PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Tatsuo Nakano (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Andrej Kavelin (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Nakano comes to the cage accompanied by Disturbed - Decadance. These two fighters really are very evenly matched on the feet - it will be fascinating to see who can assert themselves in that aspect of the fight.

Nakano
vs
Kavelin

175 cm
31
218 lbs
21 - 16 - 0

201 cm
26
203 lbs
11 - 11 - 0

Abu Dhabi Champ
Excellent boxer
Insanely flexible

Excellent grappler
World class boxer
Good gas tank

Project Mayhem

Just Fight (Everything 7$)
Milwaukee's Best 160

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 21 - 16 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Tatsuo Nakano!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 11 - 11 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Andrej Kavelin!
The judges for this bout are Igor Prikhodko, Illya Tyunina and Viktor Lagutenko.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Nakano has his head snapped back a nice jab. A little nod from Nakano there as he acknowledges the shot.
Nakano tries to clinch there but Kavelin circles away.
Nakano tries to clinch but Kavelin moves away

and Kavelin counters by clinching up.
Kavelin lands with a short shot to the head.
A right hand to the body from Nakano.
Kavelin looking to throw knees to the head but Nakano is blocking nicely.
Kavelin stalls.
Nakano takes an elbow to the forehead.
Kavelin looking to stall.
Nakano tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. Kavelin just stands there and leans against the cage.
Nakano fails to pull guard.
Nakano is looking for a takedown up against the cage. Kavelin gets underhooks though and prevents the takedown attempt.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Tatsuo Nakano. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Kavelin is working hard here but doesn't seem to be able to control effectively, up against the cage.
Nakano drops down for a takedown but doesn't get it.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Nakano fails to pull guard.
Kavelin digs a right hand into Nakano's ribs. Those have got to be taking their toll on Nakano's gas tank.
We can't be sure of the tactics at this early stage but we have heard that Kavelin has been working on his takedowns a lot in the buildup to the fight and we can only assume he's going to look to take this to the mat.
Nakano blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Nakano is working on a leg, looking for a takedown but Kavelin is defending well.
Nakano on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
Kavelin throws a knee to the head but misses.
Kavelin just leaning against Nakano, taking a breather.
Nakano blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
Nakano tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.
Nakano avoids the elbow strike from Kavelin, against the cage.
Kavelin misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Nakano.
Kavelin missing with knees to the body.
Kavelin connects with a nasty looking knee right to Nakano's face.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Kavelin lands a right hand.
A short right from Nakano.
Nakano wants a takedown but no success here.
Kavelin lands with a light punch inside.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Kavelin stalling in the clinch.
Our sources have told us that Nakano has been working on his elbows in the gym.
Nakano jumps guard but his hands slip and he falls flat on his back. Well, he's made himself look a right mug there, as Kavelin walks away with a smile on his face. Nakano gets slowly back to his feet and shakes his head.
Kavelin connects with a right hand. Nakano shakes it off.

Kavelin closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.
Kavelin stalling in the clinch.
Nakano throws a nice elbow but it doesn't land.
Kavelin struggles to land a body shot inside as Nakano controls his hands.
Nakano blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
Nakano is trying to pull guard but being pressed up against the cage enables Kavelin to keep the fight standing.
Kavelin throws an elbow that misses.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
A shot in the inside from Kavelin.
Kavelin lands with a right to the head.
Kavelin tries to land a knee to the head but Nakano blocks with his arms.
Kavelin is trying to break the clinch but Nakano has him pressed against the cage.
Nakano lands a hook that snaps the head of Kavelin backwards.
Nakano is looking for a takedown.
Kavelin lands an elbow just above Nakano 's eye.
Kavelin tries to land a knee to the head but misses.
Kavelin gets underhooks to prevent Nakano's takedown attempt.
Kavelin effectively controlling the action here.

