PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Ray Finkle (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Vladimir Nikolaev (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Ray Finkle has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Finkle
vs
Nikolaev

193 cm
23
203 lbs
3 - 4 - 1

179 cm
23
190 lbs
4 - 4 - 0

Good wrestling
World class MT
Granite chin

TWGC Champion
Brawler
Determined

Milwaukee's Best 160 SALE $140

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 3 - 4 - 1, fighting out of New York, Ray Finkle!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 4 - 4 - 0, fighting out of New York, Vladimir Nikolaev!
The judges for this bout are Chad Campbell, Russell Pearce and Dean Styles.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Nikolaev tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Finkle swivels and escapes.
Finkle lands a nice looking body kick.
Nikolaev gets his head snapped back by a nice shot there.
Nikolaev tries to drive through with a takedown attempt but Finkle defends well and Nikolaev ends up having to push Finkle into the cage where they will battle it out in the clinch.
Finkle misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Nikolaev.
Finkle lands a hook that snaps the head of Nikolaev backwards.
Finkle tries to land knees in the clinch but Nikolaev avoids the damage to the body.
Finkle is pressed up against the cage. Nikolaev has hold of a leg and is looking to drag Finkle down to the mat. Finkle avoids the attempt though and has circled away. We're back to striking at a distance.
Ray Finkle has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Vladimir Nikolaev.
Nikolaev fails with the takedown

and Finkle counters into the clinch. Nicely done.
Nikolaev takes a shot to the head.
With the fighters up against the cage, Finkle throws an elbow but misses.
Finkle working on landing some head shots here - that one got through nicely.
Finkle throws a nice elbow but it doesn't land.
A short right from Finkle on the inside.
Finkle lands a hook to the side of the head.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Finkle tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Nikolaev avoids it.
Nikolaev blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Nikolaev avoids a wild elbow strike from Finkle.
Finkle pushes Nikolaev back against the cage and unloads with a body punch.
Finkle trying to land knees to the body.
Nikolaev blocks an elbow strike.
Finkle tries a body shot but Nikolaev blocks it.
Nikolaev takes an elbow to the temple.

It looks like Vladimir Nikolaev has been cut.
Nikolaev drops down for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Nikolaev takes an elbow to the temple.
Finkle misses with an elbow strike.
Finkle tries to throw a body punch but Nikolaev avoids it by throwing Finkle back against the cage.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Finkle prevents a takedown attempt there.
Nikolaev is trying to pull guard but Finkle turns him against the cage and we stay in the clinch.
Finkle throws an elbow but it's blocked.
Finkle pushes off an throws an elbow but Nikolaev leans to the side and avoids it. We're back to clinching against the cage.
Finkle softening up his opponent with strikes, against the cage.
Finkle creates a bit of distance and throws an elbow that only just misses.
Finkle lands with a quick shot inside that doesn't really do much damage.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Finkle misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Finkle lands a right hand.
Finkle pushes off an throws an elbow but Nikolaev leans to the side and avoids it. We're back to clinching against the cage.
Finkle goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Finkle scores with an uppercut up the middle.
Finkle throws an elbow that misses.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Nikolaev fails to pull the fight into his guard.
A short right from Finkle on the inside.
Finkle misses with a hook from the clinch.
Nikolaev is looking to take this one to the mat.
Nikolaev blocks an elbow strike from Finkle.
Nikolaev managing to block the knees to the body from Finkle.
Finkle lands an elbow inside.
Finkle working aggressively here.
Finkle misses with the head strike.
Nikolaev can't get the takedown.
A nice glancing elbow lands by Finkle.
Finkle stays in close to his opponent and throws a right hand to the body.
Nikolaev jumps guard but Finkle stands there with Nikolaev around his waist. Nikolaev gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.
A nice glancing elbow lands by Finkle.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Nikolaev turns his hips and lands a very nice judo throw into side control!
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Nikolaev tries to advance to mount but Finkle denies him.
Finkle tries to buck Nikolaev off but Nikolaev is having none of it.

Nikolaev looking for an arm triangle but it's way too loose to do anything.
Nikolaev wants to lay and pray for a moment but Finkle keeps working.
Finkle is trying to control Nikolaev's posture but Nikolaev avoids it.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
The fighters are starting to get a bit slippery now, which will make submissions a bit more difficult.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Nice body kick there by Finkle.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Nikolaev.
Finkle scores with a big left there. The judges will like that one.
Nikolaev fails with the takedown.
Finkle scores with a head kick.
Vladimir Nikolaev is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Finkle throws a couple of head shots and lands with the final one - a decent hook, which struck Nikolaev on the side of the head.
Nikolaev tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Finkle paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Finkle tries to clinch but Nikolaev is having none of it.
Finkle looking to take his opponent's legs away with the low kicks.
Finkle fakes a jab and scores with a low kick.
Nikolaev wants to clinch but Finkle slips to the side
and Finkle cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.

