PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Cassius James (ranked 3096 p4p, 0 weight class) and Adam Nikolayevich (ranked 4980 p4p, 0 weight class). Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

James
vs
Nikolayevich

190 cm
25
220 lbs
2 - 1 - 0

201 cm
25
256 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Solid boxing
Self confident

BJJ Blue Belt
Solid Muay Thai
Solid chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 2 - 1 - 0, fighting out of The Island, Cassius James!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of The Island, Adam Nikolayevich!
The judges for this bout are Dirk Anderson, Daniel Franklin and Winston Alpacca.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Nikolayevich shoots in for a double leg but James sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
Nikolayevich moves out of range of the leg kick from James.
James tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
James tries to clinch up.
James fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
James fails to land the takedown.
Nikolayevich slaps away a takedown attempt from James, before circling back to the center of the mat.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Cassius James. That's going to take a lot out of him.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

James looking for a takedown here - he's got it.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Nikolayevich pulls James in close to his closed guard and prevents James from doing any damage or advancing position.

That's one minute gone in the round.

James avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
James slows down the pace of the fight for a moment. He'll need to remain active if he doesn't want to see the fight stood back up.
Nikolayevich looking to control the pace of the fight rather than finish it.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Nikolayevich looking to sweep here. No luck so far.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are hurling abuse towards the fighters... You can hardly blame them though because there isn't a lot going on in the fight.

Nikolayevich throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
Nikolayevich not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
James wants to control from the top but Nikolayevich keeps moving.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up. He just wasn't happy with the level of activity.
James looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Nikolayevich is fending him off so far but James persists. Nope, Nikolayevich circles away and we're back to standing.
James shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Nikolayevich sprawls well. Nikolayevich wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. James gets slowly back to his feet.
James has a takedown stuffed.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Nikolayevich fails with a takedown attempt.
James plants his feet and lands a nice head kick!

It looks like Adam Nikolayevich has been cut.

Nikolayevich clinches up against the cage.
Nikolayevich looking for a takedown.
James wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.
James is defending well against a takedown attempt.
Nikolayevich drops to a knee looking for a takedown but James gets the underhooks and prevents it.
Nikolayevich goes for a takedown in the clinch but James prevents it.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Nikolayevich tries to pull guard but James won't allow it.
Nikolayevich has a body lock and is looking for a takedown. James is bouncing around trying to prevent the takedown and somehow he has indeed managed to stay on his feet.
Nikolayevich looks winded!
Stalling in the clinch from Nikolayevich.
James wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.
James tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.
Nikolayevich can't get the takedown.
Nikolayevich is pressed up against the cage. James has hold of a leg and is looking to drag Nikolayevich down to the mat. Nikolayevich avoids the attempt though and has circled away. We're back to striking at a distance.
Nice sprawl there from James as Nikolayevich shoots in.
James jabs Nikolayevich to the body, keeping him at a distance.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!

James rushes Nikolayevich and presses him up against the cage.

James gets control of Nikolayevich's arms and successfully pulls guard. James will no doubt be looking for submissions off his back.
James is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Cassius James dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Adam Nikolayevich's cut.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business.

James throws a wild combination but nothing lands.

Nikolayevich closes the distance and pushes James back into the cage.
James is trying to pull guard but Nikolayevich turns him against the cage and we stay in the clinch.
Nikolayevich changes levels and goes for a takedown here. James fights it off and pushes away nicely.
James shoots in but no luck this time.
Cassius James is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Horrible takedown attempt by James or perhaps it was just good defense by Nikolayevich, which made it look bad.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Cassius James. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Nikolayevich tries for a takedown but James circles away easily
and Nikolayevich takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
James shoots in looking for a takedown. Nikolayevich tries to sprawl out of it but James keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Nikolayevich manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
James is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Nikolayevich can do to turn this around?

