PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Chip Nickel (ranked 25 p4p, 74 weight class) and Kiryu Kazuma (ranked 3 p4p, 11 weight class). Nickel comes to the cage accompanied by TISM - Greg the Stop Sign. Kazuma has chosen Uroko by Dir En Grey as his entrance music. 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.

Nickel
vs
Kazuma

189 cm
31
186
26 - 9 - 0

182 cm
29
198
21 - 9 - 0

Good wrestling
World class boxer
Insanely flexible

Good wrestler
World class boxer
Heavy handed

Paddy's Enhancing Drugs (160Q)
Voodoo Nutrition

Conquer
Paddy's Enhancing Drugs (160Q)

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 5 rounds, for the middleweight championship of the world!
Introducing the champion to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 26 - 9 - 0, fighting out of New York, Chip Nickel!
And introducing the challenger to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 21 - 9 - 0, fighting out of New York, Kiryu Kazuma!
The judges for this bout are Yukihiro Yamamoto, Hirohito Nitta and Yuuki Gou.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Kazuma swings widly with a right hand
enabling Nickel to counter with a crisp jab.
Kazuma throws an overhand right that lands on Nickel's shoulder, as Nickel tries to avoid the shot.
Kazuma throws a nice looking combination but Nickel bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Kazuma chopped to the floor by a nice leg kick but he springs right back up before Nickel can pounce on him.
Kazuma looks more muscular than last time we saw him. He must have been on the weights.
Kazuma with a jab.
Kazuma throws a hook but Nickel avoids it easily.
Nickel was looking to counter that move with a punch but didn't quite pull the trigger.
Nickel blocks a head kick by Kazuma.
Kazuma looks to score with a jab to the body but Nickel is just out of range.
Nickel looking to take his opponent's legs away with the low kicks.
Nickel bobs and weaves and then throws a good body kick.
Nickel stuns Kazuma with a nice body shot, before stepping back out of range.
Kazuma misses with an uppercut. Nickel saw that one coming.
Nickel scores with a hook.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Kazuma misses with a double jab
and Nickel cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Kazuma scores with a punch to the head.
Kazuma takes a jab right on the nose. That must have hurt but he shrugs his shoulders and looks to return the favor.
Nickel misses with a looping right.
Crunch! Nickel slams his shin into Kazuma's torso.
A looping hook to the body misses from Kazuma. Nickel does a little dance to reset his feet.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Kazuma drops Nickel with a beautiful combination! Nickel stares up at his opponent, who ushers him back to his feet - Kazuma is looking for the KO!

Nickel is rocked!

