PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Marko Jankovic (ranked 101 p4p, 149 weight class) and Aleks Nik (ranked 14 p4p, 21 weight class). Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

Jankovic
vs
Nik

185 cm
33
175
18 - 5 - 0

178 cm
33
171
15 - 10 - 1

Good wrestling
World class boxer
Cardio machine

Olympic wrestler
Excellent MT
Good gas tank

Conquer
Conviction

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the welterweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 18 - 5 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Marko Jankovic!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 15 - 10 - 1, fighting out of Las Vegas, Aleks Nik!
The judges for this bout are Wagner Zegers, Nard Betker and Radbod Blank.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
We've got one fighter who appears to only be looking to counter and the other not looking particularly aggressive either, so we could be in for a dull fight.
Nik takes a swing at Jankovic's ribcage but misses.
A lazy body kick from Jankovic

and Nik counters with a nice shoot takedown that brings the fighters to the ground.
Nik working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Nik is frustrating his opponent with some stalling tactics from top position.
Nik trying to control but Jankovic is working from the bottom.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Jankovic controls Nik momentarily but Nik frees himself.
Nik wants to control from the top but Jankovic keeps moving.
Jankovic not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Nik has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Jankovic is avoiding any damage by keeping wrist control.
Nik controls the pace of the fight for a moment.

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.
Jankovic is looking to land body kicks.
Nik looks like he wants to counter punch here.
Nik throws a lazy right hand but Jankovic sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
A little feinted left hand from Jankovic on the counter but he doesn't commit to it.
Good exchange - Nik coming out on top.
Nik lands with a hook. Jankovic tried to avoid it but it clipped the top of his head.
Nik stalks Jankovic and leaps in with a furious combination of punches. Uppercuts and crosses smash into Jankovic's face. Jankovic staggers backwards, shaken.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Nik with a body punch. A glancing blow.
Nik swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Jankovic was looking to counter that move with a punch but didn't quite pull the trigger.
Jankovic uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Nik.
Jankovic is looking to counter with head kicks.
Jankovic cracks Nik with a good shot that sees him stumbling back into the cage.

It looks like Aleks Nik has been cut.
Jankovic tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. Nik manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Nik on the wrong end of a decent looking cross there.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Jankovic gets cracked with a nice right hand there by Nik.
Jankovic looks to clinch

and Nik counters with a driving takedown into guard. Nice work there by Nik.
Nik throws a big right hand that misses.
Nik in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Nik working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Nik seems content to control from guard here. He's going to have to remain active though if he doesn't want to get stood back up.
Jankovic is trying to keep Nik in close.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Nik wants to control from the top but Jankovic keeps moving.
Jankovic on his back here. We all know that wrestlers don't like being on their back so let's see if Jankovic tries to get out of the position.
Nik passes easily into side control. Nice work.
A lull in the action here.
Nik landing strikes.
Nik taking a breather here.
Nik is looking to take a break and control but Jankovic is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Nik might have to switch it up a bit here because his efforts to control Jankovic haven't been going to plan, at least at the current moment in time.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

