PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Wayne Lara (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Nikolay Nikov (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). This should be fireworks!

Lara
vs
Nikov

222 cm
20
140 lbs
1 - 5 - 0

225 cm
18
130 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Experienced

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 1 - 5 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Wayne Lara!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Nikolay Nikov!
The judges for this bout are Ivan Kurochkin, Igor Prikhodko and Illya Tyunina.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Lara gets caught on his heels momentarily as he allows Nikov to score an easy takedown into full guard.

Lara is working an open guard so Nikov takes the opportunity to get back to his feet.
Nikolay Nikov seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

Nikov changes levels and drives through with a really nice takedown into side control. Lara looks really pissed at himself for not defending that better.
Lara misses with an elbow from the bottom.

Nikov is looking for a kimura. He might have it! No, Lara has escaped the position, nice work there.
Lara being controlled for a moment.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Sloppy strikes there by Nikov.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Nikov decides to stand back up. Nikov steps back and let's Lara get back to his feet.

Nikov shoots in and gets a takedown into Lara's guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

Lara looking for a guillotine here but Nikov defends easily.

Lara is looking for a triangle but Nikov pushes his legs off easily.
Nikov trying to stand up but can't free himself from Lara's guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Nikov pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Lara is keeping the position for now.
Lara really does look like a pencil wearing a pair of gloves. Let's hope he has a gameplan to suit that ridiculous body shape.
Nikov stands and throws Lara's legs to the side, diving into side control.
Nikov wants to control but Lara is keeping him busy.
Nikov throwing strikes but Lara manages to buck up and roll into a nice reversal - now he's on top in side control!

Lara tries for an arm triangle. That looks pretty tight to me. Is this one over!?! Possibly, maybe, no Lara has let go of the choke. Obviously it wasn't as tight as we thought!
Nikov is trying to get back to half guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Nikov manages to get one leg in to regain half guard.
Nikov is looking for a sweep. Lara is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Nikov is trying to defend against the ground and pound but Lara scores with a couple of nice shots.
Nikov slips a foot under and gets full guard. Nice work.
Nikov tries to strike from the bottom.
Lara postures up in Nikov's guard and throws a big left but Nikov blocks it.

Nikov throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
Nikov working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Lara.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Lara stands up over Nikov, holding his feet. He dives back in and lands a decent shot to the head.
Lara is fighting to break Nikov's control of his arms but Nikov is doing a good job of controlling the position at the moment.
Lara lands a nice shot whilst sitting in his opponent's guard.
Lara keeps in close for a moment and lands a decent shot to the side of Nikov's head.
Lara postures up and scores with a shot to the body and a follow up elbow to the head.

Nikov working away from the bottom but not quite defensive enough there because Lara has passed into half guard!
Nikov looks winded!
Nikov has hold of Lara's hands but Lara slips his arm to the side and lands an elbow.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Lara working over Nikov with some ground and pound. Nikov looks like he wants out of this position, which is understandable.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Nikolay Nikov will probably get the nod.
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.

Nikov throws a poor cross that misses

and Lara counters by moving into the clinch.
Nikov tries a body shot but Lara blocks it.

Nikov has managed to pull guard. Let's see whether he can work an aggressive guard. It will also be interesting to see what tactics Lara uses from the top position.
Nikov throwing some rather feeble looking strikes off his back.
Lara postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Hammerfist, elbow! yells Lara's corner. There ya go! There ya go!
Lara loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Nikov is trying to control the position but Lara postures up.
Lara working in close now, lands a nice elbow to the side of Nikov's head.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Lara missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Nikov working a defensive guard here.
Nikov has momentary wrist control but Lara slips an elbow through the middle.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Nikov trying to control the position.
Lara with a nice head shot there.
Lara is working Nikov over from the guard. He should look to pass the guard and do a little more damage with these strikes.
Lara stands up over Nikov, holding his feet. He dives back in and lands a decent shot to the head.
Lara has decided he wants to stand but the closed guard of Nikov is proving hard to escape from.
Hammerfist, elbow! yells Lara's corner. There ya go! There ya go!
Lara postures up in Nikov's guard and throws a big left but Nikov blocks it.
Lara lands a nice shot whilst sitting in his opponent's guard.
Lara postures up.
Lara 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.

