PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Xander Boudewijn (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Maksim Nikifor (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Boudewijn's entrance music is The Streets - Blinded by the Lights. A fine choice. Nikifor comes into a darkened arena with his song building. Enae Volare Mezzo kicks in, the lights come on and the crowd goes wild! What a showman! These two fighters really are very evenly matched on the feet - it will be fascinating to see who can assert themselves in that aspect of the fight.

Boudewijn
vs
Nikifor

189 cm
24
215 lbs
13 - 8 - 1

195 cm
28
205 lbs
12 - 7 - 2

Good wrestling
Excellent boxer
Very strong

BJJ White Belt
Excellent boxer
Heavy handed

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the light heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 13 - 8 - 1, fighting out of St Petersburg, Xander Boudewijn!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 12 - 7 - 2, fighting out of St Petersburg, Maksim Nikifor!
The judges for this bout are Vladimir Khabensky, Sergei Dronov and Dmitry Maklakov.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Boudewijn looks to land a right hand but Nikifor moved out of range.
Boudewijn thuds a mid kick into his opponent's body. That will wear on Nikifor if he has to take too many more of those.
Boudewijn staying out of range there.
Good leg kick by Boudewijn there. It's the ones that make that thud noise that hurt and that was an almighty thud.
Boudewijn moves out of range as Nikifor strikes.
Boudewijn throws a decent looking leg kick but it doesn't land clean.

Boudewijn scores a trip takedown into side control. Nice.
Nikifor pushes Boudewijn away and creates a bit of space to escape. He's almost out here... but no, Boudewijn gets a good hold of his legs and remains firmly in side control.
Nikifor prevents Boudewijn from improving position.

Boudewijn wants to work for a kimura but he's foiled early by Nikifor, who protects the arm well.
Boudewijn tries to move to mount but Nikifor blocks the move with his legs.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Boudewijn thinks about going for a far side armbar but bails out and retains the dominant position instead.
Boudewijn tries to advance to mount but Nikifor denies him.
Boudewijn in side control lands a decent elbow.
Boudewijn controlling from side mount.
Boudewijn has knee on belly and moves into mount.
Nikifor looks gassed!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Nikifor is in a horrible position here, under a barrage of strikes, he's managing to avoid any damage.
Nikifor takes a big shot to the head but keeps on trying to improve his position.
The referee warns Nikifor that he has to improve his position here as he takes two more clean shots to the head.
Boudewijn working away from the top, dropping strikes.

Boudewijn has control of Nikifor's right arm, working for a kimura. It's a bit of a token attempt though and Nikifor regains control of the situation pretty easily.
Nikifor taking shots to the head.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Boudewijn looking to control and managing it successfully.
The crowd growing excited in anticipation of a finish here! Right on cue, Boudewijn cracks his opponent with a massive right hand that draws loud cheers!
Boudewijn throwing shots from mount but they're not landing.

Boudewijn is in full mount, looking to secure a guillotine but Nikifor is surviving well by controlling Boudewijn's body position as best he can.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

Boudewijn looks like he's working for a submission but he's not found anything just yet.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Boudewijn with a couple of short strikes.
Boudewijn lands with some vicious ground and pound - can Nikifor hang on?
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Boudewijn throwing strikes here but Nikifor is writhing around nicely and avoiding any serious damage.
Boudewijn breaks from Nikifor's wrist control and lands an elbow.
Boudewijn pausing momentarily but resumes with a couple of decent strikes that do a bit of damage.
Boudewijn controlling from mount.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Boudewijn wants to control the pace but Nikifor is squirming around nicely.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Xander Boudewijn dominated that round.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

