PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Bastian Nokia (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Franco Colombo (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). The fight MMA fans around the world have waited their entire lives for!

Nokia
vs
Colombo

182 cm
35
197 lbs
7 - 38 - 0

181 cm
41
201 lbs
23 - 44 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Excellent boxer
Experienced

Dangerous GnP
Excellent MT
Powerful

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 7 - 38 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Bastian Nokia!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 23 - 44 - 0, fighting out of New York, Franco Colombo!
The judges for this bout are Tiny Johnson, Wesley Smith and Chris Downing.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Colombo tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Nokia throws a big counter combination but Colombo scrambles out of danger and avoids any damage.
Colombo throws a sloppy head kick and Nokia moves out of range easily.
Colombo throws a leg kick which misses Nokia's front leg but catches the back leg as Nokia tries to avoid it.
Colombo tests Nokia's chin there with a solid looking shot.

It looks like Bastian Nokia has been cut.
Nokia displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Colombo throws out the jab.
Colombo scores with a nice head shot.
Colombo misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Nokia is looking for a counter combo.
Nokia moves away from the strike by Colombo.
Nokia throws a counter high kick but Colombo was just alert enough to avoid it.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Colombo throws a hook but Nokia avoids it easily.
Nokia throws a quick counter head kick but Colombo was just out of range.
Colombo misses with a hook. Nokia ducked under it nicely.
Nokia is looking for a counter combo.
Nokia takes a jab right on the nose. That must have hurt but he shrugs his shoulders and looks to return the favor.

That's one minute gone in the round.
A slow jab from Colombo misses its intended target.
Nokia half commits to a counter takedown before pushing away, out of range.

Colombo waves his right hand out in front of him, looking to distract Nokia. Oh, he's unloaded a beast of a left hand - it worked! He's dropped Nokia to the canvas! Can he finish him!?

Nokia is rocked!
Colombo trying to control the position from guard on top but Nokia is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Nokia keeping full guard, as Colombo tries to pass.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Colombo trying to control but Nokia is working from the bottom.
Colombo stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Nokia swivels though and keeps the full guard.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.
Colombo throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Nokia appears to be looking for a counter takedown.
Colombo throws a body punch but Nokia moves out of range.
Colombo misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Nokia.
Nokia lifts his leg as if looking to counter with a high kick.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Colombo tries a head kick but it misses.
It looked like Nokia was looking amped, ready to throw a big counter but didn't commit.
Nokia avoids the head kick by Colombo.
Colombo tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Nokia attempts a counter takedown but Colombo avoids it well and moves away.

Colombo closes the distance and gets a trip takedown into side control. Nokia quickly recovers to half guard.
Colombo trying to control the action but Nokia is working from the bottom.
Colombo really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Nokia. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.

Colombo is sneakily working for an arm triangle but Nokia sees it coming and defends easily.
Colombo wants to pass to mount but Nokia is defending the position.

Colombo is working for a kimura but Nokia is defending it quite comfortably.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Nokia is in trouble now - Colombo has advanced to mount!
Nokia is trying to get to the cage to help him get back to his feet.
Nokia takes a big shot to the head but keeps on trying to improve his position.
Nokia is trying to stand but he's just given Colombo his back.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Franco Colombo dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Bastian Nokia's cut.
That's the end of the interval. I'm sure that seemed a lot quicker than a minute for our two fighters! Back to the action.

Colombo closes the distance and scores a nice trip takedown into half guard. Nokia did well to prevent Colombo getting side control.

Colombo is working for a kimura but Nokia is defending it quite comfortably.
Colombo not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Colombo wants to take a breather but Nokia is having none of it.

Colombo is looking for a kimura here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Colombo takes a deep breath and rests his weight momentarily on top of his opponent, to control the position.
The referee must be thinking about standing these guys back up.

Colombo is working for a submission of some sort.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Bastian Nokia is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Colombo jabbing away but nothing is landing.
It looked like Nokia was looking amped, ready to throw a big counter but didn't commit.
Colombo throws a lazy right hand but Nokia sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Nokia went nuts there looking for a big combo counter but none of the flurry connected.
Colombo dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
Colombo misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Nokia appears to be looking for a big counter.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Colombo swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
Colombo throws a head kick that misses.
Colombo misses with a wild combination.
Nokia appears to be looking for a counter takedown.

