PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Richard Simmons (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Kristof Nikitin (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Simmons comes to the cage accompanied by No More Pain. Nikitin has chosen Arch Enemy - My Apocalypse as his entrance music. Both these fighters are unbeaten, so somebody's 0 has got to go!These two fighters really are very evenly matched on the feet - it will be fascinating to see who can assert themselves in that aspect of the fight.

Simmons
vs
Nikitin

190 cm
24
280 lbs
9 - 0 - 0

192 cm
23
243 lbs
6 - 0 - 0

Great wrestler
World class boxer
Very quick

Olympic wrestler
Decent boxing
Granite chin

Hell's Balls Recovery
Firebird Designs

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 9 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Richard Simmons!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 6 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Kristof Nikitin!
The judges for this bout are Tarja Halkonen, Roosa Järviläinen and Matti Vanhoillinen.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Nikitin takes a shot to the nose. Hopefully that hasn't broken it.
Nikitin shoots in looking for a takedown but Simmons manages to keep the fight standing, pushing Nikitin's face into the canvas for good measure before circling away.
Simmons throws a combination that misses

and Nikitin counters with a single leg into guard. Simmons didn't expect that.
Simmons wants to sweep but no luck.
Simmons keeping moving, preventing Nikitin from controlling successfully.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Nikitin tries to free his leg and advance position but Simmons is retaining full guard.
Simmons bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Nikitin's guard.
Nikitin working a defensive guard here.
Nikitin has Simmons pulled in close to control his posture.
Simmons trying to control but Nikitin is working from the bottom.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Nikitin looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
Nikitin controls Simmons momentarily but Simmons frees himself.
Nikitin keeping moving, preventing Simmons from controlling successfully.
Nikitin looking to sweep here. No luck so far.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Simmons wants to stand and escape but instead Nikitin has hit a sweep and he's now on top in guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Nikitin wants to control from the top but Simmons keeps moving.
Nikitin throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Simmons keeping moving, preventing Nikitin from controlling successfully.
Simmons can't keep his opponent in guard - Nikitin advances to half guard, no doubt looking to mount.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Nikitin winds up and cracks Simmons with a swinging punch to the side of the head.
Nikitin is looking to take a break and control but Simmons is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Nikitin is stalling here. Simmons is in no mood to hang around though. He's locked up a kimura from the bottom! Nikitin seems to be keeping calm but he's forced to roll out of the hold and Simmons has ended up in side control on the top. Nice work.
Nikitin is looking to reverse the position.
Nikitin looks to move to half guard but instead Simmons has passed into mount! Damn!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Nikitin wants to hold on but Simmons pushes him away.
Simmons controlling his opponent.
Nikitin is trying to escape the mount.
Nikitin tries to hold on but Simmons pushes him away.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Kristof Nikitin will probably get the nod.
That's time! Back to the action!

Nikitin misses with an uppercut. Simmons saw that one coming.
Nikitin takes a thudding leg kick, right into the meat of the thigh.
Simmons avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
Simmons clobbers Nikitin with an overhand right that has the crowd gasping. That made a horrendous noise.
Nikitin stumbles momentarily as he takes a strong leg kick from Simmons.
Nikitin tries to grapple but his opponent circles
and Simmons makes him pay by landing a nice hook to the body before moving out of range.
Simmons looking to land some kicks to the body here.
Nikitin closes the distance looking to clinch
and Simmons counters with an inside leg kick.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Simmons throws a lazy uppercut

and Nikitin holds on and brings the fighters into a clinch.
Nikitin jumps guard but his hands slip and he falls flat on his back. Well, he's made himself look a right mug there, as Simmons walks away with a smile on his face. Nikitin gets slowly back to his feet and shakes his head.
Simmons circles away from the clinch attempt
and Simmons counters with a three punch combination, finished off with a leg kick. Nice work.
Nikitin is breathing heavily.
Nikitin shoots and misses

and Simmons counters with a crisp one two that drops Nikitin! Simmons thinks about following him to the mat for a moment but instead steps back and waves Nikitin to his feet! Nikitin is in big trouble!
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Simmons misses with a low kick as Nikitin jumps back.
Simmons tries a head kick but it misses.
Simmons turns his hip over beautifully as he lands a nice leg kick.
Nikitin gets cracked with a nice right hand there by Simmons.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A big right from Simmons misses.
Simmons throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Simmons thumps Nikitin with a low kick.
Simmons throws a head kick that looked like it stung.
Simmons swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Simmons misses with a lunging right hand

and Nikitin counters with a driving takedown into guard. Nice work there by Nikitin.

