PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Brandon Hale (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Alexandr Nikitin (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Hale comes to the cage accompanied by Dead Sara - Weatherman. Nikitin is bouncing up and down as he enters the arena, backed by Smack My Bitch Up . This should be fireworks!

Hale
vs
Nikitin

174 cm
32
182 lbs
27 - 12 - 2

170 cm
28
175 lbs
15 - 15 - 3

Good wrestling
World class boxer
Insanely flexible

BJJ Red Belt
Excellent MT
Good gas tank

Spartan Nutrition
Bos Energy MMA159.4

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 27 - 12 - 2, fighting out of Montreal, Brandon Hale!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 15 - 15 - 3, fighting out of New York, Alexandr Nikitin!
The judges for this bout are Reed Andrews, Alyssa Summers and Columbo Gatti.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Nikitin shoots in and gets a takedown into half guard. Nikitin showed some decent athleticism there.
Nikitin wants to take a breather but Hale is having none of it.
Hale keeping control of the position.
Nikitin trying to control from Hale's half guard. Hale has other ideas though and has regained full guard.
In the pre-fight buildup videos we saw Nikitin working his ground and pound in the gym. He isn't landing a great percentage of his ground strikes so far though.

Nikitin drops back for a leg but he's not going to get it - he lets go and Hale dives on top into guard.

We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Nikitin preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Hale wants to control from the top but Nikitin keeps moving.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Hale with a flurry of punches that miss.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Hale trying to control the position from guard on top but Nikitin is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Hale accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Nikitin trying to control the position here.
Nikitin wants to sweep but no luck.
Hale throws a big elbow that misses.
Hale with a flurry of punches that miss.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.
Hale stopping the sweep attempt from Nikitin.
Nikitin keeps trying to improve his position.
Hale stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Nikitin swivels though and keeps the full guard.

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.
Nikitin shoots in but Hale avoids the takedown attempt easily.
Nikitin doesn't succeed with the takedown
and Hale cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Alexandr Nikitin seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Nikitin throws out a loose jab but Hale uses good head movement to avoid it.
Nikitin misses with a takedown
and Hale connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Brandon Hale has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Alexandr Nikitin.
Nikitin on the wrong end of a decent looking cross there.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Nikitin drops down and drives through with a powerful takedown into guard.
Nikitin wants to control from the top but Hale keeps moving.

Hale is looking for a triangle but Nikitin pushes his legs off easily.
Nikitin postures up and lands a big shot to Hale's brow.
Nikitin stops Hale from standing up.
Nikitin throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Hale can't keep his opponent in guard - Nikitin advances to half guard, no doubt looking to mount.
Nikitin trying to mount his opponent but Hale defends it.
Nikitin trying to control the action but Hale is working from the bottom.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Nikitin content to sit in half guard and control for a moment.
Hale is trying to control but can't.

Nikitin is working for a kimura but Hale is defending it quite comfortably.

Nikitin is working for submissions here but there's nothing on.
Nikitin looks to score some points with some ground and pound.

That's five minutes gone in the round.
Hale wants to get back to full guard.
Nikitin slows the pace down in half guard.
Hale won't allow Nikitin to pass to mount.
Hale avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Nikitin.
Nikitin is working hard to pass the guard. He's done it - he's now in full mount! Trouble for Hale!

Nikitin swings around for an armbar but it's a sloppy attempt and Hale is now in Nikitin's guard. A big mistake from Nikitin there, giving up the dominant position!
Hale trying to control but Nikitin is working from the bottom.

That's six minutes gone in the round.
Hale trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Hale with a flurry of punches that miss.
Nikitin not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Nikitin looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Hale is looking to work some ground and pound but Nikitin has wrist control.
Nikitin tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Hale throwing strikes but missing.
Nikitin utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.

That's seven minutes gone in the round.
Hale distracts Nikitin with his right hand and drops a big elbow with his other arm.
Nikitin is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Hale missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Nikitin controlling the position.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up. He just wasn't happy with the level of activity.
Hale fakes a jab and scores with a low kick.
Nikitin throws the left hand but Hale avoids the punch easily.
Nikitin fails with the takedown
and Hale counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Nikitin looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Hale is fending him off so far but Nikitin persists. Nope, Hale circles away and we're back to standing.
A big left from Nikitin misses.
Hale fires out a quick counter leg kick but Nikitin just manages to avoid it.
Nikitin tries to clinch but Hale is having none of it.

That's eight minutes gone in the round.
Nikitin shoots for a takedown but Hale saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.

Nikitin changes levels and drives through with a really nice takedown into side control. Hale looks really pissed at himself for not defending that better.
Nikitin fails to land a wild elbow strike.
Hale is not content to let Nikitin control the position.
Hale is trying to get back to half guard. He's pushing on Nikitin's leg. He's managed it. Nice work.
Hale is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Hale looks like he's trying to stand up.
Hale is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.

That's nine minutes gone in the round.
Hale keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.

Hale pushes Nikitin off and gets back to his feet.
Hale avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Hale lands with a thumping leg kick.
Nikitin connects with a right hand. Hale shakes it off.
Nikitin throws a looping overhand right but Hale ducks down to avoid it.
A lazy left from Hale finds it's target.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
A big right from Nikitin misses.
A punch lands to the side of Hale 's head but he takes it in his stride.
Nikitin throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Nikitin lands with a cross to side of his opponent's head.

And that's the end of the fight!
Brandon Hale showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Hale has outscored his opponent in every aspect of the fight today. Only a scarily incompetent judge or two will keep him from a well deserved win... 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 Reed Andrews scores the fight 10:9
Judge Alyssa Summers scores the fight 10:9
Judge Columbo Gatti scores the fight 10:9

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Brandon Hale!
After the fight, Brandon Hale was humble in paying tribute to his opponent but made it clear he wants to go on to bigger and better things. It seemed to go down well with the crowd who cheered him loudly.