PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Kubrat Nikolov (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and John Ruan (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). John Ruan is the more experienced fighter, so let's see if that makes a difference tonight.

Nikolov
vs
Ruan

180 cm
25
185 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

192 cm
19
193 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Good chin

BJJ Blue Belt
Good kicks
Enjoys gardening

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the middleweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of London, Kubrat Nikolov!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of London, John Ruan!
The judges for this bout are Paul Tew, James Ackerman and Steven Brown.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Nikolov has his takedown stuffed
and Ruan counters with a big head kick but Nikolov shrugs it off.
Nikolov misses with a takedown attempt - Ruan sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
Nikolov shoots in but no luck this time.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Kubrat Nikolov. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Nikolov feints a jab promting Ruan to slip. Nikolov then demonstrates his capabilities by jabbing again. Ruan slips again and ducks right into an uppercut.
Nikolov tries to clinch but fails miserably
letting Ruan counter with a right hand.
Nikolov throws a quick inside leg kick.
Nikolov swats away the attempt to clinch by Ruan.
Ruan throws a sloppy head kick and Nikolov moves out of range easily.
Ruan scores with a head kick. Nikolov tried to block it but didn't get his arm up in time.
Ruan throws a nice head kick!
Ruan fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
This has been an exciting period of action!

Nikolov shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Oh and he's advanced to full mount straight away.

That's one minute gone in the round.
The referee must be thinking about standing these guys back up.
Ruan regains half guard.
Nikolov misses with a head shot. Ruan uses the momentum to regain guard.
Nikolov wants to control from the top but Ruan keeps moving.

Ruan is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Nikolov defends well.
Ruan looking to control.
Nikolov throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Ruan works some decent striking defense from the bottom.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Nikolov stopping the sweep attempt from Ruan.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Nikolov scores with a decent looking elbow strike.
Nikolov missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Ruan trying to keep a closed guard but Nikolov is proving a slippery customer.
Nikolov works over Ruan with some ground and pound from guard.
Nikolov keeps in close for a moment and lands a decent shot to the side of Ruan's head.
Nikolov trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Nikolov throwing strikes from guard but Ruan blocks nicely.
Nikolov is looking to work some ground and pound but Ruan has wrist control.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Ruan trying to keep a closed guard but Nikolov is proving a slippery customer.
Nikolov working some strikes from top position.
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Ruan is on top in guard.
Nikolov looking to hit a scissor sweep but Ruan is one step ahead there.

Nikolov scrambles and gets back to his feet.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Nikolov shoots in and bounces Ruan off the cage to secure the takedown into guard.
Nikolov is breathing heavily.
Nikolov lands a couple of digs.
Ruan is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.
The fans in attendance giving it up for the two fighters, who have really let it all hang out in the last minute or so!

Nikolov has one foot on Ruan's thigh - he pushes off and manages to get back to his feet.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Ruan tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Nikolov shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Ruan but Ruan pushes him off and we're back to square one.
Ruan scores with a spinning back kick!
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Kubrat Nikolov dominated that round.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

Nikolov fails with a takedown attempt.
Nikolov shoots and misses
and Ruan counters with a leg kick.
Ruan tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Nikolov closes this distance looking for a takedown but Ruan circles away.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Kubrat Nikolov. That's going to take a lot out of him.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Nikolov is defended easily by Ruan.
The fight stays on the outside here - Ruan looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Nikolov takes a head kick and keeps coming.
Ruan fails in his attempt to clinch.
Nikolov doesn't succeed with the takedown
and Ruan counters with a kick to the head that grazes his opponent. Nikolov is lucky that one didn't land flush.
Ruan lands a head kick!
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Ruan lands a head kick!
A chopping leg kick lands by Ruan.
Kubrat Nikolov is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Ruan scores with a head kick. Nikolov tried to block it but didn't get his arm up in time.
Ruan goes for a high kick. It partially lands.
Nikolov closes this distance looking for a takedown but Ruan circles away.
John Ruan seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Ruan throws a nice head kick!
Nikolov shoots in and drives through. Ruan sprawls well.
Ruan scores with a head kick.
Ruan throws a right and a left that both miss.
Ruan tries to clinch but Nikolov is having none of it.
Nikolov takes a kick to the body and keeps moving.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The fight stays on the outside here - Ruan looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Ruan misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Nikolov shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Ruan but Ruan pushes him off and we're back to square one.
Ruan throws a nice looking combination but Nikolov bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Kubrat Nikolov seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

Ruan closes the distance and pushes Nikolov back into the cage.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Ruan has Nikolov pressed up against the cage and is working for takedown. Nikolov manages to improve position though and keeps the fight standing.
Nikolov is trying to break the clinch but Ruan is controlling him.
Ruan gets underhooks to prevent Nikolov's takedown attempt.
Ruan has Nikolov pressed up against the cage and is working for takedown. Nikolov manages to improve position though and keeps the fight standing.
Ruan can't break the clinch.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Ruan wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.
Nikolov is trying to pull guard but being pressed up against the cage enables Ruan to keep the fight standing.
Nikolov is looking to break free of the clinch but Ruan has double underhooks.
Nikolov prevents Ruan from breaking the clinch.
Ruan looks like he'd prefer to be striking at range right now.

