PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Aleksey Nikiten (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Aleksandr Skerlik (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). The key to victory for Aleksey Nikiten has got to be keeping the fight on the feet.

Nikiten
vs
Skerlik

160 cm
25
150 lbs
0 - 1 - 0

175 cm
23
154 lbs
0 - 1 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Solid boxing
Inexperienced

Decent wrestler
Dangerous knees
Tends to cut

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the featherweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 1 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Aleksey Nikiten!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 1 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Aleksandr Skerlik!
The judges for this bout are Igor Prikhodko, Dmitry Maklakov and Viktor Lagutenko.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Nikiten swats away the attempt to clinch by Skerlik.

Skerlik has Nikiten up against the cage in a clinch.
Nikiten being controlled against the cage.
Skerlik tries a knee to the head but Nikiten blocks it.
Skerlik tries a knee to the head but he's missed.
Skerlik tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Nikiten avoids it.
Skerlik lands a knee to the head there! That was nasty!
Skerlik throws a knee to the head but misses.
Skerlik working Nikiten over with knees to the body.
Skerlik is pushing Nikiten up against the cage, for a bit of lean and pray action. Action being used the in the loosest possible sense of the word.
Skerlik is pressed up against the cage. Nikiten has hold of a leg and is looking to drag Skerlik down to the mat. Skerlik avoids the attempt though and has circled away. We're back to striking at a distance.
Nikiten fails with a takedown attempt.
Nikiten fakes a jab and scores with a low kick.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Nikiten avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Aleksandr Skerlik is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.

Skerlik clinches.
Come on Skerlik - let's have some action - none of this stalling nonsense.
Skerlik throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Nikiten blocks it with crossed arms.
Skerlik is pushing Nikiten up against the cage, for a bit of lean and pray action. Action being used the in the loosest possible sense of the word.
Skerlik throws an elbow but it's blocked.
Skerlik with an attempt at a knee that misses.
Skerlik stalling here - the referee won't stand for too much of that.
Skerlik pushes off an throws an elbow but Nikiten leans to the side and avoids it. We're back to clinching against the cage.
Nikiten jumps guard but his hands slip and he falls flat on his back. Well, he's made himself look a right mug there, as Skerlik walks away with a smile on his face. Nikiten gets slowly back to his feet and shakes his head.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Aleksey Nikiten. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Skerlik is looking to clinch but Nikiten is avoiding it.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Nikiten is defended easily by Skerlik.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A few boos can be heard. I'm sure they will multiply if the fighters don't pick up the pace.
Nikiten has his takedown stuffed

and Skerlik holds on and brings the fighters into a clinch.
Nikiten tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.
Skerlik lands a knee to the head there! That was nasty!
Nikiten is breathing heavily.
Skerlik tries to land a knee to the head but misses.
Skerlik leaning against his opponent.
Nikiten tries to break the clinch but Skerlik is controlling the position.
Nikiten changes levels and goes for a takedown here. Skerlik fights it off and pushes away nicely.
Nikiten swats away the attempt to clinch by Skerlik.
Nikiten misses with a takedown attempt

