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PBP Commentary |
Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Steve Francis (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Leevi Nikkola (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Francis comes to the cage accompanied by Toxicity. Nikkola is bouncing up and down as he enters the arena, backed by Paranoid. Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.
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| 182 cm
26
217 lbs
8 - 7 - 0 |
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181 cm
25
214 lbs
4 - 7 - 0 |
Dangerous GnP
Solid boxing
Good chin |
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BJJ Purple Belt
Brawler
Knockout power |
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Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the light heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of
8 - 7 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Steve Francis!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of
4 - 7 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Leevi Nikkola!
The judges for this bout are Tiny Johnson, Stewart Dunkirk and Wesley Smith.
The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Francis gets taken down but at least he's managed to land in guard.
Francis keeping moving, preventing Nikkola from controlling successfully.
Francis wants to sweep but no luck.
Both fighters really going for it on the ground here!
Francis can't do much from the bottom at the moment, as Nikkola controls the pace.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Nikkola wants to control from the top but Francis keeps moving.
Nikkola stays in close to Francis's body and controls the position.
Nikkola trying to control but Francis is working from the bottom.
Despite being in the dominant position, Leevi Nikkola just isn't active enough and the referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Francis tries to close the distance and clinch up but Nikkola swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Nikkola is trying hard to land a takedown here. Francis sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.
That's one minute gone in the round.
Francis closes the distance and clinches.
Nikkola wants to break free but Francis has control.
Nikkola wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.
Nikkola is trying to break free.
Francis goes for a takedown in the clinch but Nikkola prevents it.
Nikkola has had enough of the clinch and is looking to separate.
Nikkola tries to break the clinch but Francis is controlling the position.
Francis looking for a takedown.
Nikkola working hard to break the clinch.
Nikkola is trying to force a seperation but Francis has the dominant position.
Francis is working for a takedown up against the cage. He can't get it on this occasion though.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Steve Francis. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Nikkola is trying to force a seperation but Francis has the dominant position.
Nikkola breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Nikkola fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
Francis looks for a takedown. He's got it. We're now in half guard.
Nikkola looks gassed!
Francis trying to control from half guard but Nikkola is working away.
Nikkola has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Francis is working away from the top position though.
Nikkola is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Francis wants to take a breather but Nikkola is having none of it.
That's two minutes gone in the round.
Nikkola makes his way to full guard. A much better position for Nikkola.
Nikkola keeping full guard, as Francis tries to pass.
Nikkola working a defensive guard here.
Nikkola might have to switch it up a bit here because his efforts to control Francis kaven't been going to plan, at least at the current moment in time.
It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.
Nikkola shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Francis defends it nicely.
Nikkola fails with a takedown attempt.
Francis shoots in and scores a nice double leg takedown into half guard.
The fighters are starting to get a bit slippery now, which will make submissions a bit more difficult.
Nikkola tries to get to full guard but Francis has control of the leg.
Francis looks towards his corner to check for any instructions. The corner give him nothing to work with, so he cracks Nikkola with a short hammerfist. I guess that's as good as any advice he could get in this position.
That's three minutes gone in the round.
Francis winds up and cracks Nikkola with a swinging punch to the side of the head.
Francis throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
Francis throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
Nikkola slips a foot under and gets full guard. Nice work.
Francis is working Nikkola over from the guard. He should look to pass the guard and do a little more damage with these strikes.
Nikkola wants to sweep here but Francis controlling him for the moment.
Nikkola is avoiding any damage by keeping wrist control.
Nikkola is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.
Francis trying to control but Nikkola is working from the bottom.
Nikkola trying to keep a closed guard but Francis is proving a slippery customer.
Francis drops back looking for a leg! Nikkola is in trouble here! The fighters roll with the hold and Nikkola manages to kick Francis off! Francis jumps back into Nikkola's guard.
That's four minutes gone in the round.
There's not a lot going on here and the crowd are letting the fighters know they're not willing to tolerate a lack of action.
Nikkola looking to hit a scissor sweep but Francis is one step ahead there.
Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.
Francis shoots for a takedown but Nikkola saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
Nikkola changes levels and drives through with a really nice takedown into side control. Francis looks really pissed at himself for not defending that better.
The referee tells the fighters to keep busy.
Francis manages to work his way to half guard, despite Nikkola's best efforts.
Francis tries to roll over but Nikkola keeps him under control.
Nikkola not doing much here.
Francis is looking to control Nikkola's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Francis avoid being mounted?
Nikkola controlling the pace.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.
A close round but Leevi Nikkola will probably get the nod.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action.
Nikkola fails with the takedown
and Francis counters with a nice double leg into half guard.
Nikkola is looking for a sweep. Francis is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Francis is thwarting Nikkola's attempts to control the position.
Nikkola taking some punishment here, with Francis in his half guard.
Nikkola gets full guard.
Francis working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Nikkola working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Francis.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Francis scores with a decent looking elbow strike.
Francis is working the ground and pound from guard. He might want to try advancing position though to get more of an impact.
