PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Andrey Nikolayev (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Aleksander Pavlosky (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Nikolayev
vs
Pavlosky

200 cm
20
260 lbs
1 - 1 - 0

193 cm
21
235 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Cuts easily

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Solid chin

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 1 - 1 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Andrey Nikolayev!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Aleksander Pavlosky!
The judges for this bout are Igor Prikhodko, Valeri Chadov and Fedor Mirinova.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Nikolayev shoots in for a takedown and gets it.
Nikolayev misses with a head shot. Pavlosky uses the momentum to regain guard.
Nikolayev has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.
Nikolayev wants to stand but Pavlosky is controlling his posture from full guard.
Pavlosky keeping moving, preventing Nikolayev from controlling successfully.

Nikolayev drops back looking for a leg! Pavlosky is in trouble here! The fighters roll with the hold and Pavlosky manages to kick Nikolayev off! Nikolayev jumps back into Pavlosky's guard.

Nikolayev is holding a leg here, probably looking for an ankle lock - he drops back and goes for it! Pavlosky is in trouble! Is it all over??? No! Pavlosky has escaped and now he's on top!
Nikolayev pulls Pavlosky in to control the position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Pavlosky pushes down on Nikolayev's leg and manages to get into half guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Nikolayev is refusing to be controlled, as Pavlosky sits in half guard.
Nikolayev tries to roll over but Pavlosky keeps him under control.
Pavlosky sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Nikolayev defending well though.
Pavlosky trying to control from half guard but Nikolayev is working away.
Nikolayev wants to get back to full guard.

That's two 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.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.
Nikolayev blocks a head kick by Pavlosky.
Pavlosky looks gassed!
Nikolayev looks to land a right hand but Pavlosky moved out of range.
Pavlosky wants to clinch up but Nikolayev keeps it at a distance.
Nikolayev misses with the combination.
Nikolayev fails to land the takedown.
Nikolayev ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Pavlosky moves away.
Nikolayev misses with a straight left.
Nikolayev lands a jab to Pavlosky's midsection.
Nikolayev closes the distance and clinches up with Pavlosky, looking for a takedown. Nikolayev pushes Pavlosky against the cage but Pavlosky circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
Nikolayev thows a left - swing and a miss!
Pavlosky stuffs the takedown attempt from Nikolayev. Nikolayev gets slowly back to his feet.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Andrey Nikolayev. That's going to take a lot out of him.
The crowd cheers as Pavlosky lands an impressive looking overhand right. Nikolayev doesn't seem phased though.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Nikolayev lands a straight punch to the body, keeping Pavlosky at a distance.
Pavlosky tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
No luck for Nikolayev with that takedown attempt.
Pavlosky tries to clinch up.
Pavlosky fails with a takedown attempt from distance.

Nikolayev drives through with a really nice takedown into side control.
Nikolayev scoring with punches and elbows.
Sloppy strikes there by Nikolayev.
Pavlosky can't do much from the bottom here.
Pavlosky is letting Nikolayev control him for a moment.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Nikolayev is trying to ground and pound but Pavlosky uses the momentary lack of control by Nikolayev to regain half guard.
Nikolayev working some ground and pound from close in. He's looking to maintain this position and strike for a while by the looks of things... although he'll probably advance to full mount in a minute now I've said that.
Nikolayev working the head and body with strikes.
Nikolayev throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
Pavlosky has hold of Nikolayev's hands but Nikolayev slips his arm to the side and lands an elbow.
Nikolayev scoring with strikes to the body and head.

Pavlosky looking for submissions from an awkward position here.
Nikolayev is looking to take a break and control but Pavlosky is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Andrey Nikolayev dominated that round.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

Pavlosky with a hook.
Horrible takedown by Pavlosky or perhaps it was just good defense by Nikolayev which made him look bad.

Nikolayev changes levels and drives through with a really nice takedown into side control. Pavlosky looks really pissed at himself for not defending that better.
Nikolayev working the head and body with strikes.
Nikolayev staying calm.
Nikolayev working away.
Pavlosky taking a bit of punishment here - Nikolayev scoring with strikes.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Pavlosky is being controlled here.
Nikolayev working the head with strikes.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Pavlosky is trying to improve his position.

Nikolayev stands up.
Pavlosky on the wrong end of a vicious looking body shot.
Nikolayev fakes a head punch and goes low to the body. Nicely done.
Aleksander Pavlosky is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.

Pavlosky gets caught flat footed, as Nikolayev shoots in with a quick takedown into guard.
Nikolayev looking to pass the guard.
Pavlosky trying to control the position.
Pavlosky wants to sweep here but Nikolayev controlling him for the moment.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Nikolayev with a nice head shot there.

