PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Ivan Nifontov (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Mickey Oneil (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Both fighters really staring each other down here, as Mickey Oneil enters the cage!

Nifontov
vs
Oneil

172 cm
21
155 lbs
5 - 3 - 0

175 cm
25
150 lbs
2 - 0 - 0

Decent wrestler
Counter striker
Good chin

BJJ Blue Belt
Decent boxing
Determined

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the featherweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 5 - 3 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Ivan Nifontov!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 0 - 0, fighting out of London, Mickey Oneil!
The judges for this bout are Johanna Lukiainen, Marco Blurström and Ben Zyskovitsi.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Oneil looking to shoot here. He's gone for it and he's landed a takedown into mount! Oh, that's bad for Nifontov!
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Nifontov is trying desperately to improve position.

Nifontov defends a decent attempt at a guillotine from Oneil.
Nifontov is in a horrible position here. Oneil smacks him with another shot as he tries to escape the position.
Nifontov tries to get back to half guard but can't.
Nifontov on his back here. We all know that wrestlers don't like being on their back so let's see if Nifontov tries to get out of the position.
Oneil landing shots from mount.
Nifontov is trying desperately to improve position.
Oneil has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Oneil working Nifontov over with strikes here.
Oneil wants to control the pace but Nifontov is squirming around nicely.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Nifontov is desperately trying to get back to half guard.

Oneil working for a guillotine from mount but Nifontov is in no mood to give up.
Oneil controlling the position easily from mount.
Nifontov is working to get back to half guard.
Oneil looking to control but Nifontov is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.

Oneil is in full mount, looking to secure a guillotine but Nifontov is surviving well by controlling Oneil's body position as best he can.
Oneil wants to control the pace but Nifontov is squirming around nicely.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Oneil lands with some vicious ground and pound - can Nifontov hang on?
Oneil wants to get back to his feet but Nifontov is holding on tight.
Oneil in mount throwing good strikes here, bouncing his opponent's head off the canvas.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Nifontov keeping his composure momentarily, calmly looking to get back to half guard.

Oneil is thinking about an arm triangle here, looking to tighten it up before moving to side control. Nifontov can see it coming though and defends well with a couple of strikes to the head and some good arm positioning.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Oneil punishing his opponent with strikes.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Oneil prevents Nifontov from getting the reversal.
Oneil tries to control but Nifontov wriggling away.
Nifontov is trying to escape the mount.
Nifontov gets back to half guard.

Nifontov is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Oneil pulls his head out easily.
Oneil throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
Oneil is trying to get back to his feet now but his leg is trapped.
Oneil keeping composed on the top, looking to control the action.
Oneil is scoring with some nice ground and pound from the dominant position.
Nifontov tries to roll over but Oneil keeps him under control.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Nifontov is working hard here to advance position.

Nifontov is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Oneil pulls his head out easily.
Oneil works his way into full mount!
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!
Nifontov is wriggling around trying to escape.
The crowd growing excited in anticipation of a finish here! Right on cue, Oneil cracks his opponent with a massive right hand that draws loud cheers!
A nice elbow there by Oneil.
Oneil wants to control the pace but Nifontov is squirming around nicely.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Oneil putting on the heat here with some good ground and pound!
Oneil tries to control but Nifontov wriggling away.
Oneil working Nifontov over with strikes here.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Nifontov drives through with a really nice takedown into side control.
Oneil manages to land a sweep and he's now on top! Lovely Jiu Jitsu!

Nifontov looking for submissions from an awkward position here.

Nifontov looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.

Oneil is trying a forearm choke… I don't think that's going to do much at this level of the game.
Nifontov on the receiving end of some nice ground and pound.
Nifontov is refusing to be controlled, as Oneil sits in half guard.
Nifontov is trying to get back to full guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Oneil seems to have lost interest with the ground game and is thinking about standing back up.
Mickey Oneil has got the better of the ground game so far.

Nifontov is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Oneil pulls his head out easily.
Oneil wants to lay and pray for a moment but Nifontov keeps working.
Nifontov moves his hips nicely and gets into full guard.
Oneil wants to stand but Nifontov has a closed guard, so he can't escape.

