PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Alexandr Nikitin (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Toktogulovich Bakiyev (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Chooooooooon! I think Nikitin might be my favorite fighter, now he's come out to Smack My Bitch Up . Alexandr Nikitin had real problems making weight for this fight. After initially coming in at 156.6lbs, he had two hours to make the official fight weight. He made it but it will have taken a lot out of him to cut those extra few pounds. Rumors backstage are that the fighters have been paid to keep it standing but we know that would never happen in MMA!

Nikitin
vs
Bakiyev

170 cm
32
171 lbs
19 - 19 - 5

171 cm
30
163 lbs
17 - 14 - 0

Abu Dhabi Champ
World class boxer
Insanely flexible

Good wrestler
World class boxer
Fast

MayheM sportswear
Sully's Bar & Grill

Sin City Allstars
Sully's Bar & Grill

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the lightweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 19 - 19 - 5, fighting out of Hilo, Alexandr Nikitin!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 17 - 14 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Toktogulovich Bakiyev!
The judges for this bout are James Glass, Steven Brown and Colin Fotheringham.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Nikitin looks to score with a jab to the body but Bakiyev is just out of range.
A countering left hand to the body from Bakiyev misses.
Nikitin works the jab nicely.
Nikitin throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Bakiyev sees it coming and avoids it easily.
Bakiyev has done a lot of speed work in the buildup to this fight.
Bakiyev jabs Nikitin right on the nose. Nikitin blinks but takes it well.
Nikitin throws a looping overhand right but Bakiyev ducks down to avoid it.
A jab from Nikitin misses.
Nikitin throws a looping overhand right but Bakiyev ducks down to avoid it.
Nikitin cracks a nice hook into Bakiyev's ribs.
Nikitin throws a lazy uppercut
and Nikitin takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
Bakiyev ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
Bakiyev appears to be waiting to throw a counter punch to the body.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Nice body punch from Bakiyev.
Nikitin lands a pitter patter jab to the forehead of his opponent.
Bakiyev slips under a jab.
Nikitin throws a shot to the body.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Bakiyev keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Bakiyev takes a nasty kick to the mid section... That should keep him thinking. Does he try and block and risk a head kick landing?
Nikitin throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
Nikitin misses with an uppercut.
Nikitin lands with a right hand.
Bakiyev throws a body shot but no joy.
Bakiyev throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
Nikitin throws the left hand but Bakiyev avoids the punch easily.
Good standup being displayed there by Nikitin as he connects with a hook.
Nikitin misses with a low kick.
Nikitin misses with a body punch
and Bakiyev counters with a nice uppercut.
Bakiyev stuns Nikitin with a nice body shot, before stepping back out of range.
Bakiyev moves out of range of the strikes.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Nikitin throws a hook but Bakiyev blocks it.
And an attempted straight right on the counter from Bakiyev! But no joy.
Nikitin throws a hook but Bakiyev avoids it easily.
Bakiyev uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Nikitin.
Bakiyev ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Nikitin moves away.
Nikitin misses with an uppercut
and Bakiyev counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
Nikitin has been working on his boxing with his coaches at mickeyharts the greatest in the buildup to the fight.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Bakiyev just misses with a punch to the body.
Bakiyev slips under a jab from Nikitin.
Nikitin throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
Alexandr Nikitin seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
A lazy left from Bakiyev finds it's target.
Nikitin avoids the body shot from Bakiyev.
Nikitin jabs Bakiyev to the body, keeping him at a distance.
Bakiyev dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
Nikitin misses with a left hand
and Bakiyev counters with a stiff right hand.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
A jab from Bakiyev misses.
Bakiyev darts in and out, connecting with a jab.
Bakiyev throws a body punch but Nikitin moves out of range.
Nikitin keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Nikitin throws a big shot that misses.
Nikitin throws a right hand that misses
and Bakiyev counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Bakiyev blocks a jab.
The fighters circling - Nikitin throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
A countering left hand to the body from Bakiyev misses.
Bakiyev bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
Bakiyev is clearly trying to counter these attacks from Nikitin with a body shot.
Nikitin is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Bakiyev.
Nikitin swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
Bakiyev comes forward and lands a shot to the body, then darts back out of range.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Nikitin waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Bakiyev.
It seemed like Bakiyev was going to counter with the hook but didn't fully commit to it.
Nikitin steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Bakiyev.
Bakiyev throws an off balance right hand
and Nikitin counters with a lovely shot to the body.
Bakiyev scores with a big left there. The judges will like that one.
Nikitin cracks a nice hook into Bakiyev's ribs.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Nikitin misses with a straight left.
Bakiyev digs a good hook to Nikitin's body.
Bakiyev takes a step towards his opponent and connects with a left hand, before circling away.
Nikitin swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Nice jab there from Nikitin.
Bakiyev connects with a good right hand that stumbles Nikitin. Nikitin circles away out of range and recomposes himself.
Nikitin jabs Bakiyev right on the nose. Bakiyev blinks but takes it well.
Bakiyev takes a punch right to his stomach. That took the wind out of him momentarily.
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 Alexandr Nikitin will probably get the nod.
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.

