PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Andrzej Wrzeszczycki (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Epeli Nailatikau (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Nailatikau has chosen Number of the Bollywood as his entrance music, which hasn't gone down very well with the crowd. Rumors backstage are that the fighters have been paid to keep it standing but we know that would never happen in MMA!

Wrzeszczycki
vs
Nailatikau

168 cm
35
145 lbs
15 - 2 - 0

172 cm
23
154 lbs
10 - 5 - 0

Good wrestling
Excellent MT
Cardio machine

BJJ Purple Belt
Dangerous knees
Good gas tank

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the lightweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 15 - 2 - 0, fighting out of London, Andrzej Wrzeszczycki!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 10 - 5 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Epeli Nailatikau!
The judges for this bout are Paul Tew, Sam Margolis and Chris Edwards.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Wrzeszczycki uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Nailatikau.
Nailatikau lands a jab to the head.
Nailatikau misses with a kick to the body.
Nailatikau throws a jab to the body, straight down the pipe. Boom. That sent Wrzeszczycki stumbling backwards but he manages to regain his composure quickly.
Nailatikau connects with a lovely right hand, straight down the pipe.
Wrzeszczycki stumbles momentarily as he takes a strong leg kick from Nailatikau.
Nailatikau stuffs the takedown.
Nailatikau misses with a leg kick

and Wrzeszczycki holds on and brings the fighters into a clinch.
Nailatikau creates a bit of distance and throws an elbow that only just misses.

Wrzeszczycki has picked Nailatikau up - he's going for a ride! Wrzeszczycki dumps his opponent to the mat with a thud and settles into half guard.
Nailatikau is refusing to be controlled, as Wrzeszczycki sits in half guard.

Nailatikau looking for submissions from an awkward position here.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Nailatikau is trying to control but can't.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Nailatikau is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Wrzeszczycki pulls his head out easily.

Nailatikau looking for a kimura from the bottom but Wrzeszczycki passes into side control!
Wrzeszczycki fails to land a wild elbow strike.
Nailatikau is looking to reverse the position.
Nailatikau can't do much from the bottom here.
Nailatikau tries to get back to half guard but can't.
Nailatikau struggling a bit here.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Nailatikau is trying to escape the position but Wrzeszczycki is controlling the position.
Nailatikau is positioning himself to get back to half guard.
Nailatikau tries to slip a leg under to move to half guard but Wrzeszczycki presses down on the leg and jumps into full mount!
Wrzeszczycki controlling from the full mount.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Wrzeszczycki misses with a head shot.
Nailatikau is writhing around trying to get back to his feet.
Wrzeszczycki takes a little breather and maintains the position. The referee will be looking for him to stay active from such a dominant position though.
Wrzeszczycki seems to have a rather negative gameplan on the ground. He seems keen to just score the takedown and hold down Nailatikau for as long as he can get away with.

Wrzeszczycki looking for an armbar but decides to keep the dominant position instead.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Nailatikau is writhing around trying to get back to his feet.
Nailatikau is in all sorts of trouble here.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Wrzeszczycki sitting in mount, just looking to control for the moment.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Nailatikau tries to hold on but Wrzeszczycki postures up.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Nailatikau might have to switch it up a bit here because his efforts to control Wrzeszczycki haven't been going to plan, at least at the current moment in time.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close round but I would say that Andrzej Wrzeszczycki will probably get the nod.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

