PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Karl Liebknecht (ranked 1561 p4p, 189 weight class) and Nica Tunika (ranked 3145 p4p, 331 weight class). Karl Liebknecht looks tired to me. Hopefully he has got enough gas left in the tank to put in a good performance.

Liebknecht
vs
Tunika

185 cm
20
175 lbs
6 - 1 - 0

183 cm
20
179 lbs
3 - 1 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Excellent MT
KO power

BJJ Purple Belt
Solid Muay Thai
Solid chin

Zenith Nutrition (160q/$200)
Real Men Supplements

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the welterweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 6 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Karl Liebknecht!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 3 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Nica Tunika!
The judges for this bout are George Francis, Daniel Franklin and Chris Downing.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Tunika feints a jab promting Liebknecht to slip. Tunika then demonstrates his capabilities by jabbing again. Liebknecht slips again and ducks right into an uppercut.
Liebknecht takes a shot to the body in his stride.
Tunika steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Liebknecht.

Tunika is looking for a takedown here. He's shot in and has managed to get it, finishing up in Liebknecht's half guard.
Liebknecht is trying to defend against the ground and pound but Tunika scores with a couple of nice shots.
Tunika works his foot free and advances to mount.
Tunika takes a little breather and maintains the position. The referee will be looking for him to stay active from such a dominant position though.
Liebknecht is in a tricky position but he's been working on his transitions down at Stratosphere, so we'll see if he gets out of it.
Liebknecht really wants to buck Tunika off and get back to his feet.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Tunika moves into side control, trying to work for a kimura. That looks painful! Will he finish!!?? No, Liebknecht has worked his arm free - good work by Liebknecht!

Tunika goes for an armbar here - this could be all over! But no, Liebknecht has escaped beautifully and is now on top in side control! Oh, that's unlucky for Tunika but great work by Liebknecht.

Tunika throws Liebknecht to one side and escapes!

Tunika darts in and clinches Liebknecht up against the cage.
Tunika tries to pull guard but Liebknecht holds him up against the cage and eventually Tunika drops back down to his feet.
Liebknecht misses with some punches.

Tunika breaks from the clinch.

Tunika moves into range and clinches up with Liebknecht.
Tunika blocking some punches.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Liebknecht tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Tunika wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Liebknecht has him pressed against the cage.
Tunika has Liebknecht pushed against the cage.
Tunika can't break the clinch.
Liebknecht landing knees to the head.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Tunika drops down looking for an ankle pick but Liebknecht pulls his leg out and moves away.
Liebknecht takes a thudding leg kick, right into the meat of the thigh.

Liebknecht has taken the fight to the clinch.
Tunika is looking for a takedown up against the cage. Liebknecht gets underhooks though and prevents the takedown attempt.
Karl Liebknecht has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Nica Tunika.
Tunika wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.

Tunika has clasped his hands together around Liebknecht's back... aaand, he's got a takedown into side control. Nicely done.
Liebknecht wants to escape from the position here - easier said than done!
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.
Liebknecht is not content to let Tunika control the position.

Tunika stands up and beckons Liebknecht to his feet.

Tunika instigates a clinch.
Liebknecht looking to throw knees to the head but Tunika is blocking nicely.

Tunika has hold of one of Liebknecht's legs. Liebknecht is fighting the takedown attempt but Tunika gets the trip and lands the takedown into guard.
Liebknecht is looking to stand back up... there's a bit of a scramble and Tunika dives into side control.

Tunika looking to control but instead Liebknecht has slipped a leg in, to regain half guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Tunika throwing shots but Liebknecht is blocking nicely.
The fighters are starting to get a bit slippery now, which will make submissions a bit more difficult.
Liebknecht is trying to stand up here but Tunika is controlling him well.
Tunika wants to pass to mount but Liebknecht is defending the position.
Liebknecht is not content to let Tunika control the position.
Liebknecht keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Nica Tunika dominated that round.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business.

Tunika closes the distance and clinches.
Tunika tries to stall but Liebknecht uses the opportunity to gain a better position.
Tunika tries a knee to the head but he's missed.
Tunika tries to break free but Liebknecht pushes him back against the cage.
Tunika tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.

Tunika tightens his grip and picks Liebknecht up, before dumping him to the ground. Liebknecht manages to land in guard.

Tunika gets to his feet - Liebknecht follows without any prompting.

Tunika closes the distance and pushes Liebknecht back into the cage.
Liebknecht is struggling to control the position.
Liebknecht lands with a quick shot inside that doesn't really do much damage.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Liebknecht lands with a quick shot inside that doesn't really do much damage.
Liebknecht working some nice short punches in the clinch.

