PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Krisu Leepen (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Epeli Nailatikau (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Leepen's entrance music is The Prodigy - . A fine choice. Nailatikau has chosen Number of the Bollywood as his entrance music. Epeli Nailatikau has the power to score a knockout today if he connects clean with Krisu Leepen's chin.

Leepen
vs
Nailatikau

176 cm
36
163 lbs
18 - 27 - 1

172 cm
27
162 lbs
16 - 13 - 0

Good wrestling
Excellent boxer
Very strong

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 18 - 27 - 1, fighting out of Helsinki, Krisu Leepen!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 16 - 13 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Epeli Nailatikau!
The judges for this bout are Johanna Lukiainen, Matti Vanhoillinen and Anni Minnemäki.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Nailatikau looks for a takedown but Leepen sprawls well.
Leepen gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily

and Nailatikau holds on and brings the fighters into a clinch.
Nailatikau gets underhooks to prevent Leepen's takedown attempt.

Nailatikau manages to pull guard. Let's see whether he can land a sub off his back.
We could do with one of the fighters taking the initiative a bit more on the ground - they're both waiting to capitalize on a mistake.

Leepen got a little sloppy there for a moment and Nailatikau has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Leepen has managed to get both his arms back between Nailatikau's legs - danger averted.

Nailatikau is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Leepen defends well.

Nailatikau looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Nailatikau is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
Leepen trying to control but Nailatikau is working from the bottom.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Nailatikau manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Leepen manages to get himself to full guard.

The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Nailatikau wants to control from the top but Leepen keeps moving.

Leepen is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
Leepen keeping moving, preventing Nailatikau from controlling successfully.
Nailatikau must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.
Leepen wants to stand but Nailatikau is controlling the position.
Nailatikau controls from within his opponent's guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Neither fighter has done anything of merit for a good minute or two here and the crowd are not happy about it.
Nailatikau wants to control from the top but Leepen keeps moving.
Leepen keeping full guard, as Nailatikau tries to pass.

Leepen manages to escape and get back to his feet.
Leepen looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Nailatikau is fending him off so far but Leepen persists. Nope, Nailatikau circles away and we're back to standing.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Krisu Leepen. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Leepen steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Nailatikau.
Nailatikau lands a right hook to the body.
A slow jab from Leepen misses its intended target.
Nailatikau misses with an uppercut.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Nailatikau misses with a looping right.
Nailatikau displaying good standup as he scores with a three punch combination.
Leepen ducks right into an uppercut from Nailatikau.
Leepen dives in for a single leg takedown but Nailatikau sprawls and the fighters end up clinched against the cage.

Nailatikau drags the fight down to the ground.
Leepen trying to control the position from guard on top but Nailatikau is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Leepen content to strike from guard, landing some decent shots.
Leepen missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Nailatikau working a defensive guard here.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Nailatikau working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Leepen.
Nailatikau has momentary wrist control but Leepen slips an elbow through the middle.
Leepen works over Nailatikau with some ground and pound from guard.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Leepen accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Leepen postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Leepen has been looking to land a fair amount of strikes on the ground. He might be looking to soften his opponent up in order to work for a submission.

Nailatikau throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
Nailatikau utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Leepen with a flurry of punches that miss.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Epeli Nailatikau dominated that round.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

Leepen closes the distance and after a bit of a stuggle, scores a takedown into Nailatikau's guard.

Nailatikau looking for a guillotine here but Leepen defends easily.

Nailatikau looking for a guillotine here but Leepen defends easily.
Leepen cracks Nailatikau with a solid left hand.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Leepen connects with a couple of short punches.
Nailatikau wants to sweep but no luck.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Nailatikau utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.

Nailatikau is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Leepen is aware though and is defending well.

Nailatikau is looking for a triangle but Leepen pushes his legs off easily.
Leepen content to strike from guard, landing some decent shots.
Leepen throws an elbow that misses. Nailatikau uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in Leepen's guard. Nice move by Nailatikau!

