PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Epeli Nailatikau (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Randy West (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Nailatikau comes to the cage accompanied by Number of the Bollywood. Epeli Nailatikau has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Nailatikau
vs
West

172 cm
29
162 lbs
21 - 14 - 0

180 cm
34
166 lbs
19 - 16 - 0

Good wrestling
Great elbows
Insanely flexible

Good wrestler
Dangerous knees
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 21 - 14 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Epeli Nailatikau!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 19 - 16 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Randy West!
The judges for this bout are Anni Minnemäki, Johanna Lukiainen and Roosa Järviläinen.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
West works his jab well there, keeping his opponent at a distance.
West checks a low kick. Bone on bone - not my idea of a good time.
West lands with a slapping head kick.
West throws out a loose jab but Nailatikau uses good head movement to avoid it.
West lands with a shot to the body.
Nailatikau blocks a low kick nicely.
Nailatikau throws a quick counter kick to the body but West avoids it.
Nice shot lands for Nailatikau.
West lands with a slapping head kick.
Nailatikau throws a leg kick but West moved away.
Nailatikau tries to move into range but West moves to the side and lands with a nice right hand.
Nailatikau lands an overhand left. A wild punch that just about connected.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Nailatikau misses with an uppercut
and West counters with a low kick, right behind Nailatikau 's knee.
Nailatikau scores with a kick to the body.
Nailatikau throws a hook but West blocks it.
West now looks to counter with a shot at the body.
West lands with an overhand left.

That's one minute gone in the round.
A cross from West lands.
West fakes a head shot and lands one to the body.
Nailatikau keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
West scores with a jab to the head.
Nailatikau walks forward, straight into a front kick from West.
West swats away the attempt to clinch by Nailatikau.
West misses with a low kick.
Nailatikau avoids the body shot from West.
Nailatikau appeared to be looking to counter that last move with a leg kick.
West darts in and out, connecting with a jab.
Nailatikau throws a leg kick but West moved away.
Nailatikau wants to land a leg kick but West is out of range.
West flicks out a counter leg kick but Nailatikau steps away.
A looping hook to the body misses from West. Nailatikau does a little dance to reset his feet.
Nailatikau looked to counter that last move with a leg kick but didn't pull the trigger.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
West motions for Nailatikau to come forward. West throws a leg kick but it misses it's target.
West chopped to the floor by a nice leg kick but he springs right back up before Nailatikau can pounce on him.
Nailatikau is looking to land body kicks.
Nailatikau goes for a spinning back kick but it misses.
As Nailatikau backs off West throws a huge counter combo but Nailatikau manages to avoid it all.
West feints and then cracks Nailatikau's leading leg with a nice low kick. He's obviously looking to slow Nailatikau down.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Nailatikau throws a lazy body kick
and West counters with a straight right hand.
Nice defenses there by Nailatikau.
Nailatikau throwing a counter right hand but West manages to avoid it.
West lands with an overhand left.
West fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Nailatikau manages to avoid it.
Randy West seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
West misses the shot to the body.
Nailatikau looked to counter that last move with a leg kick but didn't pull the trigger.
West looking to take his opponent's legs away with the low kicks.
Nailatikau takes a punch right to his stomach. That took the wind out of him momentarily.
Nailatikau definitely looks more muscular than last time we saw him fight.
Nailatikau throws a front kick aimed at West's knee but West avoids it well.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
West with a nice cross.
West blocks a low kick nicely.
West tries to land a front kick but Nailatikau steps back. That was a bit too telegraphed.
Nailatikau throws a head kick that misses
and Nailatikau takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
Nailatikau scores with a slapping inside leg kick.
West fakes with the hands and throws a leg kick but Nailatikau is out of range.
Nailatikau takes one to the chin there.
West has used his reach advantage pretty well so far tonight.
Boom, another hit is landed. "You're gunna get knocked out" taunts West, as that shot connected.
Nailatikau throws a jab when West was well out of range.
West lands with a nice low kick. That'll leave a bruise.
Nailatikau misses with a head kick.
West lands a nice shot to the body.
Nailatikau throws a chopping leg kick but West manages to avoid taking any serious damage.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
West throws a leg kick that is checked
and Nailatikau counters with a big head kick but West shrugs it off.
West is landing a lot of head punches in this opening round! Nailatikau had better start moving his head a bit unless he wants his face to turn into pâté.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
West checks a leg kick nicely.
West checks a low kick from Nailatikau.
West tries to check a leg kick but that clearly hurt him.
West ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Nailatikau moves away.
West misses with a head kick.
Nailatikau goes for a spinning back kick but it misses.
West looks more muscular than last time we saw him. He must have been on the weights.
Nailatikau misses with a lunging right hand
and West counters with a slapping leg kick.
A shot to the liver by West. Beautiful body shot.
Nailatikau throws a jab when West was well out of range.
West avoids the body shot from Nailatikau.
West with a nice cross.
West moves out of range of the body kick from Nailatikau.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Randy West dominated that round.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

