PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Ground Guru (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Van Dinh Nguyen (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Guru comes into the arena with Linkin Park - Burning In The Skies blaring out of the sound system. Nguyen has chosen Rolling Stones - Paint it Black as his entrance music. Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

Guru
vs
Dinh Nguyen

174 cm
25
141 lbs
11 - 7 - 0

173 cm
25
146 lbs
13 - 7 - 0

Good wrestling
Solid boxing
Very quick

Good wrestler
Dangerous knees
Powerful

CEC Nutrition Q160 & Loans

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the bantamweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 11 - 7 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Ground Guru!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 13 - 7 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Van Dinh Nguyen!
The judges for this bout are Vladimir Khabensky, Igor Prikhodko and Illya Tyunina.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Guru fails with a takedown attempt.
Nguyen moving in and out of range nicely, whilst landing the scoring shot.
Guru misses with a takedown
and Nguyen counters with a solid body kick.
Guru on the wrong end of a nice low kick. He's acting like it's no big deal but he doesn't want to take many more of those.
Guru takes one on the chin but seems OK.
Nguyen stuffs the takedown attempt from Guru. Guru gets slowly back to his feet.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Ground Guru. That's going to take a lot out of him.

Guru shoots in and gets a takedown into half guard. Guru showed some decent athleticism there.
Guru throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
Guru prevents Nguyen from improving his position.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Guru controlling the action here.

Guru is looking for a kimura but he's never going to get it from there.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Guru is sneakily working for an arm triangle but Nguyen sees it coming and defends easily.
Nguyen regains full guard, whilst avoiding punches from Guru.
Guru won't allow Nguyen to get back to his feet.
Guru pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Nguyen is keeping the position for now.
Nguyen looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Guru pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Nguyen is keeping the position for now.
Nguyen tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Guru being controlled here momentarily.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Guru drops back, looking for a kneebar! Nguyen looks panicked! The fighters roll across the mat, one looking to finish, one looking to escape. Nguyen looks to have wriggled free... Yes, he's got his leg free and he's dived into side control! Good work there from Nguyen!

Nguyen decides to take the fight back to the feet.
Nguyen swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Guru fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Nguyen avoids it really well and circles away.
Guru showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Nguyen.
A head kick misses from Nguyen.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Nguyen throws out a leg kick but Guru moves out of range and Nguyen only half commits.
Guru takes a body punch but keeps moving.
Nguyen connects with a body shot.
Nguyen attempts a low kick but it misses it's target.

Guru shoots in for a takedown and gets it.
Guru seems to be taking a bit of a break to think of his next move. He lands a short punch in the meantime.

Guru looking for a kimura but he'll have to free his other leg if he wants to finish that. Perhaps he's just using it as a distraction technique.

Guru is looking for a kimura. It's going to be difficult to finish that from half guard though and Nguyen defends it well.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Nguyen tries to get to full guard but Guru has control of the leg.
Nguyen wants to control but Guru is keeping busy and won't allow it.

Guru is looking for an arm triangle, whilst trying to pass to side control. Nguyen doesn't seem that keen to cooperate though. No luck this time Guru.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Nguyen has hold of Guru's hands but Guru slips his arm to the side and lands an elbow.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!

Guru is working for a submission of some sort.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Nguyen wants to get back to full guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Van Dinh Nguyen will probably get the nod.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin!

A good leg kick by Nguyen.
No luck for Guru with that takedown attempt.
Guru looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Nguyen is fending him off so far but Guru persists. Nope, Nguyen circles away and we're back to standing.
Nguyen lands a beauty of a right hand that gets the crowd cheering.
Guru defending well as Nguyen loads up on a big left hand.
Guru fails with the takedown.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Ground Guru. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Nguyen throws a hook to the side of Guru's head but Guru sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
Guru on the wrong end of a nice low kick. He's acting like it's no big deal but he doesn't want to take many more of those.
Nguyen ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Guru moves away.
Nguyen scores with a jab to the head.

Guru fakes a strike and closes the distance, dragging Nguyen to the ground. Guru is now in Nguyen's guard.
Guru trying to control but Nguyen is working from the bottom.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Guru missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Guru trying to control but Nguyen is working from the bottom.
Nguyen managing to control the position.

Guru postures up as if he's going to throw some strikes but drops back for an ankle! Nguyen is in big trouble! He looks ready to tap! But no, he's escaped and dives on top of Guru, into his guard.
Nguyen would like to get this fight back to the feet but can't get free from the closed guard.
Guru is trying to control the position from the bottom.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Guru working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Nguyen doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Nguyen manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.
Guru looking to sweep here. No luck so far.

Nguyen decides he's had enough of playing guard and decides to stand. Come on Guru, up you get!
Nguyen thuds a mid kick into his opponent's body. That will wear on Guru if he has to take too many more of those.
Ground Guru is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Nguyen scores with the left hand. Guru knows he should have avoided that one.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Nguyen feints and then cracks Guru's leading leg with a nice low kick. He's obviously looking to slow Guru down.
Van Dinh Nguyen is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Guru misses with a takedown attempt
and Nguyen counters with a body kick that brings a smile to the face of both fighters.
Nguyen looking to take his opponent's legs away with the low kicks.
An inside leg kick lands from Nguyen.
Guru needs to keep his hands up - Nguyen had a free shot at his head there.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Guru shoots for a takedown but Nguyen saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Nguyen throws a decent looking leg kick but it doesn't land clean.
Nguyen tries to clinch but Guru is having none of it.
Nguyen fakes a jab and throws a low kick but Guru checks it well.
Nguyen throws a leg kick which misses Guru's front leg but catches the back leg as Guru tries to avoid it.
Guru closes the distance and clinches up with Nguyen, looking for a takedown. Guru pushes Nguyen against the cage but Nguyen circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
Nguyen scores with the left hand. Guru knows he should have avoided that one.