Nikolov pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Ruan scores with a head kick.
Nikolov takes a head kick and shrugs it off.
Ruan scores with a head kick.
Ruan scores with a head kick. Nikolov tried to block it but didn't get his arm up in time.

Nikolov closes the distance and clinches.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Ruan has a couple of punches blocked by Nikolov.
Ruan tries to break the clinch but Nikolov is controlling the position.

Ruan manages to break the clinch.
Nikolov fails with the takedown
and Ruan counters with a kick to the head that grazes his opponent. Nikolov is lucky that one didn't land flush.
Ruan cracks the inside of Nikolov's front leg.
Nikolov shoots in but Ruan avoids the takedown attempt easily.
Ruan throws a head kick that connects with a bit of head and a bit of hand.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Ruan plants his feet and lands a nice head kick!
Ruan tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in the close the distance. Nikolov manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Nikolov takes a punch to the jaw and another one to the bread basket.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

John Ruan showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
That's time! Nikolov's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight. This is the final round!

Ruan shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Nikolov pinned against the cage. Nikolov gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
Nikolov misses with a takedown attempt
and Ruan counters with a thumping low kick.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Nikolov is defended easily by Ruan.
Nikolov shoots and misses
and Ruan counters with an outside leg kick.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Kubrat Nikolov. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Ruan throws a quick head kick that skims the top of Nikolov's head.
Nikolov stuffs the takedown.
Nikolov avoids the head kick by Ruan.
Nikolov shoots and misses
and Ruan counters with a big head kick but Nikolov shrugs it off.
Ruan feints with a shoulder and throws a nice leg kick to Nikolov's calf.
Ruan throws a right high kick that is partially blocked by Nikolov.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Ruan chopping away at his opponent's legs.
Ruan plants his feet and lands a nice head kick!
Nikolov doesn't succeed with the takedown

and Ruan counters by moving into the clinch. Good anticipation by Ruan.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Ruan wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.
Ruan tries to throw a body punch but Nikolov avoids it by throwing Ruan back against the cage.
Ruan wants to get back to striking at distance but Nikolov won't allow it.
Both fighters working to control the clinch.
Nikolov blocks a body shot from Ruan.

Nikolov breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Nikolov tries to check the leg kick but that clearly hurt him.
Ruan shoots in for a takedown but Nikolov shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
Nikolov has his front leg slapped to the side - a nice low kick landing there from Ruan.
Nikolov tries for a takedown but Ruan circles away easily
and Ruan counters with a head kick.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Ruan tries a head kick but it misses.
Ruan is looking to clinch.
Nikolov fails with a takedown attempt.
Ruan lands with a shot to the body.
Nikolov misses with a takedown attempt
and Ruan counters with a big head kick but Nikolov shrugs it off.
Ruan slaps away a takedown attempt from Nikolov, before circling back to the center of the mat.
Ruan lands with a kick to the temple. Nikolov shrugs as if to say "is that all you've got?"
Ruan cracks the inside of Nikolov's front leg.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Nikolov takes a head kick and keeps coming.

Ruan closes the distance and scores a nice trip takedown into half guard. Nikolov did well to prevent Ruan getting side control.
Nikolov is trying to stand.
Ruan wants to free his trapped foot but Nikolov is holding on for dear life with his legs.
Nikolov trying to control but Ruan postures up.
Nikolov is trying to stand up here but Ruan is controlling him well.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Nikolov is not content to let Ruan control the position.

The ref stands the fighters back up. John Ruan was stalling too much, according to the referee.
Nikolov misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
Ruan throws a nice outside leg kick.
Ruan lands a high kick!
Ruan defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Nikolov.
Ruan lands with a slapping head kick.
Ruan throws a head kick that connects with a bit of head and a bit of hand.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Ruan fakes with a right hand and throws a good leg kick, right into the thigh. That had to hurt Nikolov.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Nikolov misses with a takedown
and Ruan counters with a head kick.

And that's the end of the fight!
John Ruan comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Ruan has won this one but let's see whether the judges agree with me. 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 Paul Tew scores the fight 28:29
Judge James Ackerman scores the fight 28:29
Judge Steven Brown scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... John Ruan!