PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a super heavyweight MMA rules bout between Abioye Nazari (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Larry Mayflower (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Nazari 's entrance music is Do You Call My Name by Ra. A fine choice. Larry Mayflower is staring across the cage at his opponent, tweaking his nipples.

Nazari
vs
Mayflower

204 cm
27
298 lbs
7 - 9 - 0

181 cm
26
242 lbs
11 - 9 - 0

Good wrestling
Solid boxing
Cardio machine

Powerful takedowns
Counter fighter
Powerful

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the super heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 7 - 9 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Abioye Nazari !
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 11 - 9 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Larry Mayflower!
The judges for this bout are Valeri Chadov, Fedor Mirinova and Konstantin Menshow.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Nazari throws a combination that misses

and Mayflower counters with a shoot takedown into half guard.

Nazari actively working from the bottom here.
Mayflower is scoring with some nice ground and pound from the dominant position.

Nazari looking for submissions off his back.
Nazari is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Mayflower trying to pass the guard but Nazari defending well.
Nazari punching from the bottom.
Nazari wants to get back to full guard but Mayflower has mounted him!

That's one minute gone in the round.
Nazari tries to get back to half guard but can't.

Mayflower with some aggressive grappling here. He's looking for submissions here, rather than waiting for the opportunity to counter.
Mayflower avoids the attempt from Nazari to control.
Nazari regains half guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Nazari wants to get back to full guard.

Nazari is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Mayflower pulls his head out easily.
Mayflower is trying to control. Nazari wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Mayflower working some ground and pound from close in. He's looking to maintain this position and strike for a while by the looks of things... although he'll probably advance to full mount in a minute now I've said that.
Nazari is in trouble now - Mayflower has advanced to mount!
Nazari is looking to improve his position but Mayflower isn't that keen on the idea.
Mayflower wants to take Nazari 's back but he can't do it this time.
In the pre-fight buildup videos we saw Mayflower working his ground and pound in the gym. So far it seems to be working well.
Nazari keeping his composure momentarily, calmly looking to get back to half guard.
Nazari gets back to half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Nazari is looking to improve his position.

Nazari is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Mayflower pulls his head out easily.
Nazari is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Nazari is staying active underneath Mayflower, who seems content to just control the action from this position.
Nazari wants to control but Mayflower is keeping busy.

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.
Mayflower wants to pass to mount but Nazari is defending the position.
Mayflower scoring with strikes to the body and head.
Nazari is concentrating on defense, preventing Mayflower from advancing position.
Nazari is looking to control Mayflower's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Nazari avoid being mounted?
Nazari won't allow Mayflower to pass to mount.

Nazari looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Mayflower working to pass to mount. He's got his hand pressing down on Nazari 's thigh. Nazari counters though and makes it back to full guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Larry Mayflower dominated that round.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

Mayflower drives through and clinches with Nazari against the cage.

Nazari 's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Nazari throws a right hand that Mayflower ducks under and follows up with a left that Mayflower also avoids with ease.
Mayflower avoids the head kick by Nazari .
Nazari misses with a series of wild punches.
Mayflower feints the counter takedown.
Nazari scores with a head kick.

It looks like Larry Mayflower has been cut.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Nazari throws a series of strikes that have Mayflower backpedaling.
Nazari connects with a nice looking jab.
Nazari throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Nazari throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Mayflower.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Mayflower takes a nice looking leg kick right on the meat of his thigh there.

Mayflower gets in close and instigates a clinch.
Mayflower drops down for a takedown but doesn't get it.

Nazari escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Nazari jabs. That one connects to the head of his opponent.
Nazari fails to land with a series of punches.
Mayflower lets it all go there with a big combo counter but none of the punches connected.
Mayflower ducks under a wild hook from Nazari .
Mayflower is definitely looking for the counter takedowns here.
Nazari looks to have improved his striking defense since last time we saw him fight.
Nazari connects with a lovely jab that went straight through the gap between Mayflower's hands.
Nazari shuffles to his left behind two crisp jabs. Mayflower eats them both and turns towards Nazari to reposition himself and eats a stinging right hand-left hook combo.
Nazari goes to the watering hole and comes back with a big thumbs up from the judges as he scores a three punch combo.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!

Mayflower instigates a clinch.
A short right hand to the side of the head by Nazari .

