PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Charlie Kenton (ranked 3563 p4p, 4210 weight class) and David Nikora (ranked 0 p4p, 447 weight class). Kenton comes to the cage accompanied by give it a go. Both fighters really staring each other down here, as David Nikora enters the cage!

Kenton
vs
Nikora

180 cm
25
240
2 - 2 - 0

185 cm
19
220
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Solid boxing
KO power

BJJ White Belt
Decent boxing
Heavy handed

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 2 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, Charlie Kenton!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, David Nikora!
The judges for this bout are Chris Saunders, Colin Fray and Josh West.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Kenton takes a really solid shot there but just smiles back and shrugs his shoulders.

It looks like Charlie Kenton has been cut.
Nikora throws out a loose jab but Kenton uses good head movement to avoid it.
Kenton darts in looking for a takedown but Nikora gets double underhooks and turns Kenton into the cage.
Kenton jumps guard but Nikora stands there with Kenton around his waist. Kenton gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.
Nikora throws a punch but it's blocked by Kenton.
Nikora wants to break free but Kenton has control.
Nikora misses with a punch on the inside.
Kenton blocks a couple of punches on the inside.

Nikora manages to break the clinch.

Kenton gets a clinch.
Nikora working on landing some head shots here - that one got through nicely.
Nikora wants to break free but Kenton has control.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Nikora scores with a shoulder strike.
Nikora lands a hook to the side of the head.
Kenton is breathing heavily.
Kenton throws a punch but it's blocked by Nikora.
Nikora has a couple of punches blocked by Kenton.
Nikora can't break the clinch.
A frustrated look appears on Kenton's face as he tries to break the clinch.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Nikora fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Kenton blocks an uppercut.

Kenton pulls guard.
Nikora throwing strikes but missing.
Nikora throwing strikes but missing.
Nikora postures up in Kenton's guard and throws a big left but Kenton blocks it.
Nikora would like to get this fight back to the feet but can't get free from the closed guard.
Nikora really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Kenton. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.
Nikora is looking to work some ground and pound but Kenton has wrist control.
Nikora scoring with some ground and pound.
Nikora is looking to work some ground and pound but Kenton has wrist control.
Kenton working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Nikora.
Nikora wants to stand but Kenton is controlling his posture from full guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Nikora missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Nikora throws a big elbow that misses.
Nikora wants to get up but he can't break Kenton's closed guard. He needs to be careful trying to break the legs open, as he's open to submissions here.
Nikora throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Nikora wants to stand but Kenton is controlling his posture from full guard.
The fighters are starting to get a bit slippery now, which will make submissions a bit more difficult.
Kenton has control of Nikora's left arm, preventing Nikora from doing any damage.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.
Nikora throws a lazy uppercut
and Kenton counters with a right hand to the body.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Sloppy strikes from Nikora. Those never looked like landing.
Nikora looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Nikora swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
Kenton smiles there as he lands a nice right hand right on the button.
Nikora misses with a straight right.
Nikora looks to throw the jab but Kenton is out of range.
Kenton ducks under a wild hook from Nikora.
Nikora misses the shot to the body.
Kenton definitely looks more muscular than last time we saw him fight.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Kenton is defended easily by Nikora.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Charlie Kenton. That's going to take a lot out of him.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Nikora displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Kenton.
Kenton closes the distance and takes a jab right on the nose as he does so.
Kenton tries to move into range but Nikora moves to the side and lands with a nice right hand.
Nikora slips a straight right by Kenton.
Nikora with a jab.
Nikora scores with a decent looking hook.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Nikora just misses with a punch to the body.
Kenton takes a really solid shot there but just smiles back and shrugs his shoulders.
Nikora throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Kenton sees it coming and avoids it easily.
Kenton throwing a counter right hand but Nikora manages to avoid it.
Kenton uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Nikora.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

David Nikora dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Charlie Kenton's cut.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

Kenton drops his hands and takes a jab to the jaw for his troubles.
Nikora lands a powerful looking uppercut that connected with his opponent's jaw.
Kenton dives in for a single leg takedown but Nikora sprawls and the fighters end up clinched against the cage.
Kenton blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Nikora fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Nikora.
Nikora has a couple of punches blocked by Kenton.
Nikora throws a punch but it's blocked by Kenton.
Nikora throws a punch but it's blocked by Kenton.
Nikora misses with a hook from the clinch.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Nikora throws a punch but it's blocked by Kenton.
Nikora has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Kenton is trying to break free.
Nikora swings away with an uppercut that misses.

Kenton jumps guard.
Nikora postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Nikora throwing strikes but missing.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Nikora in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Nikora lands a nice shot whilst sitting in his opponent's guard.
Nikora working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Nikora is looking to stand up but Kenton won't let him.
Kenton utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.

