PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Ryan Nelson (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Lukas Szkodnik (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.

Nelson
vs
Szkodnik

185 cm
22
140 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

179 cm
21
130 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Excellent MT
Big heart

BJJ White Belt
Lethal high kicks
Heavy handed

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 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Ryan Nelson!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Lukas Szkodnik!
The judges for this bout are Arvi Lind, Johanna Lukiainen and Roosa Järviläinen.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Nelson throws a head kick but Szkodnik moves out of range.
Nelson tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Szkodnik paws at him with a jab and circles away.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Szkodnik.
Ryan Nelson seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Nelson connects with a high kick.
Szkodnik keeps the fight on the outside.
Nelson pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Nelson really does look like a pencil wearing a pair of gloves. Let's hope he has a gameplan to suit that ridiculous body shape.
Nelson moves in looking to clinch but Szkodnik pushes him off.
Nelson misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Nelson goes for a spinning back kick but it misses.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Nelson lands with a slapping head kick.
Nelson lands a nice leg kick that just misses Szkodnik's sensitive parts.
Nelson shoots in for a takedown but Szkodnik shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
Nelson throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Nelson defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Szkodnik.
Nelson pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Nelson slaps away a takedown attempt from Szkodnik, before circling back to the center of the mat.
Ryan Nelson has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Lukas Szkodnik.
Nelson tries to clinch up but Szkodnik circles away and keeps his distance.
Nelson throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Nelson misses with a takedown attempt
and Szkodnik counters with a flying knee. Nice.
Nelson doesn't succeed with the takedown

and Szkodnik counters with a takedown into full mount! That could mean trouble for Nelson!
Szkodnik lands a big elbow.
Nelson is writhing around trying to get back to his feet.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Szkodnik is standing up out of mount! Strange tactic there - he must really want this one on the feet!
Nelson looks for a takedown but Szkodnik sprawls well.
Nelson tries to clinch but fails miserably
and Szkodnik counters with a left and a right that stings Nelson.
Nelson missing with a left hand there. Szkodnik was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
A head kick misses from Szkodnik.
Nelson throws a left and a right that both miss

and Szkodnik counters with a nice shoot takedown that brings the fighters to the ground.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!

Nelson is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Szkodnik is aware though and is defending well.
Szkodnik looking to pass the guard.
Nelson wants to stand up but Szkodnik is controlling him.
Nelson is breathing heavily.
Szkodnik looking to pass the guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Szkodnik with a flurry of punches that miss.

Szkodnik stands up from Nelson's guard - Szkodnik perhaps looking for a knockout.
A nice leg kick lands there from Nelson.
Nelson tries for a takedown but Szkodnik circles away easily
and he gets countered with a snapping leg kick.

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.
Nelson scores with a one two! Szkodnik had his feet all tangled up there and couldn't avoid the strikes.
Nelson closes the distance looking to clinch
and Szkodnik counters with a low kick, right behind Nelson 's knee.
Nelson misses with a takedown attempt

and Szkodnik counters with a shoot takedown into half guard.
Szkodnik throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
Szkodnik tries to stand but can't do so whilst Nelson controls his leg.

Szkodnik is trying to work for a kimura but Nelson is defending well.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Lukas Szkodnik dominated that round.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business.

Nelson goes for a high kick. It partially lands.
Nelson tries to grapple but his opponent circles

and Szkodnik counters with a shoot takedown. Nelson fights it but they end up in guard.
Nelson keeping moving, preventing Szkodnik from controlling successfully.
Nelson wants to control here, rather than go for any submissions from the bottom. At least for now.

