PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight kickboxing rules bout between Pikku Nilkki (ranked 1179 p4p, 62 weight class) and Makunouchi Ippo (ranked 4756 p4p, 230 weight class). Nilkki comes into the arena with Fintelligens - Sori blaring out of the sound system. Ippo has chosen Indestructible as his entrance music. Makunouchi Ippo will no doubt be looking to use his reach advantage to good effect.

Nilkki
vs
Ippo

154 cm
40
147 lbs
30 - 15 - 1

173 cm
37
146 lbs
25 - 11 - 0

World class boxer
KO power

World class MT
Good gas tank

Power Matrix Nutrition

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the bantamweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 30 - 15 - 1, fighting out of New York, Pikku Nilkki!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 25 - 11 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Makunouchi Ippo!
The judges for this bout are Chris Edwards, James Ackerman and Andrew Berry.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
A looping hook to the body misses from Nilkki. Ippo does a little dance to reset his feet.
A solid leg kick lands there for Ippo.
Ippo dances in quickly and lands a nice inside leg kick on Nilkki. That did some damage!
Ippo avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Ippo steps in looking to clinch after the strikes miss from Nilkki.
Ippo slips in close and lands a nice hook before moving back out of range.
Nilkki takes one on the chin but seems OK.
Ippo throws a lazy uppercut
and Nilkki counters with a good low kick that Ippo was not able to check.
Nilkki misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Ippo wants to counter the offense by Nilkki and move into the clinch position.
Ippo scores with a jab to the jaw.
Nilkki gets cracked with a nice right hand there by Ippo.
Nilkki with poor footwork there. He got himself in a bit of a tangle, enabling Ippo to score with a decent uppercut.
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!
Nilkki takes a jab on the nose. He smiles like he loves it and keeps coming.
Nilkki throws a jab but it's blocked by Ippo.
Ippo lands a leg kick that knocks Nilkki off balance momentarily.
Ippo connects with a good right hand that stumbles Nilkki. Nilkki circles away out of range and recomposes himself.
Ippo has used his reach advantage pretty well so far tonight.
Ippo with a nice cross.
Makunouchi Ippo seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

Nilkki forces Ippo back against the ropes and clinches.
Knees in the clinch landing for Ippo.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Nilkki misses with a body punch.
Ippo makes some space for himself and lands an uppercut.
Nilkki tries a body shot but Ippo blocks it.
Nilkki tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
A nice right hand lands inside from Ippo.
Nilkki throws a punch but it's blocked by Ippo.
Knees to the body from Ippo.
Nilkki swings wildly with an uppercut but Ippo uses good head movement to avoid it.
Nilkki goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Ippo tries a knee to the head but Nilkki blocks it.
Nilkki goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Ippo is trying to wear down his opponent with knees to the body.
Ippo lands a nice knee to the body.
Nilkki is breathing heavily.
Ippo with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.
Ippo lands with a good tight uppercut to the head.
Ippo lands with a short punch from the clinch.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Ippo lands a knee to the head there! That was nasty!

It looks like Pikku Nilkki has been cut.
Ippo has been looking to improve his clinch game in recent weeks. Nilkki seems to have the measure of him in the clinch so far, so let's see if Ippo can turn it around.
Ippo with the Thai clinch, lands a knee to the head.
Knees in the clinch landing for Ippo.
Ippo lands with a right to the head.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Ippo tries to land a knee to the head but misses.
Ippo lands a knee to the head.
Ippo using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Nilkki has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Nilkki.
Ippo using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Nilkki has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
Ippo lands a knee to the body.
Nilkki tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Ippo's elbow.
Ippo blocks the elbow strike.
With the fighters clinched against the ropes, Ippo creates a bit of distance for himself and scores with a nice uppercut.
Ippo misses with a knee strike.
A quick uppercut on the inside from Ippo.
Nilkki working some nice short punches in the clinch.
Ippo lands punches inside but they're not really causing much damage.
Ippo lands a hook that snaps the head of Nilkki backwards.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Ippo tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Nilkki avoids it.
Ippo tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Nilkki avoids it.
Ippo lands with a left to the head.
Ippo putting his Muay Thai to good use. He has Nilkki in a tight clinch and is doing some damage with knees to the body.
A short uppercut from Ippo.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Makunouchi Ippo dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Pikku Nilkki's cut.
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.

Ippo tries to clinch there but Nilkki circles away.
Nilkki jabbing away but nothing is landing.
Ippo lands a jab.
Ippo connects nicely with a jab. Noted by the judges no doubt.
Ippo tries to clinch but Nilkki is having none of it.
Ippo wants to slow Nilkki down by chopping away at his legs.
Nilkki takes a jab right on the nose. That must have hurt but he shrugs his shoulders and looks to return the favor.
Nilkki stumbles momentarily as he takes a strong leg kick from Ippo.
Ippo tries to clinch but Nilkki is having none of it.
Nilkki thumps Ippo with a low kick.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Ippo wants to slow Nilkki down by chopping away at his legs.
Nilkki looks shocked there as he takes a right hand to the temple.
Ippo jabs. That one connects to the head of his opponent.
Nilkki misses with an uppercut.
Ippo cracks Nilkki with a hook to the jaw. Both fighters smile at eachother and high-five before getting back down to business.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Nilkki lands with a cross.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Ippo cracks Nilkki with a right hand to the side of the head.
Ippo cracks Nilkki with an open hand slap.

