PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Nikolai Radev (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Johnny Freedom (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). The crowd seem to be enjoying Freedom's choice of entrance music: Johnny Freedom. Johnny Freedom has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Radev
vs
Freedom

184 cm
23
190 lbs
8 - 3 - 0

180 cm
24
194 lbs
9 - 1 - 0

Good wrestling
World class boxer
Cardio machine

Good wrestler
World class MT
Good gas tank

Conviction

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 8 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Nikolai Radev!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 9 - 1 - 0, fighting out of New York, Johnny Freedom!
The judges for this bout are Timothy Bukovac, and Frank Antenori.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Freedom takes a body kick right on the floating rib. Ouchie.
Radev connects with a leg kick. Freedom looked like he was expecting something else and didn't defend it.
Freedom looks to score with a jab to the body but Radev is just out of range.
Freedom moves out of range of the strikes.
Freedom lands a leg kick. The shin dug right into the meat of the thigh.
Radev lands a slapping body shot.
Freedom throws a leg kick that misses.
Freedom throws a hook but Radev blocks it.
Freedom takes an uppercut right on the button but keeps his composure.
Radev swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
Freedom slips under a jab.
Radev misses with a body shot.
Freedom connects with a high kick.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Freedom looks to land a body kick but Radev moved away.
Freedom looking to throw a kick but he's pulled out of it.
Freedom walks forward and throws out a flicking leg kick. Radev checks it nicely though, as he moves to the side.
Freedom takes a step back and watches a body kick go sailing past his mid section.
Freedom is looking to score with low kicks.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Freedom moves in looking to clinch but Radev pushes him off.
Good leg kick by Freedom there. It's the ones that make that thud noise that hurt and that was an almighty thud.
Radev throws a hard body shot but it just misses.

Freedom gets taken down but at least he's managed to land in guard.
It looks like the ref is thinking about a standup.
Radev with a nice head shot there.
Freedom wants to sweep here but Radev controlling him for the moment.
Radev being controlled here momentarily.
Radev content to strike from guard, landing some decent shots.
Freedom wants to sweep here but Radev controlling him for the moment.
Radev is taking a break and basically stalling. The referee will not allow him to do that for long.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Freedom is on top in guard.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Radev is on top in guard.
Radev's corner is telling him to maintain position.
Radev working in close now, lands a nice elbow to the side of Freedom's head.
Freedom wants to sweep here but Radev controlling him for the moment.
Freedom looking to control.
Radev trying to control but Freedom is working from the bottom.
Radev wants to pass the guard but Freedom is keeping the position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Radev throwing strikes but missing.
Radev postures up and lands some nice ground and pound.
Radev throws a big elbow that misses.
Freedom is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Radev preventing the sweep.
Radev trying to control the position from guard on top but Freedom is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Radev with a nice head shot there.
Radev in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Freedom manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Radev manages to get himself to full guard.
Radev keeping moving, preventing Freedom from controlling successfully.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Radev trying to keep a closed guard but Freedom is proving a slippery customer.
Radev wants to sweep here but Freedom controlling him for the moment.
Freedom controlling from the top position.
Radev 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 crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Radev is trying to keep Freedom in close.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.

OK we're going to have a standup here. Johnny Freedom hasn't been effective enough on the ground and the referee wants a restart.
Radev lands with a hook. Freedom tried to avoid it but it clipped the top of his head.
Radev with a nice looking leg kick. You could hear that one land in a back row.
Radev lands a jab.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Nikolai Radev dominated that round.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

Freedom is looking to clinch but Radev is avoiding it.
Radev misses with a body punch

and Freedom counters by clinching up.
Radev misses with a hook to the ribs.
A short left from Radev.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Freedom.
Freedom is trying to stall.
Radev tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Freedom prevents a body shot from Radev.
Freedom looking to stall.
Knees to the body from Freedom.
Radev fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Radev wants to stall.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Freedom lands a shot to the body.
Freedom is trying to slow down the pace in the clinch, to catch his breath.
Radev lands with a left to the head.
Radev has Freedom pressed up against the cage and is working for takedown. Freedom manages to improve position though and keeps the fight standing.
Radev has had enough of the clinch but Freedom keeps him there for the moment.
Freedom tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Radev avoids it.
Radev lands a right hand.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Freedom.
Freedom tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Radev's elbow.
Freedom prevents a body shot from Radev.
Freedom struggles to land a body shot inside as Radev controls his hands.
Radev wants to take the fight to the mat but Freedom manages to get underhooks and keep the fight in the clinch.
Freedom creates a bit of space for himself and sneaks an elbow through Radev's defenses.

It looks like Nikolai Radev has been cut.
Radev lands a shot to the body.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Radev dodges an elbow strike from Freedom.
Freedom lands a left hand that snaps the head of Radev backwards.
Freedom lands a nice elbow.

Radev is working on a single leg takedown against the cage. Freedom can't fight it off and eventually Radev manages to take the fight to the floor. Freedom looks annoyed but at least he's managed to land in guard.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Freedom is looking to sweep but instead, Radev has passed into half guard.
Freedom gets full guard.
Radev in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Radev 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.
Radev wants to control from the top but Freedom keeps moving.
Freedom has a closed guard, preventing anything of note from happening. Perhaps he's looking to stall.
Radev trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Freedom trying to control the position here.
Freedom looking to control.
Radev being controlled here momentarily.

