PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Norbert Schwager Ii (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Volya Nikolaev (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Nikolaev has chosen Fever as his entrance music. Volya Nikolaev acknowledges the crowd's support as he enters the cage.

Schwager Ii
vs
Nikolaev

175 cm
25
163 lbs
11 - 7 - 1

170 cm
24
165 lbs
12 - 7 - 0

Good wrestling
Excellent boxer
Insanely flexible

Good wrestler
Excellent boxer
Good gas tank

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the lightweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 11 - 7 - 1, fighting out of St Petersburg, Norbert Schwager Ii!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 12 - 7 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Volya Nikolaev!
The judges for this bout are Dmitry Maklakov, Sergei Dronov and Aleksei Zolotukhin.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Schwager Ii fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Schwager Ii throws a body shot but no joy.
And Nikolaev tries to counter it with a takedown but Schwager Ii pushes his down on his head and steps out.
Nice takedown defense from Schwager Ii. No joy for Nikolaev on that attempt.
Nikolaev connects with a nice looking jab.

Nikolaev shoots in looking for a single leg takedown. Schwager Ii is trying to defend but Nikolaev finishes it well and ends up in half guard. Let's see if he can advance position further.
Nikolaev missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.
Nikolaev has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
Nikolaev thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Schwager Ii's head.
Schwager Ii definitely looks more muscular than last time we saw him fight.
Nikolaev seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Schwager Ii does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
The two fighters exchange a few words. I couldn't hear what they were saying but maybe it's more fun if you make it up yourself. Nikolaev connects with a nice short shot to Schwager Ii's temple.

Nikolaev is working for a submission of some sort.
Schwager Ii wants to control but Nikolaev is keeping busy and won't allow it.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Nikolaev moves nicely into side control.
Schwager Ii takes an elbow right on the bridge of the nose and winces in pain.
Schwager Ii is looking for a sweep.

Nikolaev is looking to finish here, going for an Americana. Schwager Ii knows the correct defense though, so he's OK.
Schwager Ii takes an elbow right on the bridge of the nose and winces in pain.
Schwager Ii manages to get one leg in to regain half guard.
Nikolaev missing with the ground and pound from half guard.
Schwager Ii is looking to improve his position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Schwager Ii regains full guard. Nicely done.
Nikolaev wants to control from the top but Schwager Ii keeps moving.
Schwager Ii trying to keep a closed guard but Nikolaev is proving a slippery customer.
Nikolaev wants to control from the top but Schwager Ii keeps moving.
Nikolaev distracts Schwager Ii with his right hand and drops a big elbow with his other arm.
Nikolaev scores with a decent looking elbow strike.
Nikolaev lands a couple of digs.
Nikolaev connects with a couple of short punches.
Nikolaev content to strike from guard, landing some decent shots.
Schwager Ii is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Nikolaev is fighting to break Schwager Ii's control of his arms but Schwager Ii is doing a good job of controlling the position at the moment.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Nikolaev throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Nikolaev controlling from the guard. I say controlling but really, he's stalling.
Nikolaev trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Schwager Ii is looking to stand up but Nikolaev isn't so interested in that idea.
Nikolaev keeps in close for a moment and lands a decent shot to the side of Schwager Ii's head.
Schwager Ii utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Nikolaev scores with a decent looking elbow strike.
Nikolaev missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Nikolaev postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Nikolaev wants to control from the top but Schwager Ii keeps moving.
Schwager Ii is trying to keep Nikolaev in close.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Schwager Ii pulls Nikolaev in close to his closed guard and prevents Nikolaev from doing any damage or advancing position.
Nikolaev throwing strikes but missing.
Nikolaev throwing strikes but missing.
Schwager Ii looking to hit a scissor sweep but Nikolaev is one step ahead there.
Nikolaev wants to control from the top but Schwager Ii keeps moving.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up. He just wasn't happy with the level of activity.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Nikolaev moves into range and connects with a jab.
Nikolaev closes the distance and clinches up with Schwager Ii, looking for a takedown. Nikolaev pushes Schwager Ii against the cage but Schwager Ii circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Volya Nikolaev dominated that round.
That's the end of the interval. I'm sure that seemed a lot quicker than a minute for our two fighters! Back to the action.

