PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a super heavyweight MMA rules bout between Gordon Plant (ranked 4254 p4p, 23027 weight class) and Aleksey Nikulin (ranked 90 p4p, 144 weight class). Fingers crossed for an exciting fight - I'm sure both fighters are looking for a nice under the table bonus!

Plant
vs
Nikulin

155 cm
31
139
3 - 5 - 0

178 cm
25
171
0 - 0 - 0

Good wrestling
Great elbows
Experienced

Good wrestler
Excellent boxer
Good gas tank

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the super heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 3 - 5 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Gordon Plant!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Aleksey Nikulin!
The judges for this bout are Daniel Bishop, Phil Schofield and James Ackerman.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Nikulin uses good footwork to get in and out and land a nice right hand before Plant has time to react.
Plant tries to clinch up but Nikulin circles away and keeps his distance.
Plant takes a body punch but keeps moving.
Nikulin blocks a jab.
We've been hearing reports that Plant has been drilling takedowns in recent sessions so let's see if that has an impact on the result of this fight.
Nikulin swats away the attempt to clinch by Plant.
Nikulin lands a nice looking body shot.
Nikulin stooping low to avoid any incoming strikes and then lunges in with an uppercut come cross that lands flush.
Plant takes a shot right to the bread basket.

Nikulin bobbing and weaving well here. And he's unloaded with a massive right hand that drops Plant! He dives into his guard looking to finish!

Plant is rocked!
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!
Nikulin engaging in some classic timewasting tactics.
Oh Plant is still in real trouble! Will he be able to recover?!!
Nikulin won't allow Plant to sweep him here.
Plant seems to have got his legs back now.
Plant working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Nikulin.
Plant might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.
Nikulin is intent on slowing down the pace of the fight, simply looking to control.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Nikulin scoring with some ground and pound.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Plant keeping full guard, as Nikulin tries to pass.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Plant wants to sweep but no luck.
Nikulin controlling from the top position.
Plant lands a beautiful sweep and he's now moved into his opponent's guard.

Plant wants to pass the guard but Nikulin is keeping the position.
Plant trying to control the position from guard on top but Nikulin is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Plant wants to pass the guard but Nikulin is keeping the position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Plant pushing down on Nikulin's thigh, trying to pass to half guard. He's managed it... Nice work.
Plant trying to pass the guard but Nikulin defending well.
Nikulin moves his hips nicely and gets into full guard.
A real slowdown in the pace of the fight for a moment, as Nikulin holds on and takes a little breather.
Nikulin's corner are shouting for him to control the position and he seems happy to oblige.
Plant wants to control from the top but Nikulin keeps moving.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Plant won't allow Nikulin to sweep him here.
Nikulin is controlling Plant's posture.
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Plant sitting in guard, not really doing much.
The referee is asking the fighters to pick up the pace.
Nikulin has his hands on Plant's head, controlling the position.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up.
Plant works his jab well there, keeping his opponent at a distance.
Plant is looking to clinch.
Nikulin fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Plant manages to avoid it.
Nikulin misses with a body shot.
Nikulin throws a hard body shot but it just misses.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Plant steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Nikulin.
Plant shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Nikulin as he avoids it easily.
Nikulin with the counter takedown but Plant avoids it easily.
Nikulin looks to land a combination but Plant avoids it well.
Nikulin throws a nice looking combination but Plant bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Plant throws a big shot that misses.
Plant looks to score with a jab to the body but Nikulin is just out of range.
Plant takes one on the chin but keeps coming.
Good exchange - Nikulin coming out on top.

Plant shoots in and gets a takedown into half guard. Plant showed some decent athleticism there.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Nikulin gets back to full guard.
Nikulin is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Aleksey Nikulin dominated that round.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

Plant closes the distance and gets a double leg, slamming Nikulin to the mat! Nikulin manages to get full guard.
Nikulin looking to hit a scissor sweep but Plant is one step ahead there.
Nikulin is adopting a defensive guard.
Plant wants to control from the top but Nikulin keeps moving.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Plant is going to have to think about doing something other than just controlling because Nikulin is managing to avoid having the position dictated to him.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Nikulin is looking to sweep but instead, Plant has passed into half guard.

