PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Esko Nikkari (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Vladie Dimitoff (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). These two fighters really are very evenly matched on the feet - it will be fascinating to see who can assert themselves in that aspect of the fight.

Nikkari
vs
Dimitoff

185 cm
19
240 lbs
4 - 4 - 0

190 cm
22
265 lbs
1 - 2 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Dangerous knees
Good chin

BJJ White Belt
Solid Muay Thai
Determined

Combat Pro Design

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 4 - 4 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Esko Nikkari!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 2 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Vladie Dimitoff!
The judges for this bout are Fedor Mirinova, Aleksandr Martynov and Ivan Kurochkin.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Nikkari tries to clinch but Dimitoff is having none of it.
Nikkari checks a low kick from Dimitoff.
Dimitoff fakes with a right hand and throws a good leg kick, right into the thigh. That had to hurt Nikkari.
Nikkari tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Nikkari wants to clinch.
Nikkari tries to clinch up.
Nikkari swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Dimitoff on the receiving end of a decent leg kick there by Nikkari. Nikkari obviously looking to wear him down.
Nikkari moves in looking to clinch but Dimitoff pushes him off.
Nikkari fails in his attempt to clinch.
The fight stays on the outside here - Nikkari looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Nikkari jabbing away but nothing is landing.
Dimitoff needs to keep his hands up - Nikkari had a free shot at his head there.

Nikkari takes the fight into the clinch.
Dimitoff lands a nice knee to the body.
Dimitoff looks gassed!
Nikkari scores a nice knee to the body.

Dimitoff breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Nikkari lands a beauty of a right hand that gets the crowd cheering.

Dimitoff is rocked!

That's one minute gone in the round.
A cross from Nikkari lands.
Dimitoff is still on wobbly legs! Can Nikkari finish him?
Dimitoff throws a nice outside leg kick.
Dimitoff takes a punch right to his stomach. That took the wind out of him momentarily.
Nikkari moves in looking to clinch but Dimitoff pushes him off.

Dimitoff scores a trip takedown into side control. Nice.
Dimitoff seems to have recovered his senses.
Both fighters really going for it on the ground here!
Nikkari wants to get back to his feet but Dimitoff drags him back down.
Dimitoff tries to get to his feet but he's trapped momentarily.

Nikkari sneaks out the side door and pushes Dimitoff away - he's back to his feet. The crowd show their appreciation for the escape.
Dimitoff keeps the fight on the outside.
Nikkari lands a vicious shot with the stealth of a sniper and the strength of a viper. Are vipers that strong? I can think of lots of things that are stronger than a viper - not many rhyme with sniper though.

Nikkari clinches.
Nikkari using the Thai clinch to land knees to the body.
Nikkari with a knee to the head.
Nikkari tries to land a knee to the head but Dimitoff blocks with his arms.
Nikkari connects with a knee to the head.
Dimitoff unloads a knee to the mid-section. Nikkari lets out a prehistoric sounding urrrrgh.
Nikkari throws a knee to the head but misses.
Nikkari tries a knee to the head but he's missed.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Nikkari using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Dimitoff has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
Dimitoff wants to break free but Nikkari has control.
Nikkari throws a knee to the head but misses.
Dimitoff controlling the action here for a moment.
Nikkari with an attempt at a knee that misses.
Dimitoff gets an overhook and lands an elbow to the side of the head.
Nikkari with a knee to the head.
Dimitoff takes a knee right on the jaw!
Nikkari using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Dimitoff has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.

Dimitoff manages to break the clinch.
Nikkari tries to clinch up.

Dimitoff closes the distance, clinches up and gets a nice trip takedown into side control. Very smooth.

Dimitoff stands up.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Dimitoff shoots in looking for a takedown. Nikkari tries to sprawl out of it but Dimitoff keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Nikkari manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
Nikkari misses with a straight right.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Nikkari is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Dimitoff takes a jab on the nose. He smiles like he loves it and keeps coming.
Nikkari throws a shot from downtown. Dimitoff moves away and avoids it.

Nikkari drives through and clinches with Dimitoff against the cage.

Dimitoff escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Dimitoff checks a leg kick nicely.
The crowd cheers as Nikkari lands an impressive looking overhand right. Dimitoff doesn't seem phased though.

Nikkari takes the fight into the clinch.
Knees in the clinch landing for Nikkari.
Nikkari scores with a knee to the head.
Dimitoff with the Thai clinch, lands a knee to the head.
Dimitoff is trying to slow down the pace of the fight but Nikkari is keeping busy.
Nikkari with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.
Dimitoff connects with a knee to the head.
Nikkari landing knees to the body.
Nikkari lands a knee to the body.
Dimitoff trying to land knees to the body.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Dimitoff breaks from the clinch.
Nikkari has his head slapped from side to side by a 3 punch combination. That must have hurt him.
A left and a right from Nikkari both land. Nice combination.

