PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Volya Nikolaev (ranked 16 p4p, 3 weight class) and Gauthier St. Georges (ranked 43 p4p, 6 weight class). Nikolaev kept the crowd waiting but all that was forgotten when his ring entrance music started. The incomparable musical genius that is Fever . St. Georges has chosen Jiu Jitsu as his entrance music. Gauthier St. Georges has the power to score a knockout today if he connects clean with Volya Nikolaev's chin.

Nikolaev
vs
St. Georges

170 cm
40
165 lbs
43 - 29 - 0

182 cm
31
162 lbs
28 - 9 - 1

Great wrestler
World class boxer
Cardio machine

Olympic wrestler
World class MT
Good gas tank

HELLBENT

THE END 32

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 5 rounds, for the lightweight championship of the world!
Introducing the champion to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 43 - 29 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Volya Nikolaev!
And introducing the challenger to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 28 - 9 - 1, fighting out of Montreal, Gauthier St. Georges!
The judges for this bout are Timothy Bukovac, Frank Antenori and Jack Bonds.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
St. Georges dances in quickly and lands a nice inside leg kick on Nikolaev. That did some damage!
Nikolaev closes the distance and clinches up with St. Georges, looking for a takedown. Nikolaev pushes St. Georges against the cage but St. Georges circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
Nikolaev checks a leg kick.
St. Georges looks to score with a jab to the body but Nikolaev is just out of range.
Nikolaev looks to have improved his striking defense since last time we saw him fight.
Some bone on bone action there as Nikolaev checks a low kick. Luckily it wasn't a particularly hard one.
That kick from St. Georges tenderised Nikolaev's leg. Nikolaev is trying to keep his angry face on.
St. Georges tries to score with a leg kick but it misses it's target.
St. Georges fakes a jab and scores with a low kick.
A swing and a miss from Nikolaev.
St. Georges tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Nikolaev was well out of range. Poor timing from St. Georges.
St. Georges swings for the body but Nikolaev moves out of range.
St. Georges misses with a low kick.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Nikolaev throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
Gauthier St. Georges seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Nikolaev staying out of range there.
Nikolaev listening to his corner there, landing a nice uppercut.
St. Georges connects nicely with a jab. Noted by the judges no doubt.
Nikolaev throws a hook but St. Georges blocks it.

That's one minute gone in the round.
A jab from St. Georges does it's job there.
Nikolaev throws a hook but St. Georges blocks it.
A countering left hand to the body from St. Georges misses.
St. Georges throws a lazy right hand but Nikolaev sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
St. Georges thumps Nikolaev with a low kick.
Nikolaev looks to land a right hand but St. Georges moved out of range.
St. Georges digs a good hook to Nikolaev's body.
St. Georges turns his hip over beautifully as he lands a nice leg kick.
Nikolaev is really struggling to find his range with his punches. St. Georges's reach advantage is clearly causing him problems.
St. Georges takes a swing at Nikolaev's ribcage but misses.
An attempted straight right counter from Nikolaev misses the target.
Nikolaev misses with a straight right.
St. Georges throws a shot from downtown. Nikolaev moves away and avoids it.
St. Georges displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Nikolaev throws out the jab.
St. Georges has tried to improve his agility in the runup to this fight.
St. Georges with a jab.
A jab from St. Georges misses.
St. Georges displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Nikolaev throws out the jab.
A big left from St. Georges misses.
St. Georges lands a head shot.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A slapping leg kick lands for St. Georges.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Nikolaev keeping at a good range here, avoiding a leg kick.
A lazy body kick from St. Georges

and Nikolaev counters with a takedown into side control.
Nikolaev staying calm.
St. Georges is trying to stand back up. He's worked his way up against the cage but Nikolaev has just dragged him back down to the mat.
Nikolaev cracks St. Georges with a big right hand but St. Georges just smiles back at him and invites him to have another go.
St. Georges is trying to get back to his feet.
St. Georges regains half guard, as Nikolaev was trying to land strikes.

Nikolaev is working for a submission of some sort.
Nikolaev lands strikes from half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
St. Georges blocking the ground and pound attempt from Nikolaev.
Nikolaev looks to land a strike but St. Georges avoids it nicely and regains full guard.
Nikolaev lands a couple of elbows.
St. Georges is adopting a defensive guard.
Nikolaev works over St. Georges with some ground and pound from guard.
Nikolaev slips effortlessly into side control - very nice.
Nikolaev works a knee to the body and follows up with a nice elbow to the head.
Nikolaev working the head and body with strikes.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
St. Georges is not content to let Nikolaev control the position.
Nikolaev working the ground and pound but he's contacting the mat, not the fighter.
St. Georges is positioning himself to get back to half guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Nikolaev landing strikes.
St. Georges takes an elbow right on the bridge of the nose and winces in pain.
St. Georges tries to get back to half guard but can't.