It looks like Chip Nickel has been cut.
Nickel keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Nickel moves into range and throws a lovely three punch combination.
Kazuma fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Nickel moves out of range as Kazuma strikes.
Kazuma throws a jab when Nickel was well out of range.
Kazuma misses with a hook.
Kazuma takes a really solid shot there but just smiles back and shrugs his shoulders.
Nickel is using his height advantage well here, landing a good percentage of his punches.
Kazuma misses with a left hand
and Nickel counters with a slapping leg kick.
A jab from Kazuma misses.
Kazuma misses with a hook. Nickel ducked under it nicely.
Kazuma is really struggling to land any decent head shots against his taller opponent.
Kazuma misses the jab.
Kazuma looks to throw a body kick
and Nickel counters with an outside leg kick.
Nickel lands a nice hook to Kazuma's body. Kazuma takes it in his stride and looks to land his own strikes.
Kazuma throws an off balance right hand
and Nickel counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Kazuma misses with a left hand
and Nickel counters with a shot to the ribs. That looked like it hurt.
Nickel throws a mid kick that lands with a slap.
Kazuma misses the shot to the body.
Nickel looked to counter that last move with a leg kick but didn't pull the trigger.
Nice shot lands for Nickel.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A swing and a miss from Kazuma.
Nickel scores with a punch to the head.
Nickel fakes a jab and scores with a low kick.
Kazuma jabbing away but nothing is landing.
Nice straight punches there by Kazuma. You know Roy Jones Jr respects the hands of Kazuma.
Kazuma drops his hands and takes a jab to the jaw for his troubles.
Kazuma takes one on the button.
Kazuma just misses with a punch to the body.
Kazuma lands a head shot.
Kazuma throws a body punch but Nickel moves out of range.
Nickel connects with a lovely right hand, straight down the pipe.
Nickel with a body punch. A glancing blow.
Kazuma is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Nickel lands a beauty of a right hand that gets the crowd cheering.
Nickel connects with a good right hand that stumbles Kazuma. Kazuma circles away out of range and recomposes himself.
The fighters circling - Nickel throws out the jab but it was never going to land.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
A swing and a miss from Kazuma.
Kazuma takes a really solid shot there but just smiles back and shrugs his shoulders.
Kazuma misses with an uppercut
and Kazuma takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
Wow, both these guys are really going for it!
Crunch! Nickel slams his shin into Kazuma's torso.
Nickel slips under a jab.
Kazuma throws a jab when Nickel was well out of range.
Nickel lands a nice hook to Kazuma's body. Kazuma takes it in his stride and looks to land his own strikes.
Kazuma has his front leg slapped to the side - a nice low kick landing there from Nickel.
It looks like Nickel has been trying to sharpen up his punching technique, as it looks crisper than last time we saw him.
Good leg kick by Nickel.
Nickel works the jab nicely.
Nickel misses with a body kick.
Kazuma tries to counter by closing the distance.
A cross from Nickel lands.
Nickel gets his head snapped back by a nice shot there.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Nickel avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
Nickel closes the distance and takes a jab right on the nose as he does so.
Nickel cracks Kazuma with a hook to the jaw. Both fighters smile at eachother and high-five before getting back down to business.
Kazuma misses with an uppercut.
Kazuma might want to mix his strikes up a bit more. He's just going for head shots at the moment and that can become a bit predictable.
Nickel uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Kazuma.
Nickel with a body punch. A glancing blow.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A big left from Kazuma misses.

Kazuma has closed the distance and engaged Nickel in a clinch.

Nickel's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Kazuma misses with an uppercut. Nickel saw that one coming.
Kazuma walks straight into a jab right on the nose. That one stung - he's blinking and trying to clear his head.
Kazuma misses with a double jab.
Kazuma swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Nickel circles away from the clinch attempt.
Nickel throws a front kick that sends Kazuma stumbling back into the cage.
Nickel is really peppering his opponent's head with punches.
Nickel bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
Kazuma misses with a looping left.
Kazuma scores with a nice right hand.
Kazuma doesn't react quick enough there as he takes a shot to the body.
Kazuma throws the left hand but Nickel avoids the punch easily.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Kazuma throws a jab but it's blocked by Nickel.
Nickel scoring well with a low kick there.
Nickel tries to move into range but Kazuma moves to the side and lands with a nice right hand.
Nickel slips a straight right by Kazuma.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close round but I would say that Chip Nickel will probably get the nod.
The cut man is working on Chip Nickel's cut.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