Colombo dives in and scores a takedown into Nokia's guard.
Colombo wants to control from the top but Nokia keeps moving.
Colombo has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Colombo works a leg free and moves into half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Colombo trying to pass the guard but Nokia defending well.
Colombo looks to land a strike but Nokia avoids it nicely and regains full guard.
Colombo stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Nokia swivels though and keeps the full guard.

Nokia wriggles free and stands up.
Colombo moves in looking to clinch but Nokia pushes him off.
Colombo moves into range and throws a lovely three punch combination.
Colombo jabs Nokia to the body, keeping him at a distance.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Colombo closes the distance and scores a nice trip takedown into half guard. Nokia did well to prevent Colombo getting side control.

Colombo is sneakily working for an arm triangle but Nokia sees it coming and defends easily.

Nokia pushes Colombo off and gets back to his feet.
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!
Colombo misses with a few strikes there.
Colombo throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Colombo pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Colombo tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Franco Colombo showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The cut man is working on Bastian Nokia's cut.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action! This is the final round!

Colombo tries a head kick but it misses.
Colombo just manages to avoid a counter high kick fromNokia.
Colombo ducks down and throws a hook to the body.
Colombo pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
Nokia seem to be loading up, looking for a big counter.
Franco Colombo seems to be getting the better of the standup.

Colombo lands a high kick to the side of Nokia's head that stuns him and send him tumbling down to the canvas! Colombo dives into guard, looking to finish.
Oh Nokia is still in real trouble! Will he be able to recover?!!
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

Nokia scrambles and gets back to his feet.
Nokia seems to have got his legs back now.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Colombo looks to land a combination but Nokia avoids it well.
Nokia looks shocked there as he takes a right hand to the temple.
Nokia takes one to the side of the head.
Colombo misses with a two punch combination.
Nokia attempts a counter takedown but Colombo avoids it well and moves away.
Colombo works Nokia's body with a nice hook.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Nokia avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
A head kick misses from Colombo.
Colombo takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Colombo misses with a looping right.
Nokia drops down looking for a counter takedown but Colombo sprawls and moves away.
Nokia looks shocked there as he takes a right hand to the temple.
Colombo misses with a hook. Nokia ducked under it nicely.
Nokia half commits to a counter takedown before pushing away, out of range.
Nokia takes a shot right to the liver - Bas would have been proud of that punch.
Colombo throws a right and a left that Nokia avoids nicely.
Colombo just misses with a punch to the body.

Colombo darts in and lands a nice takedown into half guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Colombo wants to pass to mount but Nokia is defending the position.

Nokia makes some distance and scrambles quickly back to his feet. Nice work!
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Colombo is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Nokia.
Colombo misses with a few strikes there.
Colombo tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Colombo throws a head kick but Nokia moves out of range.
Nokia appears to be looking for a counter takedown.
Franco Colombo seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Colombo misses with a hook. Nokia ducked under it nicely.
Colombo misses with a hook to the body
and Nokia counters with a left and a right that stings Colombo.
Colombo swings widly with a right hand
and Nokia counters with a series of strikes. Colombo will be more careful next time no doubt.
Colombo jabbing away but nothing is landing.
Nokia blocks a head kick by Colombo.
Nokia attempts a counter takedown but Colombo avoids it well and moves away.
Nice shot lands for Colombo.
Colombo tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Colombo throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Nokia feinted with a counter takedown.
Colombo tries to close the distance and clinch but Nokia swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Nokia changes levels looking for a counter takedown but doesn't commit.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Colombo throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Nokia sees it coming and avoids it easily.
Colombo throws a head kick but Nokia moves out of range.
Nokia tries to counter with a takedown but Colombo is quick to defend against it.
Colombo tries to close the distance and clinch up but Nokia swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Nokia takes a shot to the eye socket. That's gotta hurt.
Colombo pulls out of a head kick attempt.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
A head kick misses from Colombo.
Nokia tries to counter with a takedown but Colombo is quick to defend against it.
Franco Colombo is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
Colombo throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
Nokia blocks a head kick by Colombo.
Bastian Nokia has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Colombo throws a body punch but Nokia moves out of range.
It looked like Nokia was looking amped, ready to throw a big counter but didn't commit.

And that's the end of the fight!
Franco Colombo comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Colombo 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 Tiny Johnson scores the fight 26:30
Judge Wesley Smith scores the fight 26:30
Judge Chris Downing scores the fight 26:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Franco Colombo!