PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Dick Niaz (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Rune Anki (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Anki has chosen Loverman as his entrance music. Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

Niaz
vs
Anki

191 cm
18
184 lbs
0 - 1 - 0

176 cm
18
178 lbs
3 - 1 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Excellent boxer
Big right hand

BJJ White Belt
Brawler
Granite chin

Zipp Zapp

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the welterweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Dick Niaz!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 3 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Rune Anki!
The judges for this bout are Paulsen Ambrosius, Daniel Blasius and Nard Betker.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Anki rushes Niaz and presses him up against the cage.

Anki breaks from the clinch.
Anki rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Niaz moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Anki throws a body kick that misses.
Anki throws a right hand that misses
and Niaz counters with a two punch combo.
Anki throws a couple of head shots and lands with the final one - a decent hook, which struck Niaz on the side of the head.
Anki jabs Niaz to the body, keeping him at a distance.
Anki throws a hook but Niaz avoids it easily.
Niaz tries to score a power double leg takedown but Anki sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Niaz somewhat.
Anki looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Niaz has a takedown stuffed.

Anki takes the fight into the clinch.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Niaz fails to pull the fight into his guard.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Dick Niaz. That's going to take a lot out of him.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Niaz is trying to pull guard but Anki turns him against the cage and we stay in the clinch.
Anki told us before the fight that he's been working on his elbows. An under utilised technique these days - let's see if it can sway the outcome of the fight.

Anki breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Niaz throws a series of punches but Anki moves out of range.
Niaz looks to have improved his striking defense since last time we saw him fight.
Niaz tries for a takedown but Anki sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
Anki throws a left and a right that both miss
and Niaz counters with a left and a right that stings Anki.
A head kick from Niaz lands but Anki takes it in his stride.

Anki drives through and clinches with Niaz against the cage.
Niaz avoiding damage as Anki throws knees to the body.
Niaz tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.
Niaz fails to pull the fight into his guard.
Niaz tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. Anki smiles and moves away.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Anki fails to land with a series of punches.
Anki tests Niaz's chin there with a solid looking shot.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Niaz shoots in and drives through. Anki sprawls well.
Niaz wants to clinch.

Anki closes the distance and pushes Niaz back into the cage.
Niaz tries to score a body lock takedown but Anki shows good agility there to stay on his feet.

Anki ties up his opponent against the cage and manages to drag the fight down to the ground. Anki no doubt will be looking to work submissions from his guard.

Niaz avoids a guillotine attempt easily.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Niaz trying to control but Anki is working from the bottom.

Niaz drops back for a leg! It's a sloppy attempt though and Niaz jumps back into guard quickly, to retain the dominant position.
Niaz trying to control but Anki is working from the bottom.
Niaz throws a big right hand that misses.

Anki pushes Niaz off and gets back to his feet.
A combination from Niaz does no damage.
Anki is definitely looking for the counter takedowns here.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Anki closes the distance and pushes Niaz back into the cage.
Niaz looking to slow down the pace here.
Anki lands a right hand that snaps the head of Niaz backwards.
A nice glancing elbow lands by Anki.

Anki escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Anki swats away the attempt to clinch by Niaz.

The fight moves into the clinch position.

Anki escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Rune Anki dominated that round.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

Niaz is looking to clinch.

Anki instigates a clinch.
Niaz is trying to stall.

Anki breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Anki throws a right and a left that Niaz avoids nicely.
Rune Anki seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Anki will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Niaz throws a body kick that misses.
Anki throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Niaz is trying hard to land a takedown here. Anki sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.
Niaz moves away from the strike by Anki.
Dick Niaz is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Niaz throws a body kick but he was well out of range there.
Anki avoids the clinch attempt nicely.

That's one minute gone in the round.
A head kick from Niaz lands but Anki takes it in his stride.
Niaz shoots in but Anki avoids the takedown attempt easily.
Niaz tries to clinch there but Anki circles away.
Anki looks to land a combination but Niaz avoids it well.

Anki clinches with his opponent.
The fighters are starting to get sweaty, which will make takedowns a bit more tricky.
Niaz lands with a short head shot on the inside.
Niaz tries to score a body lock takedown but Anki shows good agility there to stay on his feet.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Dick Niaz. That's going to take a lot out of him.

Anki has clasped his hands together around Niaz's back... aaand, he's got a takedown into side control. Nicely done.

Niaz throws his opponent off and manages to get back to his feet! Nicely done!
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Niaz tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.

Anki rushes Niaz and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.
Niaz tries to pull guard but Anki holds him up against the cage and eventually Niaz drops back down to his feet.
Anki has been the more effective fighter overall so far.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Anki is defending well against a takedown attempt.
Rune Anki seems to be working more effectively in the clinch in the fight so far.
Niaz wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Anki has him pressed against the cage.
Niaz gets double underhooks to prevent a takedown attempt from Anki.

