PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Alexey Rykov (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Riku Noitalahti (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.

Rykov
vs
Noitalahti

200 cm
31
272 lbs
18 - 7 - 0

192 cm
27
269 lbs
14 - 8 - 0

Good wrestling
World class boxer
Cardio machine

Good wrestler
Dangerous knees
Heavy handed

Fight Club Clothing est. 09™

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 18 - 7 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Alexey Rykov!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 14 - 8 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Riku Noitalahti!
The judges for this bout are Marco Blurström, Arvi Lind and Matti Vanhoillinen.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Nice uppercut lands for Rykov. That snapped Noitalahti's head back.
Noitalahti throws a body kick that misses.
Rykov comes forward and lands a shot to the body, then darts back out of range.
Noitalahti lands a high kick!

It looks like Alexey Rykov has been cut.
Noitalahti misses with a looping left.
Noitalahti misses with a kick to the body.
Rykov connects with a right hand. Noitalahti shakes it off.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Noitalahti steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Rykov.
Rykov avoids the head kick by Noitalahti.
Noitalahti ducks right into an uppercut from Rykov.
Rykov waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Noitalahti.
Rykov tests Noitalahti's chin there with a solid looking shot.
Rykov throws out a loose jab but Noitalahti uses good head movement to avoid it.
Rykov lands a jab to Noitalahti's midsection.
Rykov scores with a reasonable looking shot to the body. Noitalahti doesn't seem bothered though.
Noitalahti scores with a sloppy right hand. Rykov should have avoided that one.
Noitalahti walks into a stiff left hand from Rykov.
Rykov lands a glancing blow to the side of Noitalahti's head.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Noitalahti slips a jab from Rykov.
Rykov slips a jab from Noitalahti.
Noitalahti fakes a jab and throws a low kick but Rykov checks it well.
Noitalahti throws a head kick but Rykov moves out of range.
A big right from Rykov misses.
Noitalahti throws a jab, cross combination which is slipped
and Rykov counters with a nice uppercut.
Rykov keeps his opponent at a distance with a nice jab.
Noitalahti swings widly with a right hand
and Rykov counters with a straight right hand.
Rykov throws a jab when Noitalahti was well out of range.
Nice shot lands for Rykov.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Noitalahti misses with a kick to the body.
Noitalahti throws a series of punches but Rykov avoids them all with ease.
Rykov cracks Noitalahti with a hook to the jaw. Both fighters smile at eachother and high-five before getting back down to business.
Rykov is really head hunting here, hardly looking to strike to the body at all.
Rykov takes a kick to the body and keeps moving.
Noitalahti looks to throw the jab but Rykov is out of range.
Noitalahti throws a body kick that misses.
Rykov swings wildly with a hook that is half blocked by Noitalahti.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A head kick misses from Rykov.
Noitalahti stalks Rykov and leaps in with a furious combination of punches. Uppercuts and crosses smash into Rykov's face. Rykov staggers backwards, shaken.
Noitalahti misses with a kick to the body.
Noitalahti misses with a head kick.
Rykov ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Noitalahti moves away.
Rykov misses the jab.
Noitalahti throws a series of punches but Rykov moves out of range.
Sloppy strikes from Rykov. Those never looked like landing.
Noitalahti scores with a slapping inside leg kick.
Noitalahti swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
Noitalahti loads up on a big right hand but Rykov slips the punch.
Rykov lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Noitalahti circles away quickly and effectively.

Noitalahti tries to keep at a distance but Rykov has taken the fight into the clinch.
A short left from Rykov.
Rykov is using his height advantage well here, landing a good percentage of his punches.

Rykov breaks from the clinch.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Rykov showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Noitalahti.
Nice body kick there by Noitalahti.
Noitalahti throws a combination that misses
letting Rykov counter with a right hand.

Noitalahti drops Rykov with a right and a left! Noitalahti comes rushing in but Rykov regains his composure and manages to keep Noitalahti in guard.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
The referee looks like he's ready to step in and stand the fighters back up.

Rykov throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
Noitalahti wants to control from the top but Rykov keeps moving.
Noitalahti throws a strike but Rykov rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Noitalahti tries to land a sweep but no joy.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Rykov connects with a couple of short punches.
Rykov loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Noitalahti looking to sweep here. No luck so far.

Noitalahti is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
Noitalahti avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Noitalahti working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Rykov.
Noitalahti looking for a sweep. Not yet Noitalahti, not yet.
Rykov missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Rykov trying to control but Noitalahti is working from the bottom.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Rykov lands a nice shot whilst sitting in his opponent's guard.
Rykov throws a big right hand that misses.
Rykov missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Riku Noitalahti will probably get the nod.
The cut man is working on Alexey Rykov's cut.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action.

A jab lands there for Noitalahti.

Alexey Rykov's cut is getting worse.
Noitalahti loads up on a big right hand but Rykov slips the punch.
Noitalahti misses with an uppercut.
Rykov tests Noitalahti's chin there with a solid looking shot.
Noitalahti moves out of range of the strikes.
Noitalahti uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Rykov.
Noitalahti with a nice cross.
Noitalahti throws a head kick but Rykov moves out of range.
Noitalahti looks to land a body kick but Rykov moved away.
Noitalahti tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
A right-left combo lands from Rykov.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Noitalahti pushes Rykov away with a front kick.
Rykov throws the kick towards the body but Noitalahti avoids it.
Noitalahti pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Noitalahti missing with a left hand there. Rykov was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
Noitalahti lands a high kick!

