PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Oleg Kriznov (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Celestino Nicolau (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Celestino Nicolau is the more experienced fighter, so let's see if that makes a difference tonight.

Kriznov
vs
Nicolau

190 cm
25
153 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

179 cm
18
145 lbs
1 - 1 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Solid boxing
Granite chin

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
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 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Oleg Kriznov!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Celestino Nicolau!
The judges for this bout are Radbod Blank, Aafke Stam and Paulsen Ambrosius.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Nicolau tries to clinch up but Kriznov circles away and keeps his distance.
Kriznov with a lazy takedown attempt
enabling Nicolau to counter with a crisp jab.
Kriznov dodges the punch combination from Nicolau.
Kriznov tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Nicolau swivels and escapes.
Kriznov lands a jab, followed by a cross and another cross, as Nicolau backs up against the cage.
Nicolau has a takedown stuffed.
Kriznov moves into range and throws a lovely three punch combination.

Kriznov gets in close and instigates a clinch.
Kriznov really does look like a pencil wearing a pair of gloves. Let's hope he has a gameplan to suit that ridiculous body shape.
Kriznov is looking to break free of the clinch but Nicolau has double underhooks.
Nicolau can't get the takedown.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Nicolau trying to stall but Kriznov improves his position.
Kriznov has dropped down and is looking to force the takedown but it's defended by Nicolau after a bit of a struggle.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Oleg Kriznov. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Nicolau is trying to pull guard but being pressed up against the cage enables Kriznov to keep the fight standing.
Nicolau slowing the pace effectively.
Nicolau is trying to stall.
Kriznov is looking for a takedown up against the cage. Nicolau gets underhooks though and prevents the takedown attempt.
Nicolau tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. Kriznov just stands there and leans against the cage.
Nicolau content to slow the pace in the clinch.

Nicolau manages to pull guard. Let's see whether he can land a sub off his back.
Kriznov's corner is telling him to maintain position.
Kriznov has controlled the position for a good 20 seconds, which will no doubt be starting to frustrate his opponent.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Kriznov wants to pass the guard but Nicolau is keeping the position.

Kriznov gets to his feet - Nicolau follows without any prompting.
Kriznov tries for a takedown but Nicolau sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
Nicolau fakes a couple of low kicks, before throwing one on the third attempt. It connects and Kriznov has to reset his feet before getting ready to engage.

Kriznov drives through and clinches with Nicolau against the cage.
Nicolau stalling in the clinch.
Nicolau wants a takedown.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Kriznov pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Kriznov fails with the takedown
and Nicolau counters with a nice body shot.

Kriznov rushes Nicolau and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.
Kriznov controlling the action here for a moment.

Kriznov ties up his opponent against the cage and manages to drag the fight down to the ground. Kriznov no doubt will be looking to work submissions from his guard.
Kriznov is pulling down on Nicolau's head. It's preventing any offense from Nicolau, at least for the moment.
Nicolau controls from within his opponent's guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Nicolau accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.

Kriznov has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Nicolau can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
Nicolau is looking to work some ground and pound but Kriznov has wrist control.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.

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

The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Kriznov wants to pass the guard but Nicolau is keeping the position.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Oleg Kriznov dominated that round.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

Kriznov wants to clinch up but Nicolau keeps it at a distance.
Kriznov takes a thudding leg kick, right into the meat of the thigh.
Nice takedown defense from Kriznov. No joy for Nicolau on that attempt.
Kriznov tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Kriznov circles away from the clinch attempt.
Kriznov tries for a takedown but Nicolau sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
Nicolau misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.

Kriznov closes the distance and clinches.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Nicolau is looking for a takedown.
Oleg Kriznov has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Celestino Nicolau.
Kriznov is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.
Nicolau is pressed up against the cage. Kriznov has hold of a leg and is looking to drag Nicolau down to the mat. Nicolau avoids the attempt though and has circled away. We're back to striking at a distance.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Nicolau will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
Kriznov misses with a low kick.
A countering left hand to the body from Nicolau misses.
Nicolau fails with a takedown attempt.
Kriznov shoots in and drives through. Nicolau sprawls well.
A leg kick checked by Nicolau.
Kriznov shoots in for a takedown but Nicolau shows good takedown defense.
Kriznov dodges the punch combination from Nicolau.
Kriznov scores with a hook.

Kriznov has Nicolau up against the cage in a clinch.