Kazuma throws an off balance right hand
and Nickel counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
Nickel bobs and weaves and then throws a good body kick.
Kazuma on the wrong end of a nice hook.
Nice defenses there by Nickel.
Nickel swings for the body but Kazuma moves out of range.
Kazuma lands a front kick.
Kazuma paws at his opponent with the jab and then lunges in with a straight, right on the button.
Nickel lands a lovely overhand right.
Kazuma looks to score with a jab to the body but Nickel is just out of range.
Nickel moves out of range of the strikes.
Nickel displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Kazuma throws out the jab.
Kazuma has developed a nice purple lump on his ribcage, as a result of some heavy body kicks from Nickel.
Kazuma avoids a punch combination nicely.
Kazuma throws a head kick that misses
and Nickel counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Nickel dips to his left and cracks Kazuma with an uppercut!
Kazuma's leg has a nasty welt from taking a succession of leg kicks. That must be slowing him down.
Kazuma misses with a body shot.
Nickel swung with a counter right hand that didn't connect.
Nickel scores with a nice head shot.
Nickel lands a beauty of a right hand that gets the crowd cheering.
Nickel feints a jab promting Kazuma to slip. Nickel then demonstrates his capabilities by jabbing again. Kazuma slips again and ducks right into an uppercut.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Nice body punch from Nickel.
Nickel turns his hip over beautifully as he lands a nice leg kick.
Nickel is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Kazuma can do to turn this around?
Nickel blocks a head kick by Kazuma.
Kazuma loads up on a big right hand but Nickel slips the punch.
Nickel dips to his left and cracks Kazuma with an uppercut!
Kazuma avoids the body shot from Nickel.
Kazuma keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Kazuma appears to be waiting to throw a counter punch to the body.
Kazuma throws a looping overhand right but Nickel ducks down to avoid it.
Nickel was looking to counter that last move with a shot to the body but he didn't commit.
Nickel throws a one two combo.
Kazuma works the jab nicely.
Chip Nickel is winning the standup battle so far.
Nickel scores with a big left there. The judges will like that one.
Kazuma throws a hook but Nickel avoids it easily.
Kazuma takes a hook to the side of the head. I wonder if that's got his ears ringing.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Kazuma throws the left hand but Nickel avoids the punch easily.
Kazuma connects with a hook to the side of his opponent's head.
Kazuma walks into a left hand.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Nickel lands a jab to Kazuma's midsection.
Nickel scores with a shot to the body.
Kazuma throws a lazy right hand but Nickel sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Nickel steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Kazuma.
Nickel with a nice cross.
Nickel throws a nice outside leg kick.
Nickel is moving around nicely and scores here with a single head shot.
Nickel looking to take his opponent's legs away with the low kicks.
Kazuma throws a head kick but Nickel moves out of range.
Nickel connects with a body shot.
Nickel dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
Nickel uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Kazuma.
A slapping leg kick lands for Nickel.
Nickel wings a very wild body shot but it does the job and lands to the midsection.
Kazuma misses with a hook
and Nickel counters with a good low kick that Kazuma was not able to check.
Nickel smiles there as he lands a nice right hand right on the button.
Nickel connects with a leg kick.
Nickel with a hook.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Nickel keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Kazuma.
Nickel throws a head kick that connects with a bit of head and a bit of hand.
Kazuma looks to land a right hand but Nickel moved out of range.
Kazuma misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Kazuma has his front leg slapped to the side - a nice low kick landing there from Nickel.
Kazuma misses with a hook. Nickel ducked under it nicely.
Nickel swung with a counter right hand that didn't connect.
A big right from Kazuma misses.
Kazuma throws a poor cross that misses
and Nickel counters with an inside leg kick.
Kazuma misses with a left hand
and Nickel counters with a nice uppercut.
Kazuma rushes in with a sloppy looking punch
and Nickel counters with a good low kick that Kazuma was not able to check.
Kazuma looks to land a left hand but Nickel moved out of range nicely.
Kazuma on the wrong end of a nice hook.
Kazuma misses with a low kick.
Kazuma drops his hands momentarily and Nickel takes advantage with a crisp shot to the head.
Kazuma misses with a looping right.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Kazuma throws a hook but Nickel avoids it easily.
Kazuma chopped to the floor by a nice leg kick but he springs right back up before Nickel can pounce on him.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Kazuma misses with an uppercut. Nickel saw that one coming.
Good exchange - Nickel coming out on top.
Kazuma looks to land a left hand but Nickel moved out of range nicely.
A swing and a miss from Kazuma.
Nickel connects with a hook to the side of his opponent's head.
Nickel scores with a punch to the head.
Kazuma throws a head kick but Nickel moves out of range.
Kazuma is breathing heavily.
Kazuma misses with a looping left.
Nickel is looking to counter punch.
Nickel lands with a nice body kick.
Kazuma on the receiving end of a decent leg kick there by Nickel. Nickel obviously looking to wear him down.
Kazuma has a pretty nasty looking mouse under his right eye.
Kazuma misses with an uppercut
and Nickel counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
Kazuma throws a leg kick but Nickel sees it coming and checks it nicely.
Nickel uses good footwork to get in and out, landing a nice hook.
Kazuma misses with a left hand
and Nickel connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Kazuma drops his hands momentarily and Nickel takes advantage with a crisp shot to the head.
Kazuma just misses with a punch to the body.
Nickel thumps Kazuma with a low kick.
Kazuma throws a front kick aimed at Nickel's knee but Nickel avoids it well.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Chip Nickel dominated that second round.
The cut man is working on Chip Nickel's cut.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin!

