PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Andrey Nikonov (ranked 5849 p4p, 4300 weight class) and John Fuller (ranked 627 p4p, 524 weight class). There are an array of beautiful celebrities at ringside tonight! I wonder if any of them paid for their tickets.

Nikonov
vs
Fuller

181 cm
20
175
2 - 1 - 0

173 cm
18
170
1 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Basic striking
Hates pizza

Good takedowns
Brawler
Good gas tank

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 2 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Andrey Nikonov!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, John Fuller!
The judges for this bout are Damien Edna, Summer Carpenter and Darius Henderson.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Fuller throws a hard body shot but it just misses.

Nikonov has taken the fight to the clinch.
Fuller trying to stall but Nikonov improves his position.
Fuller has Nikonov pressed up against the cage and is working for takedown. Nikonov manages to improve position though and keeps the fight standing.
Nikonov tries to land a knee to the head but misses.
Fuller is trying to break the clinch but Nikonov is controlling him.
Fuller blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
Fuller is looking for a takedown.
Nikonov connects with a nasty looking knee right to Fuller's face.

It looks like John Fuller has been cut.
Nikonov misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Fuller.
Fuller tries to pull guard but Nikonov won't allow it.
Andrey Nikonov has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of John Fuller.
Fuller tries to break the clinch but Nikonov is controlling the position.
Fuller tries to circle away but Nikonov has him pinned against the cage.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Nikonov has double underhooks and is working for a body lock takedown. He's got it. The fighters land in half guard but Fuller regains guard immediately.
Nikonov trying to control the position from guard on top but Fuller is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

Nikonov avoids a guillotine attempt easily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Fuller pulls Nikonov in close to prevent any damage.
Nikonov passes Fuller's left leg - he's now in half guard.
Nikonov throws a strike but Fuller avoids it easily and moves to full guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Fuller managing to control the position.
Fuller is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.
Nikonov passes into half guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A few boos can be heard. I'm sure they will multiply if the fighters don't pick up the pace.
Fuller tries to get to full guard but Nikonov has control of the leg.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

Fuller is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Nikonov pulls his head out easily.
Fuller is not content to let Nikonov control the position.
The fighters are starting to get a bit slippery now, which will make submissions a bit more difficult.
Nikonov prevents Fuller from improving his position.
Fuller trying to control but Nikonov postures up.
Fuller tries to roll over but Nikonov keeps him under control.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Fuller keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.
The referee calls for the fighters to work.
Nikonov is trying to control. Fuller wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.
It looks like the ref is thinking about a standup.
Fuller is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.

Nikonov is trying to work for a kimura. This could be trouble! No, Fuller has managed to free his arm - good work.
Fuller wants to improve his position but Nikonov is controlling well.
Fuller has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Nikonov is working away from the top position though.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A few boos can be heard. I'm sure they will multiply if the fighters don't pick up the pace.
A clash of legs there as Nikonov blocks the low kick.
Nikonov tried to counter with a leg kick but Fuller avoided it.
Nikonov moves out of range of the body kick.
Nikonov attempts a counter takedown but Fuller avoids it well and moves away.
Nikonov avoids the body shot from Fuller.
Fuller tries a low kick but Nikonov avoids it.

Nikonov shoots in for a takedown from distance. He catches Fuller napping and manages to drive through into side control!

Nikonov is looking for a kimura. He might have it! No, Fuller has escaped the position, nice work there.
Nikonov throwing strikes but missing, from side control.
Fuller regains half guard.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Nikonov trying to control from half guard but Fuller is working away.
Nikonov is going to have to think about doing something other than just controlling because Fuller is managing to avoid having the position dictated to him.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Andrey Nikonov dominated that round.
The cut man is working on John Fuller's cut.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

Fuller throws a body shot but no joy.
We've been informed that Fuller has been working hard on his conditioning in the buildup to the fight.
Fuller misses with the body kick

and Nikonov counters with a shoot takedown. Fuller fights it but they end up in guard.

Fuller isolates an arm and boxes in a triangle. Nikonov stacks Fuller 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 wants to control but Fuller is keeping him busy.
Fuller regains half guard.
Fuller is not content to let Nikonov control the position.
Andrey Nikonov overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Nikonov passes to full mount!
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Fuller slips a leg in and gets back to half guard.
Fuller gets back to full guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Fuller is looking to sweep but instead, Nikonov has passed into half guard.
Fuller blocking the ground and pound attempt from Nikonov.
Fuller is trying to stand back up but Nikonov is controlling him
Fuller tries to roll over but Nikonov keeps him under control.