Nikolaev will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
Schwager Ii is looking to counter punch.
Schwager Ii cracks Nikolaev with a right hand to the side of the head.
Nikolaev darts in looking for a takedown but Schwager Ii gets double underhooks and turns Nikolaev into the cage.
Nikolaev misses with a few strikes there.
Schwager Ii is looking to counter punch.
Nice takedown defense from Schwager Ii. No joy for Nikolaev on that attempt.
Norbert Schwager Ii has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Volya Nikolaev.
Nikolaev is trying to drag Schwager Ii to the mat but Schwager Ii just about manages to keep his footing. He used the cage to his advantage there.
The referee is keeping an eye on Schwager Ii - much more stalling and he will separate the fighters.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Nikolaev tries for a takedown but Schwager Ii manages to get underhooks.
Nikolaev is looking to take this one to the mat.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Nikolaev stalling.
Nikolaev tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. Schwager Ii smiles and moves away.
Nikolaev gets cracked with a nice right hand there by Schwager Ii.
Schwager Ii misses with a straight left.
Schwager Ii stuffs the takedown attempt from Nikolaev. Nikolaev gets slowly back to his feet.
The fighters circling - Schwager Ii throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
Nikolaev has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Schwager Ii wings a very wild body shot but it does the job and lands to the midsection.
Nikolaev closes the distance and clinches up with Schwager Ii, looking for a takedown. Nikolaev pushes Schwager Ii against the cage but Schwager Ii circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
Nikolaev avoids the body shot from Schwager Ii.
Nikolaev takes a big uppercut there. He seems a bit wobbly but no, he's OK.
Schwager Ii throws a right and a left that Nikolaev avoids nicely.
Volya Nikolaev seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Nikolaev darts in looking for a takedown but Schwager Ii gets double underhooks and turns Nikolaev into the cage.
It looked like Schwager Ii was trying to counter with a body shot coming off that last attack from Nikolaev.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Schwager Ii lands a straight punch to the body, keeping Nikolaev at a distance.
Schwager Ii connects with a lovely right hand, straight down the pipe.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Nikolaev tries to drive through with a takedown attempt but Schwager Ii defends well and Nikolaev ends up having to push Schwager Ii into the cage where they will battle it out in the clinch.
Schwager Ii scores with a nice head shot.

Nikolaev is rocked!
Norbert Schwager Ii is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Nikolaev blocks a jab.
And Nikolaev tries to counter it with a takedown but Schwager Ii pushes his down on his head and steps out.
Nikolaev fails to land the takedown.

Schwager Ii cracks Nikolaev with a big right hand that sends him to the floor! Nikolaev looks wobbly but he's sprung back up to his feet straight away… can Schwager Ii finish him?
Nikolaev is still on wobbly legs! Can Schwager Ii finish him?
Schwager Ii throws a series of punches but Nikolaev avoids them all with ease.
Schwager Ii misses with a hook to the body
and Nikolaev counters with a stiff right hand.
Nikolaev doesn't succeed with the takedown
and Schwager Ii counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Schwager Ii fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Schwager Ii takes a jab right on the nose. That must have hurt but he shrugs his shoulders and looks to return the favor.
Nikolaev seems to have recovered his senses.
Schwager Ii ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
Nikolaev closes the distance and clinches up with Schwager Ii, looking for a takedown. Nikolaev pushes Schwager Ii against the cage but Schwager Ii circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
As Nikolaev looks to move away, Schwager Ii throws a big counter combo bu Nikolaev just gets out of the way.
Nikolaev looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Schwager Ii is fending him off so far but Nikolaev persists. Nope, Schwager Ii circles away and we're back to standing.
Schwager Ii misses with a straight left.

Oooooh!!! Schwager Ii has knocked Nikolaev down with a huge combo! Schwager Ii steps away and waves a wobbly Nikolaev back to his feet! This one might not go much longer!
Schwager Ii is stalking Nikolaev. Nikolaev circles to his left. Keeps circling left. Bam! Straight right from Schwager Ii, and it's lights out! Nikolaev really payed the price for that rookie mistake.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 3:41 of round 2, we have a winner by way of KO (Punch). Norbert Schwager Ii!
A very excited looking Norbert Schwager Ii made sure he remembered to thank all the fans both in the arena and on the internet. He said all the coolest people spend all day on MMA websites, which got a big reaction.
Volya Nikolaev was interviewed post fight and said '2-1 See you later...'.