Bakiyev just misses with a punch to the body.
Nikitin throws a shot to the body.
Nikitin throws an off balance right hand
and Nikitin takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
Nikitin jabbing away but nothing is landing.
Bakiyev lands a glancing blow to the side of Nikitin's head.
A swing and a miss from Bakiyev.
Nikitin throws a body shot but no joy.
Nikitin has not gone for a single takedown so far in this fight, which seems like a very strange tactic when you consider that he has the superior wrestling and BJJ.
Bakiyev comes forward and lands a shot to the body, then darts back out of range.
The fighters circle momentarily. Bakiyev darts into range and connects with a nice straight punch.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Nikitin misses with a telegraphed body shot
and Bakiyev counters with a stiff right hand.
Bakiyev slips in close and lands a nice hook before moving back out of range.
Nikitin scores with a punch to the gut of his opponent.
Alexandr Nikitin is winning the standup battle so far.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
A low kick from Nikitin misses
and Bakiyev counters with a lovely shot to the body.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Nice defenses there by Bakiyev.
Bakiyev is clearly trying to counter these attacks from Nikitin with a body shot.
Jab from Bakiyev.
Nikitin throws a predictable looking body shot
and Bakiyev counters with a lovely shot to the body.
Nikitin throws a hook but Bakiyev blocks it.
Bakiyev throws a hook but Nikitin avoids it easily.
Nikitin appears to be looking for a counter punch to the body.
Nikitin misses with a straight left.
It seemed like Bakiyev was going to counter with the hook but didn't fully commit to it.
Bakiyev displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Nikitin throws out the jab.
Nikitin gets cracked there but stands up to it.
Nikitin pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
Nikitin avoids the body shot from Bakiyev.
Nikitin swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Nikitin loads up on a big right hand but Bakiyev slips the punch.
Bakiyev avoids a lazy jab quite easily.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A big right from Nikitin misses.
Nikitin throws a shot from downtown. Bakiyev moves away and avoids it.
Bakiyev is clearly trying to counter these attacks from Nikitin with a body shot.
Nikitin swings for the body but Bakiyev moves out of range.
Bakiyev misses with a looping left.
A punch lands to the side of Nikitin 's head but he takes it in his stride.
Nikitin thows a left - swing and a miss!
Bakiyev moves out of range as Nikitin strikes.
A nice side step and Bakiyev releases a counter shot to the body, but it doesn't find it's home.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Nikitin throws a lazy right hand but Bakiyev sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Bakiyev throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Nikitin takes a step towards his opponent and connects with a left hand, before circling away.
Nikitin tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Bakiyev was well out of range. Poor timing from Nikitin.
Nikitin blocks a jab.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Nikitin fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Bakiyev manages to avoid it.
A countering left hand to the body from Bakiyev misses.
Nikitin throws a jab but it's blocked by Bakiyev.
Bakiyev throws a lazy right hand but Nikitin sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Nice cross by Bakiyev.
Bakiyev tries to move into range but Nikitin moves to the side and lands with a nice right hand.
Nikitin is moving around nicely and scores here with a single head shot.
Bakiyev avoids the body shot from Nikitin.
Bakiyev moves out of range of the strikes.
Bakiyev ducks down and throws a hook to the body.
Bakiyev drops his hands momentarily and Nikitin takes advantage with a crisp shot to the head.
Nikitin throws a jab but it's blocked by Bakiyev.
Nikitin misses with a lunging right hand
and Bakiyev counters nicely by changing levels and landing a hook to the body.
Nikitin misses with an uppercut. Bakiyev saw that one coming.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Bakiyev missing with a left hand there. Nikitin was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
Nikitin misses with a hook to the body
and Bakiyev counters with a left to the body.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Nikitin misses with a right hand
and Bakiyev counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Bakiyev misses the jab.
Nikitin is looking to counter punch.
Nikitin throws a right hand that misses
and Bakiyev cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Bakiyev bobbing and weaving, closes the distance and lands a hook to the side of Nikitin's head.
Bakiyev throws out a powerful jab.
Nikitin goes to the watering hole and comes back with a big thumbs up from the judges as he scores a three punch combo.
Bakiyev lands with a straight right. Nikitin didn't see that one coming.
Nikitin jabbing away but nothing is landing.
Nikitin pushes forward with a 1-2 combination that forces Bakiyev back to the cage. Nikitin follows up with a solid lead hook to the liver.
Bakiyev staying out of range there.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Toktogulovich Bakiyev will probably get the nod - 10:9.
That's time! Back to the action! This is the final round!

