PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Aleksandr Fedorov (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Michael Niwa (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Fedorov comes to the ring accompanied by http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B8kANB2XBYU&feature=related. Both fighters look pumped up here. Let's hope this is a good fight!

Fedorov
vs
Niwa

190 cm
24
180 lbs
12 - 9 - 0

185 cm
22
170 lbs
9 - 7 - 1

Powerful takedowns
Solid boxing
Cardio machine

BJJ Purple Belt
Decent boxing
Granite chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the welterweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 12 - 9 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Aleksandr Fedorov!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 9 - 7 - 1, fighting out of Tokyo, Michael Niwa!
The judges for this bout are Sosuke Kotani, Yuuki Gou and Ren Mimura.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Niwa closes the distance and clinches up with Fedorov, looking for a takedown. Niwa pushes Fedorov against the ropes but Fedorov circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
Fedorov ducks under a wild hook from Niwa.

Fedorov has taken the fight to the clinch.
Fedorov prevents Niwa from breaking the clinch.
Fedorov scores with a nice hook to the head.
Fedorov pushes Niwa back against the ropes and unloads with a body punch.

Fedorov escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.

Fedorov drops down and drives through with a powerful takedown into guard.

Niwa throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.

Fedorov decides to stand up and beckons his opponent to follow.
Fedorov moves in looking to clinch but Niwa pushes him off.
Aleksandr Fedorov seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Fedorov misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Fedorov tries to clinch but fails miserably
and Niwa counters with a nice body shot.
Fedorov slips a jab from Niwa.
Fedorov doesn't manage to clinch there - Niwa circles away.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Niwa misses with an uppercut. Fedorov saw that one coming.
Fedorov has a takedown stuffed.
Fedorov tries to close the distance and clinch up but Niwa swats him away and circles back towards the center.

Fedorov closes the distance and clinches up, looking for a takedown. He shifts his weight and gets a nice trip into half guard.
Niwa is not content to let Fedorov control the position.

Niwa pushes Fedorov off and gets back to his feet.
Niwa throws a big shot that misses.
Fedorov wants to clinch up but Niwa keeps it at a distance.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Niwa is defended easily by Fedorov.

Niwa scores with a nice takedown into half guard. Let's see what he's got on the ground.
Both fighters really going for it on the ground here!
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Fedorov tries to kick Niwa off but Niwa keeps his base steady and stays in half guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Niwa thows a huge punch but Fedorov dodges it nicely.
Fedorov trying to control from the bottom.
Fedorov has hold of Niwa's hands but Niwa slips his arm to the side and lands an elbow.
Niwa thows a huge punch but Fedorov dodges it nicely.
Fedorov holds on for dear life, maintaining half guard for now.
Niwa tries to stand and escape but Fedorov is controlling the position.
The fighters are battling for position here. Fedorov manages to regain full guard. Nice work.
Niwa is looking to stand up but Fedorov won't let him.
Niwa won't allow Fedorov to sweep him here.
Fedorov controls Niwa momentarily but Niwa frees himself.
Niwa throws a big right hand that misses.
Fedorov trying to punch from his back but it's not doing any damage.
Fedorov 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.
The fighters are tangled up in the ropes here. We might need a restart if the fighters can't break free themselves.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Fedorov bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Niwa's guard.
Fedorov trying to control but Niwa is working from the bottom.
Niwa can't keep his opponent in guard - Fedorov advances to half guard, no doubt looking to mount.
Fedorov seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Niwa does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.
Niwa has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
Niwa tries to roll over but Fedorov keeps him under control.
Fedorov content to control rather than advance.

The ref stands the fighters back up because Aleksandr Fedorov just wasn't active enough.
Fedorov tries to clinch but Niwa is having none of it.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Fedorov tests Niwa's chin there with a solid looking shot.

It looks like Michael Niwa has been cut.

Fedorov closes the distance and clinches.
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!
Niwa tries to break the clinch but Fedorov is controlling the position.

Fedorov jumps guard.
Fedorov is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.
Fedorov manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Niwa manages to get himself to full guard.
Fedorov stands and throws Niwa's legs to the side, diving into side control.
Niwa tries to bench press Fedorov off him but Fedorov keeps the position.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Niwa is persisting with the attempt to improve his position.
Fedorov controlling from side mount.
Niwa is trying to stand back up. He's worked his way up against the ropes but Fedorov has just dragged him back down to the mat.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Aleksandr Fedorov dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Michael Niwa's cut.
That's time! Back to the action!

A telegraphed takedown attempt from Niwa is defended easily by Fedorov.
Niwa jabbing away but nothing is landing.
Aleksandr Fedorov is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Fedorov tries to close the distance and clinch up against the ropes but Niwa paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Niwa lands a head shot.
Fedorov fails with the takedown.

Fedorov darts in and clinches Niwa up against the ropes.

