PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Soichi Nishida (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Vladimir Shirokov (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). This should be fireworks!

Nishida
vs
Shirokov

166 cm
20
132 lbs
2 - 0 - 0

173 cm
21
140 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
KO power

Good wrestler
Brawler
Very confident

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the featherweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 2 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Soichi Nishida!
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, Vladimir Shirokov!
The judges for this bout are Matheus Silva, Luis Engracia and Edson Gomes.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Shirokov moves out of range of the strikes.
Nice sprawl there from Nishida as Shirokov shoots in.

Shirokov closes the distance, clinches up and gets a nice trip takedown into side control. Very smooth.
Nishida is trying to control Shirokov's posture but Shirokov avoids it.
Shirokov staying calm.
You can see the frustration on Nishida's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.

Shirokov decides to stand back up. Shirokov steps back and let's Nishida get back to his feet.
Shirokov fails with an attempt to clinch.
Shirokov darts in looking for a takedown but Nishida gets double underhooks and turns Shirokov into the cage.
Shirokov jumps guard but his hands slip and he falls flat on his back. Well, he's made himself look a right mug there, as Nishida walks away with a smile on his face. Shirokov gets slowly back to his feet and shakes his head.
Soichi Nishida has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Vladimir Shirokov.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Shirokov tries to clinch there but Nishida circles away.
Nishida lands a pitter patter jab to the forehead of his opponent.
Shirokov misses with a takedown attempt - Nishida sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
Shirokov shoots in but Nishida avoids the takedown attempt easily.
Nishida tries to close the distance and clinch up but Shirokov swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Nishida misses with a straight right.
Shirokov tries to clinch up.
Decent striking displayed by Nishida there.

Shirokov has closed the distance and engaged Nishida in a clinch.

Nishida manages to break the clinch.

Shirokov closes the distance and scores a nice trip takedown into half guard. Nishida did well to prevent Shirokov getting side control.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Nishida keeping hold of Shirokov's head, controlling as best he can.
Nishida is trying to stand.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Shirokov is taking a breather. Nishida says something to him but it's hard to make out. Perhaps he's telling him to get on with it and actually do something.
Nishida keeping control of the position.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.
Nishida throws a head kick that connects with a bit of head and a bit of hand.
Shirokov tries to close the distance and clinch up but Nishida swats him away and circles back towards the center.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Shirokov throws a leg kick but Nishida moved away.
Nishida pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Shirokov fails to land the takedown.
Shirokov fails with the takedown.
Nishida waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Shirokov.
Nishida is looking light on his feet compared to last time was saw him fight.

Shirokov shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Let's see what he's got on the mat.
Nishida is trying to keep Shirokov in close.

Shirokov decides to stand up and beckons his opponent to follow.
Shirokov shoots in for a takedown but Nishida shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Shirokov takes a swing at Nishida's ribcage but misses.
Nishida throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Shirokov sees it coming and avoids it easily.
Soichi Nishida seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

Nishida clinches up with Shirokov and pushes him back against the cage.
Shirokov tries to work over Nishida's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
Shirokov can't get the takedown.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Shirokov jumps guard but Nishida stands there with Shirokov around his waist. Shirokov gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.
Nishida working hard to break the clinch.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.

Shirokov breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Shirokov doesn't manage to clinch there - Nishida circles away.
Nishida scores with the left hand. Shirokov knows he should have avoided that one.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Vladimir Shirokov dominated that round.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

Nishida gets taken down but at least he's managed to land in guard.
Shirokov is intent on slowing down the pace of the fight, simply looking to control.
Nishida wants to stand and escape but Shirokov is having none of it.
Shirokov's corner is telling him to maintain position.
Nishida is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.
We must be close to a standup if these guys don't pick up the pace.
Nishida is trying to keep Shirokov in close.

The ref stands the fighters back up. Vladimir Shirokov was stalling too much, according to the referee.
Nishida looks to score with a jab to the body but Shirokov is just out of range.

Shirokov moves into range and clinches up with Nishida.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Nishida has had enough of the clinch and is looking to separate.
Kneeeeees! The crowd are calling for knees to the body. Nishida obliges.
Shirokov keeps control of Nishida as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.
Nishida is trying to push Shirokov away but Shirokov has him pressed against the cage, so he's going nowhere.

Shirokov pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Nishida lands a really nice looking cross but Shirokov seems unphased.
Shirokov shoots in for a double leg but Nishida sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.

Shirokov shoots in with a lovely double leg takedown. Nishida manages to land in full guard to minimise the damage.
Shirokov's corner is telling him to maintain position.
Shirokov really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Nishida. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.

