PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Giuseppe Whitehead (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Vladlen Nikolaevich (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Vladlen Nikolaevich has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Whitehead
vs
Nikolaevich

203 cm
22
162 lbs
2 - 0 - 0

173 cm
21
157 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Cuts easily

BJJ Purple Belt
Brawler
Granite chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the lightweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 2 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Giuseppe Whitehead!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Vladlen Nikolaevich!
The judges for this bout are George Francis, Gwen Towbar and Wesley Smith.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Nikolaevich gets a double leg takedown into Whitehead's guard.
Nikolaevich wants to pass the guard but Whitehead is keeping the position.
Whitehead is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.
Nikolaevich is stalling in the full guard.
Whitehead tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Nikolaevich wanted to stand there but Whitehead had control of the position.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Whitehead had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Nikolaevich defends it easily.
Nikolaevich loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Whitehead keeping full guard, as Nikolaevich tries to pass.
Nikolaevich wants to control from the top but Whitehead keeps moving.

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

Nikolaevich gets a double leg takedown into Whitehead's guard.

Whitehead throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
Whitehead is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Nikolaevich is controlling him.
Whitehead can't do much from the bottom at the moment, as Nikolaevich controls the pace.
Nikolaevich would like to get this fight back to the feet but can't get free from the closed guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Whitehead is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Nikolaevich is controlling him.
Nikolaevich forces his way into half guard.
Nikolaevich tries to stand but his hand is stuck under Whitehead.
Nikolaevich perhaps working for something from half guard, or maybe not. It looks like he's just sitting there.
Nikolaevich is keen to just control but Whitehead is a slippery customer.
Whitehead is trying to get back to full guard.
Whitehead is looking to escape.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up. He just wasn't happy with the level of activity.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Nikolaevich drives through with a takedown into guard.
Nikolaevich trying to control the position from guard on top but Whitehead is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Nikolaevich prevents Whitehead from getting back to his feet.
Nikolaevich trying to control but Whitehead is working from the bottom.
Nikolaevich wants to stand but Whitehead has a closed guard, so he can't escape.
Whitehead is looking to stand up but Nikolaevich isn't so interested in that idea.
Nikolaevich trying to control but Whitehead is working from the bottom.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Whitehead working a defensive guard here.
The referee must be thinking about standing these guys back up.
Whitehead wants to stand but Nikolaevich is controlling the position.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up. He just wasn't happy with the level of activity.

Nikolaevich scores with a takedown into Whitehead's guard.
Whitehead trying to strike from the bottom but really, it's not the best position to be doing that from!
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Nikolaevich trying to control but Whitehead is working from the bottom.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Nikolaevich shoots in with a lovely double leg takedown. Whitehead manages to land in full guard to minimise the damage.
Whitehead is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.
Whitehead really does look like a pencil wearing a pair of gloves. Let's hope he has a gameplan to suit that ridiculous body shape.
Nikolaevich stops Whitehead from standing up.
Nikolaevich trying to control the position from guard on top but Whitehead is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Whitehead is looking to sweep but instead, Nikolaevich has passed into half guard.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Whitehead is in trouble now - Nikolaevich has advanced to mount!
Nikolaevich landing shots from mount.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Whitehead is trying to escape but when you're mounted that's not too easy.
Whitehead tries to buck Nikolaevich off but Nikolaevich takes his back!

Whitehead manages to escape to his feet.

Nikolaevich shoots in with a lovely double leg takedown. Whitehead manages to land in full guard to minimise the damage.

Whitehead has butterfly guard. He's looking to stand up here. He pushes Nikolaevich off him and springs to his feet nicely. The crowd applauds.
Giuseppe Whitehead is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Nikolaevich tries to clinch up.
Vladlen Nikolaevich seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

Whitehead gets caught flat footed, as Nikolaevich shoots in with a quick takedown into guard.

Whitehead is scooting his butt against the cage and has managed to get back to his feet. Nikolaevich presses him back against the cage, presumably looking to take the fight back to the mat.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.

Nikolaevich works for the underhooks and manages to get a trip takedown into guard.
Nikolaevich trying to control but Whitehead is working from the bottom.
Nikolaevich has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Nikolaevich throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Nikolaevich trying to control but Whitehead is working from the bottom.
Nikolaevich is breathing heavily.
Whitehead is looking to stand up but Nikolaevich isn't so interested in that idea.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Nikolaevich won't allow Whitehead to sweep him here.
We may be looking at a referee standup if the pace doesn't pick up soon.
Nikolaevich engaging in some classic timewasting tactics.

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.
Nikolaevich throws a head kick but Whitehead moves out of range.

Nikolaevich drives through with a takedown into Whitehead's guard. Let's see what he can do from the top position.

Whitehead has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Nikolaevich can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
Nikolaevich won't allow Whitehead to get back to his feet.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Nikolaevich sneaks a leg through and gets to half guard. That was like a knife through butter how easily he passed Whitehead's guard.
Whitehead avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Nikolaevich.
Nikolaevich stalling.
Whitehead is looking to escape.
Nikolaevich is nestled in close to Whitehead, controlling him well. He's worked in a nice elbow to the side of the head as well, for good measure.
Whitehead pushes Nikolaevich off looking to stand but Nikolaevich dives back in and keeps control.

Nikolaevich is looking for an arm triangle, whilst trying to pass to side control. Whitehead doesn't seem that keen to cooperate though. No luck this time Nikolaevich.
Nikolaevich wants to stand up but Whitehead is controlling the position.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Vladlen Nikolaevich will probably get the nod - 10:9.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action! This is the final round!

Nikolaevich looks for a takedown. He's got it. We're now in half guard.
Whitehead is trying to stand back up but Nikolaevich is controlling him
Whitehead is trying to get back to full guard.
Nikolaevich is looking to take a break and control but Whitehead is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Nikolaevich wants to stand but Whitehead has hold of a leg and an arm, so he's trapped for now.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Nikolaevich passes the half guard and he's now in mount! Big trouble for Whitehead!
Nikolaevich controlling his opponent.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Nikolaevich lands a nice shot to the head.
Nikolaevich blocks Whitehead's feeble attempts to strike from the bottom.
Nikolaevich wants to control the pace but Whitehead is squirming around nicely.
Nikolaevich sends his fist crashing into the mat - the crowd let out a collective ooooooh. Let's hope he's not broken it!
Nikolaevich wants to control the pace but Whitehead is squirming around nicely.
Whitehead manages to regain half guard. Good work.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Nikolaevich is trying to get back to his feet now but his leg is trapped.
Vladlen Nikolaevich has got the better of the ground game so far.
Whitehead is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Whitehead tries to kick Nikolaevich off in order to stand up. Nikolaevich Avoids the leg push though and dives into side control.
Whitehead regains half guard.
Nikolaevich prevents Whitehead from standing back up.
Nikolaevich is working hard to pass the guard. He's done it - he's now in full mount! Trouble for Whitehead!
Nikolaevich wants to control the pace but Whitehead is squirming around nicely.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Whitehead prevents Nikolaevich from taking his back.
Nikolaevich takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Nikolaevich prevents Whitehead from getting the reversal.
Nikolaevich can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as Whitehead is looking to escape.
Whitehead is trying to get back to his feet but can't.
Nikolaevich raining down hammerfists from mount.
Whitehead is in all sorts of trouble here.

Nikolaevich has isolated one of Whitehead's arms. Whitehead looking to fight him off but Nikolaevich twists into an armbar. It's tight... Will he tap?? YES, he's tapped! This one is all over!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 4:57 of round 3, we have a winner by way of Submission (Armbar). Vladlen Nikolaevich!