Lara avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
Nikov is breathing heavily.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Nikov has momentary wrist control but Lara slips an elbow through the middle.
Lara is working Nikov over from the guard. He should look to pass the guard and do a little more damage with these strikes.
Nikov working a defensive guard here.
Lara is in close to Nikov's body, working some short punches and elbows.
Lara stands up over Nikov, holding his feet. He dives back in and lands a decent shot to the head.
Lara works over Nikov with some ground and pound from guard.
Lara content to strike from guard, landing some decent shots.
Lara cracks Nikov with a solid left hand.
Nikov has momentary wrist control but Lara slips an elbow through the middle.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Lara connects with a couple of short punches.
Nikov looking for a sweep. Not yet Nikov, not yet.
Lara postures up and scores with a shot to the body and a follow up elbow to the head.
Lara stopping the sweep attempt from Nikov.
Lara works over Nikov with some ground and pound from guard.
Lara with a nice head shot there.
Lara won't allow Nikov to sweep him here.
Lara postures up and scores with a shot to the body and a follow up elbow to the head.
Lara scores with a decent looking elbow strike.
Nikov has momentary wrist control but Lara slips an elbow through the middle.
Lara makes a bit of distance and scores with some ground and pound, still in guard.
Lara passes into half guard under a barage of strikes.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Lara scoring with strikes to the body and head.
Nikov has hold of Lara's hands but Lara slips his arm to the side and lands an elbow.
Lara working over Nikov with some ground and pound. Nikov looks like he wants out of this position, which is understandable.
Lara seems to be taking a bit of a break to think of his next move. He lands a short punch in the meantime.
Nikov has hold of Lara's hands but Lara slips his arm to the side and lands an elbow.
Lara slips a nice elbow through Nikov's hands, connecting with Nikov's forehead.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Lara takes advantage of the dominant position to land a couple of big hammer fists.
Lara working the head and body with strikes.

Lara is thinking about going for an arm triangle but he can't free his leg.
Lara lands with a punch from half guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Wayne Lara dominated that second round.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action! This is the final round!

Lara closes the distance and pushes Nikov back into the cage.
Lara just leaning against Nikov, taking a breather.

Lara is fighting off a takedown attempt but Nikov is just too persistent for him and manages to trip Lara to the mat. Lara regains guard as soon as the fighters hit the mat.
Nikov trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Nikov seems content to control from guard here. He's going to have to remain active though if he doesn't want to get stood back up.
Nikov trying to control but Lara is working from the bottom.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Lara is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.

Lara is trying a forearm choke… I don't think that's going to do much at this level of the game.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Nikov looking for submissions off his back.
Nikov takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Nikov is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Lara working Nikov over with strikes.

Lara seems to be working for a kimura but Nikov defends the submission attempt.
Lara missing with the ground and pound from half guard.

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.
Nikov tries to get to full guard but Lara has control of the leg.
Nikov tries to kick Lara off but Lara keeps his base steady and stays in half guard.
Nikov wants to control but Lara is keeping busy and won't allow it.
Lara working Nikov over with strikes.
Nikov has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Lara is working away from the top position though.

Lara is looking for a kimura. It's going to be difficult to finish that from half guard though and Nikov defends it well.
Nikov is looking to improve his position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Lara lands with a punch from half guard.
Lara lands with a punch from half guard.
Lara lands a big shot. The thud that echoes around the arena is like music to the fans' ears.
Lara landing with strikes to the body and head, softening up his opponent.
Lara is keeping good posture, landing some ground and pound.
The two fighters exchange a few words. I couldn't hear what they were saying but maybe it's more fun if you make it up yourself. Lara connects with a nice short shot to Nikov's temple.

Lara is looking for an arm triangle, whilst trying to pass to side control. Nikov doesn't seem that keen to cooperate though. No luck this time Lara.
Lara winds up and cracks Nikov with a swinging punch to the side of the head.
Wayne Lara overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Lara is looking for an arm triangle, whilst trying to pass to side control. Nikov doesn't seem that keen to cooperate though. No luck this time Lara.

Lara seems to be looking for submissions.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Nikov wants to control but Lara is keeping busy and won't allow it.
The referee walks around the fighters to get a better view of the action. Lara lands a nice short elbow.

And that's the end of the fight!
Wayne Lara showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Lara 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 3 rounds of action, we go to the scorecards for a decision.
Judge Ivan Kurochkin scores the fight 29:27
Judge Igor Prikhodko scores the fight 29:27
Judge Illya Tyunina scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Wayne Lara!