The ref calls for a clean break and stands the fighters back up. Johnny Freedom wasn't active enough on the ground.
Radev fakes a couple of low kicks, before throwing one on the third attempt. It connects and Freedom has to reset his feet before getting ready to engage.
Radev lands a head kick. Freedom smiles back at him and beckons him forward.
Radev misses with a looping right.
Freedom uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Radev.
Freedom jabs at Radev's body.
Freedom looks for the body kick but Radev saw that one coming.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Good work by Radev as he checks the leg kick.
Radev throws a predictable looking body shot
and Freedom counters with a left to the body.
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!
Radev connects with a looping right hand.
A nice inside leg kick there by Radev. That's going to slow Freedom down.
Freedom connects with a body shot.
Radev misses with a looping left.
Radev buckles his opponent's knee momentarily with a nice leg kick.
Freedom looking to take his opponent's legs away with the low kicks.
A looping hook to the body misses from Radev. Freedom does a little dance to reset his feet.
Radev tries to check the leg kick but that clearly hurt him.
Freedom uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Radev.
Radev tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Radev lands an overhand left. A wild punch that just about connected.
Radev lands a head kick. Freedom smiles back at him and beckons him forward.
Nikolai Radev is winning the standup battle so far.
Freedom connects with a leg kick. He turned his hip over nicely there.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close second round but I would say that Nikolai Radev will probably get the nod.
The cut man is working on Nikolai Radev'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!

Freedom looks shocked there as he takes a right hand to the temple.
A shot to the liver by Freedom. Beautiful body shot.
Freedom is throwing a lot of body shots here, looking to wear down Radev rather than just go for the knockout.
Radev lunges at Freedom with a hook that half lands and is half blocked by Freedom's hand.
Freedom wants to land a leg kick but Radev is out of range.
Radev takes one on the chin but keeps coming.
Radev shoots in but Freedom avoids the takedown attempt easily.
A solid leg kick lands there for Freedom.
Well, he's not going to score with shots like that. A lazy body kick attempt from Freedom.
Freedom takes one to the side of the head.
Freedom attempts a low kick but it misses it's target.
Radev takes a nasty kick to the mid section... That should keep him thinking. Does he try and block and risk a head kick landing?
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Freedom tries to clinch but Radev is having none of it.
Freedom lands an overhand left. A wild punch that just about connected.
Freedom misses with a straight left.
Freedom needs to keep his hands up - Radev had a free shot at his head there.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Freedom moves into the clinch.
Freedom lands a nice elbow from the clinch.
Freedom misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Radev.
Radev misses with a body punch.
Freedom prevents a body shot from Radev.
Freedom blocks a punch to the side of the head.

Radev's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.

Freedom fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Radev, pushing him back against the cage.
Radev blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
Freedom working aggressively here.
Radev goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Some stalling of biblical proportions here from Radev.
Radev stalling in the clinch but Freedom improves position.
Radev blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
Freedom pushes off and fires off an elbow that misses, before clinching up again, against the cage.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Freedom blocking some punches.
Freedom misses with a body punch.
Freedom dictating the pace here, as the fighters clinch against the cage.
Radev is working for takedown but Freedom is calmly controlling the position for now.
Freedom tries a knee to the head but Radev blocks it.
Freedom has a couple of punches blocked by Radev.
Radev blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
Radev managing to block the knees to the body from Freedom.
Radev tries to throw a body punch but Freedom avoids it by throwing Radev back against the cage.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Radev managing to block the knees to the body from Freedom.
Radev digs a right hand underneath Freedom's ribcage. Freedom let out a lung full of air as it connected.
Radev is looking to take this one to the mat.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Nikolai Radev. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Radev lands a right hand.
Freedom is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Radev is defending well for now.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Radev misses with a short punch on the inside.
Freedom blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Radev blocks an elbow strike.
Freedom is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Radev is defending well for now.
Freedom lands a shot to the body.
Good anti-grappling being displayed by Freedom as Radev tries to tie him up.

Freedom breaks the clinch.
Johnny Freedom has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Radev pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Freedom will need to close the distance a bit before he attacks - that leg kick was thrown from too far away.
Radev pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Radev swinging wildly here.
Freedom scoring well with a low kick there.
Radev throws a right hand that Freedom ducks under and follows up with a left that Freedom also avoids with ease.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Freedom lands a leg kick that knocks Radev off balance momentarily.
Freedom throws a body kick that misses

and Radev counters with a takedown into side control.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Freedom is trying to control Radev's posture but Radev avoids it.
Freedom is positioning himself to get back to half guard.
Freedom sneaks back into half guard.
Nikolai Radev is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Freedom wants to control but Radev is keeping busy.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Freedom wants to improve his position but Radev is controlling well.

And that's the end of the fight!
Johnny Freedom comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Radev 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 Timothy Bukovac scores the fight 29:28
Judge Percy O'Donnell scores the fight 29:28
Judge Frank Antenori scores the fight 29:28

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