PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a super heavyweight MMA rules bout between Rigoberto Nichols (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Marlboro Man (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Both fighter's entrance songs getting the crowd jumping here.

Nichols
vs
Man

224 cm
18
346 lbs
1 - 1 - 0

200 cm
20
300 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Cuts easily

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Determined

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 - 1 - 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, Marlboro Man!
The judges for this bout are Fedor Mirinova, Valeri Chadov and Sergei Dronov.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Nichols rushes Man and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.
Man is trying to break free.
Man should think about turning a few of those tyres round his middle into muscle if he wants people to take him seriously as an athlete.
Man has had enough of the clinch and is looking to separate.

Man gets control of Nichols's arms and successfully pulls guard. Man will no doubt be looking for submissions off his back.
Nichols slows down the pace of the fight for a moment. He'll need to remain active if he doesn't want to see the fight stood back up.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Man controls Nichols momentarily but Nichols frees himself.
Nichols sitting in guard, not really doing much.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

The ref stands the fighters back up. Rigoberto Nichols wasn't doing enough on the ground.
Nichols fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
Nichols avoids a punch combination nicely.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Nichols closes the distance and clinches up with Man, looking for a takedown. Nichols pushes Man against the cage but Man circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
Man misses with a takedown attempt - Nichols sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
Man checks a low kick from Nichols.
Man leaves Nichols with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Rigoberto Nichols. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Man shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Nichols but Nichols pushes him off and we're back to square one.
Sloppy strikes from Man. Those never looked like landing.
Nichols has his head slapped from side to side by a 3 punch combination. That must have hurt him.

It looks like Rigoberto Nichols has been cut.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Man tries to grapple but his opponent circles

and Nichols counters by clinching up.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Man goes for a takedown in the clinch but Nichols prevents it.
Man fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
The pace slowing considerably in the clinch, as Nichols takes a break from that fighting nonsense to think about the finer things in life.
Nichols wants a takedown but no success here.
Nichols blocks an uppercut.
Nichols stops a takedown attempt from Man.
Man is looking to take this one to the mat.
Man is working on a leg, looking for a takedown but Nichols is defending well.
Man looks winded!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Nichols wants a takedown but no success here.
Nichols is trying to force a seperation but Man has the dominant position.
Man tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Nichols's elbow.
Nichols prevents the takedown attempt.
A frustrated look appears on Nichols's face as he tries to break the clinch.
Nichols jumps guard but Man stands there with Nichols around his waist. Nichols gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.
Nichols missing with knees to the body.

Nichols pulls Man into guard.

Nichols has managed to wall walk up one of the corner posts to get back to his feet. Man is pushing him up against the cage, looking to control the position.
Man wants to take the fight to the mat but Nichols manages to get underhooks and keep the fight in the clinch.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

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.
Man trying to control the position from guard on top but Nichols is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Nichols is avoiding any damage by keeping wrist control.
Nichols keeping moving, preventing Man from controlling successfully.
We must be close to a standup if these guys don't pick up the pace.
Nichols looking to hit a scissor sweep but Man is one step ahead there.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Man stops Nichols from standing up.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Marlboro Man will probably get the nod.
The cut man is working on Rigoberto Nichols's cut.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action.

Man shoots in and bounces Nichols off the cage to secure the takedown into guard.
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Man working in close now, lands a nice elbow to the side of Nichols's head.
Nichols throwing some rather feeble looking strikes off his back.
Nichols keeping moving, preventing Man from controlling successfully.
Nichols looking to control the pace of the fight rather than finish it.
Man trying to control the position from guard on top but Nichols is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

That's one minute gone in the round.

