PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Nikolai Gavrik (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Marcos Delgado (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Marcos Delgado has the power to score a knockout today if he connects clean with Nikolai Gavrik's chin.

Gavrik
vs
Delgado

183 cm
18
185 lbs
0 - 1 - 0

183 cm
19
189 lbs
3 - 5 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Basic striking
Good in bed

BJJ Purple Belt
Counter striker
Determined

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 - 1 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Nikolai Gavrik!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 3 - 5 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Marcos Delgado!
The judges for this bout are Vladimir Khabensky, Valeri Chadov and Ivan Kurochkin.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Gavrik moves in looking to clinch but Delgado pushes him off.
Delgado misses with a head kick.
Gavrik tries to clinch but Delgado moves out of range.

Gavrik gets in close and instigates a clinch.
Gavrik is trying to break the clinch but Delgado is controlling him.
Delgado tries to pull guard but Gavrik holds him up against the cage and eventually Delgado drops back down to his feet.
Delgado changes levels and goes for a takedown here. Gavrik fights it off and pushes away nicely.
Delgado shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Gavrik but Gavrik pushes him off and we're back to square one.
Nikolai Gavrik has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Marcos Delgado.
Gavrik bobbing and weaving, closes the distance and lands a hook to the side of Delgado's head.

Gavrik shoots in and bounces Delgado off the cage to secure the takedown into guard.
Delgado is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Gavrik is looking to work some ground and pound but Delgado has wrist control.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Gavrik throwing strikes from guard but Delgado blocks nicely.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Gavrik scoring with some ground and pound.
Gavrik is looking to work some ground and pound but Delgado has wrist control.
Delgado manages to land a sweep and now he's in mount on top!
Gavrik is trying to escape but when you're mounted that's not too easy.
Gavrik is in all sorts of trouble here.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Delgado won't let Gavrik get back to his feet... He wants to keep the fight where it is for now.
Delgado landing strikes from the mount.
Delgado lands a shot to the body, followed up by a shot to the exposed head of his trapped opponent.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Delgado won't let Gavrik get back to his feet... He wants to keep the fight where it is for now.
Delgado has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
Gavrik is in all sorts of trouble here.
Gavrik throwing punches from his back but nothing is landing.

Gavrik defends a decent attempt at a guillotine from Delgado.
Delgado can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as Gavrik is looking to escape.
Delgado content just to control the position here.
Delgado looks gassed!
The fighters are going at a pretty good pace and they're both starting to sweat now.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Gavrik wants to try and get back to his feet.
Gavrik really trying hard to get back to half guard here.
Gavrik knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Delgado on the ground.
Gavrik is trying to get to the cage to help him get back to his feet.
Gavrik throwing punches from his back but nothing is landing.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are getting on the fighters' backs, as the pace has dropped off in the last minute or so.
Delgado looking to control but Gavrik is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.
Gavrik wants to use the cage to get back to his feet here.

Gavrik bucks Delgado off and manages to get back to his feet!
Gavrik scores with a sloppy punch to the body. Not much technique there but it did the business.
Delgado sees a low kick coming and goes to check it, but it's actually a body kick and it thuds into his unprotected ribs.
Gavrik connects with a body shot.

Gavrik shoots in for a takedown! He's got it and he's managed to land in full mount! That's better than Gavrik was expecting from the takedown attempt, I'm sure!
Gavrik avoids the attempt from Delgado to control.
Gavrik dominating with strikes here.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Nikolai Gavrik dominated that round.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

The fight stays on the outside here - Gavrik looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Gavrik throws a one two combo.
Gavrik connects with a single shot there.
Delgado misses with a wild body shot.
Delgado stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Delgado wants it to stay on the feet.
Gavrik misses with a head kick.
Nikolai Gavrik is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Gavrik throws a right hand that Delgado ducks under and follows up with a left that Delgado also avoids with ease.
No joy there for Gavrik, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Delgado uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Gavrik.
Decent striking displayed by Gavrik there.
Gavrik cracks Delgado with a nice right hand that draws applause from the crowd.
Delgado is breathing heavily.

Gavrik shoots in and scores a nice double leg takedown into half guard.
Delgado works his way to full guard. Good work.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Delgado is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
Gavrik scoring with punches to the head and body.
Gavrik wanted to stand there but Delgado had control of the position.
Gavrik throwing strikes but missing.
Gavrik stands up over Delgado, holding his feet. He dives back in and lands a decent shot to the head.
Gavrik landing some decent shots from guard.

Gavrik gets to his feet. Delgado looking to butt scoot but the ref puts an end to that. On your feet son!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Delgado takes a jab on the nose. He smiles like he loves it and keeps coming.

