PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Vadim Nazarov (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Ajax Ajax (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

Nazarov
vs
Ajax

187 cm
19
195 lbs
0 - 0 - 2

180 cm
19
198 lbs
0 - 1 - 1

BJJ Blue Belt
Solid boxing
Granite chin

BJJ Blue Belt
Decent boxing
Heavy handed

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 0 - 0 - 2, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Vadim Nazarov!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 1 - 1, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Ajax Ajax!
The judges for this bout are Matheus Silva, Mauricio Rocha and Daniel Cesar.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Nice shot lands for Nazarov.
Nazarov fails with an attempt to clinch.

Nazarov looking for a takedown here - he's got it.
We've had a lack of effective grappling in the last minute or so, which could well see a referee standup.
Ajax utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Nazarov tries to free his leg and advance position but Ajax is retaining full guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Nazarov postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Nazarov postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Ajax is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Nazarov is controlling him.
Nazarov in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Nazarov throws a big right hand that misses.
Ajax is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Nazarov is controlling him.
Nazarov wants to control from the top but Ajax keeps moving.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Nazarov trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Ajax is looking to stand up but Nazarov isn't so interested in that idea.
Nazarov throws a strike but Ajax rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.

Ajax stands up and waves to Nazarov to follow him.
Ajax misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Ajax keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
Ajax tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Nazarov paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Ajax misses with a leg kick.
Nazarov tries to grapple but his opponent circles
and Ajax counters with a one-two to the body.
Ajax misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.

Nazarov drives through and clinches with Ajax against the cage.
Nazarov tries a body shot but Ajax blocks it.
Nazarov wants a takedown.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Come on Nazarov - let's have some action - none of this stalling nonsense.
Nazarov wants a takedown.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Vadim Nazarov. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Ajax prevents a takedown attempt there.
Nazarov just leaning against Ajax, taking a breather.
Nazarov scores with a hook to the body.

Nazarov turns his hips and lands a very nice judo throw into side control!
Ajax wants to get back to his feet.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The strikes coming from Nazarov are missing the target in this wave of attacks.
Ajax on the wrong end of some ground and pound.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Ajax wants to escape from the position here - easier said than done!
Nazarov works to advance to full mount. Ajax defends for a few seconds but eventually he succumbs.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Nazarov throwing sloppy strikes, which aren't doing any damage.
BOOM! Nazarov connects with a massive shot to the dome!
Ajax wants to get back to his feet.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Vadim Nazarov dominated that round.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

Nazarov scores with a jab.
Nazarov showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Ajax.

Nazarov rushes Ajax and presses him up against the cage.
Ajax tries a body shot but Nazarov blocks it.
Nazarov tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Nazarov goes for a takedown attempt but Ajax pushes him away and we're back to fighting at a distance.
Nazarov tries to bum rush Ajax with a series of wild strikes but Ajax uses good footwork to avoid the assault.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Nazarov closes the distance and scores a nice trip takedown into half guard. Ajax did well to prevent Nazarov getting side control.
Ajax looks like he's trying to stand up.
Vadim Nazarov overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Nazarov misses with a head shot. Ajax uses the momentum to regain guard.
Nazarov looking to control the position here, rather than advance.
Nazarov in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Nazarov prevents Ajax from getting back to his feet.
Nazarov has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Nazarov passes into half guard.
Nazarov trying to pass the guard but Ajax defending well.
Ajax is trying to stand back up but Nazarov is controlling him
Nazarov trying to pass the guard but Ajax defending well.
Ajax is looking to escape.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Ajax blocking the ground and pound attempt from Nazarov.
Nazarov lands a big shot. The thud that echoes around the arena is like music to the fans' ears.
Ajax is staying active underneath Nazarov, who seems content to just control the action from this position.
Nazarov sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Ajax defending well though.
Nazarov not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
Nazarov thows a huge punch but Ajax dodges it nicely.
Nazarov wants to pass the guard but Ajax is defending well.
Nazarov controlling the pace.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Nazarov throwing shots but Ajax is blocking nicely.
Nazarov sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Ajax defending well though.
Nazarov throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
Nazarov missing with the ground and pound from half guard.
Nazarov scoring with strikes to the body and head.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Nazarov not landing any meaningful shots this time.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Nazarov drops an elbow to the side of Ajax's head.
Nazarov missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.
Ajax is refusing to be controlled, as Nazarov sits in half guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Vadim Nazarov dominated that second round.
That's time! Back to the action! Let's get this one finished - here comes the final round!

Nazarov throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Nazarov shoots in and drives through. Ajax sprawls well.
Ajax stuffs the takedown.
Nice takedown defense from Ajax. No joy for Nazarov on that attempt.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Vadim Nazarov. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Some bone on bone action there as Nazarov checks a low kick. Luckily it wasn't a particularly hard one.
Nazarov throws a right and a left that Ajax avoids nicely.
Nazarov is on the wrong end of a nice combination from Ajax.
Nazarov connects with the punch.
Ajax Ajax is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Nazarov misses with a straight right.
Ajax is looking to clinch.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Ajax circles away from the clinch attempt.
Nazarov misses with a body shot.
Nazarov shoots for a takedown but Ajax saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
Nazarov tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Nice straight punches there by Nazarov. You know Roy Jones Jr respects the hands of Nazarov.

Ajax drives through and clinches with Nazarov against the cage.
Nazarov wants a takedown.
Nazarov taking a breather.
The referee is keeping an eye on Nazarov - much more stalling and he will separate the fighters.
Nazarov is trying to work for a single leg takedown but Ajax pulls him back up using the underhooks.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Ajax goes for a takedown in the clinch but Nazarov prevents it.
Nazarov taking a break, stalling in the clinch.
Nazarov is working for takedown but Ajax is calmly controlling the position for now.
Nazarov avoiding damage.
Ajax taking a breather.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Ajax lands a left hand.
Nazarov can't get the takedown.
Nazarov is looking for a takedown.
Ajax wants to break free but Nazarov has control.
Nazarov dodges an elbow strike from Ajax.
Nazarov lands with a good tight uppercut to the head.
Nazarov goes for a takedown attempt but Ajax pushes him away and we're back to fighting at a distance.
Vadim Nazarov seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Nazarov misses with a hook
and Ajax counters with a series of strikes. Nazarov will be more careful next time no doubt.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Nazarov sizes up Ajax with a pawing jab and scores with a straight right down the middle.
Ajax Ajax is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Ajax lands a head shot.
Nazarov tries to close the distance and clinch but Ajax swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Nazarov will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
Ajax showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Nazarov.
Ajax avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Nazarov keeps the fight on the outside.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Ajax fails with an attempt to clinch.
Nazarov misses with a lunging right hand
and Ajax counters with a two punch combo.
Ajax Ajax has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Vadim Nazarov is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
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!
Nazarov tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Ajax swivels and escapes.

And that's the end of the fight!
That was a close round. You could make an argument for either fighter but I would give it to Vadim Nazarov.
Well Nazarov 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 Matheus Silva scores the fight 29:28
Judge Mauricio Rocha scores the fight 29:28
Judge Daniel Cesar scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Vadim Nazarov!
Vadim Nazarov decided to thank the fans in attendance for making a great atmosphere. It seemed to go down pretty well.