PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Dill Nickle (ranked 800 p4p, 1162 weight class) and Aleksandar Ivkov (ranked 72 p4p, 111 weight class). Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Nickle
vs
Ivkov

176 cm
28
148
14 - 10 - 0

177 cm
31
149
11 - 11 - 0

Great wrestler
Excellent boxer
Granite chin

Good wrestler
Lethal high kicks
Good gas tank

Furnace Performance 🔥
Silverguard Outfitters 🛡

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the featherweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 14 - 10 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Dill Nickle!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 11 - 11 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Aleksandar Ivkov!
The judges for this bout are Eliza Hachem, Skip Squint and Ben Hemmingworth.

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

and Nickle counters with a single leg into guard. Ivkov didn't expect that.
Nickle showing good wrestling skills to control the position.
Nickle stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Ivkov swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Nickle in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
We get told so often about how wrestlers don't like to be on their backs. Let's see if Ivkov can do anything to dispel that myth.
Nickle postures up and lands a big shot to Ivkov's brow.
Nickle working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Nickle is working the ground and pound from guard. He might want to try advancing position though to get more of an impact.
Ivkov is trying to control the position from the bottom.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Nickle trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Ivkov looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Ivkov trying to control the position.
Ivkov preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Ivkov really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Nickle. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Ivkov wants to sweep here but Nickle controlling him for the moment.
Nickle loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Nickle controls from within his opponent's guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Nickle throws a big right hand that misses.
Nickle chips away with some ground and pound.
Nickle slips effortlessly into side control - very nice.
Ivkov is trying to control Nickle's posture but Nickle avoids it.
Nickle creates a bit of distance and throws down some hard shots.
Nickle lands an elbow.

Nickle is looking for a kimura. He might have it! No, Ivkov has escaped the position, nice work there.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Nickle scores with a couple of short elbows.
Nickle prevents Ivkov from escaping the position.
Ivkov is trying to control Nickle's posture but Nickle avoids it.
Nickle tries to land with some ground and pound but misses.

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

Nickle tries for an arm triangle. That looks pretty tight to me. Is this one over!?! Possibly, maybe, no Nickle has let go of the choke. Obviously it wasn't as tight as we thought!
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!

Nickle goes for an armbar here - this could be all over! But no, Ivkov has escaped beautifully and is now on top in side control! Oh, that's unlucky for Nickle but great work by Ivkov.
Ivkov wants to control but Nickle is keeping him busy.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Nickle tries to get back to half guard but can't.
Ivkov is looking to take a break and control but Nickle is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Nickle manages to land a sweep and he's now on top! Lovely Jiu Jitsu!
Ivkov looks like he's trying to stand up.
Ivkov is staying active underneath Nickle, who seems content to just control the action from this position.
Ivkov keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.
Ivkov keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.

Nickle seems to be looking for submissions.
Nickle throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Nickle not doing much here.

Nickle is working for a kimura but Ivkov is defending it quite comfortably.
Ivkov keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Nickle is keen to just control but Ivkov is a slippery customer.
Ivkov is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
The referee calls for the fighters to work.
Nickle prevents Ivkov from improving his position.

Nickle looking for a kimura but he'll have to free his other leg if he wants to finish that. Perhaps he's just using it as a distraction technique.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Dill Nickle dominated that round.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

A head kick misses from Ivkov.
Nickle changes levels looking for a counter takedown but doesn't commit.
Ivkov throws a head kick that misses
and Nickle counters with a right hand to the body.
Nickle shoots for a takedown but Ivkov saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
Nickle ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
The fight stays on the outside here - Nickle looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Ivkov swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
Nickle appears to be looking for a counter takedown.
Ivkov scores with a kick to the midsection.
Ivkov lands with a thumping leg kick.
Nickle blocks the body kick.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Ivkov throws a series of strikes that have Nickle backpedaling.

It looks like Dill Nickle has been cut.
Nickle has a takedown stuffed.
Ivkov throws a nice looking combination but Nickle bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Nickle scores with a jab to the head.
Ivkov looks more muscular than last time we saw him. He must have been on the weights.
Aleksandar Ivkov is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Ivkov throws a sloppy head kick

and Nickle counters with a takedown into side control! That could mean trouble for Ivkov!
Sloppy strikes there by Nickle.

Nickle is working for what looks like an arm triangle here. Ivkov is trying to escape and Nickle transitions quickly into an armbar! He's slapped it on tight and Ivkov is forced to tap! Nice work there by Nickle! Very nice indeed!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 1:34 of round 2, we have a winner by way of Submission (Armbar). Dill Nickle!
A very excited looking Dill Nickle made sure he remembered to thank all the fans both in the arena and on the internet. He said all the coolest people spend all day on MMA websites, which got a big reaction.