PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Giovanni Nicodemo (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Michael Gornik (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Michael Gornik is staring across the cage at his opponent, tweaking his nipples.

Nicodemo
vs
Gornik

170 cm
19
155 lbs
1 - 1 - 0

180 cm
23
145 lbs
2 - 5 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Excellent boxer
Granite chin

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Knockout power

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the featherweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 1 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Giovanni Nicodemo!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 5 - 0, fighting out of London, Michael Gornik!
The judges for this bout are Marco Blurström, Ben Zyskovitsi and Johanna Lukiainen.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Nicodemo connects with the punch.
Nicodemo lands with a hook. Gornik tried to avoid it but it clipped the top of his head.
Nicodemo with a body punch. A glancing blow.
Nicodemo slips in close and lands a nice hook before moving back out of range.
Gornik shakes his hands off, looking to compose himself, but takes a jab to the jaw whilst he does it.
Nicodemo lands a really nice looking cross but Gornik seems unphased.
Nicodemo throws a jab to the body, straight down the pipe. Boom. That sent Gornik stumbling backwards but he manages to regain his composure quickly.
Gornik takes a body punch but keeps moving.
Nicodemo jabs at Gornik's body.
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!
Nicodemo moving in and out of range nicely, whilst landing the scoring shot.
Nicodemo moves into range and connects with a jab.
Nicodemo's jab looks to have found its range, popping Gornik under the eye.
Nicodemo cracks a nice hook into Gornik's ribs.
Nicodemo lands with a right hand.

Gornik darts in and lands a nice takedown into half guard.
Nicodemo keeping control of the leg, stopping his opponent passing to mount.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Nicodemo works his way to full guard. Good work.
Gornik must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.
Gornik preventing the sweep.
Nicodemo trying to control the position here.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Nicodemo wants to sweep but no luck.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Well. There's a bit of a lull in the action here and the crowd are starting to get restless.
Nicodemo bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Gornik's guard.

Nicodemo controlling from the top position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Nicodemo passes Gornik's right leg, so he's now in half guard.
Gornik is working for an escape here. He's hooked one of Nicodemo's legs and he's managed to sneak out and take Nicodemo's back!
Nicodemo can't escape the position.
Gornik is looking to control Nicodemo but Nicodemo is wriggling around and keeping busy.
Nicodemo trying to control the hands but Gornik breaks the grip.
Nicodemo has his hands over his head blocking the strikes from Gornik.
Nicodemo looking to control the position.
Gornik is a painfully thin specimen of a man. You do wonder whether a good body kick would snap him clean in two.

Gornik is looking for the choke from the back position but Nicodemo is controlling his hands well.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Nicodemo defending nicely against the rear naked choke attempt.
Gornik wants to control but Nicodemo manages to buck him off and is now in Gornik's guard! Nice work there by Nicodemo!
Gornik not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Nicodemo content to stall in guard here.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Giovanni Nicodemo dominated that round.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

Nicodemo lands a nice shot that snaps Gornik's head back.
Nicodemo cracks Gornik with a right hand to the side of the head.
Danga de danga de dang - Nicodemo scores with a four punch combination!
Nicodemo takes a step towards his opponent and connects with a left hand, before circling away.
Nicodemo cracks Gornik with a nice right hand that draws applause from the crowd.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Gornik.
Nicodemo lands a glancing blow to the side of Gornik's head.
Nicodemo is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Gornik can do to turn this around?
Nicodemo lands a straight punch to the body, keeping Gornik at a distance.
Nice uppercut lands for Nicodemo. That snapped Gornik's head back.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Gornik on the wrong end of an overhand right that came out of nowhere.
Michael Gornik is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Nicodemo lands an overhand left. A wild punch that just about connected.
Nicodemo throws a leg kick but Gornik moved away.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Gornik shoots in looking for a takedown. Nicodemo tries to sprawl out of it but Gornik keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Nicodemo manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
Nicodemo lands a nice hook to Gornik's body. Gornik takes it in his stride and looks to land his own strikes.
Gornik on the wrong end of a decent looking cross there.
Giovanni Nicodemo is winning the standup battle so far.
Gornik is trying hard to land a takedown here. Nicodemo sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.
Giovanni Nicodemo has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Michael Gornik.
Nicodemo lands with a nice body punch.
Gornik takes a shot to the body in his stride.
Gornik on the wrong end of a decent looking cross there.
Nicodemo throws a low kick but Gornik moves out of range easily.
Nicodemo connects with a slap. Keep your fist closed son.
Nicodemo lands a glancing blow to the side of Gornik's head.
Gornik throws a sloppy head kick
and Nicodemo counters with a lovely shot to the body.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Nicodemo scores with a big left there. The judges will like that one.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Nicodemo 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.
Gornik throws a solid leg kick but Nicodemo takes the impact on his shin and smiles at Gornik.
Gornik walks into a jab.
Gornik wants to clinch up but Nicodemo keeps it at a distance.
Nicodemo with a nice cross.
Gornik fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Nicodemo manages to avoid it.
A jab from Nicodemo does it's job there.
Nicodemo scores with a straight right hand, right through his opponent's guard.
Gornik takes a body punch that cleary hurt but he's trying not to show any weakness.
Nicodemo lands a beauty of a right hand that gets the crowd cheering.
Giovanni Nicodemo seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Gornik takes one to the side of the head.
Gornik throws a nice looking combination but Nicodemo bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Nicodemo paws at his opponent with the jab and then lunges in with a straight, right on the button.
Giovanni Nicodemo is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Nicodemo throws a good cross that connects.
Nicodemo tries to score with a leg kick but it misses it's target.
Gornik has a pretty nasty looking mouse under his right eye.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Nicodemo throws a couple of head shots and lands with the final one - a decent hook, which struck Gornik on the side of the head.
Nicodemo dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
Nicodemo connects with a good right hand that stumbles Gornik. Gornik circles away out of range and recomposes himself.
Gornik takes a jab on the nose there. A little bit of blood seems to be coming out. Hopefully that won't affect his breathing.
Nicodemo fakes and then throws a beautiful body shot. Gornik looks a bit winded and takes a step backwards to take a breath.
Good standup being displayed there by Nicodemo as he connects with a hook.
Nicodemo jabs Gornik right on the nose. Gornik blinks but takes it well.
Nicodemo connects with a hook to the side of his opponent's head.
Nicodemo fakes a jab and throws a low kick but Gornik checks it well.
Nicodemo scores with a shot to the body.
Nicodemo scores with a crisp jab that stopped Gornik in his tracks.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Gornik takes a thudding leg kick, right into the meat of the thigh.
Gornik takes a body punch that cleary hurt but he's trying not to show any weakness.
Gornik takes a body punch that cleary hurt but he's trying not to show any weakness.
Jab, jab by Nicodemo - just one landing.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Nicodemo fakes a head shot and lands one to the body.
Nicodemo lands an overhand right.
Gornik shakes his hands off, looking to compose himself, but takes a jab to the jaw whilst he does it.
Nicodemo lands a lovely overhand right.
Nicodemo avoids a punch combination nicely.
Nicodemo stuns Gornik with a nice body shot, before stepping back out of range.
Gornik checks the leg kick.
Gornik closes this distance looking for a takedown but Nicodemo circles away.
Good exchange - Nicodemo coming out on top.
The crowd applaud the fighters' efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Nicodemo connects with a nice looking jab.
Gornik ducks right into an uppercut from Nicodemo.
Gornik drops his hands and takes a jab to the jaw for his troubles.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Giovanni Nicodemo dominated that second round.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action! This is the final round!

