PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Arne De Rick (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Leevi Nikkola (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Nikkola is bobbing his head along to his entrance song: Paranoid. Man, I cannot wait for this one!

De Rick
vs
Nikkola

190 cm
23
212 lbs
9 - 6 - 0

181 cm
25
214 lbs
5 - 7 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Solid boxing
Granite chin

BJJ Purple Belt
Brawler
Knockout power

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the light heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 9 - 6 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Arne De Rick!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 5 - 7 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Leevi Nikkola!
The judges for this bout are George Francis, Frank Dennis and Alan Glass.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
De Rick lands a jab-cross combination.
De Rick misses with a jab, cross combination.

Nikkola closes the distance and gets a double leg, slamming De Rick to the mat! De Rick manages to get full guard.
Nikkola not doing a lot at the moment. He'll have to show some more aggression or the fight will get stood up.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Despite being in the dominant position, Leevi Nikkola just isn't active enough and the referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Nikkola takes one on the chin but seems OK.
De Rick fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Nikkola takes a step back and watches a body kick go sailing past his mid section.
De Rick misses with a series of wild punches.

Nikkola is looking for a takedown here. He's shot in and has managed to get it, finishing up in De Rick's half guard.
Well, if Nikkola is going to just lie there, perhaps we should talk about what we're having for dinner tonight… I'm having a ham and pineapple pizza… Yum. Can't wait.
Nikkola's corner are shouting for him to control the position and he seems happy to oblige.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Despite being in the dominant position, Leevi Nikkola just isn't active enough and the referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
De Rick defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Nikkola.
Nikkola shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as De Rick sprawls well. De Rick wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Nikkola gets slowly back to his feet.
Nikkola looks gassed!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
De Rick throws a nice looking combination but Nikkola bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
De Rick displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Nikkola.
Arne De Rick has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Leevi Nikkola.
A punch combination from De Rick misses.
De Rick lands a nice shot that snaps Nikkola's head back.
Nikkola looks for a takedown but De Rick sprawls well.
Nikkola shoots in looking for a takedown. De Rick tries to sprawl out of it but Nikkola keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. De Rick manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
De Rick throws a series of punches but Nikkola moves out of range.
De Rick displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Nikkola.
The fighters are going at a pretty good pace and they're both starting to sweat now.
De Rick throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Nikkola shoots for a takedown but De Rick saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
Boom, another hit is landed. "You're gunna get knocked out" taunts De Rick, as that shot connected.
Nice sprawl there from De Rick as Nikkola shoots in.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
De Rick swinging wildly here.
De Rick lands a jab-cross combination.

Nikkola feints and as De Rick raises his hands in defense, Nikkola changes levels and drives through with a takedown into guard.
Nikkola 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.
Nikkola is pushing down on De Rick's leg trying to pass to half guard. De Rick is fighting to maintain full guard but Nikkola has managed to sneak the leg through.
Nikkola slows the pace down in half guard.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
De Rick pushes Nikkola off looking to stand but Nikkola dives back in and keeps control.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Leevi Nikkola will probably get the nod.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action.

Nikkola feints and as De Rick raises his hands in defense, Nikkola changes levels and drives through with a takedown into guard.
Nikkola showing good wrestling skills to control the position.
Nikkola is pushing down on De Rick's leg trying to pass to half guard. De Rick is fighting to maintain full guard but Nikkola has managed to sneak the leg through.
Nikkola is just sitting in half guard, waiting for something to happen.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Nikkola tries to pass to full mount but De Rick defends it.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Still in half guard, Nikkola seems content to control.

Despite being in the dominant position, Leevi Nikkola just isn't active enough and the referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
De Rick displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Nikkola.

De Rick gets taken down but at least he's managed to land in guard.
De Rick wants to stand but Nikkola is controlling the position.
Nikkola's corner is telling him to maintain position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Despite being in the dominant position, Leevi Nikkola just isn't active enough and the referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
No luck with that takedown attempt from Nikkola.
De Rick goes for a high kick. It partially lands.
Wow, both these guys are really going for it!
Nikkola doesn't react quick enough there as he takes a shot to the body.
Nikkola shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as De Rick sprawls well. De Rick wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Nikkola gets slowly back to his feet.
Arne De Rick has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Leevi Nikkola.
De Rick wants to clinch.

Nikkola is looking for a takedown here. He's shot in and has managed to get it, finishing up in De Rick's half guard.
Nikkola keeping composed on the top, looking to control the action.
De Rick tries to kick Nikkola off but Nikkola keeps his base steady and stays in half guard.
Nikkola is taking a breather. De Rick says something to him but it's hard to make out. Perhaps he's telling him to get on with it and actually do something.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Leevi Nikkola showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business. And we move into the final round!

Nikkola slips a jab and a cross from De Rick.

De Rick gets caught flat footed, as Nikkola shoots in with a quick takedown into guard.
Nikkola sitting in guard, not really doing much.

Despite being in the dominant position, Leevi Nikkola just isn't active enough and the referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Nikkola fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
De Rick lands a jab-cross combination.
Nikkola looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? De Rick is fending him off so far but Nikkola persists. Nope, De Rick circles away and we're back to standing.
De Rick fakes low and throws an overhand right that catches Nikkola on the side of the head.

That's one minute gone in the round.
De Rick lands with a cross to side of his opponent's head.
De Rick throws the left hand but Nikkola avoids the punch easily.
Leevi Nikkola seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

Nikkola shoots in for a takedown and gets it.
Still in half guard, Nikkola seems content to control.
Let's hope that Nikkola has the urge to step up the pace any second now because for the last 15 or 20 seconds he's just been holding on tight.
De Rick wants to get back to full guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Nikkola slows the pace down in half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Despite being in the dominant position, Leevi Nikkola just isn't active enough and the referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
De Rick misses with the combination.

Nikkola fakes an overhand right and shoots for a takedown. De Rick sprawls well initially but Nikkola persists and gets the takedown into half guard.
Well, if Nikkola is going to just lie there, perhaps we should talk about what we're having for dinner tonight… I'm having a ham and pineapple pizza… Yum. Can't wait.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Leevi Nikkola has got the better of the ground game so far.

And that's the end of the fight!
Leevi Nikkola comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Nikkola 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 George Francis scores the fight 27:30
Judge Frank Dennis scores the fight 27:30
Judge Alan Glass scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Leevi Nikkola!