PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Ivan Klityschko (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Bogdan Nikitin (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Klityschko
vs
Bogdan Nikitin

189 cm
19
190 lbs
0 - 1 - 0

196 cm
18
200 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Cuts easily

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Solid chin

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 0 - 1 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Ivan Klityschko!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Bogdan Nikitin!
The judges for this bout are Igor Prikhodko, Valeri Chadov and Ivan Kurochkin.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Nikitin shoots for a double leg takedown but Klityschko sprawls well. He's pushed Nikitin's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
Klityschko looks exhausted already! Oh dear, he should have come in in better shape than this!
Nikitin tries to clinch there but Klityschko circles away.
Nikitin fails in his attempt to clinch.
Klityschko throws a leg kick but Nikitin sees it coming and moves out of range.
Klityschko tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Nikitin paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Nikitin shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Klityschko as he jumps to the side.
Nikitin tries to clinch up

and Klityschko counters with a takedown into side control.
Nikitin tries to bench press Klityschko off him but Klityschko keeps the position.
Nikitin struggling a bit here.
Klityschko trying to control the action but Nikitin is working from the bottom.
Nikitin manages to get one leg in to regain half guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Nikitin trying to control but Klityschko postures up.
Nikitin gets back to full guard.
Klityschko won't allow Nikitin to sweep him here.
Nikitin is persisting with the attempt to improve his position.
Nikitin looking to control.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Nikitin is on top in guard.
Nikitin is just sitting in guard, looking to avoid any submissions.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Well. There's a bit of a lull in the action here and the crowd are starting to get restless.
Klityschko avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Klityschko can't do much from the bottom at the moment, as Nikitin controls the pace.
Nikitin loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Nikitin stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Klityschko swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Nikitin throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Klityschko works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Nikitin trying to control but Klityschko is working from the bottom.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.
Nikitin is looking to clinch but Klityschko is avoiding it.
Nikitin wants to clinch.
Nikitin shoots in but doesn't get the takedown

and Klityschko counters with a takedown into full mount! That could mean trouble for Nikitin!
Ivan Klityschko has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Bogdan Nikitin.
Klityschko looking to control and managing it successfully.
Nikitin is desperately trying to improve his position but Klityschko has a good base and remains in mount.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Klityschko with shots to the head and body - Nikitin looks very uncomfortable down there.
Nikitin is desperately trying to improve his position but Klityschko has a good base and remains in mount.
Nikitin takes a big shot to the head but keeps on trying to improve his position.
Nikitin wants to control but Klityschko is having none of it.
Nikitin is desperately trying to improve his position but Klityschko has a good base and remains in mount.
Klityschko controlling from mount.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Klityschko swings for the body but Nikitin moves out of range.
Nikitin shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Klityschko pinned against the cage. Klityschko gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
Klityschko misses with a head kick.
Nikitin tries to clinch but Klityschko is having none of it.
Nikitin tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Nikitin throws a nice outside leg kick.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Klityschko misses with a takedown

and Nikitin moves into the clinch.

Nikitin breaks the clinch.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Nikitin connects nicely with a jab. Noted by the judges no doubt.
Klityschko keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
Nikitin fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
Ivan Klityschko has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Bogdan Nikitin.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Nikitin.
Klityschko rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Nikitin moves out of range and avoids them all easily.

Nikitin closes the distance and scores a nice trip takedown into half guard. Klityschko did well to prevent Nikitin getting side control.
Nikitin stalling away here and it's allowed Klityschko to slip out his trapped foot and regain full guard.
Klityschko controls Nikitin momentarily but Nikitin frees himself.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Nikitin throwing strikes but missing.
Nikitin wants to control from the top but Klityschko keeps moving.
Nikitin is in a good position here but he's just trying to control... And he's not even managing to do that successfully.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Nikitin stands up and waves to Klityschko to follow him.
Klityschko avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Klityschko throws a head kick that misses.
Nikitin tries to clinch but Klityschko is having none of it.

Klityschko rushes Nikitin and presses him up against the cage.
Nikitin is working hard here but doesn't seem to be able to control effectively, up against the cage.
Klityschko is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Nikitin is defending well for now.

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

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.
Nikitin tries to grapple but his opponent circles

and Klityschko counters with a takedown into full mount! That could mean trouble for Nikitin!
Nikitin working to try and regain half guard.
Nikitin tries to lock up and control but Klityschko gives him a forearm to the face and pushes him away.
Nikitin is in all sorts of trouble here.
Nikitin tries to lock up and control but Klityschko gives him a forearm to the face and pushes him away.
Ivan Klityschko overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
A nice elbow there by Klityschko.
Nikitin in a bad spot here, taking shots to the head.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close second round but I would say that Ivan Klityschko will probably get the nod.
That's the end of the interval. I'm sure that seemed a lot quicker than a minute for our two fighters! Back to the action. Ladies and gentlemen, this is the final round!

Nikitin tries to clinch
and Klityschko counters with a stiff right hand.
Nikitin tries to clinch but fails miserably

and Klityschko moves into the clinch.
Nikitin fails to pull the fight into his guard.
Nikitin goes for a takedown attempt but Klityschko pushes him away and we're back to fighting at a distance.
Ivan Klityschko is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Nikitin throws a body kick that digs right into the meat.

Nikitin gets a clinch.

Nikitin pulls guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

Nikitin uses the cage to get back to his feet.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Klityschko leaves Nikitin with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
Ivan Klityschko has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Bogdan Nikitin.
Nikitin scores with a slapping inside leg kick.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Klityschko circles away from the clinch attempt.
Nikitin lunges at Klityschko with a hook that half lands and is half blocked by Klityschko's hand.
Klityschko shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Nikitin pinned against the cage. Nikitin gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
Nikitin throws a head kick that misses.
Nikitin misses with a takedown attempt
and Klityschko counters with a lovely shot to the body.
Klityschko closes the distance and clinches up with Nikitin, looking for a takedown. Klityschko pushes Nikitin against the cage but Nikitin circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.

Nikitin shoots in and bounces Klityschko off the cage to secure the takedown into guard.
Klityschko tries to land a sweep but no joy.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Klityschko wants to control here, rather than go for any submissions from the bottom. At least for now.
Klityschko keeping moving, preventing Nikitin from controlling successfully.
Klityschko keeping full guard, as Nikitin tries to pass.
Nikitin is looking to stand up but Klityschko won't let him.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Klityschko trying to control the position here.

Klityschko is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
Nikitin is looking to advance position but Klityschko has hit a scissor sweep - now he's on top in mount!
Nikitin tries to lock up and control but Klityschko gives him a forearm to the face and pushes him away.

That's four 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.
Nikitin in a bad spot here, taking shots to the head.

Klityschko moves into side control, trying to work for a kimura. That looks painful! Will he finish!!?? No, Nikitin has worked his arm free - good work by Nikitin!
Klityschko controls the position from side control.

Klityschko decides to stand up, so the ref orders Nikitin to his feet.
Bogdan Nikitin has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Ivan Klityschko is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Klityschko throws a leg kick but Nikitin checks it.

And that's the end of the fight!
Bogdan Nikitin comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Klityschko has won this one but let's see what the judges have to say. 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 Igor Prikhodko scores the fight 29:28
Judge Valeri Chadov scores the fight 29:28
Judge Ivan Kurochkin scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Ivan Klityschko!