PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Zver Bortsuha (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Johan Nickson (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

Bortsuha
vs
Nickson

185 cm
26
185 lbs
4 - 5 - 0

190 cm
21
190 lbs
1 - 2 - 0

Powerful takedowns
Brawler
Very quick

BJJ White Belt
Excellent MT
Granite chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 5 rounds, in the middleweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 4 - 5 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Zver Bortsuha!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Johan Nickson!
The judges for this bout are Don Winkell, Frank Antenori and Timothy Bukovac.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Nickson darts in and clinches Bortsuha up against the cage.

Nickson breaks the clinch.
Nickson keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
Bortsuha looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Nickson is fending him off so far but Bortsuha persists. Nope, Nickson circles away and we're back to standing.
Bortsuha closes this distance looking for a takedown but Nickson circles away.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Zver Bortsuha. That's going to take a lot out of him.

Bortsuha is looking for a takedown here. He's shot in and has managed to get it, finishing up in Nickson's half guard.
We may be looking at a referee standup if the pace doesn't pick up soon.
Nickson is trying to stand up here but Bortsuha is controlling him well.

Bortsuha is thinking about going for an arm triangle but he can't free his leg.

Bortsuha is sneakily working for an arm triangle but Nickson sees it coming and defends easily.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Nickson is trying to stand back up but Bortsuha is controlling him
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!

Nickson kicks off Bortsuha and gets to his feet.
Bortsuha will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
Nickson gets cracked there but stands up to it.
Nickson leaves Bortsuha with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
Bortsuha keeps the fight on the outside.

Bortsuha shoots in for a takedown and gets it.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Bortsuha seems to be working for a kimura but Nickson defends the submission attempt.

Bortsuha is looking for a kimura but he's never going to get it from there.

Bortsuha is working for a kimura but Nickson is defending it quite comfortably.
Nickson is looking to escape.
Nickson is trying to control but can't.

Bortsuha in half guard on the top. He's looking for a kimura... He's got it locked and he's managed to free his trapped foot. Nickson tries to escape but it's on too tight and he has to tap! Great BJJ skills there from Bortsuha!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 2:58 of round 1, we have a winner by way of Submission (Kimura). Zver Bortsuha!