PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Nicolas Karkmananis (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Liha Rekka (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Nicolas Karkmananis had a look across the cage there at his opponent. He definitely means business

Karkmananis
vs
Rekka

185 cm
27
215 lbs
6 - 9 - 1

202 cm
27
220 lbs
15 - 7 - 1

Good wrestling
Excellent boxer
Cardio machine

Good wrestler
World class MT
Good gas tank

Perkele!
Merciless Gladiators

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 5 rounds, in the light heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 6 - 9 - 1, fighting out of Las Vegas, Nicolas Karkmananis!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 15 - 7 - 1, fighting out of Los Angeles, Liha Rekka!
The judges for this bout are Jack Bonds, Timothy Bukovac and Frank Antenori.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Karkmananis buckles his opponent's knee momentarily with a nice leg kick.
Karkmananis swings for the body but Rekka moves out of range.

Karkmananis closes the distance and clinches.
Rekka tries a knee to the head but he's missed.
Rekka slowing the pace effectively.
Both guys are working to get underhooks.
Rekka using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Karkmananis has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
Karkmananis managing to block the knees to the body from Rekka.
Karkmananis looking to stall.
Rekka is working hard here but doesn't seem to be able to control effectively, up against the cage.
Karkmananis trying to control the position but instead, Rekka has worked for underhooks and has pushed Karkmananis into the cage.
Rekka misses with an elbow strike.
Karkmananis using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Rekka has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
Rekka with an attempt at a knee that misses.
Rekka is working hard here but doesn't seem to be able to control effectively, up against the cage.

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

That's one minute gone in the round.
An inside leg kick from Karkmananis misses.
Karkmananis blocks the body kick.
Rekka throws the kick towards the body but Karkmananis avoids it.

Rekka closes the distance and pushes Karkmananis back into the cage.
Rekka with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.
Rekka landing some nice looking knees to the body.
Rekka with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.
Rekka avoiding damage.
Karkmananis stalling in the clinch.
Karkmananis is trying to force a seperation but Rekka has the dominant position.
Rekka tries to land a knee to the head but misses.
Rekka tries to land a knee to the head but misses.
Karkmananis landing knees to the head.
Karkmananis tries to stall but Rekka uses the opportunity to gain a better position.
Rekka using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Karkmananis has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
Rekka is stalling here.
Rekka stalling in the clinch but Karkmananis improves position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Karkmananis tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Rekka misses with a knee to the head.
Rekka with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.
Karkmananis lands a right uppercut that snaps the head of Rekka backwards.
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!
Rekka avoiding damage as Karkmananis throws knees to the body.
Karkmananis is trying to maintain a safe position but Rekka gets an underhook and turns Karkmananis into the cage.
Karkmananis tries to work over Rekka's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
Rekka is pushing Karkmananis up against the cage, for a bit of lean and pray action. Action being used the in the loosest possible sense of the word.
Rekka using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Karkmananis has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
Karkmananis taking a breather.
Karkmananis wants to break the clinch but can't.
Karkmananis is trying to slow down the pace of the fight but Rekka is keeping busy.
Karkmananis can't break the clinch.
Karkmananis is trying to force a seperation but Rekka has the dominant position.
A head punch on the inside from Karkmananis fails to land.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Rekka landing knees to the head.
Both guys are working to get underhooks.
Rekka keeps the fight in the clinch, despite Karkmananis's efforts to push away.
Rekka lands a knee to the head.

It looks like Nicolas Karkmananis has been cut.
Karkmananis is looking to control Rekka's arms but Rekka gets an underhook and turns him. Now Karkmananis has his back to the cage.
Rekka is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Karkmananis is defending well for now.
Karkmananis is trying to maintain a safe position but Rekka gets an underhook and turns Karkmananis into the cage.
Karkmananis lands a left hand.
Karkmananis working aggressively here.
Rekka effectively controlling the action here.
Karkmananis tries to circle away but Rekka has him pinned against the cage.
Rekka throws a knee to the head but misses.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Karkmananis.
Rekka is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Karkmananis is defending well for now.
Karkmananis tries to work over Rekka's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Rekka tries to land a knee to the head but misses.
Rekka tries to land a knee to the head but Karkmananis blocks with his arms.
Rekka being controlled against the cage.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Rekka is trying to slow down the pace in the clinch, to catch his breath.
Rekka prevents a body shot from Karkmananis.
Rekka tries to throw a body punch but Karkmananis avoids it by throwing Rekka back against the cage.
Rekka tries a knee to the head but he's missed.
Karkmananis is trying to force a seperation but Rekka has the dominant position.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
A short right from Karkmananis on the inside.
A frustrated look appears on Karkmananis's face as he tries to break the clinch.
Karkmananis is trying to maintain a safe position but Rekka gets an underhook and turns Karkmananis into the cage.
Karkmananis being controlled against the cage.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Liha Rekka will probably get the nod.
The cut man is working on Nicolas Karkmananis's cut.
That's time! Back to the action!