That's one minute gone in the round.
James slaps away a takedown attempt from Nikolayevich, before circling back to the center of the mat.
Nikolayevich looks for a takedown but James sprawls well.
Nikolayevich is breathing heavily.
James looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
Cassius James is winning the standup battle so far.
James shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
James scores with a slapping inside leg kick.
James tries to close the distance and clinch up but Nikolayevich swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Nikolayevich wants to counter the offense by James and move into the clinch position.
James misses with a two punch combination.
James looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Nikolayevich fails to land the takedown.
Nikolayevich misses with a series of wild punches.
James lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Nikolayevich circles away quickly and effectively.
Nikolayevich throws a counter combo.
James tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. Nikolayevich manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Nikolayevich doesn't succeed with the takedown
letting James counter with a right hand.
James is looking to clinch.
James tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
James shoots for a takedown but Nikolayevich saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
Nikolayevich fails with a takedown attempt.
No luck for James with that takedown attempt.
Nikolayevich steps in looking to clinch after the strikes miss from James.
Nikolayevich avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Nikolayevich throws a low kick but his opponent is out of range.
Nikolayevich shoots in looking for a takedown. James tries to sprawl out of it but Nikolayevich keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. James manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
James misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Nikolayevich tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.

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

Nikolayevich pulls guard.
Nikolayevich is trying to control the position but James postures up.
James won't allow Nikolayevich to sweep him here.
James pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Nikolayevich is keeping the position for now.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
James is working hard here to advance position.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close second round but I would say that Cassius James will probably get the nod.
The cut man is working on Adam Nikolayevich's cut.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action! The crowd applaud as we get ready to start the final round!

Nikolayevich swats away the attempt to clinch by James.
Nikolayevich is loading up here, looking for a big counter of his own.
Nikolayevich avoids the head kick by James.
Nikolayevich changes levels for a counter takedown but doesn't follow through with his attempt.
A slapping leg kick lands for Nikolayevich.
James will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.

Nikolayevich gets in close and instigates a clinch.
Nikolayevich stops a takedown attempt from James.
Nikolayevich stalling.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Nikolayevich scores with a shot to the side of James's head.
James is looking to take this one to the mat.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Cassius James. That's going to take a lot out of him.

James gets control of Nikolayevich's arms and successfully pulls guard. James will no doubt be looking for submissions off his back.
James working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Nikolayevich.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
James looking to control.

James is working an open guard so Nikolayevich takes the opportunity to get back to his feet.
James is looking to clinch.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Nikolayevich.
James tries to counter by clinching up but Nikolayevich breaks away and moves out of range.
James gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily
and Nikolayevich counters with a straight right hand.
A punch combination from James misses.

Nikolayevich scores with a takedown into James's guard.
Nikolayevich sitting in guard, not really doing much.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
James has a butterfly guard looking to sweep but Nikolayevich has passed into side control.
Nikolayevich sitting in side control, looking to soften his opponent up with elbows and hammerfists but James is avoiding damage well and looking to escape the position.

Nikolayevich is trying to land an Americana. He has the arm isolated but James is keeping cool and he's avoided the danger for now.
James can't do much from the bottom here.
James is trying to escape the position but Nikolayevich is controlling the position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
James wants to get back to his feet but Nikolayevich drags him back down.
Adam Nikolayevich has got the better of the ground game so far.
A control attempt from James but he's now mounted!
James might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.
Nikolayevich sends his fist crashing into the mat - the crowd let out a collective ooooooh. Let's hope he's not broken it!
Nikolayevich tucks in and makes sure he doesn't lose the dominant position.
James tries to reverse the position but Nikolayevich maintains control.
Nikolayevich throws an elbow from mount that misses. Lucky escape for James because Nikolayevich loaded up on that one.
James tries to get back to half guard but can't.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Nikolayevich throws some wild stikes that James manages to avoid easily.
Nikolayevich looking to finish with strikes here!
Nikolayevich punching from mount but James doing a good job of avoiding damage.
Nikolayevich throws some wild stikes that James manages to avoid easily.
James holding onto his opponent's waist for dear life, as Nikolayevich tries to land some strikes to get him to release his grip.
Nikolayevich avoids the attempt from James to control.
Nikolayevich has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Nikolayevich controlling the pace for now.
Adam Nikolayevich has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Cassius James is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.

Nikolayevich looking to secure an arm triangle but James defends it well.

And that's the end of the fight!
Adam Nikolayevich comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think James has won this one but let's see what the judges have to say. 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 Dirk Anderson scores the fight 29:28
Judge Daniel Franklin scores the fight 29:28
Judge Winston Alpacca scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Cassius James!