PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Mica Makaaja (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Lazar Nimirov (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Chooooooooon! I think Makaaja might be my favorite fighter, now he's come out to BassLovers United - I Can't Dance. Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

Makaaja
vs
Nimirov

180 cm
30
215 lbs
10 - 3 - 0

195 cm
34
211 lbs
23 - 12 - 0

Abu Dhabi Champ
Excellent boxer
Insanely flexible

Good wrestler
World class boxer
Good gas tank

Hardcore 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 10 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Mica Makaaja!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 23 - 12 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Lazar Nimirov!
The judges for this bout are Marco Blurström, Ben Zyskovitsi and Johanna Lukiainen.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Nimirov swings wildly with a hook that is half blocked by Makaaja.

It looks like Mica Makaaja has been cut.
Nimirov connects with a right hand. Makaaja shakes it off.
Nimirov swings for the body but Makaaja moves out of range.
Nimirov fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Nimirov rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Makaaja moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Nimirov rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Makaaja moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Nimirov throws a shot to the body.
Nimirov throws a wild body kick that Makaaja sees coming a mile off.
Nimirov looks to land a right hand but Makaaja moved out of range.
Nimirov misses with a two punch combination.
Makaaja shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Nimirov defends it nicely.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Makaaja is defended easily by Nimirov.
A big right from Nimirov misses.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Nimirov tries to land a front kick but Makaaja steps back. That was a bit too telegraphed.
Lazar Nimirov seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Nimirov tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Nimirov scores with a nice looking left hook and follows it up with an uppercut!
Nimirov throws a right and a left that both miss.
Nimirov tries to bum rush Makaaja with a series of wild strikes but Makaaja uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Nimirov misses the shot to the body.
Nimirov takes a swing at Makaaja's ribcage but misses.
Nimirov tries to bum rush Makaaja with a series of wild strikes but Makaaja uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Nimirov misses with a looping right.
Nimirov is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Makaaja.
Nimirov changes levels and scores with a jab to the body.
Makaaja closes the distance and clinches up with Nimirov, looking for a takedown. Makaaja pushes Nimirov against the cage but Nimirov circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Mica Makaaja. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Nimirov misses with a body shot.
Makaaja shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Nimirov but Nimirov pushes him off and we're back to square one.

Makaaja looks for a takedown. He's got it. We're now in half guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Makaaja wants to lay and pray for a moment but Nimirov keeps working.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Makaaja is stalling here. Nimirov is in no mood to hang around though. He's locked up a kimura from the bottom! Makaaja seems to be keeping calm but he's forced to roll out of the hold and Nimirov has ended up in side control on the top. Nice work.
Makaaja can't do much from the bottom here.
Makaaja gets one leg under and gets the fight to half guard.
Makaaja wants to control but Nimirov is keeping busy.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Nimirov prevents Makaaja from improving his position.
Nimirov wants to stand but Makaaja has hold of a leg and an arm, so he's trapped for now.

Makaaja looking for submissions from an awkward position here.

Makaaja looking for submissions off his back.
Makaaja tries to get to full guard but Nimirov has control of the leg.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Makaaja looking for subs from the bottom but Nimirov mounts him!
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

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

Excellent takedown into side control there by Makaaja.
The fighters are starting to get a bit slippery now, which will make submissions a bit more difficult.
Makaaja just content to control the position.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.

Makaaja tries for a kimura but Nimirov is defending well.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Lazar Nimirov dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Mica Makaaja's cut.
That's time! Makaaja's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight.

Nimirov gets a clinch.
Makaaja tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.
Nimirov struggles to land a body shot inside as Makaaja controls his hands.
Nimirov lands with a short head shot on the inside.
Makaaja tries to pull guard but Nimirov won't allow it.
Nimirov scores with a hook to the body.

Nimirov breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Nimirov missing with a left hand there. Makaaja was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
Makaaja slips under a jab from Nimirov.
Lazar Nimirov is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.

Makaaja tries to keep at a distance but Nimirov has taken the fight into the clinch.
A shot in the inside from Nimirov.
Makaaja tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Mica Makaaja. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Nimirov softening up his opponent with strikes, against the cage.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Nimirov throws a hook to the body. More of an arm punch but it's all scoring with the judges.
Nimirov softening up his opponent with strikes, against the cage.
Nimirov misses with a short punch on the inside.
Nimirov lands a left hand that snaps the head of Makaaja backwards.
Nimirov tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Makaaja blocks a body shot from Nimirov.
Nimirov lands a right hand.
Makaaja blocks an uppercut.
A right hook to the body lands for Nimirov.
Nimirov scores with a shot to the side of Makaaja's head.
A quick uppercut on the inside from Nimirov.
Nimirov lands a left hand.
A right hook to the body lands for Nimirov.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
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!

