PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Lev Nikifor (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Roger de la Fuente (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Both these guys have solid standup skills and neither is particularly fantastic on the ground, so let's hope for a nice standup war!

Nikifor
vs
de la Fuente

189 cm
19
178 lbs
3 - 2 - 0

178 cm
23
169 lbs
4 - 1 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Excellent boxer
Very strong

BJJ Blue Belt
Good kicks
Knockout power

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 3 - 2 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Lev Nikifor!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 4 - 1 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Roger de la Fuente!
The judges for this bout are Aleksei Zolotukhin, Aleksandr Martynov and Igor Prikhodko.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
de la Fuente showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Nikifor.
de la Fuente uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Nikifor.
Nikifor thows a left - swing and a miss!
Nikifor misses with a straight left.
Nikifor lands a lovely overhand right.
de la Fuente steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Nikifor.

de la Fuente pushes Nikifor up against the cage in a clinch.

That's one minute gone in the round.
de la Fuente keeps control of Nikifor as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.
de la Fuente connects with a knee to the head.
de la Fuente keeps the fight in the clinch, despite Nikifor's efforts to push away.
de la Fuente keeps the fight in the clinch, despite Nikifor's efforts to push away.
de la Fuente misses with a punch to the body.
Nikifor wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but de la Fuente has him pressed against the cage.
Nikifor takes a knee right on the jaw!
de la Fuente tries to throw a body punch but Nikifor avoids it by throwing de la Fuente back against the cage.
de la Fuente tries to land a knee to the head but misses.
de la Fuente working on landing some head shots here - that one got through nicely.
de la Fuente with a knee to the head.
de la Fuente lands a knee to the body.
de la Fuente taking a break, stalling in the clinch.
de la Fuente tries a knee to the head but he's missed.
Nikifor is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.
de la Fuente looking to throw knees to the head but Nikifor is blocking nicely.
de la Fuente lands a nice elbow from the clinch.
de la Fuente with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.
de la Fuente gets an overhook and lands an elbow to the side of the head.
Nikifor wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.
de la Fuente lands a knee to the head.