The ref stands the fighters back up. Marlboro Man was stalling too much, according to the referee.
Nichols shoots in and drives through. Man sprawls well.
Man lands with a thumping leg kick.
Man stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Man wants it to stay on the feet.
Nichols defending well as Man loads up on a big left hand.
Man shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Nichols pinned against the cage. Nichols gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
Nichols goes for a double leg but Man avoids the attempt and the two fighters end up clinched against the cage as Man continues to drive forward.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Rigoberto Nichols. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Man tries to circle away but Nichols has him pinned against the cage.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Man wants a takedown but no success here.
Man tries to circle away but Nichols has him pinned against the cage.
Man is trying to pull guard but Nichols turns him against the cage and we stay in the clinch.
Man is trying to slow down the pace of the fight but Nichols is keeping busy.

Nichols pulls guard.

Nichols looking for a guillotine here but Man defends easily.
Man wants to stand but Nichols has a closed guard, so he can't escape.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Nichols looking for a sweep. Not yet Nichols, not yet.
Nichols trying to strike from the bottom but really, it's not the best position to be doing that from!
Man trying to control the position from guard on top but Nichols is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Nichols has Man pulled in close to control his posture.
Man slips effortlessly into side control - very nice.
Nichols is trying to improve his position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Nichols manages to get back to half guard.
Nichols controlling the position well.
Man landing with strikes to the body and head, softening up his opponent.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Nichols controlling the leg, holding on to half guard.
Man is trying to advance to mount but he's lost his balance and Nichols reverses the position - he's now on top in Man's guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Marlboro Man showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The cut man is working on Rigoberto Nichols's cut.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action. Ladies and gentlemen, this is the final round!

Nichols displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Man.
Man shoots in but Nichols avoids the takedown attempt easily.

Nichols bobs and weaves into range and then changes levels and scores with a nice takedown into side control.
Nichols moving around in side mount but really he's just happy to control for now.
Nichols connects with a decent looking elbow from side control that caused Man some visible discomfort.
Nichols tries to cartwheel into mount but he doesn't manage it.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Nichols decides to stand up, so the ref orders Man to his feet.
Man takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.

Nichols instigates a clinch.
Nichols has had enough of the clinch but Man keeps him there for the moment.
Nichols just leaning against Man, taking a breather.
Nichols is pressed up against the cage. Man has hold of a leg and is looking to drag Nichols down to the mat. Nichols avoids the attempt though and has circled away. We're back to striking at a distance.
Rigoberto Nichols has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Marlboro Man.
Man fails with the takedown.
Nichols shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Man as he avoids it easily.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Nichols fails with a takedown attempt.
Man looks to clinch
and Nichols counters with a one-two to the body.

Nichols moves into range and clinches up with Man.
Nichols slowing the pace effectively.
Man wants to get back to striking at distance but Nichols won't allow it.
Man is working on a leg, looking for a takedown but Nichols is defending well.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Nichols wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.
Nichols wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.
Man is trying to wear down his opponent with knees to the body.
Nichols wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Man has him pressed against the cage.
Man fails to pull the fight into his guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Man tries a knee to the head but Nichols blocks it.
Nichols just leaning against Man, taking a breather.
Nichols wants to get back to striking at distance but Man won't allow it.

Man ties up his opponent against the cage and manages to drag the fight down to the ground. Man no doubt will be looking to work submissions from his guard.
Man trying to strike from the bottom but really, it's not the best position to be doing that from!

Nichols stands and steps away. Man gets to his feet too and we're back to the striking game.

Nichols has closed the distance and engaged Man in a clinch.
Man wants to take the fight to the mat but Nichols manages to get underhooks and keep the fight in the clinch.

Nichols successfully pulls guard.
Nichols controlling Man's posture.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Nichols scrambles and gets back to his feet.
Man is trying hard to land a takedown here. Nichols sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.

Nichols closes the distance and clinches.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Come on Nichols - let's have some action - none of this stalling nonsense.
Both guys are working to get underhooks.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Man is looking for a takedown.
Rigoberto Nichols has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Marlboro Man is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
Nichols lands with a short shot to the head.

And that's the end of the fight!
Rigoberto Nichols showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Man has won this one but let's see whether the judges agree with me. 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 Fedor Mirinova scores the fight 29:29
Judge Valeri Chadov scores the fight 28:29
Judge Sergei Dronov scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by majority decision... Marlboro Man!