PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Cro Cop (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Andrey Nikolayev (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Cro Cop has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Cop
vs
Nikolayev

195 cm
18
235 lbs
2 - 4 - 0

200 cm
20
260 lbs
0 - 1 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Good kicks
Good chin

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Tends to cut

Comedy Fight Club Clothing

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 2 - 4 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Cro Cop!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 1 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Andrey Nikolayev!
The judges for this bout are Fedor Mirinova, Viktor Lagutenko and Vladimir Khabensky.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Nikolayev misses with a hook.
Nikolayev avoids the head kick by Cop.
Cop throws a head kick that half lands.

It looks like Andrey Nikolayev has been cut.
Cop throws a sloppy head kick and Nikolayev moves out of range easily.
Cop lands with a kick to the temple. Nikolayev shrugs as if to say "is that all you've got?"
Nikolayev tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Cop swivels and escapes.
Cop pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Nikolayev jabbing away but nothing is landing.
Nikolayev fails to land the takedown.
A head kick misses from Cop.
Cop throws a sloppy head kick and Nikolayev moves out of range easily.
Cro Cop seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Cop misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Nikolayev closes this distance looking for a takedown but Cop circles away.
Cro Cop has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Andrey Nikolayev.
Cop pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Cop is breathing heavily.
Nikolayev blocks a head kick by Cop.
A punch lands to the side of Cop 's head but he takes it in his stride.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Cop throws a head kick that misses.
Nikolayev swings for the body but Cop moves out of range.

Nikolayev feints and as Cop raises his hands in defense, Nikolayev changes levels and drives through with a takedown into guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Nikolayev is just sitting in guard, looking to avoid any submissions.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Cop keeping moving, preventing Nikolayev from controlling successfully.
Nikolayev postures up and lands some nice ground and pound.
Nikolayev missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Nikolayev accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Nikolayev looking to pass the guard.
Nikolayev is persisting with the attempt to improve his position.
Cop wants to stand and escape but Nikolayev is having none of it.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A few boos can be heard. I'm sure they will multiply if the fighters don't pick up the pace.
Nikolayev distracts Cop with his right hand and drops a big elbow with his other arm.
Nikolayev missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Nikolayev wants to control from the top but Cop keeps moving.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.
Cop throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Cop throws a head kick but Nikolayev moves out of range.
Nikolayev connects with the punch.

Nikolayev shoots in for a takedown! He's got it and he's managed to land in full mount! That's better than Nikolayev was expecting from the takedown attempt, I'm sure!
Nikolayev lands an elbow that was bordering on illegal but the referee lets it go with a warning.
Nikolayev landing strikes from the mount and Cop is in trouble!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Nikolayev looking to finish with strikes here!
Cop is trying to escape but when you're mounted that's not too easy.
Nikolayev throwing sloppy strikes here. Perhaps if he tightened up his striking from such a dominant position, he'd be able to finish easier.
Nikolayev has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
Nikolayev breaks from Cop's wrist control and lands an elbow.

Nikolayev looks like he's working for a submission but he's not found anything just yet.
Nikolayev punishing his opponent with strikes.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A few boos can be heard. I'm sure they will multiply if the fighters don't pick up the pace.
Nikolayev looking to ground and pound his opponent to a finish here.
Cop knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Nikolayev on the ground.
Nikolayev with shots to the head and body - Cop looks very uncomfortable down there.
Cop trying desperately to get to his feet.
Nikolayev tucks in and makes sure he doesn't lose the dominant position.
Poor strikes thrown by Nikolayev there. More accuracy and less frantic strikes would help!
Nikolayev throwing shots from mount but they're not landing.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Nikolayev throws some wild stikes that Cop manages to avoid easily.
Nikolayev thuds his fist into the canvas! Oooouch!
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Andrey Nikolayev dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Andrey Nikolayev's cut.
That's time! Cop's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight.

Cop misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Nikolayev closes the distance and clinches up with Cop, looking for a takedown. Nikolayev pushes Cop against the cage but Cop circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
Cop tries a head kick but it misses.
Cop tries a head kick but it misses.
Nikolayev blocks a head kick by Cop.
Nikolayev scores with a big left there. The judges will like that one.
Cop takes a solid shot to the body. That one hurt him but he's trying not to show it.

Nikolayev shoots in for a takedown! He's got it and he's managed to land in full mount! That's better than Nikolayev was expecting from the takedown attempt, I'm sure!
Nikolayev sends his fist crashing into the mat - the crowd let out a collective ooooooh. Let's hope he's not broken it!
Cop avoids a series of strikes thrown by Nikolayev.
Nikolayev in mount throwing good strikes here, bouncing his opponent's head off the canvas.
Nikolayev lands a shot to the body, followed up by a shot to the exposed head of his trapped opponent.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Nikolayev landing strikes, looking to finish!
Nikolayev looking to ground and pound his opponent to a finish here.
Nikolayev trying to control but Cop is having none of it.
Nikolayev throwing shots from mount but they're not landing.
Nikolayev working Cop over with strikes here.
A nice elbow there by Nikolayev.
Nikolayev with a couple of short strikes.
Nikolayev can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as Cop is looking to escape.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A few boos can be heard. I'm sure they will multiply if the fighters don't pick up the pace.
Poor strikes thrown by Nikolayev there. More accuracy and less frantic strikes would help!
Nikolayev lands a big elbow.
Nikolayev scores with a couple of good head shots there.
Nikolayev misses with a series of strikes from mount. He'll no doubt be working on his ground and pound when he gets back to the gym.

