PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Jin Kim (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Kalesh Nikov (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Nikov has chosen Go hard or go home as his entrance music. Both fighters really staring each other down here, as Kalesh Nikov enters the cage!

Kim
vs
Nikov

185 cm
31
220 lbs
17 - 18 - 1

170 cm
25
219 lbs
11 - 7 - 0

Abu Dhabi Champ
Excellent boxer
Cardio machine

ADCC Champion
Excellent boxer
Good gas tank

Black Hand Fight Gear & Laundry

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 17 - 18 - 1, fighting out of Helsinki, Jin Kim!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 11 - 7 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Kalesh Nikov!
The judges for this bout are Ben Zyskovitsi, Marco Blurström and Matti Vanhoillinen.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Kim misses with a takedown
and Nikov counters with a straight right hand.
Kim avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
Kim blocks a jab.
Kim misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
Kim uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Nikov.
Kim misses with a takedown
and Nikov counters with a lovely shot to the body.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Jin Kim. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Nikov just misses with a punch to the body.

Nikov shoots in with a lovely double leg takedown. Kim manages to land in full guard to minimise the damage.
The referee is pacing around the two fighters - he looks like he's thinking about a standup.
Nikov in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Nikov looking to control the position here, rather than advance.
Kim trying to control the position.
Nikov trying to control the position from guard on top but Kim is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Kim not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Nikov trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
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.
Nikov controlling from the guard. I say controlling but really, he's stalling.

Jin Kim has forced the referee to step in and bring the fight back to the feet.
Nikov stooping low to avoid any incoming strikes and then lunges in with an uppercut come cross that lands flush.
Kim avoids the clinch attempt nicely.

Nikov darts in and clinches Kim up against the cage.
Nikov tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Kim's elbow.
Kim drops down looking for an ankle pick but Nikov pulls his leg out and moves away.
Nikov scores with a jab to the body.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Kim takes a shot right to the bread basket.
Nikov throws a shot from downtown. Kim moves away and avoids it.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kim tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Nikov was well out of range. Poor timing from Kim.

Kim has closed the distance and engaged Nikov in a clinch.
Nikov gets underhooks to prevent Kim's takedown attempt.
A hook to the body from Nikov.
Nikov tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Kim's elbow.
Nikov working aggressively here.
Nikov struggles to land a body shot inside as Kim controls his hands.
Nikov goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Kim blocks an uppercut.
Nikov doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Kim has hold of a leg and is looking for a trip takedown. Nikov avoids it nicely though and we remain in the clinch.
Kim is working for a takedown up against the cage. He can't get it on this occasion though.
Nikov misses with the head strike.
Kim prevents a body shot from Nikov.
Nikov misses with a hook from the clinch.
Kim changes levels and goes for a takedown here. Nikov fights it off and pushes away nicely.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Kim misses with a takedown
and Nikov counters with a left and a right that stings Kim.
Kim is breathing heavily.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Nikov cracks Kim with a hook to the jaw. Both fighters smile at eachother and high-five before getting back down to business.

It looks like Jin Kim has been cut.
Nikov throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Kim gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily

and Nikov holds on and brings the fighters into a clinch.
Nikov throws a head punch that misses.
Nikov tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Still in the clinch, Nikov scores with a nice short uppercut.
Kim tries for a takedown but Nikov manages to get underhooks.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Nikov struggles to land a body shot inside as Kim controls his hands.
Nikov tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Kim is stalling here. The referee will be looking to step in if he doesn't pick up the pace.
Kim blocking some punches.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Kalesh Nikov dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Jin Kim's cut.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

Kim avoids the body shot from Nikov.
Kim uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Nikov.
Nikov is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Kim.
Kim looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
Nikov wants to slow Kim down by chopping away at his legs.
Kim scores with a sloppy punch to the body. Not much technique there but it did the business.
Kim missing with a left hand there. Nikov was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
Nikov keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
Nikov takes one on the chin but seems OK.

It looks like Kalesh Nikov has been cut.
Nikov lands with a shot to the body.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Nikov fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Kim manages to avoid it.
Nikov with a nice looking leg kick. You could hear that one land in a back row.