Rekka throws a lazy right hand but Karkmananis sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.

Rekka closes the distance and clinches.

Karkmananis escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Rekka throws a body kick but he wasn't in range.
Rekka lands a straight punch to the body, keeping Karkmananis at a distance.
Rekka throws a low kick but Karkmananis moves out of range easily.
A shot to the body from Karkmananis misses
and Rekka counters with a nice low kick that buckles Karkmananis's knee momentarily.
Rekka doesn't manage to clinch there - Karkmananis circles away.
Karkmananis on the receiving end of a decent leg kick there by Rekka. Rekka obviously looking to wear him down.
A head kick misses from Rekka.
Rekka tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Karkmananis paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Rekka dodges the punch combination from Karkmananis.
Wow, both these guys are really going for it!

Karkmananis has managed to clinch.
Karkmananis digs a right hand underneath Rekka's ribcage. Rekka let out a lung full of air as it connected.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!

Karkmananis escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Karkmananis misses with a wild body shot.
We've been told by Karkmananis's head coaches at Elite Dojo [21 Coaches / 48 cap] that he's been working on his takedown defense in preparation for this fight.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rekka misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Karkmananis will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.

Karkmananis pushes Rekka up against the cage in a clinch.
Kneeeeees! The crowd are calling for knees to the body. Rekka obliges.
Rekka tries a knee to the head but he's missed.
Rekka is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Karkmananis is defending well for now.
Karkmananis wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.
Karkmananis misses with a punch to the body.
Rekka looking to throw knees to the head but Karkmananis is blocking nicely.
Karkmananis is working Rekka over against the cage.
Karkmananis softening up his opponent with strikes, against the cage.
A real battle for position is taking place between these two warriors.
Rekka lands a knee to the head there! That was nasty!
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Rekka tries a knee to the head but he's missed.
Rekka misses with a knee strike.
Karkmananis being controlled against the cage.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Karkmananis wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.
Rekka misses with a hook to the ribs.
Both guys are working to get underhooks.
Karkmananis wants to break free but Rekka has control.
Rekka misses with a knee strike.
A left hand lands to the body for Karkmananis.
A nice left hand lands by Karkmananis.
Karkmananis is working hard here but doesn't seem to be able to control effectively, up against the cage.
Rekka tries to land a knee to the head but Karkmananis blocks with his arms.
Karkmananis lands a left hand.
Nicolas Karkmananis has scored more points in the clinch so far.
Rekka tries to land a knee to the head but Karkmananis blocks with his arms.
A nice left hand lands by Karkmananis.
Karkmananis throws a hook to the body. More of an arm punch but it's all scoring with the judges.
Rekka is breathing heavily.
Rekka tries to land a knee to the head but misses.

Karkmananis manages to break the clinch.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Rekka thows a body kick. Karkmananis tries to catch it but that hurt him.
Karkmananis misses with a body kick.
Karkmananis misses with a wild combination.
A slow jab from Rekka misses its intended target.

Karkmananis takes the fight into the clinch.
Rekka putting his Muay Thai to good use. He has Karkmananis in a tight clinch and is doing some damage with knees to the body.
Rekka with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.
Karkmananis lands a shoulder strike.
Rekka wants to stall.
Nice body punch from Karkmananis.
Rekka prevents a body shot from Karkmananis.
A shot in the inside from Karkmananis.
Rekka with the Thai clinch, lands a knee to the head.
Karkmananis is working hard here but doesn't seem to be able to control effectively, up against the cage.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Karkmananis lands a knee to the body.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Rekka misses with a knee strike.
Karkmananis softening up his opponent with strikes, against the cage.
Karkmananis takes a knee to the side of the body.
Rekka has Karkmananis pressed against the cage, preventing Karkmananis from circling away and getting back to striking at range.
A head punch on the inside from Karkmananis fails to land.

