PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Makuku Kukula (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Kalti Nioka (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). We have two fighters making their debuts here, so let's see who comes out of this one with their first professional victory.

Kukula
vs
Nioka

225 cm
18
280 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

198 cm
22
282 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Solid boxing
Cuts easily

Good wrestler
Basic striking
Solid chin

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 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Makuku Kukula!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Kalti Nioka!
The judges for this bout are Steve Erwin, Damien Edna and Summer Carpenter.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Nioka shoots in from a long way out. He's driving through with the takedown attempt and he eventually gets it, landing in Kukula's guard.
Nioka postures up and lands a big shot to Kukula's brow.
Kukula will have to put a bit more behind his punches if he's going to do any damage from this position.
Nioka preventing the sweep.
Nioka postures up in Kukula's guard and throws a big left but Kukula blocks it.
Nioka wants to pass the guard but Kukula is keeping the position.
Nioka throwing strikes from guard but Kukula blocks nicely.
Nioka distracts Kukula with his right hand and drops a big elbow with his other arm.
Kukula looking to control.
Nioka throwing strikes but missing.
Nioka throwing strikes from guard but Kukula blocks nicely.
Hammerfist, elbow! yells Nioka's corner. There ya go! There ya go!

It looks like Makuku Kukula has been cut.
Kukula is trying to keep Nioka in close.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Kukula has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Nioka can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
Nioka loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Kukula is trying to keep Nioka in close.
Nioka tries to free his leg and advance position but Kukula is retaining full guard.
Kukula working a defensive guard here.
Kukula avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Kukula will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
Kukula is breathing heavily.

Nioka feints and then dives in with a takedown. That was a long way out but the feint bought him enough time to close the distance and complete the takedown. Now we'll play guard for a bit and see who can get the better of that position.
Nioka is working the ground and pound from guard. He might want to try advancing position though to get more of an impact.
Nioka with a couple of shots to the head there. Not particularly brutal.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Nioka working some strikes from top position.
Nioka distracts Kukula with his right hand and drops a big elbow with his other arm.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Nioka working some strikes from top position.
Nioka lands a couple of elbows.
Kukula will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.
Kukula keeping full guard, as Nioka tries to pass.
Nioka working in close now, lands a nice elbow to the side of Kukula's head.
Nioka scores with a decent looking elbow strike.
Nioka is sitting in guard, working some ground and pound.
Nioka must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.
Nioka working some strikes from top position.
Kukula has momentary wrist control but Nioka slips an elbow through the middle.
Nioka is in close to Kukula's body, working some short punches and elbows.
Nioka wants to pass the guard but Kukula is keeping the position.
Nioka forces his way into half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Nioka landing with strikes to the body and head, softening up his opponent.
Nice strikes from Nioka there.
Nioka is nestled in close to Kukula, controlling him well. He's worked in a nice elbow to the side of the head as well, for good measure.
Nioka drops an elbow to the side of Kukula's head.
Nioka scores with a couple of good hammerfists.
Nioka lands strikes from half guard.
Kukula is trying to stand up here but Nioka is controlling him well.
Nioka scoring with strikes to the body and head.
Kukula tries to roll over but Nioka keeps him under control.
Nice strikes from Nioka there.
Nioka lands with a punch from half guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Nioka looks towards his corner to check for any instructions. The corner give him nothing to work with, so he cracks Kukula with a short hammerfist. I guess that's as good as any advice he could get in this position.
Kukula manages to get to full guard.
Nioka landing some decent shots from guard.
Nioka scoring with some ground and pound.
Nioka chips away with some ground and pound.
Nioka keeps in close for a moment and lands a decent shot to the side of Kukula's head.
Kukula tries to land a sweep but no joy.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Nioka scoring with some ground and pound.
Nioka distracts Kukula with his right hand and drops a big elbow with his other arm.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Kukula has momentary wrist control but Nioka slips an elbow through the middle.
Nioka stands up over Kukula, holding his feet. He dives back in and lands a decent shot to the head.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Kalti Nioka dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Makuku Kukula's cut.
That's time! Kukula's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight.