Dimitoff rushes Nikkari and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.
Dimitoff drops down for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Nikkari tries a knee to the head but Dimitoff blocks it.
Dimitoff jumps guard but Nikkari stands there with Dimitoff around his waist. Dimitoff gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.
Esko Nikkari has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Vladie Dimitoff.
A knee to the head by Nikkari.
Nikkari scores a nice knee to the body.
Nikkari connects with a knee to the head.
Dimitoff is trying to maintain a safe position but Nikkari gets an underhook and turns Dimitoff into the cage.
Nikkari misses with a knee to the head.

Dimitoff breaks from the clinch.

Dimitoff gets the takedown into side control.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Dimitoff postures up a little and throws a couple of hammerfists but they don't connect properly.

Dimitoff working hard here to secure a kimura but he's not really in the right position for it.
Both fighters take a look at the clock.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close round but I would say that Esko Nikkari will probably get the nod.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

Nice takedown defense from Nikkari. No joy for Dimitoff on that attempt.
Decent striking displayed by Nikkari there.

Nikkari darts in and clinches Dimitoff up against the cage.
Nikkari using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Dimitoff has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
Dimitoff takes a knee right on the jaw!
Nikkari connects with a knee to the head.
Nikkari lands a knee to the body.
Dimitoff throws an elbow but it misses.
Dimitoff has Nikkari pressed up against the cage and is working for takedown. Nikkari manages to improve position though and keeps the fight standing.
Nikkari tries a knee to the head but Dimitoff blocks it.
Nikkari scores a nice knee to the body.
The pace slowing considerably in the clinch, as Dimitoff takes a break from that fighting nonsense to think about the finer things in life.
Nikkari avoiding damage as Dimitoff throws knees to the body.
Nikkari missing with knees to the body.
Nikkari scores a nice knee to the body.
Nikkari misses with a knee strike.
Dimitoff has Nikkari pressed up against the cage and is working for takedown. Nikkari manages to improve position though and keeps the fight standing.
Esko Nikkari has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Vladie Dimitoff.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Nikkari blocks an elbow strike from Dimitoff.
Nikkari takes an elbow to the forehead.
Nikkari looking to throw knees to the head but Dimitoff is blocking nicely.
Dimitoff unloads a knee to the mid-section. Nikkari lets out a prehistoric sounding urrrrgh.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Nikkari misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Dimitoff.
Nikkari missing with knees to the body.
Nikkari lands a knee to the body.
Dimitoff fails to pull the fight into his guard.
Nikkari misses with a knee strike.
A knee to the head by Nikkari.
Nikkari misses with a knee strike.
Dimitoff is trying to break the clinch but Nikkari has him pressed against the cage.
Dimitoff lands an elbow that stopped Nikkari in his tracks for a moment.
Nikkari misses with a knee to the head.
Nikkari tries to land a knee to the head but Dimitoff blocks with his arms.
Dimitoff jumps guard but Nikkari stands there with Dimitoff around his waist. Dimitoff gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.
Nikkari tries to land knees in the clinch but Dimitoff avoids the damage to the body.
Nikkari with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.
Nikkari tries to land knees in the clinch but Dimitoff avoids the damage to the body.
Dimitoff tries to pull guard but Nikkari holds him up against the cage and eventually Dimitoff drops back down to his feet.
A nice glancing elbow lands by Dimitoff.
Nikkari using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Dimitoff has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
Nikkari lands a knee to the body.
Nikkari with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.
Dimitoff tries to pull guard but Nikkari won't allow it.
Dimitoff stalling in the clinch but Nikkari improves position.
Dimitoff tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are hurling abuse towards the fighters... You can hardly blame them though because there isn't a lot going on in the fight.
Nikkari with a knee to the head.
Nikkari misses with a knee to the head.
Dimitoff misses with a body punch.
Nikkari avoids the elbow strike from Dimitoff, against the cage.
Nikkari landing some nice looking knees to the body.
Dimitoff is looking to control Nikkari's arms but Nikkari gets an underhook and turns him. Now Dimitoff has his back to the cage.
Dimitoff fails to pull the fight into his guard.
Nikkari scores a nice knee to the body.
Nikkari landing knees to the body. They look like they could hurt.
Dimitoff tries to pull guard but Nikkari won't allow it.
Nikkari throws a knee to the head but misses.
Dimitoff tries for a takedown. No joy.
Nikkari lands a knee to the head.
Nikkari throws a knee to the head but misses.
Nikkari with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.
Nikkari with a knee to the head.
Nikkari missing with knees to the body.
Dimitoff takes a knee right on the jaw!
Nikkari scores a nice knee to the body.
Nikkari landing some nice looking knees to the body.

