PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Mikal Panhandler (ranked 4270 p4p, 3052 weight class) and Leon Ni (ranked 525 p4p, 0 weight class). We have two fighters making their debuts here, so let's see who comes out of this one with their first professional victory.

Panhandler
vs
Ni

190 cm
25
190
0 - 0 - 0

185 cm
23
184
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Excellent MT
KO power

Decent wrestler
Basic striking
Determined

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 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Mikal Panhandler!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Leon Ni!
The judges for this bout are Hugh Johnson, Chris Dean and Topper Green.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Panhandler defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Ni.
Panhandler was looking to counter that move with a punch but didn't quite pull the trigger.

Ni is looking for a takedown here. He's shot in and has managed to get it, finishing up in Panhandler's half guard.
The referee calls for the fighters to work.
Panhandler tries to strike from the bottom but it doesn't land.
Panhandler is looking for a sweep. Ni is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Ni perhaps working for something from half guard, or maybe not. It looks like he's just sitting there.
Ni prevents Panhandler from standing back up.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Ni lands strikes from half guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
The referee calls for the fighters to work.
Ni lands strikes from half guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Panhandler pushes Ni off looking to stand but Ni dives back in and keeps control.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Panhandler trying to hold on to Ni's head to control him but Ni postures up.
Panhandler is trying to stand back up but Ni is controlling him
Well, if Ni 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.
We must be close to a standup if these guys don't pick up the pace.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up.
Panhandler fakes with a right hand and throws a good leg kick, right into the thigh. That had to hurt Ni.
Mikal Panhandler is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.

Ni closes the distance and clinches.

Ni escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Panhandler connects with a leg kick. He turned his hip over nicely there.
Ni shoots in looking for a takedown. Panhandler tries to sprawl out of it but Ni keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Panhandler manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
Panhandler throwing a counter right hand but Ni manages to avoid it.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Panhandler plants his feet and lands a nice head kick!
Ni tries for a takedown but Panhandler sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
Mikal Panhandler has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Leon Ni.
Panhandler throws a sloppy head kick and Ni moves out of range easily.
Panhandler scores with a leg kick.
Ni takes one to the chin there.
Nice takedown defense from Panhandler. No joy for Ni on that attempt.
Panhandler paws at his opponent with the jab and then lunges in with a straight, right on the button.
This has been an exciting period of action!
A bone on bone clash there as Ni blocks the leg kick.

Ni clinches.
Panhandler scores with a hook to the body.
Panhandler lands a body shot.
Panhandler throws a head punch that misses.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Panhandler tries to work over Ni's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
Panhandler misses with a punch on the inside.
Panhandler tries to throw a body punch but Ni avoids it by throwing Panhandler back against the cage.
Panhandler misses with a short punch on the inside.
Panhandler is working Ni over against the cage.

Ni manages to break the clinch.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Ni is defended easily by Panhandler.
Panhandler tried to counter with a leg kick but Ni avoided it.
Ni with a poor takedown
and Panhandler connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Panhandler keeps the fight on the outside.
Ni has a nice red mark on his side after a thudding body kick by Panhandler.
Ni looks winded!
Panhandler throws a head kick that misses.
Leon Ni seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Ni takes a kick to the body and keeps moving.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Panhandler bobs and weaves and unloads with a good uppercut.
Panhandler looking to take his opponent's legs away with the low kicks.
Ni has his takedown stuffed
and Panhandler counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
Panhandler throws a couple of head shots and lands with the final one - a decent hook, which struck Ni on the side of the head.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Ni tries for a takedown but Panhandler circles away easily
and Panhandler counters with a good, hard body kick but Ni shrugs it off.
Panhandler lands a high kick!
Panhandler throws a head kick that misses.
Ni walks into a left hand.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Ni.
Ni fails to land the takedown.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

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

A jab from Panhandler finds it's way through Ni's defenses.
Ni is looking to clinch but Panhandler is avoiding it.
Leon Ni is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Ni dives in for a single leg takedown but Panhandler sprawls and the fighters end up clinched against the cage.
The fighters are going at a pretty good pace and they're both starting to sweat now.
Ni closes the distance and clinches up with Panhandler, looking for a takedown. Ni pushes Panhandler against the cage but Panhandler circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
Ni walks straight into an uppercut. Luckily it didn't land flush.
Ni throws a head kick that misses.
Ni with a lazy takedown attempt
and Panhandler counters with a nice uppercut.

Ni is rocked!
Mikal Panhandler has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Leon Ni.
Ni gets hit by the mother of all head kicks and drops to the canvas in a crumpled heap! Woooow, the Internet is going to be talking about this one for weeks!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 0:42 of round 2, we have a winner by way of KO (Head Kick). Mikal Panhandler!