PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Evil Ways (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Antony Nikiforakis (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Nikiforakis has chosen The Fire and Fury as his entrance music, which hasn't gone down very well with the crowd. Evil Ways has a significant reach advantage - let's see if he can make it count.

Ways
vs
Nikiforakis

220 cm
26
260 lbs
1 - 4 - 0

185 cm
25
225 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Likes comics

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Determined

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 1 - 4 - 0, fighting out of The Island, Evil Ways!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of The Island, Antony Nikiforakis!
The judges for this bout are Peter Branson, Bart Greer and David Hoff.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Nikiforakis throws a loose over hand right and dives in with a double leg takedown. Ways tries to sprawl but it's too late and the fighters hit the mat. Nikiforakis is in Ways's guard.

Ways has scooted to the edge of the canvas and used the cage to get back to his feet. Nikiforakis has stuck on his opponent and is forcing him back against the cage.

Nikiforakis gets control of Ways's arms and successfully pulls guard. Nikiforakis will no doubt be looking for submissions off his back.
Ways preventing the sweep.
Nikiforakis keeping moving, preventing Ways from controlling successfully.

Nikiforakis looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
Nikiforakis keeping full guard, as Ways tries to pass.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Nikiforakis has a closed guard, preventing anything of note from happening. Perhaps he's looking to stall.
Ways wants to control from the top but Nikiforakis keeps moving.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Ways trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Ways loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up. He just wasn't happy with the level of activity.

Ways forces Nikiforakis back against the cage and clinches.

Ways lands a takedown into guard.

Ways decides he's had enough of playing guard and decides to stand. Come on Nikiforakis, up you get!
Ways avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
Nikiforakis tries to land a leg kick but Ways saw it coming and moves away.
Nikiforakis displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Ways.
And an attempted straight right on the counter from Nikiforakis! But no joy.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The fight stays on the outside here - Ways looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Nikiforakis unleashes a big counter combination but Ways bobs and weaves and avoids any damage.
A punch combination from Ways misses.
Ways tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Nikiforakis paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Nikiforakis throws a combination that misses

and Ways counters with a driving takedown into guard. Nice work there by Ways.

Nikiforakis scrambles and gets back to his feet.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!

Ways looking for a takedown here - he's got it.

Nikiforakis kicks Ways off and gets to his feet.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Ways really does look like a pencil wearing a pair of gloves. Let's hope he has a gameplan to suit that ridiculous body shape.
Ways shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Nikiforakis defends it nicely.
Nikiforakis is loading up here, looking for a big counter of his own.
Ways darts in looking for a takedown but Nikiforakis gets double underhooks and turns Ways into the cage.
Despite the aggression on Nikiforakis's face he doesn't fully commit to the counter.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Evil Ways. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Ways fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
Ways scores with a decent looking hook.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Nikiforakis shoots in for a takedown and gets it.

Ways has managed to escape just enough to sneak back to his feet but Nikiforakis is on him like a limpet, forcing Ways back against the cage.
Ways prevents a body shot from Nikiforakis.

Nikiforakis tightens his grip and picks Ways up, before dumping him to the ground. Ways manages to land in guard.
Ways wants to sweep here but Nikiforakis controlling him for the moment.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Ways keeping moving, preventing Nikiforakis from controlling successfully.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Antony Nikiforakis will probably get the nod.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

Nikiforakis stuffs the takedown attempt from Ways. Ways gets slowly back to his feet.
Evil Ways is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Nikiforakis tries to clinch up but Ways circles away and keeps his distance.
Nikiforakis should think about turning a few of those tyres round his middle into muscle if he wants people to take him seriously as an athlete.
Ways fakes a head shot and lands one to the body.
Ways with a nice cross.

Nikiforakis fakes a strike and closes the distance, dragging Ways to the ground. Nikiforakis is now in Ways's guard.
Nikiforakis won't allow Ways to sweep him here.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Ways throws a couple of weedy looking strikes off his back.