Karkmananis manages to break the clinch.

Rekka moves into the clinch successfully.
Rekka throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Karkmananis blocks it with crossed arms.
Rekka is working hard here but doesn't seem to be able to control effectively, up against the cage.
Karkmananis looking to slow down the pace here.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
A short right from Karkmananis on the inside.
Karkmananis misses with some punches.
Rekka is trying to slow down the pace of the fight but Karkmananis is keeping busy.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Nicolas Karkmananis dominated that second round.
The cut man is working on Nicolas Karkmananis's cut.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

Karkmananis throws out a loose jab but Rekka uses good head movement to avoid it.

Karkmananis darts in and clinches Rekka up against the cage.
Rekka tries to land a knee to the head but Karkmananis blocks with his arms.
Karkmananis misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Rekka.
Rekka is trying to stall.
Rekka misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Karkmananis.
Rekka connects with a knee to the head.
Karkmananis misses with a hook to the ribs.
Rekka is trying to stall.
Rekka dictating the pace here, as the fighters clinch against the cage.
Rekka taking a breather.
Karkmananis has not gone for a single takedown so far in this fight, which seems like a very strange tactic when you consider that he has the superior wrestling and BJJ.
Rekka blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Rekka tries to land a knee to the head but Karkmananis blocks with his arms.
Rekka lands a nice uppercut.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Karkmananis escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Rekka will need to close the distance a bit before he attacks - that leg kick was thrown from too far away.
A slapping leg kick lands for Rekka.

Karkmananis has managed to clinch.
Rekka tries a knee to the head but he's missed.
Karkmananis avoids a wild elbow strike from Rekka.
A body shot lands from Karkmananis.
Rekka takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Karkmananis misses with a hook to the ribs.
Still in the clinch, Karkmananis scores with a nice short uppercut.
Karkmananis goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Karkmananis doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Karkmananis wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.
Rekka throws a knee to the head but misses.
Rekka throws a knee to the head but misses.
Karkmananis stalling in the clinch but Rekka improves position.
Karkmananis lands a knee to the head.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Rekka throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Karkmananis blocks it with crossed arms.

Karkmananis escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Rekka is looking to clinch.
Karkmananis misses with a double jab.

Karkmananis gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.
Karkmananis misses with a short punch on the inside.
Karkmananis tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Good anti-grappling being displayed by Rekka as Karkmananis tries to tie him up.
Rekka blocks a punch to the side of the head.
A short right from Karkmananis.
Rekka tries a knee to the head but Karkmananis blocks it.
Rekka tries a knee to the head but Karkmananis blocks it.
Rekka using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Karkmananis has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
Good anti-grappling being displayed by Karkmananis as Rekka tries to tie him up.
Rekka prevents Karkmananis from breaking the clinch.
Rekka tries a knee to the head but he's missed.
Karkmananis lands an uppercut.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Rekka misses with a knee to the head.
A bit of stalling here from Rekka.
A battle for position here, against the cage.
Karkmananis misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Karkmananis is pushing Rekka up against the cage, for a bit of lean and pray action. Action being used the in the loosest possible sense of the word.
Karkmananis lands a shoulder strike.
Karkmananis is looking to control Rekka's arms but Rekka gets an underhook and turns him. Now Karkmananis has his back to the cage.
Karkmananis gets through Rekka's defenses to land a nice punch to the side of the head.
Karkmananis on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
Karkmananis misses with a hook to the ribs.
Rekka is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Karkmananis is defending well for now.
Karkmananis lands an uppercut.
Karkmananis scores with a hook to the body.

Karkmananis breaks the clinch.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Rekka takes a shot to the nose. Hopefully that hasn't broken it.

The fight moves into the clinch position.
Karkmananis is trying to maintain a safe position but Rekka gets an underhook and turns Karkmananis into the cage.
Rekka with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.
Karkmananis tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Karkmananis presses Rekka against the cage and delivers a mid-strength body shot.
A real battle for position is taking place between these two warriors.
Rekka throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Karkmananis blocks it with crossed arms.

