PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Steve Lucas (ranked 3704 p4p, 428 weight class) and Vadim Nazarov (ranked 3198 p4p, 385 weight class). The crowd giving both fighters a great reception on their way into the arena. That's good to see.

Lucas
vs
Nazarov

190 cm
35
193 lbs
17 - 19 - 0

187 cm
45
195 lbs
44 - 25 - 4

Powerful takedowns
Basic striking
Granite chin

Good wrestler
Excellent MT
Granite chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the middleweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 17 - 19 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Steve Lucas!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 44 - 25 - 4, fighting out of Helsinki, Vadim Nazarov!
The judges for this bout are Nard Betker, Saam Ante and Radbod Blank.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Lucas darts in looking for a takedown but Nazarov gets double underhooks and turns Lucas into the cage.
Lucas avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
Lucas feinted with a counter takedown.
Lucas on the wrong end of a nice hook.
Nice straight punches there by Nazarov. You know Roy Jones Jr respects the hands of Nazarov.
Horrible takedown attempt by Lucas or perhaps it was just good defense by Nazarov, which made it look bad.
Nazarov looked like he wanted to counter with a punch but didn't throw it.
Nazarov scores with a hook to the body. Lucas takes a step back and tries to catch his breath.
Lucas moves away from the strike by Nazarov.
Nazarov connects with a hook to the side of his opponent's head.
Lucas doesn't react quick enough there as he takes a shot to the body.
Lucas shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Nazarov as he avoids it easily.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Steve Lucas. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Lucas drops his hands and takes a jab to the jaw for his troubles.
Lucas dives in and grabs Nazarov's left leg, looking for a takedown. Nazarov pushes down on Lucas's head and hops out.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Lucas is pinned up against the cage taking some big shots here. The referee is looking closely deciding whether he should stop the fight.
Lucas shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Nazarov sprawls well. Nazarov wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Lucas gets slowly back to his feet.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Lucas throws a combination that misses
and Nazarov cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Lucas fails to land the takedown.
Lucas throws a left and a right that both miss
and Nazarov cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Lucas rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Nazarov moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Nazarov now looks to counter with a shot at the body.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Lucas is defended easily by Nazarov.
Lucas is breathing heavily.

Nazarov gets the takedown into side control.
The referee tells the fighters to keep busy.
Let's hope that Nazarov 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.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
You can see the frustration on Lucas's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.
The referee tells the fighters to keep busy.
Lucas is looking to regain half guard here but Nazarov keeps moving and retains side control.
Nazarov is maintaining the dominant position - no doubt Lucas will start to get frustrated soon if he's not already.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Lucas sneaks a leg under to get back to half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Lucas is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Nazarov pulls his head out easily.
Lucas looks to be in better condition than last time we saw him fight. Obviously he's been working hard on his cardio.
Nazarov sitting and controlling from the half guard.
It looks like Nazarov might be adopting somewhat of a lay and pray gameplan here, which I'm sure won't go down too well with the paying fans in attendance... Or the ring announcers come to think of it.
Nazarov is continuing to stall.
Nazarov prevents Lucas from improving his position.
Nazarov is controlling the pace.
The referee wants the fighters to be more active or he's going to reset them on the feet.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are hurling abuse towards the fighters... You can hardly blame them though because there isn't a lot going on in the fight.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up. He just wasn't happy with the level of activity.
Nazarov throws a shot from downtown. Lucas moves away and avoids it.
Lucas avoids the body shot from Nazarov.
Nazarov looks to land a right hand but Lucas moved out of range.

Nazarov closes the distance and clinches up, looking for a takedown. He shifts his weight and gets a nice trip into half guard.
Lucas tries to roll over but Nazarov keeps him under control.
Nazarov controlling the pace.

Lucas looking for submissions off his back.
Lucas throws a strike from the bottom that misses.
Nazarov looks over to his corner - he wants some instructions but his corner are not responding.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Vadim Nazarov dominated that round.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

Lucas gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily
and Nazarov counters with a straight right hand.
Vadim Nazarov seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Lucas looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Nazarov is fending him off so far but Lucas persists. Nope, Nazarov circles away and we're back to standing.
Nazarov feints a straight left to the body, then turns around with a flashy move and hits Lucass jaw with a dramatic spinning back fist!
Lucas tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Nazarov swivels and escapes.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Steve Lucas. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Lucas tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Nazarov swivels and escapes.

Nazarov drives through with a takedown into Lucas's guard. Let's see what he can do from the top position.
Vadim Nazarov has got the better of the ground game so far.
Nazarov is taking a break and basically stalling. The referee will not allow him to do that for long.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Nazarov passes Lucas's right leg, so he's now in half guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Lucas looking for submissions off his back.

Lucas looking for submissions from an awkward position here.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Nazarov performing his best blanket impression for a moment.
Lucas misses with some strikes from the bottom.
Nazarov slows the pace down in half guard.
Nazarov has been the more effective fighter overall so far.

Lucas actively working from the bottom here.

That's two 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.
Nazarov takes a deep breath and rests his weight momentarily on top of his opponent, to control the position.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.
Nazarov cracks Lucas with an open hand slap.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Lucas dives in for a single leg takedown but Nazarov sprawls and the fighters end up clinched against the cage.
Nazarov swings away with a counter right hand but no contact made.
Lucas misses with a takedown attempt - Nazarov sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
Lucas is pinned up against the cage taking some big shots here. The referee is looking closely deciding whether he should stop the fight.
Steve Lucas is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Lucas swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Nazarov stuffs the takedown.
A little jabbing left from Nazarov on the counter but it doesn't find it's target.
Lucas shoots in but Nazarov avoids the takedown attempt easily.
Nazarov lands with a cross.
Lucas fails with the takedown
and Nazarov counters with a stiff right hand.
Nazarov scores with a punch to the head.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Nazarov scores with a punch to the gut of his opponent.
Nazarov lands an overhand left. A wild punch that just about connected.
Nazarov with a jab.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Nazarov with a hook.

Lucas is rocked!
Lucas gets caught by a big overhand right and goes down! Nazarov gets on top of him and starts throwing some serious punches until the ref intervenes and stops the fight!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 4:22 of round 2, we have a winner by way of TKO (Strikes). Vadim Nazarov!
A very excited looking Vadim Nazarov made sure he remembered to thank all the fans both in the arena and on the internet. He said all the coolest people spend all day on MMA websites, which got a big reaction.