That's one minute gone in the round.
Noitalahti misses with a body shot.
A jab lands there for Rykov.
Noitalahti misses with a double jab
and Rykov counters with a straight right hand.
Noitalahti throws a hook but Rykov blocks it.
Noitalahti shuffles to his left behind two crisp jabs. Rykov eats them both and turns towards Noitalahti to reposition himself and eats a stinging right hand-left hook combo.

Alexey Rykov's cut is bleeding quite badly. He's got to try and protect it.
Good shot there by Rykov.
Rykov takes one to the side of the head.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Noitalahti throws a right hand that Rykov ducks under and follows up with a left that Rykov also avoids with ease.
Rykov smiles there as he lands a nice right hand right on the button.
Noitalahti keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Noitalahti tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Rykov scores with a punch to the head.
Rykov is looking to clinch.
Rykov ducks down and throws a hook to the body.
Noitalahti is breathing heavily.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Noitalahti misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Rykov.
Rykov jabs Noitalahti to the body, keeping him at a distance.
Noitalahti throws a couple of head shots and lands with the final one - a decent hook, which struck Rykov on the side of the head.

Jeez, Alexey Rykov's cut is really nasty now. The referee must be thinking about getting that checked.
Rykov looks to land a right hand but Noitalahti moved out of range.
Noitalahti throws a jab when Rykov was well out of range.
Noitalahti moves his head to the side to avoid a jab but walks straight into a cross.
Rykov avoids a kick to the body.
Noitalahti misses with a hook
and Rykov counters with a straight right hand.
A swing and a miss from Noitalahti.
A combination from Rykov does no damage.
Rykov connects nicely with a jab. Noted by the judges no doubt.
Noitalahti throws a lazy right hand but Rykov sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Noitalahti misses with a hook.
Rykov connects with a nice looking jab.
Noitalahti looking to land some kicks to the body here.
Riku Noitalahti is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Rykov connects with a good right hand that stumbles Noitalahti. Noitalahti circles away out of range and recomposes himself.
That's a knee to de groin and it's over and out! Rykov crumples to the ground after an illegal strike from Noitalahti - the referee stops the clock and Rykov gets 5 minutes to recover from that one. "I'm sorry" says Noitalahti. Rykov manages to get back to his feet and the fight resumes.
Noitalahti looks to land a combination but Rykov avoids it well.
Rykov throws a two punch combo that lands nicely.
Noitalahti throws a head kick that misses.
Noitalahti is looking to land body kicks.
Rykov throws a hook to the side of Noitalahti's head but Noitalahti sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
Noitalahti misses with a series of wild punches.
Noitalahti will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Noitalahti takes one to the chin there.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Noitalahti tries to move into range but Rykov moves to the side and lands with a nice right hand.
Jab from Rykov.
Rykov scores with a sloppy punch to the body. Not much technique there but it did the business.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Noitalahti throws a series of punches but Rykov avoids them all with ease.
Rykov blocks a head kick by Noitalahti.
Rykov lands with an overhand left.
Rykov scores with a body shot.
A decent looking cross lands there for Rykov.
Rykov wings a very wild body shot but it does the job and lands to the midsection.
Rykov works his jab well there, keeping his opponent at a distance.
Rykov lands a nice shot to the body.
Rykov thuds his right hand into Noitalahti's forehead from close range. That could be painful for both fighters.
Rykov scores with a punch to the gut of his opponent.
Nice uppercut there from Rykov.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Rykov lands with a cross.
Noitalahti throws a jab, cross combination which is slipped
and Rykov counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.

Noitalahti is rocked!
Rykov connects with the punch.
Noitalahti is still on wobbly legs! Can Rykov finish him?
Noitalahti throws a push kick but Rykov slaps the foot to one side.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Alexey Rykov dominated that second round.
The cut man is working on Alexey Rykov's cut.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action! This is the final round!

Noitalahti pivots as if he's going to throw a leg kick but stops half way.
Noitalahti seems to have recovered his senses.
Rykov clobbers Noitalahti with an overhand right that has the crowd gasping. That made a horrendous noise.
Rykov blocks a head kick by Noitalahti.
Noitalahti 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.
Rykov dodges the punch combination from Noitalahti.
Noitalahti throws a body kick but he was well out of range there.
Rykov getting the better of the striking in that exchange.
This fight brought to you by 5M nutrition - it's mmmmm tasty. Nice jab by Rykov.
Noitalahti misses with an uppercut
letting Rykov counter with a right hand.
Rykov digs a good body shot into Noitalahti's ribs.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Rykov thuds a left hand into Noitalahti's body.
Rykov misses with a two punch combination.
Rykov connects with a nice looking jab.
Noitalahti takes one on the button.
Noitalahti takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Rykov lands with a nice body punch.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Noitalahti walks into a stiff left hand from Rykov.

Noitalahti is rocked!
Rykov works the jab nicely.
Noitalahti is still on wobbly legs! Can Rykov finish him?

Rykov lands a big shot that drops Noitalahti! Can he finish him?
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Rykov postures up, still in guard. A huge hammer fist lands that bounces Noitalahti's head off the mat! Noitalahti is out! He's out! Rykov jumps to his feet and celebrates with his corner!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 1:33 of round 3, we have a winner by way of KO (Strikes). Alexey Rykov!
Alexey Rykov managed to slip a mention for his sponsors, Fight Club Clothing est. 09™, into his post fight interview.