PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Vadim Nazarov (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and LeBron James (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Nazarov comes into the arena with "Fade to Black" by Metallica blaring out of the sound system. Vadim Nazarov has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Nazarov
vs
James

187 cm
26
195 lbs
15 - 6 - 2

180 cm
26
200 lbs
10 - 3 - 0

Good wrestling
Excellent boxer
Granite chin

Good wrestler
World class MT
Good gas tank

Just Fight (Everything 8$)

Sun-Tzu. 15%

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 15 - 6 - 2, fighting out of Las Vegas, Vadim Nazarov!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 10 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, LeBron James!
The judges for this bout are Robert Twigg, Wesley Smith and Alan Glass.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Nazarov swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Nazarov's jab looks to have found its range, popping James under the eye.
An inside leg kick from James misses.
James lands a lovely overhand right.
Nazarov definitely looks more muscular than last time we saw him fight.
Nazarov scores with a punch to the head.
Nazarov waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract James.
Nazarov misses with a two punch combination.

James closes the distance and pushes Nazarov back into the cage.
James misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Nazarov.

Nazarov breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Nazarov swats away the attempt to clinch by James.
Nazarov half commits to a counter takedown before pushing away, out of range.
Nazarov fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
James lands a leg kick that knocks Nazarov off balance momentarily.
We've been informed that James has been sparring a lot of Muay Thai in the buildup to this fight so let's see if that has an impact on the result.
James keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Nazarov.
James is clearly looking to counter with head kicks.
A lazy left from Nazarov finds it's target.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Nazarov throws a jab when James was well out of range.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Nazarov ducks down and throws a hook to the body but James moves away.
Nazarov misses with a body shot.
James wants to counter the offense by Nazarov and move into the clinch position.
Nazarov misses with a straight left.
Sloppy strikes from Nazarov. Those never looked like landing.
Nazarov has his front leg slapped to the side - a nice low kick landing there from James.
Nazarov digs a good hook to James's body.
James feints and then cracks Nazarov's leading leg with a nice low kick. He's obviously looking to slow Nazarov down.
LeBron James is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Nazarov looks to score with a jab to the body but James is just out of range.
James fakes with the hands and throws a leg kick but Nazarov is out of range.
James scores with a leg kick.
James uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Nazarov.
Good standup being displayed there by Nazarov as he connects with a hook.
Nazarov will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
James lands with a thumping leg kick.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

James has taken the fight to the clinch.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Nazarov avoids the elbow strike from James, against the cage.
Nazarov blocks an elbow strike.
Nazarov works on James's body with a couple of short punches.
Nazarov stays in close to his opponent and throws a right hand to the body.
James misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Nazarov.
Nazarov lands with a short punch from the clinch.
James tries to land a knee to the head but Nazarov blocks with his arms.
Nazarov dodges an elbow strike from James.
A quick uppercut on the inside from Nazarov.
James landing knees to the body.
Nazarov lands with a right to the head.
Nazarov drops to a knee looking for a takedown but James gets the underhooks and prevents it.
Nazarov blocks an elbow strike.
James crunches a lovely knee into Nazarov's ribcage.
Nazarov swings wildly with an uppercut but James uses good head movement to avoid it.
Nazarov wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but James has him pressed against the cage.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Nazarov takes an elbow to the forehead.
Nazarov struggles to land a body shot inside as James controls his hands.
James blocks an uppercut.
James missing with knees to the body.
James lands an elbow that stopped Nazarov in his tracks for a moment.

It looks like Vadim Nazarov has been cut.
Nazarov has a couple of punches blocked by James.
James trying to land knees to the body.
James throws a knee to the head but misses.
James tries a knee to the head but he's missed.
Nazarov tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
James lands a good knee to the midsection. Nazarov won't want to take too many of those.
James tries a knee to the head but Nazarov blocks it.
James tries a knee to the head but Nazarov blocks it.
James misses with an elbow over the top.
James misses with a knee strike.
James trying to land knees to the body.
Nazarov lands a body punch in the clinch.
Nazarov tries to break free but James pushes him back against the cage.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
James trying to land knees to the body.

Nazarov is trying to trip James. He has hold of a leg but James is hopping around, keeping his balance for the moment. Nazarov persists though and gets the takedown into guard.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
James is avoiding any damage by keeping wrist control.
Nazarov trying to control the position from guard on top but James is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
James is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.

Nazarov wants to control but James is keeping busy and won't allow it.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but LeBron James will probably get the nod.
The cut man is working on Vadim Nazarov's cut.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

Nazarov avoids the head kick by James.
Nazarov defending well as James loads up on a big left hand.
James throws a head kick but Nazarov moves out of range.
James turns his hip over beautifully as he lands a nice leg kick.
Nazarov throws a poor cross that misses
and James counters with a body kick that stops Nazarov in his tracks momentarily.
Nazarov jabs James to the body, keeping him at a distance.
Vadim Nazarov is winning the standup battle so far.
Boom, another hit is landed. "You're gunna get knocked out" taunts Nazarov, as that shot connected.
James wants to land a leg kick but Nazarov is out of range.
James ducks right into an uppercut from Nazarov.
A slow jab from Nazarov misses its intended target.
Nazarov throws a body shot but no joy.
Nazarov misses with a looping left.
James tries to clinch but Nazarov is having none of it.
James lands with a slapping head kick.
Nazarov with a hook.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Nazarov checks a leg kick nicely.
Nazarov appears to be looking for a counter takedown.

