PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Epeli Nailatikau (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Graham Hancock (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Nailatikau comes to the cage accompanied by Number of the Bollywood. Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

Nailatikau
vs
Hancock

172 cm
25
162 lbs
13 - 9 - 0

180 cm
21
155 lbs
2 - 1 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Dangerous knees
Insanely flexible

Good wrestler
Brawler
Granite chin

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 13 - 9 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Epeli Nailatikau!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 1 - 0, fighting out of London, Graham Hancock!
The judges for this bout are Andrew Berry, Colin Fotheringham and William Gold.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Hancock takes a jab right on the kisser.
Nailatikau feints and then cracks Hancock's leading leg with a nice low kick. He's obviously looking to slow Hancock down.
Nailatikau throws a nice inside leg kick.
Nailatikau lands with a thumping leg kick.
Nailatikau scores with a nice right hand.
Hancock closes the distance and takes a jab right on the nose as he does so.
Nailatikau takes a step back and watches a body kick go sailing past his mid section.
Hancock fails with an attempt to clinch.
Nailatikau lands a right hook to the body.
Good leg kick by Nailatikau there. It's the ones that make that thud noise that hurt and that was an almighty thud.
Nailatikau connects with a body shot that sends Hancock's belly button to the back.
Hancock throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Nailatikau cracks Hancock with an open hand slap.
Epeli Nailatikau seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!

Nailatikau gets a double leg takedown into Hancock's guard.

Nailatikau drops back for a leg! It's a sloppy attempt though and Nailatikau jumps back into guard quickly, to retain the dominant position.

Nailatikau drops back looking for a leg! Hancock is in trouble here! The fighters roll with the hold and Hancock manages to kick Nailatikau off! Nailatikau jumps back into Hancock's guard.
Hancock keeping moving, preventing Nailatikau from controlling successfully.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Hancock not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.

Nailatikau drops back looking for a leg! Hancock is in trouble here! The fighters roll with the hold and Hancock manages to kick Nailatikau off! Nailatikau jumps back into Hancock's guard.
Hancock trying to keep a closed guard but Nailatikau is proving a slippery customer.
Nailatikau is frustrating his opponent with some stalling tactics from top position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Nailatikau trying to control the position from guard on top but Hancock is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Nailatikau is really struggling to control Hancock but he's trying to hold on to the position.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up, due to lack of activity on the part of Epeli Nailatikau.
A good leg kick by Nailatikau.
Nailatikau tries to drive through with a takedown attempt but Hancock defends well and Nailatikau ends up having to push Hancock into the cage where they will battle it out in the clinch.

Hancock drags the fight down to the ground.

Hancock escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Nailatikau gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
Nailatikau stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Hancock swivels though and keeps the full guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Hancock is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Nailatikau stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Hancock swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Nailatikau trying to control but Hancock is working from the bottom.

Nailatikau thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.

Hancock has his feet on Nailatikau's hips. He pushes off and gets to his feet. Nice work.
Nailatikau shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Nailatikau throws a mid kick that lands with a slap.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Nailatikau tries to score a power double leg takedown but Hancock sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Nailatikau somewhat.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Epeli Nailatikau. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Nailatikau jabs Hancock right on the nose. Hancock blinks but takes it well.
Hancock blocks a head kick by Nailatikau.
Nailatikau looking to take his opponent's legs away with the low kicks.
Nailatikau shoots in but no luck this time.
Hancock throws a push kick but Nailatikau slaps the foot to one side.
Nailatikau checks the leg kick nicely there.
Hancock is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Hancock just misses with a punch to the body.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Nailatikau lands a leg kick and bounces back out of range.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Hancock has his front leg slapped to the side - a nice low kick landing there from Nailatikau.
Hancock takes a kick to the body and keeps moving.
A head kick misses from Hancock.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Epeli Nailatikau dominated that round.
That's the end of the interval. I'm sure that seemed a lot quicker than a minute for our two fighters! Back to the action.

Some bone on bone action there as Nailatikau checks a low kick. Luckily it wasn't a particularly hard one.
Nailatikau turns his hip over beautifully as he lands a nice leg kick.
Nailatikau lands a nice leg kick that just misses Hancock's sensitive parts.
Nailatikau clobbers Hancock with an overhand right that has the crowd gasping. That made a horrendous noise.
Hancock's leg has a nasty welt from taking a succession of leg kicks. That must be slowing him down.
Nailatikau throws a leg kick but Hancock checks it.
Nailatikau lands with a straight right. Hancock didn't see that one coming.

Nailatikau gets caught flat footed, as Hancock shoots in with a quick takedown into guard.
Nailatikau looking to control but Hancock passes into half guard.
Nailatikau wants to control but Hancock is keeping busy and won't allow it.
Hancock is trying to control. Nailatikau wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.

Nailatikau actively working from the bottom here.
Nailatikau is looking for a sweep. Hancock is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.

Nailatikau looking for submissions off his back.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Nailatikau wants to get back to full guard but Hancock has passed into side control.
Nailatikau struggling a bit here.
Nailatikau is not content to let Hancock control the position.

