PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a super heavyweight MMA rules bout between Rigoberto Nichols (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Petr Romanov (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

Nichols
vs
Romanov

224 cm
18
346 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

225 cm
18
300 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Cuts easily

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Solid chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the super heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Rigoberto Nichols!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Petr Romanov!
The judges for this bout are Aleksandr Martynov, Valeri Chadov and Viktor Lagutenko.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Nichols throws a sloppy head kick
and Romanov counters with a leg kick.
Romanov changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Nichols tries to avoid it but Romanov manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Nichols to the ground. Nichols escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
Romanov looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Nichols is fending him off so far but Romanov persists. Nope, Nichols circles away and we're back to standing.

Nichols has taken the fight to the clinch.
Romanov has Nichols pressed against the cage, preventing Nichols from circling away and getting back to striking at range.

Romanov escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Romanov tries to drive through with a takedown attempt but Nichols defends well and Romanov ends up having to push Nichols into the cage where they will battle it out in the clinch.
Rigoberto Nichols has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Petr Romanov.
Romanov wants to get back to striking at distance but Nichols won't allow it.
Romanov goes for a takedown in the clinch but Nichols prevents it.

Nichols ties up his opponent against the cage and manages to drag the fight down to the ground. Nichols no doubt will be looking to work submissions from his guard.
The referee looks like he's ready to step in and stand the fighters back up.
Nichols wants to sweep but no luck.

Romanov stands up and waves to Nichols to follow him.
Romanov shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Nichols defends it nicely.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Romanov tries to clinch up but Nichols circles away and keeps his distance.
Romanov pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Nichols will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
Nichols closes this distance looking for a takedown but Romanov circles away.
Romanov wants to clinch
and Nichols makes him pay by landing a nice hook to the body before moving out of range.
Nichols tries a head kick but it misses.
Nichols throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Romanov's waist but Romanov gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Nichols off to one side.
Romanov wants to clinch.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Nichols leaves Romanov with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
Nichols shoots in and drives through. Romanov sprawls well.
Romanov lands with a head kick! That's gotta hurt.
Romanov scores with a nice body kick.
Nichols is breathing heavily.

Romanov moves into the clinch.
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!

Romanov gets control of Nichols's arms and successfully pulls guard. Romanov will no doubt be looking for submissions off his back.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Nichols throws a big elbow that misses.
Nichols looking to control the position here, rather than advance.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Nichols has controlled the position for a good 20 seconds, which will no doubt be starting to frustrate his opponent.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up, due to lack of activity on the part of Rigoberto Nichols.
Nichols doesn't manage to clinch there - Romanov circles away.
Nichols fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Romanov avoids it really well and circles away.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Sloppy strikes from Romanov. Those never looked like landing.
The fight stays on the outside here - Romanov looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Romanov shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Nichols tries to drive through with a takedown attempt but Romanov defends well and Nichols ends up having to push Romanov into the cage where they will battle it out in the clinch.
Romanov controlling the action here for a moment.

Romanov escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Nichols tries to clinch there but Romanov circles away.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Petr Romanov dominated that round.
That's the end of the interval. I'm sure that seemed a lot quicker than a minute for our two fighters! Back to the action.

Romanov avoids a punch combination nicely.
Romanov tries to clinch but Nichols moves away
and Nichols counters with a shot to the ribs. That looked like it hurt.
Romanov darts in looking for a takedown but Nichols gets double underhooks and turns Romanov into the cage.

Romanov's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Nichols dives in for a single leg takedown but Romanov sprawls and the fighters end up clinched against the cage.
Nichols being controlled against the cage.
With the two fighters working up against the cage, Nichols just misses with a elbow thrown towards Romanov's brow.
Romanov wants a takedown but no success here.

Romanov tightens his grip and picks Nichols up, before dumping him to the ground. Nichols manages to land in guard.
Romanov is breathing heavily.
Nichols is pulling down on Romanov's head to control his posture.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Romanov trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Romanov wants to control from the top but Nichols keeps moving.
Nichols is pulling down on Romanov's head to control his posture.
The referee is asking the fighters to pick up the pace.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
Nichols moves in looking to clinch but Romanov pushes him off.
Nichols cracks Romanov with a hook to the jaw. Both fighters smile at eachother and high-five before getting back down to business.

