PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Hugh Saber (ranked 5907 p4p, 574 weight class) and Andrey Nikonov (ranked 7098 p4p, 637 weight class). Hugh Saber could well score a knockout today. He has the power to get to Andrey Nikonov's chin.

Saber
vs
Nikonov

183 cm
25
170 lbs
1 - 1 - 0

181 cm
20
175 lbs
1 - 1 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Solid boxing
Big right hand

BJJ Blue Belt
Basic striking
Prefers standup

MKFC

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the welterweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 1 - 1 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Hugh Saber!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Andrey Nikonov!
The judges for this bout are Chris Dean, Ben Watson and Donatello Bradman.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Nikonov dodges the punch combination from Saber.

Nikonov drives through and clinches with Saber against the cage.
Nikonov lands a body shot.
Nikonov content to slow the pace in the clinch.
Saber tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. Nikonov just stands there and leans against the cage.
Nikonov effectively controlling the action here.
Saber tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. Nikonov just stands there and leans against the cage.
Saber tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. Nikonov just stands there and leans against the cage.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Hugh Saber. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Nikonov creates a bit of space for himself and sneaks an elbow through Saber's defenses.

It looks like Hugh Saber has been cut.
Nikonov with the Thai clinch, lands a knee to the head.
We've been informed that Nikonov has been sparring a lot of Muay Thai in the buildup to this fight so let's see if that has an impact on the result.
An uppercut to the body lands inside from Nikonov.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Saber is trying to pull guard but being pressed up against the cage enables Nikonov to keep the fight standing.
Nikonov lands a good knee to the midsection. Saber won't want to take too many of those.
Saber is breathing heavily.
Nikonov comes over the top with an elbow. That landed flush.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
The pace slowing considerably in the clinch, as Nikonov takes a break from that fighting nonsense to think about the finer things in life.
Nikonov lands a knee to the body.
Nikonov lands a right uppercut that snaps the head of Saber backwards.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Nikonov is working on a single leg takedown against the cage. Saber can't fight it off and eventually Nikonov manages to take the fight to the floor. Saber looks annoyed but at least he's managed to land in guard.
Nikonov is intent on slowing down the pace of the fight, simply looking to control.
Nikonov tries to free his leg and advance position but Saber is retaining full guard.
Nikonov is frustrating his opponent with some stalling tactics from top position.

Saber looking for a guillotine here but Nikonov defends easily.
Nikonov 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.
Nikonov really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Saber. 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 two minutes gone in the round.

Saber looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.

Saber isolates an arm and boxes in a triangle. Nikonov stacks Saber on his neck as he steps over and passes to the side. He's now in a much more dominant position where he can look to do some serious damage. Nice move by Nikonov!

Nikonov decides to stand back up. Nikonov steps back and let's Saber get back to his feet.
Saber throws the left hand but Nikonov avoids the punch easily.
Nikonov ducks under a wild hook from Saber.
Nikonov is trying to avoid his opponent's strikes and get into the clinch.
Nikonov staying out of range there.
Saber throws a looping overhand right but Nikonov ducks down to avoid it.
Nikonov appears to be waiting to throw a counter punch to the body.
Saber throws a body shot but no joy.
Nikonov steps in looking to clinch after the strikes miss from Saber.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Nikonov walks straight into a jab right on the nose. That one stung - he's blinking and trying to clear his head.

Nikonov closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.
Saber is trying to pull guard but Nikonov turns him against the cage and we stay in the clinch.
Kneeeeees! The crowd are calling for knees to the body. Nikonov obliges.
Nikonov gets an overhook and lands an elbow to the side of the head.

Hugh Saber's cut is getting worse.
A bit of stalling here from Nikonov.
Nikonov comes over the top with an elbow. That landed flush.
Good body shot from Nikonov.
An uppercut to the body lands inside from Nikonov.
Nikonov avoiding damage.
Some stalling of biblical proportions here from Nikonov.
The crowd are getting on Nikonov's back here. They're not happy about his lack of aggression in the clinch.
Nikonov putting his Muay Thai to good use. He has Saber in a tight clinch and is doing some damage with knees to the body.
Nikonov lands a nice elbow.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Nikonov stalling.
Some stalling of biblical proportions here from Nikonov.
Nikonov presses Saber against the cage and delivers a mid-strength body shot.
Nikonov is stalling here.
Nikonov is trying to wear down his opponent with knees to the body.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A bit of stalling here from Nikonov.
The ref breaks the fighters up, due to lack of action by Andrey Nikonov.

Nikonov gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.
Nikonov lands a nice elbow from the clinch.

Hugh Saber's cut is bleeding quite badly. He's got to try and protect it.
Nikonov creates a bit of space for himself and sneaks an elbow through Saber's defenses.

Jeez, Hugh Saber's cut is really nasty now. The referee must be thinking about getting that checked.
Nikonov lands a nice elbow from the clinch.
Nikonov lands a nice elbow.

The referee calls the doctor in to look at Hugh Saber's cut. Oh no, the doctor has called an end to the bout!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 4:34 of round 1, we have a winner by way of TKO (Cut). Andrey Nikonov!