PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Boris Lukyanov (ranked 5847 p4p, 0 weight class) and Nick Holzken (ranked 7560 p4p, 0 weight class). This should be fireworks!

Lukyanov
vs
Holzken

178 cm
25
157 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

175 cm
25
157 lbs
0 - 1 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Excellent boxer
Good chin

BJJ Blue Belt
Solid Muay Thai
Likes musicals

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 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of The Island, Boris Lukyanov!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 1 - 0, fighting out of The Island, Nick Holzken!
The judges for this bout are Bart Greer, Dirk Anderson and Sandra Marshall.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Lukyanov has taken the fight to the clinch.
Lukyanov tries for a takedown. No joy.
Holzken managing to block the knees to the body from Lukyanov.
Lukyanov can't get the takedown.
Holzken is trying to push Lukyanov away but Lukyanov has him pressed against the cage, so he's going nowhere.
Lukyanov prevents Holzken from breaking the clinch.
Lukyanov trying to land knees to the body.
Holzken tries a body shot but Lukyanov blocks it.
Holzken jumps guard but his hands slip and he falls flat on his back. Well, he's made himself look a right mug there, as Lukyanov walks away with a smile on his face. Holzken gets slowly back to his feet and shakes his head.
Lukyanov shoots in for a takedown but Holzken shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Boris Lukyanov. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Holzken avoids the head kick by Lukyanov.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Lukyanov fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Holzken avoids it really well and circles away.
A looping hook to the body misses from Holzken. Lukyanov does a little dance to reset his feet.
Holzken misses with an uppercut.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Lukyanov rushes Holzken and presses him up against the cage.
Lukyanov gets underhooks to prevent Holzken's takedown attempt.
Holzken is defending well against a takedown attempt.
Lukyanov tries to pull guard but Holzken holds him up against the cage and eventually Lukyanov drops back down to his feet.
Holzken is trying to pull guard but being pressed up against the cage enables Lukyanov to keep the fight standing.
Lukyanov's corner are urging him to control the action in the clinch for a moment, rather than mount any serious offense. I'm sure the crowd appreciate those instructions... not.
Lukyanov has dropped down and is looking to force the takedown but it's defended by Holzken after a bit of a struggle.
Holzken goes for a takedown attempt but Lukyanov pushes him away and we're back to fighting at a distance.
Lukyanov shoots in but Holzken avoids the takedown attempt easily.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Holzken throws the left hand but Lukyanov avoids the punch easily.

Lukyanov closes the distance, clinches up and gets a nice trip takedown into side control. Very smooth.
Lukyanov tries to cartwheel into mount but he doesn't manage it.
Lukyanov is breathing heavily.
Holzken manages to get back to half guard.
Holzken makes his way to full guard. A much better position for Holzken.
Lukyanov is taking a break and basically stalling. The referee will not allow him to do that for long.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Lukyanov prevents Holzken from getting back to his feet.
Holzken will have to put a bit more behind his punches if he's going to do any damage from this position.
Holzken looking to control.
Lukyanov preventing the sweep.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.
Holzken avoids a kick to the body.
Lukyanov defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Holzken.
Holzken wants to clinch.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.

Lukyanov clinches.

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

Lukyanov moves into the clinch.
Holzken tries to break free but Lukyanov pushes him back against the cage.
Holzken is defending well against a takedown attempt.
Lukyanov landing knees to the head.
Holzken tries to break free but Lukyanov pushes him back against the cage.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Holzken creates a bit of distance and throws an elbow that only just misses.
Holzken is trying to pull guard but Lukyanov has him pressed against the cage.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Lukyanov.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Holzken looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
Holzken throws a low kick, looking for Lukyanov's leg but Lukyanov calmly moves out of range.

Lukyanov rushes Holzken and presses him up against the cage.

Lukyanov successfully pulls guard.
Holzken tries to stand but Lukyanov is controlling from the bottom.
Lukyanov knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Holzken on the ground.
The fighters are starting to get a bit slippery now, which will make submissions a bit more difficult.
Lukyanov trying to control the position.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Lukyanov working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Holzken doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Holzken manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.
Holzken trying to control the position from guard on top but Lukyanov is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Lukyanov trying to control the position.
Holzken wants to control from the top but Lukyanov keeps moving.
Lukyanov working a defensive guard here.
The referee is asking the fighters to pick up the pace.

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.
Holzken looks for the body kick but Lukyanov saw that one coming.

Lukyanov gets a clinch.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are getting on the fighters' backs, as the pace has dropped off in the last minute or so.
Holzken tries a knee to the head but he's missed.
Lukyanov drops down looking for an ankle pick but Holzken pulls his leg out and moves away.
Holzken shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Lukyanov but Lukyanov pushes him off and we're back to square one.
Lukyanov shoots in but no luck this time.
Holzken tries a head kick but it misses.
Holzken is looking to clinch but Lukyanov is avoiding it.
Lukyanov shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Holzken as he avoids it easily.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Boris Lukyanov. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Lukyanov keeps the fight on the outside.
Lukyanov changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Holzken tries to avoid it but Lukyanov manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Holzken to the ground. Holzken escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
The fight stays on the outside here - Holzken looks like he's thinking about clinching though.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Lukyanov fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
The fight stays on the outside here - Holzken looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Holzken swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Boris Lukyanov is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Holzken tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Lukyanov swivels and escapes.

