PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Thomas Raven (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Vadim Nazarov (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Nazarov has chosen "Fade to Black" by Metallica as his entrance music. Vadim Nazarov has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Raven
vs
Nazarov

188 cm
37
197 lbs
25 - 12 - 1

187 cm
35
195 lbs
30 - 16 - 3

Great wrestler
World class boxer
Cardio machine

Olympic wrestler
World class boxer
Granite chin

Venom Combat Sports

Spartan Nutrition

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the middleweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 25 - 12 - 1, fighting out of New York, Thomas Raven!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 30 - 16 - 3, fighting out of Las Vegas, Vadim Nazarov!
The judges for this bout are Frank Antenori, Timothy Bukovac and Jack Bonds.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Raven scores with a punch to the gut of his opponent.
A jab from Raven finds it's way through Nazarov's defenses.

Raven shoots in and bounces Nazarov off the cage to secure the takedown into guard.
Nazarov looking for a sweep. Not yet Nazarov, not yet.
Raven working in close now, lands a nice elbow to the side of Nazarov's head.
Nazarov is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.

Raven wants to improve his position but Nazarov is controlling well.
Nazarov throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Nazarov not landing any meaningful shots this time.
Raven is trying to get back to full guard.
Nazarov not landing any meaningful shots this time.
Nazarov working Raven over with strikes.
Nazarov throwing shots but Raven is blocking nicely.
Nazarov throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
Nazarov thows a huge punch but Raven dodges it nicely.
Raven keeps control of the position for the meantime.
Nazarov sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Raven defending well though.
Nazarov lands a big shot. The thud that echoes around the arena is like music to the fans' ears.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Nazarov working Raven over with strikes.
Raven keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.
Nazarov missing with the ground and pound from half guard.
Nazarov missing with the ground and pound from half guard.

Raven looking for submissions from an awkward position here.
Nazarov looks towards his corner to check for any instructions. The corner give him nothing to work with, so he cracks Raven with a short hammerfist. I guess that's as good as any advice he could get in this position.
Nazarov controlling the pace.
Nazarov working the head and body with strikes.
Nazarov prevents Raven from improving his position.
Raven keeping control of the position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Raven is trying to defend against the ground and pound but Nazarov scores with a couple of nice shots.
Raven trying to control here.
Raven blocking the ground and pound attempt from Nazarov.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Raven controlling the position well.
Raven blocking the ground and pound attempt from Nazarov.
Nazarov scoring with strikes to the body and head.
Raven is staying active underneath Nazarov, who seems content to just control the action from this position.
Nazarov lands with an elbow from half guard - that looked like it hurt.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Nazarov throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
Raven is doing well to control the position and prevent Nazarov from advancing to side control.
Raven keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.
Nazarov throws a strike but Raven avoids it easily and moves to full guard.
Nazarov throws a big elbow that misses.
Nazarov won't allow Raven to sweep him here.
Raven avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
The referee is pacing around the two fighters - he looks like he's thinking about a standup.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Raven working a defensive guard here.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.
Nazarov lunges at Raven with a hook that half lands and is half blocked by Raven's hand.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Vadim Nazarov dominated that round.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business.

Nazarov scores with a nice right hand.
Vadim Nazarov seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Nazarov connects with a good right hand that stumbles Raven. Raven circles away out of range and recomposes himself.
Nazarov tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Raven was well out of range. Poor timing from Nazarov.
Nazarov misses with a combination
and Raven counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
Nazarov throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
Ouch! a nice leg kick from Raven, right into the meat.
Nazarov lands a nice looking body shot.
Raven throws a shot from downtown. Nazarov moves away and avoids it.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Nazarov staying out of range there.
Raven walks straight into a jab right on the nose. That one stung - he's blinking and trying to clear his head.
Raven throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Nazarov lands with a cross to side of his opponent's head.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Raven gets caught on his heels momentarily as he allows Nazarov to score an easy takedown into full guard.
Nazarov is working the ground and pound from guard. He might want to try advancing position though to get more of an impact.
Nazarov has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Hammerfist, elbow! yells Nazarov's corner. There ya go! There ya go!
Raven working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Nazarov.

Nazarov lying in Raven's guard like a wet fish here, stalling away. Raven decides he's had enough of all that nonsense - he escapes his hips and locks up an armbar! Wow, that was slick! Nazarov taps! This one is aaaaaaaaaaall over!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 1:50 of round 2, we have a winner by way of Submission (Armbar). Thomas Raven!
Thomas Raven took to the mic after the fight and begged the organizational hierarchy for a shot at the title.