PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Arttil Nikav (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Lukasz Mierzedejoweski (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Nikav comes into the arena with Godsmack - Cryin' Like A Bitch!! blaring out of the sound system. Both fighter's entrance songs getting the crowd jumping here.

Nikav
vs
Mierzedejoweski

178 cm
20
135 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

200 cm
22
140 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Basic striking
Good chin

BJJ White Belt
Excellent MT
Granite chin

Koffin Inc.

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the bantamweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Arttil Nikav!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Lukasz Mierzedejoweski!
The judges for this bout are Roosa Järviläinen, Tarja Halkonen and Anni Minnemäki.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Mierzedejoweski throws a head kick but Nikav moves out of range.
Mierzedejoweski misses with an attempted mid kick.
Mierzedejoweski throws a mid kick that lands with a slap.
Mierzedejoweski misses with a head kick.
Mierzedejoweski throws a head kick but Nikav moves out of range.
Mierzedejoweski misses with a head kick.
Mierzedejoweski tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.

Nikav pushes Mierzedejoweski up against the cage in a clinch.

Nikav breaks from the clinch.
Nikav blocks a head kick by Mierzedejoweski.
Nikav chopping away at his opponent's legs.

Nikav has taken the fight to the clinch.
Mierzedejoweski tries to break the clinch but Nikav is controlling the position.
Mierzedejoweski tries a knee to the head but Nikav blocks it.
Mierzedejoweski is looking to break free of the clinch but Nikav has double underhooks.
Nikav stalling in the clinch.
Nikav seems to have come into the fight with the intention of avoiding any damage in the clinch, rather than actually showing any aggression.
Mierzedejoweski tries to break the clinch but Nikav is controlling the position.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Nikav escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.

Nikav moves into the clinch.
Mierzedejoweski wants to get back to striking at distance but Nikav won't allow it.
Mierzedejoweski wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Nikav has him pressed against the cage.

Nikav breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Mierzedejoweski throws a sloppy head kick and Nikav moves out of range easily.

Nikav scores a trip takedown into side control. Nice.

Nikav decides to stand back up.

Nikav looking to shoot here. He's gone for it and he's landed a takedown into mount! Oh, that's bad for Mierzedejoweski!
Nikav throwing shots from mount but they're not landing.
Mierzedejoweski can't escape the position.
Mierzedejoweski really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Nikav. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.
Mierzedejoweski looks gassed!
Nikav throws an elbow from mount that misses. Lucky escape for Mierzedejoweski because Nikav loaded up on that one.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Nikav is landing with some decent strikes but Mierzedejoweski is trying to advance his position so the referee is letting the fight continue.
Nikav throwing shots from mount but they're not landing.
Nikav is landing with some decent strikes but Mierzedejoweski is trying to advance his position so the referee is letting the fight continue.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Nikav punching from mount but Mierzedejoweski doing a good job of avoiding damage.
Nikav 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.
Nikav lands a big elbow.
Mierzedejoweski is wriggling around trying to escape.
Nikav with good strikes from the mount here!
Nikav is still in mount, landing shots to his trapped opponent. Mierzedejoweski can't stay in a position like this for much longer.
Nikav raining down shots from the mount!
Nikav lands a couple of nice shots there from mount.
Nikav content just to control the position here.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Mierzedejoweski taking shots to the head.
Nikav trying to control but Mierzedejoweski is having none of it.
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Mierzedejoweski blocking the ground and pound.
A nice elbow there by Nikav.
Nikav lands a big shot there that rocks Mierzedejoweski but he's holding on and managing to survive for now.
Nikav throwing strikes here but Mierzedejoweski is writhing around nicely and avoiding any serious damage.
Nikav is in the full mount, landing strikes.
Nikav breaks from Mierzedejoweski's wrist control and lands an elbow.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Neither fighter has done anything of merit for a good minute or two here and the crowd are not happy about it.
Mierzedejoweski tries to lock up and control but Nikav gives him a forearm to the face and pushes him away.
Nikav in mount throwing good strikes here, bouncing his opponent's head off the canvas.
Nikav tries to control but Mierzedejoweski wriggling away.
Mierzedejoweski is writhing around trying to get back to his feet.
Mierzedejoweski wants to use the cage to get back to his feet here.
Nikav has his opponent pinned against the cage, landing some nasty ground and pound that is really making a bit of a mess out of Mierzedejoweski's face.
Nikav really does look like a pencil wearing a pair of gloves. Let's hope he has a gameplan to suit that ridiculous body shape.
Nikav landing strikes from the mount and Mierzedejoweski is in trouble!
Nikav tries to control but Mierzedejoweski wriggling away.
Mierzedejoweski is in all sorts of trouble here.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Arttil Nikav dominated that round.
That's the end of the interval. I'm sure that seemed a lot quicker than a minute for our two fighters! Back to the action.

