PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Jimmy Nitro (ranked 3700 p4p, 3878 weight class) and Mucak Shanikov (ranked 458 p4p, 473 weight class). Jimmy Nitro has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Nitro
vs
Shanikov

190 cm
22
200
1 - 1 - 0

185 cm
22
207
3 - 5 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
World class boxer
Cardio machine

BJJ Blue Belt
World class MT
Powerful

Knockaround Guys Fight Gear

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 1 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Jimmy Nitro!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 3 - 5 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Mucak Shanikov!
The judges for this bout are Jorge Garcia, Reed Andrews and Alyssa Summers.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Shanikov tries to close the distance and clinch but Nitro swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Nitro ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Shanikov moves away.
Shanikov uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Nitro.
Nitro throws a body shot but no joy.
Nitro connects nicely with a jab. Noted by the judges no doubt.
Shanikov tries to close the distance and clinch but Nitro swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Nitro thows a left - swing and a miss!
Nitro lands with a right hand.
Nitro pushes forward with a 1-2 combination that forces Shanikov back to the cage. Nitro follows up with a solid lead hook to the liver.
Shanikov doesn't react quick enough there as he takes a shot to the body.

Shanikov instigates a clinch.
Shanikov tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. Nitro just stands there and leans against the cage.
A head punch on the inside from Shanikov fails to land.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Nitro blocking some punches.
Some stalling of biblical proportions here from Nitro.

Nitro escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Nitro rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Shanikov moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Mucak Shanikov seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Shanikov throws a series of punches but Nitro moves out of range.
Nitro staying out of range there.
Shanikov throws a sloppy head kick
and Nitro connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Nitro with a nice looking leg kick. You could hear that one land in a back row.
Nitro swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Nitro turns his hip over beautifully as he lands a nice leg kick.

Shanikov takes the fight into the clinch.
Shanikov lands a shoulder strike.
Nitro lands a shoulder strike.
Nitro makes some space for himself and lands an uppercut.
Shanikov lands with a quick shot inside that doesn't really do much damage.
Nitro tries to throw a body punch but Shanikov avoids it by throwing Nitro back against the cage.
Shanikov lands a short shot on the inside that snaps the head of Nitro backwards.
Shanikov's head jolts backwards as he takes an uppercut right on the button!
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Shanikov swings away with an uppercut that misses.
A short right from Nitro on the inside.
Nitro misses with a hook from the clinch.
Shanikov blocks an uppercut.

Shanikov gets control of Nitro's arms and successfully pulls guard. Shanikov will no doubt be looking for submissions off his back.

Shanikov looking for a guillotine here but Nitro defends easily.
Nitro is frustrating his opponent with some stalling tactics from top position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Shanikov working for submissions but it's allowed Nitro to get to half guard.
Shanikov is doing well to avoid being mounted. He's controlling the position at the moment.
Nitro trying to control from half guard but Shanikov is working away.
Shanikov tries to roll over but Nitro keeps him under control.
Nitro content to control rather than advance.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Nitro prevents Shanikov from improving his position.
The fighters are going at a pretty good pace and they're both starting to sweat now.

Nitro is looking for a kimura but Shanikov is holding onto that half guard position, so it's hard for Nitro to get the leverage.

Shanikov is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Nitro pulls his head out easily.
Nitro not doing much here.

Shanikov looking for submissions from an awkward position here.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Nitro seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Shanikov does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.
Shanikov wants to improve his position but Nitro is controlling well.
Nitro wants to free his trapped foot but Shanikov is holding on for dear life with his legs.
Nitro is trying to control the action in half guard but Shanikov is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.

Nitro looking for a kimura but he'll have to free his other leg if he wants to finish that. Perhaps he's just using it as a distraction technique.
Nitro is keen to just control but Shanikov is a slippery customer.
Shanikov felt the need to train up his defensive grappling in the buildup to the fight. Presumably he was expecting to be in a difficult position like this, so let's see if he can get out of it.
Nitro moves nicely into side control.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

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

Shanikov has closed the distance and engaged Nitro in a clinch.
A short uppercut from Nitro.
Nitro blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Shanikov fails to pull guard.

Shanikov manages to pull guard.

Shanikov is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Nitro defends well.
Nitro trying to control but Shanikov is working from the bottom.
Nitro forces his way into half guard.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Shanikov wants to control but Nitro is keeping busy and won't allow it.
Nitro is trying to control the action in half guard but Shanikov is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.

Shanikov looking for submissions off his back.
Nitro wants to lay and pray for a moment but Shanikov keeps working.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Nitro is figuring out what he wants to do next.

Shanikov looking for submissions from an awkward position here.
Shanikov tries to get to full guard but Nitro has control of the leg.
Shanikov is not content to let Nitro control the position.

Shanikov looking for submissions off his back.
Nitro slows the pace down in half guard.

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.
Shanikov is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.

Shanikov actively working from the bottom here.
Nitro is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Shanikov can do to turn this around?
Nitro seems content to maintain position for now, rather than mounting any offense.

Nitro is trying to work for a kimura but Shanikov is defending well.

Shanikov looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Nitro wants to pass to mount but Shanikov is defending the position.

Shanikov actively working from the bottom here.
Nitro is taking a breather. Shanikov 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.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.
Shanikov takes a nasty kick to the mid section... That should keep him thinking. Does he try and block and risk a head kick landing?
Nitro scores with a jab to the jaw of his opponent.
Shanikov takes a swing at Nitro's ribcage but misses.
Nitro lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Shanikov circles away quickly and effectively.
Mucak Shanikov is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Shanikov throws a head kick that misses
letting Nitro counter with a right hand.
Shanikov walks into a jab.
Nitro blocks the body kick.
Shanikov throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Shanikov fails with an attempt to clinch.
It looked like Nitro was looking amped, ready to throw a big counter but didn't commit.

Shanikov moves into the clinch successfully.
Nitro lands a nice uppercut.
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!
Nitro is trying to maintain a safe position but Shanikov gets an underhook and turns Nitro into the cage.
Shanikov jumps guard but Nitro turns him against the cage and keeps the fight standing.
Shanikov swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Shanikov blocks a body shot from Nitro.
Nitro has a couple of punches blocked by Shanikov.
Nitro lands a body shot in the clinch.
Shanikov is breathing heavily.
Nitro works on Shanikov's body with a couple of short punches.
Nitro lands a body shot in the clinch.
Nitro lands with a short shot to the head.
Nitro makes some space for himself and lands an uppercut.
Nitro taking a breather.
Nitro lands a left hand.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Shanikov is trying to pull guard but Nitro turns him against the cage and we stay in the clinch.
Jimmy Nitro has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Mucak Shanikov.
Nitro lands a left hand that snaps the head of Shanikov backwards.
Nitro stalls.
Nitro blocks a punch to the side of the head.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Jimmy Nitro dominated that second round.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action! This is the final round!

Shanikov gets cracked with a nice right hand there by Nitro.
Nitro lands a lovely overhand right.

Shanikov is rocked!
Shanikov chopped to the floor by a nice leg kick but he springs right back up before Nitro can pounce on him.
Shanikov is still on wobbly legs! Can Nitro finish him?
Nitro moves in close and cracks Shanikov with a massive right hand! Shanikov, frozen momentarily in time, tumbles to the canvas, already out cold! A brutal knockout by Nitro!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 0:14 of round 3, we have a winner by way of KO (Punch). Jimmy Nitro!
Jimmy Nitro opened up his post fight interview with a scream to camera that he wants a title shot! Whether he deserves the shot will be up to the management of the organization, so I guess he'll have to wait and see.