Nice uppercut there from Kazuma.
Nickel scores with a shot to the body.
Kazuma rushes in with a sloppy looking punch
and Kazuma takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
Kazuma misses with a lunging right hand
and Nickel makes the exchange count by landing a cracking kick to the body. Kazuma really felt that one!
Nickel lands a straight punch to the body, keeping Kazuma at a distance.
Kazuma throws a shot from downtown. Nickel moves away and avoids it.
It looked like Nickel wanted to counter with a hook but didn't fully commit.
Kazuma doesn't react quick enough there as he takes a shot to the body.
Kazuma 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.
Nickel connects with a leg kick.
Nickel ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
Nickel thuds a mid kick into his opponent's body. That will wear on Kazuma if he has to take too many more of those.
Kazuma feints a straight left to the body, then turns around with a flashy move and hits Nickels jaw with a dramatic spinning back fist!
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Kazuma misses with a looping left.
Kazuma misses with a straight right.
Nickel slips under a jab from Kazuma.
Kazuma misses with a lunging right hand
and Nickel connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Kazuma takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Jab, jab by Nickel - just one landing.
Nickel scores with a jab.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kazuma takes one to the side of the head.
A nice leg kick from Nickel, right into the meat of the thigh.
Kazuma closes the distance and takes a jab right on the nose as he does so.
Nickel is looking to slow Kazuma down with leg kicks.
Nickel lands a beauty of a right hand that gets the crowd cheering.
Kazuma on the wrong end of a vicious looking body shot.
Nickel scores with a jab.
Kazuma throws a body shot but no joy.
Kazuma misses with a combination
and Nickel counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Kazuma takes a shot to the nose. Hopefully that hasn't broken it.
Kazuma has his front leg slapped to the side - a nice low kick landing there from Nickel.
Kazuma swings widly with a right hand
and Nickel counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Nickel moves out of range as Kazuma strikes.
Nickel is looking to counter punch.
Nickel chopping away at his opponent's legs.
Nickel scores with a kick to the midsection.
Kazuma misses with the body kick
and Nickel cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Nice cross by Nickel.
Nickel scores with a punch to the head.
Nickel stuns Kazuma with a nice body shot, before stepping back out of range.
Nickel lands a glancing blow to the side of Kazuma's head.
Nickel connects with a crisp jab.
Kazuma pulls out of a head kick attempt.
A good leg kick by Nickel.
Nickel chopping away at his opponent's legs.
A chopping leg kick lands by Nickel.
Kazuma 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.
Kazuma rushes in with a sloppy looking punch
and Nickel makes him pay by landing a thudding low kick.
Kazuma lands a nice leg kick that just misses Nickel's sensitive parts.
Nickel displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Kazuma throws out the jab.
An attempted straight right counter from Nickel misses the target.
Nickel lands a slapping body shot.
A slapping leg kick lands for Nickel.
Nickel fakes and then throws a beautiful body shot. Kazuma looks a bit winded and takes a step backwards to take a breath.
Kazuma tries to clinch up.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kazuma moves forwards but Nickel connects with a nice, crisp jab.
Good shot there by Nickel.
Kazuma takes a head kick and shrugs it off.
A decent looking cross lands there for Nickel.
A cross from Nickel lands.
Kazuma tries to clinch up but Nickel circles away and keeps his distance.
Kazuma swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
Kazuma throws an off balance right hand
letting Nickel counter with a right hand.
Kazuma tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. Nickel manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Kazuma ducks right into an uppercut from Nickel.
Nickel scoring well with a low kick there.
A head kick by Kazuma misses
and Nickel counters with a straight right hand.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Nickel uses good footwork to get in and out, landing a nice hook.
Kazuma takes a shot to the eye socket. That's gotta hurt.
Sloppy strikes from Kazuma. Those never looked like landing.
Kazuma doesn't react quick enough there as he takes a shot to the body.
Nickel gets cracked with a nice right hand there by Kazuma.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Kazuma rushes in with a sloppy looking punch
enabling Nickel to counter with a crisp jab.
Nickel scores with a jab. Kazuma acknowledges it with a nod of the head.
Nickel closes the distance and lands a one-two.
Nickel throws a nice outside leg kick.
Nickel scores with a jab. Kazuma acknowledges it with a nod of the head.
Kazuma misses with a jab, cross combination.
Kazuma looks to land a left hand but Nickel moved out of range nicely.
A little feinted left hand from Nickel on the counter but he doesn't commit to it.
Nickel moves out of range of the strikes.
Good leg kick by Nickel.
Nickel throws a quick inside leg kick.
Nickel is looking to slow Kazuma down with leg kicks.
Nickel keeps his opponent at a distance with a nice jab.
Nice uppercut lands for Nickel. That snapped Kazuma's head back.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Kazuma throws a hook to the side of Nickel's head but Nickel sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
Kazuma throws a lazy body kick
and Nickel counters with a straight right hand.
Kazuma doesn't manage to clinch there - Nickel circles away.
Nickel fakes a couple of low kicks, before throwing one on the third attempt. It connects and Kazuma has to reset his feet before getting ready to engage.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Chip Nickel clearly takes that round.
The cut man is working on Chip Nickel's cut.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