Nikav changes levels and drives through with a really nice takedown into side control. Mierzedejoweski looks really pissed at himself for not defending that better.

Nikav is trying to get an arm triangle but Mierzedejoweski is defending well.
Nikav working the ground and pound but Mierzedejoweski is defending the strikes.
Nikav throws a knee to the body but it doesn't do much damage.
Mierzedejoweski is positioning himself to get back to half guard.
The ground and pound from Nikav seems to be hitting the mat more than his opponent.
Mierzedejoweski trying to remain calm as Nikav controls from the top position.

Nikav decides to take the fight back to the feet.
Mierzedejoweski misses with a head kick.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Nikav misses with a head kick.
Mierzedejoweski doesn't succeed with the takedown

and Nikav holds on and brings the fighters into a clinch.

Mierzedejoweski's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.

Nikav closes the distance and scores a nice trip takedown into half guard. Mierzedejoweski did well to prevent Nikav getting side control.

Nikav stands up from half guard... He's had enough of that ground malarky for the time being.
Nikav throws a feint and then finishes with a kick to the body.
Mierzedejoweski tries a head kick but it misses.
Mierzedejoweski gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily

and Nikav counters by clinching up.
The referee calls for Nikav to work.
Nikav keeps control of Mierzedejoweski as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Mierzedejoweski misses with a knee to the head.
Mierzedejoweski tries to circle away but Nikav has him pinned against the cage.
Mierzedejoweski wants to break the clinch but can't.

Nikav gets control of Mierzedejoweski's arms and successfully pulls guard. Nikav will no doubt be looking for submissions off his back.
Mierzedejoweski wants to stand and escape but instead Nikav has hit a sweep and he's now on top in guard.
Mierzedejoweski wants to stand and escape but Nikav is having none of it.
Mierzedejoweski tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Nikav trying to control the position from guard on top but Mierzedejoweski is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Nikav stands up from guard. Let's bang!

Nikav closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.
Nikav stalling the fight.
Mierzedejoweski is looking to break free of the clinch but Nikav has double underhooks.
Nikav keeps the fight in the clinch, despite Mierzedejoweski's efforts to push away.
Nikav is stalling here.
Mierzedejoweski working hard to break the clinch.

Nikav manages to pull guard.

Nikav uses the cage to get back to his feet.
Mierzedejoweski with a poor takedown

and Nikav moves into the clinch.
Arttil Nikav has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Lukasz Mierzedejoweski.
Mierzedejoweski has had enough of the clinch but Nikav keeps him there for the moment.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Mierzedejoweski tries to score a body lock takedown but Nikav shows good agility there to stay on his feet.
Mierzedejoweski working hard to break the clinch.
Mierzedejoweski wants to break the clinch but can't.

Nikav jumps guard.
Mierzedejoweski throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Nikav works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Nikav might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.
Nikav is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.
Nikav wants to control but Mierzedejoweski is keeping him busy.
Nikav not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
Nikav wants to control but Mierzedejoweski is keeping him busy.
Well, if Nikav 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.
Mierzedejoweski tries to get to full guard but Nikav has control of the leg.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Arttil Nikav dominated that second round.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action! This is the final round!

