PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Esko Nikkari (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Tj Hooke (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Nikkari comes into the arena with Koto - Jabdah blaring out of the sound system. Well, the cameraman is lingering on a pretty young lady for a bit too long there. Keep your eyes on the fighters buddy or you'll miss the fighter intros!

Nikkari
vs
Hooke

185 cm
25
223 lbs
18 - 10 - 0

181 cm
29
211 lbs
6 - 23 - 0

Good wrestling
Dangerous knees
Very quick

BJJ White Belt
Excellent boxer
Heavy handed

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 18 - 10 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Esko Nikkari!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 6 - 23 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Tj Hooke!
The judges for this bout are Yukihiro Shimada, Taro Takaoka and Shigeki Sano.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Nikkari uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Hooke.
Nikkari dances in quickly and lands a nice inside leg kick on Hooke. That did some damage!
Hooke misses with an uppercut
and Nikkari finishes the little exchange by landing a big kick to the body.
Nikkari scores with a push kick.

Nikkari rushes Hooke and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.
Nikkari with an attempt at a knee that misses.
Nikkari scores a nice knee to the body.
Hooke looks gassed!
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
A right handed body shot lands from Nikkari.
A hook to the body from Nikkari.
Nikkari lands a knee to the head there! That was nasty!

It looks like Tj Hooke has been cut.
Nikkari throws a hook to the body. More of an arm punch but it's all scoring with the judges.
Hooke takes a knee to the side of the body.
Nikkari with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.
Nikkari lands a body punch in the clinch.
Nikkari connects with a nasty looking knee right to Hooke's face.
A body shot lands from Nikkari.
A nice left hand lands by Nikkari.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Nikkari is trying to wear down his opponent with knees to the body.
Nikkari lands a hook to the body. It's hard to tell if that hurt Hooke or not.
Nikkari lands a good knee to the midsection. Hooke won't want to take too many of those.
A nice right hand lands inside from Nikkari.
A short uppercut from Nikkari.
Nikkari lands a hook that snaps the head of Hooke backwards.
Good body shot from Nikkari.
Nikkari lands with a short punch from the clinch.
Nikkari lands a knee to the head.
Nikkari works on Hooke's body with a couple of short punches.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
A short right hand to the side of the head by Nikkari.
Nikkari pushes Hooke back against the cage and lands a hook to the side of the head.
Nikkari tries a knee to the head but Hooke blocks it.
Nikkari makes some space for himself and lands an uppercut.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Nikkari pushes Hooke back against the cage and lands a hook to the side of the head.

Nikkari turns his back and goes for a hip toss. It's a bit messy but it gets the job done and Nikkari manages to end up in side control.
Hooke is not in a great position here, taking some shots.
Hooke takes a couple of big shots there - the referee warns him that he has to defend himself better.
Nikkari content to control the pace. The referee will try and keep them active though.
Nikkari grinds an elbow into Hooke's temple.
Nikkari is staying tight to Hooke's torso, preventing him from escaping.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Nikkari working the head and body with strikes.
Nikkari in side control, just content to control the action for now.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Nikkari lands an elbow.
Nikkari lands a knee to the body and a forearm to the face.
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Nikkari scores with a couple of short elbows.
Nikkari 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.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Nikkari working the head and body with strikes.
Nikkari controlling the position from side mount.
Nikkari is working Hooke over with some ground and pound from side control.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Esko Nikkari dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Tj Hooke's cut.
That's time! Back to the action!

Hooke takes a punch right to his stomach. That took the wind out of him momentarily.
Nikkari throws a one two combo.
Hooke misses with a combination
and Nikkari counters with a nice body shot.
Nikkari ducks low and lands a nice hook to the body of his opponent.
Nikkari fakes a head punch and goes low to the body. Nicely done.
Nikkari throws a jab to the body, straight down the pipe. Boom. That sent Hooke stumbling backwards but he manages to regain his composure quickly.
Nikkari throws a feint and then finishes with a kick to the body.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Hooke takes a kick to the body and keeps moving.
Nikkari scores with a nice body kick.
Nikkari scores with a kick to the body.
Jab from Nikkari.
Nikkari throws a jab to the body, straight down the pipe. Boom. That sent Hooke stumbling backwards but he manages to regain his composure quickly.
Nikkari dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
Nikkari clobbers Hooke with an overhand right that has the crowd gasping. That made a horrendous noise.
Hooke is breathing heavily.

