PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between John Alvarez (ranked 4667 p4p, 4276 weight class) and Alexander Nikolaev (ranked 460 p4p, 435 weight class). We have two fighters making their debuts here, so let's see who comes out of this one with their first professional victory.

Alvarez
vs
Nikolaev

183 cm
25
190
0 - 0 - 0

180 cm
18
195
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Solid boxing
Big heart

BJJ Brown Belt
Basic striking
Very confident

Conquest Nutrition™ (160Q) $97

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 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, John Alvarez!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Alexander Nikolaev!
The judges for this bout are Tiny Johnson, Cecil Peabody and Alan Glass.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Alvarez shoots in and drives through. Nikolaev sprawls well.
A countering left hand to the body from Nikolaev misses.
Nikolaev is looking to clinch but Alvarez is avoiding it.
A little feinted left hand from Alvarez on the counter but he doesn't commit to it.

Alvarez instigates a clinch.

Alvarez breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Alvarez shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Nikolaev sprawls well. Nikolaev wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Alvarez gets slowly back to his feet.

Alvarez gets a clinch.
Nikolaev is trying to pull guard but being pressed up against the cage enables Alvarez to keep the fight standing.

Alvarez pulls guard successfully.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Alvarez working a defensive guard here.
Nikolaev trying to control the position from guard on top but Alvarez is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Nikolaev looking to pass the guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Alvarez had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Nikolaev defends it easily.

Alvarez throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
Alvarez is looking to sweep but instead, Nikolaev has passed into half guard.
Alvarez is staying active underneath Nikolaev, who seems content to just control the action from this position.

Nikolaev is working for an americana but Alvarez has been sneaky and has managed to get back to half guard, whilst Nikolaev was thinking about the submission.

Nikolaev is trying to work a guillotine from the top, or something like that? Don't know how he thinks he's going to get a finish from there.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
My god... these two guys really need to pick up the pace or everyone will leave to go get a beer.
Alvarez has control of Nikolaev's left arm, preventing Nikolaev from doing any damage.
Nikolaev tries to free his leg and advance position but Alvarez is retaining full guard.

Nikolaev drops back for a leg! It's a sloppy attempt though and Nikolaev jumps back into guard quickly, to retain the dominant position.

The fighters are working up against the cage. Alvarez manages to wriggle his way back to his feet, so the fighters are now clinched against the cage.
Nikolaev managing to block the knees to the body from Alvarez.
Nikolaev is trying to pull guard but being pressed up against the cage enables Alvarez to keep the fight standing.
Nikolaev wants to stall.

Alvarez has moved round to his opponent's back and is looking for a suplex! Oh snap! He's tossed Nikolaev clear over his head and slammed him to the mat!
Nikolaev tries to escape the position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Nikolaev turns into Alvarez and is now in his guard.

Nikolaev postures up as if he's going to throw some strikes but drops back for an ankle! Alvarez is in big trouble! He looks ready to tap! But no, he's escaped and dives on top of Nikolaev, into his guard.

Nikolaev throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
Nikolaev is trying to control the position from the bottom.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Nikolaev escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Alvarez gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
Alvarez slows down the pace of the fight for a moment. He'll need to remain active if he doesn't want to see the fight stood back up.

Nikolaev looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.

Nikolaev is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
Alvarez knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Nikolaev on the ground.

Nikolaev looking for submissions from the bottom but instead Alvarez passes into side control.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

John Alvarez dominated that round.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

Alvarez circles away from the clinch attempt.
Nikolaev is looking to clinch.
Alvarez pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Nikolaev is looking to clinch.

Alvarez instigates a clinch.

Alvarez has picked Nikolaev up - he's going for a ride! Alvarez dumps his opponent to the mat with a thud and settles into half guard.
Alvarez is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Nikolaev can do to turn this around?
Alvarez throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
Nikolaev is looking for a sweep. Alvarez is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Alvarez tries to stand but can't do so whilst Nikolaev controls his leg.

Nikolaev looking for submissions off his back.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Nikolaev manages to get to full guard.

Nikolaev throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
Alvarez has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Alvarez showing good wrestling skills to control the position.
Nikolaev looking to sweep here. No luck so far.

Nikolaev is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Alvarez defends well.
Alvarez wants to stand but Nikolaev is controlling his posture from full guard.

Nikolaev working for a triangle but Alvarez defends it easily.

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.
Alvarez preventing the sweep.

Nikolaev working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Alvarez doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Alvarez manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.
Nikolaev keeping full guard, as Alvarez tries to pass.

Nikolaev is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Alvarez defends well.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Alvarez slows down the pace of the fight for a moment. He'll need to remain active if he doesn't want to see the fight stood back up.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

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

Nikolaev had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Alvarez defends it easily.
Alvarez stays in close to Nikolaev's body and controls the position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Neither fighter has done anything of merit for a good minute or two here and the crowd are not happy about it.
Alvarez wants to control from the top but Nikolaev keeps moving.

Nikolaev escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Alvarez gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
Alvarez sitting in guard, not really doing much.

Nikolaev looking for a guillotine here but Alvarez defends easily.
Alvarez is looking to work some ground and pound but Nikolaev has wrist control.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

John Alvarez dominated that second round.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action! Let's get this one finished - here comes the final round!

Alvarez tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Nikolaev swivels and escapes.
Nikolaev moves in looking to clinch but Alvarez pushes him off.

Alvarez gets in close and instigates a clinch.

Alvarez escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
A head kick misses from Alvarez.
Nikolaev looks like he wants to counter punch here.
Nikolaev tries to clinch but Alvarez moves out of range.
Nikolaev tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Alvarez swats away the attempt to clinch by Nikolaev.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Alvarez is defended easily by Nikolaev.
Nikolaev tries to counter by closing the distance.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Nikolaev tries to clinch there but Alvarez circles away.
Nikolaev is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Alvarez will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for John Alvarez. That's going to take a lot out of him.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Nikolaev tries to clinch up but Alvarez circles away and keeps his distance.
Alvarez is looking to counter with head kicks.
Nikolaev tries to clinch but Alvarez is having none of it.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Alvarez.
Alvarez circles away from the clinch attempt.
Nikolaev moves in looking to clinch but Alvarez pushes him off.
Nikolaev moves in looking to clinch but Alvarez pushes him off.
Nikolaev is looking to take this fight into the clinch.

Alvarez clinches with his opponent.
Alvarez throws a nice elbow but it doesn't land.

Alvarez is trying to trip Nikolaev. He has hold of a leg but Nikolaev is hopping around, keeping his balance for the moment. Alvarez persists though and gets the takedown into guard.
John Alvarez overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.

Nikolaev working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Alvarez doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Alvarez manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Nikolaev wants to sweep but no luck.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Nikolaev is working actively from the bottom, looking for submissions. He's escaped his hips to the side and he's going for an armbar! Alvarez has his hands clasped together but Nikolaev extends and breaks Alvarez's desperate grasp, forcing a tap out due to armbar! Nice BJJ displayed there by Nikolaev.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 2:27 of round 3, we have a winner by way of Submission (Armbar). Alexander Nikolaev!