PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Kert Nigobson (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Esa Tikkanen (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Tikkanen has chosen Bring The Pain as his entrance music. Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Nigobson
vs
Tikkanen

188 cm
28
213 lbs
18 - 8 - 0

186 cm
30
210 lbs
23 - 6 - 1

Abu Dhabi Champ
Lethal high kicks
Insanely flexible

Olympic wrestler
World class MT
Good gas tank

KAISER
Zipp Zapp

Sex Panther!

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 5 rounds, for the light heavyweight championship of the world!
Introducing the champion to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 18 - 8 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Kert Nigobson!
And introducing the challenger to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 23 - 6 - 1, fighting out of Los Angeles, Esa Tikkanen!
The judges for this bout are Wesley Smith, Gwen Towbar and Tiny Johnson.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Nigobson swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Nigobson misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Tikkanen.
Nigobson connects with a looping right hand.
A slow jab from Nigobson misses its intended target.
Nigobson connects with a leg kick. Tikkanen looked like he was expecting something else and didn't defend it.
Kert Nigobson seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Nigobson uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Tikkanen.
Nigobson tries to land a front kick but Tikkanen steps back. That was a bit too telegraphed.
Nigobson misses with a low kick as Tikkanen jumps back.
Nigobson scores with a leg kick.
Nigobson on the wrong end of a vicious looking body shot.
Nigobson misses with a hook. Tikkanen ducked under it nicely.
Tikkanen throws a push kick but Nigobson slaps the foot to one side.
Tikkanen misses with a leg kick.
Tikkanen darts in and out, connecting with a jab.
Nigobson lands a kick to the ribs of his opponent. Nice work there - in and out in a flash.
Tikkanen blocks a leg kick.
Nigobson thows a leg kick but Tikkanen checks it

and Tikkanen counters with a nice double leg into side control. Nigobson won't be happy with that.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
The referee looks like he's ready to step in and stand the fighters back up.
Tikkanen working away.
Nigobson takes a couple of big shots there - the referee warns him that he has to defend himself better.
Tikkanen in side control lands a decent elbow.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Tikkanen is looking to take a break and control but Nigobson is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Nigobson manages to work his way to half guard, despite Tikkanen's best efforts.
Nigobson is in a tricky position. We've heard reports from his gym mates at Den of Tears (22 coaches, $300 fee) that he's been drilling escapes, so let's see if he can get back to his feet.
Tikkanen sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Nigobson defending well though.
Tikkanen is trying to control the action in half guard but Nigobson is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.
Tikkanen has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.

Tikkanen is working for a submission of some sort.
Nigobson works his way to full guard. Good work.
Tikkanen stopping the sweep attempt from Nigobson.
Tikkanen stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Nigobson swivels though and keeps the full guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Tikkanen trying to control the position from guard on top but Nigobson is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Tikkanen in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Tikkanen's corner is telling him to maintain position.
Nigobson keeping full guard, as Tikkanen tries to pass.
Nigobson bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Tikkanen's guard.
Nigobson tries to free his leg and advance position but Tikkanen is retaining full guard.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Nigobson working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Nigobson wants to control from the top but Tikkanen keeps moving.
Nigobson chips away with some ground and pound.
Nigobson postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Nigobson pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Tikkanen is keeping the position for now.
Nigobson is working Tikkanen over from the guard. He should look to pass the guard and do a little more damage with these strikes.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Nigobson throws a big elbow that misses.
Tikkanen keeping moving, preventing Nigobson from controlling successfully.
Tikkanen is trying to keep Nigobson in close.
Nigobson throws a big elbow that misses.
Nigobson with a flurry of punches that miss.
Nigobson missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.

Tikkanen is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
Tikkanen is trying to control the position from the bottom.

Tikkanen throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
Nigobson scoring with punches to the head and body.

Nigobson is trying to tuck his arms in to keep them safe but Tikkanen has managed to isolate one of them and has got a loose triangle. Nigobson is looking to defend but Tikkanen has done well to lock his legs together - this could be big trouble for Nigobson! Tikkanen pulls down on the head and a little smile comes across his face - he knows he's got it. Yep, Nigobson taps out and this one is all over!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 4:55 of round 1, we have a winner by way of Submission (Triangle). Esa Tikkanen!
Esa Tikkanen is the new light heavyweight champion!
A victorious Esa Tikkanen thanked his army of followers in his post fight interview, telling people to make sure they follow him on Twitter.