PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Ali Souleymane (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Nikolai Selivanov (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). The crowd giving both fighters a great reception on their way into the arena. That's good to see.

Souleymane
vs
Selivanov

198 cm
21
217 lbs
9 - 4 - 0

182 cm
29
212 lbs
8 - 7 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Solid boxing
Experienced

BJJ Blue Belt
Excellent boxer
Heavy handed

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 9 - 4 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Ali Souleymane!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 8 - 7 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Nikolai Selivanov!
The judges for this bout are Sergei Dronov, Valeri Chadov and Fedor Mirinova.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Selivanov fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Souleymane throws a shot to the body.
Selivanov misses with a combination
and Souleymane counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
Souleymane moves out of range of the body kick.
Good standup being displayed there by Selivanov as he connects with a hook.
Selivanov lands a head shot.
Selivanov tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in the close the distance. Souleymane manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
That kick from Souleymane tenderised Selivanov's leg. Selivanov is trying to keep his angry face on.
Selivanov looks to land a combination. Souleymane sees it coming but can only parry a couple of the shots.
Souleymane moves out of range of the strikes.
Souleymane does a little shimmy and throws a leg kick. The leg kick missed by a considerable margin though, making him look a little bit silly for doing the shimmy.
Selivanov slips a straight right by Souleymane.
The fans in attendance giving it up for the two fighters, who have really let it all hang out in the last minute or so!
Selivanov tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Selivanov checks a low kick from Souleymane.
Souleymane blocks a head kick by Selivanov.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Souleymane scores with a three punch combo!
Selivanov darts in and out, connecting with a jab.
Souleymane takes a swing at Selivanov's ribcage but misses.
Selivanov throws a jab, cross combination which is slipped
and Souleymane makes him pay by landing a nice hook to the body before moving out of range.
Selivanov lands a jab-cross combination.
Nikolai Selivanov seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Selivanov misses with a double jab.
Souleymane dodges the punch combination from Selivanov.
Selivanov pushes forward with a 1-2 combination that forces Souleymane back to the cage. Selivanov follows up with a solid lead hook to the liver.
Selivanov looks gassed!
Selivanov throws a right and a left that both miss.
Selivanov misses with a combination
and Souleymane counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
Souleymane scores with a sloppy right hand. Selivanov should have avoided that one.
Selivanov fails to land with a series of punches.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Selivanov pushes forward with a 1-2 combination that forces Souleymane back to the cage. Selivanov follows up with a solid lead hook to the liver.
Selivanov misses with a double jab
enabling Souleymane to counter with a crisp jab.
Souleymane keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Selivanov lands a jab followed by a nice looking cross.
Selivanov avoids the body shot from Souleymane.
Selivanov displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Souleymane throws out the jab.
Selivanov falls off balance throwing a combination
and Souleymane counters with a head kick.
Souleymane avoids a kick to the body.
Selivanov blocks a head kick by Souleymane.
Some wild striking there from Selivanov.
Souleymane looks to land a right hand but Selivanov moved out of range.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Selivanov misses with a few strikes there.
Souleymane misses with a looping left.
Souleymane throws a chopping leg kick but Selivanov manages to avoid taking any serious damage.
Selivanov swings wildly with a couple of big hooks
and Souleymane counters with a body kick that stops Selivanov in his tracks momentarily.
Souleymane connects with the punch.
Selivanov misses with a body shot.
Souleymane throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
Selivanov stalks Souleymane and leaps in with a furious combination of punches. Uppercuts and crosses smash into Souleymane's face. Souleymane staggers backwards, shaken.
Souleymane avoids a punch combination nicely.
Selivanov tries to clinch there but Souleymane circles away.
Souleymane lands a high kick!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Selivanov swinging wildly here.
Souleymane moves into range and lands a nice leg kick.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Souleymane lands a nice leg kick that just misses Selivanov's sensitive parts.
Souleymane cracks Selivanov with a good shot that sees him stumbling back into the cage.
Souleymane connects with a right hand. Selivanov shakes it off.
Selivanov is working the combinations to good effect here.
Souleymane uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Selivanov.
Selivanov keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Souleymane fakes a head shot and lands one to the body.
Souleymane is using his reach advantage well here, landing the more effective single shots from range.
Souleymane pulls out of a head kick attempt.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Souleymane scores with a reasonable looking shot to the body. Selivanov doesn't seem bothered though.
Souleymane misses with a low kick.
Souleymane walks forward and throws out a flicking leg kick. Selivanov checks it nicely though, as he moves to the side.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Ali Souleymane dominated that round.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

