PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Esko Nikkari (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Alex Karelin (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Nikkari comes to the cage accompanied by Berlin Foot Chase. Karelin comes into a darkened arena with his song building. Russian National Anthem kicks in, the lights come on and the crowd goes wild! What a showman! Both these guys have really solid chins. Will we see a standup war or will they both decide that a knockout is unlikely and try to win the fight elsewhere?

Nikkari
vs
Karelin

185 cm
21
240 lbs
11 - 6 - 0

205 cm
25
279 lbs
10 - 5 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Dangerous knees
Very strong

Decent wrestler
Decent boxing
Granite chin

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 11 - 6 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Esko Nikkari!
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, Alex Karelin!
The judges for this bout are Ivan Kurochkin, Valeri Chadov and Aleksei Zolotukhin.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Karelin tries to check the leg kick but that clearly hurt him.
A punch lands to the side of Nikkari 's head but he takes it in his stride.

Karelin shoots in from a long way out. He's driving through with the takedown attempt and he eventually gets it, landing in Nikkari's guard.
Nikkari has his hands on Karelin's head, controlling the position.
Karelin controlling from the top position.
Nikkari looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Nikkari is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Karelin must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.
Nikkari avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.

That's one minute gone in the round.
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.
Karelin trying to control here.
Karelin works his way to full guard. Good work.
Karelin being controlled here, momentarily.
We get told so often about how wrestlers don't like to be on their backs. Let's see if Karelin can do anything to dispel that myth.

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.
Nikkari wants to stand but Karelin has a closed guard, so he can't escape.
Karelin is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.
Nikkari trying to control but Karelin is working from the bottom.
Nikkari is frustrating his opponent with some stalling tactics from top position.
Karelin has a closed guard, preventing Nikkari from standing up.
Nikkari might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Karelin lands a beautiful switch and he's in full mount! That could spell trouble for Nikkari!
Nikkari tries to lock up and control but Karelin gives him a forearm to the face and pushes him away.
Nikkari is desperately trying to get back to half guard.
Karelin controlling his opponent.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
My god... these two guys really need to pick up the pace or everyone will leave to go get a beer.
Nikkari keeping his composure momentarily, calmly looking to get back to half guard.
Karelin thowing strikes but they're hitting the gloves, not doing any damage.
Nikkari is trying to escape the mount.
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.
Karelin throws an elbow from mount that misses. Lucky escape for Nikkari because Karelin loaded up on that one.
Nikkari working to try and regain half guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close round but I would say that Esko Nikkari will probably get the nod.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

Karelin misses with a looping left.
Nikkari closes the distance and takes a jab right on the nose as he does so.
Esko Nikkari seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Nikkari thumps Karelin with a low kick.
Karelin takes a step back and watches a body kick go sailing past his mid section.
Karelin uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Nikkari.

Karelin fakes an overhand right and shoots for a takedown. Nikkari sprawls well initially but Karelin persists and gets the takedown into half guard.
Nikkari wants to get back to full guard.
Nikkari wants to get back to his feet.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Nikkari gets back to full guard.
Nikkari wants to stand up but Karelin is controlling him.
Karelin stopping the sweep attempt from Nikkari.
Karelin showing good wrestling skills to control the position.
Karelin stops Nikkari from standing up.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Nikkari tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Nikkari wants to stand up but Karelin is controlling him.
Karelin wants to control from the top but Nikkari keeps moving.
Karelin preventing the sweep.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.
Nikkari throws a hook but Karelin blocks it.

Karelin is looking for a takedown here. He's shot in and has managed to get it, finishing up in Nikkari's half guard.
Nikkari wants to control but Karelin is keeping busy.
Nikkari wants to get back to full guard.
Karelin is just content to waste time from the top position. Nikkari takes advantage of the situation and regains full guard.
Nikkari wants to sweep but no luck.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Nikkari can't do much from the bottom at the moment, as Karelin controls the pace.
Karelin looking to sit in guard and control but Nikkari gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.
Karelin looking for a sweep. Not yet Karelin, not yet.
Nikkari trying to control but Karelin is working from the bottom.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Karelin is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Alex Karelin will probably get the nod - 10:9.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business. This is the final round!

Good leg kick by Nikkari there. It's the ones that make that thud noise that hurt and that was an almighty thud.
Nikkari misses with a looping left.
Karelin blocks the body kick.
Well, he's not going to score with shots like that. A lazy body kick attempt from Nikkari.
Karelin avoids the body shot from Nikkari.
Karelin looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
Nikkari tries to clinch up but Karelin circles away and keeps his distance.
Nikkari stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Nikkari wants it to stay on the feet.
Nikkari will need to close the distance a bit before he attacks - that leg kick was thrown from too far away.
Nikkari misses with a straight right.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Karelin fails with a takedown attempt.
Esko Nikkari has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Alex Karelin.
Nikkari works over Karelin's head and body with a nice combination.

It looks like Alex Karelin has been cut.
Nikkari scores with a nice looking left hook and follows it up with an uppercut!
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Nikkari looks to score with a jab to the body but Karelin is just out of range.
Nikkari tries to clinch up.
Nikkari tries to close the distance and clinch but Karelin swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Karelin moves out of range of the leg kick from Nikkari.
Nikkari throws a low kick, looking for Karelin's leg but Karelin calmly moves out of range.
Karelin misses with a body punch
and Nikkari counters with a big head kick but Karelin shrugs it off.
A head kick misses from Nikkari.
Nikkari throws a head kick that misses.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Nikkari throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
Nikkari jabbing away but nothing is landing.
Nikkari moves into range and lands a nice leg kick.
Nikkari throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Karelin avoids the head kick by Nikkari.

Karelin closes the distance and clinches up, looking for a takedown. He shifts his weight and gets a nice trip into half guard.
Karelin prevents Nikkari from improving his position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Nikkari keeping hold of Karelin's head, controlling as best he can.
Karelin is just content to waste time from the top position. Nikkari takes advantage of the situation and regains full guard.
Nikkari is looking to stand up but Karelin isn't so interested in that idea.
Nikkari has a closed guard, preventing anything of note from happening. Perhaps he's looking to stall.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
My god... these two guys really need to pick up the pace or everyone will leave to go get a beer.
Karelin controls from within his opponent's guard.
Nikkari controlling the position.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Karelin slips nicely into half guard.
Karelin trying to control the pace.

And that's the end of the fight!
Esko Nikkari showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Nikkari has won this one but let's see what the judges have to say. 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 Ivan Kurochkin scores the fight 29:28
Judge Valeri Chadov scores the fight 29:28
Judge Aleksei Zolotukhin scores the fight 29:28

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