PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Aleks Nik (ranked 731 p4p, 310 weight class) and Edison Atunes (ranked 106 p4p, 44 weight class). Aleks Nik has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Nik
vs
Atunes

178 cm
28
171
7 - 3 - 0

185 cm
34
178
31 - 10 - 0

Good wrestling
Excellent boxer
Cardio machine

Good wrestler
World class MT
Heavy handed

Bondi MMA 🏝️

Champion Apparel

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 7 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Aleks Nik!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 31 - 10 - 0, fighting out of New York, Edison Atunes!
The judges for this bout are Hugh Johnson, Francis DeMontford and Chris Dean.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Atunes throws a shot to the body.
Nik throws a shot from downtown. Atunes moves away and avoids it.
A nice side step and Atunes releases a counter shot to the body, but it doesn't find it's home.
Atunes misses with a wild body shot.
Nik is looking for a counter combo.
Nik lands a powerful looking uppercut that connected with his opponent's jaw.

It looks like Edison Atunes has been cut.
Atunes throws a good cross that connects.

It looks like Aleks Nik has been cut.
Atunes with poor footwork there. He got himself in a bit of a tangle, enabling Nik to score with a decent uppercut.
Nik uses good footwork to get in and out, landing a nice hook.
Atunes ducks down and throws a hook to the body.
Nik fakes a head shot and lands one to the body.
Nik misses with a body punch
and Atunes counters with a stiff right hand.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Nik throws a nice looking combination but Atunes bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Atunes throws a lazy right hand but Nik sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Atunes on the wrong end of an overhand right that came out of nowhere.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Nik takes a body kick right on the floating rib. Ouchie.
Atunes avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
Atunes takes a body punch that cleary hurt but he's trying not to show any weakness.

Nik closes the distance and clinches.
Atunes tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Nik avoids it.
Atunes lands a shoulder strike.
Atunes softening up his opponent with strikes, against the cage.
Nik lands a hook that snaps the head of Atunes backwards.
Nik blocks an uppercut.
A short right from Atunes on the inside.
Nik makes some space for himself and lands an uppercut.
Atunes prevents a body shot from Nik.
Nik lands with a short shot to the head.
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!
Nik lands a right hand that snaps the head of Atunes backwards.
Nik misses with a short punch on the inside.
Atunes tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Nik is struggling to control the position.
I was talking to Nik's coach per-fight and he was telling me that they'd been working on the clinch in the runup to this fight.
Atunes misses with a hook to the ribs.
Atunes prevents a body shot from Nik.
Atunes tries a body shot but Nik blocks it.
Nik tries to throw a body punch but Atunes avoids it by throwing Nik back against the cage.
Atunes lands a nice looking hook to the body, against the cage.

Nik gets the body lock takedown. After a quick scramble, Atunes regains guard.
Atunes has a closed guard, preventing anything of note from happening. Perhaps he's looking to stall.
Nik slows down the pace of the fight for a moment. He'll need to remain active if he doesn't want to see the fight stood back up.
Nik slips effortlessly into side control - very nice.
Nik throwing strikes but missing, from side control.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Atunes defending against the ground and pound.
Nik connects with a decent looking elbow from side control that caused Atunes some visible discomfort.
Atunes is trying to control Nik's posture but Nik avoids it.
Nik happy to just control the position for now.
Nik trying to control the position but Atunes is working away.
Nik has been looking to land a fair amount of strikes on the ground. He might be looking to soften his opponent up in order to work for a submission.
The ground and pound from Nik seems to be hitting the mat more than his opponent.
Atunes is looking to regain half guard here but Nik keeps moving and retains side control.
Atunes felt the need to train up his defensive grappling in the buildup to the fight. Presumably he was expecting to be in a difficult position like this, so let's see if he can get out of it.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are hurling abuse towards the fighters... You can hardly blame them though because there isn't a lot going on in the fight.
Nik is looking to take a break and control but Atunes is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Nik in side control, throwing shots but Atunes defends.
Atunes is positioning himself to get back to half guard.
Atunes parries the strikes from Nik easily there. Nik is wary of posturing up too much because it might enable Atunes to escape.
Nik in side control, throwing shots but Atunes defends.
Nik is working Atunes over with some ground and pound from side control.
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Atunes dodges the ground and pound from Nik.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Aleks Nik dominated that round.
Both fighters have cut men working on them during the interval.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

Nik throws a body punch but Atunes moves out of range.
Atunes blocks a jab.
Nik fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
Atunes walks forward and throws out a flicking leg kick. Nik checks it nicely though, as he moves to the side.
Nik is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Atunes can do to turn this around?