That's one minute gone in the round.
James throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Nazarov feinted with a counter takedown.
James dances in quickly and lands a nice inside leg kick on Nazarov. That did some damage!
James ducks under a wild hook from Nazarov.
Nazarov displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as James throws out the jab.
Nazarov takes a swing at James's ribcage but misses.
Nazarov scores with a big left there. The judges will like that one.
James pulls out of a head kick attempt.
James throws a lazy right hand but Nazarov sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
James misses the jab.
Nazarov scores with a reasonable looking shot to the body. James doesn't seem bothered though.

James gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.
Nazarov can't find room to land a body shot as James controls the action.
Nazarov tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
James lands an elbow that stopped Nazarov in his tracks for a moment.
James is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Nazarov is defending well for now.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
James misses with a knee strike.
Nazarov working aggressively here.
Nazarov misses with some punches.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
James lands a good knee to the midsection. Nazarov won't want to take too many of those.
James is pressed up against the cage. Nazarov has hold of a leg and is looking to drag James down to the mat. James avoids the attempt though and has circled away. We're back to striking at a distance.
James throws a sloppy head kick and Nazarov moves out of range easily.
Nazarov attempts a counter takedown but James avoids it well and moves away.
James slips a jab from Nazarov.
Jab, jab by Nazarov - just one landing.
James missing with a left hand there. Nazarov was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
James leaves Nazarov with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
James throws a right and a left that Nazarov avoids nicely.
James misses with a head kick.
Nazarov checks a leg kick.
Nazarov lands the left hand.
James finds nothing but air with that leg kick attempt.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
James misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
James doesn't manage to clinch there - Nazarov circles away.
Nazarov throws an uppercut from half a mile away. James sees it coming and avoids it easily.

Nazarov gets a takedown into half guard.
Nazarov winds up and cracks James with a swinging punch to the side of the head.
Nazarov is thwarting James's attempts to control the position.
Nazarov missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.
James is trying to get back to full guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Nazarov trying to control the action but James is working from the bottom.
Nazarov missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.
James wants to get back to full guard.
James blocking the ground and pound attempt from Nazarov.
James is pressing down on Nazarov's left leg trying to get back to full guard. He's managed it.
Nazarov scores with a decent looking elbow strike.
Nazarov with a flurry of punches that miss.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close second round but I would say that Vadim Nazarov will probably get the nod.
The cut man is working on Vadim Nazarov's cut.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action! This is the final round!

Nazarov throws a body shot but no joy.
A looping hook to the body misses from Nazarov. James does a little dance to reset his feet.
The fight stays on the outside here - James looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Nazarov changes levels and scores with a jab to the body.
Well, he's not going to score with shots like that. A lazy body kick attempt from James.
The fight stays on the outside here - James looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Nazarov digs a good body shot into James's ribs.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
James is looking to clinch.
James swings and misses with a shot to the body

and Nazarov counters with a shoot takedown. James fights it but they end up in guard.
James being controlled here, momentarily.
Nazarov has been looking to land a fair amount of strikes on the ground. He might be looking to soften his opponent up in order to work for a submission.
Nazarov wants to control from the top but James keeps moving.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Nazarov postures up and lands a big shot to James's brow.
James working a defensive guard here.
Nazarov cracks James with a solid left hand.
Nazarov postures up and lands some nice ground and pound.
James preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Nazarov won't allow James to sweep him here.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.
Nazarov throws a big elbow that misses.
Nazarov is looking to work some ground and pound but James has wrist control.
James working a defensive guard here.
James avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
James keeping full guard, as Nazarov tries to pass.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up. He just wasn't happy with the level of activity.
James tries to clinch up but Nazarov circles away and keeps his distance.
Nazarov displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as James throws out the jab.
Nazarov misses with a lunging right hand
and James counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
James looking to throw a kick but he's pulled out of it.
Nazarov keeping at a good range here, avoiding a leg kick.
James misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Nazarov misses with a wild body shot.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
James doesn't manage to clinch there - Nazarov circles away.
James blocks a jab.
James ducks under a wild hook from Nazarov.
Nazarov waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract James.
Nazarov missing with a left hand there. James was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
James drops his hands and takes a jab to the jaw for his troubles.
James is looking to clinch.
Nazarov connects with a jab.
A cross from Nazarov lands.
James throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Nazarov.
Nazarov throws a looping overhand right but James ducks down to avoid it.
Nazarov just misses with a punch to the body.
James dances in quickly and lands a nice inside leg kick on Nazarov. That did some damage!
Nazarov throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Nazarov throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
James throws a leg kick

and Nazarov counters with a nice double leg into guard.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Nazarov cracks James with a solid left hand.
James wants to hit a switch here but Nazarov passes into full mount! Oh no, disaster for James there!
Nazarov lands a heavy elbow.
Vadim Nazarov overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
James tries to reverse the position but Nazarov maintains control.
Nazarov avoids the attempt from James to control.
James takes a big shot to the head but keeps on trying to improve his position.

And that's the end of the fight!
Vadim Nazarov showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Nazarov has won this one but let's see what the judges have to say. 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 Robert Twigg scores the fight 29:28
Judge Wesley Smith scores the fight 29:29
Judge Alan Glass scores the fight 30:28

In favor of your winner, by majority decision... Vadim Nazarov!
Vadim Nazarov seemed lost for words in his post fight interview but he remembered to thank his fans and directed everyone to his website.