PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Panagiotis Nikolau (ranked 2478 p4p, 1686 weight class) and Bunny Anstey (ranked 264 p4p, 195 weight class). Well, I have no idea who's going to take this one!

Nikolau
vs
Anstey

190 cm
29
228
13 - 12 - 0

194 cm
26
275
13 - 8 - 0

Good wrestling
World class boxer
Granite chin

Olympic wrestler
Excellent MT
Good gas tank

Conviction
Shadow Realm Apparel

Champion Apparel
Knockaround Guys Fight Gear

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 13 - 12 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Panagiotis Nikolau!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 13 - 8 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Bunny Anstey!
The judges for this bout are Yves DeLean, Elvis Blanc and Robert Douchet.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Anstey has his hands up protecting his head but a hook from Nikolau finds it's way round the side to connect with Anstey's head.
Anstey throws a right and a left that Nikolau avoids nicely.
Nikolau with the inside leg kick.
Anstey uses good footwork to get in and out and land a nice right hand before Nikolau has time to react.

It looks like Panagiotis Nikolau has been cut.
Nikolau on the wrong end of a nice low kick. He's acting like it's no big deal but he doesn't want to take many more of those.
A big left from Anstey misses.
Nikolau's jab looks to have found its range, popping Anstey under the eye.
Nikolau closes the distance and takes a jab right on the nose as he does so.

Anstey tries to keep at a distance but Nikolau has taken the fight into the clinch.
Nikolau lands a hook that snaps the head of Anstey backwards.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Nikolau lands punches inside but they're not really causing much damage.
I was talking to Nikolau's coach per-fight and he was telling me that they'd been working on the clinch in the runup to this fight.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Anstey.
Nikolau pushes Anstey back against the cage and lands a hook to the side of the head.
Nikolau prevents the takedown attempt.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Anstey blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Nikolau working aggressively here.
Anstey takes a shot to the head.
An uppercut to the body lands inside from Nikolau.
Nikolau misses with a hook from the clinch.

Anstey breaks from the clinch.
Anstey on the receiving end of a decent leg kick there by Nikolau. Nikolau obviously looking to wear him down.
Anstey misses with a combination
and Anstey takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
Anstey moves out of range as Nikolau strikes.
A telegraphed right hand from Nikolau misses the target.
Anstey misses the body punch
and Nikolau counters with a shot to the ribs. That looked like it hurt.
Nikolau takes a shot to the nose. Hopefully that hasn't broken it.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Nikolau throws a lazy right hand but Anstey sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Anstey throws a looping overhand right but Nikolau ducks down to avoid it.
Anstey takes a step towards his opponent and connects with a left hand, before circling away.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Anstey uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Nikolau.
A low kick from Anstey misses
and Nikolau counters with a straight right hand.
Anstey swings and misses with a shot to the body
and Nikolau makes him pay by landing a thudding low kick.
Anstey tries to move into range but Nikolau moves to the side and lands with a nice right hand.
Anstey scores with a slapping inside leg kick.
Nikolau throws a head kick but Anstey moves out of range.
Anstey looks to land a combination but Nikolau avoids it well.
A little feinted left hand from Nikolau on the counter but he doesn't commit to it.
A telegraphed right hand from Nikolau misses the target.
Anstey doesn't fully commit to the body shot counter.
Nikolau avoids the body shot from Anstey.
Nikolau looks shocked there as he takes a right hand to the temple.
Nikolau dips to his left and cracks Anstey with an uppercut!
Panagiotis Nikolau is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Nikolau slips a straight right by Anstey.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
The fighters circling - Anstey throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
Anstey misses with a few strikes there.
Anstey throws a right and a left that both miss.
Nikolau bobbing and weaving, closes the distance and lands a hook to the side of Anstey's head.
Nikolau throws a low kick but Anstey moves out of range easily.
Nikolau throws a series of punches but Anstey moves out of range.
Nikolau throws a looping overhand right but Anstey ducks down to avoid it.
Nikolau throws out a loose jab but Anstey uses good head movement to avoid it.
Anstey misses with a jab, cross combination.
Nikolau slips a jab and a cross from Anstey.
Nikolau stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Nikolau wants it to stay on the feet.
Nikolau throws a lazy right hand but Anstey sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Nikolau stuffs the takedown attempt from Anstey. Anstey gets slowly back to his feet.
Panagiotis Nikolau has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Bunny Anstey.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Nikolau comes forward and lands a shot to the body, then darts back out of range.
Anstey looks winded!
A thudding body kick lands there by Nikolau!
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Nikolau ducks low and lands a nice hook to the body of his opponent.

