PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Nikolay Kiktev (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Alexander Kozlov (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Kiktev comes to the cage accompanied by Metallika-Devils dance. Nikolay Kiktev could well score a knockout today. He has the power to get to Alexander Kozlov's chin.

Kiktev
vs
Kozlov

185 cm
19
200 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

182 cm
22
205 lbs
0 - 6 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Solid Muay Thai
Big heart

BJJ White Belt
Good kicks
Tends to cut

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the light heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Nikolay Kiktev!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 6 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Alexander Kozlov!
The judges for this bout are Fedor Mirinova, Illya Tyunina and Igor Prikhodko.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Kiktev changes levels and drives through with a really nice takedown into side control. Kozlov looks really pissed at himself for not defending that better.
Kozlov pushes Kiktev away and creates a bit of space to escape. He's almost out here... but no, Kiktev gets a good hold of his legs and remains firmly in side control.
Kiktev is moving around in side control but his primary objective seems to be to maintain the position.
Kozlov is putting a lot of effort into getting back to his feet here.

Kiktev decides to take the fight back to the feet.
Kiktev shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Kozlov as he jumps to the side.
Kozlov shoots in but Kiktev avoids the takedown attempt easily.

Kiktev has managed to clinch.
Kiktev tries to break the clinch but Kozlov is controlling the position.
Kozlov gets an overhook and lands an elbow to the side of the head.

It looks like Nikolay Kiktev has been cut.
A quick uppercut on the inside from Kozlov.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kiktev blocks an uppercut.
Kiktev takes a shot to the head.
Kozlov makes some space for himself and lands an uppercut.
Kiktev fails to pull the fight into his guard.
Kozlov tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. Kiktev just stands there and leans against the cage.
Kneeeeees! The crowd are calling for knees to the body. Kiktev obliges.
Kozlov looks gassed!
Kozlov lands with a short punch from the clinch.
Kozlov looks to throw an elbow but misses.
Kozlov pushes off an throws an elbow but Kiktev leans to the side and avoids it. We're back to clinching against the cage.
Kiktev looks to throw an elbow but misses.
A short uppercut from Kozlov.
Kiktev is trying to force a seperation but Kozlov has the dominant position.
Kiktev is trying to drag Kozlov to the mat but Kozlov just about manages to keep his footing. He used the cage to his advantage there.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Nikolay Kiktev. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Kiktev fails to pull the fight into his guard.
Kozlov lands a damaging elbow.

Kiktev jumps guard and drags Kozlov to the mat. He's obviously going to be looking for submissions off his back.
Kiktev wants to stand but Kozlov is controlling the position.
Kozlov wants to stand but Kiktev is controlling his posture from full guard.
Kiktev knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Kozlov on the ground.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Kiktev is pulling down on Kozlov's head to control his posture.

Kiktev is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Kozlov defends well.

Kozlov gets to his feet - Kiktev follows without any prompting.
Kiktev throws a head kick that misses.
Nikolay Kiktev seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Kiktev shoots in for a takedown but Kozlov shows good takedown defense.
Kiktev explodes with a nice body kick and back out of range. Nice work.
Kozlov tries to clinch up but Kiktev circles away and keeps his distance.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kiktev misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
Kozlov is looking to clinch.
Kozlov is looking to take this fight into the clinch.

Kozlov moves into the clinch.
Kiktev stalling in the clinch but Kozlov improves position.
Kozlov tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Kiktev avoids it.

Kiktev pulls guard.
Kozlov tries to stand but Kiktev is controlling from the bottom.
Kiktev throwing some rather feeble looking strikes off his back.
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Kozlov tries to stand but Kiktev is controlling from the bottom.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Kiktev manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Kozlov manages to get himself to full guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Kiktev sitting in guard here, content to control.
Kozlov wants to stand and escape but Kiktev is having none of it.