Karkmananis breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Karkmananis checks the leg kick nicely there.
Rekka tries to clinch there but Karkmananis circles away.

Karkmananis fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Rekka, pushing him back against the cage.
Karkmananis letting Rekka take a breather here.
Karkmananis lands punches inside but they're not really causing much damage.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Nicolas Karkmananis clearly takes that round.
The cut man is working on Nicolas Karkmananis's cut.
That's time! Back to the action!

Karkmananis darts in and clinches Rekka up against the cage.
Karkmananis tries to circle away but Rekka has him pinned against the cage.
Karkmananis trying to stall but Rekka improves his position.
Rekka tries a knee to the head but he's missed.
Rekka scores with a knee to the head.
Karkmananis throws a hook to the body. More of an arm punch but it's all scoring with the judges.
Karkmananis dictating the pace here, as the fighters clinch against the cage.

Karkmananis pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Rekka is looking to clinch but Karkmananis is avoiding it.
Karkmananis misses with a jab, cross combination.
Karkmananis throws a series of punches but Rekka moves out of range.
Rekka throws out a leg kick but Karkmananis moves out of range and Rekka only half commits.

Karkmananis rushes Rekka and presses him up against the cage.
Rekka tries to land knees in the clinch but Karkmananis avoids the damage to the body.
Rekka prevents a body shot from Karkmananis.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Karkmananis doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
A bit of stalling here from Rekka.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rekka misses with a knee strike.
Both fighters working to control the clinch.
Rekka tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Karkmananis avoids it.
Rekka wants to stall.
Karkmananis lands with a short shot to the head.
Karkmananis struggles to land a body shot inside as Rekka controls his hands.
Karkmananis managing to block the knees to the body from Rekka.
Rekka trying to land knees to the body.

Karkmananis manages to break the clinch.
Karkmananis chopping away at his opponent's legs.

Rekka moves into range and clinches up with Karkmananis.

Karkmananis's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Rekka throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Karkmananis misses with a head kick.

Karkmananis instigates a clinch.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Rekka tries to land a knee to the head but misses.
Karkmananis misses with a punch to the body.
Rekka throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Karkmananis blocks it with crossed arms.
Both guys are working to get underhooks.
Karkmananis is trying to break free.
Rekka throws a knee to the head but misses.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Karkmananis lands with a short shot to the head.
Karkmananis is trying to break the clinch but Rekka has him pressed against the cage.
Rekka has Karkmananis pushed against the cage.
Karkmananis working some nice short punches in the clinch.
Rekka with a knee to the head.
Both fighters working to control the clinch.
Rekka is absolutely dripping with sweat - he looks exhausted.

Karkmananis manages to break the clinch.
Karkmananis is looking to slow Rekka down with leg kicks.
Karkmananis tries a head kick but it misses.
Rekka misses with a low kick.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Karkmananis drives through and clinches with Rekka against the cage.
Rekka blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
Rekka tries a knee to the head but he's missed.
Karkmananis tries to throw a body punch but Rekka avoids it by throwing Karkmananis back against the cage.
Karkmananis has had enough of the clinch and is looking to separate.
Karkmananis lands an uppercut.
Karkmananis pushes off and fires off an elbow that misses, before clinching up again, against the cage.
Rekka tries a knee to the head but Karkmananis blocks it.
Karkmananis is trying to wear down his opponent with knees to the body.
Rekka misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Karkmananis.

Karkmananis manages to break the clinch.
Nicolas Karkmananis is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Rekka tries to clinch up.
Karkmananis swats away the attempt to clinch by Rekka.

Karkmananis has taken the fight to the clinch.
Karkmananis misses with a short punch on the inside.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A knee to the head by Rekka.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Rekka tries to land a knee to the head but Karkmananis blocks with his arms.
Karkmananis tries to land knees in the clinch but Rekka avoids the damage to the body.
Rekka is working hard here but doesn't seem to be able to control effectively, up against the cage.
Rekka with a knee to the head.
Rekka trying to land knees to the body.
Rekka looking to throw knees to the head but Karkmananis is blocking nicely.
Karkmananis misses with a body punch.
Rekka tries to land a knee to the head but Karkmananis blocks with his arms.
Rekka using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Karkmananis has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
Karkmananis goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!

