PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Degen Gambler (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Kalesh Nikov (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). The crowd seem to be enjoying Nikov's choice of entrance music: Till I Collapse. Degen Gambler could well score a knockout today. He has the power to get to Kalesh Nikov's chin.

Gambler
vs
Nikov

188 cm
34
220 lbs
31 - 17 - 0

170 cm
31
219 lbs
21 - 13 - 0

Good wrestling
World class boxer
Very quick

Olympic wrestler
World class boxer
Good gas tank

//buriedALIVE// Fight Gear
Affordable Quality + Reliable Laundry

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the light heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 31 - 17 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Degen Gambler!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 21 - 13 - 0, fighting out of New York, Kalesh Nikov!
The judges for this bout are Richard Clark, Paul Tew and Phil Schofield.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Gambler misses the shot to the body.
Gambler misses with a hook. Nikov ducked under it nicely.
Nikov's coach down at River's Edge Gym, LOP was telling us pre-fight that they have been working on Nikov's balance. Obviously they view that as a key factor in the outcome of this fight.
Gambler takes a shot right to the bread basket.
Gambler swings wildly with a couple of big hooks

and Nikov counters with a shoot takedown into half guard.
Nikov works his way into full mount!
Nikov throwing shots from mount but they're not landing.
Gambler avoids a series of strikes thrown by Nikov.
Nikov can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as Gambler is looking to escape.
The referee warns Gambler that he has to improve his position here as he takes two more clean shots to the head.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Nikov controlling from the full mount.
Nikov misses with a series of strikes from mount. He'll no doubt be working on his ground and pound when he gets back to the gym.
Gambler manages to regain half guard. Good work.
Nikov is keen to just control but Gambler is a slippery customer.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Nikov is working for submissions here but there's nothing on.
Nikov has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
Nikov stalling away here and it's allowed Gambler to slip out his trapped foot and regain full guard.
Nikov throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Gambler works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Nikov pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Gambler is keeping the position for now.
Nikov landing some decent shots from guard.
Nikov missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Nikov stands up over Gambler, holding his feet. He dives back in and lands a decent shot to the head.
Gambler keeping moving, preventing Nikov from controlling successfully.
Nikov throws a big elbow that misses.
Nikov wants to control from the top but Gambler keeps moving.
Gambler will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.
Nikov is looking to work some ground and pound but Gambler has wrist control.
Gambler keeping moving, preventing Nikov from controlling successfully.
Nikov not doing a lot at the moment. He'll have to show some more aggression or the fight will get stood up.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

OK we're going to have a standup here. Kalesh Nikov hasn't been effective enough on the ground and the referee wants a restart.
Gambler throws a body punch but Nikov moves out of range.
Nikov tries for a takedown but Gambler sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
Nikov lands a beauty of a right hand that gets the crowd cheering.
We've been told by Gambler's head coaches at Restricted area that he's been working on his takedown defense in preparation for this fight.
Gambler misses with an uppercut.
Gambler slips under a jab.
Nikov scores with a nice one two combo and darts back out of range to avoid anything coming in the opposite direction.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
A slow jab from Gambler misses its intended target.
Gambler throws an overhand right that lands on Nikov's shoulder, as Nikov tries to avoid the shot.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Gambler dips to his left and cracks Nikov with an uppercut!
Nikov scores with a jab. Gambler acknowledges it with a nod of the head.
Nikov paws at his opponent with the jab and then lunges in with a straight, right on the button.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Nikov lands with a nice body punch.
Nikov lunges at Gambler with a hook that half lands and is half blocked by Gambler's hand.
Nikov fails with the takedown.
Gambler on the wrong end of a nice jab.
Nikov lands with a nice body punch.
Nikov misses the shot to the body.
Nikov uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Gambler.
Nikov chopping away at his opponent's legs.
Nikov misses with a right hand
and Gambler counters with a stiff right hand.
Gambler with a jab.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
A jab from Nikov does it's job there.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Gambler swats away the attempt to clinch by Nikov.
Nikov misses with a leg kick
and Gambler counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
Kalesh Nikov seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Gambler scores with a jab to the jaw.

