PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Aristotle Nicomachus (ranked 1433 p4p, 224 weight class) and Alexander Yakovlev (ranked 1970 p4p, 294 weight class). Chooooooooon! I think Nicomachus might be my favorite fighter, now he's come out to Drake - Trophies. Yakovlev comes into a darkened arena with his song building. Maroon 5 - Sugar kicks in, the lights come on and the crowd goes wild! What a showman! Both these guys have really solid chins. Will we see a standup war or will they both decide that a knockout is unlikely and try to win the fight elsewhere?

Nicomachus
vs
Yakovlev

190 cm
34
223 lbs
19 - 8 - 0

189 cm
32
209 lbs
16 - 16 - 0

Good wrestling
World class boxer
Insanely flexible

Olympic wrestler
World class MT
Granite chin

Arcticus University: London

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the light heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 19 - 8 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Aristotle Nicomachus!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 16 - 16 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Alexander Yakovlev!
The judges for this bout are Sam Margolis, James Ackerman and Richard Clark.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Nicomachus staying out of range there.
Nicomachus connects with a lovely jab that went straight through the gap between Yakovlev's hands.
Yakovlev throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Nicomachus's waist but Nicomachus gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Yakovlev off to one side.
Nicomachus feinted there with a counter leg kick.
Nicomachus scores with a nice one two combo and darts back out of range to avoid anything coming in the opposite direction.

It looks like Alexander Yakovlev has been cut.
We can't be sure of the tactics at this early stage but we have heard that Yakovlev has been working on his takedowns a lot in the buildup to the fight and we can only assume he's going to look to take this to the mat.
Yakovlev shoots in and drives through. Nicomachus sprawls well.
Nicomachus bobs and weaves and unloads with a good uppercut.
Jab by Nicomachus.
Nicomachus throws the kick towards the body but Yakovlev avoids it.
Yakovlev fails with the takedown.
Aristotle Nicomachus has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Alexander Yakovlev.
Nicomachus is looking to slow Yakovlev down with leg kicks.
Nicomachus moves into range and lands a nice leg kick.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Nicomachus walks straight into an uppercut. Luckily it didn't land flush.
Yakovlev stumbles momentarily as he takes a strong leg kick from Nicomachus.
Yakovlev takes one on the chin but seems OK.
Yakovlev throws a big shot that misses.
Nicomachus appears to be looking for a big counter.
Nicomachus lands a leg kick that knocks Yakovlev off balance momentarily.
Yakovlev missing with a left hand there. Nicomachus was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
Nicomachus dips down and scores with a jab to the body.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Yakovlev avoids the body shot from Nicomachus.
Yakovlev misses with a leg kick.
Nicomachus staying out of range there.
Yakovlev ducks right into an uppercut from Nicomachus.
Yakovlev looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Nice uppercut lands for Nicomachus. That snapped Yakovlev's head back.
Yakovlev steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Nicomachus.
Yakovlev moves in looking to clinch but Nicomachus pushes him off.
Nicomachus feinted there with a counter leg kick.
Nicomachus moves out of range of the strikes.
Nicomachus is looking to chop away at Yakovlev's legs.
A slow jab from Nicomachus misses its intended target.
Yakovlev connects with a crisp jab.
Nicomachus tries a low kick but Yakovlev avoids it.
Yakovlev looked like he wanted to counter with a punch but didn't throw it.
A looping hook to the body misses from Yakovlev. Nicomachus does a little dance to reset his feet.
Yakovlev is trying hard to land a takedown here. Nicomachus sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.
A looping hook to the body misses from Nicomachus. Yakovlev does a little dance to reset his feet.
Nicomachus takes a shot right to the liver - Bas would have been proud of that punch.
Yakovlev throws a sloppy head kick and Nicomachus moves out of range easily.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Yakovlev takes one on the chin but keeps coming.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Yakovlev fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Yakovlev chopping away at his opponent's legs.
Yakovlev slips under a jab.
A nice leg kick lands there from Nicomachus.
Yakovlev shoots in and drives through. Nicomachus sprawls well.
Nicomachus tests Yakovlev's chin there with a solid looking shot.
Nicomachus takes a solid shot to the body. That one hurt him but he's trying not to show it.
Yakovlev gets his head snapped back by a nice shot there.
Aristotle Nicomachus is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Yakovlev keeping at a good range here, avoiding a leg kick.
Yakovlev throws a nice hook to the body that draws an oooh from the crowd.
Nicomachus looks to throw the jab but Yakovlev is out of range.
Yakovlev throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Nicomachus was looking to counter that move with a punch but didn't quite pull the trigger.
Nicomachus with a hook.

