PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight kickboxing rules bout between Rami Astalo (ranked 2491 p4p, 136 weight class) and Pikku Nilkki (ranked 866 p4p, 48 weight class). Astalo comes to the ring accompanied by Limp Bizkit - Break Stuff. Nilkki is bouncing up and down as he enters the arena, backed by Fintelligens - Sori. 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.

Astalo
vs
Nilkki

168 cm
27
145 lbs
14 - 12 - 0

154 cm
40
147 lbs
30 - 14 - 1

World class MT
Insanely flexible

World class MT
Heavy handed

FinnFighter Nutrition (Five 160Q supps!)
RAGS of a RONIN

Zenith Nutrition (160q/$200)

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the bantamweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 14 - 12 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Rami Astalo!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 30 - 14 - 1, fighting out of New York, Pikku Nilkki!
The judges for this bout are Donald Grub, Colin Fotheringham and Paul Tew.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Nilkki closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the ropes.
A nice right hand lands inside from Astalo.
Nilkki tries to work over Astalo's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
Nilkki throws a punch but it's blocked by Astalo.
Nilkki lands a right hand that snaps the head of Astalo backwards.
Astalo misses with a short punch on the inside.
Nilkki looks to throw an elbow but misses.
Nilkki's coach down at Midnight MMA was telling us pre-fight that they have been working on Nilkki's balance. Obviously they view that as a key factor in the outcome of this fight.
Nilkki has a couple of punches blocked by Astalo.
The referee is keeping an eye on Nilkki - much more stalling and he will separate the fighters.
Astalo fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
A shot in the inside from Nilkki.
Nilkki swings wildly with an uppercut but Astalo uses good head movement to avoid it.
Our sources have told us that Astalo has been working on his knees in the buildup to the fight.
Astalo doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Astalo tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
A short right from Astalo on the inside.
Astalo throws a blind hook that connects with the side of Nilkkis head.
Astalo cracks Nilkki with a nice body shot.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Nilkki goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Nilkki misses with some punches.
Nilkki lands with a short head shot on the inside.
Astalo missing with knees to the body.
Nilkki tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.

That's one minute gone in the round.
With the fighters clinched against the ropes, Astalo creates a bit of distance for himself and scores with a nice uppercut.
Astalo takes a shot to the head.
Nilkki tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Astalo tries to work over Nilkki's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
Astalo has a couple of punches blocked by Nilkki.
Nilkki missing with knees to the body.
Astalo tries to work over Nilkki's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
A head punch on the inside from Astalo fails to land.
Nilkki misses with a hook from the clinch.
Astalo dodges an elbow strike from Nilkki.
Astalo scores with an uppercut up the middle.
A short right from Astalo.
Astalo blocking some punches.

Astalo breaks the clinch.
Astalo cracks Nilkki with a nice right hand that draws applause from the crowd.
Nilkki throws a leg kick that misses.
Astalo scores with a nice strike.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Astalo throws an overhand right that lands on Nilkki's shoulder, as Nilkki tries to avoid the shot.
Astalo's jab looks to have found its range, popping Nilkki under the eye.
Nilkki throws an off balance right hand
and he gets countered with a snapping leg kick.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Astalo throws a body punch but Nilkki moves out of range.
Astalo just misses with a punch to the body.
Nilkki throws a fast counter high kick but Astalo manages to duck under it in time.
Astalo misses with a looping left.
Astalo misses with a looping left.
Astalo keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Nilkki.
Nilkki drops his hands and takes a jab to the jaw for his troubles.
Astalo fakes a jab and then connects with a hook.
Rami Astalo seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Nilkki avoids a low kick by using good footwork.
Nilkki moves out of range as Astalo strikes.
Nilkki tries to clinch up.
Astalo swung with a counter right hand that didn't connect.
Nilkki gets his head snapped back by a nice shot there.
Nilkki loads up on a big right hand but Astalo slips the punch.
The crowd applaud the fighters' efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Astalo throws a shot from downtown. Nilkki moves away and avoids it.
Astalo throws a leg kick which misses Nilkki's front leg but catches the back leg as Nilkki tries to avoid it.

The fight moves into the clinch position.
Astalo scores with an uppercut up the middle.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Rami Astalo dominated that round.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

Astalo lands a leg kick. The shin dug right into the meat of the thigh.
Nice defenses there by Nilkki.
A slapping leg kick lands for Astalo.
Astalo is using his reach advantage well here, landing the more effective single shots from range.
Nilkki fakes a couple of low kicks, before throwing one on the third attempt. It connects and Astalo has to reset his feet before getting ready to engage.
Nilkki misses with a looping right.
Nilkki lands an overhand left. A wild punch that just about connected.
Astalo throws a head kick that misses
and Nilkki counters with a low kick, right behind Astalo 's knee.
Astalo's corner calls for a 1-2. Astalo obliges with the 1 part as he scores the single shot and moves back out of range.
Astalo pivots, looking for a leg kick but Nilkki is out of range and Astalo settles back down.
Nilkki throws a hook to the side of Astalo's head but Astalo sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
Nice shot lands for Astalo.
Astalo scores with a nice strike.
Nice jab there from Astalo.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Nilkki connects with a crisp jab.
Nilkki lands with a straight right. Astalo didn't see that one coming.
Nilkki misses with a body kick.
Nilkki looks to land a body kick but Astalo moved away.

