PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Luke Cage (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Anton Nikolaev (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). These two fighters really are very evenly matched on the feet - it will be fascinating to see who can assert themselves in that aspect of the fight.

Cage
vs
Nikolaev

170 cm
26
159 lbs
8 - 8 - 0

170 cm
26
135 lbs
6 - 5 - 0

Good wrestling
Lethal high kicks
Very quick

Good wrestler
World class MT
Good gas tank

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 8 - 8 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Luke Cage!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 6 - 5 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Anton Nikolaev!
The judges for this bout are Illya Tyunina, Ivan Kurochkin and Aleksei Zolotukhin.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Nikolaev lands an overhand left. A wild punch that just about connected.
Nikolaev misses with a series of wild punches.
Nikolaev throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Cage sees it coming and avoids it easily.
Nikolaev swings widly with a right hand
and Cage counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
Nikolaev swinging wildly here.
Cage misses with a low kick.
Cage throws a leg kick that misses.
Nikolaev throws a jab but it's blocked by Cage.
Cage looks shocked there as he takes a right hand to the temple.
Nikolaev misses the jab.
Cage throws a head kick that misses.
Nikolaev blocks a low kick nicely.
Cage is trying hard to land a takedown here. Nikolaev sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.
Nikolaev drops his hands momentarily and Cage takes advantage with a crisp shot to the head.
Nikolaev moves out of range of the body kick from Cage.
Cage throws a lazy body kick
and Nikolaev counters with a series of strikes. Cage will be more careful next time no doubt.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Cage throws a low kick, looking for Nikolaev's leg but Nikolaev calmly moves out of range.
Nikolaev loads up on a big right hand but Cage slips the punch.
Cage misses with a looping left.
Cage avoids a punch combination nicely.
Nikolaev misses with a wild combination.
Nikolaev will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Cage bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
Cage ducks under a wild hook from Nikolaev.
Cage fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Nikolaev manages to avoid it.
Cage misses with a jab, cross combination.
Cage connects with a right hand. Nikolaev shakes it off.
Cage closes the distance but Nikolaev moves to the side
and Nikolaev counters with a left to the body.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Cage lands with a hook. Nikolaev tried to avoid it but it clipped the top of his head.

Cage shoots in looking for a single leg takedown. Nikolaev is trying to defend but Cage finishes it well and ends up in half guard. Let's see if he can advance position further.
We may be looking at a referee standup if the pace doesn't pick up soon.
Cage working Nikolaev over with strikes.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Nice strikes from Cage there.

Cage is trying a forearm choke… I don't think that's going to do much at this level of the game.
Cage throws a big elbow that misses, also allowing Nikolaev to regain full guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Cage is just sitting in guard, looking to avoid any submissions.
Cage wants to control from the top but Nikolaev keeps moving.
Cage controlling from the guard. I say controlling but really, he's stalling.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Cage trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Cage loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Cage trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Cage is sitting in guard, working some ground and pound.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Cage postures up.
Cage sitting in guard, not really doing much.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Jab, jab by Cage - just one landing.
Nikolaev throws a lazy uppercut
and Cage counters with a thumping low kick.
Cage misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Nikolaev.
Cage throws a body punch but Nikolaev moves out of range.
Nikolaev misses with a looping right.
Nikolaev throws an off balance right hand

so Cage counters with a double leg into guard. Good agility.
Nikolaev really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Cage. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.
Nikolaev controlling Cage's posture.
Cage sitting in guard, not really doing much.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

That's one minute gone in the round.
We may be looking at a referee standup if the pace doesn't pick up soon.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Nikolaev fakes a jab and then connects with a hook.
Nikolaev bobs and weaves and throws out a fast jab that snaps Cage's head backwards.
Cage lands a leg kick that knocks Nikolaev off balance momentarily.
Cage lands a powerful looking uppercut that connected with his opponent's jaw.

Cage throws a loose over hand right and dives in with a double leg takedown. Nikolaev tries to sprawl but it's too late and the fighters hit the mat. Cage is in Nikolaev's guard.
We get told so often about how wrestlers don't like to be on their backs. Let's see if Nikolaev can do anything to dispel that myth.
Cage advances position into side control!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Cage wants to control but Nikolaev is keeping him busy.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!

Cage has an Americana. Nikolaev didn't react quickly enough there and he's in big trouble now! He tries to squirm out but is forced to tap! Cage is delighted and gyrates in front of the ring girls. They seem to like the attention - it'll be interesting to see if Cage hooks up with any of them at the after show party.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 2:35 of round 2, we have a winner by way of Submission (Americana). Luke Cage!
Luke Cage managed to slip a mention for his sponsors, Fight Club Clothing est. 09™, into his post fight interview.