PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Kunta Kinte (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Nikolay Capriotti (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Kinte kept the crowd waiting but all that was forgotten when his ring entrance music started. The incomparable musical genius that is Wu Tang Clan- Shame On A Nigga. Capriotti has chosen Immigrant Song - Karen O (feat. Trent Reznor & Atticus Ross) as his entrance music. Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

Kinte
vs
Capriotti

187 cm
34
193 lbs
14 - 3 - 1

187 cm
29
186 lbs
11 - 6 - 1

Abu Dhabi Champ
World class boxer
Insanely flexible

Olympic wrestler
Excellent MT
Good gas tank

Milwaukee's Best 160 (85% laundry)

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the middleweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 14 - 3 - 1, fighting out of Hilo, Kunta Kinte!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 11 - 6 - 1, fighting out of Tokyo, Nikolay Capriotti!
The judges for this bout are Tiny Johnson, Gwen Towbar and Wesley Smith.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
A telegraphed right hand from Kinte misses the target.
A lazy left from Capriotti finds it's target.
Kinte uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Capriotti.
Capriotti avoids the head kick by Kinte.
Capriotti lands with a shot to the body.
Kinte scores with a push kick.
Kinte fakes a jab and then connects with a hook.
Capriotti throws a body punch but Kinte moves out of range.
Capriotti throws a front kick aimed at Kinte's knee but Kinte avoids it well.
Horrible takedown attempt by Capriotti or perhaps it was just good defense by Kinte, which made it look bad.
Capriotti smiles there as he lands a nice right hand right on the button.
Kinte throws a leg kick but he was too far away and it doesn't land.
Kinte throws a low kick but Capriotti avoids it.
Kinte fakes a jab and then connects with a hook.
Nikolay Capriotti seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Capriotti moves out of range of the leg kick from Kinte.
Capriotti fakes a jab and throws a low kick but Kinte checks it well.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kinte throws a jab but it's blocked by Capriotti.
Capriotti uses good footwork to get in and out and land a nice right hand before Kinte has time to react.
A looping hook to the body misses from Kinte. Capriotti does a little dance to reset his feet.
Donk. Kinte catches Capriotti right on the button with a cross.
Capriotti misses with a looping left.

Excellent takedown into side control there by Capriotti.
Capriotti lands some shots froms side control.

Capriotti is trying to land an Americana. He has the arm isolated but Kinte is keeping cool and he's avoided the danger for now.
Kinte can't do much from the bottom here.
Capriotti has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
Capriotti cracks Kinte with a big elbow.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Kinte takes a big shot right to the temple there but he's taken it well.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Capriotti throwing shots but missing, from side control.
Kinte is looking to regain half guard here but Capriotti keeps moving and retains side control.
Kinte looks to move to half guard but instead Capriotti has passed into mount! Damn!
Capriotti landing strikes, looking to finish!

It looks like Kunta Kinte has been cut.
Capriotti prevents Kinte from getting the reversal.
Capriotti throws an elbow from mount that misses. Lucky escape for Kinte because Capriotti loaded up on that one.
Capriotti working the ground and pound effectively.
Kinte is in all sorts of trouble here.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Capriotti lands an elbow that was bordering on illegal but the referee lets it go with a warning.
Capriotti looking to ground and pound but Kinte is blocking nicely.
Kinte is in all sorts of trouble here.
Kinte is working hard here to advance position.
Capriotti unloads with some shots from mount but Kinte bucks and avoids them well.
Kinte is trying to escape the mount.
Kinte regains half guard.
Kinte tries to get to full guard but Capriotti has control of the leg.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Capriotti is thinking about going for an arm triangle but he can't free his leg.
Kinte wants to improve his position but Capriotti is controlling well.
Capriotti seems to be taking a bit of a break to think of his next move. He lands a short punch in the meantime.
Capriotti thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Kinte's head.
Capriotti is keeping good posture, landing some ground and pound.

Kunta Kinte's cut is getting worse.
Capriotti prevents Kinte from improving his position.
Kinte works his way to full guard. Good work.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Kinte throws a head kick that misses.
Capriotti changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Kinte tries to avoid it but Capriotti manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Kinte to the ground. Kinte escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
Capriotti lands a really nice looking cross but Kinte seems unphased.
Capriotti has been the more effective fighter overall so far.

Capriotti shoots in for a takedown and gets it.
Capriotti is trying to control. Kinte wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.
Capriotti scoring with strikes to the body and head.
Kinte moves his hips nicely and gets into full guard.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Kinte has Capriotti pulled in close to control his posture.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kinte tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Capriotti throwing strikes from guard but Kinte blocks nicely.
Capriotti postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Capriotti landing with the ground and pound.
Capriotti postures up.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Capriotti loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Kinte is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.

