PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Epeli Nailatikau (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Artur Banas (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Nailatikau comes to the cage accompanied by Number of the Bollywood. Both fighter's entrance songs getting the crowd jumping here.

Nailatikau
vs
Banas

172 cm
19
157 lbs
3 - 0 - 0

176 cm
20
155 lbs
3 - 1 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Decent elbows
Very strong

Good wrestler
Good kicks
Powerful

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the featherweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 3 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Epeli Nailatikau!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 3 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Artur Banas!
The judges for this bout are Tarja Halkonen, Arvi Lind and Anni Minnemäki.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Banas clinches with his opponent.
Nailatikau pushes off and fires off an elbow that misses, before clinching up again, against the cage.
Banas has Nailatikau pressed against the cage.
Banas takes an elbow to the forehead.

It looks like Artur Banas has been cut.
Banas tries for a takedown but Nailatikau manages to get underhooks.
Banas on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
Nailatikau stalling in the clinch but Banas improves position.
With the fighters up against the cage, Nailatikau throws an elbow but misses.
Nailatikau pushes off an throws an elbow but Banas leans to the side and avoids it. We're back to clinching against the cage.
Banas slows down the pace here.
Banas keeps the fight in the clinch, despite Nailatikau's efforts to push away.
Banas goes for a body shot but it's blocked.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Good anti-grappling being displayed by Banas as Nailatikau tries to tie him up.
Nailatikau misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Banas.
Nailatikau is trying to stall.
Nailatikau throws a knee to the head but misses.
Nailatikau is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Banas is defending well for now.

Banas has double underhooks and is working for a body lock takedown. He's got it. The fighters land in half guard but Nailatikau regains guard immediately.
Nailatikau looking to control.
Nailatikau on his back here. We all know that wrestlers don't like being on their back so let's see if Nailatikau tries to get out of the position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Banas accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Nailatikau keeping moving, preventing Banas from controlling successfully.
Banas lands a couple of decent looking shots.
Nailatikau preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Banas advances to half guard.
Banas missing with the ground and pound from half guard.
Banas wants to pass to mount but Nailatikau is defending the position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Banas prevents Nailatikau from standing back up.
Nailatikau is staying active underneath Banas, who seems content to just control the action from this position.
Banas is looking to pass the guard... He's managed it - he's now in full mount!
Banas avoids the attempt from Nailatikau to control.
Banas tucks in and makes sure he doesn't lose the dominant position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Banas goes for an armbar but he's fallen flat on his backside there and now Nailatikau is on top in guard.
The fighters are starting to get a bit slippery now, which will make submissions a bit more difficult.
Nailatikau looking to sit in guard and control but Banas gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.
Banas stands up over Nailatikau, holding his feet. He dives back in and lands a decent shot to the head.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Artur Banas dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Artur Banas's cut.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

Banas moves out of range of the body kick from Nailatikau.

Banas drives through with a takedown into Nailatikau's guard. Let's see what he can do from the top position.
Banas trying to control the position from guard on top but Nailatikau is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Nailatikau looking for a sweep. Not yet Nailatikau, not yet.
Banas passes into half guard.
Banas wants to pass to mount but Nailatikau is defending the position.
Banas prevents Nailatikau from improving his position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Nailatikau wants to control but Banas is keeping busy.
Banas throwing shots but Nailatikau is blocking nicely.
Nailatikau is in trouble now - Banas has advanced to mount!
Nailatikau tries to get back to half guard but can't.
Nailatikau knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Banas on the ground.
Banas controlling from the full mount.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Nailatikau is bucking up trying to escape but Banas cracks him with another couple of good strikes.
Banas takes a little breather and maintains the position. The referee will be looking for him to stay active from such a dominant position though.
Nailatikau is bucking up trying to escape but Banas cracks him with another couple of good strikes.
Banas is still in mount, landing shots to his trapped opponent. Nailatikau can't stay in a position like this for much longer.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Banas unloading with bombs!
Banas content just to control the position here.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Banas working for a guillotine from mount but Nailatikau is in no mood to give up.
Banas scoring with some good ground and pound from mount here. Will he manage to finish Nailatikau?
Nailatikau tries to reverse the position but Banas maintains control.
Banas landing strikes from the mount.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Banas working the ground and pound effectively.
Banas raining down hammerfists from mount.
Nailatikau is working to get back to half guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Banas pausing momentarily but resumes with a couple of decent strikes that do a bit of damage.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Nailatikau taking shots to the head.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Banas trying to control but Nailatikau is having none of it.
Banas controlling his opponent.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Artur Banas showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The cut man is working on Artur Banas's cut.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action! The crowd applaud as we get ready to start the final round!

Nailatikau thows a body shot but no joy.
Banas throws a low kick but it's checked well by Nailatikau.
Nailatikau missing with a left hand there. Banas was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
Nailatikau misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Nailatikau thows a leg kick but Banas checks it
and Banas counters with a nice body kick.
Banas throws a body punch but Nailatikau moves out of range.
Nailatikau throws a poor cross that misses

and Banas counters with a driving takedown into guard. Nice work there by Banas.
Banas is just sitting in guard, looking to avoid any submissions.
Banas postures up and scores with a shot to the body and a follow up elbow to the head.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Nailatikau keeping full guard, as Banas tries to pass.
Banas forces his way into half guard.
Banas works his way into full mount!
Banas dominating with strikes here.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Banas fakes a shot to the body and cracks his opponent in the head. Nice ground and pound there!

Banas with some aggressive grappling here. He's looking for submissions here, rather than waiting for the opportunity to counter.
Nailatikau taking shots to the head.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Banas putting on the heat here with some good ground and pound!
Artur Banas has got the better of the ground game so far.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Banas controlling the pace for now.
Banas lands a shot to the body, followed up by a shot to the exposed head of his trapped opponent.
Banas avoids the attempt from Nailatikau to control.
Nailatikau is looking to get to half guard.
Banas in mount throwing good strikes here, bouncing his opponent's head off the canvas.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Banas has his opponent pinned against the cage, landing some nasty ground and pound that is really making a bit of a mess out of Nailatikau's face.
Banas controlling from the full mount.
Banas has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
Banas's corner are shouting for him to control the position and he seems happy to oblige.
Epeli Nailatikau has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Banas lands a couple of nice shots there from mount.

And that's the end of the fight!
Artur Banas comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Banas winning every round here. Surely the decision will go his way and he'll pick up a well deserved decision victory. 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 Tarja Halkonen scores the fight 27:30
Judge Arvi Lind scores the fight 27:30
Judge Anni Minnemäki scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Artur Banas!
During a confident post fight interview, Artur Banas thanked all his fans. He seemed very genuine when describing how motivated his fans keep him.