirtynine. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Thirtynine misses with a combination
and Halike counters with a straight right hand.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Thirtynine walks straight into a jab right on the nose. That one stung - he's blinking and trying to clear his head.
Thirtynine misses with a takedown attempt
and Halike counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Halike getting the better of the striking in that exchange.
Halike scores with a shot to the body.
Halike lands a jab, followed by a cross and another cross, as Thirtynine backs up against the cage.
A jab lands there for Halike.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.

Halike moves into the clinch.
Halike connects with a nasty looking knee right to Thirtynine's face.
Halike with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.
Halike slowing the pace effectively.
This is turning into a torrid day at the office for Thirtynine. He's trying desperately to land a takedown but he's failing miserably and getting slapped silly on the feet to compound his misery.
Halike tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Thirtynine avoids it.
Thirtynine avoiding damage as Halike throws knees to the body.
Thirtynine has hold of a leg and is looking for a trip takedown. Halike avoids it nicely though and we remain in the clinch.
Halike putting his Muay Thai to good use. He has Thirtynine in a tight clinch and is doing some damage with knees to the body.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Halike landing knees to the head.
Halike landing knees to the body.
Halike tries to land a knee to the head but Thirtynine blocks with his arms.
Thirtynine managing to block the knees to the body from Halike.
Thirtynine takes a knee to the side of the body.
Halike tries a knee to the head but he's missed.
Halike tries a knee to the head but Thirtynine blocks it.

Halike manages to break the clinch.
Halike is landing a lot of head punches in this opening round! Thirtynine had better start moving his head a bit unless he wants his face to turn into pâté.
Thirtynine shoots and misses
and Halike connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Halike keeps his opponent at a distance with a nice jab.
Thirtynine misses with a right hand
and Halike counters with a head kick. That will keep Thirtynine thinking before he tries any more sloppy attacks!
Thirtynine swings widly with a right hand
and Halike connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Halike lands an overhand left. A wild punch that just about connected.
Thirtynine shoots in but doesn't get the takedown
and Halike counters with a shot to the ribs. That looked like it hurt.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Halike listening to his corner there, landing a nice uppercut.
Halike closes the distance and lands a one-two.
Thirtynine misses with a left hand
and Halike counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Thirtynine shoots and misses
and Halike cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Halike scores with a three punch combo!

Thirtynine is rocked!
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.

Thirtynine ducks straight into an uppercut from Halike and tumbles to the canvas! It’s a flash knockdown though - Thirtynine manages to regain guard straight away.
Oh Thirtynine is still in real trouble! Will he be able to recover?!!
Halike sneaks a leg through and gets to half guard. That was like a knife through butter how easily he passed Thirtynine's guard.

Halike is looking for a kimura but he's never going to get it from there.
Thirtynine seems to have got his legs back now.
Halike not doing much here.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Halike thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.
Thirtynine is trying to stand up here but Halike is controlling him well.
Thirtynine trying to control from the bottom.

That's five minutes gone in the round.
Thirtynine makes his way to full guard. A much better position for Thirtynine.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Halike looking to control the position here, rather than advance.
Halike stands and throws Thirtynine's legs to the side, diving into side control.
Halike looks up at the clock and then as Thirtynine takes his cue and looks up at the clock too, Halike smacks him right in the chops with a big elbow! How rude!

That's six minutes gone in the round.
Thirtynine is looking to reverse the position.
Thirtynine is trying to control Halike's posture but Halike avoids it.
Halike trying to control the position but Thirtynine is working away.
Thirtynine is looking to reverse the position.
Thirtynine is trying to get back to half guard. He's pushing on Halike's leg. He's managed it. Nice work.

Halike is trying a forearm choke… I don't think that's going to do much at this level of the game.

That's seven minutes gone in the round.
Thirtynine is looking to improve his position.
Thirtynine regains full guard. Nicely done.
Thirtynine looking to control.

Thirtynine looking for submissions from the bottom but instead Halike passes into half guard.
Thirtynine wants to improve his position but Halike is controlling well.

That's eight minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Halike trying to control from half guard but Thirtynine is working away.
Halike takes a deep breath and rests his weight momentarily on top of his opponent, to control the position.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Halike working Thirtynine over with strikes.

Halike is thinking about going for an arm triangle but he can't free his leg.
Thirtynine moves his hips nicely and gets into full guard.