Mierzedejoweski looks to clinch

and Nikav counters with a nice double leg into half guard.

Nikav decides to stand up and try his luck on the feet.
Nikav blocks a head kick by Mierzedejoweski.
Ooooh, nice body kick lands from Mierzedejoweski. Nikav shrugs it off though.

Nikav rushes Mierzedejoweski and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.

Nikav has clasped his hands together around Mierzedejoweski's back... aaand, he's got a takedown into side control. Nicely done.
Mierzedejoweski tries to buck Nikav off but Nikav is having none of it.
Nikav in side control, trying to ground and pound but not landing this time.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Nikav controls the position.
Nikav trying to control the position but Mierzedejoweski is working away.
Nikav taking a breather here.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Nikav misses with an attempted head punch from side control.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Mierzedejoweski is looking to reverse the position.
Nikav lands a few punches from side control.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.

Mierzedejoweski tries to keep at a distance but Nikav has taken the fight into the clinch.
Nikav will no doubt start fighting again in a minute but for now he's just having a little rest, leaning Mierzedejoweski up against the cage.

Nikav pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
No luck with that takedown attempt from Nikav.
Mierzedejoweski pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Mierzedejoweski tries a head kick but it misses.

That's two 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.
Mierzedejoweski closes this distance looking for a takedown but Nikav circles away.
Mierzedejoweski throws a head kick that misses

and Nikav counters with a shoot takedown. Mierzedejoweski fights it but they end up in guard.

Nikav decides to stand up and beckons his opponent to follow.
Mierzedejoweski throws a head kick that misses
and Nikav counters with a left and a right that stings Mierzedejoweski.

Nikav pushes Mierzedejoweski up against the cage in a clinch.
Mierzedejoweski tries to break free but Nikav pushes him back against the cage.
A frustrated look appears on Mierzedejoweski's face as he tries to break the clinch.

Nikav manages to pull guard.
Mierzedejoweski trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Mierzedejoweski trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Mierzedejoweski postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.

Nikav is edging up against the cage. He's using the cage to get back to his feet. Nice work there - the fighters are clinched.

Nikav breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Nikav pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Mierzedejoweski tries for a takedown but Nikav circles away easily

and Nikav counters by moving into the clinch. Good anticipation by Nikav.
Mierzedejoweski wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Nikav has him pressed against the cage.
Mierzedejoweski wants to break free but Nikav has control.
Mierzedejoweski has had enough of the clinch and is looking to separate.
Mierzedejoweski wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.
Mierzedejoweski tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.
Arttil Nikav has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Lukasz Mierzedejoweski.

Nikav escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.

Nikav gets a clinch.
Mierzedejoweski wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.

Nikav's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Mierzedejoweski lands with a kick to the temple. Nikav shrugs as if to say "is that all you've got?"
Mierzedejoweski goes for a spinning back kick but it misses.

Nikav gets a takedown into half guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Mierzedejoweski is not content to let Nikav control the position.
Arttil Nikav is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
The referee calls for the fighters to work.
Lukasz Mierzedejoweski has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Mierzedejoweski avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Nikav.
Nikav throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.

Nikav stands up from half guard... He's had enough of that ground malarky for the time being.
Mierzedejoweski misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Mierzedejoweski throws a head kick that misses

and Nikav decides to take the opportunity to score a takedown. He's landed in Mierzedejoweski's guard.
Nikav is looking to work some ground and pound but Mierzedejoweski has wrist control.

Nikav decides he's had enough of playing guard and decides to stand. Come on Mierzedejoweski, up you get!

And that's the end of the fight!
Arttil Nikav showed his dominance in that final round.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Nikav, winning every round. Will the judges agree? They are the ones who matter, even if they are often depressingly incompetent. 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 Roosa Järviläinen scores the fight 30:25
Judge Tarja Halkonen scores the fight 30:25
Judge Anni Minnemäki scores the fight 30:26

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Arttil Nikav!