PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Frank Nada (ranked 680 p4p, 106 weight class) and Nikolai Luzhin (ranked 653 p4p, 99 weight class). Luzhin is bobbing his head along to his entrance song: The time has come.... There are an array of beautiful celebrities at ringside tonight! I wonder if any of them paid for their tickets.

Nada
vs
Luzhin

183 cm
35
177 lbs
20 - 17 - 0

181 cm
38
174 lbs
30 - 14 - 3

Great wrestler
World class boxer
Insanely flexible

Good wrestler
World class MT
Good gas tank

KAISER Nutrition - Q160

Aspire Clothing

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the welterweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 20 - 17 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Frank Nada!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 30 - 14 - 3, fighting out of Los Angeles, Nikolai Luzhin!
The judges for this bout are Phil Schofield, Chris Edwards and Colin Fotheringham.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Nada fails to land with a series of punches.
Nada throws a hook but Luzhin blocks it.
Luzhin takes a punch right to his stomach. That took the wind out of him momentarily.
Luzhin throws a wild body kick that Nada sees coming a mile off.
Luzhin explodes with a nice body kick and back out of range. Nice work.
Nada misses with a wild body shot.
Nada fakes and then throws a beautiful body shot. Luzhin looks a bit winded and takes a step backwards to take a breath.

Nada gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.
Luzhin misses with a punch to the body.
Luzhin swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Nada lands with a quick shot inside that doesn't really do much damage.
Nada on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
Both fighters working to control the clinch.
Luzhin lands a knee to the body.

Luzhin is fighting off a takedown attempt but Nada is just too persistent for him and manages to trip Luzhin to the mat. Luzhin regains guard as soon as the fighters hit the mat.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Nada accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Nada postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Luzhin looking to hit a scissor sweep but Nada is one step ahead there.
Nada passes Luzhin's right leg, so he's now in half guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Luzhin won't allow Nada to pass to mount.
Nada seems content to maintain position for now, rather than mounting any offense.
Nada throwing shots but Luzhin is blocking nicely.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Nada trying to mount his opponent but Luzhin defends it.
Nada moves into full mount! Luzhin won't be happy about that!
Nada wants to control the pace but Luzhin is squirming around nicely.
Luzhin wriggling around on the bottom manages to avoid the strikes thrown by Nada.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Nada sends his fist crashing into the mat - the crowd let out a collective ooooooh. Let's hope he's not broken it!
Luzhin holding onto his opponent's waist for dear life, as Nada tries to land some strikes to get him to release his grip.
Luzhin is bucking up trying to escape but Nada cracks him with another couple of good strikes.
Luzhin blocking the ground and pound.
Nada throwing shots from mount but they're not landing.
Luzhin regains half guard.
Nada is looking to advance position but Luzhin won't allow it.
Nada thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Luzhin's head.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Nada is looking to advance position but Luzhin won't allow it.
Luzhin trying to control here.
The fighters are going at a pretty good pace and they're both starting to sweat now.
Luzhin keeping hold of Nada's head, controlling as best he can.
Nada wants to lay and pray for a moment but Luzhin keeps working.
We've been informed that Luzhin has been working hard on his conditioning in the buildup to the fight.
Nada not landing any meaningful shots this time.
Nada throwing shots but Luzhin is blocking nicely.
Nada is keen to just control but Luzhin is a slippery customer.
Nada is nestled in close to Luzhin, controlling him well. He's worked in a nice elbow to the side of the head as well, for good measure.

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.
Nada wants to advance to full mount but Luzhin doesn't think that's going to happen and regains full guard instead.
Nada preventing the sweep.
Nada pushes down on Luzhin's leg and manages to get into half guard.
Luzhin is refusing to be controlled, as Nada sits in half guard.
Luzhin tries to get to full guard but Nada has control of the leg.
Luzhin won't allow Nada to pass to mount.
Luzhin blocking the ground and pound attempt from Nada.
Nada is trying to control the action in half guard but Luzhin is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.
Luzhin avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Nada.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Frank Nada dominated that round.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin!

