PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Jay Pound (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Nikolo Halike (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Pound comes to the cage accompanied by When I'm Gone - Eminem. The crowd giving both fighters a great reception on their way into the arena. That's good to see.

Pound
vs
Halike

171 cm
20
162 lbs
5 - 3 - 0

180 cm
33
165 lbs
15 - 9 - 0

Powerful takedowns
Solid boxing
Granite chin

Dangerous GnP
Excellent boxer
Good gas tank

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the lightweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 5 - 3 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Jay Pound!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 15 - 9 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Nikolo Halike!
The judges for this bout are Vladimir Khabensky, Fedor Mirinova and Viktor Lagutenko.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Pound shoots in but Halike avoids the takedown attempt easily.
Halike darts in and out, connecting with a jab.
Halike scores with a nice right hand.
Halike lands with an uppercut that bounces Pound off the cage and back into range.
Horrible takedown by Pound or perhaps it was just good defense by Halike which made him look bad.
Halike throws a combination. Pound tries to block but a couple of punches get through.
Nice sprawl there from Halike as Pound shoots in.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Jay Pound. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Halike keeps his opponent at a distance with a nice jab.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Pound misses with a takedown attempt
and Halike counters with a leg kick.
Pound lands with an uppercut that bounces Halike off the cage and back into range.
Halike lands a leg kick that knocks Pound off balance momentarily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Halike lands a jab to Pound's midsection.

Halike has closed the distance and engaged Pound in a clinch.
A right hand to the body from Halike.
A short body shot lands from Halike as the two fighters clinch.
An uppercut to the body lands inside from Halike.
Halike lands on the inside with an uppercut.
Halike is stalling here.
Halike lands a right hand.
A short right from Halike on the inside.
Halike lands a shoulder strike that jolts his opponent's head backwards.
Halike lands a left hand.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Halike is working Pound over against the cage.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Halike tries to work over Pound's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
Halike lands with a short shot to the head.
Halike lands a right uppercut that snaps the head of Pound backwards.
Halike makes some space for himself and lands an uppercut.
Halike scores with a hook to the body.
Halike just leaning against Pound, taking a breather.
Pound's head jolts backwards as he takes an uppercut right on the button!
Pound tries to score a body lock takedown but Halike shows good agility there to stay on his feet.
Halike lands a hook to the side of the head.
Halike scores with a shoulder strike.
Pound wants to take the fight to the mat but Halike manages to get underhooks and keep the fight in the clinch.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Halike is pressed up against the cage. Pound has hold of a leg and is looking to drag Halike down to the mat. Halike avoids the attempt though and has circled away. We're back to striking at a distance.
Pound avoids a punch combination nicely.
Nikolo Halike is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.

Halike clinches.
Halike throws a blind hook that connects with the side of Pounds head.
Halike tries to work over Pound's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
Halike tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Pound's elbow.
Pound wants a takedown but no success here.
Pound being controlled against the cage.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Halike lands punches inside but they're not really causing much damage.
Halike lands a body punch in the clinch.
Halike lands a left hand that snaps the head of Pound backwards.

Halike escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
A combination from Halike does no damage.
Halike throws a combination. Pound tries to block but a couple of punches get through.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Halike lunges at Pound with a hook that half lands and is half blocked by Pound's hand.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Halike lands a nice shot to the body.
Pound is pinned up against the cage taking some big shots here. The referee is looking closely deciding whether he should stop the fight.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Nikolo Halike dominated that round.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action.

Halike bobbing and weaving well here. And he's unloaded with a massive right hand that drops Pound! He dives into his guard looking to finish!

Pound is rocked!
Pound working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Halike.
Oh Pound is still in real trouble! Will he be able to recover?!!
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Halike working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Pound seems to have got his legs back now.
Pound tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Pound working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Halike.

