PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Volya Nikolaev (ranked 31 p4p, 5 weight class) and Bruce Diehard (ranked 167 p4p, 19 weight class). Nikolaev comes to the cage accompanied by Fever . These two fighters really are very evenly matched on the feet - it will be fascinating to see who can assert themselves in that aspect of the fight.

Nikolaev
vs
Diehard

170 cm
40
165 lbs
46 - 30 - 0

180 cm
35
158 lbs
30 - 14 - 1

Great wrestler
World class boxer
Cardio machine

Olympic wrestler
World class MT
Good gas tank

HELLBENT
Riner Clothing and Laundry (85%)

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 46 - 30 - 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 30 - 14 - 1, fighting out of Las Vegas, Bruce Diehard!
The judges for this bout are Jack Bonds, Don Winkell and .

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Diehard scores with a sloppy right hand. Nikolaev should have avoided that one.
Nikolaev lands a jab followed by a nice looking cross.

Nikolaev has Diehard up against the cage in a clinch.
Nikolaev wants to take the fight to the mat but Diehard manages to get underhooks and keep the fight in the clinch.
Nikolaev wants a takedown but no success here.
Nikolaev tries to pull guard but Diehard forces him back to his feet, against the cage.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Volya Nikolaev. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Nikolaev is working on a leg, looking for a takedown but Diehard is defending well.
Nikolaev is looking for a takedown up against the cage. Diehard gets underhooks though and prevents the takedown attempt.
Nikolaev goes for a takedown in the clinch but Diehard prevents it.
Diehard keeps the fight in the clinch, despite Nikolaev's efforts to push away.
Nikolaev tries to break free but Diehard pushes him back against the cage.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Nikolaev is trying to trip Diehard. He has hold of a leg but Diehard is hopping around, keeping his balance for the moment. Nikolaev persists though and gets the takedown into guard.
Diehard looking to control.
Nikolaev won't allow Diehard to sweep him here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Nikolaev lands a couple of elbows.

Diehard is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Nikolaev defends well.
Diehard 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 is frustrating his opponent with some stalling tactics from top position.
Nikolaev working in close now, lands a nice elbow to the side of Diehard's head.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Nikolaev trying to control the position from guard on top but Diehard is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Diehard trying to control the position here.
Diehard looking to control.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Diehard tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Diehard is controlling Nikolaev's posture.
Nikolaev throws a big elbow that misses.
Diehard can't do much from the bottom at the moment, as Nikolaev controls the pace.
Nikolaev trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Nikolaev being controlled here momentarily.

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.
Nikolaev fails with an attempt to clinch.
A countering left hand to the body from Diehard misses.
A decent looking cross lands there for Diehard.

Nikolaev gets a double leg takedown into Diehard's guard.
Nikolaev is sitting in guard, working some ground and pound.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

Diehard looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Diehard is looking for a triangle but Nikolaev pushes his legs off easily.
Diehard looking to hit a scissor sweep but Nikolaev is one step ahead there.
Nikolaev looking to sit in guard and control but Diehard gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.

Nikolaev keeping full guard, as Diehard tries to pass.

Nikolaev is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Diehard defends well.
Diehard trying to control but Nikolaev is working from the bottom.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Nikolaev throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
Diehard pushes down on Nikolaev's leg and manages to get into half guard.
Nikolaev manages to get to full guard.
Diehard looking to pass the guard.

Nikolaev is looking for a triangle but Diehard pushes his legs off easily.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Diehard pushes down on Nikolaev's leg and manages to get into half guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Volya Nikolaev 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.

Nikolaev tries to clinch there but Diehard circles away.
Diehard moves into range and lands a nice leg kick.
Diehard lands a right hook to the body.
Nikolaev has his front leg slapped to the side - a nice low kick landing there from Diehard.
Diehard swings and misses with a hook to the body.
It looked like Nikolaev wanted to counter with a hook but didn't fully commit.
Diehard throws a lazy uppercut
letting Nikolaev counter with a right hand.
Diehard throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
An attempted straight right counter from Nikolaev misses the target.
Diehard throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Diehard throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Diehard blocks a jab.
Nikolaev slips a jab from Diehard.
Nikolaev is trying hard to land a takedown here. Diehard sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.
Diehard cracks Nikolaev with a right hand to the side of the head.
Bruce Diehard seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Nikolaev digs a good hook to Diehard's body.
Diehard misses with a wild body shot.
Nikolaev throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Diehard's waist but Diehard gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Nikolaev off to one side.
Nikolaev's hands are dropping dangerously low here and Diehard connects clean with a right hook that sends him down to one knee! Nikolaev scrambles back to his feet.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Nikolaev slips in close and lands a nice hook before moving back out of range.
Diehard throws a body punch but Nikolaev moves out of range.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Diehard lands a powerful looking uppercut that connected with his opponent's jaw.