It looks like Kalesh Nikov has been cut.
Gambler gets his head snapped back by a nice shot there.
Nikov paws at his opponent with the jab and then lunges in with a straight, right on the button.
Gambler misses with a body kick.
Nikov scores with a punch to the head.
Gambler goes for a spinning back kick but it misses.
Gambler ducks under a wild hook from Nikov.
Nikov shoots in but no luck this time.
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!
A looping hook to the body misses from Nikov. Gambler does a little dance to reset his feet.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Gambler dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
Nikov connects with a looping left hand that seems like it dazed Gambler momentarily.
Gambler misses with a kick to the body

and Nikov counters with a nice double leg into guard.
Nikov wants to pass the guard but Gambler is keeping the position.
Gambler being controlled here, momentarily.
Nikov wants to pass the guard but Gambler is keeping the position.
Nikov postures up in Gambler's guard and throws a big left but Gambler blocks it.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Nikov engaging in some classic timewasting tactics.
We've had a lack of effective grappling in the last minute or so, which could well see a referee standup.
Gambler working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Nikov.
Nikov is working the ground and pound from guard. He might want to try advancing position though to get more of an impact.
Gambler keeping full guard, as Nikov tries to pass.
Nikov is looking to work some ground and pound but Gambler has wrist control.
Nikov has been the more effective fighter overall so far.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Gambler is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Nikov is aware though and is defending well.
Nikov throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Gambler utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Gambler keeping moving, preventing Nikov from controlling successfully.
Nikov stands up over Gambler, holding his feet. He dives back in and lands a decent shot to the head.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Gambler being controlled here, momentarily.
Gambler looking to control but Nikov passes into half guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Kalesh Nikov showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The cut man is working on Kalesh Nikov's cut.
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. Ladies and gentlemen, this is the final round!

Nikov decides to change it up a bit and drives through with a nice takedown into half guard.
Nikov not landing any meaningful shots this time.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Gambler wants to control but Nikov is keeping busy and won't allow it.
Nikov is just content to waste time from the top position. Gambler takes advantage of the situation and regains full guard.
Nikov wants to control from the top but Gambler keeps moving.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Nikov throwing strikes from guard but Gambler blocks nicely.
Gambler avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Nikov is taking a break and basically stalling. The referee will not allow him to do that for long.
Nikov looking to pass the guard.
The referee wants the fighters to be more active or he's going to reset them on the feet.

Kalesh Nikov has forced the referee to step in and restart the fight on the feet.
Gambler keeps his opponent at a distance with a nice jab.
Nikov looking to throw a kick but he's pulled out of it.
Nikov lands a nice shot that snaps Gambler's head back.
Nikov feints with a shoulder and throws a nice leg kick to Gambler's calf.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Nikov lunges at Gambler with a hook that half lands and is half blocked by Gambler's hand.
Nikov fails with the takedown
letting Gambler counter with a right hand.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Gambler lands with a nice low kick. That'll leave a bruise.
Nikov connects with a slap. Keep your fist closed son.
Gambler is using his height advantage well here, landing a good percentage of his punches.
Nikov misses with an uppercut.
Nikov shoots for a takedown but Gambler saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
Gambler moves into range and connects with a jab.
Nikov misses with a few strikes there.
Gambler listening to his corner there, landing a nice uppercut.

Gambler gets caught napping as Nikov dives in and scores a takedown. Gambler manages to retain guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Nikov seems content to control from guard here. He's going to have to remain active though if he doesn't want to get stood back up.
Nikov wants to control from the top but Gambler keeps moving.
Kalesh Nikov is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
The referee is asking the fighters to pick up the pace.
Nikov sitting in guard, not really doing much.

OK we're going to have a standup here. Kalesh Nikov hasn't been effective enough on the ground and the referee wants a restart.
No luck with that takedown attempt from Nikov.
Degen Gambler has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Kalesh Nikov.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Nikov checks the leg kick nicely there.
Gambler throws a body kick but he wasn't in range.
Nikov swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
A thudding body kick lands there by Nikov!
Nikov throws a sloppy head kick and Gambler moves out of range easily.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Nikov throws a leg kick which misses Gambler's front leg but catches the back leg as Gambler tries to avoid it.
Nikov lands with an uppercut that bounces Gambler off the cage and back into range.
Degen Gambler has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Gambler misses with an uppercut

so Nikov counters with a double leg into guard. Good agility.

And that's the end of the fight!
Kalesh Nikov comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Nikov 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 Richard Clark scores the fight 27:30
Judge Paul Tew scores the fight 27:30
Judge Phil Schofield scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Kalesh Nikov!
An out of breath and clearly excited Kalesh Nikov thanked //buriedALIVE// Fight Gear for their help and support (and free stuff they sent him).