and Skerlik counters by moving into the clinch. Good anticipation by Skerlik.
Skerlik lands a knee to the body.
Skerlik lands a knee to the head there! That was nasty!
Skerlik scores with a knee to the head.
Skerlik connects with a knee to the head.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Skerlik tries to land a knee to the head but Nikiten blocks with his arms.
Skerlik tries a knee to the head but he's missed.
Skerlik tries to land a knee to the head but Nikiten blocks with his arms.
Skerlik avoiding damage.
Skerlik landing knees to the head.
Skerlik dictating the pace here, as the fighters clinch against the cage.
Skerlik lands a knee to the body.
Skerlik throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Nikiten blocks it with crossed arms.
Skerlik is struggling to control the position.
Nikiten could do with loosing a few pounds - he looks very soft around the mid section, to put it politely.
Nikiten takes a knee right on the jaw!
Skerlik displaying some good clinch control by pressing Nikiten up against the cage.
Skerlik with the Thai clinch, lands a knee to the head.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A few boos can be heard. I'm sure they will multiply if the fighters don't pick up the pace.
Nikiten managing to block the knees to the body from Skerlik.
Skerlik using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Nikiten has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
Skerlik lands a knee to the head.
Skerlik tries to land a knee to the head but Nikiten blocks with his arms.
Skerlik lands a knee to the head there! That was nasty!
Skerlik prevents a takedown attempt there.
Skerlik gets underhooks to prevent Nikiten's takedown attempt.
Skerlik stops a takedown attempt from Nikiten.
Skerlik landing knees to the head.
A knee to the head by Skerlik.
Skerlik is trying to wear down his opponent with knees to the body.
Skerlik content to slow the pace in the clinch.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Aleksandr Skerlik 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.

Skerlik pushes Nikiten up against the cage in a clinch.
Skerlik landing knees to the body. They look like they could hurt.
Skerlik with a knee to the head.
Skerlik pressing his opponent against the cage.
Skerlik misses with a knee strike.
Skerlik controlling the action here for a moment.
The crowd are getting on Skerlik's back here. They're not happy about his lack of aggression in the clinch.
Nikiten wants to break free but Skerlik has control.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
The referee is keeping an eye on Skerlik - much more stalling and he will separate the fighters.
Skerlik throws a knee to the head but misses.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Skerlik with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.
Skerlik prevents Nikiten from breaking the clinch.
Nikiten takes a knee right on the jaw!
Skerlik with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.
Nikiten tries to pull guard but Skerlik holds him up against the cage and eventually Nikiten drops back down to his feet.
Nikiten avoids a wild elbow strike from Skerlik.
Skerlik slowing the pace effectively.
Skerlik connects with a nasty looking knee right to Nikiten's face.
Nikiten takes a knee to the side of the body.
Skerlik with the Thai clinch, lands a knee to the head.
Skerlik with the Thai clinch, lands a knee to the head.
Skerlik scores with a knee to the head.
Skerlik is stalling here. The referee will be looking to step in if he doesn't pick up the pace.
Nikiten has a body lock and is looking for a takedown. Skerlik is bouncing around trying to prevent the takedown and somehow he has indeed managed to stay on his feet.

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.
Nikiten takes a knee right on the jaw!
Skerlik with the Thai clinch, lands a knee to the head.
Skerlik misses with a knee strike.
The referee is keeping an eye on Skerlik - much more stalling and he will separate the fighters.
Skerlik with the Thai clinch, lands a knee to the head.
Skerlik tries a knee to the head but he's missed.
Nikiten on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
Nikiten is trying to work for a single leg takedown but Skerlik pulls him back up using the underhooks.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Aleksey Nikiten. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Skerlik misses with a knee strike.
Skerlik misses with a knee strike.
Skerlik misses with a knee to the head.
Skerlik throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Nikiten blocks it with crossed arms.
Skerlik with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Skerlik throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Nikiten blocks it with crossed arms.
Nikiten drops down looking for an ankle pick but Skerlik pulls his leg out and moves away.

Skerlik rushes Nikiten and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.
Skerlik just leaning against Nikiten, taking a breather.
Skerlik connects with a nasty looking knee right to Nikiten's face.
Nikiten jumps guard but Skerlik stands there with Nikiten around his waist. Nikiten gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.
Skerlik looking to throw knees to the head but Nikiten is blocking nicely.
Skerlik crunches a lovely knee into Nikiten's ribcage.
Skerlik taking a break, stalling in the clinch.
Skerlik with an attempt at a knee that misses.
Skerlik misses with a knee strike.

