PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Ivan Kamenev (ranked 1372 p4p, 1492 weight class) and Dick Niaz (ranked 179 p4p, 194 weight class). Dick Niaz has the power to score a knockout today if he connects clean with Ivan Kamenev's chin.

Kamenev
vs
Niaz

178 cm
25
157
10 - 4 - 1

170 cm
25
165
11 - 7 - 0

Great wrestler
Excellent boxer
Insanely flexible

Excellent grappler
Excellent MT
Good gas tank

Conquer

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 10 - 4 - 1, fighting out of Las Vegas, Ivan Kamenev!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 11 - 7 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Dick Niaz!
The judges for this bout are Donald Grub, Daniel Bishop and Paul Tew.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Kamenev dives in and scores a takedown into Niaz's guard.
Kamenev wants to pass the guard but Niaz is keeping the position.
Kamenev controlling from the top position.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Kamenev pushing down on Niaz's thigh, trying to pass to half guard. He's managed it... Nice work.
Kamenev is thwarting Niaz's attempts to control the position.

Niaz is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Kamenev pulls his head out easily.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Kamenev seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Niaz does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.
Niaz slips a foot under and gets full guard. Nice work.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kamenev looking to control the position here, rather than advance.

Niaz looking for a guillotine here but Kamenev defends easily.

Niaz looks to be working for a triangle here. Oh, it looks like he might have it! Kamenev has picked Niaz up and slammed him! Niaz can't keep hold of the triangle and Kamenev manages to pass to side control!

Kamenev tries for a kimura but Niaz is defending well.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
My god... these two guys really need to pick up the pace or everyone will leave to go get a beer.
Kamenev working away.

Kamenev swings around for an armbar but Niaz sees it coming a mile off and turns beautifully into Kamenev's guard.
Niaz trying to control but Kamenev is working from the bottom.
Niaz might have to switch it up a bit here because his efforts to control Kamenev haven't been going to plan, at least at the current moment in time.
Kamenev looking for a sweep. Not yet Kamenev, not yet.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kamenev trying to control the position.
Niaz tries to free his leg and advance position but Kamenev is retaining full guard.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Kamenev is on top in guard.

Niaz has his foot on Kamenev's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Kamenev works his way back into a safe position though.
Niaz can't keep his opponent in guard - Kamenev advances to half guard, no doubt looking to mount.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Kamenev seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Niaz does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.
Kamenev not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
Kamenev looks to score some points with some ground and pound.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Niaz is doing well to avoid being mounted. He's controlling the position at the moment.
Niaz is trying to maintain the position but Kamenev is very close to passing his half guard.
The fighters are battling for position here. Niaz manages to regain full guard. Nice work.
Kamenev trying to control the position from guard on top but Niaz is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Kamenev stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Niaz swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!

Kamenev drops back looking for a heel hook - he quickly realises he's not going to get it but Niaz manages to dive on top of him before he can escape and now Kamenev has Niaz in his guard.

And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Ivan Kamenev dominated that 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.

Kamenev dives in and scores a takedown into Niaz's guard.
Kamenev passes Niaz's left leg - he's now in half guard.

Kamenev is trying to work for a kimura. This could be trouble! No, Niaz has managed to free his arm - good work.
Niaz wants to control but Kamenev passes into side.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Kamenev laying and praying for a moment but Niaz takes advantage and regains half guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Niaz is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Kamenev pulls his head out easily.
Kamenev prevents Niaz from improving his position.
Kamenev thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.

Niaz is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Kamenev pulls his head out easily.
Niaz moves into full guard.

Niaz working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Kamenev doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Kamenev manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.

That's two 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.

Niaz looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
Kamenev postures up and lands a big shot to Niaz's brow.
Kamenev tries to free his leg and advance position but Niaz is retaining full guard.
Kamenev stands and throws Niaz's legs to the side, diving into side control.
Kamenev in side control lands a nice looking series of punches and elbows.
Niaz can't do much from the bottom here.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Niaz defending against the ground and pound.

Kamenev tries for a kimura. Not really close to a finish though.

Kamenev looking for an arm triangle but it's way too loose to do anything.
Niaz wants to control but Kamenev postures up.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Well. There's a bit of a lull in the action here and the crowd are starting to get restless.
Kamenev lands a nice forearm strike.

Kamenev goes for an armbar here - this could be all over! But no, Niaz has escaped beautifully and is now on top in side control! Oh, that's unlucky for Kamenev but great work by Niaz.
Niaz trying to control the action but Kamenev is working from the bottom.
Kamenev struggling a bit here.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Kamenev is looking to reverse the position.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Ivan Kamenev dominated that second round.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin! The crowd applaud as we get ready to start the final round!

Kamenev thows a left - swing and a miss!
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Niaz is defended easily by Kamenev.

Niaz gets taken down but at least he's managed to land in guard.
Kamenev in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Niaz being controlled here, momentarily.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Niaz is looking for a triangle but Kamenev pushes his legs off easily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kamenev is pushing down on Niaz's leg trying to pass to half guard. Niaz is fighting to maintain full guard but Kamenev has managed to sneak the leg through.
Kamenev trying to control the action but Niaz is working from the bottom.
Niaz won't allow Kamenev to pass to mount.
Kamenev thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Niaz's head.
Kamenev is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Niaz can do to turn this around?
Niaz wants to control but Kamenev passes into side.
Kamenev wants to control but Niaz is keeping him busy.
You can see the frustration on Niaz's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.
Dick Niaz has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Kamenev tries for an arm triangle. That looks pretty tight to me. Is this one over!?! Possibly, maybe, no Kamenev has let go of the choke. Obviously it wasn't as tight as we thought!

Kamenev goes for an armbar! This could be all over! Wait, no, Niaz rolls with the submission and now he's on top in Kamenev's guard! Nice work there by Niaz!
Niaz trying to control the position from guard on top but Kamenev is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Niaz preventing the sweep.
Kamenev controls Niaz momentarily but Niaz frees himself.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Kamenev looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
Ivan Kamenev is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Kamenev keeping moving, preventing Niaz from controlling successfully.
Niaz is just sitting in guard, looking to avoid any submissions.
Niaz loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
We must be close to a standup if these guys don't pick up the pace.
Niaz postures up in Kamenev's guard and throws a big left but Kamenev blocks it.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Well. There's a bit of a lull in the action here and the crowd are starting to get restless.
The fight stays on the outside here - Niaz looks like he's thinking about clinching though.

Niaz moves into the clinch.
Niaz holding his opponent close, against the cage.
Niaz looking for a takedown.
Kamenev can't find room to land a body shot as Niaz controls the action.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Niaz tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Niaz misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Kamenev.
Kamenev misses with a shot to the kidneys.

And that's the end of the fight!
Ivan Kamenev showed his dominance in that final round.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Kamenev, 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 Donald Grub scores the fight 30:27
Judge Daniel Bishop scores the fight 30:27
Judge Paul Tew scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Ivan Kamenev!
Ivan Kamenev seemed lost for words in his post fight interview but he remembered to thank his fans and directed everyone to his website.