PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Rubin Levine (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Andrej Nicitel (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Rubin Levine has the edge in experience - let's see if he can make that count tonight.

Levine
vs
Nicitel

207 cm
18
177 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

179 cm
18
168 lbs
0 - 1 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Cuts easily

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Tends to cut

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the welterweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Rubin Levine!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Andrej Nicitel!
The judges for this bout are Tarja Halkonen, Marco Blurström and Arvi Lind.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Nicitel rushes Levine and presses him up against the cage.
Levine has hold of a leg and is looking for a trip takedown. Nicitel avoids it nicely though and we remain in the clinch.

Nicitel pulls guard.
Levine postures up and lands some nice ground and pound.
Levine throws a big elbow that misses.
Nicitel wants to stand up but Levine is controlling him.
Levine scoring with some ground and pound.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Nicitel working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Levine.

Nicitel pushes Levine off and scrambles back to his feet.

Nicitel gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Nicitel pulls guard.
Levine throwing strikes from guard but Nicitel blocks nicely.
Nicitel working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Levine.
Levine is working the ground and pound from guard. He might want to try advancing position though to get more of an impact.
Nicitel wants to get back to his feet but Levine is in a dominant position and won't allow it.
Levine will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.
Levine working in close now, lands a nice elbow to the side of Nicitel's head.
Levine with a nice head shot there.
Nicitel is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Nicitel trying to punch from his back but it's not doing any damage.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Nicitel has a butterfly guard looking to sweep but Levine has passed into side control.
Nicitel is not in a great position here, taking some shots.
Nicitel tries to bench press Levine off him but Levine keeps the position.
Levine in side control lands a decent elbow.
Nicitel pushes Levine away and creates a bit of space to escape. He's almost out here... but no, Levine gets a good hold of his legs and remains firmly in side control.

Levine decides to take the fight back to the feet.

Nicitel clinches up with Levine and pushes him back against the cage.
Levine taking a break, stalling in the clinch.
Levine lands an uppercut.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Nicitel breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.

Nicitel moves into the clinch successfully.

Levine breaks the clinch.

Levine instigates a clinch.

Nicitel's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Levine looking to throw a kick but he's pulled out of it.
Andrej Nicitel seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Levine tried to score with a low kick but Nicitel checks it.

Nicitel rushes Levine and presses him up against the cage.

Levine pulls Nicitel into guard.
Nicitel postures up in Levine's guard and throws a big left but Levine blocks it.
Levine is trying to control the position but Nicitel postures up.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Nicitel accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Levine keeping moving, preventing Nicitel from controlling successfully.
Levine tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Nicitel trying to control but Levine is working from the bottom.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up. He just wasn't happy with the level of activity.
Nicitel tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.

Nicitel closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Andrej Nicitel will probably get the nod.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

Nicitel closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.
Nicitel displaying some good clinch control by pressing Levine up against the cage.
Levine manages to get underhooks and slows down the pace for a moment.
Levine displaying some good clinch control by pressing Nicitel up against the cage.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Levine is trying to work for a single leg takedown but Nicitel pulls him back up using the underhooks.
Levine stalling here - the referee won't stand for too much of that.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Nicitel tries to score a body lock takedown but Levine shows good agility there to stay on his feet.

Nicitel gets control of Levine's arms and successfully pulls guard. Nicitel will no doubt be looking for submissions off his back.
Levine in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Levine stands up over Nicitel, holding his feet. He dives back in and lands a decent shot to the head.
Levine working some strikes from top position.
Levine lands a couple of elbows.
Nicitel wants to sweep but no luck.
Levine postures up and scores with a shot to the body and a follow up elbow to the head.
Levine scoring with some ground and pound.
Levine with a flurry of punches that miss.
Levine throws a big right hand that misses.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Levine chips away with some ground and pound.
Rubin Levine overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Levine postures up and lands a big shot to Nicitel's brow.
Levine throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Levine with a couple of shots to the head there. Not particularly brutal.
Nicitel is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Levine has been looking to land a fair amount of strikes on the ground. He might be looking to soften his opponent up in order to work for a submission.
Levine keeps in close for a moment and lands a decent shot to the side of Nicitel's head.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Levine is in close to Nicitel's body, working some short punches and elbows.
Levine with a nice head shot there.
Nicitel has momentary wrist control but Levine slips an elbow through the middle.
Levine stands up over Nicitel, holding his feet. He dives back in and lands a decent shot to the head.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Nicitel preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Levine postures up and lands a big shot to Nicitel's brow.
Levine postures up and scores with a shot to the body and a follow up elbow to the head.
Nicitel looking to hit a scissor sweep but Levine is one step ahead there.
Nicitel is breathing heavily.
Levine postures up and lands a big shot to Nicitel's brow.
Levine works over Nicitel with some ground and pound from guard.
Levine stands up over Nicitel, holding his feet. He dives back in and lands a decent shot to the head.
Nicitel looking to hit a scissor sweep but Levine is one step ahead there.
Levine throws a big right hand that misses.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Levine lands a couple of digs.
Levine postures up in Nicitel's guard and throws a big left but Nicitel blocks it.
Nicitel controls Levine momentarily but Levine frees himself.
Levine with a nice head shot there.
Hammerfist, elbow! yells Levine's corner. There ya go! There ya go!
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Levine throws a big elbow that misses.
Nicitel wants to sweep but no luck.
Nicitel is trying to keep Levine in close.
The referee wants the fighters to be more active or he's going to reset them on the feet.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Rubin Levine dominated that second round.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business. This is the final round!