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

Nik closes this distance looking for a takedown but Jankovic circles away.
It looked like Jankovic was looking amped, ready to throw a big counter but didn't commit.
Jankovic takes one on the chin but seems OK.
Nik fakes a jab and then connects with a hook.
Nik lands a jab.
Aleks Nik seems to be getting the better of the standup.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Jankovic takes one on the chin but keeps coming.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Nik swings wildly with a hook that is half blocked by Jankovic.
Jankovic is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Nik circles away from the clinch attempt.
Nik now looks to counter with a shot at the body.
Nik displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Jankovic throws out the jab.
Jankovic ducks right into an uppercut from Nik.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Jankovic blocks a jab.
An attempted straight right counter from Jankovic misses the target.
Nik dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
Nik looks to land a left hand but Jankovic moved out of range nicely.
An attempted straight right counter from Jankovic misses the target.
Nice defenses there by Nik.
Aleks Nik seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Nik throws a big shot that misses.
Marko Jankovic is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Nik lunges in with an uppercut that skims his opponent's chin.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Nik throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Jankovic's waist but Jankovic gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Nik off to one side.
Nik slips in close and lands a nice hook before moving back out of range.
Nik misses with a wild body shot.
Nik lands a slapping body shot.
Nik shoots and misses
and Jankovic counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
Marko Jankovic has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Aleks Nik.
Nik looks to land a right hand but Jankovic moved out of range.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Nik throws an overhand right that lands on Jankovic's shoulder, as Jankovic tries to avoid the shot.
Jankovic is looking to counter punch.
Nik lands a slapping body shot.
Nik scores with a straight right hand, right through his opponent's guard.
Nik takes a swing at Jankovic's ribcage but misses.
Jankovic was looking to counter that move with a punch but didn't quite pull the trigger.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Nik ducks low and lands a nice hook to the body of his opponent.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Aleks Nik showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The cut man is working on Aleks Nik's cut.
That's time! Back to the action! This is the final round!

Jankovic keeps his opponent at a distance with a nice jab.
Aleks Nik is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
Jankovic throws a body kick, spinning off balance
and Nik counters with a left to the body.
Jankovic gets cracked with a nice right hand there by Nik.
A big right from Jankovic misses.
A countering left hand to the body from Nik misses.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Nik swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Jankovic fires out a quick counter leg kick but Nik just manages to avoid it.
Jankovic stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Jankovic wants it to stay on the feet.
Jankovic throws a quick counter kick to the body but Nik avoids it.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Jankovic tries to clinch but Nik is having none of it.
Nik misses with a wild body shot.
Jankovic was looking to counter that move with a punch but didn't quite pull the trigger.
Nik swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
Nik uses good footwork to get in and out, landing a nice hook.
Nik goes for a double leg but Jankovic avoids the attempt and the two fighters end up clinched against the cage as Jankovic continues to drive forward.
Jankovic swung with a counter right hand that didn't connect.
Nik has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Nik shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Jankovic defends it nicely.
Marko Jankovic has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Marko Jankovic has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Aleks Nik.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Jankovic throws a head kick that misses
and Nik counters with a straight punch to the midsection.
Nik misses with a body shot.
Nik lands with an overhand left.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Nik throws a shot to the body.
Nik throws a nice hook to the body that draws an oooh from the crowd.

Nik gets tackled into the cage by Jankovic. Jankovic maintains the clinch.
The pace really dropping off here, momentarily.
Nik is stalling here.
Nik misses with a hook to the ribs.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Jankovic.
Nik tries a body shot but Jankovic blocks it.
Jankovic scores with a shoulder strike.
A right hand to the body from Nik.
Our sources have told us that Jankovic has been working on his knees in the buildup to the fight.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Nik fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Jankovic.
Jankovic blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Nik trying to control the position but instead, Jankovic has worked for underhooks and has pushed Nik into the cage.
Nik drops down for a takedown but doesn't get it.
A short right hand to the side of the head by Nik.
Jankovic lands a left hand that snaps the head of Nik backwards.
Nik misses with a short punch on the inside.
Jankovic lands on the inside with an uppercut.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Nik misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Nik makes some space for himself and lands an uppercut.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Nik makes some space for himself and lands an uppercut.
Nik tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Jankovic is working Nik over against the cage.
A head punch on the inside from Nik fails to land.
Nik swings away with an uppercut that misses.

And that's the end of the fight!
Aleks Nik comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Nik has outworked and out performed his opponent in all aspects of the game today. He was simply too good and the decision should be no more than a formality. 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 Wagner Zegers scores the fight 27:30
Judge Nard Betker scores the fight 27:30
Judge Radbod Blank scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Aleks Nik!
Aleks Nik thanked the fans post fight for their support.