That's nine minutes gone in the round.
Halike trying to control but Thirtynine is working from the bottom.
Thirtynine lands a beautiful switch and he's in full mount! That could spell trouble for Halike!
Thirtynine pausing momentarily but resumes with a couple of decent strikes that do a bit of damage.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Halike has given up his back - I don’t know if this is a deliberate ploy to try and escape or if he is just struggling down there.
Thirtynine slows the pace down here. Having a little breather whilst he's in a dominant position, looking to rest and regain some energy, ready to go for the finish.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Nikolo Halike 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. This is the final round!

Thirtynine swings and misses with a shot to the body
and Halike counters with a thumping low kick.
Saku Thirtynine seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Thirtynine misses with a takedown
and Halike counters with a slapping leg kick.
Halike scores with a jab to the jaw.
Thirtynine doesn't succeed with the takedown
and Halike counters with a straight right hand.
Thirtynine with a poor takedown
and Halike cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Saku Thirtynine. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Halike lands the left hand.
Thirtynine throws a jab, cross combination which is slipped
letting Halike counter with a right hand.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
A chopping leg kick lands by Halike.
Thirtynine shakes his hands off, looking to compose himself, but takes a jab to the jaw whilst he does it.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Halike connects with a body shot that sends Thirtynine's belly button to the back.
Halike scores with a shot to the body.

Halike moves into the clinch successfully.
Halike missing with knees to the body.
Halike misses with a knee strike.
Halike utilising his Muay Thai to score with a knee to the body.
Halike tries a knee to the head but he's missed.
Thirtynine on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
Halike trying to land knees to the body.
Halike scores with a knee to the head.
Halike looking to throw knees to the head but Thirtynine is blocking nicely.
Halike using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Thirtynine has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
Thirtynine is working for takedown but Halike is calmly controlling the position for now.
Halike utilising his Muay Thai to score with a knee to the body.
Halike using the Thai clinch to land knees to the body.
Halike lands a knee to the head there! That was nasty!
Halike unloads a knee to the mid-section. Thirtynine lets out a prehistoric sounding urrrrgh.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Halike tries to land knees in the clinch but Thirtynine avoids the damage to the body.
Halike working Thirtynine over with knees to the body.
Halike is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Thirtynine is defending well for now.
Halike lands a nice knee to the body.

Halike escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Halike lands the left hand.
Thirtynine looks like he's developed a pretty tasty lump over his left eye. He'll need to avoid taking much more damage to that.
Thirtynine tries to check the leg kick but that clearly hurt him.
Halike stooping low to avoid any incoming strikes and then lunges in with an uppercut come cross that lands flush.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Halike buckles his opponent's knee momentarily with a nice leg kick.
Thirtynine is hobbling a little on that front leg after taking quite a few leg kicks so far in this fight.
Thirtynine tries for a takedown but Halike circles away easily
and Halike counters with a left to the body.
Halike scores with a spinning back kick!

Halike has closed the distance and engaged Thirtynine in a clinch.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Thirtynine can't get the takedown.
Halike scores with a knee to the head.
Halike landing some nice looking knees to the body.
Halike is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Thirtynine is defending well for now.
Halike will no doubt start fighting again in a minute but for now he's just having a little rest, leaning Thirtynine up against the cage.
Knees in the clinch landing for Halike.
Halike looking to throw knees to the head but Thirtynine is blocking nicely.
Halike looking to throw knees to the head but Thirtynine is blocking nicely.
Halike is pressed up against the cage. Thirtynine has hold of a leg and is looking to drag Halike down to the mat. Halike avoids the attempt though and has circled away. We're back to striking at a distance.
Halike lands a jab followed by a nice looking cross.
Thirtynine swings widly with a right hand