Fedorov breaks from the clinch.
Fedorov tries to close the distance and clinch up against the ropes but Niwa paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Niwa has his takedown stuffed

and Fedorov counters with a nice double leg into half guard.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Niwa is looking to improve his position.
Fedorov wants to stand but Niwa has hold of a leg and an arm, so he's trapped for now.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Fedorov stands up and beckons Niwa to join him on the feet.
Fedorov is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Niwa lands a jab to Fedorov's midsection.
Fedorov fails with an attempt to clinch.
Niwa fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Fedorov avoids it really well and circles away.
Aleksandr Fedorov has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Michael Niwa.
Niwa scores with a crisp jab that stopped Fedorov in his tracks.
Fedorov fails with an attempt to clinch.
Niwa avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Fedorov dives in and grabs Niwa's left leg, looking for a takedown. Niwa pushes down on Fedorov's head and hops out.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

The fight moves into the clinch position.
Fedorov just leaning against Niwa, taking a breather.
Niwa tries to break the clinch but Fedorov is controlling the position.
Niwa is looking to break free of the clinch but Fedorov has double underhooks.
Fedorov tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. Niwa smiles and moves away.
Niwa looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Fedorov is fending him off so far but Niwa persists. Nope, Fedorov circles away and we're back to standing.
Niwa looks for a takedown but Fedorov sprawls well.
Fedorov tries to close the distance and clinch up but Niwa swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Fedorov is trying hard to land a takedown here. Niwa sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.
This has been an exciting period of action!

Fedorov moves into the clinch.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Fedorov lands an uppercut.
Niwa is looking to break free of the clinch but Fedorov has double underhooks.
Fedorov lands a left hand.
Fedorov lands with a good tight uppercut to the head.

Fedorov breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Niwa scores with a punch to the head.
Niwa works the jab nicely.
Niwa just misses with a punch to the body.
Fedorov shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Niwa pinned against the ropes. Niwa gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
Fedorov shoots in but Niwa avoids the takedown attempt easily.
Fedorov keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Fedorov keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Niwa.
Niwa connects with a nice looking jab.
Fedorov shoots in for a double leg but Niwa sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
A decent looking cross lands there for Niwa.
Fedorov wants to clinch up but Niwa keeps it at a distance.
Fedorov tries to clinch but Niwa is having none of it.
Fedorov shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Niwa pinned against the ropes. Niwa gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
Fedorov shoots in and drives through. Niwa sprawls well.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Fedorov staying out of range there.
The fighters circling - Niwa throws out the jab but it was never going to land.

Niwa gets a double leg takedown into Fedorov's guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Aleksandr Fedorov dominated that second round.
The cut man is working on Michael Niwa's cut.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action. Let's get this one finished - here comes the final round!

Fedorov misses with a takedown attempt
and Niwa counters with a lovely straight right hand!

Fedorov darts in and clinches Niwa up against the ropes.
Niwa tries to break the clinch but Fedorov is controlling the position.
Still in the clinch, Fedorov scores with a nice short uppercut.
Fedorov goes for a takedown in the clinch but Niwa prevents it.

Fedorov drags the fight down to the ground.
Aleksandr Fedorov overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Niwa with a flurry of punches that miss.
Fedorov is trying to control the position but Niwa postures up.
Fedorov manages to land a sweep and now he's in mount on top!
Fedorov controlling the position easily from mount.
Niwa is wriggling around trying to escape.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Niwa sneaks a leg under to get to half guard.
Fedorov prevents Niwa from improving his position.
Fedorov stalling.
It looks like Fedorov is going to stand back up.
Fedorov seems content to maintain position for now, rather than mounting any offense.
Niwa is not content to let Fedorov control the position.

We're going to have a standup here because Aleksandr Fedorov wasn't active enough for the referee's liking.

Fedorov clinches with his opponent.

Niwa escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Niwa jabs Fedorov to the body, keeping him at a distance.
Fedorov has a takedown stuffed.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Aleksandr Fedorov. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Fedorov fails to land the takedown.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Niwa circles away from the clinch attempt.
Niwa lands a head shot.
Fedorov tries to clinch but Niwa moves out of range.
Fedorov is looking to clinch.
This has been an exciting period of action!
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Fedorov.

Fedorov closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the ropes.
Both guys are working to get underhooks.

Fedorov's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Niwa lands a straight punch to the body, keeping Fedorov at a distance.
Fedorov shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Niwa sprawls well. Niwa wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Fedorov gets slowly back to his feet.
Niwa just misses with a punch to the body.
Niwa scores with a nice strike.
The fight stays on the outside here - Fedorov looks like he's thinking about clinching though.

Fedorov is looking for a takedown here. He's shot in and has managed to get it, finishing up in Niwa's half guard.
Fedorov uses his free foot to push down on Niwa's thigh. Eventually he works his other foot free and he's advanced to mount - this is trouble for Niwa.
Niwa is desperately trying to improve his position but Fedorov has a good base and remains in mount.
The fighters are trapped in the ropes so we're going to have a reposition here. The ref calls for a break and repositions the fighters in the center of the ring.
Niwa'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.
Niwa is looking to get to half guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Fedorov is standing up out of mount! Strange tactic there - he must really want this one on the feet!
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.

A momentary lapse in concentration from Niwa enables Fedorov to shoot in and score with a neat double leg. Niwa manages to secure a closed guard as the fighters hit the mat.

Fedorov decides he's had enough of playing guard and decides to stand. Come on Niwa, up you get!
Fedorov walks straight into an uppercut. Luckily it didn't land flush.
Niwa jabs Fedorov right on the nose. Fedorov blinks but takes it well.
Fedorov tries to close the distance and clinch up against the ropes but Niwa paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Michael Niwa has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Fedorov throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Fedorov doesn't manage to clinch there - Niwa circles away.
Fedorov is looking to clinch.

Fedorov gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.
Aleksandr Fedorov is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Niwa misses with a shot to the kidneys.

And that's the end of the fight!
Aleksandr Fedorov showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Fedorov 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 Sosuke Kotani scores the fight 30:27
Judge Yuuki Gou scores the fight 30:27
Judge Ren Mimura scores the fight 30:27

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