PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Epeli Nailatikau (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Daniel Ryan (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Nailatikau comes to the cage accompanied by Number of the Bollywood. Ryan comes into a darkened arena with his song building. I'd Love to Knock the Hell out of You by Hank Williams, Jr kicks in, the lights come on and the crowd goes wild! What a showman! Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

Nailatikau
vs
Ryan

172 cm
24
162 lbs
12 - 8 - 0

183 cm
29
159 lbs
17 - 12 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Dangerous knees
Insanely flexible

Powerful takedowns
Good kicks
Good gas tank

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the lightweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 12 - 8 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Epeli Nailatikau!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 17 - 12 - 0, fighting out of London, Daniel Ryan!
The judges for this bout are Daniel Bishop, Richard Clark and James Glass.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
A slow jab from Ryan misses its intended target.
Nailatikau pivots, looking for a leg kick but Ryan is out of range and Nailatikau settles back down.
Ryan shoots for a takedown but Nailatikau saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
Nailatikau misses with a leg kick
and Ryan counters with a nice uppercut.
Ryan takes a jab right on the kisser.
Ryan misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Nailatikau misses with a straight left.
Nailatikau throws a head kick that half lands.
Nailatikau dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
Ryan lands a beauty of a right hand that gets the crowd cheering.
A solid leg kick lands there for Nailatikau.
Nailatikau bobs and weaves and unloads with a good uppercut.

Ryan is looking for a takedown here. He's shot in and has managed to get it, finishing up in Nailatikau's half guard.
This has been an exciting period of action!
If this pace continues, the referee will definitely step in and force a standup.
Ryan throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Nailatikau blocking the ground and pound attempt from Ryan.
Nailatikau tries to roll over but Ryan keeps him under control.
Ryan not landing any meaningful shots this time.

Ryan seems to be working for a kimura but Nailatikau defends the submission attempt.
Nailatikau keeping hold of Ryan's head, controlling as best he can.
Ryan wants to free his trapped foot but Nailatikau is holding on for dear life with his legs.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Ryan trying to advance position but Nailatikau counters by regaining guard.
Ryan being controlled here momentarily.
Ryan postures up in Nailatikau's guard and throws a big left but Nailatikau blocks it.
Ryan trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Nailatikau is pulling down on Ryan's head. It's preventing any offense from Ryan, at least for the moment.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Ryan drops back for a leg! It's a sloppy attempt though and Ryan jumps back into guard quickly, to retain the dominant position.

Ryan thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.
Ryan throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Nailatikau works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Nailatikau pulls Ryan in to control the position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Ryan sneaks a leg through and gets to half guard. That was like a knife through butter how easily he passed Nailatikau's guard.
Ryan is thwarting Nailatikau's attempts to control the position.

Ryan is looking for a kimura but he's never going to get it from there.
Nailatikau is controlling Ryan's position as best he can from this difficult position.

Ryan is looking for a kimura but he's never going to get it from there.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.

Ryan is looking for a kimura here.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Daniel Ryan will probably get the nod.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