Nikkola wants to sweep here but Francis controlling him for the moment.
Nikkola lands a beautiful switch and he's in full mount! That could spell trouble for Francis!
Nikkola controlling the position easily from mount.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
That's one minute gone in the round.
Francis keeping his composure momentarily, calmly looking to get back to half guard.
Nikkola controlling from mount.
Let's hope that Nikkola has the urge to step up the pace any second now because for the last 15 or 20 seconds he's just been holding on tight.
Nikkola wants to take his opponent's back but he's not managed it.
That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.
Nikkola avoids the attempt from Francis to control.
Nikkola takes a little breather and maintains the position. The referee will be looking for him to stay active from such a dominant position though.
Francis wants to hold on but Nikkola pushes him away.
Francis is looking to improve his position but Nikkola isn't that keen on the idea.
Nikkola tucks in and makes sure he doesn't lose the dominant position.
Nikkola trying to control but Francis is having none of it.
That's three minutes gone in the round.
Despite being in the dominant position, Leevi Nikkola just isn't active enough and the referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Nikkola feints and then dives in with a takedown. That was a long way out but the feint bought him enough time to close the distance and complete the takedown. Now we'll play guard for a bit and see who can get the better of that position.
Francis wants to sweep here but Nikkola controlling him for the moment.
Nikkola trying to control the position from guard on top but Francis is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Francis trying to control the position.
Francis keeping moving, preventing Nikkola from controlling successfully.
Francis looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Francis keeping moving, preventing Nikkola from controlling successfully.
Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.
Nikkola looking to shoot here. He's gone for it and he's landed a takedown into mount! Oh, that's bad for Francis!
That's four minutes gone in the round.
Francis is trying desperately to improve position.
Nikkola trying to control but Francis is having none of it.
Francis is trying to escape the mount.
Nikkola controlling from mount.
Nikkola tries to control but Francis wriggling away.
Francis keeping his composure momentarily, calmly looking to get back to half guard.
Francis is squirming around, avoiding Nikkola's attempts to control the action.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.
Leevi Nikkola showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business. So, we enter the final round. Let's see if either fighter can bring us a finish, or whether we're going to the judges scorecards.
Nikkola throws the overhand right but ducks down into a quick takedown attempt. Francis was covering up waiting for the punch and Nikkola finishes the takedown easily into guard.
Nikkola stays in close to Francis's body and controls the position.
Francis keeping moving, preventing Nikkola from controlling successfully.
Nikkola sitting in guard, not really doing much.
Francis keeping full guard, as Nikkola tries to pass.
Francis keeping moving, preventing Nikkola from controlling successfully.
Francis wants to sweep here but Nikkola controlling him for the moment.
Francis is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Nikkola is aware though and is defending well.
Leevi Nikkola has got the better of the ground game so far.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
That's one minute gone in the round.
Francis being controlled here, momentarily.
Despite being in the dominant position, Leevi Nikkola just isn't active enough and the referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Francis slaps away a takedown attempt from Nikkola, before circling back to the center of the mat.
Francis is looking to clinch but Nikkola is avoiding it.
Francis doesn't succeed with the takedown
so Nikkola counters with a double leg into guard. Good agility.
Francis looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Francis being controlled here, momentarily.
Nikkola wants to control from the top but Francis keeps moving.
Francis keeping full guard, as Nikkola tries to pass.
Francis seems keen to control Nikkola's posture.
Francis keeping moving, preventing Nikkola from controlling successfully.
That's two minutes gone in the round.
Nikkola postures up.
Nikkola controlling from the top position.
Nikkola trying to control the position from guard on top but Francis is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Francis looking to control the pace of the fight rather than finish it.
That's three minutes gone in the round.
Nikkola wants to control from the top but Francis keeps moving.
Francis had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Nikkola defends it easily.
Nikkola content to stall in guard here.
Despite being in the dominant position, Leevi Nikkola just isn't active enough and the referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Nikkola drives through with a takedown into guard.
Steve Francis has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Nikkola wants to control from the top but Francis keeps moving.
Francis escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Nikkola gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
Nikkola is taking a break and basically stalling. The referee will not allow him to do that for long.
That's four minutes gone in the round.
Francis controlling Nikkola's posture.
Nikkola wants to control from the top but Francis keeps moving.
Francis being controlled here, momentarily.
Nikkola wants to control from the top but Francis keeps moving.
Nikkola slips effortlessly into side control - very nice.
Francis regains half guard.
The referee calls for the fighters to work.
And that's the end of the fight!
Leevi Nikkola comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Nikkola winning every round here. Surely the decision will go his way and he'll pick up a well deserved decision victory. 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 Tiny Johnson scores the fight 27:30
Judge Stewart Dunkirk scores the fight 27:30
Judge Wesley Smith scores the fight 27:30
In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Leevi Nikkola!
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| S |
C
A |
G |
S |
C
B |
G |
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S |
C |
G |
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energy
A | B |
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hype
A | B |
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pop
A | B |
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mgr
A | B |
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FIGHT
RATING
61% |
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