PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Vladimir Nikolaev (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Carter Arteta (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Both these guys have solid standup skills and neither is particularly fantastic on the ground, so let's hope for a nice standup war!

Nikolaev
vs
Arteta

175 cm
22
165 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

170 cm
21
142 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

Good takedowns
Excellent boxer
Granite chin

Good wrestler
Excellent boxer
Good gas tank

Gilop®

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the lightweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Vladimir Nikolaev!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Carter Arteta!
The judges for this bout are Wagner Zegers, Albert Achterberg and Radbod Blank.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Arteta instigates a clinch.
Nikolaev lands a nice uppercut.
Nikolaev is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the ropes.
Arteta is stalling here. The referee will be looking to step in if he doesn't pick up the pace.
Nikolaev tries to throw a body punch but Arteta avoids it by throwing Nikolaev back against the ropes.
Arteta blocks an uppercut.
Both guys are working to get underhooks.
Nikolaev presses Arteta against the ropes and delivers a mid-strength body shot.
Arteta lands a short shot on the inside that snaps the head of Nikolaev backwards.
Nikolaev wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.
Arteta blocks a body shot from Nikolaev.
Arteta is trying to stall.
Nikolaev is trying to break the clinch but Arteta has him pressed against the ropes.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Arteta is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the ropes.
A nice left hand lands by Arteta.
Nikolaev tries for a takedown. No joy.
A short left from Arteta.
Arteta scores with a shoulder strike.

Nikolaev breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Nikolaev shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.

Arteta rushes Nikolaev and pushes him back against the ropes in a clinch.
Arteta holding his opponent close, against the ropes.
Arteta doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Arteta has a couple of punches blocked by Nikolaev.
Nikolaev tries to pull guard but Arteta forces him back to his feet, against the ropes.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Vladimir Nikolaev. That's going to take a lot out of him.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Nikolaev swings wildly with an uppercut but Arteta uses good head movement to avoid it.
Nikolaev tries to pull guard but Arteta forces him back to his feet, against the ropes.
Nikolaev is trying to pull guard but Arteta turns him against the ropes and we stay in the clinch.
Arteta is trying to maintain a safe position but Nikolaev gets an underhook and turns Arteta into the ropes.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Arteta prevents the takedown attempt.
A quick uppercut on the inside from Arteta.
Nikolaev blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Nikolaev blocks a punch to the side of the head.
A right hook to the body lands for Arteta.
Arteta manages to get underhooks and slows down the pace for a moment.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Nikolaev.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Arteta blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Arteta holding his opponent close, against the ropes.
A right hook to the body lands for Arteta.
Arteta swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Nikolaev fails to pull the fight into his guard.
Nikolaev is working on a leg, looking for a takedown but Arteta is defending well.
Nikolaev struggles to land a body shot inside as Arteta controls his hands.
Arteta misses with a punch on the inside.

Arteta has double underhooks and is working for a body lock takedown. He's got it. The fighters land in half guard but Nikolaev regains guard immediately.

Nikolaev working for a triangle but Arteta defends it easily.
Arteta showing good wrestling skills to control the position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Nikolaev is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Nikolaev keeping full guard, as Arteta tries to pass.
Nikolaev trying to strike from the bottom but really, it's not the best position to be doing that from!
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Nikolaev wants to stand and escape but Arteta is having none of it.
The fighters are trapped in the ropes so we're going to have a reposition here. The ref calls for a break and repositions the fighters in the center of the ring.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Nikolaev trying desperately to get back to his feet here but he's not having any joy at all. He's going to tire himself out if he's not careful.
Arteta lands a couple of digs.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Carter Arteta dominated that round.
That's time! Nikolaev's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight.

Arteta instigates a clinch.
Arteta slows down the pace here.
Arteta keeps control of Nikolaev as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.
Arteta lands punches inside but they're not really causing much damage.
Nikolaev misses with a hook to the ribs.
Nikolaev tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. Arteta smiles and moves away.

Arteta clinches up with Nikolaev and pushes him back against the ropes.
Nikolaev tries to pull guard but Arteta forces him back to his feet, against the ropes.
Arteta lands with a good tight uppercut to the head.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Nikolaev throws a head punch that misses.
Arteta misses with a hook from the clinch.
Arteta keeps the fight in the clinch, despite Nikolaev's efforts to push away.

Nikolaev pulls guard effortlessly.
Arteta stopping the sweep attempt from Nikolaev.
Arteta working in close now, lands a nice elbow to the side of Nikolaev's head.
Arteta slips nicely into half guard.
Arteta wants to lay and pray for a moment but Nikolaev keeps working.
Arteta winds up and cracks Nikolaev with a swinging punch to the side of the head.
The step up in weight doesn't seem to be a problem for Arteta. He's performing admirably here against the bigger man.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Arteta is just sitting in half guard, waiting for something to happen.