That has opened up Alexander Yakovlev's cut even more.
Nicomachus scores with a jab.
Yakovlev throws a body punch but Nicomachus moves out of range.
Nicomachus uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Yakovlev.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Good shot there by Yakovlev.
Nicomachus connects with a body shot.
Yakovlev fails to land the takedown.
A jab from Nicomachus misses.
Nicomachus throws a quick head kick that skims the top of Yakovlev's head.
Nice defenses there by Yakovlev.
As Nicomachus backs off Yakovlev throws a huge counter combo but Nicomachus manages to avoid it all.
Like a baseball bat into the meat of his leg there - nice leg kick by Nicomachus.
Yakovlev shoots in but no luck this time.
Yakovlev bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
Yakovlev looked like he wanted to counter with a punch but didn't throw it.
Aristotle Nicomachus seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Yakovlev connects with a solid leg kick.
Nicomachus swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
Nicomachus connects with a leg kick. He turned his hip over nicely there.
A left lands for Nicomachus.
Nice takedown defense from Nicomachus. No joy for Yakovlev on that attempt.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Nicomachus chopping away at his opponent's legs.
Yakovlev lunges at Nicomachus with a hook that half lands and is half blocked by Nicomachus's hand.
Nicomachus looks to score with a jab to the body but Yakovlev is just out of range.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Yakovlev misses with a straight left.
Yakovlev's leg has a nasty welt from taking a succession of leg kicks. That must be slowing him down.
Yakovlev avoids the body shot from Nicomachus.
Yakovlev slips a jab from Nicomachus.
Yakovlev flicks out a counter leg kick but Nicomachus steps away.
Yakovlev tries to close the distance and clinch up but Nicomachus swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Yakovlev throws a push kick but Nicomachus slaps the foot to one side.
Yakovlev tests Nicomachus's chin there with a solid looking shot.
Nicomachus throws a predictable looking body shot
and Yakovlev counters with a left and a right that stings Nicomachus.
Yakovlev shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Nicomachus as he jumps to the side.
Nicomachus defending well as Yakovlev loads up on a big left hand.
Nicomachus throws a leg kick
letting Yakovlev counter with a right hand.
Nicomachus is looking to slow Yakovlev down with leg kicks.
Nicomachus throws a couple of head shots and lands with the final one - a decent hook, which struck Yakovlev on the side of the head.
The crowd applaud the fighters' efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Nicomachus misses with a low kick as Yakovlev jumps back.
A good leg kick by Yakovlev.
Like a baseball bat into the meat of his leg there - nice leg kick by Nicomachus.
Nicomachus takes a jab on the nose there. A little bit of blood seems to be coming out. Hopefully that won't affect his breathing.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Aristotle Nicomachus dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Alexander Yakovlev's cut.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

Yakovlev connects with a lovely right hand, straight down the pipe.
Nicomachus throws a jab to the body, straight down the pipe. Boom. That sent Yakovlev stumbling backwards but he manages to regain his composure quickly.
Nicomachus swings for the body but Yakovlev moves out of range.

Yakovlev closes the distance and gets a double leg, slamming Nicomachus to the mat! Nicomachus manages to get full guard.
Nicomachus wants to get back to his feet but he's too absorbed in his own little project and Yakovlev manages to pass to side control.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Yakovlev throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
Nicomachus is not content to let Yakovlev control the position.
Nicomachus is looking to improve his position.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Yakovlev wants to free his trapped foot but Nicomachus is holding on for dear life with his legs.
Nicomachus is trying to stand.
Nicomachus wants to improve his position but Yakovlev is controlling well.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Nicomachus is refusing to be controlled, as Yakovlev sits in half guard.
Nicomachus is pressing down on Yakovlev's left leg trying to get back to full guard. He's managed it.
Yakovlev stopping the sweep attempt from Nicomachus.
Yakovlev looking to control the position here, rather than advance.
Let's hope that Yakovlev 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.
Yakovlev won't allow Nicomachus to sweep him here.

That's two 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.
Nicomachus keeping moving, preventing Yakovlev from controlling successfully.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Yakovlev won't allow Nicomachus to sweep him here.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.
Nicomachus scores with the left hand. Yakovlev knows he should have avoided that one.
Yakovlev keeping at a good range here, avoiding a leg kick.
Yakovlev is looking to land body kicks.
Like a baseball bat into the meat of his leg there - nice leg kick by Nicomachus.
Nicomachus lands a jab followed by a nice looking cross.
Yakovlev moves out of range of the strikes.
Nicomachus is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Yakovlev can do to turn this around?
Nicomachus moves into range and lands a nice leg kick.
A good leg kick by Nicomachus.
Yakovlev misses the shot to the body.
Yakovlev on the receiving end of a decent leg kick there by Nicomachus. Nicomachus obviously looking to wear him down.
Yakovlev staying out of range there.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Yakovlev fails with a takedown attempt.

