PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Dan Druff (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Mariusz Nikiel (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Druff comes to the cage accompanied by Awol Nation - Sail. Nikiel is bouncing up and down as he enters the arena, backed by Krystian Pudzianowski - Slowianski wiatr. On his way into the cage it seems that Dan Druff has been attacked by a crazed fan! It looks like it might have been the just bleed guy! Luckily Dan Druff seems to be OK! I thought that lunatic was in prison!?

Druff
vs
Nikiel

183 cm
29
233 lbs
7 - 8 - 1

181 cm
32
265 lbs
7 - 3 - 0

Good wrestling
Counter fighter
Experienced

Good wrestler
Decent boxing
Solid chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 7 - 8 - 1, fighting out of London, Dan Druff!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 7 - 3 - 0, fighting out of London, Mariusz Nikiel!
The judges for this bout are Sam Margolis, Donald Grub and Steven Brown.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Nikiel misses with a hook. Druff ducked under it nicely.
Druff changes levels looking for a counter takedown but doesn't commit.
Nikiel misses with a wild combination.
Nikiel falls off balance throwing a combination

and Druff counters with a nice double leg into side control. Nikiel won't be happy with that.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Druff tries to land with some ground and pound but misses.
Druff creates some space and throws a big elbow, but Nikiel sees it coming and moves his head just enough to avoid the strike.
Druff creates a bit of distance and throws down some hard shots.
The ground and pound from Druff seems to be hitting the mat more than his opponent.
Druff throws a strike aimed at the side of Nikiel's head but Nikiel avoids it well.
Druff tries to land with some ground and pound but misses.
We get told so often about how wrestlers don't like to be on their backs. Let's see if Nikiel can do anything to dispel that myth.
Druff in side control, trying to ground and pound but not landing this time.
Druff has been talking about how he's improved his wrestling in the run up to the fight so let's see if that's enough to sway the balance.
Druff sitting in side control, looking to soften his opponent up with elbows and hammerfists but Nikiel is avoiding damage well and looking to escape the position.
Nikiel is looking to regain half guard here but Druff keeps moving and retains side control.
Nikiel is working hard to escape and get back to his feet. After a battle for position, Druff asserts his dominance and retains side control.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Druff lands a knee to the body and a forearm to the face.
The ground and pound from Druff seems to be hitting the mat more than his opponent.
Druff in side control, throwing shots but Nikiel defends.
Nikiel is looking to slip a leg under and get half guard but Druff is one step ahead and moves to full mount!
Nikiel squirming around on the bottom, looking to escape.
Druff punching from mount but Nikiel doing a good job of avoiding damage.
A nice elbow there by Druff.
Druff unloads with some shots from mount but Nikiel bucks and avoids them well.
Druff 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.
Druff working the ground and pound effectively.
Nikiel can't escape the position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Nikiel tries to lock up and control but Druff gives him a forearm to the face and pushes him away.
Druff punishing his opponent with strikes.
Druff putting on the heat here with some good ground and pound!
Druff fakes a shot to the body and cracks his opponent in the head. Nice ground and pound there!
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Nikiel holding onto his opponent's waist for dear life, as Druff tries to land some strikes to get him to release his grip.
Nikiel is working to get back to half guard.
Druff landing strikes, looking to finish!
Druff trying to control but Nikiel is having none of it.
Druff lands a shot to the body, followed up by a shot to the exposed head of his trapped opponent.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Nikiel wants to control but Druff is having none of it.
Nikiel takes a big shot to the head but keeps on trying to improve his position.
Druff with good strikes from the mount here!
Nikiel taking shots to the head.
Druff has his opponent pinned against the cage, landing some nasty ground and pound that is really making a bit of a mess out of Nikiel's face.
Druff lands a couple of good shots and Nikiel has given up his back, trying to escape the position!
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Druff is working the ground and pound here and the referee is taking a close look at Nikiel. He must escape soon or this one will be stopped.
Druff throwing damaging strikes from the back! Nikiel could be in trouble here!
Nikiel is trying to get back to his feet but he's not managed it yet.
Druff missing with strikes.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Druff thows a huge left but connects with the canvas and not his opponent.
A lull in the action here.
Druff lands with a hammerfist to the side of Nikiel's head.
Nikiel wants to control his opponent's hands but Druff gets his hands free.
The referee is taking a good look at Nikiel as he is on the wrong end of some big shots from Druff!
Nikiel looks to control his opponent's hands but he's not mananging it at the moment.
Druff is landing with strikes from the back.
Nikiel covers up after that shot from Druff.
Nikiel is taking damage to the body and head.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Dan Druff dominated that round.
That's time! Druff's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight.

