PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Pedro Almodovar (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Epeli Nailatikau (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Nailatikau has chosen Number of the Bollywood as his entrance music. Pedro Almodovar has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Almodovar
vs
Nailatikau

155 cm
19
155 lbs
4 - 1 - 0

172 cm
21
154 lbs
5 - 3 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Excellent boxer
Granite chin

BJJ Purple Belt
Good kicks
Good gas tank

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 4 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Pedro Almodovar!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 5 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Epeli Nailatikau!
The judges for this bout are Roosa Järviläinen, Ben Zyskovitsi and Arvi Lind.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Nailatikau throws a leg kick that misses.
Nailatikau chopping away at his opponent's legs.
Almodovar takes a jab on the nose there. A little bit of blood seems to be coming out. Hopefully that won't affect his breathing.
Almodovar connects with a good right hand that stumbles Nailatikau. Nailatikau circles away out of range and recomposes himself.
Nailatikau fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Almodovar manages to avoid it.
Epeli Nailatikau seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Nailatikau scores with a leg kick.
Nailatikau throws a head kick that half lands.
Nailatikau throws a leg kick which misses Almodovar's front leg but catches the back leg as Almodovar tries to avoid it.
Nailatikau cracks the inside of Almodovar's front leg.
Almodovar swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Almodovar throws an ugly left hook that misses

and Nailatikau holds on and brings the fighters into a clinch.
Nailatikau stalling against the cage.
A knee to the head by Nailatikau.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kneeeeees! The crowd are calling for knees to the body. Nailatikau obliges.
Nailatikau connects with a knee to the head.
Nailatikau is struggling to control the position.
Nailatikau tries a knee to the head but he's missed.
Almodovar looking to slow down the pace here.
Nailatikau utilising his Muay Thai to score with a knee to the body.
Almodovar swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Almodovar is looking to break free of the clinch but Nailatikau has double underhooks.
Some stalling of biblical proportions here from Nailatikau.
Nailatikau landing knees to the body.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Nailatikau lands a shoulder strike.
Almodovar swings wildly with an uppercut but Nailatikau uses good head movement to avoid it.
Almodovar working aggressively here.
Almodovar swings away with an uppercut that misses.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Nailatikau blocks a body shot from Almodovar.
Stalling in the clinch from Nailatikau.

Nailatikau breaks from the clinch.
Nailatikau works his jab well there, keeping his opponent at a distance.
Nailatikau scores with a punch to the gut of his opponent.
Nailatikau with a nice looking leg kick. You could hear that one land in a back row.
Nailatikau lands with a slapping head kick.
Nailatikau throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Almodovar takes a head kick and keeps coming.
Nailatikau throws a body kick that digs right into the meat.
A looping hook to the body misses from Nailatikau. Almodovar does a little dance to reset his feet.
Nailatikau thows a left - swing and a miss!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Some bone on bone action there as Almodovar checks a low kick. Luckily it wasn't a particularly hard one.
Nailatikau pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Nailatikau lands with a head kick! That's gotta hurt.
Almodovar blocks a head kick by Nailatikau.
Almodovar takes a nice looking leg kick right on the meat of his thigh there.
A chopping leg kick lands by Nailatikau.
Nailatikau pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
Almodovar slips a jab from Nailatikau.
Nailatikau tries a head kick but it misses.
Nailatikau thuds his shin into the meat of Almodovar's side.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Nailatikau misses with a straight left.
Nailatikau feints and then cracks Almodovar's leading leg with a nice low kick. He's obviously looking to slow Almodovar down.
Nailatikau lands a leg kick that knocks Almodovar off balance momentarily.
Nailatikau throws a quick inside leg kick.
Almodovar checks a low kick. Bone on bone - not my idea of a good time.
Nailatikau misses with a leg kick
letting Almodovar counter with a right hand.
This has been an exciting period of action!

Nailatikau moves into the clinch successfully.
Almodovar being controlled against the cage.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Almodovar swings wildly with an uppercut but Nailatikau uses good head movement to avoid it.
Almodovar lands with a short shot to the head.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Epeli Nailatikau dominated that round.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action.

Almodovar throws a hook but Nailatikau blocks it.
Nailatikau throws a nice inside leg kick.
Almodovar takes a shot to the body in his stride.
Nailatikau will need to close the distance a bit before he attacks - that leg kick was thrown from too far away.
A jab lands there for Nailatikau.
Nailatikau misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Nailatikau throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Nailatikau tries to land a front kick but Almodovar steps back. That was a bit too telegraphed.
Good leg kick by Nailatikau there. It's the ones that make that thud noise that hurt and that was an almighty thud.
Nailatikau tries to work over Almodovar's front leg with a kick but Almodovar checks it.
Nailatikau lands a jab to Almodovar's midsection.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Nailatikau thows a body shot but no joy.
Nailatikau defending well as Almodovar loads up on a big left hand.
Almodovar takes a head kick and keeps coming.
Almodovar slips a jab from Nailatikau.
Nailatikau pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Nailatikau throws a nice head kick!
Nailatikau lands with a right hand.
Nailatikau throws a low kick, looking for Almodovar's leg but Almodovar calmly moves out of range.
Almodovar misses with a looping left.
Almodovar blocks a head kick by Nailatikau.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Nailatikau swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
Nailatikau goes for a high kick. It partially lands.
Nailatikau throws a low kick but it's checked well by Almodovar.
Nailatikau works the jab nicely.
Nailatikau throws a head kick that Almodovar semi-blocks.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Almodovar takes an uppercut right on the jaw but it doesn't phase him.
A big left from Almodovar misses.
Nailatikau has been the more effective fighter overall so far.

