PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Leonard Nimoy (ranked 2357 p4p, 23359 weight class) and Alexei Rodionovich (ranked 334 p4p, 751 weight class). Rodionovich comes into a darkened arena with his song building. Svarga & Drygva - Volnitsa kicks in, the lights come on and the crowd goes wild! What a showman! Leonard Nimoy has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Nimoy
vs
Rodionovich

185 cm
26
185
13 - 9 - 0

185 cm
25
183
7 - 14 - 0

Decent wrestler
World class MT
Granite chin

Good wrestler
Good elbows
Powerful

Conquer

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 13 - 9 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Leonard Nimoy!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 7 - 14 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Alexei Rodionovich!
The judges for this bout are Chris Edwards, James Glass and Sam Margolis.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Donk. Nimoy catches Rodionovich right on the button with a cross.
Nimoy lands a head shot.
Nimoy connects with a hook to the side of his opponent's head.

Nimoy drives through and clinches with Rodionovich against the cage.

Rodionovich lands a nice trip takedown into half guard.
Nimoy tries to get to full guard but Rodionovich has control of the leg.
Rodionovich trying to control the pace.
Nimoy preventing any damage for now, controlling his opponent's head.
Rodionovich looks over to his corner - he wants some instructions but his corner are not responding.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Nimoy is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Nimoy is looking to control Rodionovich's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Nimoy avoid being mounted?
Rodionovich wants to take a breather but Nimoy is having none of it.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rodionovich is taking a breather. Nimoy says something to him but it's hard to make out. Perhaps he's telling him to get on with it and actually do something.
Rodionovich is thwarting Nimoy's attempts to control the position.
Rodionovich is just sitting in half guard, waiting for something to happen.
Rodionovich stops Nimoy from getting back to his feet.
Rodionovich trying to control from half guard but Nimoy is working away.
Nimoy trying to hold on to Rodionovich's head to control him but Rodionovich postures up.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.
Rodionovich takes one to the side of the head.
Nimoy jabs Rodionovich to the body, keeping him at a distance.
Nimoy has been talking about how he's improved his wrestling in the run up to the fight so let's see if that's enough to sway the balance.
Decent striking displayed by Nimoy there.
Nimoy lands a pitter patter jab to the forehead of his opponent.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Rodionovich moves to clinch but Nimoy breaks away
letting Nimoy counter with a right hand.
Rodionovich wants to clinch up but Nimoy keeps it at a distance.
Rodionovich closes the distance and clinches up with Nimoy, looking for a takedown. Rodionovich pushes Nimoy against the cage but Nimoy circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
Nimoy keeping at a good range here, avoiding a leg kick.
Nimoy scores with a big left there. The judges will like that one.

Nimoy darts in and clinches Rodionovich up against the cage.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Good anti-grappling being displayed by Rodionovich as Nimoy tries to tie him up.
Nimoy misses with a body punch.
Nimoy prevents a takedown attempt there.

Rodionovich has double underhooks and is working for a body lock takedown. He's got it. The fighters land in half guard but Nimoy regains guard immediately.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Rodionovich stopping the sweep attempt from Nimoy.
Rodionovich pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Nimoy is keeping the position for now.
The fighters are going at a pretty good pace and they're both starting to sweat now.
Rodionovich wants to control from the top but Nimoy keeps moving.
Nimoy has control of Rodionovich's left arm, preventing Rodionovich from doing any damage.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Nimoy wants to stand up but Rodionovich is controlling him.
Rodionovich trying to control but Nimoy is working from the bottom.
Nimoy is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Rodionovich is controlling him.
Nimoy not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
We must be close to a standup if these guys don't pick up the pace.
Rodionovich sitting in guard here, content to control.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Nimoy is really peppering his opponent's head with punches.
Nimoy throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Nimoy fakes a head shot and lands one to the body.
Nimoy scores with a jab. Rodionovich acknowledges it with a nod of the head.
Nimoy scores with a jab to the jaw of his opponent.
Rodionovich shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Nimoy as he jumps to the side.
Leonard Nimoy has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Alexei Rodionovich.
Rodionovich keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Nimoy misses with a low kick.
Rodionovich doesn't manage to clinch there - Nimoy circles away.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Rodionovich tries to clinch but Nimoy is having none of it.
Nimoy tries to land a front kick but Rodionovich steps back. That was a bit too telegraphed.
Jab from Nimoy.
Horrible takedown attempt by Rodionovich or perhaps it was just good defense by Nimoy, which made it look bad.
Rodionovich wants to clinch.
A counter left hand to the body from Nimoy misses its target.

Rodionovich feints and as Nimoy raises his hands in defense, Rodionovich changes levels and drives through with a takedown into guard.

Nimoy manages to escape and get back to his feet.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.

Nimoy moves into the clinch.
Rodionovich is looking for a takedown up against the cage. Nimoy gets underhooks though and prevents the takedown attempt.
Rodionovich pushes off and fires off an elbow that misses, before clinching up again, against the cage.
Nimoy works on Rodionovich's body with a couple of short punches.
Rodionovich using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Nimoy has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
Rodionovich throws a nice elbow but it doesn't land.
Nimoy scores with a nice hook to the head.
Nice elbow from Rodionovich.
Nimoy misses with a shot to the kidneys.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Leonard Nimoy dominated that round.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin!

Nimoy keeps the fight on the outside.
Nimoy scores with a hook to the body. Rodionovich takes a step back and tries to catch his breath.
Nimoy leaves Rodionovich with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.

