PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Gavril Sidelnikov (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Niilo Nippu (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Nippu is bobbing his head along to his entrance song: Rick Astley - Never Gonna Give You Up. The key to victory for Gavril Sidelnikov has got to be keeping the fight on the feet.

Sidelnikov
vs
Nippu

168 cm
23
132 lbs
1 - 4 - 0

157 cm
21
143 lbs
3 - 1 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Excellent boxer
Cardio machine

Powerful takedowns
Counter striker
Powerful

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 1 - 4 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Gavril Sidelnikov!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 3 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Niilo Nippu!
The judges for this bout are Marco Blurström, Tarja Halkonen and Anni Minnemäki.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Sidelnikov wants to clinch but Nippu slips to the side

and Nippu counters with a takedown into full mount! That could mean trouble for Sidelnikov!
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Nippu lands a big shot there that rocks Sidelnikov but he's holding on and managing to survive for now.

Sidelnikov is rocked!

Nippu has control of Sidelnikov's right arm, working for a kimura. It's a bit of a token attempt though and Sidelnikov regains control of the situation pretty easily.
Oh Sidelnikov is still in real trouble! Will he be able to recover?!!
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Sidelnikov tries to lock up and control but Nippu gives him a forearm to the face and pushes him away.

Nippu working for a guillotine from mount but Sidelnikov is in no mood to give up.
Sidelnikov seems to have got his legs back now.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Sidelnikov is in a horrible position here, under a barrage of strikes, he's managing to avoid any damage.
Nippu punching from mount but Sidelnikov doing a good job of avoiding damage.
Sidelnikov sneaks a leg under to get to half guard.

Nippu seems to be looking for submissions.

Nippu is trying a forearm choke… I don't think that's going to do much at this level of the game.
Sidelnikov on his back here. We all know that wrestlers don't like being on their back so let's see if Sidelnikov tries to get out of the position.
Nippu wants to control but Sidelnikov is keeping him busy.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Nippu is working for submissions here but there's nothing on.
Nippu working Sidelnikov over with strikes.
Sidelnikov wants to get back to full guard.
Nippu is trying to control. Sidelnikov wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.
Nippu 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.
Nippu 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.
Nippu looks over to his corner - he wants some instructions but his corner are not responding.
Sidelnikov knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Nippu on the ground.

Nippu is trying a forearm choke… I don't think that's going to do much at this level of the game.
Sidelnikov wants to get back to his feet.
Nippu has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
Nippu seems content to maintain position for now, rather than mounting any offense.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Nippu throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
Nippu trying to control the action but Sidelnikov is working from the bottom.

Nippu has hold of the far side arm. He's working for the Kimura, can Sidelnikov defend it? Nippu steps over the head and cranks it - Sidelnikov is tapping out! That was textbook stuff right there - nice submission victory for Nippu!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 2:21 of round 1, we have a winner by way of Submission (Kimura). Niilo Nippu!