It looks like Lev Nikifor has been cut.
de la Fuente with an attempt at a knee that misses.
Nikifor is trying to force a seperation but de la Fuente has the dominant position.
de la Fuente misses with a knee strike.
de la Fuente misses with a knee to the head.
de la Fuente looks gassed!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Nikifor working hard to break the clinch.
Nikifor is trying to force a seperation but de la Fuente has the dominant position.
de la Fuente landing knees to the body.
de la Fuente lands a glancing elbow in the clinch.
de la Fuente tries to land a knee to the head but Nikifor blocks with his arms.
de la Fuente with an attempt at a knee that misses.
de la Fuente throws a knee to the head but misses.
Nikifor avoiding damage as de la Fuente throws knees to the body.
de la Fuente tries to land a knee to the head but misses.
de la Fuente tries a knee to the head but Nikifor blocks it.
Nikifor tries to break the clinch but de la Fuente is controlling the position.
de la Fuente tries a knee to the head but Nikifor blocks it.
A frustrated look appears on Nikifor's face as he tries to break the clinch.
Nikifor is trying to break free.
Both guys are working to get underhooks.
Nikifor tries to circle away but de la Fuente has him pinned against the cage.
de la Fuente misses with the head strike.
Nikifor tries to break free but de la Fuente pushes him back against the cage.
Nikifor wants to break free but de la Fuente has control.
de la Fuente landing knees to the head.
Nikifor looks like he'd prefer to be striking at range right now.
Nikifor is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.
de la Fuente tries to land a knee to the head but Nikifor blocks with his arms.
Nikifor is trying to break the clinch but de la Fuente is controlling him.
de la Fuente with a knee to the head.
Nikifor is trying to break free.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
de la Fuente prevents Nikifor from breaking the clinch.
de la Fuente throws a punch but it's blocked by Nikifor.
Nikifor wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.
de la Fuente creates a bit of space for himself and sneaks an elbow through Nikifor's defenses.
de la Fuente tries to land a knee to the head but Nikifor blocks with his arms.
Nikifor wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.
Nikifor wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.
de la Fuente is trying to slow down the pace of the fight but Nikifor is keeping busy.
Nikifor can't break the clinch.
Nikifor has had enough of the clinch but de la Fuente keeps him there for the moment.
de la Fuente keeps the fight in the clinch, despite Nikifor's efforts to push away.
de la Fuente misses with a hook from the clinch.
Nice elbow from de la Fuente.
Nikifor is trying to break the clinch but de la Fuente has him pressed against the cage.
Nikifor is trying to break the clinch but de la Fuente is controlling him.
Nikifor doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Knees in the clinch landing for de la Fuente.
de la Fuente misses with a knee strike.
de la Fuente with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.
de la Fuente keeps the fight in the clinch, despite Nikifor's efforts to push away.
Nikifor tries to break free but de la Fuente pushes him back against the cage.
de la Fuente misses with an elbow over the top.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are getting on the fighters' backs, as the pace has dropped off in the last minute or so.
de la Fuente blocks an uppercut.
Nikifor wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.
de la Fuente keeps the fight in the clinch, despite Nikifor's efforts to push away.
Nikifor wants to break free but de la Fuente has control.
de la Fuente connects with a knee to the head.
de la Fuente gets an overhook and lands an elbow to the side of the head.
de la Fuente with the Thai clinch, lands a knee to the head.
Nikifor tries to break free but de la Fuente pushes him back against the cage.
With the two fighters working up against the cage, de la Fuente just misses with a elbow thrown towards Nikifor's brow.
Nikifor is trying to force a seperation but de la Fuente has the dominant position.
Nikifor takes an elbow to the forehead.
Nikifor is looking to break free of the clinch but de la Fuente has double underhooks.
de la Fuente keeps the fight in the clinch, despite Nikifor's efforts to push away.
de la Fuente throws an elbow that misses.
de la Fuente tries to land a knee to the head but Nikifor blocks with his arms.
Nikifor wants to break the clinch but can't.
Nikifor wants to get back to striking at distance but de la Fuente won't allow it.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Nikifor is trying to break the clinch but de la Fuente has him pressed against the cage.
Nikifor wants to break the clinch but can't.
de la Fuente tries a knee to the head but Nikifor blocks it.
de la Fuente keeps control of Nikifor as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.
Nikifor misses with a hook from the clinch.
Nikifor is trying to break the clinch but de la Fuente has him pressed against the cage.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Roger de la Fuente dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Lev Nikifor's cut.
That's time! Back to the action!

de la Fuente is trying hard to land a takedown here. Nikifor sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.
de la Fuente looks for a takedown but Nikifor sprawls well.
Nikifor looks to score with a jab to the body but de la Fuente is just out of range.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Nikifor looks to throw the jab but de la Fuente is out of range.
Nikifor misses with a series of wild punches.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Nikifor swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Nikifor loads up on a big right hand but de la Fuente slips the punch.

de la Fuente fakes an overhand right and shoots for a takedown. Nikifor sprawls well initially but de la Fuente persists and gets the takedown into half guard.

de la Fuente is looking for a kimura but Nikifor is holding onto that half guard position, so it's hard for de la Fuente to get the leverage.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are getting on the fighters' backs, as the pace has dropped off in the last minute or so.
de la Fuente controlling the action here.

de la Fuente stands up from half guard... He's had enough of that ground malarky for the time being.
Nikifor misses with a looping left.