Nikiforakis stands up from Ways's guard - Nikiforakis perhaps looking for a knockout.
Ways fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
Nikiforakis unleashes a big counter combination but Ways bobs and weaves and avoids any damage.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Nikiforakis bobs and weaves into range and then changes levels and scores with a nice takedown into side control.

Ways throws Nikiforakis to one side and escapes!
Ways is looking to clinch.
Nikiforakis changes levels for a counter takedown but doesn't follow through with his attempt.

Excellent takedown into side control there by Nikiforakis.

Nikiforakis stands up.
Evil Ways seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Ways tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Nikiforakis swivels and escapes.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Evil Ways. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

Ways gets in close and instigates a clinch.

Ways gets control of Nikiforakis's arms and successfully pulls guard. Ways will no doubt be looking for submissions off his back.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Nikiforakis passes easily into side control. Nice work.
Nikiforakis tries to land with some ground and pound but misses.
Nikiforakis landing strikes.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!

Nikiforakis tries for a kimura but Ways is defending well.

Nikiforakis stands up.
Ways moves in looking to clinch but Nikiforakis pushes him off.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Ways fails with a takedown attempt.
Ways looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Ways moves out of range of the leg kick from Nikiforakis.
It appears Ways was looking to counter with a kick there.
Ways moves out of range of the body kick.
Ways scores with a nice strike.
Ways avoids the head kick by Nikiforakis.
Ways fails to land the takedown.
Nikiforakis is looking for the big counter here.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Ways wants to clinch up but Nikiforakis keeps it at a distance.

Nikiforakis closes the distance and clinches up, looking for a takedown. He shifts his weight and gets a nice trip into half guard.
Nikiforakis throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
Nikiforakis sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Ways defending well though.
Nikiforakis wants to stand up but Ways has a hold of him and won't allow it.
Nikiforakis prevents Ways from standing back up.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.

Ways is defending against the submission attempts here by Nikiforakis.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Antony Nikiforakis showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business. And we move into the final round!

Ways gets caught napping as Nikiforakis dives in and scores a takedown. Ways manages to retain guard.
Ways trying to control the position.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Ways looking to hit a scissor sweep but Nikiforakis is one step ahead there.

Nikiforakis postures up as if he's going to throw some strikes but drops back for an ankle! Ways is in big trouble! He looks ready to tap! But no, he's escaped and dives on top of Nikiforakis, into his guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Ways trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Ways has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.
Nikiforakis is adopting a defensive guard.
If this pace continues, the referee will definitely step in and force a standup.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up. He just wasn't happy with the level of activity.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Well. There's a bit of a lull in the action here and the crowd are starting to get restless.
Ways shoots in for a takedown but Nikiforakis shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
Ways wants to clinch up but Nikiforakis keeps it at a distance.

Nikiforakis scores with a takedown into Ways's guard.
Ways keeping moving, preventing Nikiforakis from controlling successfully.
Nikiforakis has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Nikiforakis tries to free his leg and advance position but Ways is retaining full guard.
Ways is pulling down on Nikiforakis's head. It's preventing any offense from Nikiforakis, at least for the moment.
Ways will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.
Ways keeping moving, preventing Nikiforakis from controlling successfully.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Ways looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Nikiforakis is taking a break and basically stalling. The referee will not allow him to do that for long.
The referee wants the fighters to be more active or he's going to reset them on the feet.
Nikiforakis trying to control the position from guard on top but Ways is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.

Ways shoots in and bounces Nikiforakis off the cage to secure the takedown into guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Nikiforakis is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Nikiforakis is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.
Ways moves into full guard.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Nikiforakis postures up and lands a big shot to Ways's brow.

And that's the end of the fight!
Antony Nikiforakis comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Nikiforakis 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 Peter Branson scores the fight 28:30
Judge Bart Greer scores the fight 27:30
Judge David Hoff scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Antony Nikiforakis!
Post fight, Antony Nikiforakis stared into the camera and said 'Thank you all for your support! And thank my opponent for this great fight and best of luck!'.