Nakano manages to pull guard. Let's see whether he can land a sub off his back.
The referee claps his hands together and tells the fighters to work.
Kavelin connects with a couple of short punches.
Kavelin lands a couple of elbows.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Nakano working a defensive guard here.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Nakano keeping moving, preventing Kavelin from controlling successfully.
Nakano looking for a sweep. Not yet Nakano, not yet.
Kavelin postures up and lands a big shot to Nakano's brow.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Kavelin won't allow Nakano to sweep him here.
Kavelin is taking a break and basically stalling. The referee will not allow him to do that for long.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!

Nakano pushes Kavelin off for just long enough to get back to his feet. Very athletic spring there.
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Kavelin is looking to clinch.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Andrej Kavelin dominated that round.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business.

Nakano doesn't manage to clinch there - Kavelin circles away.
Kavelin throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Nakano.
Nakano wants to clinch.
Jab, cross, leg kick. Nice combination by Kavelin!
Kavelin throws a hook to the side of Nakano's head but Nakano sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
Kavelin scores with a big left there. The judges will like that one.
Nakano moves to clinch but Kavelin breaks away
and Kavelin counters with a straight punch to the midsection.
Nakano tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Kavelin paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Kavelin ducks down and throws a hook to the body.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Nakano is looking to clinch.

Kavelin gets a clinch.
Kavelin with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.
Nakano has a body lock and is looking for a takedown. Kavelin is bouncing around trying to prevent the takedown and somehow he has indeed managed to stay on his feet.
A knee to the head by Kavelin.
Kavelin stalls.
Kavelin lands a knee to the head there! That was nasty!
Kavelin tries to throw a body punch but Nakano avoids it by throwing Kavelin back against the cage.
Nakano looking for a takedown.
Nakano is trying to pull guard but Kavelin has him pressed against the cage.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Tatsuo Nakano. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Nakano is trying to pull guard but Kavelin turns him against the cage and we stay in the clinch.
Andrej Kavelin seems to be working more effectively in the clinch in the fight so far.
Kavelin landing some nice looking knees to the body.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Kavelin tries a knee to the head but he's missed.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Kavelin misses with a punch on the inside.
Nakano wants to take the fight to the mat but Kavelin manages to get underhooks and keep the fight in the clinch.
Kavelin pushes off an throws an elbow but Nakano leans to the side and avoids it. We're back to clinching against the cage.

Kavelin breaks from the clinch.
Kavelin lands a beauty of a right hand that gets the crowd cheering.
Kavelin circles away from the clinch attempt
and Kavelin counters with a nice uppercut.
Kavelin lunges at Nakano with a hook that half lands and is half blocked by Nakano's hand.
Kavelin wants to clinch.
Nakano closes the distance but Kavelin moves to the side
and Kavelin counters with a three punch combination, finished off with a leg kick. Nice work.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Nakano circles away from the clinch attempt.
Kavelin slips in close and lands a nice hook before moving back out of range.

Kavelin moves into the clinch.
Nakano tries to pull guard but Kavelin won't allow it.

Kavelin breaks the clinch.

Kavelin moves into the clinch.
Kavelin swings wildly with an uppercut but Nakano uses good head movement to avoid it.
Kavelin has dropped down and is looking to force the takedown but it's defended by Nakano after a bit of a struggle.
Nakano has not gone for a single takedown so far in this fight, which seems like a very strange tactic when you consider that he has the superior wrestling and BJJ.
Kavelin lands a good knee to the midsection. Nakano won't want to take too many of those.
Kavelin displaying some good clinch control by pressing Nakano up against the cage.
Nakano jumps guard but his hands slip and he falls flat on his back. Well, he's made himself look a right mug there, as Kavelin walks away with a smile on his face. Nakano gets slowly back to his feet and shakes his head.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Kavelin with a hook.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Nakano takes an uppercut right on the button but keeps his composure.
Kavelin throws a head kick but Nakano moves out of range.
Nakano tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Kavelin paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Nakano takes an uppercut right on the button but keeps his composure.
Kavelin circles away from the clinch attempt
and Kavelin counters with an outside leg kick.
Kavelin has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Nakano is looking to clinch.
Kavelin misses with a wild combination.
Kavelin is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Andrej Kavelin showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin! This is the final round!