Nikolaev looking for submissions from an awkward position here.
Arteta is keen to just control but Nikolaev is a slippery customer.
Arteta is just sitting in half guard, waiting for something to happen.
Arteta prevents Nikolaev from standing back up.
Arteta content to sit in half guard and control for a moment.
This has been an exciting period of action!
The referee looks like he's ready to step in and stand the fighters back up.
Arteta is trying to control the action in half guard but Nikolaev is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Nikolaev is looking for a sweep. Arteta is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.

The ref stands the fighters back up, due to lack of action by Carter Arteta.
A telegraphed right hand from Nikolaev misses the target.

Arteta moves into the clinch.
Arteta softening up his opponent with strikes, against the ropes.
Arteta looking to stall.
Nikolaev tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. Arteta just stands there and leans against the ropes.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Vladimir Nikolaev. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Arteta wants a takedown.
A real battle for position is taking place between these two warriors.
Nikolaev trying to stall but Arteta improves his position.
Nikolaev can't find room to land a body shot as Arteta controls the action.
Carter Arteta seems to be working more effectively in the clinch in the fight so far.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Arteta throws a punch but it's blocked by Nikolaev.
Nikolaev goes for a takedown in the clinch but Arteta prevents it.
Arteta manages to get underhooks and slows down the pace for a moment.
With the fighters clinched against the ropes, Arteta creates a bit of distance for himself and scores with a nice uppercut.
Nikolaev is working on a leg, looking for a takedown but Arteta is defending well.
Arteta stalling in the clinch but Nikolaev improves position.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Arteta lands with a short head shot on the inside.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Nikolaev tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.
Arteta keeps control of Nikolaev as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.
Arteta tries a body shot but Nikolaev blocks it.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Carter Arteta showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action! And we move into the final round!

Arteta moves into the clinch.
Arteta softening up his opponent with strikes, against the ropes.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Nikolaev.
Nikolaev fails to pull guard.
Arteta looking to stall.
Nikolaev tries a body shot but Arteta blocks it.
Nikolaev is looking to break free of the clinch but Arteta has double underhooks.

Nikolaev manages to break the clinch.
Nikolaev shoots in looking for a takedown but Arteta manages to keep the fight standing, pushing Nikolaev's face into the canvas for good measure before circling away.

Arteta clinches with his opponent.
Nikolaev has dropped down and is looking to force the takedown but it's defended by Arteta after a bit of a struggle.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Vladimir Nikolaev. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Arteta throws a punch but it's blocked by Nikolaev.

That's one minute gone in the round.
A short body shot lands from Arteta as the two fighters clinch.
Arteta wants to stall.
Nikolaev misses with a punch on the inside.
Nikolaev blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Nikolaev throws a punch but it's blocked by Arteta.
Both guys are working to get underhooks.

Nikolaev gets control of Arteta's arms and successfully pulls guard. Nikolaev will no doubt be looking for submissions off his back.
Nikolaev wants to get back to his feet but Arteta is in a dominant position and won't allow it.
Arteta trying to control the position from guard on top but Nikolaev is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Arteta lands a couple of digs.
Vladimir Nikolaev has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Arteta slows down the pace of the fight for a moment. He'll need to remain active if he doesn't want to see the fight stood back up.
Nikolaev keeping moving, preventing Arteta from controlling successfully.
Arteta pushes down on Nikolaev's leg and manages to get into half guard.
Arteta is keeping good posture, landing some ground and pound.
Arteta is figuring out what he wants to do next.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Arteta looks to score some points with some ground and pound.
Carter Arteta has got the better of the ground game so far.
Arteta not doing much here.
Arteta is trying to control. Nikolaev wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Nikolaev is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Arteta pulls his head out easily.
Arteta is controlling the pace.
Carter Arteta is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Arteta seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Nikolaev does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.
The referee claps his hands together and tells the fighters to work.

Carter Arteta has forced the referee to step in and restart the fight on the feet.

Arteta pushes Nikolaev up against the ropes in a clinch.
Nikolaev tries for a takedown but Arteta manages to get underhooks.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Nikolaev has a couple of punches blocked by Arteta.
Arteta taking a breather.
Nikolaev fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Nikolaev swings wildly with an uppercut but Arteta uses good head movement to avoid it.
Nikolaev is trying to pull guard but Arteta turns him against the ropes and we stay in the clinch.
Nikolaev doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
The referee calls for Arteta to work.
Arteta swings away with an uppercut that misses.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Nikolaev misses with a hook to the ribs.
Arteta tries to stall but Nikolaev uses the opportunity to gain a better position.

And that's the end of the fight!
Carter Arteta comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Arteta has outworked and out performed his opponent in all aspects of the game today. He was simply too good and the decision should be no more than a formality. 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 Wagner Zegers scores the fight for Carter Arteta!
Judge Albert Achterberg scores the fight for Carter Arteta!
Judge Radbod Blank scores the fight for Carter Arteta!

Carter Arteta wins by unanimous decision!