PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Dickie Crash (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Alexandr Nikitin (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Nikitin has chosen Smack My Bitch Up as his entrance music. Dickie Crash has a significant reach advantage - let's see if he can make it count.

Crash
vs
Nikitin

188 cm
31
200 lbs
21 - 14 - 0

170 cm
28
175 lbs
14 - 14 - 3

Abu Dhabi Champ
World class boxer
Cardio machine

BJJ Red Belt
Excellent MT
Good gas tank

Bullet Proof System

On Tap (160Q & Laundry)

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 21 - 14 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Dickie Crash!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 14 - 14 - 3, fighting out of New York, Alexandr Nikitin!
The judges for this bout are Columbo Gatti, David Schapiro and John Roberts.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
The fighters circle momentarily. Crash darts into range and connects with a nice straight punch.
Nikitin misses with a takedown
and Crash counters with a slapping leg kick.
Crash goes for a high kick. It partially lands.
Crash misses with a hook

and Nikitin counters with a shoot takedown. Crash fights it but they end up in guard.
Nikitin trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Crash has his hands on Nikitin's head, controlling the position.
Crash seems to have improved his submission grappling technique since last time we saw him. Let's see if he can pull off a submission.
Nikitin throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Crash works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Hammerfist, elbow! yells Nikitin's corner. There ya go! There ya go!
Nikitin is looking to work some ground and pound but Crash has wrist control.
Crash keeping moving, preventing Nikitin from controlling successfully.

Crash is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Nikitin defends well.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Crash keeping moving, preventing Nikitin from controlling successfully.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Nikitin works over Crash with some ground and pound from guard.
Nikitin wants to control from the top but Crash keeps moving.
Crash pulls Nikitin in close to his closed guard and prevents Nikitin from doing any damage or advancing position.
Nikitin looking to pass the guard.
Crash controlling Nikitin's posture.
We've had a lack of effective grappling in the last minute or so, which could well see a referee standup.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
There's not a lot going on here and the crowd are letting the fighters know they're not willing to tolerate a lack of action.
Nikitin preventing the sweep.
Crash is pulling down on Nikitin's head to control his posture.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.
Crash misses with a low kick.
Crash is looking to land body kicks.
It seemed like Nikitin was going to counter with the hook but didn't fully commit to it.

Crash clinches with his opponent.
Nikitin swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Crash blocking some punches.
Nikitin tries to pull guard but Crash forces him back to his feet, against the cage.
A short body shot lands from Crash as the two fighters clinch.
Crash scores a nice knee to the body.
Still in the clinch, Crash scores with a nice short uppercut.
Nikitin softening up his opponent with strikes, against the cage.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Crash throws a nice elbow but it doesn't land.
Crash working on landing some head shots here - that one got through nicely.
Crash is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Nikitin is defending well for now.

Nikitin gets control of Crash's arms and successfully pulls guard. Nikitin will no doubt be looking for submissions off his back.
Nikitin controls Crash momentarily but Crash frees himself.
Crash wants to pass the guard but Nikitin is keeping the position.
A real slowdown in the pace of the fight for a moment, as Nikitin holds on and takes a little breather.
Nikitin wants to sweep but no luck.
Crash trying to control the position from guard on top but Nikitin is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Crash wants to stand but Nikitin has a closed guard, so he can't escape.
Crash has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Nikitin keeping full guard, as Crash tries to pass.
If this pace continues, the referee will definitely step in and force a standup.
Crash's corner is telling him to maintain position.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Crash is looking to slow Nikitin down with leg kicks.
Crash misses with a body punch

and Nikitin counters with a shoot takedown. Crash fights it but they end up in guard.
Crash avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Nikitin tries to free his leg and advance position but Crash is retaining full guard.
Nikitin advances to half guard.

Nikitin is trying for a guillotine from the top but the pressure isn't in the right place so Crash is just riding it out for now. Nikitin eventually gives up the hold.
Crash wants to improve his position but Nikitin is controlling well.

That's five minutes gone in the round.
Crash trying to hold on to Nikitin's head to control him but Nikitin postures up.
Nikitin is stalling here. Crash is in no mood to hang around though. He's locked up a kimura from the bottom! Nikitin seems to be keeping calm but he's forced to roll out of the hold and Crash has ended up in side control on the top. Nice work.
Crash tries to advance to mount but Nikitin denies him.

Crash is looking for a kimura. He might have it! No, Nikitin has escaped the position, nice work there.
Crash wants to lay and pray for a moment but Nikitin keeps working.

That's six minutes gone in the round.

Crash tries for an arm triangle. That looks pretty tight to me. Is this one over!?! Possibly, maybe, no Crash has let go of the choke. Obviously it wasn't as tight as we thought!
Nikitin is in a bad spot here and he knows it... just holding on for now.
Crash controls the position.
Nikitin prevents Crash from improving position.
Nikitin manages to get one leg in to regain half guard.

That's seven minutes gone in the round.
Nikitin gets full guard.
Nikitin keeping full guard, as Crash tries to pass.
Crash showing good wrestling skills to control the position.
Crash trying to control but Nikitin is working from the bottom.
Nikitin managing to control the position.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Nikitin working a defensive guard here.

That's eight minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are hurling abuse towards the fighters... You can hardly blame them though because there isn't a lot going on in the fight.
Nikitin keeping moving, preventing Crash from controlling successfully.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up. He just wasn't happy with the level of activity.
Crash slips a jab and a cross from Nikitin.
Good standup being displayed there by Nikitin as he connects with a hook.
Nikitin lands with a shot to the body.
Nikitin shoots in looking for a takedown. Crash tries to sprawl out of it but Nikitin keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Crash manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
Dickie Crash has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Alexandr Nikitin.
A swing and a miss from Crash.

Nikitin throws the overhand right but ducks down into a quick takedown attempt. Crash was covering up waiting for the punch and Nikitin finishes the takedown easily into guard.

That's nine minutes gone in the round.
Crash wants to sweep but no luck.
Crash avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Crash keeping full guard, as Nikitin tries to pass.
Crash trying to keep a closed guard but Nikitin is proving a slippery customer.
Nikitin forces his way into half guard.
Crash is looking to get back to full guard here but Nikitin has managed to pass to side control instead.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Crash parries the strikes from Nikitin easily there. Nikitin is wary of posturing up too much because it might enable Crash to escape.

And that's the end of the fight!
I would just about give that final round to Alexandr Nikitin.
I think Nikitin has won this one but let's see whether the judges agree with me. 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 Columbo Gatti scores the fight 9:10
Judge David Schapiro scores the fight 9:10
Judge John Roberts scores the fight 9:10

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Alexandr Nikitin!
During a confident post fight interview, Alexandr Nikitin thanked all his fans. He seemed very genuine when describing how motivated his fans keep him.