PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between August Maxwell (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Nikolaj Kapustov (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Nikolaj Kapustov has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Maxwell
vs
Kapustov

202 cm
24
194 lbs
1 - 3 - 0

185 cm
25
185 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Cuts easily

BJJ Blue Belt
Solid Muay Thai
Very confident

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 1 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, August Maxwell!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Nikolaj Kapustov!
The judges for this bout are Tatsuya Matsuyama, Taro Takaoka and Yukihiro Shimada.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Kapustov forces Maxwell back against the cage and clinches.

Kapustov escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.

Kapustov gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.

Kapustov breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Kapustov pulls out of a head kick attempt.

Maxwell rushes Kapustov and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.

Kapustov jumps guard.
Maxwell showing good wrestling skills to control the position.
Kapustov tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Maxwell is fighting to break Kapustov's control of his arms but Kapustov is doing a good job of controlling the position at the moment.

Kapustov looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
Maxwell is taking a break and basically stalling. The referee will not allow him to do that for long.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kapustov looking to sweep here. No luck so far.

Kapustov has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Maxwell can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.

Kapustov is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
Maxwell wants to stand but Kapustov has a closed guard, so he can't escape.
Maxwell content to stall in guard here.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Maxwell has decided he wants to stand but the closed guard of Kapustov is proving hard to escape from.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Maxwell trying desperately to get back to his feet here but he's not having any joy at all. He's going to tire himself out if he's not careful.
Maxwell seems content to control from guard here. He's going to have to remain active though if he doesn't want to get stood back up.

The ref stands the fighters back up. August Maxwell wasn't doing enough on the ground.

Kapustov closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Kapustov pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.

Kapustov darts in and clinches Maxwell up against the cage.

Kapustov has Maxwell pressed up against the cage. He's trying to work for a single leg takedown. Kapustov pulls back from the cage and twists to the side, sending Maxwell tumbling to the mat - Kapustov dives into Maxwell's guard.

Kapustov stands up from Maxwell's guard - Kapustov perhaps looking for a knockout.
Maxwell tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. Kapustov manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Kapustov lands with a slapping head kick.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Kapustov closes the distance and clinches.
Kapustov taking a breather.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Maxwell taking a breather.
Maxwell misses with some punches.
Maxwell pressing his opponent against the cage.
Maxwell has hold of a leg and is looking for a trip takedown. Kapustov avoids it nicely though and we remain in the clinch.
Maxwell trying to stall but Kapustov improves his position.

Kapustov escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.

Maxwell gets taken down but at least he's managed to land in guard.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Kapustov with a couple of shots to the head there. Not particularly brutal.
Maxwell is looking to stand up but Kapustov isn't so interested in that idea.
Kapustov wants to control from the top but Maxwell keeps moving.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Nikolaj Kapustov dominated that round.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

Maxwell closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.

Kapustov gets a trip takedown into half guard.
Maxwell pushes Kapustov off looking to stand but Kapustov dives back in and keeps control.
Maxwell has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Kapustov is working away from the top position though.
Maxwell really does look like a pencil wearing a pair of gloves. Let's hope he has a gameplan to suit that ridiculous body shape.
Maxwell wants to get back to his feet.
Maxwell makes his way to full guard. A much better position for Maxwell.
Kapustov is pushing down on Maxwell's leg trying to pass to half guard. Maxwell is fighting to maintain full guard but Kapustov has managed to sneak the leg through.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kapustov prevents Maxwell from improving his position.
Maxwell looks like he's trying to stand up.

Kapustov escapes and gets back to his feet.

Maxwell tries to sprawl but Kapustov drives through with a takedown into half guard.
Maxwell keeping control of the position.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Kapustov tries to pass to full mount but Maxwell defends it.
The fighters are battling for position here. Maxwell manages to regain full guard. Nice work.
Kapustov wants to pass the guard but Maxwell is keeping the position.
Kapustov stands and throws Maxwell's legs to the side, diving into side control.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Maxwell is working hard to escape and get back to his feet. After a battle for position, Kapustov asserts his dominance and retains side control.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.

Kapustov goes for an armbar! This could be all over! Wait, no, Maxwell rolls with the submission and now he's on top in Kapustov's guard! Nice work there by Maxwell!
Kapustov is trying to keep Maxwell in close.
Maxwell will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.
Kapustov is breathing heavily.
Maxwell throwing strikes from guard but Kapustov blocks nicely.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Maxwell distracts Kapustov with his right hand and drops a big elbow with his other arm.
Kapustov is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Maxwell loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Maxwell sitting in guard, not really doing much.
Maxwell trying to control the position from guard on top but Kapustov is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Hammerfist, elbow! yells Maxwell's corner. There ya go! There ya go!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Maxwell has decided he wants to stand but the closed guard of Kapustov is proving hard to escape from.
Maxwell is just sitting in guard, looking to avoid any submissions.
The referee is pacing around the two fighters - he looks like he's thinking about a standup.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.

Kapustov looking for a takedown here - he's got it.
Kapustov is fighting to break Maxwell's control of his arms but Maxwell is doing a good job of controlling the position at the moment.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.

Kapustov stands up and waves to Maxwell to follow him.
This has been an exciting period of action!

Kapustov shoots in and gets a takedown into half guard. Kapustov showed some decent athleticism there.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Nikolaj Kapustov will probably get the nod - 10:9.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action. And we move into the final round!

Kapustov looks for a takedown. He's got it. We're now in half guard.
Maxwell is working for an escape here. He's hooked one of Kapustov's legs and he's managed to sneak out and take Kapustov's back!
Nikolaj Kapustov has got the better of the ground game so far.
Maxwell loading up with punches from the back mount - how long can Kapustov hold on?
Kapustov can't escape the position.
A bit of a pause in the action here. Maxwell controlling the positon.
Kapustov is defending well here and trying to improve his position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
So, who will make the next big move? In this position it could be crucial.
Kapustov tries to break free.
Maxwell is working the ground and pound. Can Kapustov escape?
Maxwell controlling from the back.
Kapustov is really stuck here.
You know, I was talking to some of our celebrities at ringside tonight and they were split right down the middle on who was going to win this fight.
Kapustov is taking damage to the body and head.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Kapustov grimaces as he takes a shot to the body.
Kapustov is trying to stand back up.
Kapustov takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Maxwell landing with strikes.
Maxwell lands with a nice looking elbow that stuns Kapustov.
Maxwell has his opponent trapped and is landing shots. Not a good position for Kapustov.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Kapustov trying to control the position but Maxwell manages to sink in the hooks.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Maxwell controls the action.
Maxwell is working the ground and pound. Can Kapustov escape?
Maxwell is looking to finish with some ground and pound!
Kapustov is very frustrated here, being controlled quite effectively by Maxwell.
Maxwell doesn't have the hooks in and Kapustov manages to turn into his guard.
Maxwell is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.
Maxwell looking to control the pace of the fight rather than finish it.
Kapustov wants to control from the top but Maxwell keeps moving.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Maxwell is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.
Kapustov is trying to control but can't.
Maxwell seems content to maintain position for now, rather than mounting any offense.
Maxwell wants to get back to his feet.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Kapustov blocking the ground and pound attempt from Maxwell.

And that's the end of the fight!
August Maxwell showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Kapustov 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 Tatsuya Matsuyama scores the fight 28:29
Judge Taro Takaoka scores the fight 28:29
Judge Yukihiro Shimada scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Nikolaj Kapustov!