Nada looks to throw the jab but Luzhin is out of range.
Nada scores with a sloppy punch to the body. Not much technique there but it did the business.
Nada lands with an overhand left.
Nada misses with a straight left.
Nada misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Luzhin.
Luzhin replies with a solid counter kick to the body but Nada blocks it well.
Luzhin throws a wild body kick that Nada sees coming a mile off.
Nada throws a lazy right hand but Luzhin sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Luzhin changes levels and scores with a jab to the body.
Nada is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Luzhin can do to turn this around?
Nada missing with a left hand there. Luzhin was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
Luzhin slips a straight right by Nada.
Nada avoids the body shot from Luzhin.
An attempted straight right counter from Nada misses the target.
Nada swinging wildly here.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
A telegraphed right hand from Nada misses the target.
Nada misses with a hook.
A big right from Luzhin misses.
Luzhin tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Nada was well out of range. Poor timing from Luzhin.
Luzhin bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Luzhin moves into range and lands a nice body kick.
Nada misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Luzhin.
Frank Nada is winning the standup battle so far.
Nada lands a straight punch to the body, keeping Luzhin at a distance.
Jab by Nada.
A kick lands to the mid section there for Luzhin.
Nada misses with an uppercut. Luzhin saw that one coming.
Nada misses with a few strikes there.
A shot to the liver by Nada. Beautiful body shot.
Nada shoots in for a double leg but Luzhin sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
Luzhin shapes to counter with a head kick.
A jab from Nada misses.
Luzhin flicks out a counter leg kick but Nada steps away.
Nada takes a hook to the side of the head. I wonder if that's got his ears ringing.
Nada fakes a head punch and goes low to the body. Nicely done.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Luzhin connects with the punch.
Nada on the wrong end of a kick to the body.
Horrible takedown attempt by Nada or perhaps it was just good defense by Luzhin, which made it look bad.
Nada misses with a looping left.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Nada swings for the body but Luzhin moves out of range.
Nada takes one on the chin but seems OK.
Nada takes a kick to the body and keeps moving.
Luzhin connects with a nice looking jab.
Luzhin drops his hands momentarily and Nada takes advantage with a crisp shot to the head.
Nice shot by Luzhin.
Luzhin comes forward and lands a shot to the body, then darts back out of range.
Nikolai Luzhin is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Luzhin lands a body shot.
Nada takes a shot right to the bread basket.
Luzhin blocks a jab.
Luzhin thinks about the counter body kick.
Frank Nada seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Luzhin keeps Nada at a distance using the push kick.
Luzhin cracks Nada with a nice right hand that draws applause from the crowd.
A jab lands there for Nada.
Nada has been working on his balance at Tōshi, so perhaps that has help him stuff some of the takedown attempts by Luzhin.
Nada throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Luzhin throws out a counter right but Nada avoids it with no problem.
Luzhin with a nice looking leg kick. You could hear that one land in a back row.
Nada will be looking to protect his midsection after taking some solid kicks to the body.
Luzhin looks to score with a jab to the body but Nada is just out of range.
Luzhin comes forward and lands a shot to the body, then darts back out of range.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Nada moves into range and connects with a jab.
Luzhin keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Nada.
Good standup being displayed there by Luzhin as he connects with a hook.
Luzhin displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Nada throws out the jab.
Luzhin was about to counter that last move with a leg kick but changes his mind.
Nada displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Luzhin throws out the jab.
Nada tries to counter with a takedown but Luzhin is quick to defend against it.
Luzhin scores with a kick to the body.
Luzhin throws a head kick but Nada moves out of range.
Donk. Luzhin catches Nada right on the button with a cross.
Nada fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Luzhin avoids it really well and circles away.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Frank Nada. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Luzhin lands an overhand right.
Luzhin misses with a kick to the body.
Nada moves out of range of the body kick.
Luzhin misses with a body kick.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A decent looking body kick lands there for Luzhin.
Luzhin scores with a push kick.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Luzhin looks to land a left hand but Nada moved out of range nicely.
Nada was looking to counter that move with a punch but didn't quite pull the trigger.
Nada misses with a looping left.
Nada thows a left - swing and a miss!
Nada lands a right hook to the body.
Nada looks to land a right hand but Luzhin moved out of range.
A slapping leg kick lands for Luzhin.
Nada takes a body punch that cleary hurt but he's trying not to show any weakness.
Nada swings for the body but Luzhin moves out of range.
Luzhin delivers a nice body kick.
A telegraphed right hand from Nada misses the target.
A swing and a miss from Nada.
The crowd applaud the fighters' efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Luzhin tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Nada was well out of range. Poor timing from Luzhin.
Nada misses with a body shot.
Luzhin lands a really nice looking cross but Nada seems unphased.
Luzhin blocks a jab.
Luzhin appears to be waiting to throw a counter punch to the body.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Nikolai Luzhin showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
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. This is the final round!