and Halike holds on and brings the fighters into a clinch.
Halike unloads a knee to the mid-section.
Thirtynine has hold of a leg and is looking for a trip takedown. Halike avoids it nicely though and we remain in the clinch.
Thirtynine blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
Halike gets double underhooks to prevent a takedown attempt from Thirtynine.
Halike landing knees to the head.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Halike lands a knee to the head.
Thirtynine tries to score a body lock takedown but Halike shows good agility there to stay on his feet.
Halike misses with a knee strike.
Halike putting his Muay Thai to good use. He has Thirtynine in a tight clinch and is doing some damage with knees to the body.
Halike with the Thai clinch, lands a knee to the head.
Halike has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Thirtynine tries for a takedown but Halike manages to get underhooks.
Halike connects with a nasty looking knee right to Thirtynine's face.
Halike putting his Muay Thai to good use. He has Thirtynine in a tight clinch and is doing some damage with knees to the body.
Halike scores with a knee to the head.
Halike landing knees to the head.
Halike tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Thirtynine avoids it.
Halike tries a knee to the head but he's missed.
Thirtynine wants a takedown.
Halike tries to land a knee to the head but Thirtynine blocks with his arms.
Halike is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Thirtynine is defending well for now.
Thirtynine drops down for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Halike landing knees to the head.

That's five minutes gone in the round.
Thirtynine blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
Halike crunches a lovely knee into Thirtynine's ribcage.
Thirtynine drops down for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Knees to the body from Halike.
Thirtynine drops down for a takedown but doesn't get it.
A knee to the head by Halike.
Thirtynine drops to a knee looking for a takedown but Halike gets the underhooks and prevents it.
Halike throws a knee to the head but misses.
Halike landing knees to the head.
Halike with a knee to the head.
Halike missing with knees to the body.
Thirtynine on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
Thirtynine wants a takedown but no success here.
Thirtynine goes for a takedown attempt but Halike pushes him away and we're back to fighting at a distance.
Halike's jab looks to have found its range, popping Thirtynine under the eye.

That's six 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.
Thirtynine shoots in but doesn't get the takedown
and Halike counters nicely by changing levels and landing a hook to the body.
Thirtynine takes a shot to the eye socket. That's gotta hurt.
Halike scores with a push kick.
Thirtynine misses with a takedown
letting Halike counter with a right hand.
Halike plants his feet and lands a nice head kick!

That's seven minutes gone in the round.
Halike lands a nice leg kick that just misses Thirtynine's sensitive parts.
Thirtynine throws a sloppy body shot
and Halike counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
Halike throws a quick inside leg kick.
Thirtynine throws an ugly left hook that misses
letting Halike counter with a right hand.
Thirtynine throws a combination that misses
and Halike makes him pay by landing a thudding low kick.
Nice uppercut there from Halike.
Thirtynine takes a nice looking leg kick right on the meat of his thigh there.
Thirtynine moves his head to the side to avoid a jab but walks straight into a cross.
Thirtynine has his takedown stuffed
and Halike counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.

That's eight minutes gone in the round.
Halike bobs and weaves and unloads with a good uppercut.
Good leg kick by Halike there. It's the ones that make that thud noise that hurt and that was an almighty thud.
Halike lands a right hook to the body.
A lazy left from Halike finds it's target.
Halike lands with a shot to the body.
Halike connects with a nice looking jab.
The fighters circle momentarily. Halike darts into range and connects with a nice straight punch.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Thirtynine fails with the takedown
and Halike counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
Halike scores with a jab to the head.

That's nine minutes gone in the round.
Thirtynine misses with a takedown

and Halike holds on and brings the fighters into a clinch.
Halike with the Thai clinch, lands a knee to the head.

Thirtynine is rocked!
A battle for position here, against the cage.
Halike working Thirtynine over with knees to the body.
Halike tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Thirtynine avoids it.
Halike trying to land knees to the body.
Halike with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.
Halike is pushing Thirtynine up against the cage, for a bit of lean and pray action. Action being used the in the loosest possible sense of the word.
Halike putting his Muay Thai to good use. He has Thirtynine in a tight clinch and is doing some damage with knees to the body.
Saku Thirtynine has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Halike crunches a lovely knee into Thirtynine's ribcage.

Halike escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Nikolo Halike is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Thirtynine has his front leg slapped to the side - a nice low kick landing there from Halike.
Thirtynine rushes in with a sloppy looking punch
and Halike counters nicely by changing levels and landing a hook to the body.

And that's the end of the fight!
Nikolo Halike comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Halike has won this one but let's see whether the judges agree with me. Over to the ring announcer for the scorecards.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 2 rounds of action, we go to the scorecards for a decision.

Judge Yukihiro Shimada scores the fight for Nikolo Halike!
Judge Shigeki Sano scores the fight for Nikolo Halike!
Judge Kenichi Hosakawa scores the fight for Nikolo Halike!

Nikolo Halike wins by unanimous decision!