PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Casimiro Nicoletta (ranked 1651 p4p, 1762 weight class) and Pinina Zhikova (ranked 227 p4p, 239 weight class). Nicoletta's entrance music is For Once In My Life. A fine choice. Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

Nicoletta
vs
Zhikova

190 cm
26
210
14 - 7 - 0

180 cm
26
205
10 - 8 - 1

Great wrestler
World class boxer
Insanely flexible

Excellent grappler
Basic striking
Granite chin

Carnage
Bondi MMA 🏝️

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 14 - 7 - 0, fighting out of New York, Casimiro Nicoletta!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 10 - 8 - 1, fighting out of Las Vegas, Pinina Zhikova!
The judges for this bout are William Peck, Gregory Folan and Yves DeLean.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Zhikova has a takedown stuffed.
A little feinted left hand from Nicoletta on the counter but he doesn't commit to it.
Nice takedown defense from Nicoletta. No joy for Zhikova on that attempt.
Nicoletta has been working on his boxing with his coaches at Latin Gym in the buildup to the fight.
Zhikova lands with a good body shot.
Nicoletta avoids the body shot from Zhikova.
Nicoletta swung with a counter right hand that didn't connect.
Nicoletta pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
Sloppy strikes from Nicoletta. Those never looked like landing.
Zhikova lands a right hook to the body.
Wow, both these guys are really going for it!
Zhikova throws a body punch but Nicoletta moves out of range.
Zhikova steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Nicoletta.
Decent striking displayed by Zhikova there.
Zhikova pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
Zhikova fails with the takedown
and Nicoletta counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Casimiro Nicoletta has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Pinina Zhikova.
Zhikova fails to land the takedown.

Nicoletta gets taken down but at least he's managed to land in guard.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Zhikova looking to pass the guard.
Zhikova wants to stand but Nicoletta is controlling his posture from full guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Zhikova in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.

Nicoletta has butterfly guard. He's looking to stand up here. He pushes Zhikova off him and springs to his feet nicely. The crowd applauds.
A big left from Nicoletta misses.
Zhikova fails with a takedown attempt.
Nicoletta throws a counter high kick but Zhikova was just alert enough to avoid it.
Nicoletta throws a head kick that misses.
Zhikova waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Nicoletta.
Zhikova is trying hard to land a takedown here. Nicoletta sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.
Nicoletta stuffs the takedown.
Nicoletta throws the left hand but Zhikova avoids the punch easily.
Zhikova closes this distance looking for a takedown but Nicoletta circles away.
Nicoletta throws a shot from downtown. Zhikova moves away and avoids it.
Nice takedown defense from Nicoletta. No joy for Zhikova on that attempt.
Nicoletta is looking to counter punch.
Nicoletta cracks Zhikova with a good jab.
Zhikova shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Nicoletta tries a head kick but it misses.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Nicoletta is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Zhikova.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Zhikova slips a straight right by Nicoletta.
Zhikova fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Nicoletta avoids it really well and circles away.
Nicoletta misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
A big right from Nicoletta misses.
Pinina Zhikova seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Zhikova shoots and misses
and Nicoletta counters with a straight right hand.
Zhikova moves away from the strike by Nicoletta.

Zhikova darts in and lands a nice takedown into half guard.
Zhikova is trying to control. Nicoletta wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.
Nicoletta is looking to escape.
Zhikova is trying to control. Nicoletta wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.

Zhikova is looking for a kimura but he's never going to get it from there.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Nicoletta is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Zhikova is trying to work for a kimura but Nicoletta is defending well.
Zhikova moves nicely into side control.
Nicoletta managing to avoid any damage from the strikes thrown by Zhikova.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Nicoletta is trying to get back to his feet.
Zhikova tries to move into full mount but can't pass Nicoletta's legs.
Nicoletta wants to get back to his 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.
Nicoletta stops Zhikova from passing to mount.