Nik drives through and clinches with Atunes against the cage.
Nik throws a head punch that misses.
Nik taking a breather.
Nik misses with the head strike.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Atunes trying to land knees to the body.
Atunes landing knees to the body. They look like they could hurt.
Nik looking to slow down the pace here.
Atunes lands an uppercut.
Nik tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Atunes's elbow.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Atunes lands with a short shot to the head.
Atunes unloads a knee to the mid-section.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Atunes lands a body punch.
Knees in the clinch landing for Atunes.
Atunes tries a body shot but Nik blocks it.
Atunes gets double underhooks to prevent a takedown attempt from Nik.
Atunes landing knees to the head.
Atunes lands a body shot in the clinch.
Atunes with the Thai clinch, lands a knee to the head.
Atunes unloads a knee to the mid-section. Nik lets out a prehistoric sounding urrrrgh.
Atunes utilising his Muay Thai to score with a knee to the body.
Atunes landing some nice looking knees to the body.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
A quick uppercut on the inside from Atunes.
Atunes lands a nice shot to the body.
Atunes lands with a light punch inside.
Atunes is trying to wear down his opponent with knees to the body.
Still in the clinch, Atunes scores with a nice short uppercut.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Atunes landing knees to the head.
Atunes lands with a short punch from the clinch.
Atunes tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Nik's elbow.
Atunes tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Atunes crunches a lovely knee into Nik's ribcage.
Atunes landing knees to the body. They look like they could hurt.
Atunes misses with a punch to the body.
Atunes utilising his Muay Thai to score with a knee to the body.
Atunes lands with a right to the head.
Atunes throws a knee to the head but misses.
Atunes using the Thai clinch to land knees to the body.
Atunes scores with an uppercut up the middle.
Nik tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Atunes working some nice short punches in the clinch.
Atunes connects with a knee to the head.
Atunes is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Nik is defending well for now.
Atunes with a knee to the head.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Atunes putting his Muay Thai to good use. He has Nik in a tight clinch and is doing some damage with knees to the body.
Atunes landing some nice looking knees to the body.
Atunes lands on the inside with an uppercut.
Atunes lands a nice uppercut.
Kneeeeees! The crowd are calling for knees to the body. Atunes obliges.
Atunes working on landing some head shots here - that one got through nicely.
A short uppercut from Atunes.
A nice right hand lands inside from Atunes.
Atunes tries to throw a body punch but Nik avoids it by throwing Atunes back against the cage.
Atunes throws a blind hook that connects with the side of Niks head.
Atunes misses with a hook to the ribs.
Atunes lands a body punch.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Nik managing to block the knees to the body from Atunes.
Nik takes a knee to the side of the body.
Atunes lands a hook to the side of the head.
Nik swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Nik swings wildly with an uppercut but Atunes uses good head movement to avoid it.
Atunes tries to work over Nik's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Atunes lands a knee to the head there! That was nasty!
A short uppercut from Atunes.
Nik working aggressively here.
Nik fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Atunes being controlled against the cage.
Nik goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Atunes misses with a body punch.
Nik doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Atunes lands a good knee to the midsection. Nik won't want to take too many of those.
Atunes is trying to wear down his opponent with knees to the body.
A nice right hand lands inside from Atunes.
Atunes digs a right hand underneath Nik's ribcage. Nik let out a lung full of air as it connected.
The crowd applaud the fighters' efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Atunes lands punches inside but they're not really causing much damage.
Atunes lands with a good tight uppercut to the head.
Atunes stops a takedown attempt from Nik.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Aleks Nik. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Atunes scores a nice knee to the body.
Knees in the clinch landing for Atunes.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Edison Atunes showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
Both fighters have cut men working on them during the interval.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin! This is the final round!

