PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Robledo Puch (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Volya Nikolaev (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Nikolaev is bouncing up and down as he enters the arena, backed by Fever . Robledo Puch has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Puch
vs
Nikolaev

170 cm
25
155 lbs
18 - 6 - 2

170 cm
26
165 lbs
16 - 8 - 0

Abu Dhabi Champ
Excellent boxer
Granite chin

Olympic wrestler
Excellent MT
Good gas tank

Perkele!

Pearson Specter Litt

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 5 rounds, for the lightweight championship of the world!
Introducing the champion to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 18 - 6 - 2, fighting out of Helsinki, Robledo Puch!
And introducing the challenger to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 16 - 8 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Volya Nikolaev!
The judges for this bout are Ivan Kurochkin, Viktor Lagutenko and Konstantin Menshow.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Puch throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Nikolaev's waist but Nikolaev gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Puch off to one side.
Puch looks to have improved his striking defense since last time we saw him fight.
Nikolaev connects with a slap. Keep your fist closed son.
A big right from Nikolaev misses.
Puch swings for the body but Nikolaev moves out of range.
Nikolaev jabbing away but nothing is landing.
Puch tries to move into range but Nikolaev moves to the side and lands with a nice right hand.
Nice shot lands for Nikolaev.
Nikolaev misses with a two punch combination.
A telegraphed right hand from Nikolaev misses the target.
Puch half commits to a counter takedown before pushing away, out of range.
Puch throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
Nikolaev throws a counter combo.
Nikolaev misses with a looping right.
Volya Nikolaev seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Puch cracks Nikolaev with an open hand slap.
Puch connects with a good right hand that stumbles Nikolaev. Nikolaev circles away out of range and recomposes himself.
Puch moves out of range of the leg kick from Nikolaev.
Puch drops down looking for a counter takedown but Nikolaev sprawls and moves away.
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 throws a hook but Puch avoids it easily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Nikolaev on the wrong end of a nice jab.
Nikolaev ducks under a wild hook from Puch.
Nikolaev misses with a two punch combination.
Puch throws an overhand right that lands on Nikolaev's shoulder, as Nikolaev tries to avoid the shot.
Nikolaev has been spending a lot of time sparring his boxing in the run up to the fight, trying to sharpen up those hands and look for a knockout.
Puch fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
Nikolaev with a lazy takedown attempt
and Puch counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Puch blocks a low kick nicely.

Nikolaev instigates a clinch.
Puch wants a takedown.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Robledo Puch. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Nikolaev tries to work over Puch's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.

Nikolaev breaks from the clinch.
Puch listening to his corner there, landing a nice uppercut.
Puch lands with a two punch combination before moving back out of range.

Nikolaev is rocked!
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Nikolaev throws a nice looking combination but Puch bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Puch appears to be looking for a counter takedown.
Nikolaev is still on wobbly legs! Can Puch finish him?

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Puch blocks a jab.
Nikolaev seems to have recovered his senses.
Nikolaev looks to land a combination but Puch avoids it well.
Nikolaev throws a lazy right hand but Puch sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Nikolaev shoots in for a takedown but Puch shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
Puch feinted with a counter takedown.
Puch throws out a loose jab but Nikolaev uses good head movement to avoid it.
Nikolaev ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
Nikolaev walks straight into an uppercut. Luckily it didn't land flush.
Puch throws a right hand that Nikolaev ducks under and follows up with a left that Nikolaev also avoids with ease.
Puch throws a looping overhand right but Nikolaev ducks down to avoid it.
Nikolaev walks straight into an uppercut. Luckily it didn't land flush.
Puch scores with a hook.
Puch throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Nikolaev sees it coming and avoids it easily.
Nikolaev fails miserably with a takedown attempt.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Nikolaev gets cracked there but stands up to it.
Nikolaev misses with a leg kick.

Nikolaev closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.

Puch jumps guard.

Puch has his foot on Nikolaev's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Nikolaev works his way back into a safe position though.
Puch keeping moving, preventing Nikolaev from controlling successfully.
Nikolaev postures up.
Nikolaev with a couple of shots to the head there. Not particularly brutal.

Puch escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Nikolaev gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
Nikolaev lands a couple of digs.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Nikolaev throwing strikes but missing.
Nikolaev stopping the sweep attempt from Puch.

Puch has his foot on Nikolaev's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Nikolaev works his way back into a safe position though.
Nikolaev with a nice head shot there.
Nikolaev throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Nikolaev trying to control but Puch is working from the bottom.

Puch is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Nikolaev defends well.
Puch working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Nikolaev.

Puch is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Nikolaev defends well.
Nikolaev trying to control but Puch is working from the bottom.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close round but I would say that Robledo Puch will probably get the nod.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action.

Nikolaev clinches with his opponent.
Nikolaev scores with a shoulder strike.

Puch breaks from the clinch.
Puch scores with a jab to the jaw.
Nikolaev lands with a nice combination. Puch backs away looking to recover.