Zhikova is trying to land an Americana. He has the arm isolated but Nicoletta is keeping cool and he's avoided the danger for now.
Nicoletta is trying to escape and get back to his feet.
Zhikova trying to control the action but Nicoletta is working from the bottom.
Nicoletta is trying to buck Zhikova off.

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.
Casimiro Nicoletta is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Zhikova shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Nicoletta defends it nicely.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Casimiro Nicoletta dominated that round.
That's time! Nicoletta's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight.

Zhikova shoots and misses
and Nicoletta counters with a stiff right hand.
Nicoletta scores with a head kick.
Zhikova shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Nicoletta as he avoids it easily.
Nicoletta swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
Zhikova tries for a takedown but Nicoletta sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
Nicoletta swung with a counter right hand that didn't connect.
Casimiro Nicoletta has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Pinina Zhikova.
Nicoletta with a body punch. A glancing blow.
Nicoletta throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Zhikova.

Nicoletta tries to sprawl but Zhikova drives through with a takedown into half guard.
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!
Nicoletta is trying is best to control the position here.

Zhikova is trying to work for a kimura. This could be trouble! No, Nicoletta has managed to free his arm - good work.

Nicoletta makes some distance and scrambles quickly back to his feet. Nice work!
Nicoletta throws the left hand but Zhikova avoids the punch easily.
Nicoletta lands a powerful looking uppercut that connected with his opponent's jaw.
Nicoletta takes a jab right on the kisser.
Nicoletta stalks Zhikova and leaps in with a furious combination of punches. Uppercuts and crosses smash into Zhikova's face. Zhikova staggers backwards, shaken.
Zhikova fails with a takedown attempt from distance.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Nicoletta throws an overhand right that lands on Zhikova's shoulder, as Zhikova tries to avoid the shot.
Nicoletta throws a looping overhand right but Zhikova ducks down to avoid it.
Nicoletta throws a lazy right hand but Zhikova sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Zhikova fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
Zhikova swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Zhikova blocks a jab.
Zhikova slips a straight right by Nicoletta.
Zhikova is throwing a lot of body shots here, looking to wear down Nicoletta rather than just go for the knockout.
Nicoletta is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Zhikova.
Nicoletta's corner calls for a 1-2. Nicoletta obliges with the 1 part as he scores the single shot and moves back out of range.
Nicoletta is really head hunting here, hardly looking to strike to the body at all.
Nicoletta throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Casimiro Nicoletta is winning the standup battle so far.
Zhikova shoots for a takedown but Nicoletta saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
Zhikova throws a hard body shot but it just misses.

Zhikova closes the distance and scores a nice trip takedown into half guard. Nicoletta did well to prevent Zhikova getting side control.
Zhikova is keen to just control but Nicoletta is a slippery customer.

Zhikova is working for a kimura here but Nicoletta manages to reverse the position and he's now in Zhikova's guard.
Nicoletta is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Zhikova can do to turn this around?
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!

Nicoletta decides he's had enough of playing guard and decides to stand. Come on Zhikova, up you get!
Zhikova steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Nicoletta.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Zhikova takes a punch to the jaw and another one to the bread basket.
Zhikova swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Zhikova shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Nicoletta as he avoids it easily.
Zhikova avoids the head kick by Nicoletta.
Zhikova keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Nicoletta.
Zhikova changes levels for a counter takedown but doesn't follow through with his attempt.
Nicoletta checks a leg kick nicely.
Nice sprawl there from Nicoletta as Zhikova shoots in.
Zhikova throws a predictable looking body shot

and Nicoletta counters with a head kick that drops Zhikova to the mat! Zhikova scrambles across the canvas and gets back to his feet, still wobbly!

Zhikova is rocked!
Crack! A monster head kick from Nicoletta and Zhikova falls like a tree - timbeeeeeeeeeeerrrr! A highlight reel knockout by Nicoletta!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 2:34 of round 2, we have a winner by way of KO (Head Kick). Casimiro Nicoletta!
Our winner, Casimiro Nicoletta, made sure he spent some time buttering up the crowd during his post fight interview, which will no doubt bring him a few more fans.