Nikonov is looking for submissions but instead, Fuller has regained full guard.
Nikonov pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Fuller is keeping the position for now.
Nikonov postures up and lands some nice ground and pound.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Fuller wants to improve his position but instead Nikonov has moved into half guard.
Fuller is pressing down on Nikonov's left leg trying to get back to full guard. He's managed it.
Nikonov postures up in Fuller's guard and throws a big left but Fuller blocks it.
Nikonov forces his way into half guard.
Nikonov is keen to just control but Fuller is a slippery customer.
Fuller tries to roll over but Nikonov keeps him under control.
Fuller moves his hips nicely and gets into full guard.
Fuller looking to hit a scissor sweep but Nikonov is one step ahead there.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Fuller wants to stand but Nikonov is controlling the position.
Nikonov throws a strike but Fuller rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.

Nikonov throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
Fuller throws a big elbow that misses.
Fuller trying to control the position from guard on top but Nikonov is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Fuller lands a couple of elbows.
Hammerfist, elbow! yells Fuller's corner. There ya go! There ya go!
Nikonov trying to strike from the bottom but really, it's not the best position to be doing that from!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Fuller trying to control but Nikonov is working from the bottom.
Nikonov looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Fuller lands a couple of digs.
Fuller distracts Nikonov with his right hand and drops a big elbow with his other arm.

Nikonov looking for a guillotine here but Fuller defends easily.
Nikonov preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.

Nikonov is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Fuller is aware though and is defending well.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Fuller landing with the ground and pound.
Fuller lands a couple of digs.

Nikonov working for a triangle but Fuller defends it easily.
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 Andrey Nikonov will probably get the nod.
The cut man is working on John Fuller's cut.
That's time! Back to the action! This is the final round!

Nikonov keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Fuller.
Nikonov darts in looking for a takedown but Fuller gets double underhooks and turns Nikonov into the cage.
Fuller feints and then cracks Nikonov's leading leg with a nice low kick. He's obviously looking to slow Nikonov down.
Nikonov misses with a hook

and Fuller counters with a shoot takedown into half guard.
Ground and pound from Fuller.
Nikonov wants to get back to full guard.

Nikonov looking for submissions from an awkward position here.

Fuller is looking for an arm triangle, whilst trying to pass to side control. Nikonov doesn't seem that keen to cooperate though. No luck this time Fuller.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Fuller working over Nikonov with some ground and pound. Nikonov looks like he wants out of this position, which is understandable.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Fuller is nestled in close to Nikonov, controlling him well. He's worked in a nice elbow to the side of the head as well, for good measure.
Fuller is working hard to pass the guard. He's done it - he's now in full mount! Trouble for Nikonov!
Fuller prevents Nikonov from getting the reversal.
A nice elbow there by Fuller.
Fuller scoring with strikes but Nikonov is staying in there.
Fuller looking to ground and pound his opponent to a finish here.
Fuller lands a heavy elbow.
Fuller working away from the top, dropping strikes.
BOOM! Fuller connects with a massive shot to the dome!
Fuller landing strikes from the mount and Nikonov is in trouble!
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Nikonov can't escape the position.
Nikonov is trying to stand up.
A nice elbow there by Fuller.
Nikonov is working to get back to half guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Fuller working away from the top, dropping strikes.
Fuller avoids the attempt from Nikonov to control.
Fuller landing shots from mount.

Nikonov is rocked!
Fuller blocks Nikonov's feeble attempts to strike from the bottom.
Fuller lands a couple of good shots and Nikonov has given up his back, trying to escape the position!
Oh Nikonov is still in real trouble! Will he be able to recover?!!
Fuller scores with some strikes to the side of the head there. Good, points scoring shots.
Oooh a big shot gets through from Fuller. Many more shots like that and the referee will have to think about stepping in!
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Fuller is loading up with his shots from the back and Nikonov is in big trouble! Nikonov taps out to strikes and the fight is over!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 2:52 of round 3, we have a winner by way of Submission (Strikes). John Fuller!
John Fuller bigged himself up after the win. The crowd seemed to love it.