Luzhin fakes low and throws an overhand right that catches Nada on the side of the head.
Nada is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Luzhin.
Nada misses with an uppercut
and Luzhin counters with a nice uppercut.
Nada misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Luzhin.
A slapping leg kick lands for Luzhin.
Luzhin fakes and then throws a beautiful body shot. Nada looks a bit winded and takes a step backwards to take a breath.
Nada uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Luzhin.
Nada was looking to counter that move with a punch but didn't quite pull the trigger.
Nice defenses there by Luzhin.
Luzhin throws a nice hook to the body that draws an oooh from the crowd.
Luzhin moves into range and lands a nice body kick.
Nada misses with a straight right.
Nada throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Nada takes a body punch that cleary hurt but he's trying not to show any weakness.
A kick lands to the mid section there for Luzhin.
The fans in attendance giving it up for the two fighters, who have really let it all hang out in the last minute or so!
Nada throws an off balance right hand
and Luzhin counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
Nada misses the shot to the body.
Nada misses with an uppercut.
Luzhin replies with a solid counter kick to the body but Nada blocks it well.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Nada takes a swing at Luzhin's ribcage but misses.
Nada scores with a hook to the body. Luzhin takes a step back and tries to catch his breath.
Luzhin slips under a jab from Nada.
Nada misses with an uppercut
and Nada takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.

Luzhin has managed to clinch.
Luzhin with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.
Nada tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Luzhin using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Nada has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
Luzhin with the Thai clinch, lands a knee to the head.
Luzhin misses with a shot to the kidneys.
A right hook to the body lands for Nada.
Luzhin lands a left hand that snaps the head of Nada backwards.
Nada lands a short shot on the inside that snaps the head of Luzhin backwards.
Luzhin scores a nice knee to the body.
The fans in attendance giving it up for the two fighters, who have really let it all hang out in the last minute or so!
A nice right hand lands inside from Nada.
Luzhin being controlled against the cage.
Luzhin throws a knee to the head but misses.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Knees to the body from Luzhin.
Nada misses with the head strike.
Luzhin unloads a knee to the mid-section.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Luzhin softening up his opponent with strikes, against the cage.
Luzhin lands with a light punch inside.
Luzhin with an attempt at a knee that misses.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Nada.
Luzhin blocks an uppercut.
Nada pushes Luzhin back against the cage and lands a hook to the side of the head.
Nada misses with the head strike.
Luzhin tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Knees to the body from Luzhin.
Nada will no doubt start fighting again in a minute but for now he's just having a little rest, leaning Luzhin up against the cage.
Luzhin lands with a short shot to the head.
Luzhin tries to land a knee to the head but misses.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
With the fighters clinched against the cage, Nada creates a bit of distance for himself and scores with a nice uppercut.
Luzhin has a couple of punches blocked by Nada.
Kneeeeees! The crowd are calling for knees to the body. Luzhin obliges.
Nada wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.
Luzhin tries to land knees in the clinch but Nada avoids the damage to the body.
Nada looking to stall.

Nada pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Nada sees a low kick coming and goes to check it, but it's actually a body kick and it thuds into his unprotected ribs.
Nada connects with a nice looking jab.
Nada tries to close the distance and clinch but Luzhin swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Luzhin looked like he wanted to counter with a punch but didn't throw it.
Nada takes a body punch that cleary hurt but he's trying not to show any weakness.

Luzhin rushes Nada and presses him up against the cage.
Nada is looking for a takedown up against the cage. Luzhin gets underhooks though and prevents the takedown attempt.
Nada prevents a body shot from Luzhin.
Luzhin unloads a knee to the mid-section. Nada lets out a prehistoric sounding urrrrgh.
Luzhin crunches a lovely knee into Nada's ribcage.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Luzhin connects with a nasty looking knee right to Nada's face.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Luzhin works for underhooks and lands a body shot in the process.
Luzhin tries to land knees in the clinch but Nada avoids the damage to the body.
Luzhin tries a knee to the head but Nada blocks it.
Luzhin with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.
A short uppercut from Luzhin.
Good anti-grappling being displayed by Luzhin as Nada tries to tie him up.
Nada lands a right hand.

Nada has Luzhin pressed up against the cage. He's trying to work for a single leg takedown. Nada pulls back from the cage and twists to the side, sending Luzhin tumbling to the mat - Nada dives into Luzhin's guard.
Luzhin 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.
The crowd applaud the fighters' efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Nada in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.

And that's the end of the fight!
Nikolai Luzhin comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Luzhin has won this one but let's see whether the judges agree with me. 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 Phil Schofield scores the fight 28:29
Judge Chris Edwards scores the fight 28:29
Judge Colin Fotheringham scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Nikolai Luzhin!
Nikolai Luzhin bigged himself up after the win. The crowd seemed to love it.