Nimirov breaks from the clinch.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Makaaja circles away from the clinch attempt.
Nimirov throws a head kick but Makaaja moves out of range.
Nimirov connects with a crisp jab.
Lazar Nimirov is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Nimirov misses with a wild combination.
Makaaja showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Nimirov.
Nimirov lands with a head kick! That's gotta hurt.
Nimirov is using his reach advantage to land shots from outside his opponent's range.
Nimirov misses with the combination.
Makaaja keeps the fight on the outside.
Nimirov misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
A slow jab from Nimirov misses its intended target.
Nimirov throws a head kick that misses.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Nimirov swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Nimirov throws a jab when Makaaja was well out of range.
Nimirov fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Makaaja manages to avoid it.
Nimirov misses with a few strikes there.
Makaaja shoots for a takedown but Nimirov saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
Nimirov lands a jab. Then a cross. Then finally a nice hook to the body. Good work there by Nimirov.
Nimirov misses the jab.
Nimirov throws a series of punches but Makaaja avoids them all with ease.
Nimirov swinging wildly here.
Lazar Nimirov seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Nimirov cracks the inside of Makaaja's front leg.
Nimirov throws a looping overhand right but Makaaja ducks down to avoid it.
Good leg kick by Nimirov there. It's the ones that make that thud noise that hurt and that was an almighty thud.
Nimirov has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Nimirov scores with a jab to the jaw of his opponent.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Some wild striking there from Nimirov.
Nimirov tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in the close the distance. Makaaja manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Nimirov leaves Makaaja with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Nimirov moves in looking to clinch but Makaaja pushes him off.
Nimirov throws a series of punches but Makaaja moves out of range.
Makaaja uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Nimirov.
Nimirov throws a series of punches but Makaaja moves out of range.
Nimirov swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Nimirov throws a right hand that Makaaja ducks under and follows up with a left that Makaaja also avoids with ease.
Nimirov cracks Makaaja with a good jab.
Nimirov misses with a body shot.
Nimirov ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Makaaja moves away.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Lazar Nimirov showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The cut man is working on Mica Makaaja's cut.
That's time! Makaaja's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight. This is the final round!

Nimirov scores with a nice strike.
Makaaja blocks a head kick by Nimirov.
Nimirov misses with a low kick.
No luck for Makaaja with that takedown attempt.
Nimirov throws a chopping leg kick but Makaaja manages to avoid taking any serious damage.
Nimirov looks to land a combination but Makaaja avoids it well.
Nimirov throws out a loose jab but Makaaja uses good head movement to avoid it.
Nimirov misses with a body shot.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Makaaja is defended easily by Nimirov.
Nimirov connects with a looping left hand that seems like it dazed Makaaja momentarily.
Nimirov swinging wildly here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
A combination from Nimirov does no damage.
Nimirov throws a left and a right that both miss

and Makaaja counters with a driving takedown into guard. Nice work there by Makaaja.
Makaaja stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Nimirov swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Makaaja looking to sit in guard and control but Nimirov gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.
Nimirov must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.
Makaaja lands a beautiful switch and he's in full mount! That could spell trouble for Nimirov!
Nimirov is looking to get to half guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Makaaja swings around for an armbar but it's a sloppy attempt and Nimirov is now in Makaaja's guard. A big mistake from Makaaja there, giving up the dominant position!
Makaaja working a defensive guard but Nimirov manages to pass into side control anyway.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Makaaja tries to get back to half guard but can't.
Makaaja struggling a bit here.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Makaaja tries to work a leg under to get back to half guard but Nimirov wriggles his own leg back out and remains in side control.

Nimirov stands up and beckons Makaaja to his feet.
No joy there for Nimirov, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Nimirov misses with a head kick.
Nimirov misses with a wild body shot.
Nimirov misses with a looping left.
Nimirov lands with an overhand left.
Nimirov displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Makaaja.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Mica Makaaja. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Nimirov misses with a body shot.
Lazar Nimirov is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Nimirov throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Makaaja.
Makaaja ducks right into an uppercut from Nimirov.
Makaaja avoids a punch combination nicely.
Nimirov defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Makaaja.
Nimirov throws a jab when Makaaja was well out of range.
Nimirov scores with a punch to the head.
Nimirov looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Nimirov lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Makaaja circles away quickly and effectively.
Nimirov takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Makaaja slips a jab and a cross from Nimirov.
Jab, jab by Nimirov - just one landing.
Makaaja fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
Mica Makaaja has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Nimirov takes a swing at Makaaja's ribcage but misses.

And that's the end of the fight!
Lazar Nimirov comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Nimirov 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 Marco Blurström scores the fight 26:30
Judge Ben Zyskovitsi scores the fight 26:30
Judge Johanna Lukiainen scores the fight 26:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Lazar Nimirov!
An out of breath and clearly excited Lazar Nimirov thanked Hellraiser Fightgear ($10 and above) for their help and support (and free stuff they sent him).