Gavrik shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Oh and he's advanced to full mount straight away.
Delgado is in a horrible position here. Gavrik smacks him with another shot as he tries to escape the position.
Gavrik landing shots from mount.
Gavrik scoring with some good ground and pound from mount here. Will he manage to finish Delgado?
Gavrik scoring with some good ground and pound from mount here. Will he manage to finish Delgado?
Gavrik lands with some vicious ground and pound - can Delgado hang on?
Gavrik dominating with strikes here.
Gavrik putting on the heat here with some good ground and pound!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
A nice elbow there by Gavrik.
Delgado sneaks a leg under to get to half guard.
Gavrik working some ground and pound from close in. He's looking to maintain this position and strike for a while by the looks of things... although he'll probably advance to full mount in a minute now I've said that.
Gavrik tries to stand but his hand is stuck under Delgado.
Gavrik throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
Delgado blocking the ground and pound attempt from Gavrik.
Gavrik scores with a couple of good hammerfists.
Gavrik lands a big shot. The thud that echoes around the arena is like music to the fans' ears.

Gavrik decides to stand up and try his luck on the feet.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Delgado takes an uppercut right on the button but keeps his composure.
Boom, another hit is landed. "You're gunna get knocked out" taunts Gavrik, as that shot connected.

Gavrik drives through with a takedown into guard.
Delgado trying to keep a closed guard but Gavrik is proving a slippery customer.
Gavrik is looking to stand up but Delgado won't let him.
Gavrik working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Delgado seems keen to control rather than go for a submission, at least for now.
Delgado not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Nikolai Gavrik dominated that second round.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business. Let's hear some noise people - this is the final round!

Delgado ducks right into an uppercut from Gavrik.
Delgado tries to clinch there but Gavrik circles away.
Gavrik connects with a jab.
Gavrik displaying good standup as he scores with a three punch combination.
Delgado tries for a takedown but Gavrik sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
Nikolai Gavrik seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

Gavrik rushes Delgado and presses him up against the cage.

Gavrik breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.

Gavrik closes the distance and looks for a trip takedown... aaaand he's got it - Gavrik lands in his opponent's guard.
Delgado working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Gavrik.
Delgado preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Gavrik loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Gavrik landing some decent shots from guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Gavrik is looking to stand up but Delgado won't let him.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Delgado is trying to keep Gavrik in close.
Gavrik throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Delgado works some decent striking defense from the bottom.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.
Gavrik scores with a one two! Delgado had his feet all tangled up there and couldn't avoid the strikes.
Gavrik throws a couple of head shots and lands with the final one - a decent hook, which struck Delgado on the side of the head.
Boom, another hit is landed. "You're gunna get knocked out" taunts Gavrik, as that shot connected.

Gavrik closes the distance and gets a double leg, slamming Delgado to the mat! Delgado manages to get full guard.

Delgado looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.

Gavrik decides he's had enough of playing guard and decides to stand. Come on Delgado, up you get!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Gavrik scores with a push kick.

Gavrik shoots in and scores a nice double leg takedown into half guard.
Delgado slips a foot under and gets full guard. Nice work.
Delgado preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Gavrik accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Gavrik is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Delgado can do to turn this around?
Gavrik postures up.

Delgado is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Gavrik is aware though and is defending well.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Gavrik stands and steps away. Delgado gets to his feet too and we're back to the striking game.
Gavrik pulls out of a head kick attempt.

Gavrik closes the distance and clinches.
Gavrik working hard to break the clinch.
Gavrik is trying to break the clinch but Delgado has him pressed against the cage.
Gavrik is trying to force a seperation but Delgado has the dominant position.
Gavrik tries to circle away but Delgado has him pinned against the cage.
Gavrik tries to break the clinch but Delgado is controlling the position.
Gavrik working aggressively here.
Gavrik lands an uppercut.

Gavrik breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Delgado throws a head kick that misses.
Gavrik keeps his opponent at a distance with a nice jab.
Gavrik's corner calls for a 1,2 combination and Gavrik duly obliges.

Gavrik rushes Delgado and presses him up against the cage.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Gavrik tries to break free but Delgado pushes him back against the cage.

Gavrik pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Delgado shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Gavrik as he avoids it easily.
Delgado is on the wrong end of a nice combination from Gavrik.
Gavrik tries to clinch up but Delgado circles away and keeps his distance.
A nice combination there by Gavrik.
Delgado scores with a slapping inside leg kick.
Gavrik misses with a series of wild punches.
Gavrik scores with a nice looking left hook and follows it up with an uppercut!
Delgado throws a right and a left that both miss.

Gavrik closes the distance and clinches up, looking for a takedown. He shifts his weight and gets a nice trip into half guard.
Nikolai Gavrik is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Gavrik tries to stand and escape but Delgado is controlling the position.
Delgado wants to control but Gavrik is keeping busy and won't allow it.
Marcos Delgado has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

Gavrik decides to stand up and try his luck on the feet.

And that's the end of the fight!
Nikolai Gavrik showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Gavrik has outscored his opponent in every aspect of the fight today. Only a scarily incompetent judge or two will keep him from a well deserved win... Over to the ring announcer for the scorecards.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 3 rounds of action, we go to the scorecards for a decision.
Judge Vladimir Khabensky scores the fight 30:27
Judge Valeri Chadov scores the fight 30:27
Judge Ivan Kurochkin scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Nikolai Gavrik!