PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Nikolai Drago (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Maksim Nikifor (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Both fighters really staring eachother down here, as Maksim Nikifor enters the cage!

Drago
vs
Nikifor

183 cm
20
200 lbs
7 - 1 - 0

195 cm
23
205 lbs
6 - 0 - 0

BJJ Brown Belt
Brawler
Experienced

BJJ White Belt
Excellent boxer
Heavy handed

Tesla Apparel

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 5 rounds, for the light heavyweight championship of the world!
Introducing the champion to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 7 - 1 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Nikolai Drago!
And introducing the challenger to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 6 - 0 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Maksim Nikifor!
The judges for this bout are Viktor Lagutenko, Vladimir Khabensky and Dmitry Maklakov.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Drago looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Nikifor is fending him off so far but Drago persists. Nope, Nikifor circles away and we're back to standing.

Drago has managed to clinch.
Nikifor has had enough of the clinch but Drago keeps him there for the moment.
Nikifor fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Nikifor can't break the clinch.

Drago decides to pull guard.

Drago escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Nikifor gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
Nikifor has decided he wants to stand but the closed guard of Drago is proving hard to escape from.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

Drago has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Nikifor can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.

Drago looking for a guillotine here but Nikifor defends easily.

Drago is looking for a triangle but Nikifor pushes his legs off easily.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Drago had isolated an arm as going for an omaplata. Nikifor is defending the submission well but is in a very vulnerable position. Drago Is leaning forward trying to finish the omaplata but decides to abandon it, and take Nikifor's back instead.

Drago looking for the choke from the back.

Drago looking for the choke but no joy.

Drago is working really hard to secure the rear naked choke. Nikifor defends successfully for a significant amount of time. Both fighters are looking very determined.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Drago looking for the choke but no joy.
Drago misses with punches from the back.

Nikifor defending nicely against the rear naked choke attempt.

Nikifor fending off the submission attempt from Drago.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Nikifor turns into Drago and is now in his guard.

Drago has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Nikifor can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.

Nikifor showing good submission defense here.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.

Nikifor is displaying good submission defense - not really looking in danger of submitting to the rear naked choke at the moment. That could change in an instant of course if Drago gets his way!
Drago is breathing heavily.

Drago looking for the choke but no joy.
Nikifor controlling the position well but he knows he's in a bad position.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Nikolai Drago dominated that 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.

Drago fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
Drago changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Nikifor tries to avoid it but Drago manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Nikifor to the ground. Nikifor escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.

Drago scores a trip takedown into side control. Nice.
Nikifor really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Drago. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.

Drago thinks about going for a far side armbar but bails out and retains the dominant position instead.
Nikifor dodges the ground and pound from Drago.
Nikifor struggling a bit here.

Drago is looking to finish here, going for an Americana. Nikifor knows the correct defense though, so he's OK.
Drago tries to move into full mount but can't pass Nikifor's legs.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Drago is looking for a kimura. He might have it! No, Nikifor has escaped the position, nice work there.

Drago thinks about going for a far side armbar but bails out and retains the dominant position instead.

Drago is trying to land an Americana. He has the arm isolated but Nikifor is keeping cool and he's avoided the danger for now.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.

Drago is trying to land an Americana. He has the arm isolated but Nikifor is keeping cool and he's avoided the danger for now.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Drago tries to cartwheel into mount but he doesn't manage it.

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

Drago tries for a kimura but Nikifor is defending well.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Drago tries for a kimura but Nikifor is defending well.

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

Drago tries for a kimura but Nikifor is defending well.

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.

Drago tries for an arm triangle. That looks pretty tight to me. Is this one over!?! Possibly, maybe, no Drago has let go of the choke. Obviously it wasn't as tight as we thought!

Drago wants to work for a kimura but he's foiled early by Nikifor, who protects the arm well.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!

Drago thinks about going for a far side armbar but bails out and retains the dominant position instead.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Nikolai Drago 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.

Nikifor ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Drago moves away.
Drago looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Nikifor is fending him off so far but Drago persists. Nope, Nikifor circles away and we're back to standing.
Drago wants to clinch up but Nikifor keeps it at a distance.
Drago tries for a takedown but Nikifor sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
Drago will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Nikolai Drago. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Drago looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
Nice takedown defense from Nikifor. No joy for Drago on that attempt.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Drago fails to land the takedown.
Nikolai Drago seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Nikifor waves his right hand out infront of him, looking to distract Drago. Oh, he's unloaded a beast of a left hand - it worked! He's dropped Drago to the canvas! Can he finish him!?

Drago is rocked!
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

Nikifor decides he's had enough of playing guard and decides to stand. Come on Drago, up you get!
Oh Drago is still all over the place! His legs are completely gone! Will he be able to recover?!!

That's one minute gone in the round.
Nikifor throws a left jab followed by a right to the body, Oh Drago colapses and takes a barrage of punches from Nikifor as he moves to mount! the ref stops the fight and Drago is left battered and dazed whilst Nikifor and his camp cheer!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 1:14 of round 3, we have a winner by way of TKO (Strikes). Maksim Nikifor!
Maksim Nikifor is the new light heavyweight champion!