Nikitin throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
Nikitin throws an ugly left hook that misses
and Bakiyev counters nicely by changing levels and landing a hook to the body.
Bakiyev jabs Nikitin to the body, keeping him at a distance.
Nikitin throws a hook but Bakiyev avoids it easily.
Bakiyev uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Nikitin.
Bakiyev misses with a wild body shot.
An attempted straight right counter from Nikitin misses the target.
A slow jab from Nikitin misses its intended target.
Nikitin misses with a looping right.
Bakiyev bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Nikitin throws a jab when Bakiyev was well out of range.
Nikitin works the jab nicely.
Nikitin keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Bakiyev.
Bakiyev shakes his hands off, looking to compose himself, but takes a jab to the jaw whilst he does it.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Bakiyev fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Nikitin manages to avoid it.
Nikitin keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
It looked like Nikitin wanted to counter with a hook but didn't fully commit.
Nikitin tries to land a front kick but Bakiyev steps back. That was a bit too telegraphed.
Bakiyev moves out of range of the strikes.
Nikitin misses with a right hand
and Bakiyev counters with a nice jab to the body that keeps Nikitin thinking.
Nikitin takes a step towards his opponent and connects with a left hand, before circling away.
Nikitin misses with a body shot.
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Bakiyev throws a lazy right hand but Nikitin sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Nikitin connects with a lovely jab that went straight through the gap between Bakiyev's hands.
Bakiyev lunges in with an uppercut that skims his opponent's chin.
Nikitin scores with a straight right hand, right through his opponent's guard.

Bakiyev is rocked!
Bakiyev is pinned up against the cage taking some big shots here. The referee is looking closely deciding whether he should stop the fight.
Bakiyev is still on wobbly legs! Can Nikitin finish him?
Nikitin throws a jab but it's blocked by Bakiyev.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Bakiyev misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Nikitin.
Nikitin was looking to counter that move with a punch but didn't quite pull the trigger.
Nikitin throws an overhand right that lands on Bakiyev's shoulder, as Bakiyev tries to avoid the shot.
Bakiyev takes one on the chin but seems OK.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Nikitin steps in with a hook that catches Bakiyev right on the chin and knocks him to the floor! Nikitin follows him down with more strikes and that's all she wrote! Bakiyev looks absolutely devastated.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 2:14 of round 3, we have a winner by way of TKO (Strikes). Alexandr Nikitin!
During a confident post fight interview, Alexandr Nikitin thanked all his fans. He seemed very genuine when describing how motivated his fans keep him.