PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Chuck Liddell (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Esko Nikkari (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Liddell has a slight injury, which hopefully won't affect the fight too much. Chuck Liddell has a significant reach advantage - let's see if he can make it count.

Liddell
vs
Nikkari

225 cm
22
230 lbs
0 - 2 - 0

185 cm
18
240 lbs
0 - 2 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Excellent boxer
Very quick

BJJ White Belt
Dangerous knees
Solid 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 0 - 2 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Chuck Liddell !
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 2 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Esko Nikkari!
The judges for this bout are Illya Tyunina, Viktor Lagutenko and Dmitry Maklakov.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Horrible takedown by Nikkari or perhaps it was just good defense by Liddell which made him look bad.
Liddell looks exhausted already! Oh dear, he should have come in in better shape than this!

Nikkari clinches up against the cage.
Liddell is working for a takedown up against the cage. He can't get it on this occasion though.
Nikkari scores with a knee to the head.
Nikkari unloads a knee to the mid-section. Liddell lets out a prehistoric sounding urrrrgh.
Nikkari connects with a knee to the head.

Nikkari breaks the clinch.
Nikkari wants to clinch.

Nikkari moves into the clinch.
Liddell fails to pull guard.
Liddell tries to pull guard but Nikkari holds him up against the cage and eventually Liddell drops back down to his feet.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Chuck Liddell . That's going to take a lot out of him.
Nikkari stalls.
Nikkari lands an elbow just above Liddell 's eye.
Nice elbow from Nikkari.
Liddell is working for a takedown up against the cage. He can't get it on this occasion though.
Knees in the clinch landing for Nikkari.
Nikkari unloads a knee to the mid-section. Liddell lets out a prehistoric sounding urrrrgh.

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

Nikkari moves into range and clinches up with Liddell .
Nikkari lands a knee to the head.
Nikkari throws an elbow but it's blocked.
Nikkari landing knees to the head.
Nikkari just leaning against Liddell , taking a breather.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Nikkari throws an elbow that misses.

Nikkari breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Chuck Liddell seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

Nikkari rushes Liddell and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.
A knee to the head by Nikkari.
Nikkari looks to throw an elbow but misses.
Nikkari with a knee to the head.

Nikkari escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Liddell throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Nikkari.

Nikkari forces Liddell back against the cage and clinches.
Nikkari is pressed up against the cage. Liddell has hold of a leg and is looking to drag Nikkari down to the mat. Nikkari avoids the attempt though and has circled away. We're back to striking at a distance.

Nikkari moves into the clinch.

Nikkari breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
The fight stays on the outside here - Nikkari looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Liddell lunges in with an uppercut that skims his opponent's chin.

Nikkari drives through and clinches with Liddell against the cage.
Liddell goes for a takedown in the clinch but Nikkari prevents it.
Nikkari stalling in the clinch.
Liddell tries to score a body lock takedown but Nikkari shows good agility there to stay on his feet.
Nikkari unloads a knee to the mid-section. Liddell lets out a prehistoric sounding urrrrgh.

Nikkari manages to break the clinch.
Nikkari shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Liddell as he avoids it easily.
Nice takedown defense from Liddell . No joy for Nikkari on that attempt.
Danga de danga de dang - Liddell scores with a four punch combination!
Liddell circles away from the clinch attempt.
Liddell looks frusrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
Wow, both these guys are really going for it!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The fight stays on the outside here - Nikkari looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Nikkari is looking to clinch but Liddell is avoiding it.
The fight stays on the outside here - Nikkari looks like he's thinking about clinching though.

Nikkari darts in and clinches Liddell up against the cage.
Nikkari with the Thai clinch, lands a knee to the head.
Nikkari lands a knee to the body.
Nikkari connects with a knee to the head.

Nikkari breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Nikkari tries to clinch up.
Nikkari fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Nikkari is looking to clinch but Liddell is avoiding it.
Nice sprawl there from Liddell as Nikkari shoots in.
Liddell tries to close the distance and clinch up but Nikkari swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Liddell misses with a double jab.
Nikkari doesn't manage to clinch there - Liddell circles away.

Nikkari pushes Liddell up against the cage in a clinch.
Nikkari taking a breather.
Liddell has Nikkari pressed up against the cage and is working for takedown. Nikkari manages to improve position though and keeps the fight standing.

Nikkari breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.

Nikkari pushes Liddell up against the cage in a clinch.
Nikkari taking a breather.
Nice elbow from Nikkari.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Nikkari avoiding damage.

Nikkari escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Liddell misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
Nikkari tries to clinch but Liddell is having none of it.
Nikkari shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Liddell pinned against the cage. Liddell gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
Liddell misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Nikkari tries to clinch but Liddell moves out of range.
Nikkari circles away from the clinch attempt.

Nikkari pushes Liddell up against the cage in a clinch.
Nikkari stalling the fight.
Nikkari with a knee to the head.

Nikkari breaks from the clinch.
Nikkari tries to close the distance and clinch up but Liddell swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Liddell shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Nikkari pinned against the cage. Nikkari gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
The fight stays on the outside here - Nikkari looks like he's thinking about clinching though.

Liddell looking to shoot here. He's gone for it and he's landed a takedown into mount! Oh, that's bad for Nikkari!
Nikkari is really trying hard to get back to his feet.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Nikkari somehow manages to escape the mount and get back to his feet!
Nikkari shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Liddell as he avoids it easily.
Liddell swats away the attempt to clinch by Nikkari.
Liddell avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Liddell swats away the attempt to clinch by Nikkari.

Nikkari pushes Liddell up against the cage in a clinch.
Nikkari lands a knee to the head there! That was nasty!
Nikkari landing knees to the head.

Nikkari breaks the clinch.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Liddell shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Nikkari fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
Liddell tries for a takedown but Nikkari sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
Nikkari shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Liddell pinned against the cage. Liddell gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
Liddell fails with the takedown.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Esko Nikkari dominated that round.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

Nikkari clinches up against the cage.
Nikkari throws a nice elbow but it doesn't land.

Nikkari breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.

Nikkari gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.
Nikkari is pressed up against the cage. Liddell has hold of a leg and is looking to drag Nikkari down to the mat. Nikkari avoids the attempt though and has circled away. We're back to striking at a distance.

Nikkari gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.
A knee to the head by Nikkari.
Nikkari holding his opponent close, against the cage.
Liddell goes for a takedown in the clinch but Nikkari prevents it.
Nikkari misses with an elbow over the top.
Nikkari lands a knee to the head there! That was nasty!
Liddell can't break the clinch.
Liddell can't get the takedown.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Chuck Liddell . That's going to take a lot out of him.
A nice glancing elbow lands by Nikkari.
Esko Nikkari seems to be working more effectively in the clinch in the fight so far.
Liddell takes a knee right on the jaw!
Nikkari misses with a knee to the head.
Nikkari gets underhooks to prevent Liddell 's takedown attempt.
Nikkari scores with a knee to the head.
Liddell is working for takedown but Nikkari is calmly controlling the position for now.
A nice glancing elbow lands by Nikkari.
Nikkari landing knees to the body.
Nikkari lands a knee to the head.
Nikkari lands a nice elbow from the clinch.

Liddell is rocked!
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Nikkari lands an elbow inside.
Oh Liddell is still all over the place! His legs are completely gone! Will he be able to recover?!!
Nikkari lands a big knee to the head and Liddell goes down! Nikkari pounces and finishes the fight with strikes! He jumps to his feet and celebrates with the crowd!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 1:04 of round 2, we have a winner by way of TKO (Strikes). Esko Nikkari!