PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Gynther Gail (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Esko Nikkari (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Nikkari has chosen Berlin Foot Chase as his entrance music, which hasn't gone down very well with the crowd. The atmosphere really building for this one as we go over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Gail
vs
Nikkari

189 cm
24
265 lbs
8 - 3 - 0

185 cm
21
240 lbs
10 - 5 - 0

Good takedowns
Solid boxing
Granite chin

BJJ Purple Belt
Dangerous knees
Powerful

Murder Inc.

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 8 - 3 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Gynther Gail!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 10 - 5 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Esko Nikkari!
The judges for this bout are Igor Prikhodko, Illya Tyunina and Fedor Mirinova.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
The crowd cheers as Gail lands an impressive looking overhand right. Nikkari doesn't seem phased though.
Gail swings and misses with a hook to the body.

Nikkari has managed to clinch.
A frustrated look appears on Gail's face as he tries to break the clinch.
Nikkari has Gail pressed against the cage.
Nikkari scores a nice knee to the body.
Gail has a body lock and is looking for a takedown. Nikkari is bouncing around trying to prevent the takedown and somehow he has indeed managed to stay on his feet.
Nikkari connects with a nasty looking knee right to Gail's face.
Nikkari tries to land a knee to the head but Gail blocks with his arms.
Nikkari stalls.
A hook to the body from Nikkari.
Gail takes a knee right on the jaw!
Nikkari prevents a takedown attempt there.
Nikkari blocks an uppercut.
Nikkari lands a good knee to the midsection. Gail won't want to take too many of those.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Nikkari tries a knee to the head but he's missed.
Nikkari with a knee to the head.
Nikkari connects with a nasty looking knee right to Gail's face.
Gail is breathing heavily.
Nikkari with an attempt at a knee that misses.
Gail wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.
Nikkari is trying to wear down his opponent with knees to the body.
Gail takes a knee right on the jaw!
Nikkari lands a hook to the side of the head.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Knees to the body from Nikkari.
Nikkari using the Thai clinch to land knees to the body.
Nikkari scores with a knee to the head.
Nikkari connects with a knee to the head.
Nikkari working Gail over with knees to the body.
Nikkari scores a nice knee to the body.
Come on Nikkari - let's have some action - none of this stalling nonsense.
Knees in the clinch landing for Nikkari.
Nikkari lands a nice looking hook to the body, against the cage.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Nikkari lands a knee to the head there! That was nasty!
The referee is keeping an eye on Nikkari - much more stalling and he will separate the fighters.
Gail fails to pull guard.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Gynther Gail. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Nikkari lands a good knee to the midsection. Gail won't want to take too many of those.
Nikkari scores with a knee to the head.
Nikkari with a knee to the head.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Gail.
Nikkari with the Thai clinch, lands a knee to the head.
Gail takes a knee to the side of the body.
Nikkari landing some nice looking knees to the body.
Nikkari lands a knee to the head.
Nikkari prevents a takedown attempt there.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Gail takes a knee right on the jaw!
Nikkari lands a knee to the head there! That was nasty!
Nikkari blocks an uppercut.
Gail working hard to break the clinch.
Gail drops down looking for an ankle pick but Nikkari pulls his leg out and moves away.
Gail avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
Nikkari throws the left hand but Gail avoids the punch easily.
Nikkari is looking to clinch.
Esko Nikkari is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Nikkari throws a head kick but Gail moves out of range.

Nikkari gets caught flat footed, as Gail shoots in with a quick takedown into guard.
Gail trying to control but Nikkari is working from the bottom.
Nikkari wants to stand and escape but Gail is having none of it.
Gail trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Gail is looking to work some ground and pound but Nikkari has wrist control.
Gail has been looking to land a fair amount of strikes on the ground. He might be looking to soften his opponent up in order to work for a submission.
Nikkari tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Nikkari is looking to stand up but Gail isn't so interested in that idea.
Gail with a couple of shots to the head there. Not particularly brutal.
Gail throws a big right hand that misses.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.
Gail missing with a left hand there. Nikkari was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
Gail displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Nikkari throws out the jab.
Gail shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Nikkari sprawls well. Nikkari wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Gail gets slowly back to his feet.
Nikkari throws a shot from downtown. Gail moves away and avoids it.
Nikkari is looking to clinch but Gail is avoiding it.
Gail lands a jab to Nikkari's midsection.
Nikkari misses with a hook. Gail ducked under it nicely.
Gail connects nicely with a jab. Noted by the judges no doubt.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Gail lands with an overhand left.
Gail throws a nice hook to the body that draws an oooh from the crowd.
Gail throws a nice hook to the body that draws an oooh from the crowd.
Nikkari wants to clinch up but Gail keeps it at a distance.
The fighters circling - Nikkari throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
Nikkari stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Nikkari wants it to stay on the feet.
Nikkari loads up on a big right hand but Gail slips the punch.
Gail lands an overhand left. A wild punch that just about connected.
Gail scores with a big left there. The judges will like that one.
Nikkari on the wrong end of a vicious looking body shot.
Nikkari misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Gail.
Nikkari tries to clinch up but Gail circles away and keeps his distance.
Nikkari wants to clinch.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
The fighters are going at a pretty good pace and they're both starting to sweat now.
Nikkari tries a head kick but it misses.
Gail lands with an uppercut that bounces Nikkari off the cage and back into rage.
Gail digs a good body shot into Nikkari's ribs.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Esko Nikkari dominated that round.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

