PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Ichabod Crane (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Alexandr Nikitin (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Crane comes to the cage accompanied by Way of The Ninja. Nikitin has chosen Smack My Bitch Up as his entrance music. Both these guys have really solid chins. Will we see a standup war or will they both decide that a knockout is unlikely and try to win the fight elsewhere?

Crane
vs
Nikitin

165 cm
25
154 lbs
16 - 10 - 0

170 cm
25
155 lbs
8 - 6 - 1

Good wrestling
World class boxer
Cardio machine

BJJ Red Belt
Excellent boxer
Good gas tank

Spartan Nutrition
Bullet Proof System

V-Mask Clothing (10%)

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 16 - 10 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Ichabod Crane!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 8 - 6 - 1, fighting out of Helsinki, Alexandr Nikitin!
The judges for this bout are Jonathan Paton, Reed Andrews and Eddie Farnsworth.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Crane throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Crane misses with a few strikes there.
A little jabbing left from Nikitin on the counter but it doesn't find it's target.
Nikitin uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Crane.
Nikitin cracks Crane with a right hand to the side of the head.
A jab from Crane misses.
Crane takes a punch right to his stomach. That took the wind out of him momentarily.
Crane closes the distance and lands a one-two.
Crane thows a leg kick but Nikitin checks it

and Nikitin counters with a takedown into side control! That could mean trouble for Crane!
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Nikitin throwing shots but missing, from side control.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
You can see the frustration on Crane's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.

Nikitin wants to work for a kimura but he's foiled early by Crane, who protects the arm well.
Nikitin moving around in side mount but really he's just happy to control for now.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Crane is looking for a sweep.
Nikitin wants to control but Crane is keeping him busy.
Crane wants to control but Nikitin postures up.
Nikitin scores with punches from side control.
Nikitin trying to control the action but Crane is working from the bottom.

Nikitin tries for a kimura but Crane is defending well.

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

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Nikitin takes a little break here. Crane wants to take advantage but he is being controlled well.
Crane is sneaking out the side here. He's bucked Nikitin off and has taken his back!
Nikitin rolls and manages to get back to half guard. Nicely done.
Nikitin wants to control the action here but instead Crane manages to pass to full mount!
Nikitin is looking to get to half guard.
Crane looking to finish Nikitin with some ground and pound. This is bad for Nikitin!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Nikitin is writhing around trying to get back to his feet.
Nikitin tries to reverse the position but Crane maintains control.
Nikitin tries to hold on but Crane postures up.
Crane prevents Nikitin from getting the reversal.
Crane tries to control but Nikitin wriggling away.
Nikitin is trying desperately to improve position.
Poor strikes thrown by Crane there. More accuracy and less frantic strikes would help!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Nikitin is squirming around, avoiding Crane's attempts to control the action.
Nikitin is looking to improve his position but Crane isn't that keen on the idea.
Nikitin regains half guard.
Nikitin is trying is best to control the position here.
Nikitin gets back to full guard.
Crane with a nice head shot there.
Crane is in a tricky position. We've heard reports from his gym mates at The Barracks - LOD that he's been drilling escapes, so let's see if he can get back to his feet.
Crane trying to control but Nikitin is working from the bottom.
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 Ichabod Crane will probably get the nod.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin!

Crane scores with a shot to the body.
Nikitin shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Crane as he jumps to the side.
A telegraphed right hand from Crane misses the target.
Nikitin uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Crane.
Crane connects nicely with a jab. Noted by the judges no doubt.
A punch lands to the side of Crane 's head but he takes it in his stride.
Nikitin is on the wrong end of a nice combination from Crane.
Nikitin throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Crane on the wrong end of a decent looking cross there.
Nikitin has done a lot of speed work in the buildup to this fight.
Ichabod Crane seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Nikitin jabs. That one connects to the head of his opponent.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Nikitin dodges the punch combination from Crane.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Crane throws a poor cross that misses
and Nikitin counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
Crane throws a right hand that Nikitin ducks under and follows up with a left that Nikitin also avoids with ease.
Nikitin feints the counter takedown.
Crane misses with a double jab.
Ichabod Crane is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Crane swinging wildly here.
Crane tries a head kick but it misses.
Nikitin slips in close and lands a nice hook before moving back out of range.
Crane throws a series of punches but Nikitin moves out of range.
Nikitin doesn't fully commit to the body shot counter.
Crane catches Nikitin with a nice straight right. He seems pissed - ooooh, it's on now! On like donkey kong!
Nikitin swings wildly with a hook that is half blocked by Crane.
Nikitin connects with a looping left hand that seems like it dazed Crane momentarily.
Crane misses with a hook. Nikitin ducked under it nicely.
Ichabod Crane is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
This has been an exciting period of action!

