PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Kalash Nikov (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Heng Keo (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Nikov's entrance music is Snoop Dogg Feat. Nate Dogg & Xzibit - Bitch Please . A fine choice. The crowd seem to be enjoying Keo's choice of entrance music: Fear Factory - H-K (Hunter Killer). Both fighters will be looking to make this an exciting fight for the fans, I'm sure!

Nikov
vs
Keo

174 cm
27
158 lbs
12 - 5 - 1

173 cm
28
157 lbs
9 - 4 - 0

Good wrestling
World class MT
Insanely flexible

ADCC Champion
World class MT
Granite chin

CEC Nutrition Q160 *Christmas Sale*

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 12 - 5 - 1, fighting out of Hilo, Kalash Nikov!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 9 - 4 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, Heng Keo!
The judges for this bout are Chris Saunders, Ryoma Takatsuka and Jeff Smith.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Nikov tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in the close the distance. Keo manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Keo lands with a nice body punch.
Nikov misses with a head kick.

Keo shoots in with a lovely double leg takedown. Nikov manages to land in full guard to minimise the damage.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Nikov is looking to stand up but Keo isn't so interested in that idea.
Keo loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Keo looking to sit in guard and control but Nikov gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.
Nikov is stalling in the full guard.
Nikov wants to control from the top but Keo keeps moving.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Keo has a closed guard, preventing Nikov from standing up.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Nikov won't allow Keo to sweep him here.
Nikov trying to stand up but can't free himself from Keo's guard.

We're going to have a standup here because Kalash Nikov wasn't active enough for the referee's liking.
Keo avoids the head kick by Nikov.
Keo jabs away that one connects to the head of his opponent.
Nikov misses with a body shot.
Nikov avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
Keo changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Nikov tries to avoid it but Keo manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Nikov to the ground. Nikov escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
Keo misses with a low kick.
Nikov takes a step back and watches a body kick go sailing past his mid section.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Nikov tried to score with a low kick but Keo checks it.
Nikov misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Nikov lunges in with an uppercut that skims his opponent's chin.
Nikov throws a two punch combo that lands nicely.
Keo swats away the attempt to clinch by Nikov.
Keo misses with a body kick.
Nikov is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Keo lands a straight punch to the body, keeping Nikov at a distance.
Nikov misses with a hook.
Keo changes levels and scores with a jab to the body.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Keo will need to close the distance a bit before he attacks - that leg kick was thrown from too far away.
Keo keeps the fight on the outside.

Nikov gets in close and instigates a clinch.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Nikov lands with a short shot to the head.
Keo tries to throw a body punch but Nikov avoids it by throwing Keo back against the cage.
Nikov tries to land a knee to the head but misses.
Nikov controlling the action here for a moment.
A short uppercut from Keo.
Keo pushes Nikov back against the cage and unloads with a body punch.
Nikov using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Keo has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
Nikov lands a short shot on the inside that snaps the head of Keo backwards.
Nikov displaying some good clinch control by pressing Keo up against the cage.
Nikov working some nice short punches in the clinch.
A nice right hand lands inside from Keo.

Nikov pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Keo is pinned up against the cage taking some big shots here. The referee is looking closely deciding whether he should stop the fight.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Oooooooooooh, not good. A low kick from Keo lands where it shouldn't have, right in the... well, you know what he did? He kicked him in the penis. He's injured, injured bad. The referee sends both fighters to their corners and Nikov has 5 minutes to recover. He's OK now though... a thumbs up from Nikov and we're back underway with a touch of gloves.
Nikov fakes with a right hand and throws a good leg kick, right into the thigh. That had to hurt Keo.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Nikov tries to clinch but Keo moves away
and Keo counters with a lovely shot to the body.
Nikov fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Kalash Nikov seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Keo misses with a kick to the body.
Nikov slips a straight right by Keo.
Keo fakes a jab and throws a low kick but Nikov checks it well.
Keo slips a jab from Nikov.
Keo thuds a left hand into Nikov's body.
Keo fakes with the hands and throws a leg kick but Nikov is out of range.
Keo works Nikov's body with a nice hook.
Nikov cracks Keo with a nice right hand that draws applause from the crowd.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Nikov tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Keo tries to score with an inside leg kick but telegraphs it and Nikov is able to avoid easily.
Nikov throws a jab when Keo was well out of range.

Nikov clinches with his opponent.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close round but I would say that Kalash Nikov will probably get the nod.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

Keo uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Nikov.
A combination from Nikov does no damage.
Nikov looks to land a right hand but Keo moved out of range.
Nikov pivots as if he's going to throw a leg kick but stops half way.
Nikov swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
Keo lands with an overhand left.
Nikov bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
Nikov closes the distance looking to clinch
and Keo counters with a body kick.
Keo lands a nice leg kick that just misses Nikov's sensitive parts.
Nikov moves into range and lands a nice leg kick.
Keo throws a jab but it's blocked by Nikov.
Keo throws a body kick that misses.

Nikov clinches up with Keo and pushes him back against the cage.
Keo blocks an uppercut.

