PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Kazuya Shikotan (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Kake Nyrkki (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Shikotan kept the crowd waiting but all that was forgotten when his ring entrance music started. The incomparable musical genius that is Japan Synphony. These two fighters really are very evenly matched on the feet - it will be fascinating to see who can assert themselves in that aspect of the fight.

Shikotan
vs
Nyrkki

187 cm
25
180 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

186 cm
19
185 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Excellent boxer
Big heart

BJJ Purple Belt
Excellent boxer
Powerful

Australian Xtreme - NEW 159 Energy!

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the welterweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Kazuya Shikotan!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Kake Nyrkki!
The judges for this bout are Anni Minnemäki, Ben Zyskovitsi and Marco Blurström.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Nyrkki misses with a few strikes there.
No joy there for Nyrkki, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Nyrkki rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Shikotan moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Nyrkki throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Shikotan shoots in and drives through. Nyrkki sprawls well.
Nyrkki misses with an uppercut. Shikotan saw that one coming.
Shikotan shoots in but Nyrkki avoids the takedown attempt easily.
Nyrkki takes one on the chin but keeps coming.
Shikotan lands a jab, followed by a cross and another cross, as Nyrkki backs up against the cage.

It looks like Kake Nyrkki has been cut.
No luck with that takedown attempt from Shikotan.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Kazuya Shikotan. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Nyrkki misses the shot to the body.
Shikotan moves away from the strike by Nyrkki.
Shikotan looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
Nyrkki swings wildly with a couple of big hooks
and Shikotan counters with a two punch combo.
Shikotan ducks under a wild hook from Nyrkki.
Nyrkki looks to land a right hand but Shikotan moved out of range.
Nyrkki throws a left and a right that both miss

and Shikotan counters with a nice shoot takedown that brings the fighters to the ground.
Nyrkki looks gassed!
Shikotan is frustrating his opponent with some stalling tactics from top position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Shikotan wants to control from the top but Nyrkki keeps moving.
Shikotan is really struggling to control Nyrkki but he's trying to hold on to the position.
Shikotan 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.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Shikotan throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Shikotan controls the pace of the fight for a moment.
Shikotan trying to control the position from guard on top but Nyrkki is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Shikotan is going to have to think about doing something other than just controlling because Nyrkki is managing to avoid having the position dictated to him.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Nyrkki throws a jab, cross combination which is slipped

and Shikotan counters with a single leg into guard. Nyrkki didn't expect that.
Nyrkki keeping moving, preventing Shikotan from controlling successfully.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Nyrkki is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.
Shikotan controls from within his opponent's guard.
Nyrkki has a closed guard, preventing anything of note from happening. Perhaps he's looking to stall.
Shikotan preventing the sweep.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Kazuya Shikotan dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Kake Nyrkki's cut.
That's time! Back to the action!

No luck with that takedown attempt from Shikotan.
Shikotan displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Nyrkki throws out the jab.
Nyrkki swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Nyrkki swings wildly with a couple of big hooks

and Shikotan moves into the clinch.
Nyrkki is trying to break free.
Nyrkki working aggressively here.
Nyrkki has a couple of punches blocked by Shikotan.
Nyrkki can't break the clinch.
Shikotan goes for a takedown in the clinch but Nyrkki prevents it.
Nyrkki is trying to force a seperation but Shikotan has the dominant position.
Shikotan has Nyrkki pressed against the cage, preventing Nyrkki from circling away and getting back to striking at range.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Nyrkki tries to circle away but Shikotan has him pinned against the cage.
Nyrkki can't break the clinch.
Shikotan tries to pull guard but Nyrkki won't allow it.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Kazuya Shikotan. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Nyrkki working hard to break the clinch.
Nyrkki has had enough of the clinch and is looking to separate.
Nyrkki wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.
A frustrated look appears on Nyrkki's face as he tries to break the clinch.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Nyrkki misses with a short punch on the inside.

Nyrkki escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
A big left from Nyrkki misses.
Shikotan tries to score a power double leg takedown but Nyrkki sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Shikotan somewhat.
Nyrkki defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Shikotan.
Shikotan uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Nyrkki.
Nyrkki lunges at Shikotan with a hook that half lands and is half blocked by Shikotan's hand.
Shikotan ducks under a wild hook from Nyrkki.
Nyrkki swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
Nyrkki is breathing heavily.
Shikotan avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
Nyrkki misses with a double jab

and Shikotan counters with a nice shoot takedown that brings the fighters to the ground.
Nyrkki is looking to stand up but Shikotan isn't so interested in that idea.
Shikotan controlling from the guard. I say controlling but really, he's stalling.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Shikotan trying to control the position from guard on top but Nyrkki is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Shikotan looking to control the position here, rather than advance.
Nyrkki is avoiding any damage by keeping wrist control.

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.
Shikotan won't allow Nyrkki to sweep him here.
Nyrkki preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Nyrkki falls off balance throwing a combination

and Shikotan moves into the clinch.
Shikotan keeps control of Nyrkki as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.
Nyrkki looks like he'd prefer to be striking at range right now.
Nyrkki has had enough of the clinch and is looking to separate.
Nyrkki wants to get back to striking at distance but Shikotan won't allow it.
Nyrkki wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close second round but I would say that Kazuya Shikotan will probably get the nod.
The cut man is working on Kake Nyrkki's cut.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action! Let's get this one finished - here comes the final round!

Nyrkki misses with a double jab
and Shikotan counters with a shot to the ribs. That looked like it hurt.
Nyrkki misses with a combination
and Shikotan counters with a thumping low kick.
Shikotan looks for a takedown but Nyrkki sprawls well.
Kake Nyrkki seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
No luck for Shikotan with that takedown attempt.
Shikotan throws a right and a left that both miss.
Shikotan blocks a jab.

Shikotan closes the distance and scores a nice trip takedown into half guard. Nyrkki did well to prevent Shikotan getting side control.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Shikotan thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.
Shikotan looking to pass the half guard. Not this time.
Shikotan is stalling here. Nyrkki is in no mood to hang around though. He's locked up a kimura from the bottom! Shikotan seems to be keeping calm but he's forced to roll out of the hold and Nyrkki has ended up in side control on the top. Nice work.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Shikotan bucks up and tries to throw Nyrkki off but instead Nyrkki has got his back!
Nyrkki keeps control of the position easily here as Shikotan tries to buck him off.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
We could do with one of the fighters taking the initiative a bit more on the ground - they're both waiting to capitalize on a mistake.
Shikotan is trying to break free.
Kake Nyrkki has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Kazuya Shikotan is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

That's four 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.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Nyrkki thows a huge left but connects with the canvas and not his opponent.

And that's the end of the fight!
Kazuya Shikotan showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Shikotan has outscored his opponent in every aspect of the fight today. Only a scarily incompetent judge or two will keep him from a well deserved win... 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 Anni Minnemäki scores the fight 30:27
Judge Ben Zyskovitsi scores the fight 30:27
Judge Marco Blurström scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Kazuya Shikotan!