Nikkari instigates a clinch.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Nikkari throws a knee to the head but misses.
Nikkari misses with a knee strike.
Nikkari lands with a short shot to the head.
The referee is keeping an eye on Nikkari - much more stalling and he will separate the fighters.
Nikkari pushes Hooke back against the cage and unloads with a body punch.
A shot in the inside from Nikkari.
Hooke has developed a nice purple lump on his ribcage, as a result of some heavy body kicks from Nikkari.
Nikkari holding his opponent close, against the cage.
Nikkari is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Hooke can do to turn this around?
Nikkari throws a knee to the head but misses.

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.
Nikkari lands with a good tight uppercut to the head.
Nikkari lands with a quick shot inside that doesn't really do much damage.
A short body shot lands from Nikkari as the two fighters clinch.
Nikkari working some nice short punches in the clinch.
Hooke takes a knee to the side of the body.
Nikkari landing knees to the body.
Nikkari stays in close to his opponent and throws a right hand to the body.
A right hand to the body from Nikkari.
Nikkari lands with a short head shot on the inside.
Nikkari scores with an uppercut up the middle.
Nikkari lands a shoulder strike that jolts his opponent's head backwards.
Nikkari lands an uppercut.
Nikkari is trying to wear down his opponent with knees to the body.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Nikkari softening up his opponent with strikes, against the cage.
Esko Nikkari has scored more points in the clinch so far.
Nikkari lands a shoulder strike.
A right hook to the body lands for Nikkari.
Nikkari with a knee to the head.
A nice right hand lands inside from Nikkari.
Hooke takes a knee right on the jaw!
Nikkari lands a nice uppercut.
The pace really dropping off here, momentarily.
Nikkari landing some nice looking knees to the body.
Nikkari scores with a shot to the side of Hooke's head.
Nikkari stays in close to his opponent and throws a right hand to the body.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Nikkari lands with a short punch from the clinch.
Nikkari lands a left hand.
Nikkari landing knees to the head.
Nikkari lands a knee to the head there! That was nasty!
Nikkari lands a knee to the head.
Nikkari tries to land a knee to the head but misses.
Nikkari lands a shoulder strike.
Nikkari with the Thai clinch, lands a knee to the head.
Nikkari prevents Hooke from breaking the clinch.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Nikkari lands with a right to the head.
Hooke's head jolts backwards as he takes an uppercut right on the button!
A short right hand to the side of the head by Nikkari.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Esko Nikkari dominated that second round.
The cut man is working on Tj Hooke's cut.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action! Ladies and gentlemen, this is the final round!

Nikkari digs a good body shot into Hooke's ribs.
Nikkari throws a big shot that misses.
Hooke misses with a double jab.
Tj Hooke seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Nikkari stooping low to avoid any incoming strikes and then lunges in with an uppercut come cross that lands flush.
Nikkari scores with a spinning back kick!
Some wild striking there from Nikkari.

Nikkari throws the overhand right but ducks down into a quick takedown attempt. Hooke was covering up waiting for the punch and Nikkari finishes the takedown easily into guard.
Nikkari controlling from the guard. I say controlling but really, he's stalling.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Nikkari is standing up over Hooke. Hooke looks to escape but Nikkari dives into side control.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Nikkari remains in side control and seems content to stay there. It's a versatile position from which he can work both strikes and submissions, whilst maintaining that control, so maybe he'll sit here for a while.
Nikkari working the ground and pound.

Nikkari in side control, working for a kimura. He's got hold of an arm and he's torquing it... Hooke is tapping! That's the end of the fight!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 2:02 of round 3, we have a winner by way of Submission (Kimura). Esko Nikkari!