PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Aleksei Boyka (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Nikolai Gogol (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). The crowd giving both fighters a great reception on their way into the arena. That's good to see.

Boyka
vs
Gogol

165 cm
19
152 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

166 cm
20
135 lbs
2 - 2 - 0

Abu Dhabi Champ
Counter fighter
KO power

BJJ Brown Belt
Excellent boxer
Good gas tank

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 Los Angeles, Aleksei Boyka!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Nikolai Gogol!
The judges for this bout are Don Winkell, Frank Antenori and .

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Boyka fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
Boyka walks into a straight right hand from Gogol.
Gogol lands a nice hook to Boyka's body. Boyka takes it in his stride and looks to land his own strikes.
Gogol's coach down at LOD: Contenders was telling us pre-fight that they have been working on Gogol's balance. Obviously they view that as a key factor in the outcome of this fight.
Gogol lands a body shot.
Gogol's corner calls for a 1, 2 combination and Gogol duly obliges.
Boyka uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Gogol.
Gogol rushes in with a sloppy looking punch

and Boyka counters with a nice shoot takedown that brings the fighters to the ground.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Boyka wants to control from the top but Gogol keeps moving.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

Gogol looking for submissions from the bottom but instead Boyka passes into side control.
We've been hearing good reports from Boyka's training camp. Apparently he has been rolling around with some good quality BJJ practitioners and has been sharpening his skills. Let's see if that has an impact on the fight today.

Boyka working hard here to secure a kimura but he's not really in the right position for it.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Boyka working hard here to secure a kimura but he's not really in the right position for it.
Boyka trying to control the action but Gogol is working from the bottom.

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

Boyka wants to work for a kimura but he's foiled early by Gogol, who protects the arm well.
Gogol gets back to half guard.

Boyka is working for a kimura but Gogol is defending it quite comfortably.

Boyka is looking for an arm triangle, whilst trying to pass to side control. Gogol doesn't seem that keen to cooperate though. No luck this time Boyka.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Gogol regains full guard. Nicely done.
Boyka postures up.

Boyka avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
Boyka trying to control the position from guard on top but Gogol is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
There's not a lot going on here and the crowd are letting the fighters know they're not willing to tolerate a lack of action.
Boyka 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.
Gogol trying to keep a closed guard but Boyka is proving a slippery customer.
The referee is asking the fighters to pick up the pace.
Boyka trying to control the position from guard on top but Gogol is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up. He just wasn't happy with the level of activity.
Boyka ducks under a wild hook from Gogol.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Gogol tests Boyka's chin there with a solid looking shot.
Gogol pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
A big right from Gogol misses.
Boyka shakes his hands off, looking to compose himself, but takes a jab to the jaw whilst he does it.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Nikolai Gogol dominated that round.
That's the end of the interval. I'm sure that seemed a lot quicker than a minute for our two fighters! Back to the action.

