PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Valentin Niculescu (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Marv Milenkovic (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

Niculescu
vs
Milenkovic

195 cm
23
205 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

181 cm
18
205 lbs
1 - 1 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Solid boxing
Cuts easily

BJJ White Belt
Excellent boxer
Solid chin

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, Valentin Niculescu!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 1 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Marv Milenkovic!
The judges for this bout are Vladimir Khabensky, Aleksandr Martynov and Fedor Mirinova.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Niculescu closes the distance and clinches.
Milenkovic is working for takedown but Niculescu is calmly controlling the position for now.
Milenkovic drops to a knee looking for a takedown but Niculescu gets the underhooks and prevents it.

Niculescu gets a trip takedown into half guard.
The referee calls for the fighters to work.
Niculescu uses his free foot to push down on Milenkovic's thigh. Eventually he works his other foot free and he's advanced to mount - this is trouble for Milenkovic.
Niculescu lands with some vicious ground and pound - can Milenkovic hang on?
Niculescu looking to control and managing it successfully.
Milenkovic's corner are shouting for him to stand up but that's bad cornering - how is he meant to stand up when he's mounted? He should be looking to improve his position on the ground before trying to stand back up.
Niculescu controlling from the full mount.
Niculescu has controlled the position for a good 20 seconds, which will no doubt be starting to frustrate his opponent.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Niculescu seems to have a rather negative gameplan on the ground. He seems keen to just score the takedown and hold down Milenkovic for as long as he can get away with.

The ref stands the fighters back up. Valentin Niculescu wasn't doing enough on the ground.
Niculescu doesn't manage to clinch there - Milenkovic circles away.

Niculescu fakes an overhand right and shoots for a takedown. Milenkovic sprawls well initially but Niculescu persists and gets the takedown into half guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Niculescu controlling the action here.
Milenkovic looks like he's trying to stand up.
Niculescu trying to control the pace.

The ref stands the fighters back up because Valentin Niculescu just wasn't active enough.
Niculescu shoots in looking for a takedown but Milenkovic manages to keep the fight standing, pushing Niculescu's face into the canvas for good measure before circling away.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Nice defenses there by Niculescu.
Niculescu looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
Niculescu tries to close the distance and clinch up but Milenkovic swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Sloppy strikes from Milenkovic. Those never looked like landing.
Milenkovic throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
Niculescu cracks Milenkovic with a good jab.

Niculescu shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Oh and he's advanced to full mount straight away.
Niculescu pausing momentarily but resumes with a couple of decent strikes that do a bit of damage.
Milenkovic is trying to escape but when you're mounted that's not too easy.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Niculescu controlling the pace for now.
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.

Niculescu working for a guillotine from mount but Milenkovic is in no mood to give up.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Valentin Niculescu dominated that round.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin!

Jab, cross, leg kick. Nice combination by Niculescu!
Milenkovic lands a right hook to the body.
Niculescu looks to land a combination but Milenkovic avoids it well.
Niculescu takes a shot right to the bread basket.
Milenkovic throws a series of punches but Niculescu moves out of range.
Milenkovic jabbing away but nothing is landing.
Milenkovic throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Niculescu looks to land a body kick but Milenkovic moved away.
Niculescu tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in the close the distance. Milenkovic manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Niculescu throws an ugly left hook that misses
enabling Milenkovic to counter with a crisp jab.
The fighters circle momentarily. Milenkovic darts into range and connects with a nice straight punch.
A decent looking cross lands there for Milenkovic.
Niculescu looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Niculescu shoots in looking for a takedown. Milenkovic tries to sprawl out of it but Niculescu keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Milenkovic manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Milenkovic throws a wild body kick that Niculescu sees coming a mile off.
Valentin Niculescu seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Milenkovic connects with a single shot there.
Niculescu takes a jab on the nose. He smiles like he loves it and keeps coming.
Good exchange - Milenkovic coming out on top.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Milenkovic looks to land a left hand but Niculescu moved out of range nicely.
Milenkovic throws a combination. Niculescu tries to block but a couple of punches get through.

