PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Hannibal Lecter (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Bo Nickal (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). These two fighters really are very evenly matched on the feet - it will be fascinating to see who can assert themselves in that aspect of the fight.

Lecter
vs
Nickal

171 cm
21
190 lbs
5 - 2 - 0

180 cm
20
188 lbs
2 - 2 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Solid boxing
Very strong

Good wrestler
Decent boxing
Good gas tank

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 5 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Hannibal Lecter!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Bo Nickal !
The judges for this bout are Johanna Lukiainen, Anni Minnemäki and Arvi Lind.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Lecter misses with a right hand
and Nickal connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Nickal throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
Nickal moves out of range as Lecter strikes.
Nickal changes levels for a counter takedown but doesn't follow through with his attempt.
Lecter throws a big shot that misses.
Lecter walks into a stiff left hand from Nickal .
Nickal lands a nice hook to Lecter's body. Lecter takes it in his stride and looks to land his own strikes.
A swing and a miss from Lecter.
Lecter throws an ugly left hook that misses
and Nickal counters with a nice uppercut.
Lecter clobbers Nickal with an overhand right that has the crowd gasping. That made a horrendous noise.
Nickal blocks a jab.
Nickal drops down looking to force a counter takedown but Lecter defends it well.
Nickal slips a straight right by Lecter.
Nickal keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Lecter.
Lecter throws a nice looking combination but Nickal bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
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!
Lecter misses with an uppercut. Nickal saw that one coming.
Lecter misses with an uppercut
and Nickal connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
We've been hearing reports that Lecter has been drilling takedowns in recent sessions so let's see if that has an impact on the result of this fight.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Nickal ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
Nickal ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
Lecter takes a shot to the eye socket. That's gotta hurt.
A big left from Lecter misses.
Lecter looks to land a left hand but Nickal moved out of range nicely.
Lecter looks to throw the jab but Nickal is out of range.
Nickal has used his reach advantage pretty well so far tonight.
Lecter ducks under a wild hook from Nickal .
Hannibal Lecter is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
A telegraphed right hand from Lecter misses the target.
Nickal is definitely looking for the counter takedowns here.
A big left from Lecter misses.
Lecter lands with a right hand.
Nickal pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
Lecter throws a lazy uppercut
and Nickal counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Nickal fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Lecter manages to avoid it.
Lecter wants to clinch up but Nickal keeps it at a distance.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Nickal uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Lecter.
Lecter is really struggling to find his range with his punches. Nickal 's reach advantage is clearly causing him problems.
Lecter misses with a straight left.
Lecter throws an off balance right hand
and Nickal counters with a three punch combo that has Lecter backing up. Lecter nods at Nickal to acknowledge the strikes.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Nickal staying out of range there.
Hannibal Lecter seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Nickal connects with a jab.
Nickal staying out of range there.
A slow jab from Lecter misses its intended target.
The fighters circling - Lecter throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
Nickal is definitely looking for the counter takedowns here.
Nickal bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
Lecter throws out a loose jab but Nickal uses good head movement to avoid it.
Lecter misses with a jab, cross combination.
Lecter thuds his right hand into Nickal 's forehead from close range. That could be painful for both fighters.
Nickal misses with a wild body shot.
Nickal takes one to the chin there.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Lecter takes a hook to the side of the head. I wonder if that's got his ears ringing.
Lecter throws the left hand but Nickal avoids the punch easily.
Nice defenses there by Nickal .
Lecter throws a hook to the side of Nickal 's head but Nickal sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
Nickal fakes low and throws an overhand right that catches Lecter on the side of the head.
Nickal misses with an uppercut
and Lecter counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
Nickal thows a left - swing and a miss!
Nickal is landing a lot of head punches in this opening round! Lecter had better start moving his head a bit unless he wants his face to turn into pâté.
Nickal ducks under a wild hook from Lecter.
Nickal swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Lecter throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
Nickal will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Nice shot lands for Nickal .

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Lecter jabbing away but nothing is landing.
Nickal feints the counter takedown.
Nice uppercut there from Lecter.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
A slow jab from Lecter misses its intended target.
Nickal missing with a left hand there. Lecter was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
Nickal lands with an uppercut that bounces Lecter off the cage and back into range.
Nickal uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Lecter.
Lecter swings widly with a right hand

and Nickal counters with a takedown into side control! That could mean trouble for Lecter!
The ground and pound from Nickal seems to be hitting the mat more than his opponent.
Nickal scores with punches from side control.
Nickal working away.
Nickal connects with a decent looking elbow from side control that caused Lecter some visible discomfort.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Bo Nickal will probably get the nod.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin!

Lecter throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
Lecter falls off balance throwing a combination

and Nickal counters with a shoot takedown. Lecter fights it but they end up in guard.
Nickal forces his way into half guard.
Lecter is looking to improve his position.
Nickal lands strikes from half guard.
Nickal lands with an elbow from half guard - that looked like it hurt.
Nickal throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Lecter avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Nickal .

Lecter looking for submissions off his back.
Nickal seems to be taking a bit of a break to think of his next move. He lands a short punch in the meantime.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Lecter looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.
Lecter is looking to improve his position.
Lecter is working for an escape here. He's hooked one of Nickal 's legs and he's managed to sneak out and take Nickal 's back!
Nickal wants to control his opponent's hands but Lecter gets his hands free.

