PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Denis Nazarov (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Anthony Montana (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Denis Nazarov had a look across the cage there at his opponent. He definitely means business

Nazarov
vs
Montana

178 cm
25
154 lbs
1 - 1 - 0

170 cm
25
152 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter striker
Cuts easily

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Determined

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 1 - 1 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Denis Nazarov!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Anthony Montana!
The judges for this bout are Sergei Dronov, Illya Tyunina and Fedor Mirinova.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Excellent takedown into side control there by Montana.
Montana laying and praying for a moment but Nazarov takes advantage and regains half guard.
Nazarov won't allow Montana to pass to mount.
Montana seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Nazarov does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.
Montana prevents Nazarov from improving his position.
Nazarov is refusing to be controlled, as Montana sits in half guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Nazarov wants to get back to his feet.
Montana prevents Nazarov from improving his position.

The ref calls for a clean break and stands the fighters back up. Anthony Montana wasn't active enough on the ground.

Montana closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.
Nazarov gets double underhooks to prevent a takedown attempt from Montana.
The referee is keeping an eye on Montana - much more stalling and he will separate the fighters.
Montana wants to break free but Nazarov has control.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Montana jumps guard but Nazarov stands there with Montana around his waist. Montana gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.
Montana tries to pull guard but Nazarov won't allow it.
Denis Nazarov has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Anthony Montana.
Nazarov wants a takedown.
Montana misses with a body punch.

Nazarov has double underhooks and is working for a body lock takedown. He's got it. The fighters land in half guard but Montana regains guard immediately.
Nazarov preventing the sweep.

Montana throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Nazarov drops back, looking for a kneebar! Montana looks panicked! The fighters roll across the mat, one looking to finish, one looking to escape. Montana looks to have wriggled free... Yes, he's got his leg free and he's dived into side control! Good work there from Montana!
Nazarov is positioning himself to get back to half guard.
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Montana working hard here to secure a kimura but he's not really in the right position for it.
Nazarov is looking to reverse the position.
Nazarov sneaks a leg under to get back to half guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Anthony Montana will probably get the nod.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

Montana closes the distance and clinches up with Nazarov, looking for a takedown. Montana pushes Nazarov against the cage but Nazarov circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
Montana fails with a takedown attempt.
Anthony Montana seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Montana fakes with a right hand and throws a good leg kick, right into the thigh. That had to hurt Nazarov.
Nazarov changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Montana tries to avoid it but Nazarov manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Montana to the ground. Montana escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
Montana throws a series of punches but Nazarov avoids them all with ease.

Montana closes the distance and gets a double leg, slamming Nazarov to the mat! Nazarov manages to get full guard.
Nazarov is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.

Nazarov has butterfly guard. He's looking to stand up here. He pushes Montana off him and springs to his feet nicely. The crowd applauds.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Nazarov shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Montana pinned against the cage. Montana gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
Montana shoots in and drives through. Nazarov sprawls well.
Denis Nazarov has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Anthony Montana.
Montana looks for a takedown but Nazarov sprawls well.
Montana is breathing heavily.
Nazarov dives in and grabs Montana's left leg, looking for a takedown. Montana pushes down on Nazarov's head and hops out.
Montana fakes a head shot and lands one to the body.
Montana leaves Nazarov with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Montana fails with an attempt to clinch.
Montana connects with an inside leg kick.
Nazarov slaps away a takedown attempt from Montana, before circling back to the center of the mat.
Montana tries to grapple but his opponent circles

and Nazarov counters with a driving takedown into guard. Nice work there by Nazarov.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Montana is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Nazarov stopping the sweep attempt from Montana.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Montana wants to control the position but Nazarov says "no thanks buddy" and passes to half guard.

Nazarov wants to work for an arm triangle but Montana is really keeping half guard well and defending the submission attempt.
Nazarov passes the half guard and he's now in mount! Big trouble for Montana!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Nazarov with the ground and pound from mount.
Denis Nazarov overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Nazarov with shots to the head and body - Montana looks very uncomfortable down there.
Nazarov is landing with some decent strikes but Montana is trying to advance his position so the referee is letting the fight continue.
Montana is working to get back to half guard.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Denis Nazarov dominated that second round.
That's time! Back to the action! The crowd applaud as we get ready to start the final round!

No luck for Montana with that takedown attempt.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Montana is defended easily by Nazarov.
No luck for Nazarov with that takedown attempt.

Nazarov looking for a takedown here - he's got it.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Montana looking to control.
Montana takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Montana wants to stand but Nazarov is controlling the position.

Nazarov drops back looking for a leg! Montana is in trouble here! The fighters roll with the hold and Montana manages to kick Nazarov off! Nazarov jumps back into Montana's guard.
Montana looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Nazarov is standing up over Montana. Montana looks to escape but Nazarov dives into side control.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Nazarov decides to stand back up. Nazarov steps back and let's Montana get back to his feet.
Nazarov will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.

The fight moves into the clinch position.
Montana tries to pull guard but Nazarov holds him up against the cage and eventually Montana drops back down to his feet.
Denis Nazarov has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Anthony Montana.
Nazarov looking for a takedown.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Montana wants a takedown.
Nazarov gets double underhooks to prevent a takedown attempt from Montana.
Nazarov has hold of a leg and is looking for a trip takedown. Montana avoids it nicely though and we remain in the clinch.

Nazarov has dropped down and is working for a takedown. Montana is trying to keep an underhook but Nazarov manages to get the takedown into half guard.
Nazarov is keen to just control but Montana is a slippery customer.
Montana trying to hold on to Nazarov's head to control him but Nazarov postures up.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The referee is pacing around the two fighters - he looks like he's thinking about a standup.
Montana is not content to let Nazarov control the position.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up, due to lack of activity on the part of Denis Nazarov.
Montana wings a very wild body shot but it does the job and lands to the midsection.
Montana wants to clinch up but Nazarov keeps it at a distance.
Montana stuffs the takedown attempt from Nazarov. Nazarov gets slowly back to his feet.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Montana tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Nazarov paws at him with a jab and circles away.

And that's the end of the fight!
Denis Nazarov showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Nazarov 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 Sergei Dronov scores the fight 29:28
Judge Illya Tyunina scores the fight 29:28
Judge Fedor Mirinova scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Denis Nazarov!