Nioka scores a trip takedown into side control. Nice.
Nioka lands an elbow.
Kukula is looking to reverse the position.
Nioka grinds an elbow into Kukula's temple.
Kukula taking a bit of punishment here - Nioka scoring with strikes.
Nioka grinds an elbow into Kukula's temple.
Nioka cracks Kukula with a big right hand but Kukula just smiles back at him and invites him to have another go.
Nioka creates a bit of distance and throws down some hard shots.
Nioka working the ground and pound from side control.
Kukula really does look like a pencil wearing a pair of gloves. Let's hope he has a gameplan to suit that ridiculous body shape.
Nioka scores with a couple of short elbows.
Nioka scores with punches from side control.
Nioka lands a knee to the body and follows it up with some ground and pound to the head. That will wear Kukula down.
Nioka working the head with strikes.
Kukula takes a couple of big shots there - the referee warns him that he has to defend himself better.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Nioka scoring with punches from side control.
Nioka working the head and body with strikes.
Kukula tries to get back to half guard but can't.
Nioka lands some shots froms side control.
Kalti Nioka has got the better of the ground game so far.
Nioka cracks Kukula with an elbow. That is naaassty.
Nioka scores with a couple of short elbows.
Kukula is looking to reverse the position.
Nioka is working Kukula over with some ground and pound from side control.
Nioka lands a nice forearm strike.
Nioka lands a knee to the body and follows it up with some ground and pound to the head. That will wear Kukula down.
Nioka working the head with strikes.
Kukula taking a bit of punishment here - Nioka scoring with strikes.
Kukula is trying to control Nioka's posture but Nioka avoids it.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Nioka scores with a couple of short elbows.
Nioka looks up at the clock and then as Kukula takes his cue and looks up at the clock too, Nioka smacks him right in the chops with a big elbow! How rude!
Nioka is working Kukula over with some ground and pound from side control.
Kukula regains half guard.
Nioka working some ground and pound from close in. He's looking to maintain this position and strike for a while by the looks of things... although he'll probably advance to full mount in a minute now I've said that.
Kukula taking some punishment here, with Nioka in his half guard.
Nioka missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.
Kukula is trying to maintain the position but Nioka is very close to passing his half guard.
Kukula is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Ground and pound from Nioka.
Nioka working the head and body with strikes.
Nioka slips a nice elbow through Kukula's hands, connecting with Kukula's forehead.
Nioka is looking to pass the guard... He's managed it - he's now in full mount!
Nioka scores with a couple of good head shots there.
Nioka lands a heavy elbow.
Nioka looking to finish Kukula with some ground and pound. This is bad for Kukula!
Nioka looking to finish Kukula with some ground and pound. This is bad for Kukula!
BOOM! Nioka connects with a massive shot to the dome!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Nioka raining down shots from the mount!
Kukula wants to hold on but Nioka pushes him away.
Nioka putting on the heat here with some good ground and pound!
Nioka putting on the heat here with some good ground and pound!
Nioka punishing his opponent with strikes.
Nioka scoring with strikes but Kukula is staying in there.
Nioka looking to finish Kukula with some ground and pound. This is bad for Kukula!
Nioka punishing his opponent with strikes.
Kukula is looking to get back to his feet - it's going to be hard from this position.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Nioka with the ground and pound from mount.
Kukula tries to hold on but Nioka pushes him away.
Nioka putting on the heat here with some good ground and pound!
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Kalti Nioka showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The cut man is working on Makuku Kukula's cut.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action. This is the final round!

Nioka shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Oh and he's advanced to full mount straight away.
Nioka landing punches.
Nioka dominating with strikes here.
Kukula sneaks a leg back under and regains half guard and is working straight away to try and get back to guard. He hasn't managed just yet though.

Kukula looking for submissions from an awkward position here.
Kukula taking some punishment here, with Nioka in his half guard.
Kukula is looking to control Nioka's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Kukula avoid being mounted?
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Nioka scores with a couple of good hammerfists.
Nioka is pressing down on Kukula's thigh, looking to free his foot. Kukula is holding on for now.
Nioka 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.
Nice strikes from Nioka there.
Nioka looks to score some points with some ground and pound.
Nioka landing with strikes to the body and head, softening up his opponent.
Kukula trying to control here.
Nioka working over Kukula with some ground and pound. Kukula looks like he wants out of this position, which is understandable.
The referee walks around the fighters to get a better view of the action. Nioka lands a nice short elbow.
Nioka drops an elbow to the side of Kukula's head.
Kukula regains full guard, whilst avoiding punches from Nioka.
Nioka distracts Kukula with his right hand and drops a big elbow with his other arm.
Nioka in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
There's not a lot going on here and the crowd are letting the fighters know they're not willing to tolerate a lack of action.
Nioka is working Kukula over from the guard. He should look to pass the guard and do a little more damage with these strikes.
Nioka works over Kukula with some ground and pound from guard.
Nioka throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Kukula is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Nioka lands a couple of digs.
Nioka is working Kukula over from the guard. He should look to pass the guard and do a little more damage with these strikes.
Kukula keeping full guard, as Nioka tries to pass.
Nioka in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Kukula wants to sweep here but Nioka controlling him for the moment.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.

Nioka closes the distance and gets a double leg, slamming Kukula to the mat! Kukula manages to get full guard.
Nioka postures up.
Kalti Nioka is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Nioka sitting in guard, not really doing much.

Kukula had isolated an arm as going for an omaplata. Nioka is defending the submission well but is in a very vulnerable position. Kukula Is leaning forward trying to finish the omaplata but decides to abandon it, and take Nioka's back instead.
Kukula trying to control momentarily.
Kukula doesn't have the hooks in and Nioka manages to turn into his guard.
Nioka scoring with punches to the head and body.
Kukula is trying to keep Nioka in close.
Nioka chips away with some ground and pound.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
My god... these two guys really need to pick up the pace or everyone will leave to go get a beer.
Nioka is stalling in the full guard.
Nioka working from the guard for now, landing some ground and pound.
Nioka has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Nioka is taking a break and basically stalling. The referee will not allow him to do that for long.
Nioka landing with the ground and pound.
Nioka distracts Kukula with his right hand and drops a big elbow with his other arm.
Nioka controls the pace of the fight for a moment.
Kukula is trying to control the position but Nioka postures up.

And that's the end of the fight!
Kalti Nioka comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Nioka has outworked and out performed his opponent in all aspects of the game today. He was simply too good and the decision should be no more than a formality. 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 Steve Erwin scores the fight 26:30
Judge Damien Edna scores the fight 26:30
Judge Summer Carpenter scores the fight 25:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Kalti Nioka!