Nikolayev looking for a guillotine from mount but Cop is having none of it.
Nikolayev throws some wild stikes that Cop manages to avoid easily.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Nikolayev scoring with some good ground and pound from mount here. Will he manage to finish Cop?
Nikolayev sends his fist crashing into the mat - the crowd let out a collective ooooooh. Let's hope he's not broken it!
Nikolayev tries to control but Cop wriggling away.
Nikolayev lands a heavy elbow.
Nikolayev trying to control but he's not successful this time.
Cop is looking to get back to his feet - it's going to be hard from this position.

Nikolayev looking for an armbar but decides to keep the dominant position instead.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.
The crowd growing excited in anticipation of a finish here! Right on cue, Nikolayev cracks his opponent with a massive right hand that draws loud cheers!

Nikolayev is going olschool here, as he tries to force Cop to tap using a forearm choke. This isn't 1993 though, so Cop shrugs it off.

Nikolayev jumps to side control looking for an arm triangle but Cop manages to avoid the submission attempt.
Nikolayev postures up a little and throws a couple of hammerfists but they don't connect properly.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Cop tries to escape but Nikolayev is in control.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Andrey Nikolayev showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The cut man is working on Andrey Nikolayev'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. This is the final round!

Nikolayev fails with a takedown attempt.
Cop lands a head kick. Nikolayev smiles back at him and beckons him forward.
Nikolayev avoids the head kick by Cop.
A head kick misses from Cop.
Cop doesn't react quick enough there as he takes a shot to the body.

Nikolayev feints and as Cop raises his hands in defense, Nikolayev changes levels and drives through with a takedown into guard.
Nikolayev trying to control but Cop is working from the bottom.
Nikolayev pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Cop is keeping the position for now.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Nikolayev trying to control the position from guard on top but Cop is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Nikolayev trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Nikolayev throwing strikes from guard but Cop blocks nicely.
Nikolayev trying to control but Cop is working from the bottom.

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

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
Cop looks to land a combination but Nikolayev avoids it well.
Cro Cop is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Cop misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Nikolayev throws a couple of head shots and lands with the final one - a decent hook, which struck Cop on the side of the head.
Nikolayev throws a body punch but Cop moves out of range.
Cop misses with a two punch combination.
Cop uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Nikolayev.
Nikolayev tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Cop swivels and escapes.
Cop throws a sloppy head kick and Nikolayev moves out of range easily.
Cop misses with a head kick.
Cop misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Nikolayev scores with a shot to the body.
Nikolayev scores with a punch to the head.
Nikolayev shoots in but no luck this time.
Cro Cop has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Andrey Nikolayev.
Cop pulls out of a head kick attempt.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Nikolayev.
Decent striking displayed by Nikolayev there.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Nikolayev avoids the head kick by Cop.
Nikolayev shoots in but Cop avoids the takedown attempt easily.
Cop throws a right hand that Nikolayev ducks under and follows up with a left that Nikolayev also avoids with ease.
Cop fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Nikolayev shoots in for a double leg but Cop sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
Cop tries a head kick but it misses.

Nikolayev bobs and weaves into range and then changes levels and scores with a nice takedown into side control.
Cop dodges the ground and pound from Nikolayev.
Nikolayev trying to control the action but Cop is working from the bottom.
Nikolayev throws a knee to the body but it doesn't do much damage.
Cro Cop has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Nikolayev postures up a little and throws a couple of hammerfists but they don't connect properly.
Nikolayev creates some space and throws a big elbow, but Cop sees it coming and moves his head just enough to avoid the strike.
Andrey Nikolayev is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Andrey Nikolayev has got the better of the ground game so far.
Nikolayev in side control lands a decent elbow.
Cop avoids any damage from the ground and pound of Nikolayev.
Cop on his back here. We all know that wrestlers don't like being on their back so let's see if Cop tries to get out of the position.
The referee tells the fighters to keep busy.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.
Nikolayev stooping low to avoid any incoming strikes and then lunges in with an uppercut come cross that lands flush.
Cop throws a sloppy head kick and Nikolayev moves out of range easily.
Nikolayev shoots in looking for a takedown. Cop tries to sprawl out of it but Nikolayev keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Cop manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
Cop throws a head kick that misses.

And that's the end of the fight!
Andrey Nikolayev comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Nikolayev winning every round here. Surely the decision will go his way and he'll pick up a well deserved decision victory. 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 Fedor Mirinova scores the fight 27:30
Judge Viktor Lagutenko scores the fight 27:30
Judge Vladimir Khabensky scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Andrey Nikolayev!