Nailatikau takes the fight into the clinch.
Nailatikau lands a nice shot to the body.
A head punch on the inside from Nailatikau fails to land.
Nailatikau with the Thai clinch, lands a knee to the head.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Nailatikau is trying to stall.
Almodovar can't find room to land a body shot as Nailatikau controls the action.
Nailatikau tries a knee to the head but Almodovar blocks it.
Almodovar swings wildly with an uppercut but Nailatikau uses good head movement to avoid it.
Epeli Nailatikau seems to be working more effectively in the clinch in the fight so far.
Almodovar digs a right hand into Nailatikau's ribs. Those have got to be taking their toll on Nailatikau's gas tank.
Almodovar managing to block the knees to the body from Nailatikau.
Nailatikau connects with a knee to the head.
Nailatikau crunches a lovely knee into Almodovar's ribcage.
Nailatikau looking to slow down the pace here.
Almodovar fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Almodovar struggles to land a body shot inside as Nailatikau controls his hands.
Almodovar looking to stall.
Nailatikau tries a knee to the head but Almodovar blocks it.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Almodovar working hard to break the clinch.
Nailatikau blocking some punches.
Nailatikau prevents Almodovar from breaking the clinch.
Almodovar pressing his opponent against the cage.
Nailatikau using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Almodovar has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
Almodovar is trying to maintain a safe position but Nailatikau gets an underhook and turns Almodovar into the cage.
Nailatikau lands an uppercut.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Nailatikau.
Nailatikau landing knees 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!
Almodovar tries a body shot but Nailatikau blocks it.
Nailatikau is trying to maintain a safe position but Almodovar gets an underhook and turns Nailatikau into the cage.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Almodovar is trying to push Nailatikau away but Nailatikau has him pressed against the cage, so he's going nowhere.
Almodovar wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.
Nailatikau tries a knee to the head but Almodovar blocks it.
Nailatikau misses with a knee strike.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Epeli Nailatikau showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin! The crowd applaud as we get ready to start the final round!

Almodovar avoids a low kick by using good footwork.
Nailatikau missing with a left hand there. Almodovar was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
Nailatikau throws out a powerful jab.
Almodovar walks into a left hand.
Almodovar checks a leg kick.
Almodovar looks to throw the jab but Nailatikau is out of range.
Almodovar takes a thudding leg kick, right into the meat of the thigh.
A head kick misses from Nailatikau.
Nailatikau scores with a head kick. Almodovar tried to block it but didn't get his arm up in time.
Almodovar has his hands up protecting his head but a hook from Nailatikau finds it's way round the side to connect with Almodovar's head.
Nailatikau throws a nice outside leg kick.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Almodovar keeping at a good range here, avoiding a leg kick.
Nailatikau throws a sloppy head kick and Almodovar moves out of range easily.
Almodovar on the wrong end of a kick to the body.
Nailatikau has used his reach advantage pretty well so far tonight.
Nailatikau fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Almodovar manages to avoid it.
Almodovar slips a straight right by Nailatikau.
Nailatikau wants to land a leg kick but Almodovar is out of range.
Nailatikau tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Almodovar is hobbling a little on that front leg after taking quite a few leg kicks so far in this fight.
Almodovar misses with an uppercut.
Nailatikau lands a leg kick and bounces back out of range.
A slapping leg kick lands for Nailatikau.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Nailatikau throws a low kick but Almodovar moves out of range easily.
Nailatikau scoring well with a low kick there.
Nailatikau scores with a head kick. Almodovar tried to block it but didn't get his arm up in time.
Nailatikau plants his feet and lands a nice head kick!
Nailatikau ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Almodovar moves away.
Almodovar checks the leg kick.
Nailatikau is using his reach advantage to land shots from outside his opponent's range.
Good leg kick by Nailatikau there. It's the ones that make that thud noise that hurt and that was an almighty thud.
The fans in attendance giving it up for the two fighters, who have really let it all hang out in the last minute or so!
Almodovar keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Almodovar uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Nailatikau.
Nailatikau misses with a head kick.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Nailatikau pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Nailatikau throws a head kick that looked like it stung.
Almodovar keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Nailatikau misses with a looping right.
Nailatikau throws a leg kick that misses.
Nailatikau feints and then cracks Almodovar's leading leg with a nice low kick. He's obviously looking to slow Almodovar down.
Nailatikau dances in quickly and lands a nice inside leg kick on Almodovar. That did some damage!
Nailatikau misses with a body shot.
Nailatikau tries to work over Almodovar's front leg with a kick but Almodovar checks it.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Nailatikau misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Almodovar.
Nailatikau fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Almodovar manages to avoid it.
Nailatikau throws a leg kick which misses Almodovar's front leg but catches the back leg as Almodovar tries to avoid it.
Epeli Nailatikau seems to be getting the better of the standup.
A jab from Almodovar misses.
Almodovar steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Nailatikau.
Nice shot by Nailatikau.
Nailatikau throws a nice outside leg kick.
Nailatikau throws a head kick but Almodovar moves out of range.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Almodovar scores with a big left there. The judges will like that one.
Pedro Almodovar has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Epeli Nailatikau is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Nailatikau misses with a body shot
and Almodovar counters nicely by changing levels and landing a hook to the body.

And that's the end of the fight!
Epeli Nailatikau comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Nailatikau has outworked and out performed his opponent in all aspects of the game today. He was simply too good and the decision should be no more than a formality. 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 Roosa Järviläinen scores the fight 27:30
Judge Ben Zyskovitsi scores the fight 27:30
Judge Arvi Lind scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Epeli Nailatikau!
Jumping up and down and very excited, Epeli Nailatikau waved his t-shirt featuring KAISER's logo in front of the cameras.