The crowd cheers as Gail lands an impressive looking overhand right. Nikkari doesn't seem phased though.
Gail takes a big uppercut there. He seems a bit wobbly but no, he's OK.
Esko Nikkari seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Nikkari wants to slow Gail down by chopping away at his legs.
Nikkari slips a straight right by Gail.
Nikkari swinging wilding here.
Gail throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Nikkari sees it coming and avoids it easily.
Nikkari takes one on the chin but keeps coming.
Nikkari throws a nice inside leg kick.
Nikkari throws a sloppy head kick and Gail moves out of range easily.
Nikkari tries to clinch up but Gail circles away and keeps his distance.
Gail misses with the combination.
Nice straight punches there by Gail. You know Roy Jones Jr respects the hands of Gail.
Gail scores with a body shot.
Nikkari throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Nikkari is breathing heavily.
Nikkari uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Gail.
Gail fakes low and throws an overhand right that catches Nikkari on the side of the head.
Nikkari is looking to take this fight into the clinch.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Gail blocks a head kick by Nikkari.
Nikkari tries to clinch there but Gail circles away.
Gail keeps the fight on the outside.
Nikkari throws a head kick that misses.
Gail fakes and then throws a beautiful body shot. Nikkari looks a bit winded and takes a step backwards to take a breath.
Nikkari throws a jab but it's blocked by Gail.
Gail connects with a right hand. Nikkari shakes it off.
A jab from Gail finds it's way through Nikkari's defenses.
Nikkari tries a head kick but it misses.
Nikkari gets his head snapped back by a nice shot there.
The fighters circle momentarily. Gail darts into range and connects with a nice straight punch.
Gail avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
Nikkari is looking to clinch but Gail is avoiding it.
A jab lands there for Gail.
Gail throws a combination. Nikkari tries to block but a couple of punches get through.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Gail bobs and weaves and unloads with a good uppercut.
Gail misses the shot to the body.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Some bone on bone action there as Gail checks a low kick. Luckily it wasn't a particularly hard one.
Nikkari takes one to the chin there.
Nikkari takes a jab on the nose there. A little bit of blood seems to be coming out. Hopefully that won't affect his breathing.
Gail cracks a nice hook into Nikkari's ribs.
Gail throws out a powerful jab.
Gail uses good footwork to get in and out, landing a nice hook.
Gail jabs at Nikkari's body.
Nikkari walks into a left hand.
Gail punishes Nikkari's body with a nice straight punch.
Gail lands a jab to the head.
Nikkari takes one on the chin but keeps coming.
Gail scores with a reasonable looking shot to the body. Nikkari doesn't seem bothered though.
Nikkari looks shocked there as he takes a right hand to the temple.
Nikkari has a pretty nasty looking mouse under his right eye.
Gail stuns Nikkari with a nice body shot, before stepping back out of range.
Nikkari takes a solid shot to the body. That one hurt him but he's trying not to show it.
Gail jabs at Nikkari's body.
Gail fakes a head punch and goes low to the body. Nicely done.

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

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Gail throwing strikes but missing.
Gail wants to control from the top but Nikkari keeps moving.
Nikkari wants to get back to his feet but Gail is in a dominant position and won't allow it.
Gail tries to free his leg and advance position but Nikkari is retaining full guard.
Gail won't allow Nikkari to sweep him here.
Gail thows a big elbow that misses.
Nikkari tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Gail throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Nikkari works some decent striking defense from the bottom.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Gail cracks Nikkari with a right hand to the side of the head.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are hurling abuse towards the fighters... You can hardly blame them though because there isn't a lot going on in the fight.
Gail connects with a right hand. Nikkari shakes it off.
Nikkari finds nothing but air with that leg kick attempt.
Nikkari tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Gail lands a beauty of a right hand that gets the crowd cheering.
Gynther Gail is winning the standup battle so far.
Jab, cross, leg kick. Nice combination by Gail!
Gail throws a couple of head shots and lands with the final one - a decent hook, which struck Nikkari on the side of the head.
Gail misses the shot to the body.
Gail shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Nikkari as he jumps to the side.
Gail swats away the attempt to clinch by Nikkari.

