PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Volya Nikolaev (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Liam Donnelly (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Chooooooooon! I think Nikolaev might be my favorite fighter, now he's come out to Fever . Liam Donnelly has the power to score a knockout today if he connects clean with Volya Nikolaev's chin.

Nikolaev
vs
Donnelly

170 cm
36
165 lbs
34 - 24 - 0

173 cm
32
156 lbs
29 - 14 - 1

BJJ Red Belt
World class boxer
Insanely flexible

Excellent grappler
World class MT
Good gas tank

Humanoid Nutrition (160Q for 180$)
Aspire Clothing

Bullet Proof System
Amped Performance

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 34 - 24 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Volya Nikolaev!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 29 - 14 - 1, fighting out of Amsterdam, Liam Donnelly!
The judges for this bout are Frank Antenori, Don Winkell and Jack Bonds.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
A lazy left from Nikolaev finds it's target.
Nikolaev misses the jab.
Volya Nikolaev seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Nikolaev misses the jab.
Donnelly looks like he wanted to counter with a high kick but didn't throw it.
Nikolaev misses with a looping left.
Donnelly is clearly trying to counter these attacks from Nikolaev with a body shot.
Nikolaev tries to drive through with a takedown attempt but Donnelly defends well and Nikolaev ends up having to push Donnelly into the cage where they will battle it out in the clinch.
Donnelly throws a body shot but no joy.
Donnelly misses with a looping right.
Donnelly defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Nikolaev.
Nikolaev throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Donnelly sees it coming and avoids it easily.
Donnelly takes a swing at Nikolaev's ribcage but misses.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
A shot to the body from Nikolaev misses
and Donnelly connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Nikolaev doesn't succeed with the takedown
and he gets countered with a snapping leg kick.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Volya Nikolaev. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Nikolaev throws a jab but it's blocked by Donnelly.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Nikolaev moves out of range of the strikes.
Nikolaev lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Donnelly circles away quickly and effectively.
Nikolaev fails with a takedown attempt.

Nikolaev darts in and lands a nice takedown into half guard.
Donnelly is positioning himself well to prevent Nikolaev advancing to mount.
Nikolaev not landing any meaningful shots this time.
Nikolaev looks towards his corner to check for any instructions. The corner give him nothing to work with, so he cracks Donnelly with a short hammerfist. I guess that's as good as any advice he could get in this position.
Nikolaev prevents Donnelly from improving his position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Nikolaev trying to pass the guard but Donnelly defending well.
Nikolaev is trying to control the action in half guard but Donnelly is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.

Nikolaev looking for a kimura but he'll have to free his other leg if he wants to finish that. Perhaps he's just using it as a distraction technique.
Donnelly felt the need to train up his defensive grappling in the buildup to the fight. Presumably he was expecting to be in a difficult position like this, so let's see if he can get out of it.
Nikolaev is trying to control. Donnelly wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.
Donnelly on the receiving end of some nice ground and pound.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Donnelly trying to control here.
Nikolaev thows a huge punch but Donnelly dodges it nicely.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Nikolaev not landing any meaningful shots this time.

Nikolaev is thinking about going for an arm triangle but he can't free his leg.
Nikolaev missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.
Donnelly is trying to get back to full guard.
Nikolaev is pressing down on Donnelly's thigh, looking to free his foot. Donnelly is holding on for now.

Donnelly is defending against the submission attempts here by Nikolaev.
Nikolaev 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.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A few boos can be heard. I'm sure they will multiply if the fighters don't pick up the pace.
Donnelly is refusing to be controlled, as Nikolaev sits in half guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Donnelly is looking to control Nikolaev's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Donnelly avoid being mounted?
Donnelly manages to get to full guard.
Donnelly keeping moving, preventing Nikolaev from controlling successfully.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Volya Nikolaev dominated that round.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

Nikolaev lands with a straight right. Donnelly didn't see that one coming.
Nikolaev throws a jab when Donnelly was well out of range.
Donnelly looked like he wanted to counter with a punch but didn't throw it.
Donnelly misses with a right hand
and Nikolaev counters with a stiff right hand.
Nikolaev jabs. That one connects to the head of his opponent.
Donnelly shakes his hands off, looking to compose himself, but takes a jab to the jaw whilst he does it.
Nikolaev is really head hunting here, hardly looking to strike to the body at all.
Nikolaev swings and misses with a hook to the body.

Nikolaev scores with a takedown into Donnelly's guard.
Nikolaev working some strikes from top position.
Nikolaev is stalling in the full guard.
Donnelly is trying to keep Nikolaev in close.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Donnelly pulls Nikolaev in close to prevent any damage.
Let's hope that Donnelly has the urge to step up the pace any second now because for the last 15 or 20 seconds he's just been holding on tight.
Nikolaev controls from within his opponent's guard.
Nikolaev looking to sit in guard and control but Donnelly gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.

Nikolaev working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Donnelly doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Oh but Nikolaev is tightening it up a little... Donnelly has to be careful here... He's got his foot tucked under now, this looks tight! Donnelly reacted too slowly and this one could be over in a matter of seconds! YES! Donnelly taps out! Nice BJJ there by Nikolaev!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 2:57 of round 2, we have a winner by way of Submission (Triangle Choke). Volya Nikolaev!
During a confident post fight interview, Volya Nikolaev thanked all his fans. He seemed very genuine when describing how motivated his fans keep him.