Crane lands a left and a right that send Nikitin crashing to the mat, dazed. Crane thinks about following him to the mat but decides to wave him back up to his feet!
Ichabod Crane is winning the standup battle so far.
Nikitin misses with a right hand
and Crane counters with a nice uppercut.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Crane misses with a jab, cross combination.
Nikitin steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Crane.
Nikitin is clearly trying to counter these attacks from Crane with a body shot.
Nikitin throws a body punch but Crane moves out of range.
Crane misses with a wild combination.
Crane throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Nikitin throws a body shot but no joy.
Nikitin misses with a wild body shot.
Crane fires out a quick counter leg kick but Nikitin just manages to avoid it.
Nice defenses there by Crane.
Sloppy strikes from Crane. Those never looked like landing.
Crane throws a right hand that Nikitin ducks under and follows up with a left that Nikitin also avoids with ease.
A low kick from Crane misses

and Nikitin counters with a nice double leg into half guard.
Nikitin working over Crane with some ground and pound. Crane looks like he wants out of this position, which is understandable.
Alexandr Nikitin has got the better of the ground game so far.
Nikitin works his foot free and advances to mount.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Nikitin trying to control but Crane is having none of it.
Nikitin raining down shots from the mount!
Nikitin lands a big elbow.
Nikitin looking to control and managing it successfully.
Nikitin looking to control but Crane is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Nikitin controlling the position easily from mount.
Nikitin looking to control but Crane is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.
Nikitin might have to switch it up a bit here because his efforts to control Crane haven't been going to plan, at least at the current moment in time.

Nikitin with some aggressive grappling here. He's looking for submissions here, rather than waiting for the opportunity to counter.
Nikitin looking to control but Crane is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Ichabod Crane 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. This is the final round!

Nikitin misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
Crane misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Nikitin.
Nikitin showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Crane.
Crane pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
Nikitin misses the jab.
Crane misses with a series of wild punches.
Good standup being displayed there by Nikitin as he connects with a hook.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Nikitin throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Crane's waist but Crane gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Nikitin off to one side.
A combination from Crane does no damage.
Crane lands with a right hand.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Jab, jab by Crane - just one landing.
Crane throws a nice looking combination but Nikitin bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
And Nikitin tries to counter it with a takedown but Crane pushes his down on his head and steps out.
Crane misses with an uppercut. Nikitin saw that one coming.
Crane throws a body shot but no joy.
Nikitin takes a really solid shot there but just smiles back and shrugs his shoulders.
Crane steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Nikitin.
Nikitin ducks down and throws a hook to the body.
Nikitin misses the shot to the body.
Crane looks to score with a jab to the body but Nikitin is just out of range.
Crane shuffles to his left behind two crisp jabs. Nikitin eats them both and turns towards Crane to reposition himself and eats a stinging right hand-left hook combo.
Danga de danga de dang - Crane scores with a four punch combination!
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Crane tries to bum rush Nikitin with a series of wild strikes but Nikitin uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Crane uses good footwork to get in and out and land a nice right hand before Nikitin has time to react.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Nikitin takes a swing at Crane's ribcage but misses.
Nikitin dodges the punch combination from Crane.
Nikitin throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Crane wants to slow Nikitin down by chopping away at his legs.
A little jabbing left from Nikitin on the counter but it doesn't find it's target.
Crane feints a jab promting Nikitin to slip. Crane then demonstrates his capabilities by jabbing again. Nikitin slips again and ducks right into an uppercut.
Crane throws out a loose jab but Nikitin uses good head movement to avoid it.
Crane drops his hands and takes a jab to the jaw for his troubles.
Crane throws a shot from downtown. Nikitin moves away and avoids it.
Alexandr Nikitin has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Crane throws a combination that misses
and Nikitin cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Nikitin walks into a straight right hand from Crane.
Crane feints a straight left to the body, then turns around with a flashy move and hits Nikitins jaw with a dramatic spinning back fist!
A good leg kick by Crane.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Nikitin lands a jab to the head.

Nikitin dives in and scores a takedown into Crane's guard.
Nikitin controlling from the guard. I say controlling but really, he's stalling.
Ichabod Crane is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Nikitin wants to control from the top but Crane keeps moving.
Nikitin is in a good position here but he's just trying to control... And he's not even managing to do that successfully.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Nikitin stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Crane swivels though and keeps the full guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Nikitin wants to control from the top but Crane keeps moving.
Nikitin content to strike from guard, landing some decent shots.
Nikitin pushing down on Crane's thigh, trying to pass to half guard. He's managed it... Nice work.
Crane wants to improve his position but Nikitin is controlling well.

Nikitin is sneakily working for an arm triangle but Crane sees it coming and defends easily.
Crane is trying to stand.
Crane is trying to defend against the ground and pound but Nikitin scores with a couple of nice shots.

Nikitin is thinking about going for an arm triangle but he can't free his leg.

And that's the end of the fight!
Ichabod Crane showed his dominance in that final round.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Crane, 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 Jonathan Paton scores the fight 30:27
Judge Reed Andrews scores the fight 30:27
Judge Eddie Farnsworth scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Ichabod Crane!
A very excited looking Ichabod Crane made sure he remembered to thank all the fans both in the arena and on the internet. He said all the coolest people spend all day on MMA websites, which got a big reaction.