PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Nikolai Varlam (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Scott Coleman (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Varlam
vs
Coleman

190 cm
20
265 lbs
0 - 2 - 0

194 cm
20
246 lbs
1 - 4 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Good in bed

BJJ Blue Belt
Basic striking
Determined

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 0 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Nikolai Varlam!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 4 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Scott Coleman!
The judges for this bout are Alan Glass, Tiny Johnson and Wesley Smith.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Coleman shoots in from a long way out. He's driving through with the takedown attempt and he eventually gets it, landing in Varlam's guard.
Coleman tries to stand but Varlam is controlling from the bottom.
Varlam is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Varlam wants to control but Coleman passes easily into half guard.

Varlam manages to escape and get back to his feet!
Coleman swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Varlam tries to clinch but Coleman moves out of range.
Coleman throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Varlam.
Varlam shoots in for a double leg but Coleman sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Varlam.
Scott Coleman seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

Coleman fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Varlam, pushing him back against the cage.

Coleman manages to break the clinch.

Varlam decides to change it up a bit and drives through with a nice takedown into half guard.
Varlam wants to take a breather but Coleman is having none of it.
Coleman wants to get back to his feet.
Varlam missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Coleman is trying to stand back up but Varlam is controlling him
Varlam not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.

Coleman pushes Varlam off and gets back to his feet.

Varlam closes the distance and pushes Coleman back into the cage.
Coleman tries for a takedown. No joy.

Coleman manages to break the clinch.
Coleman walks straight into an uppercut. Luckily it didn't land flush.
Varlam stuffs the takedown.
Varlam shoots in and drives through. Coleman sprawls well.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Nikolai Varlam. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Coleman misses with a takedown

and Varlam counters with a takedown into side control.
Coleman looks gassed!

Coleman explodes and escapes back to his feet! Nice escape there!
The fans in attendance giving it up for the two fighters, who have really let it all hang out in the last minute or so!
Varlam tries for a takedown but Coleman sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
Varlam changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Coleman tries to avoid it but Varlam manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Coleman to the ground. Coleman escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.

Varlam gets taken down but at least he's managed to land in guard.
Varlam is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Varlam has a closed guard, preventing Coleman from standing up.
Varlam not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Varlam wants to stand but Coleman is controlling the position.
Coleman won't allow Varlam to sweep him here.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

Coleman stands up and waves to Varlam to follow him.
Varlam fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.

Coleman shoots in for a takedown from distance. He catches Varlam napping and manages to drive through into side control!
Coleman misses with an attempted head punch from side control.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Varlam is trying to get back to half guard. He's pushing on Coleman's leg. He's managed it. Nice work.
Varlam trying to control from the bottom.
Coleman missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.
Coleman looking to pass the half guard. Not this time.
Varlam wants to control but Coleman is keeping busy.
Coleman prevents Varlam from improving his position.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
Varlam tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Coleman swinging wilding here.

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.
Nice takedown defense from Coleman. No joy for Varlam on that attempt.
Coleman tries to close the distance and clinch up but Varlam swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Coleman throws a quick inside leg kick.
A head kick misses from Coleman.
Coleman swings wildly with a couple of big hooks

and Varlam counters with a takedown into full mount! That could mean trouble for Coleman!
Coleman is trying to escape the mount.
Coleman is trying to escape but when you're mounted that's not too easy.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Coleman is looking to improve his position but Varlam isn't that keen on the idea.
Coleman is trying to escape but when you're mounted that's not too easy.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close round but I would say that Nikolai Varlam will probably get the nod.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

Coleman gets taken down but at least he's managed to land in guard.
Varlam wants to control from the top but Coleman keeps moving.

Coleman is edging up against the cage. He's using the cage to get back to his feet. Nice work there - the fighters are clinched.
Coleman wants to break free but Varlam has control.
Varlam is trying to drag Coleman to the mat but Coleman just about manages to keep his footing. He used the cage to his advantage there.

Varlam manages to break the clinch.
Varlam dodges the punch combination from Coleman.
Coleman misses with a takedown

and Varlam counters with a single leg into guard. Coleman didn't expect that.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Varlam wants to control from the top but Coleman keeps moving.
Varlam landing with the ground and pound.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Varlam stands up from Coleman's guard - Varlam perhaps looking for a knockout.

Varlam shoots in for a takedown from distance. He catches Coleman napping and manages to drive through into side control!
Coleman tries to escape but Varlam is in control.
Coleman is looking to regain half guard here but Varlam keeps moving and retains side control.
Coleman is putting a lot of effort into getting back to his feet here.
Varlam is looking to take a break and control but Coleman is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Coleman wants to get back to his feet but Varlam is dominant here and he's now got Coleman's back!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
I would not like to be Coleman right now.
Can Coleman hold on?! Varlam is landing more strikes to his hapless foe.
Coleman is trying to get back to his feet but he's not managed it yet.
Varlam loading up with punches from the back mount - how long can Coleman hold on?
Nikolai Varlam overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Coleman holding both Varlam 's hands and preventing any damage.
Varlam scores with punches from the back.
Varlam controlling from the back.
Coleman is trying to get back to his feet but Varlam has full control of the position and if anything, Coleman has just worked his way into a worse spot.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Coleman looking very determined here, making life difficult for Varlam.
Coleman is trying to stand back up.

