PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Frank Hammond (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Nikolay Nechvidov (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Nikolay Nechvidov acknowledges the crowd's support as he enters the cage.

Hammond
vs
Nechvidov

165 cm
25
140 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

173 cm
21
140 lbs
3 - 7 - 0

Good takedowns
Solid boxing
Big right hand

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Determined

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the bantamweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Frank Hammond!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 3 - 7 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Nikolay Nechvidov!
The judges for this bout are Igor Prikhodko, Sergei Dronov and Ivan Kurochkin.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Hammond shoots in and gets a takedown into half guard. Hammond showed some decent athleticism there.
Hammond looks to land a strike but Nechvidov avoids it nicely and regains full guard.
Hammond won't allow Nechvidov to sweep him here.
Hammond is working the ground and pound from guard. He might want to try advancing position though to get more of an impact.
Hammond throws an elbow that misses. Nechvidov uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in Hammond's guard. Nice move by Nechvidov!

Hammond striking off his back.
Nechvidov content to stall in guard here.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Hammond is on top in guard.

Hammond has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.

Nechvidov is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Hammond is aware though and is defending well.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Nechvidov striking off his back but it's not causing Hammond any problems.

Nechvidov had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Hammond defends it easily.

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

Nechvidov looking for a guillotine here but Hammond defends easily.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

Hammond drops back, looking for a kneebar! Nechvidov looks panicked! The fighters roll across the mat, one looking to finish, one looking to escape. Nechvidov looks to have wriggled free... Yes, he's got his leg free and he's dived into side control! Good work there from Nechvidov!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Hammond is positioning himself to get back to half guard.
Nechvidov wants to stand but Hammond is controlling his arm.
Hammond is not content to let Nechvidov control the position.

Nechvidov looking for an arm triangle but it's way too loose to do anything.
Nechvidov slows the pace down.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Hammond takes a nasty elbow to the side of the head.
Nechvidov is looking to take a break and control but Hammond is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Hammond takes a big shot right to the temple there but he's taken it well.
Hammond struggling a bit here.
Nechvidov in side control, throwing shots but Hammond defends.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are getting on the fighters' backs, as the pace has dropped off in the last minute or so.
Nechvidov wants to stand but Hammond is controlling his arm.
Hammond is looking to regain half guard here but Nechvidov keeps moving and retains side control.
Hammond is working hard here to advance position.
Nechvidov tries to move into full mount but can't pass Hammond's legs.
Hammond is trying to get back to his feet.
We've had a lack of effective grappling in the last minute or so, which could well see a referee standup.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!

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

Hammond looks for a takedown. He's got it. We're now in half guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Nikolay Nechvidov dominated that round.
That's the end of the interval. I'm sure that seemed a lot quicker than a minute for our two fighters! Back to the action.

Nechvidov drives through with a takedown into Hammond's guard. Let's see what he can do from the top position.
Hammond is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Nechvidov is controlling him.
Nechvidov 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.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Hammond trying to keep a closed guard but Nechvidov is proving a slippery customer.
Nechvidov wants to control from the top but Hammond keeps moving.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Nechvidov passes Hammond's left leg - he's now in half guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Hammond is trying to stand.
Nechvidov has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Nechvidov wants to take a breather but Hammond is having none of it.

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.

Nechvidov shoots in for a takedown! He's got it and he's managed to land in side control! That's better than Nechvidov was expecting from the takedown attempt, I'm sure!
Hammond is positioning himself to get back to half guard.
Nechvidov wants to lay and pray for a moment but Hammond keeps working.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Hammond regains half guard, as Nechvidov was trying to land strikes.
Nechvidov passes to full mount!
Nechvidov controlling his opponent.
Hammond is in all sorts of trouble here.
Nechvidov lands a nice shot to the head.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Nechvidov trying to control but he's not successful this time.
Nechvidov content just to control the position here.
Hammond is looking to get to half guard.
Hammond has given up his back here.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Well. There's a bit of a lull in the action here and the crowd are starting to get restless.
Nechvidov somehow managing to miss with a strike from the back.