Nazari escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Nazari pushes forward with a 1-2 combination that forces Mayflower back to the cage. Nazari follows up with a solid lead hook to the liver.
Nazari swings wildly with a couple of big hooks

so Mayflower counters with a double leg into guard. Good agility.

Nazari escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Mayflower gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Nazari keeping full guard, as Mayflower tries to pass.
Nazari will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.
Nazari tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Larry Mayflower has got the better of the ground game so far.

Nazari throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Mayflower preventing the sweep.
Mayflower postures up and lands some nice ground and pound.
Nazari wants to hit a switch here but Mayflower passes into full mount! Oh no, disaster for Nazari there!
Mayflower prevents Nazari from getting the reversal.
Mayflower cracks Nazari with a nasty head shot there - the crowd let out an audible gasp there, as the noise reverberated around the arena.
Nazari tries to hold on but Mayflower postures up.
Nazari slips a leg in and gets back to half guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Mayflower wants to take a breather but Nazari is having none of it.
Nazari is trying to control but Mayflower manages to pass to mount!
Nazari is trying to escape the mount.
Mayflower wants to take his opponent's back but Nazari doesn't allow it.
Nazari reaches up and holds on to Mayflower to control the position.
Mayflower prevents Nazari from getting the reversal.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Abioye Nazari dominated that second round.
The cut man is working on Larry Mayflower's cut.
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. This is the final round!

Good standup being displayed there by Mayflower as he connects with a hook.
Nazari moves into range and connects with a jab.
Abioye Nazari is winning the standup battle so far.

Mayflower drives through and clinches with Nazari against the cage.
Mayflower blocks an elbow strike.
Nazari lands a left hand that snaps the head of Mayflower backwards.

Nazari breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Nazari displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Mayflower throws out the jab.
Mayflower displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Nazari throws out the jab.
And Mayflower tries to counter it with a takedown but Nazari pushes his down on his head and steps out.
Nazari tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Mayflower feints the counter takedown.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Nazari lands with an overhand left.
Abioye Nazari is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Nazari scores with a jab. Mayflower acknowledges it with a nod of the head.
Mayflower staying out of range there.
Mayflower feints the counter takedown.
Nazari lands an overhand right.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Mayflower is on the wrong end of a nice combination from Nazari .
Nazari misses with a combination

so Mayflower counters with a double leg into guard. Good agility.

Nazari looking for subs off his back but Mayflower has passed one foot through into half guard.
Mayflower slows the pace down in half guard.
Mayflower wants to control but Nazari is keeping him busy.
Nazari is looking to get back to full guard here but Mayflower has managed to pass to side control instead.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Nazari is trying to control Mayflower's posture but Mayflower avoids it.
Nazari is not content to let Mayflower control the position.
Nazari tries to bench press Mayflower off him but Mayflower keeps the position.
Mayflower is looking to take a break and control but Nazari is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Nazari is trying to buck Mayflower off.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Mayflower laying and praying for a moment but Nazari takes advantage and regains half guard.
Mayflower seems to be taking a bit of a break to think of his next move. He lands a short punch in the meantime.
Mayflower throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
Mayflower trying to control from half guard but Nazari is working away.

Mayflower is thinking about going for an arm triangle but he can't free his leg.
Mayflower wants to free his trapped foot but Nazari is holding on for dear life with his legs.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Nazari trying to control but Mayflower postures up.
Nazari flails away from the bottom but he's not doing any damage.
Mayflower wants to pass the guard but Nazari is defending well.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up. He just wasn't happy with the level of activity.
Nazari throws a sloppy head kick and Mayflower moves out of range easily.

Mayflower gets a clinch.
Nazari works for underhooks and lands a body shot in the process.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Mayflower.
Nazari stalling here - the referee won't stand for too much of that.
Nazari tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.

And that's the end of the fight!
That was a close round. You could make an argument for either fighter but I would give it to Abioye Nazari .
I think Nazari 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 Valeri Chadov scores the fight 29:28
Judge Fedor Mirinova scores the fight 29:28
Judge Konstantin Menshow scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Abioye Nazari !
After winning the bout, Abioye Nazari thanked all his fans and promised he'd do even better in his next fight. The crowd seemed to love his humility.