Nicodemo lands with a good body shot.
Nicodemo scores with a body shot.
Nicodemo lands a jab to Gornik's midsection.
Gornik takes one to the side of the head.
Nicodemo lands a body shot.
Gornik takes a shot to the eye socket. That's gotta hurt.
Nicodemo ducks low and lands a nice hook to the body of his opponent.
Nicodemo lands with a cross.
Nicodemo digs a good hook to Gornik's body.
Nicodemo listening to his corner there, landing a nice uppercut.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Gornik loads up on a big right hand but Nicodemo slips the punch.
Nicodemo fakes a jab and scores with a low kick.
Nicodemo lands a body shot.
Nicodemo throws a jab to the body, straight down the pipe. Boom. That sent Gornik stumbling backwards but he manages to regain his composure quickly.
Nicodemo bobbing and weaving, closes the distance and lands a hook to the side of Gornik's head.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Nicodemo steps to his left, right into the path of a big body kick from Gornik. That one must have hurt.
Nicodemo lands a slapping body shot.
Nicodemo scores with a jab to the body.
Nicodemo throws a shot to the body.
Nicodemo scores with a jab to the jaw.
Nicodemo throws a two punch combo that lands nicely.
Gornik takes a shot right to the bread basket.
Gornik tries to clinch but Nicodemo is having none of it.
Nicodemo lands with a straight right. Gornik didn't see that one coming.
A lazy left from Nicodemo finds it's target.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Nicodemo lands a jab to the nose.
Nicodemo connects with a nice looking jab.
Nicodemo leaves Gornik with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.

Gornik closes the distance and clinches.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Gornik looking to slow down the pace here.

Gornik drags the fight down to the ground.
Gornik keeping full guard, as Nicodemo tries to pass.
Gornik being controlled here, momentarily.
Gornik is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Gornik is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Nicodemo is taking a break and basically stalling. The referee will not allow him to do that for long.
Gornik wants to control but instead he gets his guard passed and Nicodemo is now in half guard.
Well, if Nicodemo is going to just lie there, perhaps we should talk about what we're having for dinner tonight… I'm having a ham and pineapple pizza… Yum. Can't wait.

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.

Gornik actively working from the bottom here.
Nicodemo has improved his flexibility recently so we will have to see if he can use that to his advantage.
Gornik tries to get to full guard but Nicodemo has control of the leg.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Nicodemo closes the distance and lands a one-two.
Nicodemo cracks Gornik with a hook to the jaw. Both fighters smile at eachother and high-five before getting back down to business.
Gornik looks for a takedown but Nicodemo sprawls well.
Giovanni Nicodemo is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Nicodemo connects with a jab.

And that's the end of the fight!
Giovanni Nicodemo showed his dominance in that final round.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Nicodemo, winning every round. Will the judges agree? They are the ones who matter, even if they are often depressingly incompetent. 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 Marco Blurström scores the fight 30:26
Judge Ben Zyskovitsi scores the fight 30:26
Judge Johanna Lukiainen scores the fight 30:26

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Giovanni Nicodemo!