Kinte wants to lay and pray for a moment but Capriotti keeps working.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Capriotti tries to roll over but Kinte keeps him under control.
Capriotti is staying active underneath Kinte, who seems content to just control the action from this position.
Kinte trying to pass the guard but Capriotti defending well.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Nice strikes from Kinte there.
Capriotti tries to get to full guard but Kinte has control of the leg.
Capriotti is not content to let Kinte control the position.

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.
Capriotti throws a low kick but it's checked well by Kinte.
Capriotti throws a lazy head kick

and Kinte counters with a takedown into side control! That could mean trouble for Capriotti!
Kinte in side control, trying to ground and pound but not landing this time.
Kinte wants to control but Capriotti is keeping him busy.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
We've been hearing that Kinte has been drilling a lot of ground and pound in training, so let's see if he get the finish.
You can see the frustration on Capriotti's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.
Kinte grinds an elbow into Capriotti's temple.
Kinte trying to control the position but Capriotti is working away.
Kinte is really struggling to control Capriotti but he's trying to hold on to the position.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Kinte works Capriotti's body with a nice hook.
Kinte misses with a lunging right hand

and Capriotti holds on and brings the fighters into a clinch.
Kinte prevents the takedown attempt.
Capriotti lands with a short punch from the clinch.
Capriotti blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Capriotti tries to work over Kinte's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.

Capriotti pulls guard effortlessly.
Nikolay Capriotti has got the better of the ground game so far.
Capriotti utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Kinte throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Capriotti works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Capriotti looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Capriotti keeping moving, preventing Kinte from controlling successfully.
Kinte pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Capriotti is keeping the position for now.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Hammerfist, elbow! yells Kinte's corner. There ya go! There ya go!
Kinte trying to control but Capriotti is working from the bottom.
Kinte throws a big elbow that misses.
Capriotti keeping moving, preventing Kinte from controlling successfully.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.
Kinte throws an ugly left hook that misses

and Capriotti counters with a shoot takedown. Kinte fights it but they end up in guard.
Capriotti preventing the sweep.
Capriotti pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Kinte is keeping the position for now.
Capriotti content to strike from guard, landing some decent shots.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Capriotti lands a couple of digs.
Capriotti trying to control the position from guard on top but Kinte is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Kinte wants to sweep but no luck.
Capriotti throwing strikes but missing.
Capriotti scoring with punches to the head and body.
Kinte wants to control here, rather than go for any submissions from the bottom. At least for now.
Capriotti trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Capriotti is in close to Kinte's body, working some short punches and elbows.
Kinte wants to sweep but no luck.
Capriotti trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
We may be looking at a referee standup if the pace doesn't pick up soon.
Kinte looking to sweep here. No luck so far.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.
Capriotti has tried to improve his agility in the runup to this fight.
Kinte steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Capriotti.
A chopping leg kick lands by Kinte.
Nice shot by Kinte.
Capriotti is trying hard to land a takedown here. Kinte sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.
Capriotti misses with a hook.
Kunta Kinte is winning the standup battle so far.
A big right from Capriotti misses.
Capriotti fakes with the hands and throws a leg kick but Kinte is out of range.
Capriotti dives in for a single leg takedown but Kinte sprawls and the fighters end up clinched against the cage.
Kunta Kinte has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Nikolay Capriotti.
A nice left hand lands by Kinte.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Kinte doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Capriotti is looking to take this one to the mat.
Kinte blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Capriotti fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
A head punch on the inside from Capriotti fails to land.
Capriotti swings away with an uppercut that misses.

Kinte breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Capriotti moves away from the strike by Kinte.
Kinte misses with a head kick.
Kinte blocks a jab.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Kinte ducks under a wild hook from Capriotti.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Ouch! a nice leg kick from Kinte, right into the meat.
Kinte throws a hook to the side of Capriotti's head but Capriotti sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
Kinte takes a big uppercut there. He seems a bit wobbly but no, he's OK.
Capriotti takes a hook to the side of the head. I wonder if that's got his ears ringing.

And that's the end of the fight!
I would just about give that final round to Nikolay Capriotti.
I think Capriotti has won this one but let's see whether the judges agree with me. 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 Tiny Johnson scores the fight 28:29
Judge Gwen Towbar scores the fight 28:29
Judge Wesley Smith scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Nikolay Capriotti!
A pretty intense looking Nikolay Capriotti took the opportunity post-fight to ask for a shot at the title.
Kunta Kinte was interviewed post fight and said 'You mothafuckaz!'.