PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Victor Ulriksen (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Ivan Nikolaev (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Buckle up people - heeeeeeeeeere we go!

Ulriksen
vs
Nikolaev

183 cm
22
196 lbs
6 - 3 - 0

185 cm
23
196 lbs
6 - 5 - 0

Good wrestling
Solid boxing
Very quick

Good wrestler
Lethal high kicks
Granite chin

FinnFighter Nutrition (Five 160Q supps!)

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the middleweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 6 - 3 - 0, fighting out of London, Victor Ulriksen!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 6 - 5 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Ivan Nikolaev!
The judges for this bout are Anni Minnemäki, Matti Vanhoillinen and Arvi Lind.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Ulriksen wants to clinch.
Ulriksen lands a jab.
Nikolaev uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Ulriksen.

Ulriksen feints and then dives in with a takedown. That was a long way out but the feint bought him enough time to close the distance and complete the takedown. Now we'll play guard for a bit and see who can get the better of that position.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
The referee must be thinking about standing these guys back up.
Nikolaev wants to stand and escape but Ulriksen is having none of it.
Ulriksen trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Ulriksen trying to control but Nikolaev is working from the bottom.
Ulriksen stays in close to Nikolaev's body and controls the position.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Ulriksen accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Ulriksen is taking a break and basically stalling. The referee will not allow him to do that for long.

We're going to have a standup here because Victor Ulriksen wasn't active enough for the referee's liking.
Ulriksen tries to clinch but Nikolaev is having none of it.
Ulriksen has been talking about how he's improved his wrestling in the run up to the fight so let's see if that's enough to sway the balance.
Ulriksen changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Nikolaev tries to avoid it but Ulriksen manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Nikolaev to the ground. Nikolaev escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
Nikolaev needs to keep his hands up - Ulriksen had a free shot at his head there.
Ulriksen tries to score a power double leg takedown but Nikolaev sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Ulriksen somewhat.
Nikolaev misses with a double jab.
Ulriksen will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Victor Ulriksen. That's going to take a lot out of him.

Nikolaev gets a clinch.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Ulriksen is looking to take this one to the mat.
Nikolaev lands an uppercut.
Ulriksen tries to circle away but Nikolaev has him pinned against the cage.
Nikolaev looking to throw knees to the head but Ulriksen is blocking nicely.
Nikolaev using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Ulriksen has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
Nikolaev blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Nikolaev lands a right hand.
Nikolaev blocks an uppercut.
Nikolaev is trying to stall.
Nikolaev is struggling to control the position.
Ulriksen tries to throw a body punch but Nikolaev avoids it by throwing Ulriksen back against the cage.

Ulriksen breaks from the clinch.
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!
Ulriksen fails to land the takedown.
Ulriksen tries to move into range but Nikolaev moves to the side and lands with a nice right hand.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Ulriksen shoots for a double leg takedown but Nikolaev sprawls well. He's pushed Ulriksen's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
Ulriksen fails in his attempt to clinch.
Some wild striking there from Nikolaev.
Nikolaev slaps away a takedown attempt from Ulriksen, before circling back to the center of the mat.
Ulriksen shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Nikolaev pinned against the cage. Nikolaev gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
Nikolaev is moving around nicely and scores here with a single head shot.
Ulriksen shoots in for a takedown but Nikolaev shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Nikolaev gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.
Nikolaev gets underhooks to prevent Ulriksen's takedown attempt.
Nikolaev on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.

Ulriksen escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.