Nikitin drops back looking for a heel hook - he quickly realises he's not going to get it but Simmons manages to dive on top of him before he can escape and now Nikitin has Simmons in his guard.
Simmons is intent on slowing down the pace of the fight, simply looking to control.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Nikitin keeping full guard, as Simmons tries to pass.
Simmons is taking a break and basically stalling. The referee will not allow him to do that for long.
It looks like the ref is thinking about a standup.
Simmons being controlled here momentarily.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up, due to lack of activity on the part of Richard Simmons.
A good leg kick by Simmons.
Simmons cracks the inside of Nikitin's front leg.
Simmons motions for Nikitin to come forward. Simmons throws a leg kick but it misses it's target.
Simmons throws a low kick but Nikitin avoids it.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Nikitin has his takedown stuffed
and Simmons counters with a thumping low kick.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Richard Simmons dominated that second round.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action. This is the final round!

Simmons rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Nikitin moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Nikitin slips under a jab from Simmons.
A lazy body kick from Nikitin
letting Simmons counter with a right hand.
Nikitin throws a shot from downtown. Simmons moves away and avoids it.
A head kick misses from Simmons.
Nikitin tries for a takedown but Simmons sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
Nikitin shoots in but doesn't get the takedown
and Simmons counters with a nice body shot.
Oooooooooooh, not good. A low kick from Simmons lands where it shouldn't have, right in the... well, you know what he did? He kicked him in the penis. He's injured, injured bad. The referee sends both fighters to their corners and Nikitin has 5 minutes to recover. He's OK now though... a thumbs up from Nikitin and we're back underway with a touch of gloves.
Nikitin takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
A slapping leg kick lands for Simmons.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Simmons thuds his right hand into Nikitin's forehead from close range. That could be painful for both fighters.
Simmons swings widly with a right hand

and Nikitin counters with a nice double leg into side control. Simmons won't be happy with that.
Nikitin tries to cartwheel into mount but he doesn't manage it.
Simmons struggling a bit here.

Nikitin tries for a kimura. Not really close to a finish though.
Nikitin advances nicely into full mount.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Nikitin prevents Simmons from getting the reversal.
Nikitin throwing sloppy strikes here. Perhaps if he tightened up his striking from such a dominant position, he'd be able to finish easier.
Simmons wants to control but Nikitin is having none of it.
Nikitin throwing strikes here but Simmons is writhing around nicely and avoiding any serious damage.
Nikitin looking to land elbow strikes but Simmons uses the position to regain half guard.
Nikitin wants to free his trapped foot but Simmons is holding on for dear life with his legs.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Nikitin sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Simmons defending well though.
Nikitin not landing any meaningful shots this time.
Simmons gets back to full guard.
Nikitin trying to control the position from guard on top but Simmons is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Nikitin accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Nikitin wants to control from the top but Simmons keeps moving.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.
Simmons is trying to control the position but Nikitin postures up.

Nikitin is holding a leg here, probably looking for an ankle lock - he drops back and goes for it! Simmons is in trouble! Is it all over??? No! Simmons has escaped and now he's on top!
Simmons wants to control from the top but Nikitin keeps moving.
Nikitin manages to land a sweep and now he's in mount on top!

And that's the end of the fight!
Richard Simmons showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Simmons 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 Tarja Halkonen scores the fight 29:28
Judge Roosa Järviläinen scores the fight 29:28
Judge Matti Vanhoillinen scores the fight 30:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Richard Simmons!