Nickel works the jab nicely.
Kazuma throws a nice looking combination but Nickel bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Nickel lands with a cross to side of his opponent's head.
Kazuma takes a nice looking leg kick right on the meat of his thigh there.
Kazuma throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
A big left from Kazuma misses.
Nickel feints and then cracks Kazuma's leading leg with a nice low kick. He's obviously looking to slow Kazuma down.
Boom, another hit is landed. "You're gunna get knocked out" taunts Kazuma, as that shot connected.
Kazuma takes a solid shot to the body. That one hurt him but he's trying not to show it.
Kazuma misses with a left hand
and Nickel counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
Kazuma tries to clinch up
and Nickel counters with a straight punch to the midsection.
Nickel comes forward and lands a shot to the body, then darts back out of range.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Kazuma is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Nickel.
Kazuma lands a really nice looking cross but Nickel seems unphased.
Kazuma misses with a left hand
and Nickel counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Nickel moves out of range of the strikes.
Nice defenses there by Nickel.
Nickel delivers a nice body kick.
Nickel moves into range and lands a nice leg kick.
Kazuma misses with a combination
and Nickel counters with an inside leg kick.
Kazuma is absolutely dripping with sweat - he looks exhausted.
Nickel lands a leg kick and bounces back out of range.
Nickel lands a right hook to the body.
Nickel slips under a jab from Kazuma.
Nickel darts in and out, connecting with a jab.
Kazuma takes a big uppercut there. He seems a bit wobbly but no, he's OK.
Kazuma misses with a body shot.
Kazuma moves in looking to clinch but Nickel pushes him off.
Kazuma tries to clinch up.
Nickel with a nice looking leg kick. You could hear that one land in a back row.
Nickel bobs and weaves and unloads with a good uppercut.
Nickel scores with a nice strike.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
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!
Nickel comes forward and lands a shot to the body, then darts back out of range.
A jab lands there for Nickel.
Nickel with the inside leg kick.
Nickel lands with a straight right. Kazuma didn't see that one coming.
Kazuma moves forwards but Nickel connects with a nice, crisp jab.
Nickel scores with a hook to the body. Kazuma takes a step back and tries to catch his breath.
Nickel swings for the body but Kazuma moves out of range.
Nickel lands a nice shot that snaps Kazuma's head back.
Kazuma drops his hands and takes a jab to the jaw for his troubles.
Nickel scoring well with a low kick there.
Kazuma throws a jab but it's blocked by Nickel.
Nickel keeps his opponent at a distance with a nice jab.
Nickel uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Kazuma.
Nickel connects with a single shot there.
Nickel throws a jab to the body, straight down the pipe. Boom. That sent Kazuma stumbling backwards but he manages to regain his composure quickly.
Kazuma connects with a crisp jab.
Nickel smiles there as he lands a nice right hand right on the button.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Some wild striking there from Kazuma.
Nickel avoids the body shot from Kazuma.
Kazuma misses with a looping right.
Kazuma tries to bum rush Nickel with a series of wild strikes but Nickel uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Nickel connects with the punch.
Kazuma lands a glancing blow to the side of Nickel's head.
Good work by Nickel as he checks the leg kick.
Nickel lands with a thumping leg kick.
Nickel with a jab.
Nickel avoids the head kick by Kazuma.
Nickel lands a jab to Kazuma's midsection.
Kazuma scores with a slapping inside leg kick.
Nickel lands with a cross to side of his opponent's head.
Nickel feints and then cracks Kazuma's leading leg with a nice low kick. He's obviously looking to slow Kazuma down.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Kazuma throws a hook but Nickel avoids it easily.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Kazuma throws an off balance right hand
and Nickel counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
A nice leg kick from Nickel, right into the meat of the thigh.
Nickel fakes low and throws an overhand right that catches Kazuma on the side of the head.
Nickel cracks Kazuma with a hook to the jaw. Both fighters smile at eachother and high-five before getting back down to business.
Kazuma gets cracked there but stands up to it.
Jab from Nickel.
Kazuma misses with a straight right.
Nickel connects with a leg kick. He turned his hip over nicely there.
A slapping leg kick lands for Nickel.
Kazuma tries to clinch up but Nickel circles away and keeps his distance.
It looked like Nickel was trying to counter with a body shot coming off that last attack from Kazuma.
Kazuma scores with a crisp jab that stopped Nickel in his tracks.
Kazuma with poor footwork there. He got himself in a bit of a tangle, enabling Nickel to score with a decent uppercut.
The crowd applaud the fighters' efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Nickel ducks under a wild hook from Kazuma.
Nickel throws a quick counter kick to the body but Kazuma avoids it.
Nickel fakes a couple of low kicks, before throwing one on the third attempt. It connects and Kazuma has to reset his feet before getting ready to engage.
Kazuma throws a low kick but it's checked well by Nickel.
Nickel fires out a quick counter leg kick but Kazuma just manages to avoid it.
Nickel scores with a shot to the body.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Chip Nickel had his way with Kiryu Kazuma in that round.
The cut man is working on Chip Nickel's cut.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action! This is the final round!

