PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Vladimir Nikolaev (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Alex Cole (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Alex Cole is staring across the cage at his opponent, tweaking his nipples.

Nikolaev
vs
Cole

179 cm
20
190 lbs
2 - 2 - 0

195 cm
34
193 lbs
11 - 9 - 1

Good wrestling
Counter striker
KO power

BJJ Purple Belt
Decent boxing
Determined

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the middleweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 2 - 2 - 0, fighting out of New York, Vladimir Nikolaev!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 11 - 9 - 1, fighting out of New York, Alex Cole!
The judges for this bout are Dean Styles, Joseph Jones and Reed Andrews.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Cole stuffs the takedown attempt from Nikolaev. Nikolaev gets slowly back to his feet.
Cole scores with a crisp jab that stopped Nikolaev in his tracks.
Cole steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Nikolaev.

Nikolaev drives through with a really nice takedown into side control.
We may be looking at a referee standup if the pace doesn't pick up soon.
Nikolaev misses with the ground and pound.
Nikolaev tries to score with some ground and pound. Cole controls his posture well this time though and the shots don't do any damage.
Nikolaev wants to lay and pray for a moment but Cole keeps working.
Cole gives up the full mount - oops, sloppy defensive grappling there!
Nikolaev controlling the position easily from mount.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Cole tries to buck Nikolaev off but Nikolaev takes his back!
Nikolaev struggling to land strikes to the head as Cole covers up.

Cole fending off the submission attempt from Nikolaev.

Cole is trying to shake Nikolaev off. He's managed it and has hopped back to his feet! Nikolaev won't be happy about giving up the dominant position.
Nice defenses there by Cole.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Cole throws a series of punches but Nikolaev moves out of range.
Cole shoots in but Nikolaev avoids the takedown attempt easily.
Cole fails in his attempt to clinch.
Cole uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Nikolaev.
Nice cross by Cole.
A big right from Nikolaev misses.
Vladimir Nikolaev seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Nikolaev lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Cole circles away quickly and effectively.
Nikolaev throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Nikolaev shoots in for a takedown but Cole shows good takedown defense.

Nikolaev decides to change it up a bit and drives through with a nice takedown into half guard.
Nikolaev thows a huge punch but Cole dodges it nicely.
Nikolaev throws a big elbow that misses, also allowing Cole to regain full guard.
Nikolaev has been looking to land a fair amount of strikes on the ground. He might be looking to soften his opponent up in order to work for a submission.
Cole keeping moving, preventing Nikolaev from controlling successfully.
Cole trying to keep a closed guard but Nikolaev is proving a slippery customer.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Cole keeping moving, preventing Nikolaev from controlling successfully.
Nikolaev stands and throws Cole's legs to the side, diving into side control.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Nikolaev throws an elbow but Cole slips to the side and avoids it well.
Nikolaev sitting in side control, looking to soften his opponent up with elbows and hammerfists but Cole is avoiding damage well and looking to escape the position.
Nikolaev misses with the ground and pound.
Nikolaev wants to lay and pray for a moment but Cole keeps working.
Cole defending against the ground and pound.
Nikolaev sitting in side control, looking to soften his opponent up with elbows and hammerfists but Cole is avoiding damage well and looking to escape the position.
This has been an exciting period of action!
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Cole is moving his hips around well on the bottom and has managed to get back to half guard.
Nikolaev wants to take a breather but Cole is having none of it.
Cole tries to get to full guard but Nikolaev has control of the leg.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Vladimir Nikolaev dominated that round.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

A swing and a miss from Nikolaev.
Nikolaev throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Cole avoids the body shot from Nikolaev.
Nikolaev is really struggling to find his range with his punches. Cole's reach advantage is clearly causing him problems.
Nikolaev thows a body shot but no joy.
Nikolaev shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Cole as he jumps to the side.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Cole lands a head shot.
Nikolaev throws an off balance right hand

and Cole counters with a nice double leg into guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Cole preventing the sweep.
Cole tries to free his leg and advance position but Nikolaev is retaining full guard.
Nikolaev is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Cole wants to control from the top but Nikolaev keeps moving.
We may be looking at a referee standup if the pace doesn't pick up soon.
Nikolaev 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 ref stands the fighters back up, due to lack of action by Alex Cole.
The fighters circling - Nikolaev throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
Alex Cole is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
A looping hook to the body misses from Nikolaev. Cole does a little dance to reset his feet.
Cole rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Nikolaev moves out of range and avoids them all easily.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Cole throws a right and a left that both miss.
Nikolaev misses with a body shot.
Nikolaev throws a shot from downtown. Cole moves away and avoids it.
Cole looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
Cole fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Cole leaves Nikolaev with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
Nikolaev throws a right and a left that both miss.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Nikolaev throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
Cole is using his reach advantage to land shots from outside his opponent's range.
No luck with that takedown attempt from Nikolaev.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Vladimir Nikolaev. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Cole throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Cole moves out of range as Nikolaev strikes.
Cole slips in close and lands a nice hook before moving back out of range.

Cole gets tackled into the cage by Nikolaev. Nikolaev maintains the clinch.
Cole misses with a knee to the head.
A frustrated look appears on Cole's face as he tries to break the clinch.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Nikolaev dictating the pace here, as the fighters clinch against the cage.

Cole manages to break the clinch.
Nikolaev takes a big uppercut there. He seems a bit wobbly but no, he's OK.
A telegraphed right hand from Nikolaev misses the target.
Cole throws a nice looking combination but Nikolaev bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Cole misses with a series of wild punches.
Nikolaev misses the body punch
and Cole counters with a three punch combo that has Nikolaev backing up. Nikolaev nods at Cole to acknowledge the strikes.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Nikolaev misses with a body shot.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Nikolaev throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
Nikolaev takes a shot to the body in his stride.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Alex Cole showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
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. The crowd applaud as we get ready to start the final round!

Nikolaev misses with a hook to the body
and Cole counters with a lovely shot to the body.
A combination from Cole does no damage.
Cole misses the shot to the body.

Nikolaev shoots in and bounces Cole off the cage to secure the takedown into guard.
Nikolaev wants to control from the top but Cole keeps moving.
Nikolaev throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Cole works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Nikolaev trying to control but Cole is working from the bottom.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Nikolaev stands and throws Cole's legs to the side, diving into side control.
Cole managing to avoid any damage from the strikes thrown by Nikolaev.

Nikolaev tries for a kimura but Cole is defending well.
Nikolaev moving around in side mount but really he's just happy to control for now.

Nikolaev is looking to finish here, going for an Americana. Cole knows the correct defense though, so he's OK.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Nikolaev tries to advance to mount but Cole denies him.

Nikolaev is looking to finish here, going for an Americana. Cole knows the correct defense though, so he's OK.
Nikolaev throws an elbow but Cole slips to the side and avoids it well.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Nikolaev postures up a little and throws a couple of hammerfists but they don't connect properly.
Nikolaev is looking to take a break and control but Cole is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Nikolaev taking a break here but Cole is having none of it and regains half guard.

Nikolaev is looking for a kimura here.

Nikolaev seems to be working for a kimura but Cole defends the submission attempt.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Nikolaev is trying for a guillotine from the top but the pressure isn't in the right place so Cole is just riding it out for now. Nikolaev eventually gives up the hold.
Cole is refusing to be controlled, as Nikolaev sits in half guard.

And that's the end of the fight!
Vladimir Nikolaev showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Nikolaev 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 Dean Styles scores the fight 29:28
Judge Joseph Jones scores the fight 29:28
Judge Reed Andrews scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Vladimir Nikolaev!