Halike drops back looking for a leg! Pound is in trouble here! The fighters roll with the hold and Pound manages to kick Halike off! Halike jumps back into Pound's guard.
Pound keeping moving, preventing Halike from controlling successfully.
Pound utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Pound controlling the position.
Pound keeping moving, preventing Halike from controlling successfully.
Halike tries to free his leg and advance position but Pound is retaining full guard.
Pound 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.
Halike wants to pass the guard but Pound is keeping the position.
Halike 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.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
A jab from Pound misses.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Pound shoots for a double leg takedown but Halike sprawls well. He's pushed Pound's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
Pound shoots and misses
and Halike cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Halike has been the more effective fighter overall so far.

Halike closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.
A right hand to the body from Halike.
Halike is pushing Pound up against the cage, for a bit of lean and pray action. Action being used the in the loosest possible sense of the word.
Halike has used his reach advantage pretty well so far tonight.
A left hand lands to the body for Halike.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
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!
Halike stalling here - the referee won't stand for too much of that.
This is turning into a torrid day at the office for Pound. He's trying desperately to land a takedown but he's failing miserably and getting slapped silly on the feet to compound his misery.
Halike lands a short shot on the inside that snaps the head of Pound backwards.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Halike is struggling to control the position.
Pound has a body lock and is looking for a takedown. Halike is bouncing around trying to prevent the takedown and somehow he has indeed managed to stay on his feet.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Jay Pound. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Pound tries for a takedown but Halike manages to get underhooks.
Good body shot from Halike.
Halike tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Pound's elbow.
Still in the clinch, Halike scores with a nice short uppercut.
Halike lands a shot to the body.
Halike throws a hook to the body. More of an arm punch but it's all scoring with the judges.

Halike breaks from the clinch.
Pound shoots and misses
and he gets countered with a snapping leg kick.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Halike scores with a jab to the body.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Pound walks straight into a jab right on the nose. That one stung - he's blinking and trying to clear his head.
Halike slips in close and lands a nice hook before moving back out of range.
Halike lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Pound circles away quickly and effectively.

Halike takes the fight into the clinch.
Halike tries a body shot but Pound blocks it.
Pound is working for takedown but Halike is calmly controlling the position for now.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Halike scores with a hook to the body.
Halike lands a right uppercut that snaps the head of Pound backwards.
Halike digs a right hand into Pound's ribs. Those have got to be taking their toll on Pound's gas tank.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Nikolo Halike showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
That's time! Back to the action! Let's hear some noise people - this is the final round!

Pound misses with a takedown attempt
and Halike counters with a stiff right hand.
Halike stuffs the takedown attempt from Pound. Pound gets slowly back to his feet.
Halike is moving around nicely and scores here with a single head shot.
Pound takes an uppercut right on the button but keeps his composure.
Halike thuds his shin into the meat of Pound's side.
Good leg kick by Halike there. It's the ones that make that thud noise that hurt and that was an almighty thud.
Nikolo Halike seems to be getting the better of the standup.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Halike with a nice cross.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Halike lands a leg kick. The shin dug right into the meat of the thigh.

Halike closes the distance and clinches.
Halike cracks Pound with a nice body shot.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Nice body punch from Halike - that landed with a thud.
A right handed body shot lands from Halike.
A nice right hand lands inside from Halike.
Halike lands with a short head shot on the inside.
Halike stays in close to his opponent and throws a right hand to the body.
Halike digs a right hand underneath Pound's ribcage. Pound let out a lung full of air as it connected.
A right hand to the body from Halike.
Halike working on landing some head shots here - that one got through nicely.
A short uppercut from Halike.
Halike dips a shoulder and cracks Pound with a mighty uppercut! Pound falls back against the cage and Halike unloads with a barrage of strikes! Pound is completely out with his eyes open, only supported by the cage! Save him ref! Eventually the ref decides to do his job and jumps in - Halike screams abuse at the incompetent official before going over to celebrate with his corner. Brutal stuff!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 1:57 of round 3, we have a winner by way of TKO (Strikes). Nikolo Halike!
Jumping up and down and very excited, Nikolo Halike waved his t-shirt featuring Hellbent 's logo in front of the cameras.