Leepen wants to get back to his feet but he's too absorbed in his own little project and Nailatikau manages to pass to side control.
Leepen looks like he's trying to stand up.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Nailatikau 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.
Nailatikau stops Leepen from getting back to his feet.

Leepen looking for submissions off his back.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

Nailatikau is trying to work for a kimura. This could be trouble! No, Leepen has managed to free his arm - good work.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Nailatikau is looking to take a break and control but Leepen is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Leepen wants to get back to full guard but Nailatikau has passed into side control.
Leepen bucks up and tries to throw Nailatikau off but instead Nailatikau has got his back!

Leepen showing good submission defense here.
Leepen is defending well here and trying to improve his position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Leepen trying to get back to his feet but Nailatikau is in full control for now.
Leepen trying to control the position but Nailatikau manages to sink in the hooks.

Nailatikau looking for the RNC.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Nailatikau has the hooks in. Leepen is trying to push off one leg but he has to do so cautiously to avoid being submitted.
Will Nailatikau go for the finish here or will he try and keep control of the position?
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 time! Back to the action! This is the final round!

Nailatikau scoring well with a low kick there.
Nailatikau looking to throw a kick but he's pulled out of it.
Nailatikau throws a head kick but Leepen moves out of range.
Leepen moves his head to the side to avoid a jab but walks straight into a cross.
Leepen gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily
and Nailatikau counters with a low kick, right behind Leepen 's knee.
Nailatikau lands with a nice low kick. That'll leave a bruise.
Nailatikau lands a leg kick. The shin dug right into the meat of the thigh.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Leepen takes a hook to the side of the head. I wonder if that's got his ears ringing.
Nailatikau takes a step towards his opponent and connects with a left hand, before circling away.
Nailatikau looks to throw the jab but Leepen is out of range.
Nailatikau looks to land a left hand but Leepen moved out of range nicely.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Nailatikau leaves Leepen with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
Epeli Nailatikau is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Nailatikau with a nice looking leg kick. You could hear that one land in a back row.
Leepen misses with a few strikes there.
Nailatikau throws a front kick that sends Leepen stumbling back into the cage.
Nailatikau works the jab nicely.
Nailatikau catches Leepen with a nice straight right. He seems pissed - ooooh, it's on now! On like donkey kong!
Leepen closes this distance looking for a takedown but Nailatikau circles away.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Krisu Leepen. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Nice shot by Nailatikau.
Nice body kick there by Nailatikau.
Leepen avoids the body shot from Nailatikau.
Krisu Leepen has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Leepen on the wrong end of a nice low kick. He's acting like it's no big deal but he doesn't want to take many more of those.
Nice jab there from Nailatikau.
The fans in attendance giving it up for the two fighters, who have really let it all hang out in the last minute or so!
Leepen takes a shot to the nose. Hopefully that hasn't broken it.

Leepen is rocked!
Nailatikau cracks Leepen with a good jab.
Oh Leepen is still all over the place! His legs are completely gone! Will he be able to recover?!!
Nailatikau has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Nailatikau walks straight into a jab right on the nose. That one stung - he's blinking and trying to clear his head.
That kick from Nailatikau tenderised Leepen's leg. Leepen is trying to keep his angry face on.
Nailatikau throws a quick inside leg kick.
Nailatikau cracks Leepen with a hook to the jaw. Both fighters smile at eachother and high-five before getting back down to business.
Leepen looks to have improved his striking defense since last time we saw him fight.
Leepen has his front leg slapped to the side - a nice low kick landing there from Nailatikau.
Nailatikau lands with a shot to the body.
Nailatikau lands a nice leg kick that just misses Leepen's sensitive parts.
Nailatikau walks forward and throws a big overhand right! Leepen drops to the floor like a sack of potatoes! Nailatikau swarms on him with more punches until the referee wrestles him away from Leepen's unconscious body! Wow, that was brutal!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 2:42 of round 3, we have a winner by way of TKO (Strikes). Epeli Nailatikau!
A very excited looking Epeli Nailatikau made sure he remembered to thank all the fans both in the arena and on the internet. He said all the coolest people spend all day on MMA websites, which got a big reaction.