PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Alexei Mikhailov (ranked 3301 p4p, 405 weight class) and Nivolumab Opdivo (ranked 3143 p4p, 387 weight class). I'm sure you'll be fascinated to know that I was talking to some pointless Z list celebrity before the fight and he thought that Nivolumab Opdivo was going to win. Let's see if he was right.

Mikhailov
vs
Opdivo

183 cm
22
175 lbs
10 - 6 - 1

180 cm
22
175 lbs
5 - 4 - 0

Good wrestling
Basic striking
KO power

BJJ Brown Belt
Excellent boxer
Granite chin

Vikai Gear
Red Light Coffeeshop

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 10 - 6 - 1, fighting out of Amsterdam, Alexei Mikhailov!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 5 - 4 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Nivolumab Opdivo!
The judges for this bout are Arvi Lind, Johanna Lukiainen and Matti Vanhoillinen.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Opdivo lunges in with an uppercut that skims his opponent's chin.

Mikhailov scores a trip takedown into side control. Nice.
Opdivo 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.
Opdivo sneaks a leg under to get back to half guard.
Opdivo is trying to get back to full guard.
We've been hearing good reports from Mikhailov's training camp. Apparently he has been rolling around with some good quality BJJ practitioners and has been sharpening his skills. Let's see if that has an impact on the fight today.
Opdivo won't allow Mikhailov to pass to mount.
Mikhailov scores with a couple of good hammerfists.
Mikhailov with a momentary lay and pray from half guard.
Mikhailov 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.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Opdivo tries to get to full guard but Mikhailov has control of the leg.
Mikhailov trying to pass the guard but Opdivo defending well.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Opdivo keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.
Opdivo is looking to improve his position.
The referee walks around the fighters to get a better view of the action. Mikhailov lands a nice short elbow.
Mikhailov trying to control from half guard but Opdivo is working away.
Mikhailov seems content to maintain position for now, rather than mounting any offense.
The fighters are battling for position here. Opdivo manages to regain full guard. Nice work.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Neither fighter has done anything of merit for a good minute or two here and the crowd are not happy about it.
Opdivo keeping moving, preventing Mikhailov from controlling successfully.
Mikhailov is just sitting in guard, looking to avoid any submissions.
Opdivo bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Mikhailov's guard.

Opdivo stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Mikhailov swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Opdivo trying to control the position from guard on top but Mikhailov is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Mikhailov looking to hit a scissor sweep but Opdivo is one step ahead there.
Mikhailov seems keen to control rather than go for a submission, at least for now.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Opdivo wants to pass the guard but Mikhailov is keeping the position.
Mikhailov manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Opdivo manages to get himself to full guard.

Mikhailov wants to control from the top but Opdivo keeps moving.
Opdivo can't do much from the bottom at the moment, as Mikhailov controls the pace.
Mikhailov trying to control but Opdivo is working from the bottom.
Opdivo looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

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.
Mikhailov passes into half guard.
Opdivo is staying active underneath Mikhailov, who seems content to just control the action from this position.
Opdivo wants to get back to full guard but Mikhailov has mounted him!
Opdivo is looking to improve his position but Mikhailov isn't that keen on the idea.

Mikhailov jumps to side control looking for an arm triangle but Opdivo manages to avoid the submission attempt.
Opdivo gets back to half guard.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
The fighters are battling for position here. Opdivo manages to regain full guard. Nice work.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Alexei Mikhailov dominated that round.
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.

Mikhailov throws a low kick but Opdivo avoids it.

Opdivo sends Mikhailov crashing to the mat with a devastating uppercut! Opdivo is motioning to the referee to let Mikhailov up. He wants to try and finish this one on the feet!

Mikhailov is rocked!
Opdivo fakes and then throws a beautiful body shot. Mikhailov looks a bit winded and takes a step backwards to take a breath.
Oh Mikhailov is still all over the place! His legs are completely gone! Will he be able to recover?!!
Opdivo scores with a reasonable looking shot to the body. Mikhailov doesn't seem bothered though.
Mikhailov seems to have got his legs back now.
Opdivo throws out a powerful jab.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Opdivo jabbing away but nothing is landing.
Opdivo is stalking Mikhailov. Mikhailov circles to his left. Keeps circling left. Bam! Straight right from Opdivo, and it's lights out! Mikhailov really payed the price for that rookie mistake.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 0:27 of round 2, we have a winner by way of KO (Punch). Nivolumab Opdivo!
After winning the bout, Nivolumab Opdivo thanked all his fans and promised he'd do even better in his next fight. The crowd seemed to love his humility.