PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Jurij Vitalenko (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Art Nikisch (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Nikisch is bouncing up and down as he enters the arena, backed by Skillet - Hero. Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Vitalenko
vs
Nikisch

190 cm
21
240 lbs
3 - 1 - 0

198 cm
25
235 lbs
6 - 5 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Solid boxing
Very quick

BJJ Purple Belt
Decent boxing
Determined

Hjelte Health Corp

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 3 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Jurij Vitalenko!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 6 - 5 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Art Nikisch!
The judges for this bout are Frank Dennis, Stewart Dunkirk and Daniel Franklin.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
A clash of legs there as Nikisch blocks the low kick.

Vitalenko moves into range and throws a big uppercut. OH! Nikisch goes down! Can Vitalenko finish him!?

Nikisch is rocked!

It looks like Art Nikisch has been cut.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.

Nikisch escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Vitalenko gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
Nikisch is still in real trouble! Can Vitalenko finish him?
Vitalenko throwing strikes from guard but Nikisch blocks nicely.

Nikisch is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Vitalenko defends well.
Nikisch seems to have recovered his senses.
Vitalenko working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Vitalenko thows a big elbow that misses.
Vitalenko landing some decent shots from guard.
Vitalenko prevents Nikisch from getting back to his feet.

Nikisch working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Vitalenko doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Vitalenko manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.
Nikisch trying to keep a closed guard but Vitalenko is proving a slippery customer.
Vitalenko working from the guard for now, landing some ground and pound.
Vitalenko trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.

Nikisch is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Vitalenko is aware though and is defending well.

Nikisch has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Vitalenko can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
Both fighters really going for it on the ground here!
Nikisch looks gassed!

That's one minute gone in the round.

Nikisch is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Vitalenko defends well.
Nikisch working a defensive guard here.
Vitalenko with a nice head shot there.

Nikisch escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Vitalenko gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
Vitalenko throwing strikes but missing.
Nikisch is trying to control the position but Vitalenko postures up.
Vitalenko throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Nikisch works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Vitalenko has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.
Vitalenko is working the ground and pound from guard. He might want to try advancing position though to get more of an impact.

Nikisch escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Vitalenko gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
Vitalenko trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Vitalenko working in close now, lands a nice elbow to the side of Nikisch's head.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Vitalenko lands a couple of elbows.

That has opened up Art Nikisch's cut even more.

Nikisch is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Vitalenko is aware though and is defending well.
Vitalenko landing some decent shots from guard.
Vitalenko thows a big elbow that misses.
Vitalenko with a flurry of punches that miss.
Vitalenko missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Vitalenko lands a nice shot whilst sitting in his opponent's guard.

Nikisch escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Vitalenko gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.

Nikisch is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
Vitalenko distracts Nikisch with his right hand and drops a big elbow with his other arm.
Vitalenko is working Nikisch over from the guard. He should look to pass the guard and do a little more damage with these strikes.
Nikisch avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Vitalenko stands up over Nikisch, holding his feet. He dives back in and lands a decent shot to the head.
Vitalenko postures up and lands some nice ground and pound.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Vitalenko makes a bit of distance and scores with some ground and pound, still in guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Nikisch wants to sweep but no luck.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Nikisch looking to control.
Vitalenko missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Vitalenko thows a big elbow that misses.
Vitalenko throws a big right hand that misses.
Vitalenko working some strikes from top position.

Nikisch has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Vitalenko can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
Vitalenko working from the guard for now, landing some ground and pound.
Vitalenko working in close now, lands a nice elbow to the side of Nikisch's head.
Vitalenko throws a big right hand that misses.
Vitalenko throws a big right hand that misses.
Vitalenko postures up in Nikisch's guard and throws a big left but Nikisch blocks it.
Vitalenko tries to stand but Nikisch is controlling from the bottom.

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

Nikisch looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
Vitalenko lands a couple of digs.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Vitalenko loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.

Nikisch working for a triangle but Vitalenko defends it easily.
Vitalenko landing with the ground and pound.
Vitalenko throwing strikes from guard but Nikisch blocks nicely.
Vitalenko scoring with punches to the head and body.
Vitalenko in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.

Nikisch looking for a guillotine here but Vitalenko defends easily.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.

Nikisch escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Vitalenko gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
Vitalenko with a flurry of punches that miss.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Nikisch has his head snapped back a nice jab. A little nod from Nikisch there as he acknowledges the shot.

The cut above Art Nikisch's eye is starting to cause him problems now.
Jurij Vitalenko is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Nice defenses there by Nikisch.
A jab from Vitalenko does it's job there.
Vitalenko swats away the attempt to clinch by Nikisch.
Nikisch defending well as Vitalenko loads up on a big left hand.
Nikisch throws a head kick that connects with a bit of head and a bit of hand.
Nikisch tries to close the distance and clinch but Vitalenko swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Vitalenko swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.

Nikisch takes the fight into the clinch.
Nikisch with the Thai clinch, lands a knee to the head.
Vitalenko working hard to break the clinch.
Knees in the clinch landing for Nikisch.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!

Nikisch breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
A slow jab from Vitalenko misses its intended target.
Vitalenko swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
Vitalenko leaves Nikisch with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
Nikisch is breathing heavily.
Nikisch pulls out of a head kick attempt.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Vitalenko looks to land a left hand but Nikisch moved out of range nicely.
Vitalenko waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Nikisch.
Nikisch slips under a jab.
Vitalenko misses with a looping left.
Jurij Vitalenko seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Vitalenko bobs and weaves and throws out a fast jab that snaps Nikisch's head backwards.

Art Nikisch's cut is absolute horrible now. This looks like something out of a horror film with blood covering both fighters.
Vitalenko throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
A chopping leg kick lands by Nikisch.
Jurij Vitalenko is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Vitalenko looks to land a combination but Nikisch avoids it well.
Vitalenko getting the better of the striking in that exchange.
Nikisch lands a head kick!

It looks like Jurij Vitalenko has been cut.
Nikisch tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Vitalenko paws at him with a jab and circles away.

Nikisch closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.
A knee to the head by Nikisch.
Nikisch keeps control of Vitalenko as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.
Nikisch with the Thai clinch, lands a knee to the head.
Vitalenko tries to break the clinch but Nikisch is controlling the position.
Nikisch keeps control of Vitalenko as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Nikisch connects with a knee to the head.
A frustrated look appears on Vitalenko's face as he tries to break the clinch.
Nikisch lands a nice elbow from the clinch.
Vitalenko swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Nikisch with the Thai clinch, lands a knee to the head.
Vitalenko has had enough of the clinch and is looking to separate.
Nikisch creates a bit of space for himself and sneaks an elbow through Vitalenko's defenses.
Nikisch scores with a knee to the head.
Vitalenko is trying to break the clinch but Nikisch is controlling him.
Nikisch unloads a knee to the mid-section. Vitalenko lets out a prehistoric sounding urrrrgh.
A right hand to the body from Vitalenko.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!

Nikisch breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Vitalenko lands with a nice combination. Nikisch backs away looking to recover.

The referee calls the doctor in to look at Art Nikisch's cut. Oh no, the doctor has called an end to the bout!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 2:40 of round 2, we have a winner by way of TKO (Cut). Jurij Vitalenko!