It looks like Valentin Niculescu has been cut.
Niculescu shoots in looking for a takedown but Milenkovic manages to keep the fight standing, pushing Niculescu's face into the canvas for good measure before circling away.
Milenkovic waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Niculescu.
Milenkovic swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
Milenkovic throws a series of punches but Niculescu moves out of range.
Niculescu tries to clinch up.
Milenkovic scores with a nice right hand.
Milenkovic lands with a straight right. Niculescu didn't see that one coming.
Niculescu shoots in looking for a takedown. Milenkovic tries to sprawl out of it but Niculescu keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Milenkovic manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Valentin Niculescu. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Niculescu takes a shot to the body in his stride.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Milenkovic cracks Niculescu with an open hand slap.
Milenkovic misses with a looping left.
Milenkovic cracks Niculescu with an open hand slap.
Milenkovic throws a series of punches but Niculescu avoids them all with ease.
Milenkovic lands a jab, followed by a cross and another cross, as Niculescu backs up against the cage.
Decent striking displayed by Milenkovic there.
Milenkovic dips to his left and cracks Niculescu with an uppercut!
Nice straight punches there by Milenkovic. You know Roy Jones Jr respects the hands of Milenkovic.
Milenkovic slips in close and lands a nice hook before moving back out of range.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Milenkovic stuns Niculescu with a nice body shot, before stepping back out of range.
Niculescu takes one to the side of the head.
Milenkovic connects with a good right hand that stumbles Niculescu. Niculescu circles away out of range and recomposes himself.
Niculescu's hands are dropping dangerously low here and Milenkovic connects clean with a right hook that sends him down to one knee! Niculescu scrambles back to his feet.
Milenkovic connects with the punch.
Milenkovic scores with a nice right hand.
Nice uppercut lands for Milenkovic. That snapped Niculescu's head back.
Valentin Niculescu is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Milenkovic with a hook.
Niculescu walks into a straight right hand from Milenkovic.
Marv Milenkovic is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Niculescu dodges the punch combination from Milenkovic.
Marv Milenkovic seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Milenkovic misses with an uppercut. Niculescu saw that one coming.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Marv Milenkovic showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The cut man is working on Valentin Niculescu's cut.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business. The crowd applaud as we get ready to start the final round!

Milenkovic connects with a single shot there.
Niculescu moves forwards but Milenkovic connects with a nice, crisp jab.
Milenkovic jabs Niculescu right on the nose. Niculescu blinks but takes it well.
Milenkovic connects with a looping right hand.
Milenkovic scores with a three punch combo!
Niculescu walks into a left hand.
Milenkovic lands with a right hand.
Niculescu misses with a head kick.

Niculescu closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.

Niculescu gets a trip takedown into half guard.
Milenkovic is trying to stand.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

Niculescu is thinking about going for an arm triangle but he can't free his leg.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Niculescu prevents Milenkovic from standing back up.

Milenkovic kicks Niculescu off and gets back to his feet.
Milenkovic digs a good body shot into Niculescu's ribs.
Niculescu's hands are dropping dangerously low here and Milenkovic connects clean with a right hook that sends him down to one knee! Niculescu scrambles back to his feet.
Donk. Milenkovic catches Niculescu right on the button with a cross.
Milenkovic works over Niculescu's head and body with a nice combination.
Niculescu avoids a punch combination nicely.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Milenkovic bobs and weaves and unloads with a good uppercut.
Milenkovic tests Niculescu's chin there with a solid looking shot.
Milenkovic with a jab.
Niculescu is looking to clinch.
Milenkovic connects with a nice looking jab.
Niculescu takes a shot right to the bread basket.
Niculescu ducks under a wild hook from Milenkovic.
Milenkovic lands a right hook to the body.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Milenkovic connects with a lovely jab that went straight through the gap between Niculescu's hands.
Milenkovic ducks down and throws a hook to the body.
Milenkovic loads up on a big right hand but Niculescu slips the punch.
Niculescu looks like he's developed a pretty tasty lump over his left eye. He'll need to avoid taking much more damage to that.
Milenkovic dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
Milenkovic feints a straight left to the body, then turns around with a flashy move and hits Niculescus jaw with a dramatic spinning back fist!
Milenkovic catches Niculescu with a nice straight right. He seems pissed - ooooh, it's on now! On like donkey kong!
Milenkovic throws a nice hook to the body that draws an oooh from the crowd.
A jab from Milenkovic does it's job there.
Niculescu takes a shot to the body in his stride.
Milenkovic throws a wild combination but nothing lands.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Milenkovic punishes Niculescu's body with a nice straight punch.
Milenkovic fakes low and throws an overhand right that catches Niculescu on the side of the head.
Milenkovic lands an overhand right.
Niculescu slips a straight right by Milenkovic.
Niculescu tries to move into range but Milenkovic moves to the side and lands with a nice right hand.
Milenkovic jabs away that one connects to the head of his opponent.
Milenkovic misses the jab.
Milenkovic lands an overhand right.
Milenkovic connects with a body shot.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Milenkovic lands a two punch combo.
A nice combination there by Milenkovic.

And that's the end of the fight!
Marv Milenkovic comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Milenkovic 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 Vladimir Khabensky scores the fight 28:29
Judge Aleksandr Martynov scores the fight 28:28
Judge Fedor Mirinova scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by majority decision... Marv Milenkovic!