Gogol throws a hook but Boyka avoids it easily.
Boyka drops down looking for a counter takedown but Gogol sprawls and moves away.
Boyka uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Gogol.
Boyka appears to be looking for a counter takedown.
Boyka drops his hands momentarily and Gogol takes advantage with a crisp shot to the head.
Boyka uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Gogol.
Boyka with a poor takedown
and Gogol cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Boyka throws a body punch but Gogol moves out of range.
Boyka moves away from the strike by Gogol.
Boyka staying out of range there.
Boyka changes levels looking for a counter takedown but doesn't commit.
Boyka displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Gogol throws out the jab.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Boyka shoots in but Gogol avoids the takedown attempt easily.
Gogol lands a lovely overhand right.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Boyka has his head snapped back a nice jab. A little nod from Boyka there as he acknowledges the shot.
Gogol throws a shot from downtown. Boyka moves away and avoids it.
Boyka changes levels looking for a counter takedown but doesn't commit.
Gogol throws a two punch combo that lands nicely.
Gogol stuffs the takedown.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Aleksei Boyka. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Gogol lands a head shot.
Gogol throws a body shot but no joy.
Gogol misses with a wild body shot.
Boyka looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Gogol is fending him off so far but Boyka persists. Nope, Gogol circles away and we're back to standing.
Gogol unleashes a big counter combination but Boyka bobs and weaves and avoids any damage.
Gogol cracks the inside of Boyka's front leg.
Boyka gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily
and Gogol counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Gogol will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Boyka feinted with a counter takedown.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Gogol throws a body shot but no joy.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Boyka shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Gogol as he avoids it easily.
Gogol has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Gogol lands a straight punch to the body, keeping Boyka at a distance.
Boyka keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Gogol.
Boyka changes levels looking for a counter takedown but doesn't commit.
Gogol connects with a body shot.
Boyka keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Gogol.
Boyka shoots in looking for a takedown but Gogol manages to keep the fight standing, pushing Boyka's face into the canvas for good measure before circling away.
Boyka showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Gogol.
Boyka half commits to a counter takedown before pushing away, out of range.
Boyka is trying hard to land a takedown here. Gogol sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.
Nikolai Gogol seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Gogol with a nice cross.
Boyka ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
Boyka attempts a counter takedown but Gogol avoids it well and moves away.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Gogol pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
Boyka shakes his hands off, looking to compose himself, but takes a jab to the jaw whilst he does it.
Gogol cracks Boyka with a nice right hand that draws applause from the crowd.
Boyka staying out of range there.
Boyka attempts a counter takedown but Gogol avoids it well and moves away.
Gogol misses with a body shot.
Gogol misses the shot to the body.
A shot to the liver by Gogol. Beautiful body shot.
Boyka shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Gogol as he jumps to the side.
A little jabbing left from Gogol on the counter but it doesn't find it's target.
Gogol tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Boyka was well out of range. Poor timing from Gogol.
Gogol misses with a wild body shot.
A jab from Gogol misses.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Gogol looks to score with a jab to the body but Boyka is just out of range.
Boyka fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
Gogol misses with a looping left.
Gogol lunges in with an uppercut that skims his opponent's chin.
Gogol throws a lazy right hand but Boyka sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Boyka appears to be looking for a counter takedown.
Boyka throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Gogol tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Boyka was well out of range. Poor timing from Gogol.
Gogol loads up on a big right hand but Boyka slips the punch.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Gogol ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Boyka moves away.
Gogol uses good footwork to get in and out, landing a nice hook.
Boyka with a lazy takedown attempt
enabling Gogol to counter with a crisp jab.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Nikolai Gogol showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action! This is the final round!

Gogol throws a nice looking combination but Boyka bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Boyka shoots in looking for a takedown. Gogol tries to sprawl out of it but Boyka keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Gogol manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
Gogol misses with a double jab.
Gogol tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Boyka was well out of range. Poor timing from Gogol.
Donk. Gogol catches Boyka right on the button with a cross.
Gogol throws a series of punches but Boyka avoids them all with ease.
Boyka drops down looking for a counter takedown but Gogol sprawls and moves away.
Gogol lunges in with an uppercut that skims his opponent's chin.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Boyka avoids the body shot from Gogol.
A slow jab from Gogol misses its intended target.
Gogol thows a left - swing and a miss!
Gogol throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Gogol just misses with a punch to the body.
Boyka attempts a counter takedown but Gogol avoids it well and moves away.
Boyka shoots in looking for a takedown. Gogol tries to sprawl out of it but Boyka keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Gogol manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
Gogol misses with an uppercut. Boyka saw that one coming.
Boyka changes levels looking for a counter takedown but doesn't commit.
Nikolai Gogol is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Boyka swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Gogol unleashes a big counter combination but Boyka bobs and weaves and avoids any damage.
Gogol leaves Boyka with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Aleksei Boyka. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Boyka takes a solid shot to the body. That one hurt him but he's trying not to show it.
Jab by Gogol.
Boyka with poor footwork there. He got himself in a bit of a tangle, enabling Gogol to score with a decent uppercut.
Nikolai Gogol is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Gogol misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Boyka.
Gogol misses with a hook.
Gogol lands a really nice looking cross but Boyka seems unphased.
Gogol misses with a looping left.
Gogol throws out a powerful jab.
Gogol throws a jab, cross combination which is slipped

and Boyka counters with a driving takedown into guard. Nice work there by Boyka.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Boyka tries to free his leg and advance position but Gogol is retaining full guard.
Boyka trying to control the position from guard on top but Gogol is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Gogol utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Gogol keeping moving, preventing Boyka from controlling successfully.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Aleksei Boyka overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.
Gogol throws out a token jab with nothing on it.

Boyka 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.
Gogol keeping moving, preventing Boyka from controlling successfully.

Boyka avoids a guillotine attempt easily.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Boyka loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.

Gogol working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Boyka doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Boyka manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.

Boyka thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Gogol is trying to hold Boyka in close to prevent damage but Boyka has managed to pass into half guard.

And that's the end of the fight!
Nikolai Gogol comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Gogol winning every round here. Surely the decision will go his way and he'll pick up a well deserved decision victory. 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 Don Winkell scores the fight 26:30
Judge Frank Antenori scores the fight 26:30
Judge Percy O'Donnell scores the fight 26:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Nikolai Gogol!