Atunes tries to clinch there but Nik circles away.
Atunes throws a leg kick that misses.
Nik tries for a takedown but Atunes sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
Nik tries to close the distance and clinch up but Atunes swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Atunes is clearly trying to counter these attacks from Nik with a body shot.
Nik bobs and weaves and throws out a fast jab that snaps Atunes's head backwards.
Nice shot by Nik.
Nik ducks low and lands a nice hook to the body of his opponent.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Atunes gets a clinch.
Atunes tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Nik's elbow.
Atunes landing knees to the body. They look like they could hurt.
Edison Atunes seems to be working more effectively in the clinch in the fight so far.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Atunes misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Atunes lands with a short shot to the head.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Nik is trying to maintain a safe position but Atunes gets an underhook and turns Nik into the cage.
Nik wants to take the fight to the mat but Atunes manages to get underhooks and keep the fight in the clinch.
Atunes blocks a body shot from Nik.
A short body shot lands from Atunes as the two fighters clinch.
Atunes lands a body shot in the clinch.
Atunes lands a hook to the body. It's hard to tell if that hurt Nik or not.
Atunes presses Nik against the cage and delivers a mid-strength body shot.
Atunes pressing his opponent against the cage.
Atunes digs a right hand into Nik's ribs. Those have got to be taking their toll on Nik's gas tank.
Atunes lands a right hand that snaps the head of Nik backwards.
Atunes lands a knee to the body.
A quick uppercut on the inside from Atunes.
Atunes landing knees to the body.
Atunes digs a right hand underneath Nik's ribcage. Nik let out a lung full of air as it connected.
Atunes trying to land knees to the body.
Atunes tries to work over Nik's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
Atunes blocks a punch to the side of the head.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Atunes misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Nik swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Atunes with an attempt at a knee that misses.
Atunes lands a nice knee to the body.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Atunes throws a knee to the head but misses.
A real battle for position is taking place between these two warriors.
Nik takes a knee right on the jaw!
Atunes blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Nik managing to block the knees to the body from Atunes.
Atunes working aggressively here.
Atunes lands a good knee to the midsection. Nik won't want to take too many of those.
Atunes makes some space for himself and lands an uppercut.
Nik takes a knee to the side of the body.
Atunes with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.
Nik letting Atunes take a breather here.
Nik is trying to slow down the pace of the fight but Atunes is keeping busy.
Atunes misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Nik.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Nik swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Nik throws a punch but it's blocked by Atunes.
Atunes doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Nik takes a knee to the side of the body.
Nik drops to a knee looking for a takedown but Atunes gets the underhooks and prevents it.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Aleks Nik. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Atunes works for underhooks and lands a body shot in the process.
A short body shot lands from Atunes as the two fighters clinch.
Atunes doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Atunes lands a shoulder strike.
Atunes lands a right uppercut that snaps the head of Nik backwards.
Nik has dropped down and is looking to force the takedown but it's defended by Atunes after a bit of a struggle.
Atunes scores with a shoulder strike.
Nik misses with a hook from the clinch.
A shot in the inside from Atunes.
Nik misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Atunes is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Nik is defending well for now.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Nik throws a hook to the body. More of an arm punch but it's all scoring with the judges.
Nik swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Atunes blocks an uppercut.
With the fighters clinched against the cage, Nik creates a bit of distance for himself and scores with a nice uppercut.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Nik throws a punch but it's blocked by Atunes.
Atunes lands a left hand.
Atunes misses with a body punch.
Atunes prevents the takedown attempt.
Atunes lands a right hand that snaps the head of Nik backwards.
Nik has a couple of punches blocked by Atunes.
Atunes misses with a hook from the clinch.
A head punch on the inside from Nik fails to land.
Atunes lands a right uppercut that snaps the head of Nik backwards.
Nik looking to slow down the pace here.
Nik is working for a takedown up against the cage. He can't get it on this occasion though.
A head punch on the inside from Nik fails to land.

Nik has moved round to his opponent's back and is looking for a suplex! Oh snap! He's tossed Atunes clear over his head and slammed him to the mat!

And that's the end of the fight!
Edison Atunes comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Atunes has won this one but let's see whether the judges agree with me. 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 Hugh Johnson scores the fight 27:29
Judge Francis DeMontford scores the fight 27:29
Judge Chris Dean scores the fight 27:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Edison Atunes!
Post fight, an emotional Edison Atunes said 'He will probably die later. '.