PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Maksim Nikifor (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Xander Boudewijn (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Nikifor comes to the cage accompanied by Enae Volare Mezzo. Boudewijn is bobbing his head along to his entrance song: The Streets - Blinded by the Lights. Both these guys have really solid chins. Will we see a standup war or will they both decide that a knockout is unlikely and try to win the fight elsewhere?

Nikifor
vs
Boudewijn

195 cm
27
205 lbs
12 - 7 - 1

189 cm
24
215 lbs
13 - 8 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Excellent boxer
Very strong

Good wrestler
Excellent boxer
Powerful

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 12 - 7 - 1, fighting out of St Petersburg, Maksim Nikifor!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 13 - 8 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Xander Boudewijn!
The judges for this bout are Dmitry Maklakov, Ivan Kurochkin and Fedor Mirinova.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Nikifor looks to land a right hand but Boudewijn moved out of range.
Nikifor throws a nice looking combination but Boudewijn bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.

Boudewijn closes the distance and clinches.
Boudewijn changes levels and goes for a takedown here. Nikifor fights it off and pushes away nicely.
Nikifor tries to bum rush Boudewijn with a series of wild strikes but Boudewijn uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Boudewijn fails with an attempt to clinch.
Boudewijn throws a nice outside leg kick.
A slapping leg kick lands for Boudewijn.
Nikifor misses with a double jab.
Nikifor throws a nice hook to the body that draws an oooh from the crowd.
Nikifor swinging wildly here.
Nikifor clobbers Boudewijn with an overhand right that has the crowd gasping. That made a horrendous noise.
Boudewijn misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Nice body kick from Boudewijn.
Nikifor looks to throw the jab but Boudewijn is out of range.
Nikifor fakes a jab and then connects with a hook.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Nikifor stooping low to avoid any incoming strikes and then lunges in with an uppercut come cross that lands flush.
Nikifor closes the distance and lands a one-two.
The fight stays on the outside here - Boudewijn looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Boudewijn pulls out of a head kick attempt.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Boudewijn misses with a body kick.
Nikifor steps to his left, right into the path of a big body kick from Boudewijn. That one must have hurt.
Boudewijn tries a head kick but it misses.
Nikifor blocks the body kick.
Nikifor scores with a sloppy punch to the body. Not much technique there but it did the business.
Maksim Nikifor is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Boudewijn misses with a head kick.
Boudewijn tries to work over Nikifor's front leg with a kick but Nikifor checks it.
Nikifor swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
Boudewijn throws a head kick that misses.
Boudewijn keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Boudewijn tries a head kick but it misses.

Boudewijn drives through and clinches with Nikifor against the cage.
Boudewijn lands an elbow inside that Nikifor shrugs off.
Nikifor has had enough of the clinch and is looking to separate.
Boudewijn stays in close to his opponent and throws a right hand to the body.
Come on Boudewijn - let's have some action - none of this stalling nonsense.
Boudewijn keeps the fight in the clinch, despite Nikifor's efforts to push away.

Boudewijn lands a nice trip takedown into half guard.
We could do with one of the fighters taking the initiative a bit more on the ground - they're both waiting to capitalize on a mistake.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Nikifor is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Boudewijn thows a huge punch but Nikifor dodges it nicely.
Boudewijn looking to pass the half guard. Not this time.
Nikifor is staying active underneath Boudewijn, who seems content to just control the action from this position.
Boudewijn throwing shots but Nikifor is blocking nicely.
Boudewijn uses his free foot to push down on Nikifor's thigh. Eventually he works his other foot free and he's advanced to mount - this is trouble for Nikifor.
Nikifor on his back here. We all know that wrestlers don't like being on their back so let's see if Nikifor tries to get out of the position.
Boudewijn thowing shots but they're missing.
Nikifor is breathing heavily.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Boudewijn throws an elbow from mount that misses. Lucky escape for Nikifor because Boudewijn loaded up on that one.

Boudewijn jumps to the side looking to secure the arm triangle…. Ooooh, that looks tight… Nikifor is gargling but he's managed to escape! Nice work there by Nikifor and Boudewijn has given up the dominant position trying to land that submission.
Boudewijn slows the pace down.

Boudewijn is trying to get an arm triangle but Nikifor is defending well.
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Boudewijn misses with a strike but at least he's keeping busy, looking to cause some damage - that will still help him when it comes to the judges scorecards.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Well. There's a bit of a lull in the action here and the crowd are starting to get restless.
Boudewijn tries to cartwheel into mount but he doesn't manage it.

Boudewijn is looking for a kimura. He might have it! No, Nikifor has escaped the position, nice work there.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Boudewijn controlling the position from side mount.
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 Maksim Nikifor will probably get the nod.
That's time! Nikifor's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight.