Gail closes the distance and gets a double leg, slamming Nikkari to the mat! Nikkari manages to get full guard.
Nikkari keeping moving, preventing Gail from controlling successfully.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Gail missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Gail postures up.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Gynther Gail dominated that second round.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business. This is the final round!

Gail ducks low and lands a nice hook to the body of his opponent.
Nikkari throws a leg kick but Gail moved away.
Gail thows a left - swing and a miss!
Gail misses with a wild combination.
A head kick misses from Nikkari.
Gail misses with an uppercut. Nikkari saw that one coming.

Gail decides to change it up a bit and drives through with a nice takedown into half guard.
Gail missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.
Gail content to control rather than advance.
Nikkari tries to get to full guard but Gail has control of the leg.
Nikkari won't allow Gail to pass to mount.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Gail stops Nikkari from getting back to his feet.
Nikkari is trying to maintain the position but Gail is very close to passing his half guard.
Gail thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.
Gail throws a nice looking combination but Nikkari bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Nikkari tries to clinch but Gail moves out of range.
Gail stooping low to avoid any incoming strikes and then lunges in with an uppercut come cross that lands flush.
Nikkari wants to clinch up but Gail keeps it at a distance.
Nikkari feints with a shoulder and throws a nice leg kick to Gail's calf.
Gail looks to throw the jab but Nikkari is out of range.
Nikkari throws a solid leg kick but Gail takes the impact on his shin and smiles at Nikkari.
Gail closes the distance and lands a one-two.
Nikkari smiles there as he lands a nice right hand right on the button.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Nikkari closes the distance and pushes Gail back into the cage.
Esko Nikkari seems to be working more effectively in the clinch in the fight so far.
Nikkari lands a knee to the body.
Nikkari crunches a lovely knee into Gail's ribcage.
Nikkari with a knee to the head.
Nikkari landing knees to the body. They look like they could hurt.
Nikkari landing knees to the head.
Gail has a body lock and is looking for a takedown. Nikkari is bouncing around trying to prevent the takedown and somehow he has indeed managed to stay on his feet.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Nikkari lands a nice knee to the body.
Kneeeeees! The crowd are calling for knees to the body. Nikkari obliges.
Gail throws a punch but it's blocked by Nikkari.
Nikkari lands a body shot.
Gail tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.
Kneeeeees! The crowd are calling for knees to the body. Nikkari obliges.
Nikkari lands a body punch.
Nikkari lands a body punch - he's looking to wear down Gail.
Gail changes levels and goes for a takedown here. Nikkari fights it off and pushes away nicely.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Gynther Gail. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Nikkari cracks Gail with a good shot that sees him stumbling back into the cage.
Nikkari slips under a jab.
Nikkari tries to clinch up but Gail circles away and keeps his distance.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Gail ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Nikkari moves away.
Nice defenses there by Nikkari.
Gail avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Gail lands with a shot to the body.
Nikkari misses with a body kick.
Nikkari pivots as if he's going to throw a leg kick but stops half way.
Gail throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
Nikkari throws a looping overhand right but Gail ducks down to avoid it.
Gail just misses with a punch to the body.
Nikkari defending well as Gail loads up on a big left hand.

Nikkari pushes Gail up against the cage in a clinch.
Gail jumps guard but his hands slip and he falls flat on his back. Well, he's made himself look a right mug there, as Nikkari walks away with a smile on his face. Gail gets slowly back to his feet and shakes his head.
Nikkari tries a low kick but Gail avoids it.
Nikkari steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Gail.
Gail defending well as Nikkari loads up on a big left hand.

Nikkari gets caught on his heels momentarily as he allows Gail to score an easy takedown into full guard.
Gail stops Nikkari from standing up.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Gail working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Gail thows a big elbow that misses.
Gail wants to control from the top but Nikkari keeps moving.
Gail scoring with punches to the head and body.
Gail trying to control but Nikkari is working from the bottom.
Nikkari is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Nikkari is looking to take a break and control but Gail is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Nikkari perhaps working for something from half guard, or maybe not. It looks like he's just sitting there.

And that's the end of the fight!
Esko Nikkari comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Nikkari has won this one but let's see whether the judges agree with me. 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 Igor Prikhodko scores the fight 28:29
Judge Illya Tyunina scores the fight 28:29
Judge Fedor Mirinova scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Esko Nikkari!