Nikolaev moves into the clinch successfully.

Puch breaks the clinch.
Nikolaev shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Sloppy strikes from Nikolaev. Those never looked like landing.
A little feinted left hand from Puch on the counter but he doesn't commit to it.
Nikolaev throws a poor cross that misses
and Puch counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Puch throws a looping overhand right but Nikolaev ducks down to avoid it.
Puch rushes in with a sloppy looking punch
and Nikolaev connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Puch shoots for a double leg takedown but Nikolaev sprawls well. He's pushed Puch's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
Nikolaev tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. Puch manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Nikolaev throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Puch's waist but Puch gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Nikolaev off to one side.
Nikolaev throws a right and a left that both miss.
Nikolaev misses the jab.

Nikolaev scores with a nice takedown into half guard. Let's see what he's got on the ground.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
The referee walks around the fighters to get a better view of the action. Nikolaev lands a nice short elbow.
Nikolaev wants to lay and pray for a moment but Puch keeps working.
Puch is trying to defend against the ground and pound but Nikolaev scores with a couple of nice shots.
Puch is trying to get back to full guard.
Nikolaev looks towards his corner to check for any instructions. The corner give him nothing to work with, so he cracks Puch with a short hammerfist. I guess that's as good as any advice he could get in this position.
Puch moves his hips nicely and gets into full guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Puch is looking for a triangle but Nikolaev pushes his legs off easily.

Puch is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
Nikolaev in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Puch working a defensive guard but Nikolaev manages to pass into side control anyway.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Nikolaev landing strikes.
Nikolaev lands a knee to the body and follows it up with some ground and pound to the head. That will wear Puch down.
Nikolaev landing strikes.
Nikolaev lands a knee to the body and a forearm to the face.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Nikolaev working the body and head with strikes.
Puch tries to work a leg under to get back to half guard but Nikolaev wriggles his own leg back out and remains in side control.
Nikolaev is chipping away with strikes.

Nikolaev wants to work for a kimura but he's foiled early by Puch, who protects the arm well.
Puch manages to land a sweep and he's now on top! Lovely Jiu Jitsu!
Puch seems to be taking a bit of a break to think of his next move. He lands a short punch in the meantime.
Puch sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Nikolaev defending well though.
Nikolaev wants to control but Puch is keeping busy.
Puch working the head and body with strikes.
The fighters are battling for position here. Nikolaev manages to regain full guard. Nice work.

Puch avoids a guillotine attempt easily.

Nikolaev has his foot on Puch's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Puch works his way back into a safe position though.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Puch trying to control the position from guard on top but Nikolaev is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Nikolaev has momentary wrist control but Puch slips an elbow through the middle.

Nikolaev is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
Puch scoring with some ground and pound.
Puch with a nice head shot there.
Puch working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Nikolaev working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Puch.
Puch postures up in Nikolaev's guard and throws a big left but Nikolaev blocks it.
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!
Puch keeps in close for a moment and lands a decent shot to the side of Nikolaev's head.
Puch postures up and lands some nice ground and pound.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Volya Nikolaev showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business.

A punch lands to the side of Puch 's head but he takes it in his stride.
Puch shoots in for a takedown but Nikolaev shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
Puch looks to land a right hand but Nikolaev moved out of range.
Nikolaev keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Puch.
Puch ducks under a wild hook from Nikolaev.
Nikolaev looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Puch changes levels looking for a counter takedown but doesn't commit.
Nikolaev displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Puch throws out the jab.
Nikolaev is loading up here, looking for a big counter of his own.
Puch is really head hunting here, hardly looking to strike to the body at all.

Nikolaev shoots in for a takedown from distance. He catches Puch napping and manages to drive through into side control!
Puch is trying to get back to half guard. He's pushing on Nikolaev's leg. He's managed it. Nice work.
Puch is looking for a sweep. Nikolaev is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.

Puch looking for submissions off his back.

Puch is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Nikolaev pulls his head out easily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Puch is not content to let Nikolaev control the position.
Puch gets full guard.
Nikolaev postures up and lands a big shot to Puch's brow.
Nikolaev connects with a couple of short punches.
Nikolaev is sitting in guard, working some ground and pound.
Nikolaev engaging in some classic timewasting tactics.

Puch throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.

Puch looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Puch is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Nikolaev postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.

Puch working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Nikolaev doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Nikolaev manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.
Nikolaev is looking to work some ground and pound but Puch has wrist control.
Puch looking for a sweep. Not yet Puch, not yet.
Nikolaev scores with a decent looking elbow strike.
Nikolaev is taking a break and basically stalling. The referee will not allow him to do that for long.

Puch looking for submissions from the bottom but instead Nikolaev passes into side control.
Nikolaev lands a decent elbow from side control.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Puch tries to get back to half guard but can't.
Nikolaev working the head with strikes.
Nikolaev trying to control the action but Puch is working from the bottom.
Nikolaev in side control lands a decent elbow.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
The referee asks Nikolaev politely if he wouldn't mind getting on with it and actually doing something. Nikolaev prefers to stall for the moment though.
Nikolaev trying to control the action but Puch is working from the bottom.

