PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Jonny Flame (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Daisuke Nikita (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Daisuke Nikita has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Flame
vs
Nikita

188 cm
23
195 lbs
7 - 4 - 0

189 cm
24
193 lbs
6 - 3 - 0

Powerful takedowns
Solid boxing
KO power

BJJ Purple Belt
Excellent boxer
Heavy handed

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 7 - 4 - 0, fighting out of London, Jonny Flame!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 6 - 3 - 0, fighting out of London, Daisuke Nikita!
The judges for this bout are Andrew Berry, James Glass and William Gold.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Nikita on the wrong end of a decent looking cross there.
Flame stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Flame wants it to stay on the feet.
Nikita throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.

Flame clinches up against the cage.
Nikita working hard to break the clinch.
The pace really dropping off here, momentarily.
Flame presses Nikita against the cage and delivers a mid-strength body shot.
Nikita misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Flame.
A short uppercut from Flame.
A frustrated look appears on Nikita's face as he tries to break the clinch.
Flame keeps control of Nikita as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.
Flame scores with a nice hook to the head.
A left hand lands to the body for Flame.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Flame softening up his opponent with strikes, against the cage.
Nikita tries to circle away but Flame has him pinned against the cage.
Nikita tries to pull guard but Flame forces him back to his feet, against the cage.
Nikita wants to get back to striking at distance but Flame won't allow it.
Flame stalling in the clinch.
Nikita wants to get back to striking at distance but Flame won't allow it.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Nikita can't break the clinch.
Nikita has a couple of punches blocked by Flame.
The referee is keeping an eye on Flame - much more stalling and he will separate the fighters.
An uppercut to the body lands inside from Flame.
Stalling in the clinch from Flame.
Flame lands a nice looking hook to the body, against the cage.
Flame lands a left hand that snaps the head of Nikita backwards.
The referee is keeping an eye on Flame - much more stalling and he will separate the fighters.

Nikita jumps guard and drags Flame to the mat. He's obviously going to be looking for submissions off his back.
Flame landing with the ground and pound.
Flame trying to control but Nikita is working from the bottom.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Flame is really struggling to control Nikita but he's trying to hold on to the position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Flame throws an elbow that misses. Nikita uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in Flame's guard. Nice move by Nikita!
Nikita wants to pass the guard but Flame is keeping the position.
Both fighters really going for it on the ground here!
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Flame is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.
Flame missing with the ground and pound from half guard.
Flame looks towards his corner to check for any instructions. The corner give him nothing to work with, so he cracks Nikita with a short hammerfist. I guess that's as good as any advice he could get in this position.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Nikita is refusing to be controlled, as Flame sits in half guard.
Nikita wants to get back to full guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Nikita is not content to let Flame control the position.

The fighters are starting to get a bit slippery now, which will make submissions a bit more difficult.
Nikita looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.
Flame missing with the ground and pound from half guard.
Nikita on the receiving end of some nice ground and pound.
Flame throwing shots but Nikita is blocking nicely.
Nikita regains full guard, whilst avoiding punches from Flame.
Flame trying to control the position from guard on top but Nikita is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Flame with a flurry of punches that miss.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Flame loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Nikita preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Flame trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.

Nikita has his foot on Flame's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Flame works his way back into a safe position though.
Flame distracts Nikita with his right hand and drops a big elbow with his other arm.
Flame wants to control from the top but Nikita keeps moving.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Flame is going to have to think about doing something other than just controlling because Nikita is managing to avoid having the position dictated to him.
Flame throwing strikes but missing.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Nikita preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Jonny Flame dominated that round.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

Flame misses with a left hand
and Nikita counters with a two punch combo.
Nikita fails to land with a series of punches.
Nikita throws a low kick but Flame avoids it.

Flame has closed the distance and engaged Nikita in a clinch.
A nice left hand lands by Flame.
A short left from Flame.
Flame blocks an uppercut.
Nikita gets underhooks to prevent Flame's takedown attempt.
Still in the clinch, Flame scores with a nice short uppercut.
Nikita misses with a body punch.
A short right hand to the side of the head by Flame.
Nikita lands a body punch.
Flame goes for a takedown attempt but Nikita pushes him away and we're back to fighting at a distance.
Nikita fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Daisuke Nikita seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Nikita lands with a two punch combination before moving back out of range.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Nikita scores with a straight right hand, right through his opponent's guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Nikita shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Flame sprawls well. Flame wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Nikita gets slowly back to his feet.
Nikita rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Flame moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Nikita avoids the body shot from Flame.
Flame avoids the head kick by Nikita.