Kiktev stands up from Kozlov's guard - Kiktev perhaps looking for a knockout.
Kozlov circles away from the clinch attempt.
Kozlov has a nice red mark on his side after a thudding body kick by Kiktev.
Kozlov takes a kick to the side of the head.
Kozlov tries to clinch
and Kiktev counters nicely by changing levels and landing a hook to the body.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Nikolay Kiktev dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Nikolay Kiktev's cut.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

Kiktev misses with a low kick.
Kiktev closes this distance looking for a takedown but Kozlov circles away.
Kiktev throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Kozlov tries to clinch but Kiktev is having none of it.
Kozlov tries to clinch but Kiktev moves out of range.
Kozlov tries to close the distance and clinch but Kiktev swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Kiktev throws a head kick that half lands.
Kiktev throws a nice head kick!
Well, he's not going to score with shots like that. A lazy body kick attempt from Kiktev.

Kiktev closes the distance and clinches.
Kozlov lands a body punch in the clinch.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Kiktev is trying to break the clinch but Kozlov has him pressed against the cage.
Kozlov gets through Kiktev's defenses to land a nice punch to the side of the head.
Kiktev has a body lock and is looking for a takedown. Kozlov is bouncing around trying to prevent the takedown and somehow he has indeed managed to stay on his feet.
A shot in the inside from Kozlov.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kozlov lands a right uppercut that snaps the head of Kiktev backwards.

Kiktev breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.

Kozlov gets a clinch.
Kiktev has Kozlov pressed up against the cage and is working for takedown. Kozlov manages to improve position though and keeps the fight standing.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Nikolay Kiktev. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Kozlov lands a knee to the head there! That was nasty!
Kozlov lands with a short shot to the head.
Kozlov lands punches inside but they're not really causing much damage.
Kozlov connects with a knee to the head.
Kozlov lands an elbow inside that Kiktev shrugs off.

Kiktev escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Nikolay Kiktev is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Kiktev is looking to score with low kicks.

Kozlov drives through and clinches with Kiktev against the cage.
Kiktev blocks the elbow strike.
Kozlov lands an elbow just above Kiktev 's eye.
Kozlov throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Kiktev blocks it with crossed arms.

Kiktev pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.

Kozlov moves into range and clinches up with Kiktev.
A left hand lands to the body for Kiktev.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Kiktev pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Kozlov tries to clinch up.
Kiktev lands with a kick to the temple. Kozlov shrugs as if to say "is that all you've got?"
Kiktev will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
Kozlov dodges the punch combination from Kiktev.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Kiktev is defended easily by Kozlov.

Kozlov has taken the fight to the clinch.
Kozlov with an attempt at a knee that misses.
Kozlov stops a takedown attempt from Kiktev.
A bit of stalling here from Kiktev.
Kozlov scores with a knee to the head.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kozlov lands an elbow inside that Kiktev shrugs off.
With the fighters clinched against the cage, Kozlov creates a bit of distance for himself and scores with a nice uppercut.

Kiktev breaks from the clinch.
Kiktev keeps the fight on the outside.
The fight stays on the outside here - Kiktev looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Kiktev fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Kozlov avoids it really well and circles away.
Kozlov is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Kozlov moves in looking to clinch but Kiktev pushes him off.
Kiktev lands with a slapping head kick.
Kiktev throws a nice hook to the body that draws an oooh from the crowd.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
My god... these two guys really need to pick up the pace or everyone will leave to go get a beer.
The fight stays on the outside here - Kiktev looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Kozlov tries to clinch up but Kiktev circles away and keeps his distance.
Kiktev throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Kiktev avoids the clinch attempt nicely.

Kiktev moves into range and clinches up with Kozlov.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Kiktev.
Kiktev working Kozlov over with knees to the body.
Kiktev drops down for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Kiktev wants to break the clinch but can't.
Kozlov using the Thai clinch to land knees to the body.
Kozlov misses with an elbow over the top.
Kiktev goes for a takedown attempt but Kozlov pushes him away and we're back to fighting at a distance.
Kozlov wants to clinch up but Kiktev keeps it at a distance.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Alexander Kozlov will probably get the nod - 10:9.
The cut man is working on Nikolay Kiktev's cut.
That's time! Kiktev's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight. So, we enter the final round. Let's see if either fighter can bring us a finish, or whether we're going to the judges scorecards.