Ippo has closed the distance and engaged Nilkki in a clinch.
Nilkki looks to throw an elbow but misses.
Nilkki lands a nice elbow.
Kneeeeees! The crowd are calling for knees to the body. Nilkki obliges.
Nilkki misses with some punches.
Ippo scores a nice knee to the body.
Kneeeeees! The crowd are calling for knees to the body. Ippo obliges.
Ippo with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.
Ippo lands a right uppercut that snaps the head of Nilkki backwards.
Ippo tries a knee to the head but he's missed.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Nilkki misses with a short punch on the inside.
Nilkki blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
Nilkki misses with a punch on the inside.
Nilkki can't find room to land a body shot as Ippo controls the action.
Ippo scores with a nice hook to the head.
Nilkki misses with a punch to the body.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Ippo lands a nice uppercut.
Nilkki is trying to push Ippo away but Ippo has him pressed against the ropes, so he's going nowhere.
A short uppercut from Nilkki.
Ippo lands a knee to the head there! That was nasty!
Ippo landing knees to the body. They look like they could hurt.
Ippo unloads a knee to the mid-section.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Nilkki tries a knee to the head but he's missed.
Ippo is trying to wear down his opponent with knees to the body.
Ippo blocks an uppercut.
Ippo landing some nice looking knees to the body.
Ippo tries to land a knee to the head but Nilkki blocks with his arms.
Ippo connects with a nasty looking knee right to Nilkki's face.
Kneeeeees! The crowd are calling for knees to the body. Ippo obliges.
Ippo pushes Nilkki back against the ropes and lands a hook to the side of the head.
Ippo tries to land a knee to the head but misses.
The crowd applaud the fighters' efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Ippo lands a short shot on the inside that snaps the head of Nilkki backwards.
Nilkki throws a head punch that misses.
Ippo throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Nilkki blocks it with crossed arms.
Ippo has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Nilkki is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Ippo is defending well for now.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Makunouchi Ippo showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The cut man is working on Pikku Nilkki's cut.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action! This is the final round!

Ippo scores with a straight right hand, right through his opponent's guard.
A telegraphed right hand from Nilkki misses the target.
Ippo works the jab nicely.
A punch lands to the side of Nilkki 's head but he takes it in his stride.
Nilkki walks into a left hand.
Ippo uses good footwork to get in and out and land a nice right hand before Nilkki has time to react.
Ippo scores with a jab to the jaw of his opponent.

Nilkki is rocked!

Ippo gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.
Oh Nilkki is still all over the place! His legs are completely gone! Will he be able to recover?!!
Nilkki has had enough of the clinch but Ippo keeps him there for the moment.
Ippo lands a nice knee to the body.
Nilkki seems to have got his legs back now.
Ippo throws a knee to the head but misses.
Nilkki throws a punch but it's blocked by Ippo.
Nilkki throws a head punch that misses.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Nilkki tries to work over Ippo's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
Knees to the body from Ippo.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Nilkki tries to break free but Ippo pushes him back against the ropes.
Nilkki misses with a hook from the clinch.
Nilkki blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Nilkki misses with a short punch on the inside.
Nilkki on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
Ippo lands with a short punch from the clinch.
Ippo looking to throw knees to the head but Nilkki is blocking nicely.
Nilkki pushes Ippo back against the ropes and lands a hook to the side of the head.
Nilkki tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Ippo tries to land a knee to the head but misses.
Ippo misses with a short punch on the inside.
Nilkki fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Ippo is trying to wear down his opponent with knees to the body.
Ippo with an attempt at a knee that misses.
Still in the clinch, Ippo scores with a nice short uppercut.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Nilkki.
Ippo crunches a lovely knee into Nilkki's ribcage.
Nilkki looks like he's developed a pretty tasty lump over his left eye. He'll need to avoid taking much more damage to that.
Nilkki throws a head punch that misses.
Pikku Nilkki has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Kneeeeees! The crowd are calling for knees to the body. Ippo obliges.
Makunouchi Ippo seems to be working more effectively in the clinch in the fight so far.
A short uppercut from Ippo.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Ippo lands with a short punch from the clinch.
Nilkki lands a hook that snaps the head of Ippo backwards.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Ippo blocks a body shot from Nilkki.
Ippo throws a blind hook that connects with the side of Nilkkis head.
Nilkki pushes off and fires off an elbow that misses, before clinching up again, against the ropes.
Ippo lands a good knee to the midsection. Nilkki won't want to take too many of those.
Nilkki misses with an elbow strike.
Ippo landing knees to the body.
Ippo working Nilkki over with knees to the body.
Ippo with the Thai clinch, lands a knee to the head.
Ippo is trying to wear down his opponent with knees to the body.
Ippo throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Nilkki blocks it with crossed arms.
Ippo with an attempt at a knee that misses.
Ippo lands a nice knee to the body.
Nilkki misses with the head strike.
The crowd applaud the fighters' efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Ippo tries to land a knee to the head but Nilkki blocks with his arms.
Ippo tries a knee to the head but he's missed.
Ippo throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Nilkki blocks it with crossed arms.
Nilkki lands a nice uppercut.
Ippo connects with a knee to the head.

And that's the end of the fight!
Makunouchi Ippo comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Ippo 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 Chris Edwards scores the fight 27:30
Judge James Ackerman scores the fight 27:30
Judge Andrew Berry scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Makunouchi Ippo!
Post fight, Makunouchi Ippo stared into the camera and said 'I do believe I have properly earn my title shot'.