PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Alexandr Nikitin (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Gary Grice (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Nikitin's ring entrance music is that housewives' favourite, Smack My Bitch Up . Grice has chosen GZA - Shadowboxin' as his entrance music. Gary Grice will no doubt be looking to use his reach advantage to good effect.

Nikitin
vs
Grice

170 cm
28
175 lbs
13 - 12 - 1

184 cm
33
187 lbs
17 - 5 - 1

BJJ Red Belt
Excellent boxer
Insanely flexible

Olympic wrestler
World class MT
Good gas tank

On Tap (160Q)

Mohito Fightwear
Spartan Nutrition

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 1 rounds, in the middleweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 13 - 12 - 1, fighting out of New York, Alexandr Nikitin!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 17 - 5 - 1, fighting out of Hilo, Gary Grice!
The judges for this bout are John Roberts, Steve Montenegro and Anthony Taglia.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Grice scores with a kick to the body.
Grice fakes with the hands and throws a leg kick but Nikitin is out of range.
Nikitin throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
Grice throws a leg kick which misses Nikitin's front leg but catches the back leg as Nikitin tries to avoid it.
Grice looks more muscular than last time we saw him. He must have been on the weights.

Nikitin gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.
Nikitin tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Grice blocks an uppercut.
Grice lands a left hand that snaps the head of Nikitin backwards.
Grice misses with a punch to the body.
Grice tries to throw a body punch but Nikitin avoids it by throwing Grice back against the cage.
Grice misses with a hook to the ribs.
Grice misses with a body punch.
Grice tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.

Grice breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Grice throws a head kick that misses

and Nikitin counters with a nice double leg into side control. Grice won't be happy with that.
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!
Grice is not content to let Nikitin control the position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Nikitin tries to land with some ground and pound but misses.

Nikitin wants to work for a kimura but he's foiled early by Grice, who protects the arm well.
Nikitin throwing strikes but Grice manages to buck up and roll into a nice reversal - now he's on top in side control!
Grice has control of an arm but Nikitin manages to advance to Grice's back!
Nikitin 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.
Grice prevents Nikitin from getting a body triangle.
Grice avoids the strikes from Nikitin.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Grice is keeping busy.
Nikitin is working the ground and pound here and the referee is taking a close look at Grice. He must escape soon or this one will be stopped.
Good control from Nikitin.
Nikitin is controlling the position but Grice somehow manages to roll and ends up with half guard.
Nikitin takes advantage of the dominant position to land a couple of big hammer fists.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Nikitin wants to take a breather but Grice is having none of it.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Nikitin not landing any meaningful shots this time.
Grice is staying active underneath Nikitin, who seems content to just control the action from this position.
Grice controlling the position for now.
Grice is pressing down on Nikitin's left leg trying to get back to full guard. He's managed it.
Grice pulls Nikitin in close to prevent any damage.
Nikitin throws a big right hand that misses.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Nikitin passes into half guard.
Nikitin wants to pass to mount but Grice is defending the position.
Nikitin not doing much here.
Nikitin missing with the ground and pound from half guard.
Nikitin wants to control but Grice is keeping him busy.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.
Grice throws a lazy head kick

and Nikitin counters with a nice double leg into side control. Grice won't be happy with that.
Nikitin has knee on belly and now moves to full mount! Trouble for Grice!

That's five minutes gone in the round.
Poor strikes thrown by Nikitin there. More accuracy and less frantic strikes would help!
Nikitin wants to control the action but instead Grice gets a body lock and reverses into Nikitin's guard! Nice work!
Nikitin is trying to keep Grice in close.
Grice preventing the sweep.
Nikitin might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.
Nikitin looking to control.
Grice pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Nikitin is keeping the position for now.
Nikitin manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Grice manages to get himself to full guard.

That's six minutes gone in the round.
Nikitin postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Nikitin's corner is telling him to maintain position.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Nikitin accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Nikitin trying to control the position from guard on top but Grice is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Nikitin stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Grice swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Grice trying to keep a closed guard but Nikitin is proving a slippery customer.

That's seven minutes gone in the round.
Grice working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Nikitin.
Nikitin looking to control the position here, rather than advance.
Grice pulls Nikitin in close to prevent any damage.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.
Grice fakes a jab and scores with a low kick.

Grice fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Nikitin, pushing him back against the cage.

That's eight minutes gone in the round.
A few boos can be heard. I'm sure they will multiply if the fighters don't pick up the pace.
Grice lands an uppercut.
Nikitin tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.
Nikitin scores with a nice hook to the head.
Grice swings wildly with an uppercut but Nikitin uses good head movement to avoid it.
Nikitin throws a punch but it's blocked by Grice.
Grice is working hard here but doesn't seem to be able to control effectively, up against the cage.
Nikitin keeps the fight in the clinch, despite Grice's efforts to push away.
Grice misses with a body punch.
Nikitin tries to pull guard but Grice won't allow it.

Grice manages to break the clinch.
Grice tests Nikitin's chin there with a solid looking shot.
Grice tries to close the distance and clinch but Nikitin swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Nikitin wants to take advantage of his opponent's missed offense by moving into the clinch.
Grice bobs and weaves and unloads with a good uppercut.
Grice connects with a lovely right hand, straight down the pipe.

That's nine minutes gone in the round.
Nikitin takes a step back and watches a body kick go sailing past his mid section.
Grice misses with a telegraphed body shot
and Nikitin counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
Grice misses with a low kick.
Nikitin swung with a counter punch to the body but it didn't connect.
Grice jabbing away but nothing is landing.
Grice doesn't manage to clinch there - Nikitin circles away.
Grice avoids a punch combination nicely.
Grice is trying to avoid his opponent's strikes and get into the clinch.
Grice scores with a nice right hand.
Jab by Grice.
Grice tries to clinch but Nikitin moves out of range.
Nikitin throwing a counter right hand but Grice manages to avoid it.
Grice stuffs the takedown.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Alexandr Nikitin. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Grice ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
Grice throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Nikitin throwing a counter right hand but Grice manages to avoid it.
Grice misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
A little feinted left hand from Nikitin on the counter but he doesn't commit to it.

And that's the end of the fight!
That was a close round. You could make an argument for either fighter but I would give it to Alexandr Nikitin.
I think Nikitin 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 1 round of action, we go to the scorecards for a decision.
Judge John Roberts scores the fight 10:9
Judge Steve Montenegro scores the fight 9:10
Judge Anthony Taglia scores the fight 10:10

The fight is ruled a draw!