PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Ivan Nikolaev (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Georges St Pierre (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Georges St Pierre is staring across the cage at his opponent, tweaking his nipples.

Nikolaev
vs
St Pierre

185 cm
22
196 lbs
5 - 5 - 0

180 cm
23
185 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

Good wrestling
Lethal high kicks
Granite chin

Olympic wrestler
Solid Muay Thai
Granite chin

FinnFighter Nutrition (Five 160Q supps!)

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the middleweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 5 - 5 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Ivan Nikolaev!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Georges St Pierre!
The judges for this bout are Paul Tew, Donald Grub and Richard Clark.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
St Pierre goes for a spinning back kick but it misses.

St Pierre rushes Nikolaev and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.
Nikolaev pressing his opponent against the cage.
St Pierre is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Nikolaev is defending well for now.
St Pierre has had enough of the clinch and is looking to separate.
Nikolaev throws a hook to the body. More of an arm punch but it's all scoring with the judges.
The pace really dropping off here, momentarily.
Nikolaev looking to stall.
Nikolaev fails to land with a short punch on the inside.

St Pierre escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
St Pierre takes a body punch that cleary hurt but he's trying not to show any weakness.
Nikolaev throws a right hand that St Pierre ducks under and follows up with a left that St Pierre also avoids with ease.
A head kick misses from St Pierre.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Nikolaev gets caught on his heels momentarily as he allows St Pierre to score an easy takedown into full guard.
St Pierre won't allow Nikolaev to get back to his feet.
St Pierre is working Nikolaev over from the guard. He should look to pass the guard and do a little more damage with these strikes.
St Pierre passes easily into side control. Nice work.
Nikolaev definitely looks more muscular than last time we saw him fight.
St Pierre throws a knee to the body but it doesn't do much damage.

St Pierre stands up.
A shot to the liver by Nikolaev. Beautiful body shot.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
St Pierre takes a big uppercut there. He seems a bit wobbly but no, he's OK.

It looks like Georges St Pierre has been cut.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
St Pierre takes one to the side of the head.
St Pierre bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
Nikolaev throws a right hand that St Pierre ducks under and follows up with a left that St Pierre also avoids with ease.
St Pierre gets cracked there but stands up to it.

Nikolaev instigates a clinch.
Nikolaev taking a breather.
St Pierre has dropped down and is looking to force the takedown but it's defended by Nikolaev after a bit of a struggle.
Nikolaev wants to stall.
Both fighters working to control the clinch.
A shot in the inside from Nikolaev.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Nikolaev taking a breather.
Nikolaev wants to break free but St Pierre has control.
Nikolaev lands a body punch.
St Pierre takes a shot to the head.
St Pierre is pushing Nikolaev up against the cage, for a bit of lean and pray action. Action being used the in the loosest possible sense of the word.
Nikolaev tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and St Pierre avoids it.
Nikolaev misses with a body punch.
St Pierre goes for a takedown in the clinch but Nikolaev prevents it.
St Pierre is trying to drag Nikolaev to the mat but Nikolaev just about manages to keep his footing. He used the cage to his advantage there.
Ivan Nikolaev has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Georges St Pierre.
St Pierre tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.
Nikolaev lands on the inside with an uppercut.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Nikolaev tried to land a shot to the body but connects with St Pierre's elbow.
Nikolaev can't find room to land a body shot as St Pierre controls the action.
Nikolaev taking a break, stalling in the clinch.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Nikolaev.
St Pierre wants to break the clinch but can't.
Nikolaev displaying some good clinch control by pressing St Pierre up against the cage.
This has been an exciting period of action!
St Pierre tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.
Nikolaev lands a body punch in the clinch.
Nikolaev tries to stall but St Pierre uses the opportunity to gain a better position.
St Pierre tries to pull guard but Nikolaev won't allow it.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Nikolaev blocking some punches.
Nikolaev avoiding damage as St Pierre throws knees to the body.
Nikolaev is trying to maintain a safe position but St Pierre gets an underhook and turns Nikolaev into the cage.
Both fighters working to control the clinch.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Ivan Nikolaev dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Georges St Pierre's cut.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

A head kick misses from Nikolaev.
St Pierre tries to clinch there but Nikolaev circles away.
Nikolaev scores with a leg kick.
St Pierre blocks a head kick by Nikolaev.
Good standup being displayed there by Nikolaev as he connects with a hook.
St Pierre fails with the takedown.
Nikolaev jabs away that one connects to the head of his opponent.
Nikolaev swings wildly with a hook that is half blocked by St Pierre.

That has opened up Georges St Pierre's cut even more.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!

Excellent takedown into side control there by St Pierre.
St Pierre trying to control the position but Nikolaev is working away.
Nikolaev is working hard to escape and get back to his feet. After a battle for position, St Pierre asserts his dominance and retains side control.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Nikolaev is not content to let St Pierre control the position.