That's one minute gone in the round.
A chopping leg kick lands by Astalo.
Nilkki throws out a leg kick but Astalo moves out of range and Nilkki only half commits.
Rami Astalo is winning the standup battle so far.
A leg kick checked by Nilkki.
Astalo tries to score with an inside leg kick but telegraphs it and Nilkki is able to avoid easily.
Astalo misses with the combination.
Good shot there by Astalo.
A low kick from Nilkki is predictable there
and Astalo counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
Astalo lunges at Nilkki with a hook that half lands and is half blocked by Nilkki's hand.

Nilkki clinches with his opponent.
Astalo lands with a left to the head.
Nilkki misses with a hook from the clinch.
Astalo misses with the head strike.
Astalo is using his height advantage well here, landing a good percentage of his punches.
A short right hand to the side of the head by Nilkki.
Astalo is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Nilkki can do to turn this around?
Astalo tries to land knees in the clinch but Nilkki avoids the damage to the body.
Astalo is trying to push Nilkki away but Nilkki has him pressed against the ropes, so he's going nowhere.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Nilkki lands with a good tight uppercut to the head.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Astalo throws a punch but it's blocked by Nilkki.
Nilkki misses with some punches.
Nilkki takes an elbow to the forehead.

It looks like Pikku Nilkki has been cut.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Nilkki.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Astalo.
Astalo pushes Nilkki back against the ropes and unloads with a body punch.
A short left from Astalo.
Astalo blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Astalo lands a left hand that snaps the head of Nilkki backwards.
Astalo tries to circle away but Nilkki has him pinned against the ropes.
Astalo lands with a light punch inside.
Astalo tries to break free but Nilkki pushes him back against the ropes.
Nilkki swings wildly with an uppercut but Astalo uses good head movement to avoid it.
Nilkki lands on the inside with an uppercut.
The crowd applaud the fighters' efforts here as the round comes to an end.
The fighters are going at a pretty good pace and they're both starting to sweat now.
Nilkki is leaning against Astalo and scores with a nice uppercut to the body.
Astalo blocks an elbow strike from Nilkki.
Astalo pushes off and fires off an elbow that misses, before clinching up again, against the ropes.
Nilkki misses with a body punch.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Rami Astalo dominated that second round.
The cut man is working on Pikku Nilkki's cut.
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. Let's hear some noise people - this is the final round!

Nilkki lands with a nice body kick.
Nilkki misses with a looping right.
Nilkki tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Astalo fakes with a right hand and throws a good leg kick, right into the thigh. That had to hurt Nilkki.
Astalo misses with a low kick.
Nilkki only half commits to the counter leg kick.
Astalo misses with a few strikes there.
Astalo getting the better of the striking in that exchange.
Nilkki takes a shot to the body in his stride.
Astalo throws a leg kick but Nilkki sees it coming and moves out of range.
Astalo lands a nice looking body kick.
Astalo misses with a right hand
enabling Nilkki to counter with a crisp jab.
Astalo moves out of range of the body kick.
Nilkki delivers a nice body kick.
Astalo plants his feet and lands a nice head kick!
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Astalo misses the shot to the body.
Nilkki tries to clinch up against the ropes, rushing in to close the distance. Astalo manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Astalo swung with a counter right hand that didn't connect.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Nilkki checks a low kick. Bone on bone - not my idea of a good time.
Astalo takes a shot to the eye socket. That's gotta hurt.
A telegraphed right hand from Astalo misses the target.
Nilkki looks like he wants to counter punch here.

Nilkki instigates a clinch.
Astalo misses with a punch to the body.
Nilkki lands a left hand.
Astalo tries to break the clinch but Nilkki is controlling the position.
Astalo blocks a punch to the side of the head.
With the two fighters working up against the ropes, Nilkki just misses with a elbow thrown towards Astalo's brow.
Nilkki lands with a good tight uppercut to the head.
Nilkki misses with a hook from the clinch.
Astalo lands a shoulder strike.
Rami Astalo is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Nilkki misses with some punches.
Nilkki tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Astalo's elbow.
Pikku Nilkki has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Astalo misses with a short punch on the inside.
Both fighters working to control the clinch.
Astalo working some nice short punches in the clinch.
Astalo takes an elbow to the forehead.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Nilkki lands a hook to the side of the head.
Nilkki lands a shoulder strike.
Nilkki lands with a quick shot inside that doesn't really do much damage.
Astalo's head jolts backwards as he takes an uppercut right on the button!
Astalo blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Astalo softening up his opponent with strikes, against the ropes.
An uppercut to the body lands inside from Nilkki.
Nilkki blocks the elbow strike.
Astalo swings away with an uppercut that misses.

Astalo breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Astalo scores with a kick to the midsection.
Nilkki misses with a low kick as Astalo jumps back.
Astalo half committed to a counter leg kick.
Nilkki looks to throw a body kick
and Astalo makes him pay by landing a thudding low kick.
Astalo shakes his hands off, looking to compose himself, but takes a jab to the jaw whilst he does it.
The crowd applaud the fighters' efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Astalo thumps Nilkki with a low kick.
Astalo misses with a looping right.
Nilkki thows a leg kick but Astalo checks it
and Astalo counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
Astalo moving in and out of range nicely, whilst landing the scoring shot.

And that's the end of the fight!
I would just about give that final round to Pikku Nilkki.
I think Astalo has won this one but let's see what the judges have to say. 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 Donald Grub scores the fight 30:27
Judge Colin Fotheringham scores the fight 30:28
Judge Paul Tew scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Rami Astalo!
A loyal slave to those sponsorship dollars, Rami Astalo made sure he mentioned RAGS of a RONIN, along with how happy he was to win his fight.