Yakovlev is looking for a takedown here. He's shot in and has managed to get it, finishing up in Nicomachus's half guard.
Nicomachus flails away from the bottom but he's not doing any damage.
Nicomachus is looking to improve his position.
Yakovlev wants to take a breather but Nicomachus is having none of it.
Nicomachus trying to hold on to Yakovlev's head to control him but Yakovlev postures up.
Yakovlev missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Nicomachus looks like he's trying to stand up.
Nicomachus is trying to get back to full guard.
Yakovlev lands a big shot. The thud that echoes around the arena is like music to the fans' ears.
Yakovlev wants to control but Nicomachus is keeping him busy.
Yakovlev works his way into side control.
Yakovlev wants to control but Nicomachus is keeping him busy.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Nicomachus regains half guard.
Yakovlev trying to control the pace.
Yakovlev prevents Nicomachus from improving his position.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Aristotle Nicomachus dominated that second round.
The cut man is working on Alexander Yakovlev's cut.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action. This is the final round!

Yakovlev takes one on the button.
Nicomachus scores with a reasonable looking shot to the body. Yakovlev doesn't seem bothered though.
Nicomachus uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Yakovlev.
A big right from Yakovlev misses.
Yakovlev steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Nicomachus.
Yakovlev unleashes a big counter combination but Nicomachus bobs and weaves and avoids any damage.
Yakovlev tries for a takedown but Nicomachus sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
Nicomachus scores with a body shot.

Yakovlev has managed to clinch.
Nicomachus is working Yakovlev over against the cage.
Nicomachus scores with a nice hook to the head.
Nicomachus misses with a hook from the clinch.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Nicomachus lands a hook to the body. It's hard to tell if that hurt Yakovlev or not.

Nicomachus breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Yakovlev with a lazy takedown attempt
and Nicomachus counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
Yakovlev takes a big uppercut there. He seems a bit wobbly but no, he's OK.
Yakovlev takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Nicomachus dips down and scores with a jab to the body.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Nicomachus scores with a head kick.
Nicomachus does a little shimmy and throws a leg kick. The leg kick missed by a considerable margin though, making him look a little bit silly for doing the shimmy.
Nicomachus moves out of the way of the counter high kick fromYakovlev.
Nicomachus's Muay Thai looks sharper than normal. He has obviously been working on it in the gym.
Yakovlev doesn't succeed with the takedown
enabling Nicomachus to counter with a crisp jab.
Aristotle Nicomachus has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Alexander Yakovlev.
Nicomachus goes to the watering hole and comes back with a big thumbs up from the judges as he scores a three punch combo.
Nicomachus swings for the body but Yakovlev moves out of range.
Yakovlev shoots in for a takedown but Nicomachus shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
Yakovlev tries a low kick but Nicomachus avoids it.
Yakovlev ducks right into an uppercut from Nicomachus.
Nicomachus connects with a hook to the side of his opponent's head.
Yakovlev avoids a kick to the body.
Nicomachus keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Yakovlev.
A looping hook to the body misses from Nicomachus. Yakovlev does a little dance to reset his feet.
Nicomachus chopping away at his opponent's legs.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Yakovlev throws a head kick that misses
and Nicomachus counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
Aristotle Nicomachus is winning the standup battle so far.
Nicomachus lands a body shot.
Yakovlev misses with a left hand
and Nicomachus counters with a good low kick that Yakovlev was not able to check.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Yakovlev walks into a jab.

Yakovlev is rocked!
Nicomachus misses with a two punch combination.
A good leg kick by Nicomachus.
Yakovlev has a pretty nasty looking mouse under his right eye.
Nicomachus lands a really nice looking cross but Yakovlev seems unphased.
Yakovlev is still on wobbly legs! Can Nicomachus finish him?
Nicomachus drops a shoulder and throws an uppercut that cracks Yakovlev right on the button. Yakovlev goes down! Nicomachus follows him to the mat and finishes the job with more strikes! Nicomachus gets the win via TKO!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 2:20 of round 3, we have a winner by way of TKO (Strikes). Aristotle Nicomachus!
A relieved looking Aristotle Nicomachus thanked the fans for their support and gave the usual line about them being amazing. They seemed to believe that he actually meant it.
Alexander Yakovlev spoke after the fight, saying 'I ll be back, as soon as possible'.