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.
Skerlik is struggling to control the position.
Nikiten has a body lock and is looking for a takedown. Skerlik is bouncing around trying to prevent the takedown and somehow he has indeed managed to stay on his feet.
Skerlik tries a knee to the head but he's missed.
Skerlik misses with a knee to the head.
Skerlik with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.
Skerlik tries a knee to the head but he's missed.
Nikiten takes a knee right on the jaw!
Skerlik misses with a knee strike.
Skerlik holding his opponent close, against the cage.
Skerlik misses with a knee to the head.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Skerlik with an attempt at a knee that misses.
Skerlik tries a knee to the head but he's missed.
Skerlik prevents the takedown attempt.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Aleksandr Skerlik showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
That's time! Back to the action! This is the final round!

Skerlik is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Nikiten shoots in but doesn't get the takedown

and Skerlik counters by moving into the clinch.
Skerlik tries to land a knee to the head but Nikiten blocks with his arms.
Skerlik lands a knee to the body.
Skerlik displaying some good clinch control by pressing Nikiten up against the cage.
Skerlik lands a knee to the body.
Skerlik is pushing Nikiten up against the cage, for a bit of lean and pray action. Action being used the in the loosest possible sense of the word.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Skerlik using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Nikiten has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Skerlik tries a knee to the head but he's missed.
Some stalling of biblical proportions here from Skerlik.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Skerlik looking to throw knees to the head but Nikiten is blocking nicely.
Skerlik using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Nikiten has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
Skerlik is trying to maintain a safe position but Nikiten gets an underhook and turns Skerlik into the cage.
Skerlik gets underhooks to prevent Nikiten's takedown attempt.
Skerlik tries a knee to the head but Nikiten blocks it.
Skerlik misses with a knee to the head.
Skerlik using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Nikiten has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
Nikiten is working for a takedown up against the cage. He can't get it on this occasion though.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Aleksey Nikiten. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Skerlik misses with a knee to the head.
Nikiten tries to score a body lock takedown but Skerlik shows good agility there to stay on his feet.
Skerlik connects with a nasty looking knee right to Nikiten's face.
Skerlik will no doubt start fighting again in a minute but for now he's just having a little rest, leaning Nikiten up against the cage.
Skerlik with a knee to the head.

That's two 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.
The referee is keeping an eye on Skerlik - much more stalling and he will separate the fighters.
Nikiten wants a takedown but no success here.
Skerlik effectively controlling the action here.
Skerlik scores with a knee to the head.
Skerlik connects with a knee to the head.
Skerlik tries a knee to the head but he's missed.
Skerlik keeps the fight in the clinch, despite Nikiten's efforts to push away.
Skerlik with a knee to the head.
Nikiten drops to a knee looking for a takedown but Skerlik gets the underhooks and prevents it.
Knees in the clinch landing for Skerlik.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Skerlik tries a knee to the head but Nikiten blocks it.
Nikiten takes a knee right on the jaw!
Nikiten working hard to break the clinch.
Skerlik's corner are urging him to control the action in the clinch for a moment, rather than mount any serious offense. I'm sure the crowd appreciate those instructions... not.

Nikiten pulls guard successfully.
Skerlik trying to stand up but can't free himself from Nikiten's guard.
Skerlik is using up a lot of energy trying to get back to his feet. Perhaps he should improve his position first.

Nikiten looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Skerlik has decided he wants to stand but the closed guard of Nikiten is proving hard to escape from.

Nikiten is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Skerlik defends well.
Skerlik wants to stand but Nikiten has a closed guard, so he can't escape.
Aleksey Nikiten has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Nikiten striking off his back but it's not causing Skerlik any problems.
Aleksandr Skerlik is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Skerlik tries to stand but Nikiten is controlling from the bottom.

And that's the end of the fight!
Aleksandr Skerlik comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Skerlik winning every round here. Surely the decision will go his way and he'll pick up a well deserved decision victory. 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 Igor Prikhodko scores the fight 27:30
Judge Dmitry Maklakov scores the fight 27:30
Judge Viktor Lagutenko scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Aleksandr Skerlik!