Nechvidov is working for the rear naked choke. He has one arm under the chin but Hammond has hold of the other arm. A bit of a stalemate here.
Hammond trying to get back to his feet but Nechvidov is in full control for now.
Nechvidov has the hooks in. Hammond is trying to push off one leg but he has to do so cautiously to avoid being submitted.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Hammond is trying to get back to his feet but he's not managed it yet.
Hammond has his hands over his head blocking the strikes from Nechvidov.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Nikolay Nechvidov showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin! Ladies and gentlemen, this is the final round!

Hammond fails to land with a series of punches.
Nechvidov closes this distance looking for a takedown but Hammond circles away.
Hammond throws a series of punches but Nechvidov moves out of range.
Nechvidov shoots for a double leg takedown but Hammond sprawls well. He's pushed Nechvidov's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
Hammond goes for a double leg but Nechvidov avoids the attempt and the two fighters end up clinched against the cage as Nechvidov continues to drive forward.

Nechvidov fakes an overhand right and shoots for a takedown. Hammond sprawls well initially but Nechvidov persists and gets the takedown into half guard.
Hammond is trying to maintain the position but Nechvidov is very close to passing his half guard.
Hammond works his way to full guard. Good work.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Hammond trying to control the position.
Hammond wants to improve his position but instead Nechvidov has moved into half guard.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Nechvidov winds up and cracks Hammond with a swinging punch to the side of the head.
Hammond is looking to get back to is feet but Nechvidov passes into side control.
Nechvidov lands some shots froms side control.
Nechvidov is looking to take a break and control but Hammond is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
You can see the frustration on Hammond's face as Nechvidov controls the position.

Nechvidov looking for an arm triangle but it's way too loose to do anything.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Nechvidov working away.
Nechvidov in side control, just content to control the action for now.
Hammond takes a couple of big shots there - the referee warns him that he has to defend himself better.
Hammond is looking to reverse the position.
Nechvidov wants to stand but Hammond has his arm trapped.
Hammond tries to buck Nechvidov off but Nechvidov is having none of it.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Hammond can't do much from the bottom here.
Hammond is trying to get back to half guard.
Hammond on his back here. We all know that wrestlers don't like being on their back so let's see if Hammond tries to get out of the position.
Nechvidov tries to advance to mount but Hammond denies him.
Nechvidov wants to stand but Hammond is controlling his arm.

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.
Nechvidov fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
Frank Hammond has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Nikolay Nechvidov.
Nechvidov takes a solid shot to the body. That one hurt him but he's trying not to show it.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Hammond rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Nechvidov moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Horrible takedown attempt by Hammond or perhaps it was just good defense by Nechvidov, which made it look bad.
Hammond throws a series of strikes that have Nechvidov backpedaling.
Hammond shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Nechvidov as he jumps to the side.
Nechvidov tries a counter takedown but it's more of a dummy move, and he uses it to push himself away.
Hammond avoids a kick to the body.
No luck for Hammond with that takedown attempt.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Nechvidov shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Hammond as he avoids it easily.

Nechvidov fakes a strike and closes the distance, dragging Hammond to the ground. Nechvidov is now in Hammond's guard.
Frank Hammond has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Nikolay Nechvidov is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
Nechvidov is stalling in the full guard.

And that's the end of the fight!
I would just about give that final round to Nikolay Nechvidov.
I've got Nechvidov winning every round here. Surely the decision will go his way and he'll pick up a well deserved decision victory. Over to the ring announcer for the scorecards.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 3 rounds of action, we go to the scorecards for a decision.
Judge Igor Prikhodko scores the fight 27:30
Judge Sergei Dronov scores the fight 27:30
Judge Ivan Kurochkin scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Nikolay Nechvidov!
Nikolay Nechvidov thanked the fans post fight for their support.