Boudewijn throws the overhand right but ducks down into a quick takedown attempt. Nikifor was covering up waiting for the punch and Boudewijn finishes the takedown easily into guard.
Boudewijn passes Nikifor's right leg, so he's now in half guard.

Boudewijn is looking for a kimura here.

Boudewijn seems to be working for a kimura but Nikifor defends the submission attempt.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Boudewijn perhaps working for something from half guard, or maybe not. It looks like he's just sitting there.
Boudewijn frees up his trapped foot and advances to mount.
Nikifor knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Boudewijn on the ground.
Nikifor is squirming around, avoiding Boudewijn's attempts to control the action.
Nikifor is in a horrible position here, under a barrage of strikes, he's managing to avoid any damage.
Boudewijn unloads with some shots from mount but Nikifor bucks and avoids them well.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Well. There's a bit of a lull in the action here and the crowd are starting to get restless.
Boudewijn trying to control but Nikifor is having none of it.
Boudewijn thowing strikes but they're hitting the gloves, not doing any damage.
Boudewijn has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
Nikifor is in a horrible position here. Boudewijn smacks him with another shot as he tries to escape the position.

Nikifor defends a decent attempt at a guillotine from Boudewijn.
Boudewijn working the ground and pound effectively.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Boudewijn misses with a head shot.
Poor strikes thrown by Boudewijn there. More accuracy and less frantic strikes would help!
The referee warns Nikifor that he has to improve his position here as he takes two more clean shots to the head.
Boudewijn controlling the position easily from mount.

Boudewijn is working for a guillotine from mount but Nikifor frees his head quite easily.
Nikifor is writhing around trying to get back to his feet.

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.
Nikifor is squirming around, avoiding Boudewijn's attempts to control the action.
Poor strikes thrown by Boudewijn there. More accuracy and less frantic strikes would help!
Nikifor is in a horrible position here, under a barrage of strikes, he's managing to avoid any damage.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Boudewijn throwing sloppy strikes, which aren't doing any damage.
Boudewijn looking to ground and pound but Nikifor is blocking nicely.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Xander Boudewijn showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action! Let's hear some noise people - this is the final round!

Nice cross by Nikifor.
Boudewijn throws a leg kick but Nikifor moved away.
Nikifor scores with a big left there. The judges will like that one.
Nikifor lands a pitter patter jab to the forehead of his opponent.
Nikifor chopped to the floor by a nice leg kick but he springs right back up before Boudewijn can pounce on him.
Nikifor catches Boudewijn with a nice straight right. He seems pissed - ooooh, it's on now! On like donkey kong!
Boudewijn fails with a takedown attempt.
Nikifor waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Boudewijn.
Boudewijn jabs Nikifor right on the nose. Nikifor blinks but takes it well.
Ouch! a nice leg kick from Boudewijn, right into the meat.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Nikifor lands a jab, followed by a cross and another cross, as Boudewijn backs up against the cage.
Boudewijn shoots in but Nikifor avoids the takedown attempt easily.
A solid leg kick lands there for Boudewijn.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Boudewijn tries to clinch but Nikifor moves out of range.
Xander Boudewijn seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

Boudewijn closes the distance and scores a nice trip takedown into half guard. Nikifor did well to prevent Boudewijn getting side control.
Boudewijn wants to lay and pray for a moment but Nikifor keeps working.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Boudewijn is working for submissions here but there's nothing on.
Nikifor is looking for a sweep. Boudewijn is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Boudewijn looks towards his corner to check for any instructions. The corner give him nothing to work with, so he cracks Nikifor with a short hammerfist. I guess that's as good as any advice he could get in this position.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Boudewijn is controlling the pace.
Boudewijn is keen to just control but Nikifor is a slippery customer.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Neither fighter has done anything of merit for a good minute or two here and the crowd are not happy about it.
Boudewijn missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.
Nikifor moves his hips nicely and gets into full guard.
Boudewijn sitting in guard here, content to control.
Boudewijn advances to half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Nikifor is in trouble now - Boudewijn has advanced to mount!
Boudewijn throwing shots from mount but they're not landing.
Boudewijn lands a big shot there that rocks Nikifor but he's holding on and managing to survive for now.
Boudewijn landing strikes, looking to finish!
Boudewijn lands a big elbow.
Boudewijn thuds his fist into the canvas! Oooouch!
Nikifor is squirming around, avoiding Boudewijn's attempts to control the action.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Boudewijn working for a guillotine from mount but Nikifor is in no mood to give up.
Boudewijn content just to control the position here.
Boudewijn trying to control but he's not successful this time.

And that's the end of the fight!
I would just about give that final round to Xander Boudewijn.
I think Boudewijn 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 Dmitry Maklakov scores the fight 28:30
Judge Ivan Kurochkin scores the fight 29:28
Judge Fedor Mirinova scores the fight 29:29

The fight is ruled a draw!