Nifontov throws his legs up looking to secure a triangle. Oh, that looks pretty tight, I gotta say! Oneil escapes and throws Nifontov's legs to the side, diving into side control!
Oneil is working Nifontov over with some ground and pound from side control.

Oneil wants to work for a kimura but he's foiled early by Nifontov, who protects the arm well.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Oneil lands an elbow.
Nifontov is looking for a sweep.
Oneil wants to stand but Nifontov has his arm trapped.
Nifontov is trying to get back to half guard. He's pushing on Oneil's leg. He's managed it. Nice work.
Oneil is breathing heavily.

Nifontov looking for submissions off his back.

Oneil is trying a forearm choke… I don't think that's going to do much at this level of the game.

Nifontov looking for submissions from an awkward position here.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Nifontov tries to roll over but Oneil keeps him under control.

Nifontov looking for submissions off his back.
Oneil is keen to just control but Nifontov is a slippery customer.
Nifontov tries to roll over but Oneil keeps him under control.
Oneil seems to have lost interest with the ground game and is thinking about standing back up.

Nifontov looking for submissions off his back.

Nifontov looking for submissions from an awkward position here.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Oneil looks over to his corner - he wants some instructions but his corner are not responding.

Oneil is working for submissions here but there's nothing on.

Nifontov actively working from the bottom here.
Oneil wants to lay and pray for a moment but Nifontov keeps working.
Oneil missing with the ground and pound from half guard.

Oneil decides to stand and escape the position.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Oneil wants to clinch up but Nifontov keeps it at a distance.
A left lands for Oneil.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Mickey Oneil will probably get the nod - 10:9.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action! This is the final round!

Nifontov avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Oneil tries to clinch up but Nifontov circles away and keeps his distance.
Nifontov tries to score a power double leg takedown but Oneil sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Nifontov somewhat.
Oneil misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Oneil tries to clinch but Nifontov moves away

and Nifontov counters with a nice single leg takedown and he's in Oneil's guard now.
Oneil working a defensive guard here.
Oneil wants to sweep here but Nifontov controlling him for the moment.

Nifontov has gone for a leg lock! Oneil slips out almost immediately though and dives into Nifontov's guard.

Nifontov escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Oneil gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Nifontov is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
Oneil trying to control the position from guard on top but Nifontov is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Oneil working from the guard for now, landing some ground and pound.
Nifontov keeping moving, preventing Oneil from controlling successfully.
Oneil might have to switch it up a bit here because his efforts to control Nifontov kaven't been going to plan, at least at the current moment in time.

Nifontov is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
Oneil is taking a break and basically stalling. The referee will not allow him to do that for long.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Oneil chips away with some ground and pound.
Oneil trying to control the position from guard on top but Nifontov is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

Nifontov is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Oneil defends well.

Nifontov looking for a guillotine here but Oneil defends easily.
Oneil wants to control from the top but Nifontov keeps moving.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Nifontov looking for a guillotine here but Oneil defends easily.
Nifontov working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Oneil.

Nifontov working away from the bottom but not quite defensive enough there because Oneil has passed into half guard!
Nifontov is in trouble now - Oneil has advanced to mount!
Oneil is in the full mount, landing strikes.

Oneil is working on an americana here. Ooh, that looks pretty nasty! Nope, Nifontov has managed to escape the submission attempt.
Nifontov can't escape the position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Oneil tries to stand up but he's trapped just for the moment.
Oneil raining down shots from the mount!
Nifontov is trying to escape the mount.
Oneil with the ground and pound from mount.
Ivan Nifontov has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
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!
Oneil wants to control the pace but Nifontov is squirming around nicely.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Nifontov is desperately trying to get back to half guard.
Mickey Oneil is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
Oneil controlling from the full mount.

And that's the end of the fight!
I would just about give that final round to Mickey Oneil.
Well Oneil 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 Johanna Lukiainen scores the fight 27:30
Judge Marco Blurström scores the fight 27:30
Judge Ben Zyskovitsi scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Mickey Oneil!
During a confident post fight interview, Mickey Oneil thanked all his fans. He seemed very genuine when describing how motivated his fans keep him.