PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Epeli Nailatikau (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Tommi Talentti (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Nailatikau comes to the cage accompanied by Number of the Bollywood. Talentti is bobbing his head along to his entrance song: Metallica - Ecstasy Of Gold. This should be fireworks!

Nailatikau
vs
Talentti

172 cm
28
162 lbs
18 - 13 - 0

167 cm
29
164 lbs
12 - 17 - 0

Good wrestling
Dangerous knees
Insanely flexible

Powerful takedowns
Decent boxing
Heavy handed

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 - 13 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Epeli Nailatikau!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 12 - 17 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Tommi Talentti!
The judges for this bout are Roosa Järviläinen, Ben Zyskovitsi and Arvi Lind.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Talentti keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Talentti is definitely looking for the counter takedowns here.
A slow jab from Nailatikau misses its intended target.
Nice shot lands for Nailatikau.
Talentti moves out of range as Nailatikau strikes.
Talentti drops down looking to force a counter takedown but Nailatikau defends it well.
Nailatikau throws a looping overhand right but Talentti ducks down to avoid it.
Nailatikau moves into range and connects with a jab.
A looping hook to the body misses from Nailatikau. Talentti does a little dance to reset his feet.
Nailatikau ducks low and lands a nice hook to the body of his opponent.

Talentti closes the distance and looks for a trip takedown... aaaand he's got it - Talentti lands in his opponent's guard.
Nailatikau manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Talentti manages to get himself to full guard.

The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Talentti is wriggling around but Nailatikau manages to pass to half guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Talentti is trying to get back to full guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Nailatikau is looking to stall here but Talentti recovers full guard.
Talentti 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 two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are hurling abuse towards the fighters... You can hardly blame them though because there isn't a lot going on in the fight.
Nailatikau wants to control from the top but Talentti keeps moving.
Talentti manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Nailatikau manages to get himself to full guard.

Nailatikau pulls Talentti in close to his closed guard and prevents Talentti from doing any damage or advancing position.
Nailatikau has a butterfly guard looking to sweep but Talentti has passed into side control.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Talentti tries for a kimura but Nailatikau is defending well.
Talentti misses with a strike but at least he's keeping busy, looking to cause some damage - that will still help him when it comes to the judges scorecards.
Talentti works to advance to full mount. Nailatikau defends for a few seconds but eventually he succumbs.
Nailatikau is writhing around trying to get back to his feet.
Nailatikau is working to get back to half guard.
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Talentti sends his fist crashing into the mat - the crowd let out a collective ooooooh. Let's hope he's not broken it!

Talentti jumps to the side looking to secure the arm triangle…. Ooooh, that looks tight… Nailatikau is gargling but he's managed to escape! Nice work there by Nailatikau and Talentti has given up the dominant position trying to land that submission.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Talentti wants to work for a kimura but he's foiled early by Nailatikau, who protects the arm well.
Nailatikau is looking to reverse the position.
The strikes coming from Talentti are missing the target in this wave of attacks.
Talentti wants to lay and pray for a moment but Nailatikau keeps working.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Talentti is in a good position here but he's just trying to control... And he's not even managing to do that successfully.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Tommi Talentti will probably get the nod.
That's time! Back to the action!

Talentti tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Nailatikau paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Nailatikau appears to be looking for a big counter.
Nailatikau scores with a jab to the head.
Nailatikau looks to throw the jab but Talentti is out of range.
Nice sprawl there from Nailatikau as Talentti shoots in.
Nailatikau with a hook.
A looping hook to the body misses from Nailatikau. Talentti does a little dance to reset his feet.
Talentti slips under a jab from Nailatikau.
Nailatikau fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Talentti manages to avoid it.
Talentti shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Nailatikau as he jumps to the side.
Epeli Nailatikau seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Nailatikau throws a shot from downtown. Talentti moves away and avoids it.
Nailatikau throws an ugly left hook that misses

and Talentti counters with a nice double leg into half guard.

Talentti maintaining the dominant position here and is working for a kimura. He's locked it up! Nailatikau could be in real trouble here! He's trying to wriggle out but Talentti has cracked it and Nailatikau is screaming in pain - he's tapped out! Great finish by Talentti!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 1:57 of round 2, we have a winner by way of Submission (Kimura). Tommi Talentti!
During a confident post fight interview, Tommi Talentti thanked all his fans. He seemed very genuine when describing how motivated his fans keep him.