PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Niko Sirkiä (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Luke Daigle (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Sirkiä comes to the cage accompanied by Thergothon - Elemental. The crowd seem to be enjoying Daigle's choice of entrance music: Molesta Ewenement - Wszystko wporzo. Niko Sirkiä could well score a knockout today. He has the power to get to Luke Daigle's chin.

Sirkiä
vs
Daigle

178 cm
32
229 lbs
30 - 9 - 0

199 cm
36
259 lbs
26 - 17 - 1

Abu Dhabi Champ
World class boxer
Insanely flexible

Good wrestler
World class MT
Good gas tank

Hellbent

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 30 - 9 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Niko Sirkiä!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 26 - 17 - 1, fighting out of Tokyo, Luke Daigle!
The judges for this bout are James Atkins, James Ackerman and Richard Clark.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
A bone on bone clash there as Sirkiä blocks the leg kick.
Sirkiä seems to be moving with more speed, compared to his last bout. He must have been working on that in the gym.
Sirkiä avoids a kick to the body.
Sirkiä on the receiving end of a decent leg kick there by Daigle. Daigle obviously looking to wear him down.
Daigle has been spending a lot of time sparring his boxing in the run up to the fight, trying to sharpen up those hands and look for a knockout.
Sirkiä has his head snapped back a nice jab. A little nod from Sirkiä there as he acknowledges the shot.
Daigle scores with a leg kick.
Sirkiä takes one on the chin but keeps coming.
Daigle throws a body kick that misses.
Sirkiä slips a straight right by Daigle.
Daigle fakes a couple of low kicks, before throwing one on the third attempt. It connects and Sirkiä has to reset his feet before getting ready to engage.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Daigle misses the body punch
and Sirkiä counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
Daigle connects with a slap. Keep your fist closed son.
A clash of legs there as Sirkiä blocks the low kick.
Daigle throws a leg kick that misses.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Daigle misses with a lunging right hand

and Sirkiä counters with a single leg into guard. Daigle didn't expect that.
Sirkiä working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Sirkiä postures up and lands some nice ground and pound.
Sirkiä trying to control but Daigle is working from the bottom.
Daigle avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Sirkiä throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Daigle preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Daigle wants to stand up but Sirkiä is controlling him.
Sirkiä postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Sirkiä might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Sirkiä working some strikes from top position.
Daigle wants to sweep but no luck.
Sirkiä trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Daigle is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Sirkiä is controlling him.
The referee is pacing around the two fighters - he looks like he's thinking about a standup.
Sirkiä looking to pass the guard.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.
Daigle throws a chopping leg kick but Sirkiä manages to avoid taking any serious damage.
Daigle scores with a nice right hand.
Daigle moves into range and connects with a jab.
Daigle scores with a crisp jab that stopped Sirkiä in his tracks.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Daigle throws a solid leg kick but Sirkiä takes the impact on his shin and smiles at Daigle.
Sirkiä is pinned up against the cage taking some big shots here. The referee is looking closely deciding whether he should stop the fight.
Daigle looks for the body kick but Sirkiä saw that one coming.
Sirkiä keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Daigle walks forward and throws out a flicking leg kick. Sirkiä checks it nicely though, as he moves to the side.
Daigle throws a low kick but Sirkiä moves out of range easily.
Daigle tries to clinch up but Sirkiä circles away and keeps his distance.
Luke Daigle is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Sirkiä checks a leg kick.
Daigle lands a vicious shot with the stealth of a sniper and the strength of a viper. Are vipers that strong? I can think of lots of things that are stronger than a viper - not many rhyme with sniper though.
Daigle fakes with a right hand and throws a good leg kick, right into the thigh. That had to hurt Sirkiä.
Daigle walks forward and throws out a flicking leg kick. Sirkiä checks it nicely though, as he moves to the side.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Daigle lands with a straight right. Sirkiä didn't see that one coming.
Luke Daigle seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Daigle is looking to slow Sirkiä down with leg kicks.
That's a knee to de groin and it's over and out! Sirkiä crumples to the ground after an illegal strike from Daigle - the referee stops the clock and Sirkiä gets 5 minutes to recover from that one. "I'm sorry" says Daigle. Sirkiä manages to get back to his feet and the fight resumes.
Sirkiä checks a low kick. Bone on bone - not my idea of a good time.
Daigle misses with a body shot.
Daigle throws a head kick that Sirkiä semi-blocks.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Daigle misses with a hook