Good work by Wrzeszczycki as he checks the leg kick.
The fight stays on the outside here - Nailatikau looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Wrzeszczycki tries to clinch up.
Nailatikau misses with a low kick as Wrzeszczycki jumps back.
Nailatikau misses with a body kick.
Wrzeszczycki wants to clinch.
Andrzej Wrzeszczycki is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Wrzeszczycki throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Wrzeszczycki blocks a leg kick.
Nailatikau scores with a jab to the jaw of his opponent.
Nailatikau attempts a leg kick but it's missed by a good margin.
Wrzeszczycki checks a low kick. Bone on bone - not my idea of a good time.
Nailatikau slaps away a takedown attempt from Wrzeszczycki, before circling back to the center of the mat.
Nailatikau swings away with a leg kick that misses.
Nailatikau moves into range and lands a nice body kick.
Epeli Nailatikau seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Wrzeszczycki tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. Nailatikau manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Nailatikau is looking to clinch but Wrzeszczycki is avoiding it.
Nailatikau throws a front kick aimed at Wrzeszczycki's knee but Wrzeszczycki avoids it well.
Wrzeszczycki is looking to clinch.
Wrzeszczycki misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Nailatikau.
Nailatikau delivers a nice body kick.
Nailatikau fakes with a right hand and throws a good leg kick, right into the thigh. That had to hurt Wrzeszczycki.
Wrzeszczycki takes an uppercut right on the jaw but it doesn't phase him.

Wrzeszczycki closes the distance and pushes Nailatikau back into the cage.
Nailatikau taking a breather.
Wrzeszczycki blocks an elbow strike from Nailatikau.
Nailatikau wants to stall.
Wrzeszczycki managing to block the knees to the body from Nailatikau.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Wrzeszczycki takes a knee to the side of the body.
Wrzeszczycki jumps guard but Nailatikau turns him against the cage and keeps the fight standing.
Wrzeszczycki tries a knee to the head but he's missed.
Wrzeszczycki on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
Wrzeszczycki blocks the elbow strike.
Nailatikau throws an elbow that misses.
Wrzeszczycki working aggressively here.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Nailatikau.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Wrzeszczycki avoiding damage.
Nailatikau gets underhooks to prevent Wrzeszczycki's takedown attempt.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Andrzej Wrzeszczycki. That's going to take a lot out of him.
A bit of stalling here from Wrzeszczycki.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Nailatikau trying to control the position but instead, Wrzeszczycki has worked for underhooks and has pushed Nailatikau into the cage.
Nailatikau lands a right hand that snaps the head of Wrzeszczycki backwards.
Wrzeszczycki misses with a knee to the head.
Nailatikau tries to land knees in the clinch but Wrzeszczycki avoids the damage to the body.
Wrzeszczycki is working hard here but doesn't seem to be able to control effectively, up against the cage.
Nailatikau lands with a left to the head.
Wrzeszczycki wants a takedown.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Nailatikau.
Wrzeszczycki tries for a takedown but Nailatikau manages to get underhooks.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Nailatikau on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
Wrzeszczycki throws an elbow but it's blocked.
Wrzeszczycki drops down looking for an ankle pick but Nailatikau pulls his leg out and moves away.
Nailatikau throws a decent looking leg kick but it doesn't land clean.
Wrzeszczycki walks into a straight right hand from Nailatikau.
A clash of legs there as Wrzeszczycki blocks the low kick.
Nailatikau thows a leg kick but Wrzeszczycki checks it

and Wrzeszczycki counters by moving into the clinch. Good anticipation by Wrzeszczycki.
Nailatikau on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
Nailatikau pushes off and fires off an elbow that misses, before clinching up again, against the cage.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Nailatikau throws an elbow but it misses.
Stalling in the clinch from Wrzeszczycki.
Nailatikau avoiding damage as Wrzeszczycki throws knees to the body.
Wrzeszczycki stalling the fight.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Epeli Nailatikau showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
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!

Wrzeszczycki avoids the body shot from Nailatikau.
Nailatikau keeps his opponent at a distance with a nice jab.
Nice straight punches there by Nailatikau. You know Roy Jones Jr respects the hands of Nailatikau.
Wrzeszczycki fails to land the takedown.
A thudding body kick lands there by Nailatikau!
Wrzeszczycki on the wrong end of a nice hook.
Nailatikau cracks the inside of Wrzeszczycki's front leg.
Nailatikau lands a nice shot that snaps Wrzeszczycki's head back.
Nailatikau fakes with the hands and throws a leg kick but Wrzeszczycki is out of range.
Wrzeszczycki tried to score with a low kick but Nailatikau checks it.
Nailatikau lands a nice leg kick that just misses Wrzeszczycki's sensitive parts.
A low kick from Nailatikau misses

