PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Fyodor Pending (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Bastian Nokia (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

Pending
vs
Nokia

150 cm
25
130 lbs
14 - 31 - 0

182 cm
21
130 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

Good takedowns
Counter striker
Good chin

Dangerous GnP
Excellent boxer
Determined

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the bantamweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 14 - 31 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Fyodor Pending!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Bastian Nokia!
The judges for this bout are Robert Twigg, Gwen Towbar and Alan Glass.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Nokia looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
Nokia shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Pending pinned against the cage. Pending gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
Pending stuffs the takedown.
Fyodor Pending has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Bastian Nokia.
Nokia scores with a reasonable looking shot to the body. Pending doesn't seem bothered though.
Nokia is looking to clinch but Pending is avoiding it.
Nice sprawl there from Nokia as Pending shoots in.
Nokia with a lazy takedown attempt

and Pending counters with a nice single leg takedown and he's in Nokia's guard now.
The referee is asking the fighters to pick up the pace.
Pending trying to control but Nokia is working from the bottom.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Nokia controlling Pending's posture.
Pending works a leg free and moves into half guard.

Pending seems to be looking for submissions.
Pending wants to control but Nokia is keeping him busy.
Pending could do with loosing a few pounds - he looks very soft around the mid section, to put it politely.

Pending is working for submissions here but there's nothing on.
Pending is looking to advance position but Nokia won't allow it.
Pending is looking to stall here but Nokia recovers full guard.
Pending trying to control but Nokia is working from the bottom.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Pending looking to sit in guard and control but Nokia gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Nokia controlling from the guard. I say controlling but really, he's stalling.

Pending throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
Nokia wants to control from the top but Pending keeps moving.
Nokia is stalling in the full guard.

Pending working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Nokia doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Nokia manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Nokia trying to control the position from guard on top but Pending is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Pending might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.

Pending is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
Nokia wants to pass the guard but Pending is keeping the position.
Nokia trying to control but Pending is working from the bottom.

Pending looking for submissions from the bottom but instead Nokia passes into side control.
Pending is not in a great position here, taking some shots.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Pending tries to work a leg under to get back to half guard but Nokia wriggles his own leg back out and remains in side control.
Pending taking a bit of punishment here - Nokia scoring with strikes.
You can see the frustration on Pending's face as Nokia controls the position.
Nokia is a painfully thin specimen of a man. You do wonder whether a good body kick would snap him clean in two.
Nokia working away.

Nokia tries for a kimura but Pending is defending well.
Pending looking for a sweep but Nokia has passed into full mount! Oh no!
Nokia pausing momentarily but resumes with a couple of decent strikes that do a bit of damage.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
BOOM! Nokia connects with a massive shot to the dome!
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Pending is trying desperately to improve position.
Pending tries to hold on but Nokia pushes him away.
Pending tries to get back to half guard but can't.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close round but I would say that Fyodor Pending will probably get the nod.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

Nokia closes the distance and clinches.
Pending is looking to take this one to the mat.
Nokia drops down looking for an ankle pick but Pending pulls his leg out and moves away.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Nokia is defended easily by Pending.

Pending closes the distance and gets a double leg, slamming Nokia to the mat! Nokia manages to get full guard.
Fyodor Pending overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.

Nokia had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Pending defends it easily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Nokia tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Pending trying to control but Nokia is working from the bottom.
Pending trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.

Pending has gone for a leg lock! Nokia slips out almost immediately though and dives into Pending's guard.
Pending trying to keep a closed guard but Nokia is proving a slippery customer.

Pending is looking for a triangle but Nokia pushes his legs off easily.
Nokia wants to control from the top but Pending keeps moving.
Nokia is taking a break and basically stalling. The referee will not allow him to do that for long.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Pending looking for a guillotine here but Nokia defends easily.

Pending throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
Nokia tries to stand but Pending is controlling from the bottom.

Pending is working an open guard so Nokia takes the opportunity to get back to his feet.
Pending stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Pending wants it to stay on the feet.
Fyodor Pending has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Bastian Nokia.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Nokia connects with a single shot there.
Nokia doesn't manage to clinch there - Pending circles away.
Nokia is trying hard to land a takedown here. Pending sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.
Nokia tries to close the distance and clinch but Pending swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Nokia misses with a takedown

and Pending decides to take the opportunity to score a takedown. He's landed in Nokia's guard.
Pending tries to free his leg and advance position but Nokia is retaining full guard.
Pending trying to control the position from guard on top but Nokia is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Nokia not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Pending has gone for a leg lock! Nokia slips out almost immediately though and dives into Pending's guard.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Pending is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Nokia looking to pass the guard.
Nokia is stalling in the full guard.
Nokia wants to control from the top but Pending keeps moving.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
The referee looks like he's ready to step in and stand the fighters back up.

Pending working away from the bottom but not quite defensive enough there because Nokia has passed into half guard!
Pending wants to control but Nokia is keeping busy and won't allow it.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close second round but I would say that Fyodor Pending will probably get the nod.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business. This is the final round!

Nokia doesn't succeed with the takedown

and Pending counters with a nice double leg into side control. Nokia won't be happy with that.

Pending wants to work for a kimura but he's foiled early by Nokia, who protects the arm well.

Pending looking for an arm triangle but it's way too loose to do anything.
Pending trying to control the action but Nokia is working from the bottom.

Pending is looking for a kimura. He might have it! No, Nokia has escaped the position, nice work there.
Nokia struggling a bit here.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Pending goes for an armbar! This could be all over! Wait, no, Nokia rolls with the submission and now he's on top in Pending's guard! Nice work there by Nokia!

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

Pending is working an open guard so Nokia takes the opportunity to get back to his feet.
Nokia shoots in for a takedown but Pending shows good takedown defense.

Pending shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Oh and he's advanced to full mount straight away.

Pending jumps to the side looking to secure the arm triangle…. Ooooh, that looks tight… Nokia is gargling but he's managed to escape! Nice work there by Nokia and Pending has given up the dominant position trying to land that submission.
Nokia is positioning himself to get back to half guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Nokia struggling a bit here.

Pending is trying to get an arm triangle but Nokia is defending well.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Nokia wants to control but Pending postures up.

Pending is looking for a kimura. He might have it! No, Nokia has escaped the position, nice work there.
Nokia wants to control but Pending postures up.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Nokia is looking for a sweep.
Pending tries to move into full mount but can't pass Nokia's legs.

Pending working hard here to secure a kimura but he's not really in the right position for it.
Nokia sneaks a leg under to get back to half guard.
Pending stalling.

Nokia looking for submissions off his back.

Nokia looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Pending trying to control from half guard but Nokia is working away.
Pending trying to pass the guard but Nokia defending well.

Pending is working for submissions here but there's nothing on.

Nokia is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Pending pulls his head out easily.

Pending is working for submissions here but there's nothing on.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.

Pending is trying for a guillotine from the top but the pressure isn't in the right place so Nokia is just riding it out for now. Pending eventually gives up the hold.

And that's the end of the fight!
Fyodor Pending showed his dominance in that final round.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Pending, winning every round. Will the judges agree? They are the ones who matter, even if they are often depressingly incompetent. 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 Robert Twigg scores the fight 30:27
Judge Gwen Towbar scores the fight 30:27
Judge Alan Glass scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Fyodor Pending!