Ulriksen shoots in from a long way out. He's driving through with the takedown attempt and he eventually gets it, landing in Nikolaev's guard.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Ulriksen throws a big elbow that misses.
Nikolaev wants to stand but Ulriksen is controlling the position.
Ulriksen trying to control the position from guard on top but Nikolaev is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Nikolaev is looking to stand up but Ulriksen isn't so interested in that idea.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close round but I would say that Victor Ulriksen will probably get the nod.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

Ulriksen rushes Nikolaev and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.
Ulriksen has Nikolaev pressed up against the cage and is working for takedown. Nikolaev manages to improve position though and keeps the fight standing.
Nikolaev tries to throw a body punch but Ulriksen avoids it by throwing Nikolaev back against the cage.
Nikolaev tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Ulriksen's elbow.
Nikolaev is trying to slow down the pace of the fight but Ulriksen is keeping busy.
Nikolaev is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Ulriksen is defending well for now.
Nikolaev managing to block the knees to the body from Ulriksen.
Ulriksen wants to take the fight to the mat but Nikolaev manages to get underhooks and keep the fight in the clinch.
Nikolaev looking to slow down the pace here.
Ulriksen is trying to pull guard but Nikolaev has him pressed against the cage.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Victor Ulriksen. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Ulriksen managing to block the knees to the body from Nikolaev.
Nikolaev tries a body shot but Ulriksen blocks it.
Nikolaev lands a left hand.
Nikolaev misses with a punch to the body.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Ulriksen is trying to break the clinch but Nikolaev is controlling him.
Ulriksen looking for a takedown.
Nikolaev effectively controlling the action here.

Ulriksen escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
No luck for Ulriksen with that takedown attempt.

Ulriksen shoots in and scores a nice double leg takedown into half guard.
The fighters are starting to get a bit slippery now, which will make submissions a bit more difficult.
Nikolaev is trying to stand up here but Ulriksen is controlling him well.
Ulriksen thows a huge punch but Nikolaev dodges it nicely.
Ulriksen trying to control the action but Nikolaev is working from the bottom.
Ulriksen is going to have to think about doing something other than just controlling because Nikolaev is managing to avoid having the position dictated to him.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Ulriksen content to sit in half guard and control for a moment.
The referee looks like he's ready to step in and stand the fighters back up.
Ulriksen trying to mount his opponent but Nikolaev defends it.

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

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Nikolaev won't allow Ulriksen to pass to mount.
Nikolaev tries to kick Ulriksen off but Ulriksen keeps his base steady and stays in half guard.
Ulriksen trying to pass the guard but Nikolaev defending well.
Ulriksen controlling the action here.
Nikolaev pushes Ulriksen off looking to stand but Ulriksen dives back in and keeps control.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Ulriksen is trying a forearm choke… I don't think that's going to do much at this level of the game.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Ulriksen with a momentary lay and pray from half guard.
Ulriksen trying to mount his opponent but Nikolaev defends it.
Ulriksen throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Nikolaev is trying to stand up here but Ulriksen is controlling him well.
Ulriksen trying to control the action but Nikolaev is working from the bottom.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Victor Ulriksen dominated that second round.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action! This is the final round!

Ulriksen changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Nikolaev tries to avoid it but Ulriksen manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Nikolaev to the ground. Nikolaev escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
Nikolaev stuffs the takedown.
Nikolaev throws a big shot that misses.
Nikolaev throws a leg kick
and Ulriksen counters with a left to the body.
Ulriksen missing with a left hand there. Nikolaev was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.

The fight moves into the clinch position.
Nikolaev is trying to maintain a safe position but Ulriksen gets an underhook and turns Nikolaev into the cage.
Nikolaev lands a body punch - he's looking to wear down Ulriksen.
Nikolaev blocks a body shot from Ulriksen.
A short right from Nikolaev on the inside.

Nikolaev breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Ulriksen tries to grapple but his opponent circles
and Nikolaev counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Ulriksen misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Victor Ulriksen. That's going to take a lot out of him.
A nice combination there by Nikolaev.
Ulriksen fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Ulriksen shoots in and drives through. Nikolaev sprawls well.
Ulriksen takes a shot right to the liver - Bas would have been proud of that punch.
Nikolaev drops Ulriksen with a big left hand! Ulriksen is injured, injured bad! Nikolaev jumps in and finished him with strikes! The fight is over!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 2:59 of round 3, we have a winner by way of TKO (Strikes). Ivan Nikolaev!
Ivan Nikolaev thanked the fans post fight for their support.