Nikolaev tries for a kimura. Not really close to a finish though.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Gauthier St. Georges will probably get the nod.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business.

A left lands for Nikolaev.
St. Georges moves into range and lands a nice leg kick.
St. Georges uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Nikolaev.
A big left from Nikolaev misses.
St. Georges displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Nikolaev.
Nikolaev takes one on the chin but keeps coming.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Nikolaev throws a body punch but St. Georges moves out of range.
St. Georges looks to throw the jab but Nikolaev is out of range.
St. Georges throws a decent looking leg kick but it doesn't land clean.
Nikolaev feinted with a counter takedown.
Nice uppercut there from Nikolaev.
Nice body kick from St. Georges.

That's one minute gone in the round.
St. Georges misses with an uppercut.
Nikolaev looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
St. Georges throws a push kick but Nikolaev slaps the foot to one side.
St. Georges lands a pitter patter jab to the forehead of his opponent.
Nikolaev doesn't succeed with the takedown
and St. Georges counters with an outside leg kick.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Volya Nikolaev. That's going to take a lot out of him.
St. Georges fakes with a right hand and throws a good leg kick, right into the thigh. That had to hurt Nikolaev.
Nice uppercut there from St. Georges.
Nikolaev slips under a jab.
Nikolaev feinted with a counter takedown.
St. Georges is using his reach advantage to land shots from outside his opponent's range.
St. Georges keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Nikolaev.
St. Georges scores with a jab. Nikolaev acknowledges it with a nod of the head.
St. Georges throws a leg kick
and Nikolaev counters with a straight right hand.
Jab, jab by St. Georges - just one landing.
St. Georges attempts a low kick but it misses it's target.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
St. Georges steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Nikolaev.
It seemed like St. Georges was going to counter with the hook but didn't fully commit to it.
Nikolaev takes a body punch but keeps moving.
This has been an exciting period of action!
St. Georges slips a straight right by Nikolaev.
St. Georges throws a front kick that sends Nikolaev stumbling back into the cage.
St. Georges throws a nice inside leg kick.
St. Georges ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Nikolaev moves away.
Nikolaev is looking to counter punch.
Nikolaev throws a jab but it's blocked by St. Georges.
St. Georges doesn't fully commit to the body shot counter.
St. Georges lands a leg kick. The shin dug right into the meat of the thigh.
Nikolaev throws a lazy right hand but St. Georges sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
St. Georges throws a decent looking leg kick but it doesn't land clean.
Nikolaev keeping at a good range here, avoiding a leg kick.
Good leg kick by St. Georges there. It's the ones that make that thud noise that hurt and that was an almighty thud.
St. Georges misses with a kick to the body

and Nikolaev counters with a nice double leg into guard.

The fighters are working up against the cage. St. Georges manages to wriggle his way back to his feet, so the fighters are now clinched against the cage.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
St. Georges throws an elbow but it's blocked.

Nikolaev tightens his grip and picks St. Georges up, before dumping him to the ground. St. Georges manages to land in guard.
Nikolaev trying to control the position from guard on top but St. Georges is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Nikolaev trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Nikolaev throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as St. Georges works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Volya Nikolaev overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Nikolaev trying to control the position from guard on top but St. Georges is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Nikolaev lands a couple of decent looking shots.
Nikolaev distracts St. Georges with his right hand and drops a big elbow with his other arm.
St. Georges wants to control here, rather than go for any submissions from the bottom. At least for now.
Nikolaev stands up over St. Georges, holding his feet. He dives back in and lands a decent shot to the head.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
St. Georges can't do much from the bottom at the moment, as Nikolaev controls the pace.
Nikolaev working from the guard for now, landing some ground and pound.
Nikolaev throws a big elbow that misses.
Nikolaev trying to control but St. Georges is working from the bottom.
Nikolaev might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.
Nikolaev prevents St. Georges from getting back to his feet.
Nikolaev trying to control the position from guard on top but St. Georges is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
St. Georges avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Nikolaev throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Gauthier St. Georges 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.