Lecter patiently working for the choke. Which fighter will keep their nerve here?
You can see the frustration on Nickal 's face… He knows he is in trouble unless he improves his position sooner rather than later.
Nickal is keeping busy.
Lecter misses with an elbow to the head.
Nickal tries to roll but Lecter sticks to his back.
Nickal just trying to survive but Lecter is wriggling into a better position, looking to finish.
Nickal wants to escape the position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Lecter working for a choke but Nickal is defending well.
Nickal rolls, trying to escape but Lecter keeps control of the position.

Lecter working for a choke but Nickal is defending well.
Nickal wants to control his opponent's hands but Lecter gets his hands free.
Nickal can't escape the position.
Nickal tries to escape the position - he's now mounted. Is that better or worse? Hard to tell!
Nickal felt the need to train up his defensive grappling in the buildup to the fight. Presumably he was expecting to be in a difficult position like this, so let's see if he can get out of it.
Lecter sends his fist crashing into the mat - the crowd let out a collective ooooooh. Let's hope he's not broken it!
Nickal keeping his composure momentarily, calmly looking to get back to half guard.
Lecter with the ground and pound from mount.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Nickal can't escape the position.
Lecter putting on the heat here with some good ground and pound!
Nickal tries to hold on but Lecter postures up.
Nickal slips a leg in and gets back to half guard.
Nickal is doing well to control the position and prevent Lecter from advancing to side control.
Lecter trying to control from Nickal 's half guard. Nickal has other ideas though and has regained full guard.
Lecter is looking to work some ground and pound but Nickal has wrist control.
Lecter trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Nickal wants to sweep here but Lecter controlling him for the moment.
Nickal seems keen to control Lecter's posture.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Nickal looking to hit a scissor sweep but Lecter is one step ahead there.
Lecter trying to control but Nickal is working from the bottom.

Lecter gets to his feet and steps away from his opponent.
Lecter missing with a left hand there. Nickal was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
Nickal misses with a body shot
and Lecter cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Lecter rushes in with a sloppy looking punch

and Nickal counters with a shoot takedown into half guard.
Bo Nickal has got the better of the ground game so far.
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!
Lecter is looking to control Nickal 's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Lecter avoid being mounted?
Nickal scores with a couple of good hammerfists.
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 Hannibal Lecter will probably get the nod.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action! Ladies and gentlemen, this is the final round!

Lecter jabbing away but nothing is landing.
Lecter is really head hunting here, hardly looking to strike to the body at all.
Lecter swings widly with a right hand

and Nickal counters with a nice shoot takedown that brings the fighters to the ground.

Lecter manages to escape and get back to his feet.
Lecter loads up on a big right hand but Nickal slips the punch.
Nickal uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Lecter.
Nickal staying out of range there.
Nickal slips in close and lands a nice hook before moving back out of range.
Lecter throws the left hand but Nickal avoids the punch easily.
And Nickal tries to counter it with a takedown but Lecter pushes his down on his head and steps out.
Lecter throws an overhand right that lands on Nickal 's shoulder, as Nickal tries to avoid the shot.
This has been an exciting period of action!
A big left from Nickal misses.
Nickal punishes Lecter's body with a nice straight punch.
Nickal moves away from the strike by Lecter.
Nice jab there from Lecter.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Nickal lands a jab to the head.
Nickal avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
Nickal fakes a head shot and lands one to the body.
Nickal scores with a straight right hand, right through his opponent's guard.
Lecter throws a jab when Nickal was well out of range.
Lecter throws an ugly left hook that misses

so Nickal counters with a double leg into guard. Good agility.
Nickal is sitting in guard, working some ground and pound.
Nickal works over Lecter with some ground and pound from guard.
Lecter bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Nickal 's guard.

Lecter wants to control from the top but Nickal keeps moving.
Lecter stopping the sweep attempt from Nickal .
Nickal keeping moving, preventing Lecter from controlling successfully.
Nickal avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Nickal pulls Lecter in close to his closed guard and prevents Lecter from doing any damage or advancing position.
Lecter pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Nickal is keeping the position for now.
Lecter is fighting to break Nickal 's control of his arms but Nickal is doing a good job of controlling the position at the moment.
Nickal 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.
Lecter postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Lecter lands a nice shot whilst sitting in his opponent's guard.
Nickal seems keen to control Lecter's posture.
Nickal utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Lecter stopping the sweep attempt from Nickal .

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Nickal is controlling Lecter's posture.
Lecter trying to control the position from guard on top but Nickal is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Nickal bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Lecter's guard.

The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Hammerfist, elbow! yells Nickal 's corner. There ya go! There ya go!
Nickal throwing strikes from guard but Lecter blocks nicely.
Nickal chips away with some ground and pound.
Nickal working some strikes from top position.
Nickal throws a big right hand that misses.
Nickal missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Lecter working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Nickal .
Nickal scores with a decent looking elbow strike.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Nickal preventing the sweep.
Lecter preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Nickal connects with a couple of short punches.
Lecter working a defensive guard here.

Lecter is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Nickal is aware though and is defending well.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Lecter is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Nickal postures up and scores with a shot to the body and a follow up elbow to the head.
Nickal postures up and lands some nice ground and pound.
Lecter not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Nickal moves out of range as Lecter strikes.
Nickal tries a counter takedown but it's more of a dummy move, and he uses it to push himself away.
Nickal lands a body shot.
Jab, jab by Nickal - just one landing.

And that's the end of the fight!
Bo Nickal comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Nickal 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 Johanna Lukiainen scores the fight 28:29
Judge Anni Minnemäki scores the fight 28:29
Judge Arvi Lind scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Bo Nickal !
Hannibal Lecter spoke after the fight, saying 'i think he put his finger up my bum'.