PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Niko Sikaniska (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Jimmy Hopkins (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Sikaniska's ring entrance music is that housewives' favourite, Medeia - Cold Embrace. Hopkins has chosen ???????? as his entrance music, which hasn't gone down very well with the crowd. Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Sikaniska
vs
Hopkins

174 cm
20
185 lbs
0 - 2 - 0

175 cm
22
190 lbs
0 - 2 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter striker
Granite chin

BJJ Purple Belt
Good kicks
Granite chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the middleweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Niko Sikaniska!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Jimmy Hopkins!
The judges for this bout are Arvi Lind, Johanna Lukiainen and Marco Blurström.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
A head kick misses from Hopkins.
Hopkins tries a head kick but it misses.
Hopkins tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Sikaniska fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
A head kick misses from Hopkins.
Hopkins throws a head kick that misses.
A head kick misses from Hopkins.

Hopkins gets taken down but at least he's managed to land in guard.
Sikaniska has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.
Hopkins wants to stand and escape but Sikaniska is having none of it.
Sikaniska throwing strikes from guard but Hopkins blocks nicely.
Sikaniska landing some decent shots from guard.
Sikaniska sitting in guard here, content to control.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Hopkins is looking to stand up but Sikaniska isn't so interested in that idea.
Sikaniska is working the ground and pound from guard. He might want to try advancing position though to get more of an impact.
Hopkins is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Sikaniska is controlling him.
Sikaniska is just sitting in guard, looking to avoid any submissions.
Hopkins wants to get back to his feet but Sikaniska is in a dominant position and won't allow it.
Sikaniska is working the ground and pound from guard. He might want to try advancing position though to get more of an impact.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Sikaniska controlling from the top position.
Sikaniska trying to control the position from guard on top but Hopkins is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Sikaniska lands a couple of elbows.
Sikaniska missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Sikaniska trying to control but Hopkins is working from the bottom.
Sikaniska prevents Hopkins from getting back to his feet.
Hopkins looks gassed!

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.

Sikaniska decides to change it up a bit and drives through with a nice takedown into half guard.
Well, if Sikaniska is going to just lie there, perhaps we should talk about what we're having for dinner tonight… I'm having a ham and pineapple pizza… Yum. Can't wait.
Sikaniska throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
Hopkins pushes Sikaniska off looking to stand but Sikaniska dives back in and keeps control.
Sikaniska winds up and cracks Hopkins with a swinging punch to the side of the head.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Sikaniska thows a huge punch but Hopkins dodges it nicely.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Sikaniska lands a big shot. The thud that echoes around the arena is like music to the fans' ears.
Sikaniska is just sitting in half guard, waiting for something to happen.

Sikaniska gets to his feet - back to striking we go!
Sikaniska blocks a head kick by Hopkins.
A head kick misses from Hopkins.
Sikaniska moves in looking to clinch but Hopkins pushes him off.

Sikaniska gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.

Sikaniska has managed to pull guard. Let's see whether he can work an aggressive guard. It will also be interesting to see what tactics Hopkins uses from the top position.
Sikaniska controlling the position.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Niko Sikaniska 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.

Sikaniska closes the distance and clinches up, looking for a takedown. He shifts his weight and gets a nice trip into half guard.
Hopkins is trying to stand up here but Sikaniska is controlling him well.
Sikaniska looking to pass the half guard. Not this time.
Hopkins wants to get back to his feet.
Sikaniska content to control rather than advance.
Sikaniska wants to get back to his feet.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Hopkins wants to get back to his feet.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.

