PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Michael The Hawk (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Rodion Nurullin (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Rodion Nurullin acknowledges the crowd's support as he enters the cage.

The Hawk
vs
Nurullin

169 cm
25
135 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

170 cm
22
135 lbs
0 - 1 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Brawler
Granite chin

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Determined

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the bantamweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Michael The Hawk!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 1 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Rodion Nurullin!
The judges for this bout are Fedor Mirinova, Vladimir Khabensky and Dmitry Maklakov.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

The Hawk shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Let's see what he's got on the mat.

Nurullin scrambles and gets back to his feet.
Nurullin shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as The Hawk sprawls well. The Hawk wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Nurullin gets slowly back to his feet.
The Hawk is looking to counter the offense by Nurullin and move into the clinch.

The Hawk decides to change it up a bit and drives through with a nice takedown into half guard.
The Hawk is figuring out what he wants to do next.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Ground and pound from The Hawk.

That's one minute gone in the round.
The Hawk wants to free his trapped foot but Nurullin is holding on for dear life with his legs.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
The Hawk wants to lay and pray for a moment but Nurullin keeps working.
The Hawk is taking a breather. Nurullin 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.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

The Hawk stands up from half guard.

The Hawk darts in and clinches Nurullin up against the cage.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.
The Hawk drops down for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Nurullin tries to pull guard but The Hawk forces him back to his feet, against the cage.
Nurullin can't break the clinch.
The Hawk changes levels and goes for a takedown here. Nurullin fights it off and pushes away nicely.
The Hawk will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Michael The Hawk. That's going to take a lot out of him.

Nurullin has taken the fight to the clinch.
Nurullin looks winded!
The Hawk dictating the pace here, as the fighters clinch against the cage.
Nurullin has dropped down and is looking to force the takedown but it's defended by The Hawk after a bit of a struggle.

Nurullin's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

The Hawk fakes an overhand right and shoots for a takedown. Nurullin sprawls well initially but The Hawk persists and gets the takedown into half guard.

The Hawk decides to stand up.
Nurullin tries to clinch but The Hawk is having none of it.
The Hawk lifts his leg as if looking to counter with a high kick.
The Hawk misses with a double jab.

Nurullin gets tackled into the cage by The Hawk. The Hawk maintains the clinch.
Nurullin has a body lock and is looking for a takedown. The Hawk is bouncing around trying to prevent the takedown and somehow he has indeed managed to stay on his feet.

The Hawk breaks the clinch.

The Hawk closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.
Nurullin takes a knee to the side of the body.

Nurullin tightens his grip and picks The Hawk up, before dumping him to the ground. The Hawk manages to land in guard.

The Hawk has butterfly guard. He's looking to stand up here. He pushes Nurullin off him and springs to his feet nicely. The crowd applauds.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.

The Hawk moves into the clinch.

The Hawk breaks from the clinch.
Nurullin fails in his attempt to clinch.

The Hawk closes the distance and gets a double leg, slamming Nurullin to the mat! Nurullin manages to get full guard.
The Hawk pushes down on Nurullin's leg and manages to get into half guard.
The Hawk wants to lay and pray for a moment but Nurullin keeps working.
Nurullin on the receiving end of some nice ground and pound.

The Hawk is sneakily working for an arm triangle but Nurullin sees it coming and defends easily.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Michael The Hawk dominated that 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.

The Hawk changes levels and drives through with a really nice takedown into side control. Nurullin looks really pissed at himself for not defending that better.
Nurullin is looking to get back to his feet here but The Hawk is keeping cool and he's managed to take Nurullin's back.
The Hawk is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Nurullin can do to turn this around?
The Hawk slows the pace down here. Having a little breather whilst he's in a dominant position, looking to rest and regain some energy, ready to go for the finish.
The Hawk lands a punch to the side of the head from the back.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Nurullin staying busy and making it hard for The Hawk to control.
Michael The Hawk overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
You can see the frustration on Nurullin's face… He knows he is in trouble unless he improves his position sooner rather than later.
Nurullin wants to get back to his feet.
The Hawk is working the ground and pound here and the referee is taking a close look at Nurullin. He must escape soon or this one will be stopped.
Nurullin is breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.

The Hawk working for a choke but Nurullin is defending well.
The Hawk avoiding Nurullin 's attempts to control his hands.
The Hawk scores with some strikes to the side of the head there. Good, points scoring shots.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Nurullin is in bad spot here.
The Hawk keeps control of the position easily here as Nurullin tries to buck him off.

The Hawk is working for a rear naked choke. Nurullin is not defending it well and The Hawk has tightened it up quickly! This could be all over! Nurullin refuses to tap and goes to sleep, forcing the referee to intervene. A little trickle of blood came out of Nurullin's nose as his head slumped to the floor. That is naaaasty!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 2:35 of round 2, we have a winner by way of Submission (RNC). Michael The Hawk!