St Pierre stands up and we're back to a striking position.
St Pierre tries to clinch but Nikolaev is having none of it.
Nikolaev comes forward and lands a shot to the body, then darts back out of range.
Georges St Pierre is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Nikolaev feints and then cracks St Pierre's leading leg with a nice low kick. He's obviously looking to slow St Pierre down.
St Pierre shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Nikolaev pinned against the cage. Nikolaev gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
Nikolaev looking to take his opponent's legs away with the low kicks.
St Pierre is breathing heavily.
Nikolaev looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
St Pierre misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Nikolaev works over St Pierre's head and body with a nice combination.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Nikolaev throws a head kick but St Pierre moves out of range.
Nikolaev throws a nice head kick!
Nice cross by Nikolaev.

The cut above Georges St Pierre's eye is starting to cause him problems now.
Ivan Nikolaev seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Nikolaev misses with a hook. St Pierre ducked under it nicely.
St Pierre uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Nikolaev.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

St Pierre scores with a nice takedown into half guard. Let's see what he's got on the ground.
St Pierre prevents Nikolaev from standing back up.

St Pierre wants to work for an arm triangle but Nikolaev is really keeping half guard well and defending the submission attempt.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
St Pierre throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
St Pierre prevents Nikolaev from standing back up.
St Pierre wants to take a breather but Nikolaev is having none of it.
Nikolaev is trying to stand up here but St Pierre is controlling him well.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
St Pierre works his way into full mount!
Nikolaev wants to try and get back to his feet.
Georges St Pierre has got the better of the ground game so far.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
St Pierre looking to control and managing it successfully.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Ivan Nikolaev dominated that second round.
The cut man is working on Georges St Pierre's cut.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business. This is the final round!

St Pierre throws a body kick that misses.
Nikolaev changes levels and scores with a jab to the body.

Nikolaev has managed to clinch.
St Pierre blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Nikolaev scores with a hook to the body.
A short right hand to the side of the head by Nikolaev.
St Pierre misses with a knee strike.
Nikolaev stops a takedown attempt from St Pierre.
Nikolaev avoiding damage.
Nikolaev tries a knee to the head but he's missed.
St Pierre takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Nikolaev presses St Pierre against the cage and delivers a mid-strength body shot.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Good anti-grappling being displayed by Nikolaev as St Pierre tries to tie him up.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Nikolaev will no doubt start fighting again in a minute but for now he's just having a little rest, leaning St Pierre up against the cage.
Nikolaev lands a right hand.
Nikolaev avoiding damage as St Pierre throws knees to the body.
St Pierre tries to pull guard but Nikolaev forces him back to his feet, against the cage.

St Pierre pulls guard.
Nikolaev in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Nikolaev postures up and lands a big shot to St Pierre's brow.
Nikolaev lands a couple of digs.
Nikolaev lands a nice shot whilst sitting in his opponent's guard.
Nikolaev has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.
Nikolaev keeps in close for a moment and lands a decent shot to the side of St Pierre's head.
Nikolaev landing some decent shots from guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
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!
Nikolaev missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Nikolaev trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
St Pierre wants to sweep here but Nikolaev controlling him for the moment.
Nikolaev working in close now, lands a nice elbow to the side of St Pierre's head.
Nikolaev lands a couple of digs.
St Pierre not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Nikolaev trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Nikolaev lands a couple of decent looking shots.
Nikolaev is looking to work some ground and pound but St Pierre has wrist control.
Nikolaev throwing strikes from guard but St Pierre blocks nicely.
Nikolaev in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Nikolaev postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
St Pierre wants to control here, rather than go for any submissions from the bottom. At least for now.
Nikolaev trying to control but St Pierre is working from the bottom.
Nikolaev connects with a couple of short punches.
St Pierre looking for a sweep. Not yet St Pierre, not yet.
St Pierre is persisting with the attempt to improve his position.
Nikolaev is working the ground and pound from guard. He might want to try advancing position though to get more of an impact.
Ivan Nikolaev is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Nikolaev trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
St Pierre controls Nikolaev momentarily but Nikolaev frees himself.
Nikolaev trying to control but St Pierre is working from the bottom.
St Pierre avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Nikolaev landing some decent shots from guard.
Nikolaev throws a big elbow that misses.
Nikolaev lands a couple of digs.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Nikolaev is looking to pass into half guard but St Pierre pushes him away with his feet and jumps on top - now St Pierre is in guard.
Nikolaev is looking to stand up but St Pierre isn't so interested in that idea.

And that's the end of the fight!
Ivan Nikolaev showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Nikolaev has outscored his opponent in every aspect of the fight today. Only a scarily incompetent judge or two will keep him from a well deserved win... 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 Paul Tew scores the fight 30:27
Judge Donald Grub scores the fight 30:27
Judge Richard Clark scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Ivan Nikolaev!
A victorious Ivan Nikolaev thanked his army of followers in his post fight interview, telling people to make sure they follow him on Twitter.