Nailatikau tries to clinch but West is having none of it.
West throws a lazy body kick
and Nailatikau counters with a good, hard body kick but West shrugs it off.
Nailatikau throws a sloppy head kick and West moves out of range easily.
West was about to counter that last move with a leg kick but changes his mind.
Nailatikau throws a head kick that misses.
West misses with a head kick.
An inside leg kick from West misses.
West scores with a jab.
Nailatikau checks a low kick from West.
Nailatikau fires out a quick counter leg kick but West just manages to avoid it.
Nailatikau throws a nice inside leg kick.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
West lands a front kick.
West connects with a crisp jab.
West explodes with a nice body kick and back out of range. Nice work.
Nailatikau tries to clinch but West moves out of range.

That's one minute gone in the round.
West keeping at a good range here, avoiding a leg kick.
A solid leg kick lands there for Nailatikau.
Nailatikau misses with a low kick.
West throws an off balance right hand
and Nailatikau counters with a straight right hand.
Nailatikau fakes a jab and throws a low kick but West checks it well.
Nailatikau misses the jab.
Nailatikau moves away from the strike by West.
West throws a half hearted mid kick.
Nailatikau blocks a low kick nicely.
Nailatikau scoring well with a low kick there.
West connects with an inside leg kick.
Nailatikau has his front leg slapped to the side - a nice low kick landing there from West.
West connects with a looping left hand that seems like it dazed Nailatikau momentarily.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Nailatikau throws a low kick but it's checked well by West.
West doesn't fully commit to the body shot counter.
West scoring well with a low kick there.
Like a baseball bat into the meat of his leg there - nice leg kick by West.
Nailatikau bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Nailatikau throws an off balance right hand
and West counters with a nice uppercut.
Nailatikau is looking to score with low kicks.
West tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Nailatikau was well out of range. Poor timing from West.
Nailatikau seem to be loading up, looking for a big counter.
West lands with a thumping leg kick.
Nailatikau pivots as if he's going to throw a leg kick but stops half way.
Randy West seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Nailatikau tries to land a front kick but West steps back. That was a bit too telegraphed.
Nailatikau walks straight into an uppercut. Luckily it didn't land flush.
West plants his feet and lands a nice head kick!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Nailatikau takes a nice looking leg kick right on the meat of his thigh there.
Nailatikau on the wrong end of a nice jab.
Nailatikau throws a leg kick but West moved away.
West throws a low kick but his opponent is out of range.
As West backs away, Nailatikau returns fire with a leg kick that just misses.
West scores with a jab to the head.
West tests Nailatikau's chin there with a solid looking shot.
West swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
As West backs away, Nailatikau returns fire with a leg kick that just misses.
Good work by Nailatikau as he checks the leg kick.
As West backs away, Nailatikau returns fire with a leg kick that just misses.
Nailatikau connects with a lovely right hand, straight down the pipe.
West misses with a looping left.
Nailatikau jabbing away but nothing is landing.
West works the jab nicely.
Nailatikau throws a leg kick but he was too far away and it doesn't land.
And an attempted straight right on the counter from West! But no joy.
Nailatikau looks like he's developed a pretty tasty lump over his left eye. He'll need to avoid taking much more damage to that.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
West throws a leg kick but Nailatikau sees it coming and moves out of range.
West scores with a reasonable looking shot to the body. Nailatikau doesn't seem bothered though.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
West throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Nailatikau appeared to be looking to counter that last move with a leg kick.
West moves into range and lands a nice leg kick.
Nailatikau throws a lazy head kick
and West counters with a straight right hand.
Nailatikau uses good head movement to avoid the hook from West.
Nailatikau stumbles momentarily as he takes a strong leg kick from West.
This entire fight has taken place on the feet so far and you wonder whether Nailatikau might be better served trying to take this one to the ground because he's losing the standup battle so far.
The fighters circle momentarily. West darts into range and connects with a nice straight punch.
Nailatikau tries to score with an inside leg kick but telegraphs it and West is able to avoid easily.
West moves out of range as Nailatikau strikes.
Nailatikau throws a nice inside leg kick.
Nailatikau throws a body kick despite being completely out of range
and West counters with a good low kick that Nailatikau was not able to check.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Randy West showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action! 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.