Nicolau breaks from the clinch.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Kriznov lands a nice hook to Nicolau's body. Nicolau takes it in his stride and looks to land his own strikes.
Nicolau leaves Kriznov with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
Nicolau feints the counter takedown.
Kriznov tries to clinch up but Nicolau circles away and keeps his distance.
Nicolau is loading up here, looking for a big counter of his own.
Kriznov shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Nicolau but Nicolau pushes him off and we're back to square one.

Nicolau moves into the clinch.

Nicolau ties up his opponent against the cage and manages to drag the fight down to the ground. Nicolau no doubt will be looking to work submissions from his guard.
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!
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Nicolau is on top in guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Nicolau wants to control from the top but Kriznov keeps moving.
Kriznov seems keen to control Nicolau's posture.
Kriznov manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Nicolau manages to get himself to full guard.

Kriznov throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Nicolau works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Kriznov sitting in guard here, content to control.
Kriznov will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.
This is a sustained period of stalling by Kriznov.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are getting on the fighters' backs, as the pace has dropped off in the last minute or so.
Nicolau wants to improve his position but instead Kriznov has moved into half guard.
Nicolau is looking to control Kriznov's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Nicolau avoid being mounted?
Kriznov is trying to control. Nicolau wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.

Kriznov is looking for a kimura but he's never going to get it from there.
Kriznov seems content to maintain position for now, rather than mounting any offense.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close second round but I would say that Oleg Kriznov will probably get the nod.
That's time! Back to the action! This is the final round!

Nicolau slaps away a takedown attempt from Kriznov, before circling back to the center of the mat.

Kriznov closes the distance and clinches.
Nicolau tries to circle away but Kriznov has him pinned against the cage.
Nicolau keeps the fight in the clinch, despite Kriznov's efforts to push away.
Nicolau changes levels and goes for a takedown here. Kriznov fights it off and pushes away nicely.
Kriznov has a takedown stuffed.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Kriznov tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Nicolau paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Kriznov tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Nicolau swivels and escapes.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Oleg Kriznov. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Nicolau will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Nicolau throws a right high kick that is partially blocked by Kriznov.
Kriznov misses with a head kick.
Nicolau shoots in looking for a takedown but Kriznov manages to keep the fight standing, pushing Nicolau's face into the canvas for good measure before circling away.
Kriznov shoots in looking for a takedown. Nicolau tries to sprawl out of it but Kriznov keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Nicolau manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
Nicolau slaps away a takedown attempt from Kriznov, before circling back to the center of the mat.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Kriznov tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Nicolau paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Nicolau tries to clinch up but Kriznov circles away and keeps his distance.
Kriznov gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily

and Nicolau counters by moving into the clinch.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Nicolau tries to pull guard but Kriznov forces him back to his feet, against the cage.
A real battle for position is taking place between these two warriors.

Kriznov jumps guard and drags Nicolau to the mat. He's obviously going to be looking for submissions off his back.
Nicolau trying to control the position from guard on top but Kriznov is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

Kriznov has his foot on Nicolau's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Nicolau works his way back into a safe position though.
Nicolau with a flurry of punches that miss.
Kriznov manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Nicolau manages to get himself to full guard.

Nicolau keeping moving, preventing Kriznov from controlling successfully.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kriznov trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Nicolau trying to keep a closed guard but Kriznov is proving a slippery customer.
Kriznov controls from within his opponent's guard.
Nicolau keeping full guard, as Kriznov tries to pass.
Kriznov passes Nicolau's right leg, so he's now in half guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.
Still in half guard, Kriznov seems content to control.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Kriznov throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
Kriznov is taking a breather. Nicolau says something to him but it's hard to make out. Perhaps he's telling him to get on with it and actually do something.
Nicolau is trying to control but Kriznov manages to pass to mount!
Oleg Kriznov overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Kriznov thowing strikes but they're hitting the gloves, not doing any damage.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Kriznov throwing strikes here but Nicolau is writhing around nicely and avoiding any serious damage.
Celestino Nicolau has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Oleg Kriznov is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Nicolau throwing punches from his back but nothing is landing.

And that's the end of the fight!
Oleg Kriznov showed his dominance in that final round.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Kriznov, winning every round. Will the judges agree? They are the ones who matter, even if they are often depressingly incompetent. 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 Radbod Blank scores the fight 29:28
Judge Aafke Stam scores the fight 30:27
Judge Paulsen Ambrosius scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Oleg Kriznov!