PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Nikolai Solonik (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Paul Methric (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). We have two fighters making their debuts here, so let's see who comes out of this one with their first professional victory.

Solonik
vs
Methric

177 cm
21
205 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

190 cm
20
200 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Counter striker
Big heart

BJJ White Belt
Solid Muay Thai
Determined

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, Nikolai Solonik!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Paul Methric!
The judges for this bout are Viktor Lagutenko, Vladimir Khabensky and Aleksandr Martynov.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Solonik is looking to clinch but Methric is avoiding it.
Solonik tries to check the leg kick but that clearly hurt him.
Methric takes a punch to the jaw and another one to the bread basket.
Methric tries to clinch but fails miserably

and Solonik counters into the clinch. Nicely done.
Methric has Solonik pressed up against the cage and is working for takedown. Solonik manages to improve position though and keeps the fight standing.
Methric drops down looking for an ankle pick but Solonik pulls his leg out and moves away.
Methric shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Solonik but Solonik pushes him off and we're back to square one.
Nikolai Solonik has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Paul Methric.
Methric wants to clinch but Solonik slips to the side
and Solonik counters with a lovely shot to the body.
Solonik misses with a series of wild punches.
Methric scores with a slapping inside leg kick.
Solonik circles away from the clinch attempt

and Solonik counters with a shoot takedown. Methric fights it but they end up in guard.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Solonik trying to control the position from guard on top but Methric is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Solonik won't allow Methric to get back to his feet.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Methric tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Methric is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.
Solonik might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.
Methric looks gassed!
Solonik sitting in guard, not really doing much.

Solonik stands up and waves to Methric to follow him.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Solonik moves in looking to clinch but Methric pushes him off.
Methric tries to clinch but fails miserably
and Solonik counters with a thumping low kick.
Methric tries to grapple but his opponent circles

and Solonik counters with a nice shoot takedown that brings the fighters to the ground.
Solonik wanted to stand there but Methric had control of the position.
Methric is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.

Solonik decides to stand up and beckons his opponent to follow.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Methric darts in trying to clinch

and Solonik counters with a shoot takedown. Methric fights it but they end up in guard.
Solonik showing good wrestling skills to control the position.
Solonik is looking to stand up but Methric won't let him.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Solonik gets to his feet - Methric follows without any prompting.
Methric closes the distance but Solonik moves to the side
enabling Solonik to counter with a crisp jab.
A combination from Methric does no damage.
Methric will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
Solonik moves in looking to clinch but Methric pushes him off.
Methric misses with a body kick.

Methric forces Solonik back against the cage and clinches.
Solonik managing to block the knees to the body from Methric.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.

Methric has moved round to his opponent's back and is looking for a suplex! Oh snap! He's tossed Solonik clear over his head and slammed him to the mat!
Methric doesn't have the hooks in and Solonik manages to turn into his guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Nikolai Solonik dominated that round.
That's the end of the interval. I'm sure that seemed a lot quicker than a minute for our two fighters! Back to the action.

Methric displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Solonik throws out the jab.
Methric tries to clinch

and Solonik counters by clinching up.
Solonik wants to stall.

Methric breaks from the clinch.

Methric rushes Solonik and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.
Methric lands with a right to the head.
Methric wants a takedown but no success here.
Methric lands a short shot on the inside that snaps the head of Solonik backwards.

Solonik jumps guard.
Solonik looking to hit a scissor sweep but Methric is one step ahead there.

Methric gets to his feet - Solonik follows without any prompting.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

Methric closes the distance and clinches.

Methric jumps guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Solonik slows down the pace of the fight, as he sits in guard.

Solonik is holding a leg here, probably looking for an ankle lock - he drops back and goes for it! Methric is in trouble! Is it all over??? No! Methric has escaped and now he's on top!
Solonik has a closed guard, preventing Methric from standing up.

Methric gets to his feet - Solonik follows without any prompting.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Methric shoots in but Solonik avoids the takedown attempt easily.
Methric throws a right hand that Solonik ducks under and follows up with a left that Solonik also avoids with ease.
Methric closes the distance looking to clinch

and Solonik counters with a nice double leg into guard.
Solonik has decided he wants to stand but the closed guard of Methric is proving hard to escape from.
Methric controlling the position.
Solonik trying to control but Methric is working from the bottom.
Solonik stays in close to Methric's body and controls the position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Solonik wants to pass the guard but Methric is keeping the position.
Solonik is intent on slowing down the pace of the fight, simply looking to control.
Methric looking for a sweep. Not yet Methric, not yet.
Methric wants to stand but Solonik is controlling the position.

Solonik stands up and waves to Methric to follow him.

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.
Solonik just misses with a punch to the body.
Methric tries to clinch

and Solonik counters with a nice double leg into side control. Methric won't be happy with that.
Methric tries to improve position but can't.
Check out the look on Solonik's face as he threw that strike - that's one determined fighter!
Solonik working the ground and pound from side control.

Solonik decides to stand back up.

Solonik drives through and clinches with Methric against the cage.

Methric breaks the clinch.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Methric gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily

and Solonik counters by moving into the clinch.
Nikolai Solonik has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Paul Methric.
Solonik tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. Methric smiles and moves away.
Paul Methric seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Methric wants to clinch

and Solonik counters with a driving takedown into guard. Nice work there by Solonik.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Nikolai Solonik dominated that second round.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action! This is the final round!

Methric is looking to clinch.
Nikolai Solonik is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Methric tries to clinch

and Solonik counters with a single leg into guard. Methric didn't expect that.
Solonik wants to control from the top but Methric keeps moving.
Solonik wants to stand but Methric has a closed guard, so he can't escape.
Methric keeping moving, preventing Solonik from controlling successfully.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Solonik is really struggling to control Methric but he's trying to hold on to the position.
Nikolai Solonik overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Methric looking to control.
Methric is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.
Methric darts in trying to clinch

and Solonik counters with a takedown into full mount! That could mean trouble for Methric!
Methric trying desperately to get to his feet.
Methric wants to control but Solonik is having none of it.
Methric is wriggling around trying to escape.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Solonik tries to control but Methric wriggling away.
Methric tries to buck Solonik off but he can't manage it.
Solonik throws an elbow from mount that misses. Lucky escape for Methric because Solonik loaded up on that one.
Solonik with shots to the head and body - Methric looks very uncomfortable down there.
Solonik looking to control and managing it successfully.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Solonik has controlled the position for a good 20 seconds, which will no doubt be starting to frustrate his opponent.
Solonik in mount throwing good strikes here, bouncing his opponent's head off the canvas.

It looks like Paul Methric has been cut.

Solonik stands up from the dominant position, so we're back on the feet.
Methric tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Solonik swivels and escapes.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Methric slips a jab and a cross from Solonik.
Methric tries to clinch but Solonik moves out of range.
Solonik misses with a wild body shot.
Methric wants to clinch

and Solonik counters with a shoot takedown. Methric fights it but they end up in guard.
Solonik showing good wrestling skills to control the position.
Solonik passes Methric's left leg - he's now in half guard.
Still in half guard, Solonik seems content to control.
Paul Methric has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Solonik blocks the strikes from Methric.

And that's the end of the fight!
Nikolai Solonik showed his dominance in that final round.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Solonik, 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 Viktor Lagutenko scores the fight 30:26
Judge Vladimir Khabensky scores the fight 30:26
Judge Aleksandr Martynov scores the fight 30:26

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