Varlam is working really hard to secure the rear naked choke. Coleman defends successfully for a significant amount of time. Both fighters are looking very determined.
Coleman looking to stop the rear naked choke attempt by controlling the hands.
Varlam has the hooks in. Coleman is trying to push off one leg but he has to do so cautiously to avoid being submitted.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
There's not a lot going on here and the crowd are letting the fighters know they're not willing to tolerate a lack of action.
What can Coleman do to escape this position? He's going to have to figure it out pretty quick if he wants to stay in the fight!
Coleman is trying to stand back up.
Varlam has good solid back control here.
The referee is taking a good look at Coleman as he is on the wrong end of some big shots from Varlam!
Varlam has Coleman flattened out and is raining down punches.

Varlam has his opponent's back and is working for the choke.
Coleman is really stuck here.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Nikolai Varlam dominated that second round.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business. Let's hear some noise people - this is the final round!

Varlam moves into the clinch successfully.

Varlam pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Varlam avoids the head kick by Coleman.
Varlam takes a punch to the jaw and another one to the bread basket.
Coleman fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Coleman throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Varlam.
Coleman throws a combination that misses

and Varlam counters with a single leg into guard. Coleman didn't expect that.
Varlam trying to control the position from guard on top but Coleman is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Coleman is looking to stand up but Varlam isn't so interested in that idea.

Varlam gets to his feet and steps away from his opponent.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Coleman falls off balance throwing a combination

and Varlam counters with a nice single leg takedown and he's in Coleman's guard now.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!

Coleman pushes Varlam off and scrambles back to his feet.
Varlam is trying hard to land a takedown here. Coleman sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Coleman throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Varlam.
Coleman buckles his opponent's knee momentarily with a nice leg kick.
Coleman throws a series of punches but Varlam moves out of range.
Varlam closes this distance looking for a takedown but Coleman circles away.
Coleman defending well as Varlam loads up on a big left hand.
Coleman misses with a double jab

and Varlam counters with a driving takedown into guard. Nice work there by Varlam.
Coleman is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.

Coleman scrambles and gets back to his feet.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Varlam stuffs the takedown attempt from Coleman. Coleman gets slowly back to his feet.
Nice sprawl there from Coleman as Varlam shoots in.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Nikolai Varlam. That's going to take a lot out of him.
A combination from Coleman does no damage.
Coleman lands with a two punch combination before moving back out of range.
Coleman misses with a takedown

and Varlam counters into the clinch. Nicely done.

Varlam pulls guard successfully.
Varlam avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Coleman wants to stand and escape but instead Varlam has hit a sweep and he's now on top in guard.
Varlam makes a bit of distance and scores with some ground and pound, still in guard.
Coleman is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.
Varlam scores with a decent looking elbow strike.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Coleman is looking to stand up but Varlam isn't so interested in that idea.
Coleman wants to get back to his feet but Varlam passes into half guard.
Varlam wants to control but Coleman is keeping him busy.

Varlam is looking for a kimura but he's never going to get it from there.
Varlam wants to take a breather but Coleman is having none of it.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Coleman goes for a high kick. It partially lands.
Coleman shoots in but doesn't get the takedown

and Varlam decides to take the opportunity to score a takedown. He's landed in Coleman's guard.
Varlam trying to control the position from guard on top but Coleman is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Coleman wants to get back to his feet but Varlam is in a dominant position and won't allow it.
Varlam looking to pass the guard.

Coleman scrambles and gets back to his feet.
Varlam misses with a looping right.
Coleman lands a jab, followed by a cross and another cross, as Varlam backs up against the cage.
Varlam shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Coleman as he avoids it easily.
Varlam changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Coleman tries to avoid it but Varlam manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Coleman to the ground. Coleman escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Coleman swinging wilding here.
Varlam shoots in looking for a takedown. Coleman tries to sprawl out of it but Varlam keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Coleman manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
Scott Coleman has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Nikolai Varlam is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Coleman thumps Varlam with a low kick.

And that's the end of the fight!
Nikolai Varlam showed his dominance in that final round.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Varlam, winning every round. Will the judges agree? They are the ones who matter, even if they are often depressingly incompetent. 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 Alan Glass scores the fight 30:27
Judge Tiny Johnson scores the fight 30:27
Judge Wesley Smith scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Nikolai Varlam!