Nikov gets tackled into the cage by Kim. Kim maintains the clinch.
A left hand lands to the body for Nikov.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Nikov lands a hook to the side of the head.
Nikov tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
With the fighters clinched against the cage, Nikov creates a bit of distance for himself and scores with a nice uppercut.
Kim drops to a knee looking for a takedown but Nikov gets the underhooks and prevents it.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Jin Kim. That's going to take a lot out of him.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Nikov lands with a light punch inside.
Nikov misses with a punch to the body.
Nikov lands with a right to the head.
Kim dodges an elbow strike from Nikov.
Kim has a body lock and is looking for a takedown. Nikov is bouncing around trying to prevent the takedown and somehow he has indeed managed to stay on his feet.
Nikov misses with a hook to the ribs.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Nikov lands with a light punch inside.
Nikov misses with a hook to the ribs.
Kim has a body lock and is looking for a takedown. Nikov is bouncing around trying to prevent the takedown and somehow he has indeed managed to stay on his feet.
Kim has had enough of the clinch but Nikov keeps him there for the moment.
Nikov has Kim pressed against the cage, preventing Kim from circling away and getting back to striking at range.
Nikov has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Nikov tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Kim's elbow.
Nikov effectively controlling the action here.
Nikov working on landing some head shots here - that one got through nicely.
Kim tries to stall but Nikov uses the opportunity to gain a better position.
Nikov goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Nikov swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Nikov tries a body shot but Kim blocks it.
Nikov misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Kim blocks an uppercut.
Kalesh Nikov seems to be working more effectively in the clinch in the fight so far.
Kim is trying to work for a single leg takedown but Nikov pulls him back up using the underhooks.
Kim is trying to drag Nikov to the mat but Nikov just about manages to keep his footing. He used the cage to his advantage there.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
A short right from Nikov.

Kim has picked Nikov up - he's going for a ride! Kim dumps his opponent to the mat with a thud and settles into half guard.
Nikov moves his hips nicely and gets into full guard.
Nikov bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Kim's guard.
Nikov tries to free his leg and advance position but Kim is retaining full guard.
Nikov landing some decent shots from guard.
Nikov cracks Kim with a solid left hand.
Nikov postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Nikov is looking to work some ground and pound but Kim has wrist control.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Nikov wants to pass the guard but Kim is keeping the position.
Nikov is frustrating his opponent with some stalling tactics from top position.
Nikov throws a big right hand that misses.
Kim will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Nikov postures up and lands some nice ground and pound.
Nikov controlling from the guard. I say controlling but really, he's stalling.
Nikov stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Kim swivels though and keeps the full guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Kalesh Nikov 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.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action! This is the final round!

Nikov throws a right hand that misses
and Kim counters with a three punch combo that has Nikov backing up. Nikov nods at Kim to acknowledge the strikes.
Nikov lunges at Kim with a hook that half lands and is half blocked by Kim's hand.
Nikov will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Nikov throws a right and a left that both miss.
Nikov tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Kim paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Kim 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.
Nikov thows a leg kick but Kim checks it

and Kim counters with a takedown into side control.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Nikov manages to land a sweep and he's now on top! Lovely Jiu Jitsu!
Kim is looking to control Nikov's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Kim avoid being mounted?
Nikov scores with a couple of good hammerfists.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Nikov is trying to control the action in half guard but Kim is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.
Nikov looks over to his corner - he wants some instructions but his corner are not responding.
Nikov wants to pass to mount but Kim is defending the position.
We've had a lack of effective grappling in the last minute or so, which could well see a referee standup.
Kim trying to control here.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Nikov wants to free his trapped foot but Kim is holding on for dear life with his legs.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Kalesh Nikov has forced the referee to step in and restart the fight on the feet.

Kim feints and as Nikov raises his hands in defense, Kim changes levels and drives through with a takedown into guard.
Nikov throws a nice elbow from the bottom.
Nikov looking to control.
Kim loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Nikov is trying to control the position but Kim postures up.

Kim postures up as if he's going to throw some strikes but drops back for an ankle! Nikov is in big trouble! He looks ready to tap! But no, he's escaped and dives on top of Kim, into his guard.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Kim working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Nikov.
Nikov throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Nikov trying to control the position from guard on top but Kim is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Nikov postures up and lands some nice ground and pound.
Nikov wants to control from the top but Kim keeps moving.
Kim is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.

Nikov drops back, looking for a kneebar! Kim looks panicked! The fighters roll across the mat, one looking to finish, one looking to escape. Kim looks to have wriggled free... Yes, he's got his leg free and he's dived into side control! Good work there from Kim!
Kim tries to score with some ground and pound. Nikov controls his posture well this time though and the shots don't do any damage.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Nikov is sneaking out the side here. He's bucked Kim off and has taken his back!
Kalesh Nikov is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
Nikov trying to control.
Nikov throwing sloppy strikes.

Nikov is working really hard to secure the rear naked choke. Kim defends successfully for a significant amount of time. Both fighters are looking very determined.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Nikov gets his hands free as Kim looks to control.

And that's the end of the fight!
Kalesh Nikov comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Nikov 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 Ben Zyskovitsi scores the fight 27:30
Judge Marco Blurström scores the fight 27:30
Judge Matti Vanhoillinen scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Kalesh Nikov!
During a confident post fight interview, Kalesh Nikov thanked all his fans. He seemed very genuine when describing how motivated his fans keep him.