Hancock has had enough of the ground for now and decides to stand.

Hancock fakes an overhand right and shoots for a takedown. Nailatikau sprawls well initially but Hancock persists and gets the takedown into half guard.
Hancock is taking a breather. Nailatikau says something to him but it's hard to make out. Perhaps he's telling him to get on with it and actually do something.
Nailatikau is staying active underneath Hancock, who seems content to just control the action from this position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Hancock perhaps working for something from half guard, or maybe not. It looks like he's just sitting there.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
The referee looks like he's ready to step in and stand the fighters back up.
Nailatikau trying to control but Hancock postures up.
Nailatikau gets back to full guard.

Nailatikau has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Hancock can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Nailatikau is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Nailatikau looking to sweep here. No luck so far.

Hancock gets to his feet - Nailatikau follows without any prompting.
Nailatikau throws a sloppy head kick and Hancock moves out of range easily.
Nailatikau thumps Hancock with a low kick.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
This fight brought to you by 5M nutrition - it's mmmmm tasty. Nice jab by Nailatikau.

Hancock gets a takedown into half guard.

Nailatikau is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Hancock pulls his head out easily.
Hancock wants to take a breather but Nailatikau is having none of it.

Hancock is trying a forearm choke… I don't think that's going to do much at this level of the game.

Nailatikau looking for submissions off his back.
Hancock missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Nailatikau is trying to control but can't.

Hancock seems to be working for a kimura but Nailatikau defends the submission attempt.
Hancock thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.

Hancock is thinking about going for an arm triangle but he can't free his leg.
Graham Hancock has got the better of the ground game so far.
Nailatikau wants to control but Hancock is keeping busy.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.

Nailatikau looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.

Nailatikau is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Hancock pulls his head out easily.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Graham Hancock will probably get the nod - 10:9.
That's the end of the interval. I'm sure that seemed a lot quicker than a minute for our two fighters! Back to the action. This is the final round!

Hancock slaps away a takedown attempt from Nailatikau, before circling back to the center of the mat.
Nailatikau looking to take his opponent's legs away with the low kicks.
Hancock tries to clinch but Nailatikau is having none of it.
Nailatikau pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Nailatikau will need to close the distance a bit before he attacks - that leg kick was thrown from too far away.
Nailatikau tries to score with a low kick but Hancock moves his leg out of the way.

Hancock shoots in looking for a single leg takedown. Nailatikau is trying to defend but Hancock finishes it well and ends up in half guard. Let's see if he can advance position further.
Hancock is thwarting Nailatikau's attempts to control the position.

Hancock gets to his feet - back to striking we go!
Nice body kick from Nailatikau.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Ouch! a nice leg kick from Nailatikau, right into the meat.
Nailatikau connects with an inside leg kick.

Nailatikau tries to sprawl but Hancock drives through with a takedown into half guard.
Nailatikau is looking to control Hancock's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Nailatikau avoid being mounted?
Nailatikau regains full guard. Nicely done.
Hancock postures up in Nailatikau's guard and throws a big left but Nailatikau blocks it.

Hancock avoids a guillotine attempt easily.

Nailatikau looking for a guillotine here but Hancock defends easily.
Hancock has decided he wants to stand but the closed guard of Nailatikau is proving hard to escape from.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Nailatikau looking for subs off his back but Hancock has passed one foot through into half guard.
Hancock looking to pass the half guard. Not this time.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Hancock prevents Nailatikau from improving his position.
Nailatikau trying to control here.
Nailatikau desperately trying to maintain half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Nailatikau is trying to maintain the position but Hancock is very close to passing his half guard.

Nailatikau looking to force a kimura from the bottom here. He's concentrating on that move too much though and Hancock pushes past his half guard into mount!
Hancock looking to ground and pound his opponent to a finish here.
Hancock working Nailatikau over with strikes here.
Hancock wants to control the pace but Nailatikau is squirming around nicely.
Nailatikau is desperately trying to improve his position but Hancock has a good base and remains in mount.
Nailatikau reaches up to try and control the position but Hancock seems to have an arm triangle now! Uh oh! Nailatikau rolls and tries to escape and now Hancock has his back!

Nailatikau is displaying good submission defense - not really looking in danger of submitting to the rear naked choke at the moment. That could change in an instant of course if Hancock gets his way!
Nailatikau is really stuck here.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Hancock trying desperately to keep hold of the dominant position.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Nailatikau tries to escape the position.
Nailatikau trying to control the hands but Hancock won't let him.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Hancock trying to control momentarily.
Hancock not allowing Nailatikau to control his hands.

And that's the end of the fight!
I would just about give that final round to Graham Hancock.
I think Hancock has won this one but let's see whether the judges agree with me. 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 Andrew Berry scores the fight 28:29
Judge Colin Fotheringham scores the fight 28:29
Judge William Gold scores the fight 29:29

In favor of your winner, by majority decision... Graham Hancock!
Our winner, Graham Hancock, made sure he spent some time buttering up the crowd during his post fight interview, which will no doubt bring him a few more fans.