Tunika breaks the clinch.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Nice takedown defense from Liebknecht. No joy for Tunika on that attempt.
Jab from Liebknecht.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Tunika instigates a clinch.
Liebknecht throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Tunika blocks it with crossed arms.
Liebknecht goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Tunika wants a takedown.
Tunika goes for a takedown in the clinch but Liebknecht prevents it.
Karl Liebknecht has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Nica Tunika.
Tunika slows down the pace here.
Both guys are working to get underhooks.
Liebknecht swings wildly with an uppercut but Tunika uses good head movement to avoid it.
Tunika is looking to control Liebknecht's arms but Liebknecht gets an underhook and turns him. Now Tunika has his back to the cage.
Tunika is working on a leg, looking for a takedown but Liebknecht is defending well.
Liebknecht misses with some punches.
Tunika tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. Liebknecht just stands there and leans against the cage.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Liebknecht tries a knee to the head but he's missed.
Liebknecht dictating the pace here, as the fighters clinch against the cage.
Tunika looking to stall.
Liebknecht misses with a hook to the ribs.
Tunika is struggling to control the position.
A right hand to the body from Tunika.
Liebknecht pushes Tunika back against the cage and lands a hook to the side of the head.
Tunika wants to get back to striking at distance but Liebknecht won't allow it.
Liebknecht swings wildly with an uppercut but Tunika uses good head movement to avoid it.
Liebknecht misses with some punches.

Tunika gets a trip takedown into half guard.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!

Tunika looking for a kimura but he'll have to free his other leg if he wants to finish that. Perhaps he's just using it as a distraction technique.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Tunika is trying a forearm choke… I don't think that's going to do much at this level of the game.
Still in half guard, Tunika seems content to control.

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.
Tunika trying to control the action but Liebknecht is working from the bottom.
Liebknecht keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.
Tunika thows a huge punch but Liebknecht dodges it nicely.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.

Tunika stands up from half guard.

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

Liebknecht has managed to escape just enough to sneak back to his feet but Tunika is on him like a limpet, forcing Liebknecht back against the cage.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close second round but I would say that Karl Liebknecht will probably get the nod.
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. This is the final round!

Tunika looking to shoot here. He's gone for it and he's landed a takedown into side control! Oh, that's bad for Liebknecht!

Tunika goes for an armbar here - this could be all over! But no, Liebknecht has escaped beautifully and is now on top in side control! Oh, that's unlucky for Tunika but great work by Liebknecht.
Tunika sneaks back into half guard.
Tunika trying to control here.
Tunika wants to control but Liebknecht passes into side.
Tunika struggling a bit here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Tunika tries to improve position but can't.
Tunika is looking to work his way out of this bad position but Liebknecht is controlling him well.
Tunika tries to get back to half guard but can't.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

Liebknecht has had enough of the ground for now and decides to stand.
Tunika throws a body kick despite being completely out of range
and Liebknecht counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
Liebknecht throws a big shot that misses.

Tunika fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Liebknecht, pushing him back against the cage.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Tunika drops down for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Tunika is trying to push Liebknecht away but Liebknecht has him pressed against the cage, so he's going nowhere.
Tunika tries to score a body lock takedown but Liebknecht shows good agility there to stay on his feet.
Tunika is looking to break free of the clinch but Liebknecht has double underhooks.
Liebknecht has a couple of punches blocked by Tunika.
Tunika is looking for a takedown up against the cage. Liebknecht gets underhooks though and prevents the takedown attempt.
Karl Liebknecht has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Nica Tunika.
Liebknecht is working Tunika over against the cage.
Tunika takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Liebknecht lands a left hand.
Liebknecht misses with a hook from the clinch.
Liebknecht is trying to slow down the pace in the clinch, to catch his breath.
Liebknecht with a knee to the head.
Liebknecht lands a hook to the side of the head.
A short uppercut from Liebknecht.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Liebknecht throws a blind hook that connects with the side of Tunikas head.
Liebknecht lands a short shot on the inside that snaps the head of Tunika backwards.
Tunika drops to a knee looking for a takedown but Liebknecht gets the underhooks and prevents it.
Liebknecht lands with a right to the head.
A quick uppercut on the inside from Liebknecht.
Tunika misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Karl Liebknecht has scored more points in the clinch so far.
Liebknecht throws a blind hook that connects with the side of Tunikas head.
Liebknecht has Tunika pressed against the cage, preventing Tunika from circling away and getting back to striking at range.
Liebknecht misses with a hook from the clinch.
Tunika tries to land knees in the clinch but Liebknecht avoids the damage to the body.
Both fighters working to control the clinch.
Tunika tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. Liebknecht just stands there and leans against the cage.
Liebknecht is stalling here. The referee will be looking to step in if he doesn't pick up the pace.
Tunika wants to break free but Liebknecht has control.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Liebknecht is pressed up against the cage. Tunika has hold of a leg and is looking to drag Liebknecht down to the mat. Liebknecht avoids the attempt though and has circled away. We're back to striking at a distance.

Liebknecht takes the fight into the clinch.
Liebknecht lands a left hand.
Liebknecht tries a knee to the head but he's missed.
Tunika misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Liebknecht.
Tunika wants to take the fight to the mat but Liebknecht manages to get underhooks and keep the fight in the clinch.
Tunika throws an elbow but it misses.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Liebknecht lands with a light punch inside.
A quick uppercut on the inside from Liebknecht.
The two fighters are working to gain dominance in the clinch.
Liebknecht lands a nice looking hook to the body, against the cage.
A real battle for position is taking place between these two warriors.
Liebknecht is trying to slow down the pace of the fight but Tunika is keeping busy.

And that's the end of the fight!
Karl Liebknecht showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Liebknecht 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 George Francis scores the fight 29:28
Judge Daniel Franklin scores the fight 29:29
Judge Chris Downing scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by majority decision... Karl Liebknecht!
A relieved looking Karl Liebknecht thanked the fans for their support and gave the usual line about them being amazing. They seemed to believe that he actually meant it.