Kenton escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Nikora gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
Nikora wants to stand but Kenton has a closed guard, so he can't escape.
Nikora throwing strikes from guard but Kenton blocks nicely.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are getting on the fighters' backs, as the pace has dropped off in the last minute or so.
Nikora throwing strikes but missing.
Kenton has his hands on Nikora's head, controlling the position.
Kenton wants to stand but Nikora is controlling the position.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.
Nikora might want to mix his strikes up a bit more. He's just going for head shots at the moment and that can become a bit predictable.
Nikora swinging wildly here.
Nikora with a jab.
Nikora throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Nikora connects with a slap. Keep your fist closed son.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kenton shoots for a double leg takedown but Nikora sprawls well. He's pushed Kenton's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
Jab from Nikora.
Kenton on the wrong end of an overhand right that came out of nowhere.
Kenton tries to bum rush Nikora with a series of wild strikes but Nikora uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Nikora lands an overhand left. A wild punch that just about connected.
Nikora catches Kenton with a nice straight right. He seems pissed - ooooh, it's on now! On like donkey kong!
Nikora looks to land a right hand but Kenton moved out of range.
David Nikora is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Nikora jabs at Kenton's body.
Kenton moves out of range of the strikes.
Nikora lands a body shot.
Kenton with poor footwork there. He got himself in a bit of a tangle, enabling Nikora to score with a decent uppercut.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Nikora throws a jab, cross combination which is slipped

and Kenton counters by moving into the clinch.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Nikora wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Kenton has him pressed against the cage.
A head punch on the inside from Nikora fails to land.
Nikora is looking to break free of the clinch but Kenton has double underhooks.
Kenton blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Nikora tries to circle away but Kenton has him pinned against the cage.

Kenton pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Nikora swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Kenton avoids a punch combination nicely.
Nikora scores with a jab to the jaw of his opponent.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

David Nikora showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The cut man is working on Charlie Kenton's cut.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare each other down, ready to get back to the action. This is the final round!

Kenton fails with a takedown attempt.
A shot to the liver by Nikora. Beautiful body shot.
A swing and a miss from Nikora.
David Nikora seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Nikora throws a big shot that misses.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Nikora throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Kenton sees it coming and avoids it easily.
Nikora will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Nikora dips to his left and cracks Kenton with an uppercut!

That's one minute gone in the round.
Nikora misses with an uppercut.
Kenton moves his head to the side to avoid a jab but walks straight into a cross.
Nikora misses with a looping right.
Nikora throws a series of punches but Kenton moves out of range.
Nikora throws a lazy right hand but Kenton sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Kenton slips a straight right by Nikora.
As Nikora looks to move away, Kenton throws a big counter combo but Nikora just gets out of the way.
Kenton misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
Kenton shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Nikora defends it nicely.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Charlie Kenton. That's going to take a lot out of him.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Nikora throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Kenton sees it coming and avoids it easily.
Kenton walks into a left hand.
Jab from Nikora.
Nikora ducks down and throws a hook to the body.
Nikora throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Kenton on the wrong end of an overhand right that came out of nowhere.

Kenton is rocked!
Kenton staying out of range there.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
No joy there for Nikora, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Kenton tries to score a power double leg takedown but Nikora sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Kenton somewhat.
Kenton takes one on the chin but seems OK.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Nikora throws a series of punches but Kenton avoids them all with ease.

Kenton darts in and clinches Nikora up against the cage.
Nikora has a couple of punches blocked by Kenton.
Kenton is trying to pull guard but Nikora turns him against the cage and we stay in the clinch.
Kenton wants to take the fight to the mat but Nikora manages to get underhooks and keep the fight in the clinch.
David Nikora is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
Nikora misses with a punch on the inside.
Nikora working aggressively here.
Kenton looks like he's developed a pretty tasty lump over his left eye. He'll need to avoid taking much more damage to that.
Nikora wants to break free but Kenton has control.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Kenton.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Nikora is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.
Nikora misses with some punches.
Nikora wants to get back to striking at distance but Kenton won't allow it.
Nikora tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Kenton drops to a knee looking for a takedown but Nikora gets the underhooks and prevents it.
Kenton has had enough of the clinch and is looking to separate.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Nikora throws a punch but it's blocked by Kenton.
Nikora misses with the head strike.

And that's the end of the fight!
David Nikora comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Nikora 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 Chris Saunders scores the fight 26:30
Judge Colin Fray scores the fight 26:30
Judge Josh West scores the fight 26:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... David Nikora!
In defeat, Charlie Kenton stepped up to the mic, saying 'you got lucky'.