PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a super heavyweight MMA rules bout between Rigoberto Nichols (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Nikov Hunt (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Nikov Hunt has the power to score a knockout today if he connects clean with Rigoberto Nichols's chin.

Nichols
vs
Hunt

224 cm
18
346 lbs
1 - 3 - 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 - 3 - 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, Nikov Hunt!
The judges for this bout are Aleksei Zolotukhin, Vladimir Khabensky and Fedor Mirinova.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
The fight stays on the outside here - Nichols looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Hunt moves in looking to clinch but Nichols pushes him off.
The fight stays on the outside here - Hunt looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Nichols misses with a takedown attempt - Hunt sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
Hunt is looking to clinch.
Nichols shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Hunt sprawls well. Hunt wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Nichols gets slowly back to his feet.
Hunt lunges in with an uppercut that skims his opponent's chin.
Hunt is looking to clinch but Nichols is avoiding it.
Nichols looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Hunt is fending him off so far but Nichols persists. Nope, Hunt circles away and we're back to standing.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Rigoberto Nichols. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Nichols fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Hunt avoids it really well and circles away.

The fight moves into the clinch position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Hunt tries to pull guard but Nichols holds him up against the cage and eventually Hunt drops back down to his feet.
Hunt is trying to pull guard but Nichols has him pressed against the cage.
Hunt has hold of a leg and is looking for a trip takedown. Nichols avoids it nicely though and we remain in the clinch.
Hunt is pressed up against the cage. Nichols has hold of a leg and is looking to drag Hunt down to the mat. Hunt avoids the attempt though and has circled away. We're back to striking at a distance.
Nichols wants to clinch up but Hunt keeps it at a distance.
Nichols checks a leg kick.
Hunt wants to clinch up but Nichols keeps it at a distance.
Hunt is trying hard to land a takedown here. Nichols sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.
Hunt throws a nice looking combination but Nichols bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Nichols showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Hunt.
Nichols walks forward and throws out a flicking leg kick. Hunt checks it nicely though, as he moves to the side.
Nichols avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Hunt shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Nichols as he jumps to the side.
Hunt shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Hunt misses with an uppercut.

Nichols lands a left and a right that send Hunt crashing to the mat, dazed. Nichols thinks about following him to the mat but decides to wave him back up to his feet!

It looks like Nikov Hunt has been cut.
Hunt looks winded!
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!
Nichols shoots in looking for a takedown but Hunt manages to keep the fight standing, pushing Nichols's face into the canvas for good measure before circling away.
Hunt is trying desperately to land a takedown but Nichols is having absolutely none of it. This is turning into a bit of a nightmare for Hunt.
Hunt stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Hunt wants it to stay on the feet.
Nichols dives in and grabs Hunt's left leg, looking for a takedown. Hunt pushes down on Nichols's head and hops out.
Nichols misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Hunt tries to close the distance and clinch but Nichols swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Danga de danga de dang - Hunt scores with a four punch combination!
Hunt looks for the body kick but Nichols saw that one coming.
Nichols lands a vicious shot with the stealth of a sniper and the strength of a viper. Are vipers that strong? I can think of lots of things that are stronger than a viper - not many rhyme with sniper though.
Nichols takes a punch to the jaw and another one to the bread basket.

It looks like Rigoberto Nichols has been cut.

Nichols gets tackled into the cage by Hunt. Hunt maintains the clinch.

Hunt ties up his opponent against the cage and manages to drag the fight down to the ground. Hunt no doubt will be looking to work submissions from his guard.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
The referee wants the fighters to be more active or he's going to reset them on the feet.
Hunt wants to get back to his feet but Nichols is in a dominant position and won't allow it.
Hunt trying to control the position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Nichols lands a couple of elbows.
Nichols throws a big right hand that misses.
Nichols content to stall in guard here.
Hunt is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Nichols tries to free his leg and advance position but Hunt is retaining full guard.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Hunt is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Rigoberto Nichols dominated that round.
Both fighters have cut men working on them during the interval.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

Hunt slaps away a takedown attempt from Nichols, before circling back to the center of the mat.
Hunt misses with a takedown attempt - Nichols sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.

Hunt gets a clinch.
A bit of stalling here from Nichols.

Hunt has managed to pull guard. Let's see whether he can work an aggressive guard. It will also be interesting to see what tactics Nichols uses from the top position.
Nichols trying to control the position from guard on top but Hunt is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Hunt is looking to stand up but Nichols isn't so interested in that idea.
Hunt looking to control.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Hunt is controlling Nichols's posture.
Nichols preventing the sweep.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.