Kiktev closes the distance and clinches.
Kiktev can't break the clinch.
Still in the clinch, Kozlov scores with a nice short uppercut.
Kozlov lands a nice uppercut.
Kiktev throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Kozlov blocks it with crossed arms.
Kiktev fails to pull guard.
Kiktev tries for a takedown. No joy.

Kozlov pulls guard successfully.

Kozlov is edging up against the cage. He's using the cage to get back to his feet. Nice work there - the fighters are clinched.
Kozlov lands with a short punch from the clinch.

Kiktev breaks from the clinch.
Kozlov fails in his attempt to clinch.
Horrible takedown by Kozlov or perhaps it was just good defense by Kiktev which made him look bad.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Kiktev misses with a wild body shot.
Kozlov wants to clinch.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kiktev shoots in for a takedown but Kozlov shows good takedown defense.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Nikolay Kiktev. That's going to take a lot out of him.

Kiktev moves into the clinch.
Kiktev has Kozlov pressed up against the cage and is working for takedown. Kozlov manages to improve position though and keeps the fight standing.
Kiktev jumps guard but Kozlov stands there with Kiktev around his waist. Kiktev gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.
Kozlov lands a left hand that snaps the head of Kiktev backwards.
Kozlov lands with a quick shot inside that doesn't really do much damage.
Knees to the body from Kozlov.
Kiktev tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. Kozlov just stands there and leans against the cage.
Kiktev is working for a takedown up against the cage. He can't get it on this occasion though.
Kiktev tries to land a knee to the head but misses.
Kiktev tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. Kozlov just stands there and leans against the cage.
Kozlov lands with a left to the head.
Kozlov prevents Kiktev from breaking the clinch.
Kiktev is looking for a takedown up against the cage. Kozlov gets underhooks though and prevents the takedown attempt.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Kozlov misses with a short punch on the inside.
Kiktev tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. Kozlov smiles and moves away.
Kozlov slaps away a takedown attempt from Kiktev, before circling back to the center of the mat.
Kiktev circles away from the clinch attempt

and Kiktev holds on and brings the fighters into a clinch.
Kiktev fails to pull the fight into his guard.
Kiktev is trying to break free.
Kiktev fails to pull guard.
A short uppercut from Kozlov.
Kiktev is clearly stalling here... Pick up the pace son.
Kozlov tries to land a knee to the head but Kiktev blocks with his arms.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kiktev lands on the inside with an uppercut.
Kiktev has Kozlov pressed up against the cage and is working for takedown. Kozlov manages to improve position though and keeps the fight standing.
Nice body punch from Kozlov - that landed with a thud.
Kozlov is working Kiktev over against the cage.
Kozlov with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.
Kozlov keeps control of Kiktev as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.
Kozlov lands a right hand.
Kiktev looks like he'd prefer to be striking at range right now.
Kozlov working aggressively here.
Kozlov lands a knee to the head there! That was nasty!
Kiktev is trying to break the clinch but Kozlov is controlling him.
Kozlov lands a right hand that snaps the head of Kiktev backwards.
Kozlov connects with a nasty looking knee right to Kiktev's face.
Kozlov takes a knee right on the jaw!
Kozlov throws an elbow but it's blocked.

Kiktev pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Kozlov moves in looking to clinch but Kiktev pushes him off.
Kiktev shoots for a double leg takedown but Kozlov sprawls well. He's pushed Kiktev's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
My god... these two guys really need to pick up the pace or everyone will leave to go get a beer.
Kiktev keeps the fight on the outside.

Kiktev shoots in with a lovely double leg takedown. Kozlov manages to land in full guard to minimise the damage.
Kozlov keeping full guard, as Kiktev tries to pass.
Kiktev prevents Kozlov from getting back to his feet.

Kiktev gets to his feet and steps away from his opponent.

And that's the end of the fight!
That was a close round. You could make an argument for either fighter but I would give it to Nikolay Kiktev.
I think Kiktev 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 Fedor Mirinova scores the fight 30:28
Judge Illya Tyunina scores the fight 29:29
Judge Igor Prikhodko scores the fight 30:28

In favor of your winner, by majority decision... Nikolay Kiktev!