and Sirkiä counters with a single leg into guard. Daigle didn't expect that.
Sirkiä is looking to work some ground and pound but Daigle has wrist control.
Daigle wants to sweep here but Sirkiä controlling him for the moment.
Sirkiä throws an elbow that misses. Daigle uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in Sirkiä's guard. Nice move by Daigle!

And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Luke Daigle 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.

Sirkiä takes a jab right on the kisser.
Daigle throws a push kick but Sirkiä slaps the foot to one side.
Sirkiä walks into a stiff left hand from Daigle.
Daigle ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Sirkiä moves away.
Daigle is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Daigle looks for the body kick but Sirkiä saw that one coming.
Daigle has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Boom, another hit is landed. "You're gunna get knocked out" taunts Daigle, as that shot connected.
Daigle tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Sirkiä on the wrong end of a nice hook.
Daigle is using his reach advantage to land shots from outside his opponent's range.

That's one minute gone in the round.
An inside leg kick lands from Daigle.
Daigle has used his reach advantage pretty well so far tonight.
Daigle looking to throw a kick but he's pulled out of it.
Daigle throws a head kick that misses.
Daigle throws a leg kick that misses.
Daigle goes for a spinning back kick but it misses.
Sirkiä takes a really solid shot there but just smiles back and shrugs his shoulders.
Sirkiä takes a body punch but keeps moving.
Daigle misses with a hook.
Daigle misses with a body kick.
Daigle throws an ugly left hook that misses
and Sirkiä counters with a series of strikes. Daigle will be more careful next time no doubt.
Daigle cracks Sirkiä with a hook to the jaw. Both fighters smile at eachother and high-five before getting back down to business.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Sirkiä slips under a jab from Daigle.
Daigle tries to land a front kick but Sirkiä steps back. That was a bit too telegraphed.
Daigle misses with a left hand
and Sirkiä counters with a straight right hand.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Daigle dances in quickly and lands a nice inside leg kick on Sirkiä. That did some damage!
Daigle jabbing away but nothing is landing.
Daigle tries a low kick but Sirkiä avoids it.
Daigle misses with a body kick.
Sirkiä on the wrong end of a kick to the body.
Daigle misses with a kick to the body.
Daigle takes a swing at Sirkiä's ribcage but misses.
Daigle throws a body kick, spinning off balance
and Sirkiä counters with a two punch combo.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Daigle thows a leg kick but Sirkiä checks it

and Sirkiä decides to take the opportunity to score a takedown. He's landed in Daigle's guard.
Daigle keeping moving, preventing Sirkiä from controlling successfully.
Sirkiä missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Daigle avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Sirkiä works over Daigle with some ground and pound from guard.
Niko Sirkiä overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Sirkiä stands up over Daigle, holding his feet. He dives back in and lands a decent shot to the head.

Daigle is rocked!
Daigle working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Sirkiä.
Sirkiä gets to his feet and stands over Daigle, holding his ankles. He dives in with a big left hand that connects! Daigle felt that one! Sirkiä unloads more punches and elbows and this one is over! The ref has dived in to save Daigle from any more punishment!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 4:56 of round 2, we have a winner by way of TKO (Strikes). Niko Sirkiä!
Post fight, Niko Sirkiä took to the microphone: '"That is not dead which can eternal lie, and with strange aeons even death may die." '.
Luke Daigle was interviewed post fight and said 'I WANT REMATCH!!!'.