Nailatikau ducks under a wild hook from Ryan.
Oooooooooooh, not good. A low kick from Nailatikau lands where it shouldn't have, right in the... well, you know what he did? He kicked him in the penis. He's injured, injured bad. The referee sends both fighters to their corners and Ryan has 5 minutes to recover. He's OK now though... a thumbs up from Ryan and we're back underway with a touch of gloves.
Nailatikau looks to have improved his striking defense since last time we saw him fight.
Ryan shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Nailatikau as he avoids it easily.
Oooooooooooh, not good. A low kick from Ryan lands where it shouldn't have, right in the... well, you know what he did? He kicked him in the penis. He's injured, injured bad. The referee sends both fighters to their corners and Nailatikau has 5 minutes to recover. He's OK now though... a thumbs up from Nailatikau and we're back underway with a touch of gloves.
Nailatikau slaps away a takedown attempt from Ryan, before circling back to the center of the mat.
A jab from Nailatikau does it's job there.
Ryan misses with a hook.
Ryan fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Nailatikau avoids it really well and circles away.
Epeli Nailatikau has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Daniel Ryan.
The sound of bone on bone echoes around the arena as Ryan checks a leg kick.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Nailatikau dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
Ryan checks a low kick from Nailatikau.
Ryan shoots in and drives through. Nailatikau sprawls well.
Nailatikau looking to take his opponent's legs away with the low kicks.
Nailatikau moves into range and lands a nice leg kick.
Ryan fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
Nailatikau connects with a slap. Keep your fist closed son.
Ryan blocks a low kick nicely.
Nailatikau scoring well with a low kick there.
Nailatikau connects with a solid leg kick.
Nailatikau fakes the leg kick and cracks Ryan in the body.
Ryan takes a head kick and keeps coming.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Ryan moves his head to the side to avoid a jab but walks straight into a cross.
Ryan shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Nailatikau pinned against the cage. Nailatikau gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
Ryan throws a sloppy head kick and Nailatikau moves out of range easily.
Nailatikau lands a leg kick and bounces back out of range.
Nailatikau fakes a jab and scores with a low kick.
Ryan swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
Horrible takedown by Ryan or perhaps it was just good defense by Nailatikau which made him look bad.
Nailatikau pivots, looking for a leg kick but Ryan is out of range and Nailatikau settles back down.
Epeli Nailatikau is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Like a baseball bat into the meat of his leg there - nice leg kick by Nailatikau.
Nailatikau keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
Ryan's leg has a nasty welt from taking a succession of leg kicks. That must be slowing him down.
Oooooooooooh, not good. A low kick from Nailatikau lands where it shouldn't have, right in the... well, you know what he did? He kicked him in the penis. He's injured, injured bad. The referee sends both fighters to their corners and Ryan has 5 minutes to recover. He's OK now though... a thumbs up from Ryan and we're back underway with a touch of gloves.
Epeli Nailatikau is winning the standup battle so far.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Ryan throws a jab but it's blocked by Nailatikau.
Ryan walks straight into an uppercut. Luckily it didn't land flush.
Nailatikau misses with a body shot.
A decent looking cross lands there for Nailatikau.
Nailatikau blocks a head kick by Ryan.
Nailatikau throws a feint and then finishes with a kick to the body.
The sound of bone on bone echoes around the arena as Ryan checks a leg kick.
Ryan shoots in looking for a takedown. Nailatikau tries to sprawl out of it but Ryan keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Nailatikau manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
Ryan has a takedown stuffed.
Nailatikau looks to land a body kick but Ryan moved away.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A big right from Nailatikau misses.
Nailatikau pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
Ryan with a poor takedown

and Nailatikau counters with a takedown into side control! That could mean trouble for Ryan!
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Ryan gets back to half guard.
Ryan trying to control here but he's found himself mounted! Oh no!
Ryan tries to buck Nailatikau off but he can't manage it.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Nailatikau controlling from the full mount.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Epeli Nailatikau dominated that second round.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business. Ladies and gentlemen, this is the final round!

Ryan misses with a hook.
Nailatikau fakes a jab and then connects with a hook.
Nailatikau throws a decent looking leg kick but it doesn't land clean.
Nailatikau lands a jab to Ryan's midsection.
Nailatikau tests Ryan's chin there with a solid looking shot.
A slapping leg kick lands for Nailatikau.
Nailatikau scores with a leg kick.

Ryan closes the distance, clinches up and gets a nice trip takedown into side control. Very smooth.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Nailatikau can't do much from the bottom here.

Ryan working hard here to secure a kimura but he's not really in the right position for it.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Ryan looking for an arm triangle but it's way too loose to do anything.
Ryan working away.
Ryan throwing strikes but Nailatikau manages to buck up and roll into a nice reversal - now he's on top in side control!
Ryan is looking to work his way out of this bad position but Nailatikau is controlling him well.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Ryan is looking for a sweep.
Ryan gets back to half guard.
Ryan is looking to improve his position.
Ryan wants to get back to his feet.
Ryan is using up a lot of energy trying to get back to his feet. Perhaps he should improve his position first.
Daniel Ryan has got the better of the ground game so far.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Nailatikau performing his best blanket impression for a moment.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up, due to lack of activity on the part of Epeli Nailatikau.
Ryan fails miserably with a takedown attempt.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Ryan tries to score with a low kick but Nailatikau moves his leg out of the way.
Ryan throws out a loose jab but Nailatikau uses good head movement to avoid it.
Ryan takes a shot right to the liver - Bas would have been proud of that punch.
Nailatikau displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Ryan throws out the jab.
Nailatikau lands a jab to Ryan's midsection.
A jab lands there for Nailatikau.
Nailatikau is looking to chop away at Ryan's legs.
Nailatikau lands a glancing blow to the side of Ryan's head.
Nailatikau lands a beauty of a right hand that gets the crowd cheering.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Ryan shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Nailatikau but Nailatikau pushes him off and we're back to square one.
Nailatikau stuffs the takedown.

And that's the end of the fight!
That was a close round. You could make an argument for either fighter but I would give it to Epeli Nailatikau.
I think Nailatikau has won this one but let's see what the judges have to say. 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 Daniel Bishop scores the fight 29:28
Judge Richard Clark scores the fight 29:28
Judge James Glass scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Epeli Nailatikau!
Epeli Nailatikau thanked the fans post fight for their support.