Nikolau has closed the distance and engaged Anstey in a clinch.
Nikolau lands a shot to the body.
A short right hand to the side of the head by Nikolau.
Nikolau lands a hook to the body. It's hard to tell if that hurt Anstey or not.
Nikolau doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Nikolau misses with a hook from the clinch.
Nikolau tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Nikolau cracks Anstey with a nice body shot.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Panagiotis Nikolau dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Panagiotis Nikolau's cut.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

Nikolau moves into the clinch.
A quick uppercut on the inside from Nikolau.

Anstey pulls guard.
It really doesn't seem like the step up in weight is hurting Nikolau here at all. He's more than holding his own against the bigger man.
Nikolau controlling from the guard. I say controlling but really, he's stalling.
Nikolau wants to get up but he can't break Anstey's closed guard. He needs to be careful trying to break the legs open, as he's open to submissions here.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Nikolau postures up.
Nikolau controlling from the guard. I say controlling but really, he's stalling.
Nikolau postures up.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Nikolau wants to control from the top but Anstey keeps moving.
Nikolau sitting in guard, not really doing much.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.
A slow jab from Nikolau misses its intended target.
Nikolau scoring well with a low kick there.
A good leg kick by Nikolau.
Anstey on the wrong end of a nice hook.
Anstey staying out of range there.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Anstey shoots in for a takedown and gets it.
Nikolau is looking to get back to is feet but Anstey passes into side control.
Nikolau is trying to control Anstey's posture but Anstey avoids it.
Anstey grinds an elbow into Nikolau's temple.
Nikolau is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Anstey can do to turn this around?
Anstey looking to punish the body of his opponent here but Nikolau is avoiding damage well.
Anstey is chipping away with strikes.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Anstey gets to mount! Nikolau was on the offensive and wasn't defending properly.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Anstey trying to control but Nikolau is having none of it.
Nikolau wants to control but Anstey is having none of it.
The crowd growing excited in anticipation of a finish here! Right on cue, Anstey cracks his opponent with a massive right hand that draws loud cheers!
Nikolau is trying desperately to improve position.
Nikolau tries to hold on but Anstey pushes him away.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Anstey lands a couple of good shots and Nikolau has given up his back, trying to escape the position!
You can see the frustration on Nikolau's face… He knows he is in trouble unless he improves his position sooner rather than later.
Anstey has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
Nikolau is keeping busy.
Anstey is in a good position here but he's just trying to control... And he's not even managing to do that successfully.
Nikolau trying to control but he's just got himself in more trouble.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Anstey lands with a hammerfist to the side of Nikolau's head.
Anstey connects with a series of strikes and the referee is calling for Nikolau to escape the position.
Anstey lands a punch that was close to the back of the head but the ref thinks it's OK.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Bunny Anstey showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The cut man is working on Panagiotis Nikolau's cut.
That's time! Nikolau's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight. This is the final round!

Nikolau looks to score with a jab to the body but Anstey is just out of range.
Anstey throws a front kick aimed at Nikolau's knee but Nikolau avoids it well.
Nikolau slips under a jab.
Anstey takes a jab on the nose. He smiles like he loves it and keeps coming.
Nikolau takes a jab right on the kisser.

A jab-cross combination lands for Anstey and sends Nikolau crashing to the mat! Anstey follows him down to the mat - Nikolau regains half guard but he's not out of trouble yet!
This has been an exciting period of action!
Nikolau is looking to get back to full guard here but Anstey has managed to pass to side control instead.
I wouldn't like to be where Nikolau is right now.
Nikolau is looking for a sweep.
Nikolau isn't going anywhere.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Anstey controls the position.
Nikolau tries to slip a leg under to move to half guard but Anstey presses down on the leg and jumps into full mount!
Nikolau knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Anstey on the ground.
Anstey lands a big elbow.
Nikolau is wriggling around trying to escape.
Anstey avoids the attempt from Nikolau to control.
Nikolau is working to get back to half guard.
Anstey punishing his opponent with strikes.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Anstey landing shots from mount.
Anstey looking to ground and pound his opponent to a finish here.
Anstey landing punches.

Nikolau is rocked!
Anstey postures up and connects with a big shot that has rocked Nikolau badly. He's trying desperately to grab hold of Anstey around the waist but Anstey pushes him off and unloads with more strikes, forcing the referee to jump in and save him! Anstey is the winner by TKO! Anstey jumps onto the cage and shouts into the camera. "We did it momma!"

Ladies and gentlemen, after 2:45 of round 3, we have a winner by way of TKO (Strikes). Bunny Anstey!