PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Volya Nikolaev (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Flash Gradon (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Nikolaev's entrance music is Fever . A fine choice. Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Nikolaev
vs
Gradon

170 cm
19
165 lbs
1 - 1 - 0

165 cm
18
165 lbs
2 - 1 - 0

Good wrestling
Brawler
Cardio machine

Good takedowns
Brawler
Solid chin

Hellraiser FightGear
Merciless Gladiators

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the lightweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 1 - 1 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Volya Nikolaev!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 1 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Flash Gradon!
The judges for this bout are Igor Prikhodko, Ivan Kurochkin and Konstantin Menshow.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Nikolaev tries for a takedown but Gradon sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.

Nikolaev gets a takedown into half guard.
The referee must be thinking about standing these guys back up.
Gradon trying to control from the bottom.
Nikolaev lands strikes from half guard.
Gradon is trying to control but can't.
Gradon wants to improve his position but Nikolaev is controlling well.
Nikolaev is nestled in close to Gradon, controlling him well. He's worked in a nice elbow to the side of the head as well, for good measure.
Nikolaev wants to take a breather but Gradon is having none of it.
Nikolaev slows the pace down in half guard.
Nikolaev not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Nikolaev thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.
Nikolaev takes advantage of the dominant position to land a couple of big hammer fists.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Nikolaev takes advantage of the dominant position to land a couple of big hammer fists.
Nice strikes from Nikolaev there.
Ground and pound from Nikolaev.
Gradon is trying to maintain the position but Nikolaev is very close to passing his half guard.
Nikolaev winds up and cracks Gradon with a swinging punch to the side of the head.
Nikolaev is nestled in close to Gradon, controlling him well. He's worked in a nice elbow to the side of the head as well, for good measure.
Gradon is pressing down on Nikolaev's left leg trying to get back to full guard. He's managed it.
Nikolaev postures up and lands a big shot to Gradon's brow.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Gradon being controlled here, momentarily.
Nikolaev is in close to Gradon's body, working some short punches and elbows.
Nikolaev trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Nikolaev landing with the ground and pound.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Gradon is trying to keep Nikolaev in close.
Nikolaev working from the guard for now, landing some ground and pound.
Gradon lands a beautiful switch and he's in full mount! That could spell trouble for Nikolaev!
Nikolaev is looking to get to half guard.
Nikolaev is working hard here to advance position.
Gradon lands a heavy elbow.
Nikolaev keeping his composure momentarily, calmly looking to get back to half guard.
Nikolaev on his back here. We all know that wrestlers don't like being on their back so let's see if Nikolaev tries to get out of the position.
Gradon landing shots from mount.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Nikolaev tries to reverse the position but Gradon maintains control.
Gradon wants to control the pace but Nikolaev is squirming around nicely.
Nikolaev is wriggling around trying to escape.
Nikolaev tries to hold on but Gradon postures up.
Nikolaev manages to regain half guard. Good work.
Nikolaev is concentrating on defense, preventing Gradon from advancing position.
Nikolaev is looking to improve his position.
Gradon working Nikolaev over with strikes.
Nikolaev tries to get to full guard but Gradon has control of the leg.
Nikolaev wants to control but Gradon is keeping busy.
Nikolaev keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.
Both fighters really going for it on the ground here!

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Nikolaev is defending against the submission attempts here by Gradon.
Nikolaev is looking to improve his position.
Gradon not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
Gradon not landing any meaningful shots this time.

Gradon is sneakily working for an arm triangle but Nikolaev sees it coming and defends easily.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Gradon is looking to pass the guard... He's managed it - he's now in full mount!
Nikolaev tries to hold on but Gradon pushes him away.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Nikolaev is desperately trying to improve his position but Gradon has a good base and remains in mount.
Gradon has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
Nikolaev tries to lock up and control but Gradon gives him a forearm to the face and pushes him away.
Nikolaev is looking to get to half guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Volya Nikolaev dominated that round.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

Nikolaev dives in and grabs Gradon's left leg, looking for a takedown. Gradon pushes down on Nikolaev's head and hops out.
Volya Nikolaev seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

Nikolaev shoots in with a lovely double leg takedown. Gradon manages to land in full guard to minimise the damage.
Gradon 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 fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Gradon has momentary wrist control but Nikolaev slips an elbow through the middle.
Nikolaev working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Gradon wants to sweep but no luck.
Nikolaev working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Gradon looking for a sweep. Not yet Gradon, not yet.
Nikolaev scores with a decent looking elbow strike.
Nikolaev looking to sit in guard and control but Gradon gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.
Nikolaev manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Gradon manages to get himself to full guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Nikolaev working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Nikolaev with a flurry of punches that miss.
Nikolaev is working the ground and pound from guard. He might want to try advancing position though to get more of an impact.
Nikolaev is in close to Gradon's body, working some short punches and elbows.
Nikolaev cracks Gradon with a solid left hand.
Nikolaev working some strikes from top position.
Nikolaev loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Nikolaev sitting in guard here, content to control.
Gradon avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Nikolaev throwing strikes from guard but Gradon blocks nicely.

Gradon looking for a guillotine here but Nikolaev defends easily.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Gradon preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Gradon wants to sweep here but Nikolaev controlling him for the moment.
Nikolaev keeps in close for a moment and lands a decent shot to the side of Gradon's head.
Nikolaev keeps in close for a moment and lands a decent shot to the side of Gradon's head.
Nikolaev chips away with some ground and pound.
Gradon trying to control the position.
Nikolaev passes easily into side control. Nice work.
Volya Nikolaev overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Nikolaev in side control lands a decent elbow.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Nikolaev creates a bit of distance and throws down some hard shots.
Nikolaev cracks Gradon with an elbow. That is naaassty.
Check out the look on Nikolaev's face as he threw that strike - that's one determined fighter!
Nikolaev landing with strikes to the head and body from side control.
Nikolaev scoring with punches and elbows.

Gradon is rocked!
A big shot lands for Nikolaev! That's hurt Gradon! Will he recover? Nikolaev fires away with more strikes and the referee has to step in to stop the fight!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 3:41 of round 2, we have a winner by way of TKO (Strikes). Volya Nikolaev!
A determined Volya Nikolaev didn't want to dwell on this fight in his post fight interview. Instead he was more keen to state he wants a title shot. Let's see if he gets it!