de la Fuente pushes Nikifor up against the cage in a clinch.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Knees in the clinch landing for de la Fuente.
de la Fuente misses with a knee strike.
Nikifor wants to break the clinch but can't.
Nikifor takes an elbow to the temple.
de la Fuente unloads a knee to the mid-section. Nikifor lets out a prehistoric sounding urrrrgh.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
de la Fuente connects with a nasty looking knee right to Nikifor's face.
de la Fuente gets an overhook and lands an elbow to the side of the head.
Nikifor is trying to force a seperation but de la Fuente has the dominant position.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Nikifor.
Nikifor is trying to break the clinch but de la Fuente is controlling him.
de la Fuente with the Thai clinch, lands a knee to the head.
de la Fuente lands a glancing elbow in the clinch.
de la Fuente lands a nice knee to the body.
de la Fuente creates a bit of space for himself and sneaks an elbow through Nikifor's defenses.
de la Fuente scores with a knee to the head.
Nikifor is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.
de la Fuente lands a knee to the head.
Nikifor takes an elbow to the temple.
de la Fuente is trying to wear down his opponent with knees to the body.
de la Fuente is stalling here.
de la Fuente keeps control of Nikifor as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
de la Fuente lands an elbow inside.
de la Fuente scores with a knee to the head.
de la Fuente looking to throw knees to the head but Nikifor is blocking nicely.
de la Fuente tries a body shot but Nikifor blocks it.
de la Fuente has Nikifor pressed against the cage, preventing Nikifor from circling away and getting back to striking at range.
Nikifor is looking to break free of the clinch but de la Fuente has double underhooks.
de la Fuente blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Knees to the body from de la Fuente.
de la Fuente lands a knee to the body.
Nikifor is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.
de la Fuente throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Nikifor blocks it with crossed arms.
de la Fuente tries a knee to the head but he's missed.
de la Fuente trying to control the position but instead, Nikifor has worked for underhooks and has pushed de la Fuente into the cage.
Nikifor is trying to break the clinch but de la Fuente has him pressed against the cage.
de la Fuente using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Nikifor has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
Nikifor can't break the clinch.
de la Fuente landing knees to the head.
de la Fuente lands a damaging elbow.
de la Fuente keeps the fight in the clinch, despite Nikifor's efforts to push away.
de la Fuente scores with a knee to the head.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Roger de la Fuente showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The cut man is working on Lev Nikifor'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. This is the final round!

Nikifor throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
de la Fuente moves out of range of the strikes.
de la Fuente uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Nikifor.
Nikifor connects with a body shot.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
de la Fuente shoots in for a takedown but Nikifor shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
de la Fuente takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Nikifor throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
A decent looking cross lands there for Nikifor.
Nikifor throws a combination but it was largely blocked by de la Fuente.
de la Fuente keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Nikifor.
Nikifor thows a body shot but no joy.
Both fighters are looking to counter, which isn't making for the most exciting fight in the world.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.

de la Fuente closes the distance and gets a double leg, slamming Nikifor to the mat! Nikifor manages to get full guard.
de la Fuente trying to control but Nikifor is working from the bottom.

de la Fuente drops back looking for a heel hook - he quickly realises he's not going to get it but Nikifor manages to dive on top of him before he can escape and now de la Fuente has Nikifor in his guard.

de la Fuente has his foot on Nikifor's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Nikifor works his way back into a safe position though.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

de la Fuente is active off his back here, looking for submissions.

de la Fuente has an omoplata and is looking to use it perhaps as a submission or perhaps to transition. Nikifor is in a bit of discomfort here, but he's managed to free himself and has dived into side control! That didn't work out too well for de la Fuente.
You can see the frustration on de la Fuente's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.
de la Fuente is looking for a sweep.
Nikifor will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.
You can see the frustration on de la Fuente's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Nikifor gets to mount! de la Fuente was on the offensive and wasn't defending properly.
Roger de la Fuente is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
de la Fuente is looking to get to half guard.
Lev Nikifor has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Nikifor misses with a head shot.

And that's the end of the fight!
Lev Nikifor showed his dominance in that final round.
I think de la Fuente 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 Aleksei Zolotukhin scores the fight 28:29
Judge Aleksandr Martynov scores the fight 28:29
Judge Igor Prikhodko scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Roger de la Fuente!