Kavelin throws a chopping leg kick but Nakano manages to avoid taking any serious damage.
Nakano checks a leg kick.
A decent looking cross lands there for Kavelin.
Nakano closes the distance but Kavelin moves to the side
enabling Kavelin to counter with a crisp jab.
Kavelin is using his reach advantage to land shots from outside his opponent's range.
Kavelin keeps the fight on the outside.

Nakano gets tackled into the cage by Kavelin. Kavelin maintains the clinch.
With the two fighters working up against the cage, Kavelin just misses with a elbow thrown towards Nakano's brow.
Kavelin throws an elbow but it's blocked.
Kavelin tries for a takedown but Nakano manages to get underhooks.
A real battle for position is taking place between these two warriors.
Nakano is trying to pull guard but being pressed up against the cage enables Kavelin to keep the fight standing.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Nakano tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.
Nakano tries to pull guard but Kavelin holds him up against the cage and eventually Nakano drops back down to his feet.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Tatsuo Nakano. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Kavelin stalling the fight.
Kavelin is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Nakano is defending well for now.
A head punch on the inside from Kavelin fails to land.

Kavelin breaks the clinch.
Nice sprawl there from Nakano as Kavelin shoots in.
Kavelin misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Andrej Kavelin seems to be getting the better of the standup.

Kavelin closes the distance and clinches.
Kavelin looking to slow down the pace here.
Kavelin lands a knee to the body.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Kavelin utilising his Muay Thai to score with a knee to the body.
Kavelin is pushing Nakano up against the cage, for a bit of lean and pray action. Action being used the in the loosest possible sense of the word.
Kavelin looking to throw knees to the head but Nakano is blocking nicely.
Nakano has Kavelin pressed up against the cage and is working for takedown. Kavelin manages to improve position though and keeps the fight standing.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Nakano tries to pull guard but Kavelin forces him back to his feet, against the cage.

Kavelin escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Kavelin scores with a nice looking left hook and follows it up with an uppercut!
Nakano tries to clinch up.
Kavelin fails in his attempt to clinch.
Kavelin wants to clinch up but Nakano keeps it at a distance.
Tatsuo Nakano has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Nakano is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Kavelin wants to clinch.
Kavelin scores with a punch to the head.
Nakano misses with a low kick.
Nakano has his hands up protecting his head but a hook from Kavelin finds it's way round the side to connect with Nakano's head.
Kavelin scoring well with a low kick there.

Nakano instigates a clinch.
Nakano fails to pull the fight into his guard.
Nakano is working for takedown but Kavelin is calmly controlling the position for now.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Nakano tries to pull guard but Kavelin forces him back to his feet, against the cage.
Nakano tries to pull guard but Kavelin won't allow it.
Kavelin tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Nakano's elbow.
Nakano has Kavelin pressed up against the cage and is working for takedown. Kavelin manages to improve position though and keeps the fight standing.
Kavelin holding his opponent close, against the cage.
Kavelin tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Nakano's elbow.
Andrej Kavelin is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
Nakano tries to score a body lock takedown but Kavelin shows good agility there to stay on his feet.
With the fighters up against the cage, Kavelin throws an elbow but misses.
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!
Kavelin's corner are urging him to control the action in the clinch for a moment, rather than mount any serious offense. I'm sure the crowd appreciate those instructions... not.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Kavelin is trying to work for a single leg takedown but Nakano pulls him back up using the underhooks.
Kavelin tries to land a knee to the head but Nakano blocks with his arms.

And that's the end of the fight!
Andrej Kavelin comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Kavelin 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 Igor Prikhodko scores the fight 27:30
Judge Illya Tyunina scores the fight 27:30
Judge Viktor Lagutenko scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Andrej Kavelin!
Andrej Kavelin spent the whole post fight interview bigging himself up. It didn't go down that well with the fans after a while as they thought it was a bit arrogant.