Szkodnik stands and steps away. Nelson gets to his feet too and we're back to the striking game.
Szkodnik is breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Nelson throws a right high kick that is partially blocked by Szkodnik.
A combination from Nelson does no damage.
Nelson tries to clinch up but Szkodnik circles away and keeps his distance.
Nelson throws a lazy head kick
and Szkodnik counters with a series of strikes. Nelson will be more careful next time no doubt.
Nelson has a takedown stuffed.
Szkodnik takes a head kick and shrugs it off.
Nelson throws a head kick that misses
and Szkodnik counters with an inside leg kick.
Nelson tries to clinch but Szkodnik moves away
and Szkodnik cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Nelson lands a high kick!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Nelson tries for a takedown but Szkodnik sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
Szkodnik changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Nelson tries to avoid it but Szkodnik manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Nelson to the ground. Nelson escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
Nelson tries for a takedown but Szkodnik circles away easily

and Szkodnik counters by moving into the clinch.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Ryan Nelson. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Nelson dictating the pace here, as the fighters clinch against the cage.
Nelson jumps guard but Szkodnik stands there with Nelson around his waist. Nelson gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.
Nelson is trying to break the clinch but Szkodnik is controlling him.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Nelson wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Szkodnik has him pressed against the cage.
Szkodnik is looking for a takedown up against the cage. Nelson gets underhooks though and prevents the takedown attempt.
Nelson tries to circle away but Szkodnik has him pinned against the cage.
The two fighters are working to gain dominance in the clinch.

Nelson's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Szkodnik fails to land the takedown.
Nelson with a nice looking leg kick. You could hear that one land in a back row.
A solid leg kick lands there for Nelson.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are getting on the fighters' backs, as the pace has dropped off in the last minute or so.
Nelson chopping away at his opponent's legs.
A head kick from Nelson lands but Szkodnik takes it in his stride.
Nice sprawl there from Szkodnik as Nelson shoots in.
Nelson misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.

Nelson shoots in and gets a takedown into half guard. Nelson showed some decent athleticism there.
Szkodnik trying to control but Nelson postures up.
Szkodnik blocking the ground and pound attempt from Nelson.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Lukas Szkodnik will probably get the nod - 10:9.
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. This is the final round!

Nelson tries a head kick but it misses.
Nelson throws a leg kick which misses Szkodnik's front leg but catches the back leg as Szkodnik tries to avoid it.
Nelson misses with a combination
and Szkodnik counters with a low kick, right behind Nelson 's knee.
Nelson is looking to clinch.
Ryan Nelson is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Nelson throws a head kick that misses

and Szkodnik counters with a driving takedown into guard. Nice work there by Szkodnik.
Szkodnik passes into half guard.
Szkodnik seems to have lost interest with the ground game and is thinking about standing back up.

Nelson kicks Szkodnik off and gets back to his feet.
Szkodnik takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Nelson throws a head kick that misses
and Szkodnik counters with a slapping leg kick.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Nelson is looking to slow Szkodnik down with leg kicks.
Szkodnik takes a head kick and keeps coming.
Nelson shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Szkodnik but Szkodnik pushes him off and we're back to square one.
A head kick by Nelson misses

and Szkodnik counters with a nice double leg into side control. Nelson won't be happy with that.

Szkodnik decides to take the fight back to the feet.
Nelson misses with a combination

and Szkodnik counters with a takedown into side control.
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We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Nelson struggling a bit here.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Szkodnik goes for an armbar! This could be all over! Wait, no, Nelson rolls with the submission and now he's on top in Szkodnik's guard! Nice work there by Nelson!
Nelson is taking a break and basically stalling. The referee will not allow him to do that for long.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Nelson slips nicely into half guard.

Nelson is working for a submission of some sort.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Nelson not landing any meaningful shots this time.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A few boos can be heard. I'm sure they will multiply if the fighters don't pick up the pace.
Nelson is figuring out what he wants to do next.
Szkodnik wants to sweep but Nelson has passed to side control!
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Szkodnik struggling a bit here.
Nelson remains in side control and seems content to stay there. It's a versatile position from which he can work both strikes and submissions, whilst maintaining that control, so maybe he'll sit here for a while.
Ryan Nelson has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Nelson working away.

And that's the end of the fight!
Lukas Szkodnik comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Szkodnik winning every round here. Surely the decision will go his way and he'll pick up a well deserved decision victory. 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 Arvi Lind scores the fight 27:30
Judge Johanna Lukiainen scores the fight 27:30
Judge Roosa Järviläinen scores the fight 28:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Lukas Szkodnik!