PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Joe Croft (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Jakki Nikkelson (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Croft has a slight injury, which hopefully won't affect the fight too much. Joe Croft could well score a knockout today. He has the power to get to Jakki Nikkelson's chin.

Croft
vs
Nikkelson

160 cm
18
150 lbs
0 - 1 - 0

170 cm
25
155 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter striker
Cuts easily

Good takedowns
Brawler
Intelligent

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the featherweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, Joe Croft!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, Jakki Nikkelson!
The judges for this bout are Chris Saunders, Ryoma Takatsuka and Micheangelo Fripello.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Croft swings wildly with a couple of big hooks

and Nikkelson counters with a takedown into side control.
Croft is breathing heavily.

Nikkelson has had enough of the ground for now and decides to stand.

Nikkelson scores with a takedown into Croft's guard.
Croft being controlled here, momentarily.
Croft could do with losing a few pounds - he looks very soft around the mid section, to put it politely.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Nikkelson postures up and lands a big shot to Croft's brow.

Nikkelson gets to his feet - Croft follows without any prompting.

Nikkelson shoots in and gets a takedown into Croft's guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Nikkelson passes into half guard.
Nikkelson looks over to his corner - he wants some instructions but his corner are not responding.
Croft on the receiving end of some nice ground and pound.
Nikkelson is controlling the pace.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Nikkelson is looking to pass the guard... He's managed it - he's now in full mount!

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Nikkelson with some aggressive grappling here. He's looking for submissions here, rather than waiting for the opportunity to counter.
Croft taking shots to the head.
Nikkelson is landing with some decent strikes but Croft is trying to advance his position so the referee is letting the fight continue.
Nikkelson controlling from the full mount.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Nikkelson working Croft over with strikes here.
Nikkelson content just to control the position here.

Nikkelson is working on an americana here. Ooh, that looks pretty nasty! Nope, Croft has managed to escape the submission attempt.
Nikkelson landing strikes from the mount and Croft is in trouble!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Nikkelson raining down shots from the mount!
Nikkelson working away from the top, dropping strikes.
Nikkelson looking to finish Croft with some ground and pound. This is bad for Croft!
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!
Nikkelson controlling from the full mount.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Jakki Nikkelson dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Joe Croft's cut.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

Croft takes a kick to the side of the head.
Croft takes a swing at Nikkelson's ribcage but misses.

Nikkelson gets a takedown into half guard.
Croft knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Nikkelson on the ground.
Nikkelson passes to full mount!
Croft taking shots to the head.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Nikkelson sitting in mount, just looking to control for the moment.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Let's hope that Nikkelson has the urge to step up the pace any second now because for the last 15 or 20 seconds he's just been holding on tight.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
We may be looking at a referee standup if the pace doesn't pick up soon.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

OK we're going to have a standup here. Jakki Nikkelson hasn't been effective enough on the ground and the referee wants a restart.
Jab, jab by Nikkelson - just one landing.

A momentary lapse in concentration from Croft enables Nikkelson to shoot in and score with a neat double leg. Croft manages to secure a closed guard as the fighters hit the mat.
Nikkelson content to stall in guard here.

Nikkelson gets to his feet. Croft looking to butt scoot but the ref puts an end to that. On your feet son!

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Nikkelson throws the overhand right but ducks down into a quick takedown attempt. Croft was covering up waiting for the punch and Nikkelson finishes the takedown easily into guard.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Nikkelson postures up and lands some nice ground and pound.
Hammerfist, elbow! yells Nikkelson's corner. There ya go! There ya go!
Nikkelson forces his way into half guard.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Nikkelson keeping composed on the top, looking to control the action.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Jakki Nikkelson showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The cut man is working on Joe Croft's cut.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business. And we move into the final round!

Nikkelson shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Oh and he's advanced to full mount straight away.
Croft really trying hard to get back to half guard here.
Nikkelson looking to control and managing it successfully.
Croft is bucking up trying to escape but Nikkelson cracks him with another couple of good strikes.
Nikkelson punishing his opponent with strikes.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Nikkelson controlling the position easily from mount.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Nikkelson working for a submission but Croft is keeping him at bay.
Nikkelson takes Croft's back.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
So, who will make the next big move? In this position it could be crucial.

Nikkelson is working on the RNC. He looks like he's got it but Croft won't tap... Oh, he's out! The ref rips Nikkelson off his unconscious opponent!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 2:33 of round 3, we have a winner by way of Submission (RNC). Jakki Nikkelson!