Nikifor stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Nikifor wants it to stay on the feet.
A head kick from Boudewijn lands but Nikifor takes it in his stride.
A solid leg kick lands there for Boudewijn.
Nikifor avoids the head kick by Boudewijn.
Nikifor ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Boudewijn moves away.
Boudewijn chopping away at his opponent's legs.
Boudewijn is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Nikifor can do to turn this around?
Nikifor looks to score with a jab to the body but Boudewijn is just out of range.
A slapping leg kick lands for Boudewijn.
Boudewijn scoring well with a low kick there.
Boudewijn fails with the takedown.
Nikifor takes a nice looking leg kick right on the meat of his thigh there.
Boudewijn lands with a kick to the ribs.
Nikifor is breathing heavily.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Nikifor sees a low kick coming and goes to check it, but it's actually a body kick and it thuds into his unprotected ribs.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Boudewijn throws a wild body kick that Nikifor sees coming a mile off.
Nikifor stumbles momentarily as he takes a strong leg kick from Boudewijn.
Boudewijn throws a nice outside leg kick.
That kick from Boudewijn tenderised Nikifor's leg. Nikifor is trying to keep his angry face on.
Boudewijn tries for a takedown but Nikifor sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Xander Boudewijn. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Nikifor on the receiving end of a decent leg kick there by Boudewijn. Boudewijn obviously looking to wear him down.
Nikifor tries to check the leg kick but that clearly hurt him.
Boudewijn lands a high kick!
Boudewijn throws a head kick that Nikifor semi-blocks.
Boudewijn fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
Boudewijn pivots, looking for a leg kick but Nikifor is out of range and Boudewijn settles back down.
Nikifor avoids the clinch attempt nicely.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Boudewijn shapes like he's going to throw a leg kick but settles back down.
Boudewijn dodges the punch combination from Nikifor.
Boudewijn tries to clinch up but Nikifor circles away and keeps his distance.
Xander Boudewijn seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
A big left from Nikifor misses.
Nikifor circles away from the clinch attempt.
Ouch! a nice leg kick from Boudewijn, right into the meat.
Boudewijn changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Nikifor tries to avoid it but Boudewijn manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Nikifor to the ground. Nikifor escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
Boudewijn lands a head kick!
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Boudewijn keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Nikifor.
Boudewijn fails with an attempt to clinch.
Boudewijn misses with a hook. Nikifor ducked under it nicely.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Nikifor throws a looping overhand right but Boudewijn ducks down to avoid it.
Xander Boudewijn is winning the standup battle so far.
Nikifor thows a body shot but no joy.
Boudewijn throws a head kick that connects with a bit of head and a bit of hand.
Nikifor lands a nice looking body shot.

Boudewijn scores with a takedown into Nikifor's guard.
Boudewijn looking to pass the guard.

Boudewijn drops back for a leg but he's not going to get it - he lets go and Nikifor dives on top into guard.
Boudewijn is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Boudewijn trying to control the position.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Boudewijn is on top in guard.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Nikifor wants to get back to his feet but Boudewijn is in a dominant position and won't allow it.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Xander Boudewijn dominated that second round.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action. Let's hear some noise people - this is the final round!

Boudewijn buckles his opponent's knee momentarily with a nice leg kick.
Nikifor's leg has a nasty welt from taking a succession of leg kicks. That must be slowing him down.
Boudewijn throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Boudewijn with a nice looking leg kick. You could hear that one land in a back row.
Nikifor on the receiving end of a decent leg kick there by Boudewijn. Boudewijn obviously looking to wear him down.
Nikifor swats away the attempt to clinch by Boudewijn.
Boudewijn lands a head kick. Nikifor smiles back at him and beckons him forward.
Boudewijn dives in and grabs Nikifor's left leg, looking for a takedown. Nikifor pushes down on Boudewijn's head and hops out.
Boudewijn lands a leg kick that knocks Nikifor off balance momentarily.
Boudewijn throws a right and a left that both miss.

Boudewijn gets a takedown into half guard.
Boudewijn missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Boudewijn not landing any meaningful shots this time.
Boudewijn missing with the ground and pound from half guard.
Nikifor is trying to stand up here but Boudewijn is controlling him well.
Boudewijn passes the guard and advances to mount!
Boudewijn landing strikes, looking to finish!
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Boudewijn throwing strikes here but Nikifor is writhing around nicely and avoiding any serious damage.
We get told so often about how wrestlers don't like to be on their backs. Let's see if Nikifor can do anything to dispel that myth.
Nikifor holding onto his opponent's waist for dear life, as Boudewijn tries to land some strikes to get him to release his grip.
Boudewijn postures up and cracks his opponent a couple of times before moving back into close ground control. Nikifor looks a forlorn figure.
Boudewijn controlling his opponent.
Nikifor really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Boudewijn. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.
Nikifor is squirming around, avoiding Boudewijn's attempts to control the action.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Boudewijn with a couple of short strikes.
Boudewijn trying to control but Nikifor is having none of it.
Boudewijn lands a nice shot to the head.
Nikifor taking shots to the head.
Boudewijn looking to control but Nikifor is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.
Poor strikes thrown by Boudewijn there. More accuracy and less frantic strikes would help!
Xander Boudewijn is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Boudewijn tucks in and makes sure he doesn't lose the dominant position.
Boudewijn has controlled the position for a good 20 seconds, which will no doubt be starting to frustrate his opponent.

And that's the end of the fight!
Xander Boudewijn showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Boudewijn 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 Vladimir Khabensky scores the fight 30:25
Judge Sergei Dronov scores the fight 30:25
Judge Dmitry Maklakov scores the fight 30:26

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Xander Boudewijn!