Nickel swings wildly with a hook that is half blocked by Kazuma.
A good leg kick by Kazuma.
Kazuma swings widly with a right hand
and Nickel counters with a nice body shot.
Kazuma throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Kazuma looks to throw the jab but Nickel is out of range.
Nickel digs a good body shot into Kazuma's ribs.
Nice uppercut there from Nickel.
Nickel lands a vicious shot with the stealth of a sniper and the strength of a viper. Are vipers that strong? I can think of lots of things that are stronger than a viper - not many rhyme with sniper though.
Nickel throws a jab to the body, straight down the pipe. Boom. That sent Kazuma stumbling backwards but he manages to regain his composure quickly.
Nickel throws a lazy right hand but Kazuma sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Kazuma appears to be waiting to throw a counter punch to the body.
Nickel cracks Kazuma with a good shot that sees him stumbling back into the cage.
A nice leg kick from Nickel, right into the meat of the thigh.
Nickel ducks low and lands a nice hook to the body of his opponent.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Nickel blocks a jab.
A punch lands to the side of Kazuma 's head but he takes it in his stride.
Kazuma misses with a lunging right hand
and Nickel counters with a nice low kick that buckles Kazuma's knee momentarily.
Kazuma throws a body punch but Nickel moves out of range.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Nickel lands a leg kick and bounces back out of range.
Nickel with a body punch. A glancing blow.
Nickel throws a shot to the body.
Nickel connects with a leg kick. He turned his hip over nicely there.
Kazuma drops his hands momentarily and Nickel takes advantage with a crisp shot to the head.
Nickel throws a good cross that connects.
Kazuma is pinned up against the cage taking some big shots here. The referee is looking closely deciding whether he should stop the fight.
Nickel throws a feint and then finishes with a kick to the body.
Kazuma stumbles momentarily as he takes a strong leg kick from Nickel.
Nice straight punches there by Kazuma. You know Roy Jones Jr respects the hands of Kazuma.
Nickel scores with a jab to the jaw of his opponent.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Kazuma scores with a reasonable looking shot to the body. Nickel doesn't seem bothered though.
Kazuma thuds a left hand into Nickel's body.
Both of our modern day gladiators look out of it here - a gruelling 5 rounds of action taking it's toll on them, no doubt.
A swing and a miss from Nickel.
Good leg kick by Nickel.
Nickel throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Kazuma sees it coming and avoids it easily.
Kazuma looks like he wants to counter punch here.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Nickel keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Kazuma.
Kazuma catches Nickel with a nice straight right. He seems pissed - ooooh, it's on now! On like donkey kong!
Kazuma does a little shimmy and throws a leg kick. The leg kick missed by a considerable margin though, making him look a little bit silly for doing the shimmy.