Dimitoff breaks from the clinch.
Dimitoff works over Nikkari's head and body with a nice combination.
Dimitoff circles away from the clinch attempt

and Dimitoff counters with a single leg into guard. Nikkari didn't expect that.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Nikkari is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Dimitoff is controlling him.
Nikkari is controlling Dimitoff's posture.
Dimitoff is looking to stand up but Nikkari won't let him.
Nikkari wants to stand up but Dimitoff is controlling him.
Nikkari not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Nikkari manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Dimitoff manages to get himself to full guard.
Nikkari wants to get up but he can't break Dimitoff's closed guard. He needs to be careful trying to break the legs open, as he's open to submissions here.
Nikkari won't allow Dimitoff to sweep him here.

That's four 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 gets to his feet - Dimitoff follows without any prompting.
Nikkari tries to close the distance and clinch but Dimitoff swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Dimitoff shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Nikkari as he jumps to the side.
Dimitoff fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
Dimitoff misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
Nikkari tries to clinch but Dimitoff moves out of range.
Dimitoff throws a body kick that misses.
Dimitoff defending well as Nikkari loads up on a big left hand.

Dimitoff clinches up with Nikkari and pushes him back against the cage.
Dimitoff misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Nikkari.
Nikkari misses with a knee to the head.
Nikkari misses with a knee strike.
Dimitoff has had enough of the clinch but Nikkari keeps him there for the moment.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Esko Nikkari dominated that second round.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin! So, we enter the final round. Let's see if either fighter can bring us a finish, or whether we're going to the judges scorecards.

Nikkari keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
Nikkari tries to grapple but his opponent circles

and Dimitoff counters with a shoot takedown. Nikkari fights it but they end up in guard.
Dimitoff must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.
Dimitoff trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Dimitoff throws a big right hand that misses.

Nikkari wriggles free and stands up.
Nikkari is looking to clinch but Dimitoff is avoiding it.
Nikkari fails in his attempt to clinch.
Vladie Dimitoff is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.

Nikkari rushes Dimitoff and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.
Nikkari using the Thai clinch to land knees to the body.

Dimitoff wants the takedown. Nikkari is fighting it off but Dimitoff persists and manages to bring the fight to the ground, ending up in Nikkari's guard against the cage.
Nikkari keeping full guard, as Dimitoff tries to pass.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Dimitoff throws a big right hand that misses.
Nikkari wants to get back to his feet but Dimitoff is in a dominant position and won't allow it.
A real slowdown in the pace of the fight for a moment, as Nikkari holds on and takes a little breather.
Dimitoff stands up over Nikkari, holding his feet. He dives back in and lands a decent shot to the head.
Dimitoff postures up in Nikkari's guard and throws a big left but Nikkari blocks it.
Dimitoff wants to control from the top but Nikkari keeps moving.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.
Dimitoff keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Nikkari.
Dimitoff fails with a takedown attempt from distance.

Nikkari gets a clinch.
Nikkari with the Thai clinch, lands a knee to the head.
Nikkari stops a takedown attempt from Dimitoff.
Esko Nikkari has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Vladie Dimitoff.
Nikkari lands a knee to the head.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are getting on the fighters' backs, as the pace has dropped off in the last minute or so.

Dimitoff breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Dimitoff throws a right and a left that Nikkari avoids nicely.
Nikkari swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
Nikkari tries to clinch but Dimitoff is having none of it.
The fight stays on the outside here - Dimitoff looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
The fight stays on the outside here - Nikkari looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Nikkari looks to clinch

and Dimitoff counters with a nice double leg into side control. Nikkari won't be happy with that.

Dimitoff stands up and beckons Nikkari to his feet.
Dimitoff circles away from the clinch attempt.
Nikkari tries to clinch but Dimitoff moves away

and Dimitoff counters with a nice shoot takedown that brings the fighters to the ground.
Nikkari looking for a sweep. Not yet Nikkari, not yet.
Dimitoff trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Nikkari has Dimitoff pulled in close to control his posture.
Nikkari manages to land a sweep and now he's in mount on top!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Dimitoff is desperately trying to get back to half guard.
Nikkari controlling from the full mount.
Dimitoff is looking to get back to his feet - it's going to be hard from this position.
Nikkari controlling from the full mount.
Dimitoff wants to hold on but Nikkari pushes him away.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
My god... these two guys really need to pick up the pace or everyone will leave to go get a beer.
Dimitoff tries to buck Nikkari off but he can't manage it.
Nikkari controlling the position easily from mount.
Dimitoff is looking to get to half guard.
Nikkari content just to control the position here.
Dimitoff swinging wildly from the bottom but he's not landing.
Vladie Dimitoff has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Dimitoff tries to get back to half guard but can't.
Dimitoff is squirming around, avoiding Nikkari's attempts to control the action.
Dimitoff is working to get back to half guard.

And that's the end of the fight!
Vladie Dimitoff comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Nikkari 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 Fedor Mirinova scores the fight 29:28
Judge Aleksandr Martynov scores the fight 29:28
Judge Ivan Kurochkin scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Esko Nikkari!