and Wrzeszczycki counters by moving into the clinch. Good anticipation by Wrzeszczycki.
Nailatikau throws an elbow but it's blocked.
Wrzeszczycki tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. Nailatikau smiles and moves away.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Wrzeszczycki avoids the body shot from Nailatikau.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Wrzeszczycki tries to drive through with a takedown attempt but Nailatikau defends well and Wrzeszczycki ends up having to push Nailatikau into the cage where they will battle it out in the clinch.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Andrzej Wrzeszczycki. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Wrzeszczycki wants a takedown.
With the fighters up against the cage, Nailatikau throws an elbow but misses.
Nailatikau utilising his Muay Thai to score with a knee to the body.
Wrzeszczycki avoids the elbow strike from Nailatikau, against the cage.
Nailatikau utilising his Muay Thai to score with a knee to the body.
A battle for position here, against the cage.
Wrzeszczycki throws a knee to the head but misses.
Andrzej Wrzeszczycki has scored more points in the clinch so far.
Wrzeszczycki tries to break free but Nailatikau pushes him back against the cage.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Wrzeszczycki misses with a knee strike.
Wrzeszczycki stalls.
Nailatikau blocks an elbow strike.
Nailatikau misses with a hook from the clinch.
Wrzeszczycki stalling in the clinch but Nailatikau improves position.
The two fighters are working to gain dominance in the clinch.
Wrzeszczycki blocks the elbow strike.
Wrzeszczycki is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Nailatikau is defending well for now.
Wrzeszczycki avoiding damage as Nailatikau throws knees to the body.
Wrzeszczycki takes a knee to the side of the body.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Wrzeszczycki tries to break free but Nailatikau pushes him back against the cage.
Wrzeszczycki drops down for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Nailatikau missing with knees to the body.

Wrzeszczycki escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Wrzeszczycki swats away the attempt to clinch by Nailatikau.
Wrzeszczycki uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Nailatikau.
Wrzeszczycki throws a head kick but Nailatikau moves out of range.
Wrzeszczycki fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
Nailatikau fakes a jab and scores with a low kick.
A lazy body kick from Nailatikau
and Wrzeszczycki counters with a nice body kick.
Nailatikau ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Wrzeszczycki moves away.
Wrzeszczycki shoots for a double leg takedown but Nailatikau sprawls well. He's pushed Wrzeszczycki's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
Nailatikau has been working his punching technique in the buildup to the fight and it appears to be paying off.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Like a baseball bat into the meat of his leg there - nice leg kick by Nailatikau.
Wrzeszczycki tries to close the distance and clinch but Nailatikau swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Nailatikau throws a leg kick but Wrzeszczycki checks it.
Wrzeszczycki takes a nice looking leg kick right on the meat of his thigh there.
Nailatikau with a body punch. A glancing blow.
Epeli Nailatikau seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Nailatikau throws a jab but it's blocked by Wrzeszczycki.
Nailatikau swings for the body but Wrzeszczycki moves out of range.
Wrzeszczycki takes a nice looking leg kick right on the meat of his thigh there.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Wrzeszczycki wants to clinch up but Nailatikau keeps it at a distance.
Nailatikau turns his hip over beautifully as he lands a nice leg kick.
Wrzeszczycki has a takedown stuffed.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Nailatikau takes a swing at Wrzeszczycki's ribcage but misses.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Nailatikau throws a leg kick but he was too far away and it doesn't land.
Wrzeszczycki tries to clinch up.
Nailatikau misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.

And that's the end of the fight!
Epeli Nailatikau comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Nailatikau 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 3 rounds of action, we go to the scorecards for a decision.
Judge Paul Tew scores the fight 27:30
Judge Sam Margolis scores the fight 27:30
Judge Chris Edwards scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Epeli Nailatikau!
A victorious Epeli Nailatikau thanked his army of followers in his post fight interview, telling people to make sure they follow him on Twitter.