Karkmananis manages to break the clinch.
Rekka has his head slapped from side to side by a 3 punch combination. That must have hurt him.

Karkmananis has closed the distance and engaged Rekka in a clinch.

Karkmananis pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Nicolas Karkmananis had his way with Liha Rekka in that round.
The cut man is working on Nicolas Karkmananis's cut.
That's time! Karkmananis's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight. This is the final round!

Karkmananis checks a low kick from Rekka.
Rekka tries to grapple but his opponent circles
and Karkmananis counters with a body kick.

Karkmananis clinches up with Rekka and pushes him back against the cage.
Karkmananis stalling in the clinch but Rekka improves position.
A short right hand to the side of the head by Karkmananis.
A short body shot lands from Karkmananis as the two fighters clinch.
Rekka tries a knee to the head but he's missed.
Rekka blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.

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

Karkmananis moves into the clinch.
Rekka misses with a knee strike.
Rekka is trying to slow down the pace in the clinch, to catch his breath.
Rekka seems frustrated at his inability to get double underhooks.
Rekka is wobbling all over the place through exhaustion. Will he make it to the final bell?
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Karkmananis slows down the pace here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Karkmananis cracks Rekka with a nice body shot.
Rekka tries to land a knee to the head but misses.
Karkmananis takes a knee right on the jaw!
Rekka is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Karkmananis is defending well for now.
Rekka trying to stall but Karkmananis improves his position.
Karkmananis looking to slow down the pace here.
Karkmananis holding his opponent close, against the cage.
Karkmananis trying to land knees to the body.
Rekka looking to throw knees to the head but Karkmananis is blocking nicely.
Karkmananis can't find room to land a body shot as Rekka controls the action.
Rekka tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Karkmananis avoids it.
Rekka misses with a knee to the head.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Karkmananis lands a hook that snaps the head of Rekka backwards.
Karkmananis tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Rekka avoids it.
Karkmananis goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Rekka missing with knees to the body.
Rekka misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Karkmananis.
Karkmananis misses with a punch to the body.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Karkmananis stalling against the cage.
Karkmananis tries to land a knee to the head but Rekka blocks with his arms.
Karkmananis tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
A real battle for position is taking place between these two warriors.
Karkmananis swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Karkmananis lands with a quick shot inside that doesn't really do much damage.
Rekka throws a knee to the head but misses.
Karkmananis misses with a punch to the body.
Karkmananis on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Karkmananis can't find room to land a body shot as Rekka controls the action.
Rekka throws a knee to the head but misses.
Karkmananis digs a right hand into Rekka's ribs. Those have got to be taking their toll on Rekka's gas tank.
Rekka lands an elbow inside that Karkmananis shrugs off.
Rekka misses with a knee strike.
Rekka lands a body shot in the clinch.
Karkmananis takes a knee right on the jaw!
Rekka blocking some punches.
Karkmananis stalls.
Rekka using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Karkmananis has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.

Karkmananis's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.

Karkmananis closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.
Karkmananis scores with a nice hook to the head.
Karkmananis fails to land with a short punch on the inside.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Good anti-grappling being displayed by Rekka as Karkmananis tries to tie him up.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Rekka is trying to stall.
Rekka tries to land a knee to the head but misses.
Karkmananis wants to get back to striking at distance but Rekka won't allow it.
Rekka tries a knee to the head but Karkmananis blocks it.
Good anti-grappling being displayed by Karkmananis as Rekka tries to tie him up.
Rekka looking to throw knees to the head but Karkmananis is blocking nicely.
Karkmananis tries to land a knee to the head but misses.
Karkmananis stalling in the clinch.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Rekka looking to throw knees to the head but Karkmananis is blocking nicely.
Rekka controlling the action here for a moment.
Karkmananis is looking to control Rekka's arms but Rekka gets an underhook and turns him. Now Karkmananis has his back to the cage.

And that's the end of the fight!
Nicolas Karkmananis showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Karkmananis 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 5 rounds of action, we go to the scorecards for a decision.
Judge Jack Bonds scores the fight for Nicolas Karkmananis!
Judge Timothy Bukovac scores the fight for Nicolas Karkmananis!
Judge Frank Antenori scores the fight for Nicolas Karkmananis!

Nicolas Karkmananis wins by unanimous decision!