A swing and a miss from West.
Nailatikau feinted there with a counter leg kick.
Nailatikau scores with a kick to the midsection.
Nailatikau looking to throw a kick but he's pulled out of it.
West moves out of range of the strikes.
Nailatikau avoids the head kick by West.
Nailatikau swung with a counter right hand that didn't connect.
West cracks Nailatikau with a nice right hand that draws applause from the crowd.
Nailatikau connects with a jab.
West feints and then cracks Nailatikau's leading leg with a nice low kick. He's obviously looking to slow Nailatikau down.
West keeping at a good range here, avoiding a leg kick.
West steps in looking to clinch after the strikes miss from Nailatikau.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
West throws a body kick that misses.
Nailatikau tried to counter with a leg kick but West avoided it.
Nailatikau blocks a head kick by West.
Nailatikau misses with a wild body shot.
West tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Good leg kick by West there. It's the ones that make that thud noise that hurt and that was an almighty thud.
Nailatikau thuds a mid kick into his opponent's body. That will wear on West if he has to take too many more of those.
Nailatikau pivots as if he's going to throw a leg kick but stops half way.
West throws a wild body kick that Nailatikau sees coming a mile off.
Nailatikau misses with a body kick.
Nailatikau misses with a body kick.
Nailatikau staying out of range there.
Nailatikau looks to land a right hand but West moved out of range.
West scores with a punch to the gut of his opponent.
West slips a straight right by Nailatikau.
West misses with an attempted mid kick.
Nailatikau looks to land a body kick but West moved away.
Epeli Nailatikau has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
West lands a pitter patter jab to the forehead of his opponent.
West fakes low and throws an overhand right that catches Nailatikau on the side of the head.
Nailatikau throws a leg kick but West moved away.
Nailatikau is hobbling a little on that front leg after taking quite a few leg kicks so far in this fight.
Like a baseball bat into the meat of his leg there - nice leg kick by West.
Nailatikau has his hands up protecting his head but a hook from West finds it's way round the side to connect with Nailatikau's head.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Both fighters circling a little - West finishes the exchange with a kick to the body.
Nailatikau lands a nice leg kick that just misses West's sensitive parts.
Nailatikau on the receiving end of a decent leg kick there by West. West obviously looking to wear him down.
Nailatikau cracks the inside of West's front leg.
West getting the better of the striking in that exchange.
West feints and then cracks Nailatikau's leading leg with a nice low kick. He's obviously looking to slow Nailatikau down.
West walks forward, straight into a front kick from Nailatikau.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
West takes a body kick right on the floating rib. Ouchie.
West takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
West misses with a hook
and Nailatikau counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Jab by Nailatikau.
West lands a head kick. Nailatikau smiles back at him and beckons him forward.
West has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Nailatikau throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Nailatikau misses with a body kick.
West stumbles momentarily as he takes a strong leg kick from Nailatikau.
West fakes a couple of low kicks, before throwing one on the third attempt. It connects and Nailatikau has to reset his feet before getting ready to engage.
West loads up on a big right hand but Nailatikau slips the punch.
Nailatikau misses with a body kick.
West avoids a kick to the body.
Nailatikau moves out of range of the body kick.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Nailatikau takes a hook to the side of the head. I wonder if that's got his ears ringing.
West avoids the head kick by Nailatikau.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
West tried to score with a low kick but Nailatikau checks it.
Nailatikau is looking for a counter combo.
West thows a body kick. Nailatikau tries to catch it but that hurt him.
Nailatikau throws a solid leg kick but West takes the impact on his shin and smiles at Nailatikau.
West scores with a punch to the gut of his opponent.
West on the wrong end of a kick to the body.
West connects with a solid leg kick.
West swinging wildly here.
Nailatikau feinted there with a counter leg kick.
Nailatikau scores with a leg kick.

And that's the end of the fight!
I would just about give that final round to Randy West.
Well West 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 Anni Minnemäki scores the fight 27:30
Judge Johanna Lukiainen scores the fight 27:30
Judge Roosa Järviläinen scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Randy West!
Randy West seemed lost for words in his post fight interview but he remembered to thank his fans and directed everyone to his website.