Nichols takes the fight into the clinch.
Hunt trying to control the position but instead, Nichols has worked for underhooks and has pushed Hunt into the cage.
Hunt fails to pull the fight into his guard.
Nichols jumps guard but Hunt stands there with Nichols around his waist. Nichols gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.
Hunt wants to get back to striking at distance but Nichols won't allow it.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Hunt fails to pull the fight into his guard.
Rigoberto Nichols has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Nikov Hunt.
Nichols goes for a takedown in the clinch but Hunt prevents it.

Nichols has managed to pull guard. Let's see whether he can work an aggressive guard. It will also be interesting to see what tactics Hunt uses from the top position.
Nichols working a defensive guard here.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Hunt stopping the sweep attempt from Nichols.
Hunt throws a strike but Nichols rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Nichols stays in close to Hunt's body and controls the position.
Hunt tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Hunt is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Nichols controlling from the top position.
The referee looks like he's ready to step in and stand the fighters back up.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.

Hunt gets a clinch.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Nichols prevents a takedown attempt there.
Hunt is looking for a takedown.
Hunt is breathing heavily.

Nichols breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Hunt doesn't manage to clinch there - Nichols circles away.
Hunt slaps away a takedown attempt from Nichols, before circling back to the center of the mat.
Rigoberto Nichols is winning the standup battle so far.
Hunt shoots in and drives through. Nichols sprawls well.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Nichols fails in his attempt to clinch.
Hunt misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Nikov Hunt will probably get the nod - 10:9.
Both fighters have cut men working on them during the interval.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin! Ladies and gentlemen, this is the final round!

Hunt tries to drive through with a takedown attempt but Nichols defends well and Hunt ends up having to push Nichols into the cage where they will battle it out in the clinch.

Nichols escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Nichols shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Hunt pinned against the cage. Hunt gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
Rigoberto Nichols is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Hunt throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Hunt fakes with the hands and throws a leg kick but Nichols is out of range.

Hunt tries to keep at a distance but Nichols has taken the fight into the clinch.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Nichols.
Nichols wants a takedown.
Nichols is trying to pull guard but Hunt turns him against the cage and we stay in the clinch.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Rigoberto Nichols. That's going to take a lot out of him.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Hunt breaks from the clinch.
Nichols looks for a takedown but Hunt sprawls well.
Hunt tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.

Hunt gets in close and instigates a clinch.
Nichols tries to pull guard but Hunt won't allow it.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Hunt tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. Nichols just stands there and leans against the cage.
Nichols wants to get back to striking at distance but Hunt won't allow it.
Nichols tries to land a knee to the head but misses.

Nichols pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.

Nichols clinches.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Hunt throws a nice elbow but it doesn't land.
Both guys are working to get underhooks.
Hunt working hard to break the clinch.
Hunt is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.
Hunt is looking for a takedown up against the cage. Nichols gets underhooks though and prevents the takedown attempt.

Hunt breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Nichols dives in for a single leg takedown but Hunt sprawls and the fighters end up clinched against the cage.
Nichols keeps the fight in the clinch, despite Hunt's efforts to push away.

Hunt's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.

Nichols drives through and clinches with Hunt against the cage.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Hunt stops a takedown attempt from Nichols.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Nichols wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.
Hunt tries to pull guard but Nichols won't allow it.
Hunt wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.
Hunt goes for a takedown attempt but Nichols pushes him away and we're back to fighting at a distance.
Nichols tries to clinch up but Hunt circles away and keeps his distance.
Nichols fails miserably with a takedown attempt.

Hunt closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.
Hunt tries to pull guard but Nichols holds him up against the cage and eventually Hunt drops back down to his feet.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Hunt avoiding damage as Nichols throws knees to the body.
Hunt tries to score a body lock takedown but Nichols shows good agility there to stay on his feet.
Hunt is trying to push Nichols away but Nichols has him pressed against the cage, so he's going nowhere.
Hunt tries to land knees in the clinch but Nichols avoids the damage to the body.
Nichols is trying to pull guard but Hunt turns him against the cage and we stay in the clinch.
Hunt wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.
Hunt slows down the pace here.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Nichols is clearly stalling here... Pick up the pace son.

And that's the end of the fight!
I would just about give that final round to Nikov Hunt.
I think Hunt 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 Aleksei Zolotukhin scores the fight 28:29
Judge Vladimir Khabensky scores the fight 28:29
Judge Fedor Mirinova scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Nikov Hunt!