Plant seems to be working for a kimura but Nikulin defends the submission attempt.
Nikulin is looking to improve his position.
Nikulin controlling the position well.
Nikulin manages to get to full guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are getting on the fighters' backs, as the pace has dropped off in the last minute or so.
Nikulin wants to sweep but no luck.
Plant wants to control from the top but Nikulin keeps moving.
Nikulin is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.

Nice strikes from Nikulin there.
Nikulin wants to take a breather but Plant is having none of it.
Nikulin working Plant over with strikes.
Plant is looking for a sweep. Nikulin is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Plant keeping hold of Nikulin's head, controlling as best he can.
Nikulin controlling the action here.
Plant tries to roll over but Nikulin keeps him under control.
Plant controlling the position well.
Nikulin has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Plant is working for an escape here. He's hooked one of Nikulin's legs and he's managed to sneak out and take Nikulin's back!

Plant has his hand under the chin of his opponent looking for the choke. He's nearly got it! This one could be all over! But no, Nikulin has freed his hand and lives to survive another… well, another couple of seconds at least!
Nikulin trying to control the action but Plant just sinks the hooks in.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
I really don't envy Nikulin right now.
Nikulin is still trying to improve position.
Gordon Plant overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Plant is landing with strikes from the back.
Nikulin looking very determined here, making life difficult for Plant.
Nikulin tries to roll but Plant sticks to his back.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Plant is looking to control Nikulin but Nikulin is wriggling around and keeping busy.
Plant controlling well, preventing Nikulin from escaping the position.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Gordon Plant dominated that second round.
That's time! Back to the action! This is the final round!

Plant misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Nikulin.
A lazy left from Plant finds it's target.
Plant misses with a few strikes there.
Nikulin lands a nice shot that snaps Plant's head back.
Plant ducks down and throws a hook to the body.

Plant decides to change it up a bit and drives through with a nice takedown into half guard.

Plant is looking for a kimura but he's never going to get it from there.
Nikulin is looking to improve his position.
Nikulin has his hands clasped together around Plant's back. He's all about the action.
Plant prevents Nikulin from improving his position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Nikulin is looking to control Plant's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Nikulin avoid being mounted?
Nikulin is positioning himself well to prevent Plant advancing to mount.
Plant tries to pass to full mount but Nikulin defends it.
Nikulin is working for an escape here. He's hooked one of Plant's legs and he's managed to sneak out and take Plant's back!
Nikulin controls the action.
Plant is trying to break free.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Nikulin is riding his opponent, not letting Plant buck him off.
Plant trying to control but not successfully.
Nikulin is landing with strikes. Plant can't take much more of this.
Plant is defending well here and trying to improve his position.
Plant is working hard here to advance position.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Plant is being controlled on the ground here - he must escape this position otherwise surely the end is near.
Nikulin avoiding Plant 's attempts to control his hands.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Nikulin has the hooks sunk in and you can see the will to fight slowly draining out of Plant's body.
Plant is keeping busy.
Nikulin is landing with strikes. Plant can't take much more of this.
Nikulin scores with punches to the body.
Plant manages to reverse the position and now he's in Nikulin's guard. Nice work there by Plant.
Nikulin looking to control the pace of the fight rather than finish it.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Plant wants to control from the top but Nikulin keeps moving.
Nikulin tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Plant controls from within his opponent's guard.
Plant trying to control the position from guard on top but Nikulin is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Plant tries to free his leg and advance position but Nikulin is retaining full guard.
Nikulin manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Plant manages to get himself to full guard.

And that's the end of the fight!
I would just about give that final round to Aleksey Nikulin.
I think Nikulin has won this one but let's see whether the judges agree with me. 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 Daniel Bishop scores the fight 28:29
Judge Phil Schofield scores the fight 28:29
Judge James Ackerman scores the fight 29:29

In favor of your winner, by majority decision... Aleksey Nikulin!