That's one minute gone in the round.
The two fighters are working to gain dominance in the clinch.
Nice elbow from Keo.
Nikov blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Nikov wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.
Keo misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Nikov.
A right hook to the body lands for Keo.
Keo tries a knee to the head but Nikov blocks it.
Keo pushes off and fires off an elbow that misses, before clinching up again, against the cage.
Keo blocking some punches.
Keo trying to land knees to the body.
Keo is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Nikov is defending well for now.
Nikov lands a right hand that snaps the head of Keo backwards.
Nikov is trying to stall.
Nikov scores with a shoulder strike.
Nikov with an attempt at a knee that misses.
Keo landing knees to the body. They look like they could hurt.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Keo looking to throw knees to the head but Nikov is blocking nicely.
Nikov with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.
Keo tries to land knees in the clinch but Nikov avoids the damage to the body.
Nikov misses with a knee to the head.
Nikov avoiding damage as Keo throws knees to the body.
Keo looking to throw knees to the head but Nikov is blocking nicely.
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!
Nikov stalling the fight.
Keo blocks a body shot from Nikov.
Nikov lands on the inside with an uppercut.
Keo has had enough of the clinch but Nikov keeps him there for the moment.
Nikov blocks the elbow strike.
Keo misses with a body punch.
Nikov is stalling here.
Keo pushes Nikov back against the cage and unloads with a body punch.
Keo working Nikov over with knees to the body.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Nikov misses with a short punch on the inside.
Nikov misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Keo lands an elbow inside that Nikov shrugs off.
Nikov is trying to break the clinch but Keo has him pressed against the cage.
Nikov managing to block the knees to the body from Keo.
Nikov tries to stall but Keo uses the opportunity to gain a better position.
Nikov can't break the clinch.
Nikov swings wildly with an uppercut but Keo uses good head movement to avoid it.
Keo tries to land a knee to the head but Nikov blocks with his arms.
Nikov on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
A nice left hand lands by Nikov.
Keo blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Keo is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Nikov is defending well for now.
A right hook to the body lands for Keo.
Nikov looking to stall.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A knee to the head by Nikov.

Nikov breaks from the clinch.
Keo stumbles momentarily as he takes a strong leg kick from Nikov.
Nikov fakes a head punch and goes low to the body. Nicely done.
Nikov scores with a head kick. Keo tried to block it but didn't get his arm up in time.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Keo slips in close and lands a nice hook before moving back out of range.
Nikov is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Nikov tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Nikov tries to clinch up
and Keo counters nicely by changing levels and landing a hook to the body.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Nikov avoids a kick to the body.
Nikov throws a push kick but Keo slaps the foot to one side.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close second round but I would say that Kalash Nikov will probably get the nod.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business. And we move into the final round!

Keo shoots in and scores a nice double leg takedown into half guard.
Nikov looks like he's trying to stand up.
Nikov works his way to full guard. Good work.
Keo stops Nikov from standing up.
Nikov is trying to keep Keo in close.
Nikov keeping moving, preventing Keo from controlling successfully.
Keo slips effortlessly into side control - very nice.
Keo working the ground and pound from side control.
Keo working the ground and pound from side control.
Keo scoring with punches from side control.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Keo cracks Nikov with a big right hand but Nikov just smiles back at him and invites him to have another go.
Keo looks up at the clock and then as Nikov takes his cue and looks up at the clock too, Keo smacks him right in the chops with a big elbow! How rude!

That's one minute gone in the round.
Nikov defending against the ground and pound.
Nikov is looking for a sweep.

Keo is trying to get an arm triangle but Nikov is defending well.
Nikov is looking to work his way out of this bad position but Keo is controlling him well.
Keo in side control, trying to ground and pound but not landing this time.
Keo has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
Keo trying to control the position but Nikov is working away.
Keo misses with the ground and pound.
Keo landing a few strikes.
Nikov can't do much from the bottom here.
Keo working the ground and pound but he's contacting the mat, not the fighter.
Keo lands a decent elbow from side control.
Both fighters really going for it on the ground here!
Nikov is trying to get back to half guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Nikov taking punishment in the form of punches.
Keo trying to control the action but Nikov is working from the bottom.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!

Keo working hard here to secure a kimura but he's not really in the right position for it.
Keo lands a decent elbow from side control.
Keo working away.
Nikov is trying to get back to his feet.
Keo working the ground and pound from side control.
You can see the frustration on Nikov's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Nikov throws Keo to one side and escapes!
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Nikov uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Keo.
Keo scores with a kick to the body.
Heng Keo seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Keo throws a nice inside leg kick.
Keo misses with a body shot.
Keo thumps Nikov with a low kick.
Keo moves out of range of the leg kick from Nikov.
The sound of bone on bone echoes around the arena as Keo checks a leg kick.
Keo misses with a kick to the body.
Kalash Nikov is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Nikov throws a shot to the body.
Nikov moves out of range of the body kick from Keo.
Kalash Nikov is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Nikov takes a push kick to the midsection and stumbles backwards.
Keo is looking to land body kicks.
Keo shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Nikov as he jumps to the side.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Nikov throws a series of punches but Keo moves out of range.
Keo just misses with a punch to the body.
Keo on the wrong end of a nice hook.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Nice uppercut lands for Nikov. That snapped Keo's head back.
Keo throws a head kick that looked like it stung.
Keo misses with a jab, cross combination.
Nikov fails with an attempt to clinch.
Keo slips under a jab from Nikov.
Keo takes an uppercut right on the button but keeps his composure.
Nikov throws a head kick but Keo moves out of range.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Nikov moves out of range as Keo strikes.
Nikov tries to clinch but Keo is having none of it.
Heng Keo has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Nice cross by Keo.

And that's the end of the fight!
Heng Keo comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Nikov 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 Chris Saunders scores the fight 28:30
Judge Ryoma Takatsuka scores the fight 29:28
Judge Jeff Smith scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by split decision... Kalash Nikov!
In his post fight interview, Kalash Nikov started talking himself up. Luckily his charisma kept the crowd on side and gave him a good reception.