Lukyanov gets a clinch.
With the two fighters working up against the cage, Holzken just misses with a elbow thrown towards Lukyanov's brow.
Holzken tries to pull guard but Lukyanov won't allow it.
Lukyanov stalling against the cage.
Holzken is trying to drag Lukyanov to the mat but Lukyanov just about manages to keep his footing. He used the cage to his advantage there.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Lukyanov escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Holzken doesn't manage to clinch there - Lukyanov circles away.
Holzken jabs Lukyanov right on the nose. Lukyanov blinks but takes it well.
Holzken throws a sloppy body shot

and Lukyanov counters by clinching up.
Lukyanov throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Holzken blocks it with crossed arms.
Lukyanov tries for a takedown but Holzken manages to get underhooks.
Lukyanov lands a hook to the side of the head.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Holzken is trying to force a seperation but Lukyanov has the dominant position.

Lukyanov breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Holzken looking to throw a kick but he's pulled out of it.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Boris Lukyanov dominated that second round.
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!

Holzken fails with a takedown attempt.
Lukyanov fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Holzken avoids it really well and circles away.
Holzken lets it all go there with a big combo counter but none of the punches connected.
Holzken fails in his attempt to clinch.
Holzken looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Horrible takedown attempt by Holzken or perhaps it was just good defense by Lukyanov, which made it look bad.
Boris Lukyanov has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Nick Holzken.
Lukyanov closes this distance looking for a takedown but Holzken circles away.

Lukyanov forces Holzken back against the cage and clinches.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Lukyanov can't get the takedown.
Holzken wants to get back to striking at distance but Lukyanov won't allow it.
Lukyanov is working for takedown but Holzken is calmly controlling the position for now.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Lukyanov has Holzken pressed against the cage, preventing Holzken from circling away and getting back to striking at range.
A battle for position here, against the cage.
Lukyanov is trying to drag Holzken to the mat but Holzken just about manages to keep his footing. He used the cage to his advantage there.
Lukyanov jumps guard but Holzken stands there with Lukyanov around his waist. Lukyanov gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.
Holzken tries to land knees in the clinch but Lukyanov avoids the damage to the body.
Boris Lukyanov has scored more points in the clinch so far.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are hurling abuse towards the fighters... You can hardly blame them though because there isn't a lot going on in the fight.
Holzken is trying to force a seperation but Lukyanov has the dominant position.
A battle for position here, against the cage.
Lukyanov is trying to work for a single leg takedown but Holzken pulls him back up using the underhooks.
Holzken can't break the clinch.
Holzken goes for a takedown attempt but Lukyanov pushes him away and we're back to fighting at a distance.
Horrible takedown attempt by Lukyanov or perhaps it was just good defense by Holzken, which made it look bad.
Lukyanov shoots in looking for a takedown but Holzken manages to keep the fight standing, pushing Lukyanov's face into the canvas for good measure before circling away.
Holzken shoots in looking for a takedown. Lukyanov tries to sprawl out of it but Holzken keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Lukyanov manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Lukyanov swats away the attempt to clinch by Holzken.
Holzken swings for the body but Lukyanov moves out of range.
Holzken wants to clinch but Lukyanov slips to the side
and Lukyanov counters with a lovely shot to the body.

Holzken tries to keep at a distance but Lukyanov has taken the fight into the clinch.
Holzken is working on a leg, looking for a takedown but Lukyanov is defending well.
Lukyanov is trying to pull guard but Holzken has him pressed against the cage.
Holzken tries to circle away but Lukyanov has him pinned against the cage.
Lukyanov is defending well against a takedown attempt.
Holzken is looking to break free of the clinch but Lukyanov has double underhooks.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
An uppercut to the body lands inside from Lukyanov.
Lukyanov gets underhooks to prevent Holzken's takedown attempt.
Lukyanov prevents a takedown attempt there.
The two fighters are working to gain dominance in the clinch.
Holzken tries to score a body lock takedown but Lukyanov shows good agility there to stay on his feet.
Lukyanov is pressed up against the cage. Holzken has hold of a leg and is looking to drag Lukyanov down to the mat. Lukyanov avoids the attempt though and has circled away. We're back to striking at a distance.

Holzken gets tackled into the cage by Lukyanov. Lukyanov maintains the clinch.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Lukyanov lands a nice looking hook to the body, against the cage.
Lukyanov lands with a good tight uppercut to the head.
Nick Holzken has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Boris Lukyanov is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Lukyanov has Holzken pressed against the cage.

And that's the end of the fight!
Boris Lukyanov showed his dominance in that final round.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Lukyanov, 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 Bart Greer scores the fight 30:27
Judge Dirk Anderson scores the fight 30:27
Judge Sandra Marshall scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Boris Lukyanov!