Levine closes the distance, clinches up and gets a nice trip takedown into side control. Very smooth.
Nicitel is looking to reverse the position.
Levine is chipping away with strikes.
Levine lands a nice forearm strike.
Nicitel taking punishment in the form of punches.
Nicitel is trying to control Levine's posture but Levine avoids it.
Levine lands some shots froms side control.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Levine landing with strikes to the head and body from side control.
Levine working the ground and pound.
Nicitel takes a big shot right to the temple there but he's taken it well.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Levine lands an elbow.
Nicitel takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Levine is putting a hurting on Nicitel here, landing some big shots from side control.
Levine lands a knee to the body and a forearm to the face.
Levine landing strikes.
Nicitel wants to control but Levine postures up.
Nicitel on the wrong end of some ground and pound.
Levine scores with a couple of short elbows.
Levine trying to control the position but Nicitel is working away.
Nicitel pushes Levine away and creates a bit of space to escape. He's almost out here... but no, Levine gets a good hold of his legs and remains firmly in side control.
Levine lands a knee to the body and follows it up with some ground and pound to the head. That will wear Nicitel down.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Levine scores with a couple of nice shots to the head there. The referee takes a look at Nicitel to see if he's OK.
Levine working away diligently from side control. Landing strikes effectively there - that will score him some points on the judges scorecards.
Nicitel taking a bit of punishment here - Levine scoring with strikes.
Levine grinds an elbow into Nicitel's temple.
Levine working the ground and pound.
Levine landing a few strikes.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Levine lands a few punches from side control.
Levine scores with a couple of short elbows.
Levine creates a bit of distance and throws down some hard shots.
Check out the look on Levine's face as he threw that strike - that's one determined fighter!

Nicitel sneaks out the side door and pushes Levine away - he's back to his feet. The crowd show their appreciation for the escape.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Levine lands a nice looking kick to the body. Nicitel takes a step back to recover.
No luck with that takedown attempt from Nicitel.
Levine really does look like a pencil wearing a pair of gloves. Let's hope he has a gameplan to suit that ridiculous body shape.

Levine changes levels and drives through with a really nice takedown into side control. Nicitel looks really pissed at himself for not defending that better.

Nicitel sneaks out the side door and pushes Levine away - he's back to his feet. The crowd show their appreciation for the escape.
Levine is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Nicitel can do to turn this around?
Nicitel is looking to land body kicks.
Nicitel is trying hard to land a takedown here. Levine sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.
As Nicitel tries to get set, Levine tries to push him back and clinch up but Nicitel manages to avoid the attempt.
A head kick misses from Levine.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Nicitel gets a clinch.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Levine wants a takedown.
A short right hand to the side of the head by Nicitel.
A short uppercut from Nicitel.
Nicitel is looking to control Levine's arms but Levine gets an underhook and turns him. Now Nicitel has his back to the cage.
Levine lands with a short shot to the head.
Andrej Nicitel seems to be working more effectively in the clinch in the fight so far.
Nicitel misses with the head strike.
Levine is trying to pull guard but Nicitel turns him against the cage and we stay in the clinch.
Nicitel is trying to pull guard but Levine turns him against the cage and we stay in the clinch.

And that's the end of the fight!
Rubin Levine showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Levine has won this one but let's see what the judges have to say. 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 Tarja Halkonen scores the fight 30:27
Judge Marco Blurström scores the fight 30:27
Judge Arvi Lind scores the fight 30:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Rubin Levine!