Nikolaev shoots in and gets a takedown into half guard. Nikolaev showed some decent athleticism there.
Diehard wants to control but Nikolaev is keeping busy.
Diehard is staying active underneath Nikolaev, who seems content to just control the action from this position.
Ground and pound from Nikolaev.
Diehard has hold of Nikolaev's hands but Nikolaev slips his arm to the side and lands an elbow.
Nikolaev drops an elbow to the side of Diehard's head.
Diehard manages to get to full guard.
Diehard bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Nikolaev's guard.

Diehard is pushing down on Nikolaev's leg trying to pass to half guard. Nikolaev is fighting to maintain full guard but Diehard has managed to sneak the leg through.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Diehard is thinking about going for an arm triangle but he can't free his leg.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Nikolaev is pressing down on Diehard's left leg trying to get back to full guard. He's managed it.
We've been informed that Diehard has been working hard on his conditioning in the buildup to the fight.
Diehard wants to pass the guard but Nikolaev is keeping the position.
Diehard postures up.
Nikolaev is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.

Diehard moves into full guard.
Diehard keeping moving, preventing Nikolaev from controlling successfully.
Diehard looking to hit a scissor sweep but Nikolaev is one step ahead there.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Nikolaev makes a bit of distance and scores with some ground and pound, still in guard.
Nikolaev controlling from the top position.
Diehard lands a beautiful sweep and he's now moved into his opponent's guard.

Diehard looking to pass the guard.
Nikolaev is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Diehard wants to control from the top but Nikolaev keeps moving.

Nikolaev looking for subs off his back but Diehard has passed one foot through into half guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Nikolaev is working for an escape here. He's hooked one of Diehard's legs and he's managed to sneak out and take Diehard's back!
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.
Diehard is defending well here and trying to improve his position.
Nikolaev scores with punches to the body.
Diehard is keeping busy.
Nikolaev scores with some strikes to the side of the head there. Good, points scoring shots.
Diehard breaks Nikolaev's hooks off and manages to turn into his guard.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Diehard tries to free his leg and advance position but Nikolaev is retaining full guard.
Nikolaev seems to have improved his submission grappling technique since last time we saw him. Let's see if he can pull off a submission.
Volya Nikolaev overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.

Nikolaev is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Diehard defends well.
Nikolaev is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.

And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close second round but I would say that Volya Nikolaev will probably get the nod.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action. Let's hear some noise people - this is the final round!

Diehard misses with a body shot.
Diehard tries a head kick but it misses.
Diehard misses with a looping left.
Nikolaev scores with a jab to the jaw.

Nikolaev closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.
Nikolaev tries to break the clinch but Diehard is controlling the position.
Nikolaev is looking for a takedown up against the cage. Diehard gets underhooks though and prevents the takedown attempt.
Diehard lands a nice uppercut.

Diehard has double underhooks and is working for a body lock takedown. He's got it. The fighters land in half guard but Nikolaev regains guard immediately.
Diehard trying to control but Nikolaev is working from the bottom.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Nikolaev escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Diehard gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
Diehard stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Nikolaev swivels though and keeps the full guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Nikolaev escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Diehard gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
Diehard seems content to control from guard here. He's going to have to remain active though if he doesn't want to get stood back up.
Nikolaev wants to sweep here but Diehard controlling him for the moment.
Diehard wants to control from the top but Nikolaev keeps moving.

Diehard has a momentary lapse of concentration, allowing Nikolaev to throw up a leg and lock on what appears to be a pretty tight triangle! Diehard is fighting it off but it's all too little too late - Nikolaev pulls down on the head and he's put Diehard to sleep! This one is all over!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 2:55 of round 3, we have a winner by way of Submission (Triangle). Volya Nikolaev!
After the fight, Volya Nikolaev was humble in paying tribute to his opponent but made it clear he wants to go on to bigger and better things. It seemed to go down well with the crowd who cheered him loudly.