Hopkins gets caught flat footed, as Sikaniska shoots in with a quick takedown into guard.
Hopkins has momentary wrist control but Sikaniska slips an elbow through the middle.
Sikaniska postures up in Hopkins's guard and throws a big left but Hopkins blocks it.
Hopkins is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Sikaniska is controlling him.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Sikaniska drops back, looking for a kneebar! Hopkins looks panicked! The fighters roll across the mat, one looking to finish, one looking to escape. Hopkins looks to have wriggled free... Yes, he's got his leg free and he's dived into side control! Good work there from Hopkins!
Hopkins wants to stand but Sikaniska has his arm trapped.
Hopkins tries to stand but Sikaniska controls the position and pulls Hopkins into his guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Hopkins is looking to stand up but Sikaniska won't let him.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Sikaniska managing to control the position.
Sikaniska looking for a sweep. Not yet Sikaniska, not yet.
Hopkins wants to get up but he can't break Sikaniska's closed guard. He needs to be careful trying to break the legs open, as he's open to submissions here.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.
Hopkins misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.

Sikaniska drives through with a takedown into guard.
Sikaniska stops Hopkins from standing up.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Sikaniska connects with a couple of short punches.
Sikaniska postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Sikaniska wants to control from the top but Hopkins keeps moving.
Hopkins wants to stand up but Sikaniska is controlling him.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Sikaniska seems content to control from guard here. He's going to have to remain active though if he doesn't want to get stood back up.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Niko Sikaniska dominated that second 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. And we move into the final round!

Nice takedown defense from Hopkins. No joy for Sikaniska on that attempt.
A head kick misses from Hopkins.
Hopkins misses with a head kick.

Sikaniska looks for a takedown. He's got it. We're now in half guard.
Hopkins pushes Sikaniska off looking to stand but Sikaniska dives back in and keeps control.
Sikaniska trying to control the pace.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Nice strikes from Sikaniska there.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Sikaniska is looking to take a break and control but Hopkins is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Sikaniska missing with the ground and pound from half guard.
Hopkins wants to get back to his feet.
Sikaniska takes advantage of the dominant position to land a couple of big hammer fists.
Sikaniska prevents Hopkins from standing back up.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.

Sikaniska decides to change it up a bit and drives through with a nice takedown into half guard.
Sikaniska stops Hopkins from getting back to his feet.
Sikaniska trying to control from half guard but Hopkins is working away.
Hopkins is trying to stand back up but Sikaniska is controlling him

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Hopkins is using up a lot of energy trying to get back to his feet. Perhaps he should improve his position first.
Sikaniska thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Hopkins's head.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.
Hopkins goes for a high kick. It partially lands.
Hopkins misses with a head kick.
Hopkins throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Sikaniska avoids the head kick by Hopkins.

Sikaniska shoots in from a long way out. He's driving through with the takedown attempt and he eventually gets it, landing in Hopkins's guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Hopkins is looking to stand up but Sikaniska isn't so interested in that idea.
Niko Sikaniska overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Hammerfist, elbow! yells Sikaniska's corner. There ya go! There ya go!
Sikaniska trying to control the position from guard on top but Hopkins is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Sikaniska throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Hopkins works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Hopkins wants to stand and escape but Sikaniska is having none of it.
Sikaniska throwing strikes from guard but Hopkins blocks nicely.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Hopkins tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are hurling abuse towards the fighters... You can hardly blame them though because there isn't a lot going on in the fight.
A head kick from Hopkins lands but Sikaniska takes it in his stride.
Hopkins throws a head kick that misses.
Hopkins tries a head kick but it misses.
Hopkins misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.

Sikaniska has closed the distance and engaged Hopkins in a clinch.

Sikaniska lands a nice trip takedown into half guard.
Sikaniska is tying to control. Hopkins wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.
Hopkins avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Sikaniska.
Hopkins is looking to escape.
Jimmy Hopkins has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Niko Sikaniska is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Sikaniska takes advantage of the dominant position to land a couple of big hammer fists.

And that's the end of the fight!
Niko Sikaniska showed his dominance in that final round.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Sikaniska, winning every round. Will the judges agree? They are the ones who matter, even if they are often depressingly incompetent. 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 Arvi Lind scores the fight 30:27
Judge Johanna Lukiainen scores the fight 30:27
Judge Marco Blurström scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Niko Sikaniska!