PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Hannibal Butrovic (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Epeli Nailatikau (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Nailatikau has chosen Number of the Bollywood as his entrance music. The crowd giving both fighters a great reception on their way into the arena. That's good to see.

Butrovic
vs
Nailatikau

180 cm
29
168 lbs
17 - 8 - 0

172 cm
25
162 lbs
13 - 10 - 0

Good wrestling
Excellent boxer
Insanely flexible

BJJ Purple Belt
Dangerous knees
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 17 - 8 - 0, fighting out of London, Hannibal Butrovic!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 13 - 10 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Epeli Nailatikau!
The judges for this bout are James Ackerman, James Atkins and Steven Brown.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Butrovic looks for a takedown but Nailatikau sprawls well.
Nailatikau swings widly with a right hand

and Butrovic counters with a takedown into side control.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Nailatikau is trying to improve his position.
Butrovic is looking to take a break and control but Nailatikau is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Nailatikau tries to improve position but can't.
Butrovic working the head and body with strikes.
Butrovic in side control lands a decent elbow.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Nailatikau can't do much from the bottom here.

Butrovic is looking for a kimura. He might have it! No, Nailatikau has escaped the position, nice work there.
Nailatikau struggling a bit here.
Nailatikau is positioning himself to get back to half guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Butrovic scores with a couple of short elbows.
Butrovic taking a breather here.
Nailatikau regains half guard.

Butrovic is looking for a kimura but Nailatikau is holding onto that half guard position, so it's hard for Butrovic to get the leverage.
Butrovic is thwarting Nailatikau's attempts to control the position.

Butrovic is looking for an arm triangle, whilst trying to pass to side control. Nailatikau doesn't seem that keen to cooperate though. No luck this time Butrovic.
Nailatikau is trying to get back to full guard.
Nailatikau holds on for dear life, maintaining half guard for now.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Butrovic seems to be taking a bit of a break to think of his next move. He lands a short punch in the meantime.
The fighters are starting to get a bit slippery now, which will make submissions a bit more difficult.
Nailatikau wants to control the action here but instead Butrovic manages to pass to full mount!
Butrovic with the ground and pound from mount.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
BOOM! Butrovic connects with a massive shot to the dome!

Butrovic is going oldschool here, as he tries to force Nailatikau to tap using a forearm choke. This isn't 1993 though, so Nailatikau shrugs it off.
Nailatikau tries to lock up and control but Butrovic gives him a forearm to the face and pushes him away.
Nailatikau can't escape the position.
Nailatikau tries to lock up and control but Butrovic gives him a forearm to the face and pushes him away.
Butrovic working Nailatikau over with strikes here.
Nailatikau is looking to improve his position but Butrovic isn't that keen on the idea.
Butrovic lands a heavy elbow.
Butrovic is landing with some decent strikes but Nailatikau is trying to advance his position so the referee is letting the fight continue.

Nailatikau is rocked!
Nailatikau is looking to get to half guard.
Nailatikau is still in real trouble! Can Butrovic finish him?
Butrovic has been looking to land a fair amount of strikes on the ground. He might be looking to soften his opponent up in order to work for a submission.
Nailatikau wants to control but Butrovic is having none of it.
Nailatikau seems to have recovered his senses.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
A nice elbow there by Butrovic.

Nailatikau tries to improve his position but Butrovic has taken his back! Butrovic has a choke - it's sunk in pretty tight... Will Nailatikau tap? No... maybe... yes! He's tapped! Butrovic pushes Nailatikau away and gets up to celebrate with his corner!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 3:26 of round 1, we have a winner by way of Submission (RNC). Hannibal Butrovic!
In his post fight interview, Hannibal Butrovic started talking himself up. Luckily his charisma kept the crowd on side and gave him a good reception.