PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Kalesh Nikov (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Rob Elsworth (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Nikov comes into the arena with Why We Thugs blaring out of the sound system. Elsworth has chosen Iron Maiden - Killers as his entrance music, which hasn't gone down very well with the crowd. Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

Nikov
vs
Elsworth

170 cm
26
219 lbs
14 - 8 - 0

190 cm
32
209 lbs
26 - 17 - 1

Abu Dhabi Champ
Excellent boxer
Insanely flexible

Good wrestler
Dangerous knees
Good gas tank

Legion of Pain Nutrition

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the light heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 14 - 8 - 0, fighting out of New York, Kalesh Nikov!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 26 - 17 - 1, fighting out of Montreal, Rob Elsworth!
The judges for this bout are Ian Loll, Trevor Gratis and William Peck.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Elsworth throws a body kick but he was well out of range there.
Nikov fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Elsworth manages to avoid it.
Elsworth fakes with the hands and throws a leg kick but Nikov is out of range.
Nikov misses with an uppercut.
Nice takedown defense from Elsworth. No joy for Nikov on that attempt.
Nikov fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
Nikov with a nice looking leg kick. You could hear that one land in a back row.
Elsworth misses the jab.
Elsworth is looking to clinch.
Nikov misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Kalesh Nikov. That's going to take a lot out of him.
A combination from Elsworth does no damage.
Rob Elsworth seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
A jab from Nikov misses.
Nikov thows a left - swing and a miss!
Nikov needs to keep his hands up - Elsworth had a free shot at his head there.
Nikov moves out of range of the body kick from Elsworth.
Elsworth scores with a jab to the body.
Nikov lands the left hand.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Elsworth pivots as if he's going to throw a leg kick but stops half way.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Nikov staying out of range there.
Elsworth misses with a body shot.
Nikov ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Elsworth moves away.
Nikov looks to land a left hand but Elsworth moved out of range nicely.
Elsworth throws an overhand right that lands on Nikov's shoulder, as Nikov tries to avoid the shot.
Nikov wants to slow Elsworth down by chopping away at his legs.
Elsworth tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Boom, another hit is landed. "You're gunna get knocked out" taunts Elsworth, as that shot connected.
Elsworth misses with a kick to the body.
Elsworth scores with the left hand. Nikov knows he should have avoided that one.
Elsworth listening to his corner there, landing a nice uppercut.
Elsworth avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
Elsworth throws a body punch but Nikov moves out of range.
Elsworth will need to close the distance a bit before he attacks - that leg kick was thrown from too far away.
Elsworth has used his reach advantage pretty well so far tonight.
Elsworth looks for the body kick but Nikov saw that one coming.

Elsworth darts in and clinches Nikov up against the cage.
Elsworth lands a nice elbow from the clinch.

It looks like Kalesh Nikov has been cut.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Elsworth lands a nice knee to the body.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Nikov blocks an elbow strike.
Elsworth misses with a punch to the body.
Nikov lands a right hand.
Nikov wants to break free but Elsworth has control.
Elsworth tries a knee to the head but Nikov blocks it.
Elsworth throws an elbow but it's blocked.
Nikov scores with a nice hook to the head.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Nikov.

Nikov breaks the clinch.
Nikov misses with a series of wild punches.
Elsworth is using his reach advantage to land shots from outside his opponent's range.
Elsworth on the wrong end of an overhand right that came out of nowhere.
Elsworth throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Nikov is looking to slow Elsworth down with leg kicks.
Good leg kick by Nikov there. It's the ones that make that thud noise that hurt and that was an almighty thud.

Nikov closes the distance and after a bit of a stuggle, scores a takedown into Elsworth's guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Elsworth keeping moving, preventing Nikov from controlling successfully.
Nikov passes Elsworth's right leg, so he's now in half guard.
We get told so often about how wrestlers don't like to be on their backs. Let's see if Elsworth can do anything to dispel that myth.
Nikov not landing any meaningful shots this time.
Nikov trying to control from Elsworth's half guard. Elsworth has other ideas though and has regained full guard.
Nikov wants to control from the top but Elsworth keeps moving.
Nikov missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Elsworth trying to control the position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Elsworth avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Nikov trying to control but Elsworth is working from the bottom.
Elsworth avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Nikov looking to pass the guard.
Nikov is taking a break and basically stalling. The referee will not allow him to do that for long.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Kalesh Nikov dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Kalesh Nikov's cut.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

Nikov looks to score with a jab to the body but Elsworth is just out of range.
Nikov throws a body punch but Elsworth moves out of range.
Nikov jabbing away but nothing is landing.

Elsworth rushes Nikov and presses him up against the cage.
Elsworth pushes off and fires off an elbow that misses, before clinching up again, against the cage.
Elsworth looks to throw an elbow but misses.
Elsworth is leaning against Nikov and scores with a nice uppercut to the body.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Nikov.
Elsworth lands a nice elbow from the clinch.
Elsworth digs a right hand underneath Nikov's ribcage. Nikov let out a lung full of air as it connected.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Elsworth lands a nice elbow.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Elsworth lands a glancing elbow in the clinch.

Kalesh Nikov's cut is getting worse.
Elsworth pushes off and fires off an elbow that misses, before clinching up again, against the cage.