Nikolayev gets to his feet and steps away from his opponent.
Pavlosky dips to his left and cracks Nikolayev with an uppercut!
Pavlosky lands a leg kick. The shin dug right into the meat of the thigh.
A slow jab from Nikolayev misses its intended target.
Nikolayev misses with a hook. Pavlosky ducked under it nicely.
Pavlosky scores with a nice right hand.

Nikolayev scores a trip takedown into side control. Nice.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Pavlosky struggling a bit here.
Nikolayev in side control lands a decent elbow.
Pavlosky manages to work his way to half guard, despite Nikolayev's best efforts.
Nikolayev landing with strikes to the body and head, softening up his opponent.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Nikolayev is controlling the pace.
Nikolayev is looking to advance position but Pavlosky won't allow it.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Nikolayev perhaps working for something from half guard, or maybe not. It looks like he's just sitting there.
Pavlosky has his hands clasped together around Nikolayev's back. He's all about the action.
Nikolayev is nestled in close to Pavlosky, controlling him well. He's worked in a nice elbow to the side of the head as well, for good measure.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Neither fighter has done anything of merit for a good minute or two here and the crowd are not happy about it.
Nikolayev perhaps working for something from half guard, or maybe not. It looks like he's just sitting there.
Nikolayev is just content to waste time from the top position. Pavlosky takes advantage of the situation and regains full guard.
Pavlosky not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Pavlosky wants to sweep here but Nikolayev controlling him for the moment.
Nikolayev postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Nikolayev trying to control the position from guard on top but Pavlosky is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Nikolayev with a nice head shot there.
Nikolayev pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Pavlosky is keeping the position for now.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Andrey Nikolayev dominated that second round.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action! Let's hear some noise people - this is the final round!

Nikolayev closes the distance and clinches up, looking for a takedown. He shifts his weight and gets a nice trip into half guard.
Nikolayev content to control rather than advance.
Nikolayev working some ground and pound from close in. He's looking to maintain this position and strike for a while by the looks of things... although he'll probably advance to full mount in a minute now I've said that.
Pavlosky is looking for a sweep. Nikolayev is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Pavlosky trying to control from the bottom.
Nikolayev trying to control the pace.
Nikolayev works his way into full mount!
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Nikolayev working away from the top, dropping strikes.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Nikolayev dominating with strikes here.

Nikolayev looking for a guillotine from mount but Pavlosky is having none of it.
Andrey Nikolayev overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Nikolayev wants to control the pace but Pavlosky is squirming around nicely.
Pavlosky tries to reverse the position but Nikolayev maintains control.
Nikolayev takes a little breather and maintains the position. The referee will be looking for him to stay active from such a dominant position though.
Pavlosky keeping his composure momentarily, calmly looking to get back to half guard.
Nikolayev dominating with strikes here.

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.
Nikolayev is landing with some decent strikes but Pavlosky is trying to advance his position so the referee is letting the fight continue.
Nikolayev prevents Pavlosky from getting the reversal.
Nikolayev looking to control but Pavlosky is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.
Pavlosky takes a big shot to the head but keeps on trying to improve his position.
Pavlosky trying desperately to get to his feet.
Pavlosky can't escape the position.
Nikolayev tucks in and makes sure he doesn't lose the dominant position.
Nikolayev landing shots from mount.
Nikolayev is still in mount, landing shots to his trapped opponent. Pavlosky can't stay in a position like this for much longer.
Nikolayev with good strikes from the mount here!

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Nikolayev moves into side control, trying to work for a kimura. That looks painful! Will he finish!!?? No, Pavlosky has worked his arm free - good work by Pavlosky!
Nikolayev working away diligently from side control. Landing strikes effectively there - that will score him some points on the judges scorecards.
A bit of a lull in the action. I'm sure it will pick up again soon... even if the ref has to physically pick them up and put them back on their feet.
Pavlosky takes an elbow right on the bridge of the nose and winces in pain.
Pavlosky is sneaking out the side here. He's bucked Nikolayev off and has taken his back!
Pavlosky is riding his opponent, not letting Nikolayev buck him off.
Nikolayev looking very determined here, making life difficult for Pavlosky.

Pavlosky working for a choke but Nikolayev is defending well.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Nikolayev breaks Pavlosky's hooks off and manages to turn into his guard.
Andrey Nikolayev is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Pavlosky looking to hit a scissor sweep but Nikolayev is one step ahead there.
Pavlosky can't do much from the bottom at the moment, as Nikolayev controls the pace.
Pavlosky managing to control the position.

And that's the end of the fight!
Andrey Nikolayev showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Nikolayev has outscored his opponent in every aspect of the fight today. Only a scarily incompetent judge or two will keep him from a well deserved win... 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 Igor Prikhodko scores the fight 30:27
Judge Valeri Chadov scores the fight 30:27
Judge Fedor Mirinova scores the fight 30:27

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