Flame moves into the clinch.
Both fighters working to control the clinch.
Nikita is trying to break the clinch but Flame has him pressed against the cage.
Flame lands a body punch.
With the fighters clinched against the cage, Flame creates a bit of distance for himself and scores with a nice uppercut.
Flame lands a body shot in the clinch.

Flame gets the body lock takedown. After a quick scramble, Nikita regains guard.
Nikita is controlling Flame's posture.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!

Flame drops back, looking for a kneebar! Nikita looks panicked! The fighters roll across the mat, one looking to finish, one looking to escape. Nikita looks to have wriggled free... Yes, he's got his leg free and he's dived into side control! Good work there from Nikita!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Flame tries to improve position but can't.
Nikita prevents Flame from escaping the position.
Flame manages to get back to half guard.
Flame regains full guard. Nicely done.
Flame working a defensive guard here.
Flame working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Nikita.
Nikita stays in close to Flame's body and controls the position.
Flame looking to hit a scissor sweep but Nikita is one step ahead there.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Flame is on top in guard.
Nikita is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Flame with a couple of shots to the head there. Not particularly brutal.
Flame chips away with some ground and pound.
Nikita is trying to control the position from the bottom.

Nikita escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Flame gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
Nikita is looking to stand up but Flame isn't so interested in that idea.
Flame throwing strikes but missing.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Flame trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Flame accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Nikita is trying to control the position but Flame postures up.
Flame looking to sit in guard and control but Nikita gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.

Flame working for a triangle but Nikita defends it easily.
Flame wants to sweep but no luck.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Nikita is taking a break and basically stalling. The referee will not allow him to do that for long.
Jonny Flame overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Nikita missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close second round but I would say that Jonny Flame will probably get the nod.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action! This is the final round!

Flame throws a right and a left that both miss.
Nikita tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in the close the distance. Flame manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.

Nikita has managed to clinch.
Flame lands a right hand.
Nikita is trying to break the clinch but Flame is controlling him.
A nice left hand lands by Flame.
Flame stays in close to his opponent and throws a right hand to the body.
Nikita lands with a short head shot on the inside.
Flame tries a body shot but Nikita blocks it.
Flame lands an uppercut.
Nikita is looking to break free of the clinch but Flame has double underhooks.
Flame lands with a good tight uppercut to the head.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Flame throws a hook to the body. More of an arm punch but it's all scoring with the judges.
Flame keeps the fight in the clinch, despite Nikita's efforts to push away.
Nikita has had enough of the clinch and is looking to separate.
Flame lands with a quick shot inside that doesn't really do much damage.
Nikita wants to break the clinch but can't.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Nikita is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Flame is defending well for now.
Flame prevents a takedown attempt there.
Nikita takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Flame blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Flame scores with a shot to the side of Nikita's head.

Flame has picked Nikita up - he's going for a ride! Flame dumps his opponent to the mat with a thud and settles into half guard.
Flame controlling the action here.
Flame wants to lay and pray for a moment but Nikita keeps working.

Flame wants to work for an arm triangle but Nikita is really keeping half guard well and defending the submission attempt.
Flame is thwarting Nikita's attempts to control the position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Flame looking for a kimura but he'll have to free his other leg if he wants to finish that. Perhaps he's just using it as a distraction technique.
Flame lands with a punch from half guard.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Flame throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.

Flame seems to be looking for submissions.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Nikita is trying is best to control the position here.
Nikita is looking to improve his position.
Flame trying to control from half guard but Nikita is working away.
Flame working the head and body with strikes.
Nikita is trying to stand.
Flame not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
Flame sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Nikita defending well though.
Flame controlling the pace.
Nikita is trying to maintain the position but Flame is very close to passing his half guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Flame is looking for a kimura. It's going to be difficult to finish that from half guard though and Nikita defends it well.
Nikita blocking the ground and pound attempt from Flame.
Flame lands with an elbow from half guard - that looked like it hurt.
Daisuke Nikita has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

Flame is working for a kimura here but Nikita manages to reverse the position and he's now in Flame's guard.
Jonny Flame is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Nikita postures up.

And that's the end of the fight!
Jonny Flame showed his dominance in that final round.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Flame, winning every round. Will the judges agree? They are the ones who matter, even if they are often depressingly incompetent. 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 Andrew Berry scores the fight 30:27
Judge James Glass scores the fight 30:27
Judge William Gold scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Jonny Flame!