Shirokov gets to his feet - Nishida follows without any prompting.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Shirokov tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Nishida swivels and escapes.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Shirokov pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Nishida keeps the fight on the outside.
Nishida stooping low to avoid any incoming strikes and then lunges in with an uppercut come cross that lands flush.
Shirokov drops his hands momentarily and Nishida takes advantage with a crisp shot to the head.
Nishida smiles there as he lands a nice right hand right on the button.
Soichi Nishida is winning the standup battle so far.
Nishida looks to land a left hand but Shirokov moved out of range nicely.
Nishida works the jab nicely.
Nishida misses with a takedown

and Shirokov moves into the clinch.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Nishida stops a takedown attempt from Shirokov.
Soichi Nishida has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Vladimir Shirokov.

Shirokov escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Nishida avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Shirokov tries to clinch up.
Nishida lands with a right hand.

Nishida moves into the clinch.
Shirokov misses with a hook to the ribs.

Shirokov manages to break the clinch.
Nice sprawl there from Nishida as Shirokov shoots in.
Nishida wants to clinch.
Nishida blocks a head kick by Shirokov.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Nishida lands with a good body shot.
Shirokov takes a head kick and shrugs it off.
Nishida scores with a sloppy right hand. Shirokov should have avoided that one.
Vladimir Shirokov is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Nishida scores with a jab to the head.
Nishida is really head hunting here, hardly looking to strike to the body at all.
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!
Nishida turns his hip over beautifully as he lands a nice leg kick.
Nishida misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Shirokov.
Nishida with a nice cross.

Shirokov changes levels and drives through with a really nice takedown into side control. Nishida looks really pissed at himself for not defending that better.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Nishida taking punishment in the form of punches.
Shirokov is moving around in side control but his primary objective seems to be to maintain the position.
Nishida is trying to improve his position.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Vladimir Shirokov will probably get the nod - 10:9.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action! This is the final round!

Shirokov dives in and scores a takedown into Nishida's guard.

Shirokov is trying to work a guillotine from the top, or something like that? Don't know how he thinks he's going to get a finish from there.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Nishida not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Shirokov tries to free his leg and advance position but Nishida is retaining full guard.
Shirokov is just sitting in guard, looking to avoid any submissions.

That's one minute gone in the round.
The referee is asking the fighters to pick up the pace.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
Nishida lands with an uppercut that bounces Shirokov off the cage and back into range.
Shirokov doesn't manage to clinch there - Nishida circles away.
Shirokov shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Nishida as he jumps to the side.
Shirokov tries to grapple but his opponent circles
and Nishida makes him pay by landing a nice hook to the body before moving out of range.
Nishida tries to clinch up.
Shirokov lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Nishida circles away quickly and effectively.
Nishida throws a right hand that Shirokov ducks under and follows up with a left that Shirokov also avoids with ease.
Nishida scores with a straight right hand, right through his opponent's guard.
Nishida shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Shirokov as he avoids it easily.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Shirokov tries to clinch but Nishida moves out of range.
Nishida wants to clinch up but Shirokov keeps it at a distance.
Nishida avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Nishida lands a jab.
Nishida scores with a punch to the gut of his opponent.
Nishida swats away the attempt to clinch by Shirokov.
Nishida jabs Shirokov right on the nose. Shirokov blinks but takes it well.
Nishida tries to close the distance and clinch up but Shirokov swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Shirokov tries to move into range but Nishida moves to the side and lands with a nice right hand.

Shirokov drives through with a takedown into Nishida's guard. Let's see what he can do from the top position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Nishida looking to hit a scissor sweep but Shirokov is one step ahead there.
Shirokov controls the pace of the fight for a moment.
Shirokov wants to pass the guard but Nishida is keeping the position.

Nishida is working an open guard so Shirokov takes the opportunity to get back to his feet.
Shirokov shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Nishida but Nishida pushes him off and we're back to square one.
Nishida connects nicely with a jab. Noted by the judges no doubt.
Nishida displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Shirokov.
Soichi Nishida has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Vladimir Shirokov.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Nishida throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
That kick from Nishida tenderised Shirokov's leg. Shirokov is trying to keep his angry face on.
Shirokov fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
Nishida connects with a lovely right hand, straight down the pipe.

Nishida forces Shirokov back against the cage and clinches.

Nishida escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.

Nishida darts in and clinches Shirokov up against the cage.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.

Nishida breaks from the clinch.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Shirokov is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Soichi Nishida has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Vladimir Shirokov is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
Shirokov tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.

And that's the end of the fight!
I would just about give that final round to Vladimir Shirokov.
I've got Shirokov winning every round here. Surely the decision will go his way and he'll pick up a well deserved decision victory. 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 Matheus Silva scores the fight 27:30
Judge Luis Engracia scores the fight 27:30
Judge Edson Gomes scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Vladimir Shirokov!