A head kick misses from Souleymane.
Selivanov scores with a jab to the jaw.
Selivanov fakes low and throws an overhand right that catches Souleymane on the side of the head.
Ali Souleymane is winning the standup battle so far.
Souleymane looks to land a right hand but Selivanov moved out of range.
Selivanov looking to land some kicks to the body here.
Souleymane gets his head snapped back by a nice shot there.
Selivanov walks into a straight right hand from Souleymane.
Selivanov tries a head kick but it misses.
Selivanov throws a jab, cross combination which is slipped
and Souleymane counters with a low kick, right behind Selivanov 's knee.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Selivanov throws a leg kick
and Souleymane counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Selivanov staying out of range there.
Selivanov throws a series of punches but Souleymane avoids them all with ease.
Selivanov is breathing heavily.
Selivanov throws out a loose jab but Souleymane uses good head movement to avoid it.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Selivanov keeping at a good range here, avoiding a leg kick.
Selivanov throws out a leg kick but Souleymane moves out of range and Selivanov only half commits.
Selivanov swings and misses with a shot to the body
and Souleymane counters with a nice uppercut.
Selivanov misses with a looping right.
Souleymane has not gone for a single takedown so far in this fight, which seems like a very strange tactic when you consider that he has the superior wrestling and BJJ.
Souleymane thuds a mid kick into his opponent's body. That will wear on Selivanov if he has to take too many more of those.
Souleymane misses with a looping right.
Souleymane works Selivanov's body with a nice hook.
Souleymane connects with a jab.
Selivanov will need to close the distance a bit before he attacks - that leg kick was thrown from too far away.
Souleymane jabs Selivanov to the body, keeping him at a distance.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Souleymane throws a wild body kick that Selivanov sees coming a mile off.
Selivanov throws a solid leg kick but Souleymane takes the impact on his shin and smiles at Selivanov.
Selivanov takes a body punch but keeps moving.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Souleymane works Selivanov's body with a nice hook.
Selivanov defending well as Souleymane loads up on a big left hand.
Selivanov takes a hook to the side of the head. I wonder if that's got his ears ringing.
Souleymane lands with a shot to the body.
Selivanov gets his head snapped back by a nice shot there.
Souleymane lands a body shot.
Souleymane is using his height advantage well here, landing a good percentage of his punches.
This fight brought to you by 5M nutrition - it's mmmmm tasty. Nice jab by Souleymane.
Souleymane fakes a head shot and lands one to the body.
Souleymane staying out of range there.
Souleymane lands the left hand.
Selivanov takes a body punch but keeps moving.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Souleymane looks to land a body kick but Selivanov moved away.
Selivanov misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
A solid leg kick lands there for Souleymane.
Souleymane throws a head kick that misses.
Souleymane pushes Selivanov away with a front kick.
Souleymane lands a front kick.
Souleymane misses the shot to the body.
Souleymane fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Selivanov manages to avoid it.
Selivanov is looking to clinch but Souleymane is avoiding it.
Souleymane throws a half hearted mid kick.
Jab from Souleymane.
Selivanov moves out of range of the body kick.
A big left from Selivanov misses.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A head kick by Selivanov misses
and Souleymane connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Selivanov takes a shot to the nose. Hopefully that hasn't broken it.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Selivanov blocks a jab.
Souleymane lands a jab, followed by a cross and another cross, as Selivanov backs up against the cage.
Selivanov misses with a body kick.
Selivanov rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Souleymane moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Selivanov throws a hook but Souleymane blocks it.
Selivanov missing with a left hand there. Souleymane was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
Selivanov moving in and out of range nicely, whilst landing the scoring shot.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Selivanov drops his hands momentarily and Souleymane takes advantage with a crisp shot to the head.
Souleymane tries to score with an inside leg kick but telegraphs it and Selivanov is able to avoid easily.
Sloppy strikes from Selivanov. Those never looked like landing.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Ali Souleymane dominated that second 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. This is the final round!