Anki breaks the clinch.
Niaz shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Anki as he jumps to the side.
Anki misses with a wild combination.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Niaz shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Anki as he avoids it easily.
Anki stumbles momentarily as he takes a strong leg kick from Niaz.

Anki drives through and clinches with Niaz against the cage.

Anki breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Rune Anki seems to be getting the better of the standup.

Anki pushes Niaz up against the cage in a clinch.
Niaz tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. Anki smiles and moves away.

Anki instigates a clinch.
Niaz wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.
Niaz struggles to land a body shot inside as Anki controls his hands.

Niaz escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Anki forces Niaz back against the cage and clinches.
Niaz has hold of a leg and is looking for a trip takedown. Anki avoids it nicely though and we remain in the clinch.

Anki escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Niaz fails with a takedown attempt.
Anki swats away the attempt to clinch by Niaz.
And an attempted straight right on the counter from Anki! But no joy.
Niaz tries to close the distance and clinch up but Anki swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Anki tries a counter takedown but it's more of a dummy move, and he uses it to push himself away.
Niaz dives in and grabs Anki's left leg, looking for a takedown. Anki pushes down on Niaz's head and hops out.
Anki circles away from the clinch attempt.
Anki wants to counter the offense by Niaz and move into the clinch position.

Anki closes the distance and clinches.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Niaz wants to break the clinch but can't.
Niaz tries to break the clinch but Anki is controlling the position.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Rune Anki showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action. The crowd applaud as we get ready to start the final round!

Niaz shoots in but Anki avoids the takedown attempt easily.
Anki throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
Niaz is looking for a counter combo.
Niaz shoots in for a double leg but Anki sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
Anki is trying to avoid his opponent's strikes and get into the clinch.
Niaz shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Anki sprawls well. Anki wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Niaz gets slowly back to his feet.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Dick Niaz. That's going to take a lot out of him.

Anki rushes Niaz and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Anki escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Anki misses with a double jab.
Anki avoids a kick to the body.

Anki darts in and clinches Niaz up against the cage.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Niaz jumps guard but his hands slip and he falls flat on his back. Well, he's made himself look a right mug there, as Anki walks away with a smile on his face. Niaz gets slowly back to his feet and shakes his head.

Anki clinches up against the cage.
Anki lands a hook to the body. It's hard to tell if that hurt Niaz or not.

Anki pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Niaz wings a very wild body shot but it does the job and lands to the midsection.
Niaz has a takedown stuffed.
Niaz tries to score a power double leg takedown but Anki sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Niaz somewhat.

Niaz tries to keep at a distance but Anki has taken the fight into the clinch.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Anki lands a left hand that snaps the head of Niaz backwards.

Anki pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Anki takes a shot right to the liver - Bas would have been proud of that punch.

Niaz tries to keep at a distance but Anki has taken the fight into the clinch.
Niaz is pressed up against the cage. Anki has hold of a leg and is looking to drag Niaz down to the mat. Niaz avoids the attempt though and has circled away. We're back to striking at a distance.
Niaz shoots in for a takedown but Anki shows good takedown defense.
Anki wants to counter with a clinch but Niaz pushes him away.
Niaz tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. Anki manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Anki throws a body kick that misses
and Niaz counters with a one-two to the body.
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!

The fight moves into the clinch position.
Niaz jumps guard but Anki turns him against the cage and keeps the fight standing.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Anki breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
A left and a right from Niaz both land. Nice combination.

Anki pushes Niaz up against the cage in a clinch.
Niaz has a body lock and is looking for a takedown. Anki is bouncing around trying to prevent the takedown and somehow he has indeed managed to stay on his feet.
Niaz tries to pull guard but Anki forces him back to his feet, against the cage.

Anki pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Niaz is looking to take this fight into the clinch.

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

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Niaz tries to pull guard but Anki won't allow it.
Niaz is looking to break free of the clinch but Anki has double underhooks.

Anki's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Anki swats away the attempt to clinch by Niaz.
Niaz misses with a takedown attempt
and Anki counters with a left and a right that stings Niaz.
This fight brought to you by 5M nutrition - it's mmmmm tasty. Nice jab by Anki.

Niaz is rocked!

It looks like Dick Niaz has been cut.
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!
No luck with that takedown attempt from Niaz.
Oh Niaz is still all over the place! His legs are completely gone! Will he be able to recover?!!
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

The fight moves into the clinch position.
Dick Niaz has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Rune Anki is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
Niaz seems to have got his legs back now.

Anki pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.

And that's the end of the fight!
Rune Anki comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Anki 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 Paulsen Ambrosius scores the fight 27:30
Judge Daniel Blasius scores the fight 27:30
Judge Nard Betker scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Rune Anki!
In his post fight interview, Rune Anki started talking himself up. Luckily his charisma kept the crowd on side and gave him a good reception.