Druff uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Nikiel.
Dan Druff is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Druff tries to clinch there but Nikiel circles away.
Nikiel pivots as if he's going to throw a leg kick but stops half way.
Nikiel throws a head kick but Druff moves out of range.
Nikiel tries a head kick but it misses.
Druff looked to counter that last move with a leg kick but didn't pull the trigger.
Nikiel scores with a punch to the gut of his opponent.

Druff shoots in looking for a single leg takedown. Nikiel is trying to defend but Druff finishes it well and ends up in half guard. Let's see if he can advance position further.
Druff seems to be taking a bit of a break to think of his next move. He lands a short punch in the meantime.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Druff lands a big shot. The thud that echoes around the arena is like music to the fans' ears.
Nikiel is trying to stand.
Druff wants to free his trapped foot but Nikiel is holding on for dear life with his legs.
Druff is trying to control the action in half guard but Nikiel is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Nikiel is trying to stand.
Nikiel is trying to defend against the ground and pound but Druff scores with a couple of nice shots.
Druff wants to lay and pray for a moment but Nikiel keeps working.
Druff not landing any meaningful shots this time.
Nikiel avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Druff.
Druff missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.
Nikiel is pressing down on Druff's left leg trying to get back to full guard. He's managed it.
Nikiel keeping moving, preventing Druff from controlling successfully.
Druff stops Nikiel from standing up.
Nikiel keeping moving, preventing Druff from controlling successfully.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
My god... these two guys really need to pick up the pace or everyone will leave to go get a beer.

Druff throws a loose over hand right and dives in with a double leg takedown. Nikiel tries to sprawl but it's too late and the fighters hit the mat. Druff is in Nikiel's guard.
Nikiel really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Druff. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.
Nikiel avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Druff working in close now, lands a nice elbow to the side of Nikiel's head.
Druff slows down the pace of the fight for a moment. He'll need to remain active if he doesn't want to see the fight stood back up.
Druff with a flurry of punches that miss.
Nikiel wants to stand up but Druff is controlling him.
Druff trying to control but Nikiel is working from the bottom.
Druff with a flurry of punches that miss.
Druff loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Nikiel looking to hit a scissor sweep but Druff is one step ahead there.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.
Nikiel misses the shot to the body.
Nikiel tries a head kick but it misses.
Mariusz Nikiel seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Druff moves away from the strike by Nikiel.
It looked like Druff wanted to counter with a hook but didn't fully commit.
No joy there for Nikiel, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Nice sprawl there from Nikiel as Druff shoots in.
Nikiel misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
A looping hook to the body misses from Nikiel. Druff does a little dance to reset his feet.
A quick step to the side and Druff tries to counter with a shot to the body but it doesn't connect.
Nikiel swings for the body but Druff moves out of range.
Nikiel throws a low kick but his opponent is out of range.

Druff shoots in for a takedown! He's got it and he's managed to land in side control! That's better than Druff was expecting from the takedown attempt, I'm sure!
Nikiel managing to avoid any damage from the strikes thrown by Druff.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Druff wants to lay and pray for a moment but Nikiel keeps working.
Druff throws a strike aimed at the side of Nikiel's head but Nikiel avoids it well.
Druff trying to control the action but Nikiel is working from the bottom.
Druff connects with a decent looking elbow from side control that caused Nikiel some visible discomfort.
Nikiel wants to get back to his feet but Druff drags him back down.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Nikiel takes an elbow right on the bridge of the nose and winces in pain.
Druff in side control, throwing shots but Nikiel defends.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Dan Druff dominated that second round.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action! This is the final round!

Druff tries to clinch

and Nikiel counters with a crisp one two that drops Druff! Nikiel thinks about following him to the mat for a moment but instead steps back and waves Druff to his feet! Druff is in big trouble!
Nikiel misses with a right hand
and Druff connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Nikiel leaves Druff with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
Druff will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
Nikiel throws the left hand but Druff avoids the punch easily.
Nikiel catches Druff with a right, a left, a right. It's raining punches and Druff forgot an umbrella! Another punch and he's down. This one is over!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 0:30 of round 3, we have a winner by way of KO (Punches). Mariusz Nikiel!
Mariusz Nikiel opened up his post fight interview with a scream to camera that he wants a title shot! Whether he deserves the shot will be up to the management of the organization, so I guess he'll have to wait and see.