Nikolaev tries for a kimura but Puch is defending well.
Puch tries to buck Nikolaev off but Nikolaev is having none of it.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Nikolaev in side control, throwing shots but Puch defends.
Nikolaev working away diligently from side control. Landing strikes effectively there - that will score him some points on the judges scorecards.

Nikolaev tries for a kimura but Puch is defending well.
Puch is positioning himself to get back to half guard.
Puch is trying to control Nikolaev's posture but Nikolaev avoids it.
Nikolaev lands a few punches from side control.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
You can see the frustration on Puch's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.
The strikes coming from Nikolaev are missing the target in this wave of attacks.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Volya Nikolaev really dominated that round.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

Puch throws a hook but Nikolaev avoids it easily.
Nikolaev connects with a right hand. Puch shakes it off.
Puch with a jab.
No joy there for Nikolaev, who threw a few shots but didn't land.

Nikolaev looking to score a takedown here. Puch is defending well but Nikolaev drives through and ends up in Puch's guard.
Puch controls Nikolaev momentarily but Nikolaev frees himself.
Nikolaev trying to control the position from guard on top but Puch is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Puch utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Puch working for submissions but it's allowed Nikolaev to get to half guard.
Nikolaev is looking to take a break and control but Puch is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Puch wants to improve his position but Nikolaev is controlling well.
Puch is staying active underneath Nikolaev, who seems content to just control the action from this position.
Nikolaev looks towards his corner to check for any instructions. The corner give him nothing to work with, so he cracks Puch with a short hammerfist. I guess that's as good as any advice he could get in this position.

Nikolaev is trying to work for a kimura. This could be trouble! No, Puch has managed to free his arm - good work.
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 Puch's temple.
Nikolaev thows a huge punch but Puch dodges it nicely.
Puch tries to get to full guard but Nikolaev has control of the leg.

Nikolaev is looking for a kimura but he's never going to get it from there.

Puch looking for submissions from an awkward position here.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Puch tries to roll over but Nikolaev keeps him under control.
Nikolaev seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Puch does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.
Nikolaev prevents Puch from improving his position.

Puch actively working from the bottom here.
Puch on the receiving end of some nice ground and pound.
Puch tries to get to full guard but Nikolaev has control of the leg.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Puch is working hard here to advance position.

Puch looking for submissions off his back.
It's got to the stage where if one of these guys blows hard enough, the other might fall over.
Nikolaev content to sit in half guard and control for a moment.
The referee claps his hands together and tells the fighters to work.

Nikolaev is looking for an arm triangle, whilst trying to pass to side control. Puch doesn't seem that keen to cooperate though. No luck this time Nikolaev.
Puch trying to control from the bottom.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.

Nikolaev is working for submissions here but there's nothing on.
Nikolaev sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Puch defending well though.
Puch gets full guard.
Nikolaev seems content to control from guard here. He's going to have to remain active though if he doesn't want to get stood back up.
Puch keeping moving, preventing Nikolaev from controlling successfully.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.
Puch jabbing away but nothing is landing.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Nikolaev tries to clinch but Puch is having none of it.
Nikolaev keeps his opponent at a distance with a nice jab.
Nikolaev looks to land a left hand but Puch moved out of range nicely.
Puch half commits to a counter takedown before pushing away, out of range.
Nikolaev misses with a looping right.

Nikolaev gets caught napping as Puch dives in and scores a takedown. Nikolaev manages to retain guard.
Nikolaev has been the more effective fighter overall so far.

Nikolaev working for a triangle but Puch defends it easily.
Nikolaev looking to control.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Nikolaev has a butterfly guard looking to sweep but Puch has passed into side control.
Nikolaev tries to improve position but can't.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Nikolaev sneaks back into half guard.

Nikolaev looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.
Puch wants to take a breather but Nikolaev is having none of it.
Puch scoring with strikes to the body and head.
Puch trying to control the action but Nikolaev is working from the bottom.

Nikolaev looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.
Nikolaev tries to regain full guard. Instead though, Puch has advanced to mount. Uh oh.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Nikolaev is in all sorts of trouble here.
A nice elbow there by Puch.
Puch scores with a couple of good head shots there.
Nikolaev can't escape the position.
Puch dominating with strikes here.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Puch loads up on a couple of big shots to the head that have Nikolaev scrambling to escape. He can't get free though and several more unanswered shots from Puch land to the head. The referee has no choice but to stop the fight. Puch stands and salutes the crowd.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 3:23 of round 5, we have a winner by way of TKO (Strikes). Robledo Puch!
Robledo Puch is the new lightweight champion!
Our winner, Robledo Puch, made sure he spent some time buttering up the crowd during his post fight interview, which will no doubt bring him a few more fans.
Volya Nikolaev was interviewed post fight and said 'Smth wrong with theese gloves... '.