St. Georges looks to land a body kick but Nikolaev moved away.
Nikolaev attempts a counter takedown but St. Georges avoids it well and moves away.
Nice defenses there by St. Georges.
St. Georges throws a body punch but Nikolaev moves out of range.
Nikolaev changes levels looking for a counter takedown but doesn't commit.
St. Georges looks to land a right hand but Nikolaev moved out of range.
St. Georges lands a nice looking body shot.
St. Georges throws a shot from downtown. Nikolaev moves away and avoids it.
St. Georges looks to throw the jab but Nikolaev is out of range.
Nikolaev has his front leg slapped to the side - a nice low kick landing there from St. Georges.
Nikolaev keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
St. Georges lands a jab to Nikolaev's midsection.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Nikolaev throws a hook but St. Georges blocks it.
Nikolaev is hobbling a little on that front leg after taking quite a few leg kicks so far in this fight.
Nikolaev misses with a hook. St. Georges ducked under it nicely.
St. Georges swings widly with a right hand

and Nikolaev counters with a shoot takedown. St. Georges fights it but they end up in guard.
Nikolaev wants to pass the guard but St. Georges is keeping the position.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Nikolaev accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.

That's one minute gone in the round.
St. Georges can't do much from the bottom at the moment, as Nikolaev controls the pace.
Nikolaev working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
St. Georges 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.
Nikolaev pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. St. Georges is keeping the position for now.
Nikolaev loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
St. Georges is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Nikolaev wants to control from the top but St. Georges keeps moving.
Nikolaev won't allow St. Georges to sweep him here.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Nikolaev trying to control but St. Georges is working from the bottom.

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.
St. Georges swings for the body but Nikolaev moves out of range.
St. Georges with a nice looking leg kick. You could hear that one land in a back row.
St. Georges misses with a lunging right hand

and Nikolaev counters with a nice double leg into side control. St. Georges won't be happy with that.
Nikolaev cracks St. Georges with a big right hand but St. Georges just smiles back at him and invites him to have another go.
Nikolaev is chipping away with strikes.
Nikolaev throws an elbow but St. Georges slips to the side and avoids it well.
St. Georges is not content to let Nikolaev control the position.
Nikolaev throws a strike aimed at the side of St. Georges's head but St. Georges avoids it well.
Nikolaev grinds an elbow into St. Georges's temple.
St. Georges managing to avoid any damage from the strikes thrown by Nikolaev.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Nikolaev trying to control the position but St. Georges is working away.
Nikolaev scoring with punches and elbows.
Nikolaev looking to punish the body of his opponent here but St. Georges is avoiding damage well.
Nikolaev throwing shots but missing, from side control.
Nikolaev scores with a couple of nice shots to the head there. The referee takes a look at St. Georges to see if he's OK.
Nikolaev cracks St. Georges with an elbow. That is naaassty.

Nikolaev tries for an arm triangle. That looks pretty tight to me. Is this one over!?! Possibly, maybe, no Nikolaev has let go of the choke. Obviously it wasn't as tight as we thought!
Nikolaev lands an elbow.
Nikolaev looks up at the clock and then as St. Georges takes his cue and looks up at the clock too, Nikolaev smacks him right in the chops with a big elbow! How rude!
Nikolaev working the body and head with strikes.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
St. Georges can't do much from the bottom here.
Nikolaev fails to land a wild elbow strike.
Nikolaev working the head and body with strikes.

Nikolaev is trying to get an arm triangle but St. Georges is defending well.
St. Georges taking punishment in the form of punches.
St. Georges is trying to get back to his feet.
St. Georges on the wrong end of some ground and pound.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
St. Georges struggling a bit here.
Nikolaev in side control lands a decent elbow.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Volya Nikolaev clearly takes that round.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

St. Georges swings wildly with a hook that is half blocked by Nikolaev.
St. Georges connects with a solid leg kick.
Nikolaev jabbing away but nothing is landing.
St. Georges scores with a spinning back kick!
Nikolaev misses with a wild combination.
St. Georges wants to counter the offense by Nikolaev and move into the clinch position.
Nikolaev checks a leg kick.
Nikolaev changes levels looking for a counter takedown but doesn't commit.
Nikolaev misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
St. Georges connects nicely with a jab. Noted by the judges no doubt.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Nikolaev shoots in for a takedown and gets it.
St. Georges wants to stand back up but Nikolaev manages to pass into side control.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Nikolaev has control of an arm but St. Georges manages to advance to Nikolaev's back!
Nikolaev is defending well here and trying to improve his position.
St. Georges doesn't have the hooks in and Nikolaev manages to turn into his guard.
St. Georges keeping full guard, as Nikolaev tries to pass.
St. Georges is controlling Nikolaev's posture.
Nikolaev won't allow St. Georges to sweep him here.
Nikolaev throws a big elbow that misses.
Nikolaev pushing down on St. Georges's thigh, trying to pass to half guard. He's managed it... Nice work.