Finkle rushes Nikolaev and presses him up against the cage.
Nikolaev avoids a wild elbow strike from Finkle.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Finkle lands a left hand.
Nikolaev wants a takedown but no success here.
Ray Finkle has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Vladimir Nikolaev.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Finkle manages to get underhooks and slows down the pace for a moment.
Nikolaev changes levels and goes for a takedown here. Finkle fights it off and pushes away nicely.
Nikolaev is looking to clinch but Finkle is avoiding it.
Ray Finkle is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Nikolaev closes this distance looking for a takedown but Finkle circles away.
Finkle lands with an overhand left.
Finkle lands with an uppercut that bounces Nikolaev off the cage and back into range.
Vladimir Nikolaev seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Finkle is looking to clinch but Nikolaev is avoiding it.
Finkle is using his height advantage well here, landing a good percentage of his punches.
Nikolaev on the wrong end of a nice jab.
Nikolaev wants to clinch up but Finkle keeps it at a distance.
Finkle lands a powerful looking uppercut that connected with his opponent's jaw.
A kick lands to the mid section there for Finkle.
Nikolaev will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Nikolaev takes a punch right to his stomach. That took the wind out of him momentarily.
Ray Finkle is winning the standup battle so far.
Nikolaev gets cracked with a nice right hand there by Finkle.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Nikolaev fails with a takedown attempt.
Finkle lands with an uppercut that bounces Nikolaev off the cage and back into range.
Nikolaev takes a kick to the body and keeps moving.
Nikolaev takes a body kick right on the floating rib. Ouchie.
Nikolaev is breathing heavily.
Finkle scores with a shot to the body.
Finkle lets loose with a powerful body kick. Nikolaev will feel that in the morning.
Finkle lands with a good body shot.
Thud! ouch! good body kick from Finkle - that will leave a mark!
Finkle lands a leg kick and bounces back out of range.
Finkle lands with an overhand left.
Nikolaev misses with a takedown attempt - Finkle sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
Finkle scores with the left hand. Nikolaev knows he should have avoided that one.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Finkle works over Nikolaev's head and body with a nice combination.

Finkle clinches.
A short right from Finkle.
A nice glancing elbow lands by Finkle.
With the fighters up against the cage, Finkle throws an elbow but misses.
Finkle goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Finkle lands a nice shot to the body.
Finkle lands with a short shot to the head.
Finkle tries to work over Nikolaev's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
Finkle wants to stall.
Nikolaev tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. Finkle just stands there and leans against the cage.
Nikolaev avoids a wild elbow strike from Finkle.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Finkle lands a damaging elbow.
Nikolaev takes an elbow to the forehead.
A short uppercut from Finkle.
Finkle putting his Muay Thai to good use. He has Nikolaev in a tight clinch and is doing some damage with knees to the body.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Finkle throws a blind hook that connects with the side of Nikolaevs head.

Nikolaev is rocked!

Finkle connects with a big uppercut there that sends Nikolaev tumbling to the ground! Finkle follows him down into his guard.
Nikolaev is still in real trouble! Can Finkle finish him?
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Finkle postures up in Nikolaev's guard and throws a big left but Nikolaev blocks it.
Finkle passes Nikolaev's right leg, so he's now in half guard.
Finkle thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.
Finkle thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.
Still in half guard, Finkle seems content to control.
Finkle throwing shots but Nikolaev is blocking nicely.
Finkle is figuring out what he wants to do next.
Finkle lands with an elbow from half guard - that looked like it hurt.
Finkle will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Nice strikes from Finkle there.
Nikolaev blocking the ground and pound attempt from Finkle.
Finkle throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Ray Finkle dominated that second round.
The cut man is working on Vladimir Nikolaev's cut.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin! This is the final round!

Nikolaev fails with a takedown attempt.
Nikolaev seems to have recovered his senses.
Finkle lands a high kick!
Finkle connects with a jab and follows up with a big overhand right! Oh that's hurt Nikolaev! He's out on his feet! Finkle rushes in and drops Nikolaev with another big right hand, forcing the referee to stop the fight!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 0:16 of round 3, we have a winner by way of TKO (Punches). Ray Finkle!
A victorious Ray Finkle thanked his army of followers in his post fight interview, telling people to make sure they follow him on Twitter.