Guru drives through with a takedown into guard.
Nguyen is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Nguyen lands a beautiful switch and he's in full mount! That could spell trouble for Guru!

Nguyen is standing up out of mount! Strange tactic there - he must really want this one on the feet!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A jab from Nguyen does it's job there.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Nguyen lands a jab to Guru's midsection.
Nguyen tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Guru keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Nguyen lands a leg kick. The shin dug right into the meat of the thigh.
Nguyen thows a body kick. Guru tries to catch it but that hurt him.
Guru's hands are dropping dangerously low here and Nguyen connects clean with a right hook that sends him down to one knee! Guru scrambles back to his feet.
Guru gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily
and Nguyen counters with a big head kick but Guru shrugs it off.
Guru is hobbling a little on that front leg after taking quite a few leg kicks so far in this fight.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Guru has his head snapped back a nice jab. A little nod from Guru there as he acknowledges the shot.
Nguyen lands with an overhand left.

Guru is rocked!
Nguyen is looking to clinch but Guru is avoiding it.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Van Dinh Nguyen showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action! Let's hear some noise people - this is the final round!

Nguyen bobs and weaves and throws out a fast jab that snaps Guru's head backwards.
Nguyen wants to clinch up but Guru keeps it at a distance.
Guru takes a big uppercut there. He seems a bit wobbly but no, he's OK.
Oh Guru is still all over the place! His legs are completely gone! Will he be able to recover?!!
Guru will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
Guru seems to have got his legs back now.
Nguyen lands with a cross.
Nguyen scores with a jab.
Nguyen shapes like he's going to throw a leg kick but settles back down.
A thudding body kick lands there by Nguyen!
Nguyen dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
Nguyen lunges in with an uppercut that skims his opponent's chin.
Nguyen lands with a thumping leg kick.
Nguyen is looking to clinch.
Guru shoots in for a takedown but Nguyen shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Nguyen looks to land a body kick but Guru moved away.
Guru checks a leg kick nicely.

Nguyen forces Guru back against the cage and clinches.
Guru blocks the elbow strike.
Guru tries to score a body lock takedown but Nguyen shows good agility there to stay on his feet.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Ground Guru. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Nguyen tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Guru avoids it.
Nguyen gets an overhook and lands an elbow to the side of the head.

It looks like Ground Guru has been cut.
A nice right hand lands inside from Nguyen.
A short right from Nguyen on the inside.
Nguyen lands a damaging elbow.

Guru gets the body lock takedown. After a quick scramble, Nguyen regains guard.
Guru sitting in guard, not really doing much.
Nguyen is doing well to control the posture of his opponent and prevent any damage.
Ground Guru has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Guru stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Nguyen swivels though and keeps the full guard.

Guru postures up as if he's going to throw some strikes but drops back for an ankle! Nguyen is in big trouble! He looks ready to tap! But no, he's escaped and dives on top of Guru, into his guard.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Nguyen stopping the sweep attempt from Guru.
Nguyen wants to stand but Guru has a closed guard, so he can't escape.
Guru is trying to control the position from the bottom.

Nguyen stands up and waves to Guru to follow him.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Guru gets tackled into the cage by Nguyen. Nguyen maintains the clinch.
Nguyen lands punches inside but they're not really causing much damage.
Nguyen trying to land knees to the body.
Guru changes levels and goes for a takedown here. Nguyen fights it off and pushes away nicely.
Nguyen lands a leg kick that knocks Guru off balance momentarily.
Guru has a takedown stuffed.
Nguyen throws a push kick but Guru slaps the foot to one side.
A big right from Nguyen misses.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Nguyen misses with a wild body shot.
Guru shoots and misses

and Nguyen moves into the clinch.
A nice glancing elbow lands by Nguyen.
Guru tries for a takedown but Nguyen manages to get underhooks.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
A nice glancing elbow lands by Nguyen.
Guru tries to pull guard but Nguyen forces him back to his feet, against the cage.
Nguyen lands a nice elbow from the clinch.

Guru pulls guard.
Guru keeping moving, preventing Nguyen from controlling successfully.
Nguyen wants to get up but he can't break Guru's closed guard. He needs to be careful trying to break the legs open, as he's open to submissions 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.
Nguyen stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Guru swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Nguyen passes easily into side control. Nice work.

And that's the end of the fight!
Van Dinh Nguyen comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Nguyen winning every round here. Surely the decision will go his way and he'll pick up a well deserved decision victory. 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 Vladimir Khabensky scores the fight 28:30
Judge Igor Prikhodko scores the fight 27:30
Judge Illya Tyunina scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Van Dinh Nguyen!
Van Dinh Nguyen took to the mic in his post fight interview and said 'I trained very hard for this rematch. I wanted to keep you all entertained. Shout out to my sponsor Balco Boys supplements. Thank you to the Balco Boys Industries gym and my training partners for this fight, Sig Hansen, Yourn Rotterdamn, and Chino Cochino.'.