It looks like Petr Romanov has been cut.
Nichols dives in and grabs Romanov's left leg, looking for a takedown. Romanov pushes down on Nichols's head and hops out.
Romanov tries to close the distance and clinch but Nichols swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
A clash of legs there as Nichols blocks the low kick.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Romanov closes the distance and clinches up with Nichols, looking for a takedown. Romanov pushes Nichols against the cage but Nichols circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
Rigoberto Nichols has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Petr Romanov.

Nichols gets in close and instigates a clinch.
Nichols working hard to break the clinch.
Romanov has had enough of the clinch but Nichols keeps him there for the moment.

Nichols successfully pulls guard.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Romanov trying to control but Nichols is working from the bottom.
Romanov tries to free his leg and advance position but Nichols is retaining full guard.
Nichols is doing well to control the posture of his opponent and prevent any damage.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Romanov looking to pass the guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

Petr Romanov has forced the referee to step in and restart the fight on the feet.
Romanov misses with a kick to the body.

Romanov clinches.
Nichols is struggling to control the position.

Nichols jumps into guard, dragging Romanov to the mat.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Romanov slips effortlessly into side control - very nice.
Nichols is positioning himself to get back to half guard.
Romanov is putting a hurting on Nichols here, landing some big shots from side control.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Romanov postures up a little and throws a couple of hammerfists but they don't connect properly.
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 Rigoberto Nichols will probably get the nod.
The cut man is working on Petr Romanov's cut.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action! The crowd applaud as we get ready to start the final round!

Romanov tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Nichols looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Romanov is fending him off so far but Nichols persists. Nope, Romanov circles away and we're back to standing.
No luck for Nichols with that takedown attempt.
Sloppy strikes from Romanov. Those never looked like landing.
Nichols is trying hard to land a takedown here. Romanov sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Rigoberto Nichols. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Nichols avoids the head kick by Romanov.
Romanov misses with a left hand
and Nichols counters nicely by changing levels and landing a hook to the body.
Romanov tries to clinch but Nichols is having none of it.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Romanov lands with a two punch combination before moving back out of range.

Romanov looks for a takedown. He's got it. We're now in half guard.
Nichols wants to control the action here but instead Romanov manages to pass to full mount!

That's one minute gone in the round.
Romanov tries to control but Nichols wriggling away.
Nichols wants to control but Romanov is having none of it.
Romanov has his opponent pinned against the cage, landing some nasty ground and pound that is really making a bit of a mess out of Nichols's face.
Nichols is in all sorts of trouble here.
Romanov is landing with some decent strikes but Nichols is trying to advance his position so the referee is letting the fight continue.
Nichols looking to escape from mount but he's given up his back!
You know, I was talking to some of our celebrities at ringside tonight and they were split right down the middle on who was going to win this fight.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Nichols is trapped and Romanov is scoring with shots to the head and body.
A lull in the action here.
Nichols wants to escape the position.
Nichols is keeping busy.
Nichols wants to control his opponent's hands but Romanov gets his hands free.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Romanov throwing sloppy strikes.
The crowd hopeful of a finish here - Romanov's supporters are on their feet, screaming for him to go for the rear naked choke.
Nichols wants to escape the position.
Romanov trying to secure his dominant position for a moment - making sure Nichols doesn't escape.
Nichols rolls and manages to get back to half guard. Nicely done.
The referee is pacing around the two fighters - he looks like he's thinking about a standup.
Nichols is refusing to be controlled, as Romanov sits in half guard.

Petr Romanov has forced the referee to step in and restart the fight on the feet.
Romanov misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Nichols wants to clinch up but Romanov keeps it at a distance.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Nichols is defended easily by Romanov.

Romanov instigates a clinch.
Knees to the body from Romanov.
Romanov landing knees to the head.

It looks like Rigoberto Nichols has been cut.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Romanov goes for a takedown in the clinch but Nichols prevents it.
Romanov taking a breather.

And that's the end of the fight!
Petr Romanov comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Romanov has outworked and out performed his opponent in all aspects of the game today. He was simply too good and the decision should be no more than a formality. 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 Aleksandr Martynov scores the fight 28:30
Judge Valeri Chadov scores the fight 28:29
Judge Viktor Lagutenko scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Petr Romanov!