Selivanov misses with an uppercut. Souleymane saw that one coming.
A slow jab from Souleymane misses its intended target.
Selivanov ducks low and lands a nice hook to the body of his opponent.
Selivanov throws a right and a left that Souleymane avoids nicely.
Selivanov throws a left and a right that both miss
and Souleymane counters nicely by changing levels and landing a hook to the body.
Souleymane moves out of range as Selivanov throws a body kick.
Nice cross by Souleymane.
A punch combination from Souleymane misses.
Selivanov throws a right hand that Souleymane ducks under and follows up with a left that Souleymane also avoids with ease.
Souleymane sizes up Selivanov with a pawing jab and scores with a straight right down the middle.
Selivanov takes a thudding leg kick, right into the meat of the thigh.
Selivanov misses with a combination
and Souleymane counters with a solid body kick.
Selivanov takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Souleymane with a nice cross.
Selivanov looks to land a right hand but Souleymane moved out of range.
Souleymane scores with a leg kick.
Selivanov throws a big shot that misses.
Selivanov misses with a looping right.
Souleymane looks to score with a jab to the body but Selivanov is just out of range.
Selivanov throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Souleymane.
Souleymane tries to land a leg kick but Selivanov saw it coming and moves away.
Selivanov throws a sloppy head kick and Souleymane moves out of range easily.
Selivanov throws a predictable looking body shot
and Souleymane counters with a thumping low kick.
Souleymane lets loose with a powerful body kick. Selivanov will feel that in the morning.
Selivanov has developed a nice purple lump on his ribcage, as a result of some heavy body kicks from Souleymane.
Souleymane pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Selivanov misses with a hook
and Souleymane counters with a slapping leg kick.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Souleymane lands a straight punch to the body, keeping Selivanov at a distance.
Selivanov takes one to the chin there.
Souleymane scores with a nice one two combo and darts back out of range to avoid anything coming in the opposite direction.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Souleymane misses with a head kick.
Selivanov throws a half hearted mid kick.
Selivanov throws a series of punches but Souleymane moves out of range.
Souleymane scores with a jab. Selivanov acknowledges it with a nod of the head.
Selivanov misses with a wild combination.
Souleymane connects with a solid leg kick.
Souleymane cracks the inside of Selivanov's front leg.
Souleymane misses with a low kick.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Souleymane lands with a hook. Selivanov tried to avoid it but it clipped the top of his head.
Souleymane avoids a punch combination nicely.
Souleymane swings wildly with a hook that is half blocked by Selivanov.
Souleymane keeps Selivanov at a distance using the push kick.
Selivanov will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Selivanov's leg has a nasty welt from taking a succession of leg kicks. That must be slowing him down.
Souleymane connects with a leg kick. He turned his hip over nicely there.
Souleymane changes levels and scores with a jab to the body.
Souleymane lands with a slapping head kick.
Selivanov throws a hook to the side of Souleymane's head but Souleymane sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
Selivanov fails to land with a series of punches.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Selivanov takes a body punch that cleary hurt but he's trying not to show any weakness.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Both fighters circling a little - Souleymane finishes the exchange with a kick to the body.
Souleymane connects with an inside leg kick.
Selivanov has his hands up protecting his head but a hook from Souleymane finds it's way round the side to connect with Selivanov's head.
Souleymane slips a jab and a cross from Selivanov.
Souleymane jabs Selivanov right on the nose. Selivanov blinks but takes it well.
Ali Souleymane is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Selivanov throws a series of punches but Souleymane moves out of range.
Souleymane slips in close and lands a nice hook before moving back out of range.
Nikolai Selivanov has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Selivanov shapes like he's going to throw a leg kick but settles back down.
Selivanov has a pretty nasty looking mouse under his right eye.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Souleymane fakes a jab and then connects with a hook.
Selivanov darts in trying to clinch
and Souleymane counters with an outside leg kick.

And that's the end of the fight!
Ali Souleymane showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Souleymane has outscored his opponent in every aspect of the fight today. Only a scarily incompetent judge or two will keep him from a well deserved win... 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 30:27
Judge Valeri Chadov scores the fight 30:27
Judge Fedor Mirinova scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Ali Souleymane!