Nikolaev is thinking about going for an arm triangle but he can't free his leg.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
St. Georges regains full guard, whilst avoiding punches from 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.
St. Georges keeping moving, preventing Nikolaev from controlling successfully.
Nikolaev connects with a couple of short punches.
Nikolaev controlling from the top position.
Nikolaev working in close now, lands a nice elbow to the side of St. Georges's head.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Nikolaev scores with a decent looking elbow strike.
Nikolaev won't allow St. Georges to get back to his feet.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Nikolaev is in close to St. Georges's body, working some short punches and elbows.
Nikolaev missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.

St. Georges manages to escape and get back to his feet.
A telegraphed right hand from Nikolaev misses the target.
A swing and a miss from Nikolaev.
St. Georges takes a step towards his opponent and connects with a left hand, before circling away.
Ouch! a nice leg kick from St. Georges, right into the meat.
St. Georges fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Nikolaev manages to avoid it.
A looping hook to the body misses from St. Georges. Nikolaev does a little dance to reset his feet.
Nikolaev changes levels looking for a counter takedown but doesn't commit.
St. Georges throws a lazy uppercut

and Nikolaev counters with a takedown into side control.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
St. Georges wants to get back to his feet but Nikolaev drags him back down.
Nikolaev lands a knee to the body and follows it up with some ground and pound to the head. That will wear St. Georges down.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Nikolaev thinks about going for a far side armbar but bails out and retains the dominant position instead.
Nikolaev is maintaining the dominant position - no doubt St. Georges will start to get frustrated soon if he's not already.
St. Georges is not content to let Nikolaev control the position.
St. Georges takes a big shot right to the temple there but he's taken it well.
Nikolaev in side control lands a nice looking series of punches and elbows.

Nikolaev is trying to land an Americana. He has the arm isolated but St. Georges is keeping cool and he's avoided the danger for now.
Nikolaev lands an elbow.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close fourth round but I would say that Volya Nikolaev will probably get the nod.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action! This is the final round!

St. Georges throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Nikolaev sees it coming and avoids it easily.
St. Georges uses good footwork to get in and out, landing a nice hook.
St. Georges thuds his shin into the meat of Nikolaev's side.
St. Georges lands a leg kick and bounces back out of range.
Nikolaev uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from St. Georges.
Nikolaev is really head hunting here, hardly looking to strike to the body at all.
St. Georges uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Nikolaev.
Nikolaev slips under a jab from St. Georges.
Nikolaev appears to be looking for a counter takedown.
Nikolaev just misses with a punch to the body.
St. Georges fakes with the hands and throws a leg kick but Nikolaev is out of range.
A low kick from St. Georges misses

and Nikolaev counters with a driving takedown into guard. Nice work there by Nikolaev.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
St. Georges pulls Nikolaev in to control the position.
Nikolaev trying to control the position from guard on top but St. Georges is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Nikolaev throwing strikes but missing.

That's one minute gone in the round.
St. Georges controlling the position.
Nikolaev throwing strikes but missing.
Nikolaev throws a big right hand that misses.
Nikolaev is frustrating his opponent with some stalling tactics from top position.
The referee is asking the fighters to pick up the pace.
St. Georges preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Nikolaev stopping the sweep attempt from St. Georges.
St. Georges is looking to stand up but Nikolaev isn't so interested in that idea.

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.
St. Georges lands a nice leg kick that just misses Nikolaev's sensitive parts.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Nikolaev throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.

Nikolaev shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Let's see what he's got on the mat.
St. Georges preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Nikolaev's corner is telling him to maintain position.
Nikolaev throws a strike but St. Georges rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.

Nikolaev is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Nikolaev looking to sweep here. No luck so far.

Nikolaev is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and St. Georges defends well.
Nikolaev has control of St. Georges's left arm, preventing St. Georges from doing any damage.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Nikolaev looking to sweep here. No luck so far.

Nikolaev looking to try and escape his hips here, looking for a submission. It looks like he's going for a triangle but St. Georges is defending well. Nikolaev quickly switches to an armbar and extends the arm! St. Georges has no choice but to tap, to a very quick submission! Wow, that was lightning fast! Nikolaev celebrates on the cage, with the crowd.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 3:38 of round 5, we have a winner by way of Submission (Armbar). Volya Nikolaev!
Volya Nikolaev retains his lightweight title!
In his post fight interview, Volya Nikolaev started talking himself up. Luckily his charisma kept the crowd on side and gave him a good reception.