Nimoy moves into the clinch.
Nimoy lands punches inside but they're not really causing much damage.
Rodionovich changes levels and goes for a takedown here. Nimoy fights it off and pushes away nicely.
Rodionovich gets his head snapped back by a nice shot there.
Nimoy throws a couple of head shots and lands with the final one - a decent hook, which struck Rodionovich on the side of the head.
Nimoy lunges at Rodionovich with a hook that half lands and is half blocked by Rodionovich's hand.

Rodionovich is rocked!
Rodionovich fails with a takedown attempt.
Rodionovich is still on wobbly legs! Can Nimoy finish him?
Leonard Nimoy has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Alexei Rodionovich.
Rodionovich takes a shot right to the bread basket.

Nimoy moves into range and clinches up with Rodionovich.
Rodionovich seems to have recovered his senses.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Nimoy on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
Nimoy lands with a right to the head.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rodionovich changes levels and goes for a takedown here. Nimoy fights it off and pushes away nicely.
Nimoy bobbing and weaving, closes the distance and lands a hook to the side of Rodionovich's head.
Nimoy connects with an inside leg kick.
Wow, both these guys are really going for it!

Rodionovich shoots in and bounces Nimoy off the cage to secure the takedown into guard.
Nimoy pulls Rodionovich in close to prevent any damage.
Nimoy keeping full guard, as Rodionovich tries to pass.
Nimoy is pulling down on Rodionovich's head. It's preventing any offense from Rodionovich, at least for the moment.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Nimoy is on top in guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Nimoy trying to control but Rodionovich is working from the bottom.
Nimoy with a flurry of punches that miss.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Nimoy accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Nimoy trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Both fighters have adopted an aggressive gameplan on the ground!
Rodionovich controls Nimoy momentarily but Nimoy frees himself.
Nimoy throwing strikes from guard but Rodionovich blocks nicely.
Nimoy postures up in Rodionovich's guard and throws a big left but Rodionovich blocks it.
Nimoy postures up.
Alexei Rodionovich has got the better of the ground game so far.
Rodionovich looking to control the pace of the fight rather than finish it.
Rodionovich trying to keep a closed guard but Nimoy is proving a slippery customer.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Rodionovich wants to sweep but no luck.
Nimoy postures up and scores with a shot to the body and a follow up elbow to the head.
Nimoy stopping the sweep attempt from Rodionovich.
Nimoy throws a big elbow that misses.
Nimoy loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Nimoy knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Rodionovich on the ground.
Nimoy trying to control the position from guard on top but Rodionovich is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Nimoy working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Rodionovich working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Nimoy.
Rodionovich 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.
Our spies down at at Shadow Warriors (KT) inform us that Rodionovich has really been working on his submissions in the buildup to this fight. Will it pay off?
Nimoy loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Nimoy postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Nimoy with a flurry of punches that miss.
Rodionovich working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Nimoy.
Nimoy working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Nimoy throws a strike but Rodionovich rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.

Nimoy is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Rodionovich can do to turn this around?
Rodionovich postures up.
Nimoy 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.
Rodionovich looking to pass the guard.

Nimoy has butterfly guard. He's looking to stand up here. He pushes Rodionovich off him and springs to his feet nicely. The crowd applauds.
Nimoy takes a swing at Rodionovich's ribcage but misses.
Rodionovich tries to clinch but Nimoy is having none of it.
Nimoy looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Rodionovich throws a leg kick but he was too far away and it doesn't land.
The fans in attendance giving it up for the two fighters, who have really let it all hang out in the last minute or so!

Nimoy moves into range and clinches up with Rodionovich.
Nimoy lands a hook that snaps the head of Rodionovich backwards.
Nimoy blocks an elbow strike.
Rodionovich is working for takedown but Nimoy is calmly controlling the position for now.
Nimoy tries to throw a body punch but Rodionovich avoids it by throwing Nimoy back against the cage.
Nimoy lands a body shot in the clinch.
Rodionovich pushes off and fires off an elbow that misses, before clinching up again, against the cage.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Leonard Nimoy dominated that second round.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action. Let's get this one finished - here comes the final round!

Nimoy lands a lovely overhand right.
Rodionovich wants to clinch.
Rodionovich tries to clinch but Nimoy moves out of range.
Rodionovich tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. Nimoy manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Rodionovich wants to clinch.
Nimoy swung with a counter right hand that didn't connect.
Nimoy stuffs the takedown.

Rodionovich gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.
Rodionovich is working for takedown but Nimoy is calmly controlling the position for now.
Leonard Nimoy has scored more points in the clinch so far.
Nimoy prevents a takedown attempt there.
Leonard Nimoy has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Alexei Rodionovich.
Nimoy lands with a short head shot on the inside.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Nimoy gets through Rodionovich's defenses to land a nice punch to the side of the head.
Nimoy lands an uppercut.
Rodionovich tries to land knees in the clinch but Nimoy avoids the damage to the body.
Nimoy on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
Nimoy scores with a shoulder strike.
Rodionovich takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Nimoy lands with a quick shot inside that doesn't really do much damage.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Rodionovich changes levels and goes for a takedown here. Nimoy fights it off and pushes away nicely.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Nimoy drops a shoulder and throws an uppercut that cracks Rodionovich right on the button. Rodionovich goes down! Nimoy follows him to the mat and finishes the job with more strikes! Nimoy gets the win via TKO!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 1:08 of round 3, we have a winner by way of TKO (Strikes). Leonard Nimoy!
Alexei Rodionovich spoke after the fight, saying 'Every white has its black and every sweet its sour'.