Nikov lands a nice trip takedown into half guard.
Nikov is keen to just control but Elsworth is a slippery customer.
Nikov is just content to waste time from the top position. Elsworth takes advantage of the situation and regains full guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Elsworth wants to stand up but Nikov is controlling him.
Nikov throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Nikov passes into half guard.
Elsworth is not content to let Nikov control the position.
Nikov thows a huge punch but Elsworth dodges it nicely.
Still in half guard, Nikov seems content to control.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Elsworth is doing well to avoid being mounted. He's controlling the position at the moment.

Nikov is working for submissions here but there's nothing on.
Nikov sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Elsworth defending well though.
Nikov missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.
Elsworth really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Nikov. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.
Elsworth is staying active underneath Nikov, who seems content to just control the action from this position.
Nikov is taking a breather. Elsworth says something to him but it's hard to make out. Perhaps he's telling him to get on with it and actually do something.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
We've had a lack of effective grappling in the last minute or so, which could well see a referee standup.
Nikov wants to control but Elsworth is keeping him busy.
Elsworth on the receiving end of some nice ground and pound.
Nikov lands a big shot. The thud that echoes around the arena is like music to the fans' ears.
Nikov is keeping good posture, landing some ground and pound.
Kalesh Nikov overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Elsworth keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.
Nikov is controlling the pace.

Nikov is thinking about going for an arm triangle but he can't free his leg.
Nikov 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.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Elsworth is looking to control Nikov's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Elsworth avoid being mounted?
Nikov thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.
Nikov throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.

Nikov seems to be looking for submissions.
Nikov sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Elsworth defending well though.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Kalesh Nikov dominated that second round.
The cut man is working on Kalesh Nikov's cut.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business. This is the final round!

Nikov uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Elsworth.
Elsworth throws a shot from downtown. Nikov moves away and avoids it.
Elsworth looks to land a body kick but Nikov moved away.
Elsworth misses with a low kick.
A looping hook to the body misses from Elsworth. Nikov does a little dance to reset his feet.
Elsworth missing with a left hand there. Nikov was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
Nikov walks straight into an uppercut. Luckily it didn't land flush.
Elsworth misses with an attempted mid kick.
Nice defenses there by Nikov.
Elsworth throws a body kick but he was well out of range there.
Elsworth tries to close the distance and clinch but Nikov swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Nikov throws a hook but Elsworth avoids it easily.
Nikov tries to score a power double leg takedown but Elsworth sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Nikov somewhat.
Elsworth just misses with a punch to the body.
Nikov uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Elsworth.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Nikov misses with a double jab.
Elsworth avoids the body shot from Nikov.
Horrible takedown by Nikov or perhaps it was just good defense by Elsworth which made him look bad.
Rob Elsworth is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Elsworth throws a solid leg kick but Nikov takes the impact on his shin and smiles at Elsworth.
Elsworth looks for the body kick but Nikov saw that one coming.
Nikov throws a right hand that Elsworth ducks under and follows up with a left that Elsworth also avoids with ease.
Elsworth attempts a leg kick but it's missed by a good margin.

Nikov manages to get an easy takedown there - catching Elsworth on his heels. He'll look to pass Elsworth's guard now, I'm sure.
Nikov wants to control from the top but Elsworth keeps moving.
Nikov throwing strikes but missing.
Nikov slows down the pace of the fight, as he sits in guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Nikov looking to sit in guard and control but Elsworth gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.
Nikov trying to keep a closed guard but Elsworth is proving a slippery customer.
Nikov might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.

We're going to have a standup here because Kalesh Nikov wasn't active enough for the referee's liking.
Nikov checks a leg kick.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
A looping hook to the body misses from Elsworth. Nikov does a little dance to reset his feet.
A decent looking body kick lands there for Nikov.
A decent looking body kick lands there for Elsworth.
Kalesh Nikov is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Nikov fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Elsworth avoids it really well and circles away.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Kalesh Nikov. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Elsworth's corner calls for a 1-2. Elsworth obliges with the 1 part as he scores the single shot and moves back out of range.
Jab from Nikov.
Elsworth throws a wild body kick that Nikov sees coming a mile off.
Nikov lands a right hook to the body.
Nikov throws a body punch but Elsworth moves out of range.

Nikov shoots in and bounces Elsworth off the cage to secure the takedown into guard.
Nikov controlling from the top position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
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!
Nikov keeps in close for a moment and lands a decent shot to the side of Elsworth's head.
Rob Elsworth has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Elsworth being controlled here, momentarily.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Nikov's ground tactics aren't going to win him many fans. Let's hope he's got fireworks for us if he gets back to his feet because he's not doing much on the ground.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Nikov postures up in Elsworth's guard and throws a big left but Elsworth blocks it.

And that's the end of the fight!
Kalesh Nikov showed his dominance in that final round.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Nikov, 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 Ian Loll scores the fight 30:27
Judge Trevor Gratis scores the fight 30:27
Judge William Peck scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Kalesh Nikov!
After winning the bout, Kalesh Nikov thanked all his fans and promised he'd do even better in his next fight. The crowd seemed to love his humility.