Kazuma moves into the clinch.
Nickel blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Kazuma tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Nickel tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Kazuma's elbow.
Nickel blocks an uppercut.
Nickel wants to get back to striking at distance but Kazuma won't allow it.
Kazuma working aggressively here.
Kazuma swings wildly with an uppercut but Nickel uses good head movement to avoid it.
Nickel blocking some punches.

Nickel pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Kazuma scores with a big left there. The judges will like that one.
Nickel tries to land a leg kick but Kazuma saw it coming and moves away.
A head kick by Kazuma misses
enabling Nickel to counter with a crisp jab.
Chip Nickel is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Nickel lands with a head kick! That's gotta hurt.

Kazuma lands a big right hand that sends Nickel crashing to the mat! Kazuma stays standing though and waves Nickel back to his feet!
Oh Nickel is still all over the place! His legs are completely gone! Will he be able to recover?!!
Kazuma throws a push kick but Nickel slaps the foot to one side.
Nickel scoring well with a low kick there.
Kazuma misses with a lunging right hand
and Nickel connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.

Kazuma moves into range and clinches up with Nickel.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Nickel blocks an uppercut.
Kazuma swings wildly with an uppercut but Nickel uses good head movement to avoid it.
Nickel seems to have got his legs back now.
A quick uppercut on the inside from Nickel.
Nickel lands a nice shot to the body.
Kazuma misses with a short punch on the inside.

Nickel breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Kazuma throws out a leg kick but Nickel moves out of range and Kazuma only half commits.
Kazuma scores with a hook.
Nickel gets caught by a big overhand right and goes down! Kazuma gets on top of him and starts throwing some serious punches until the ref intervenes and stops the fight!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 4:56 of round 5, we have a winner by way of TKO (Strikes). Kiryu Kazuma!
Kiryu Kazuma is the new middleweight champion!
A less than humble Kiryu Kazuma misjudged his post fight interview somewhat and came across a little too arrogant whilst trying to hype up his own abilities.