PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Sam Nut (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Uncle Rico (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). These two fighters really are very evenly matched on the feet - it will be fascinating to see who can assert themselves in that aspect of the fight.

Nut
vs
Rico

190 cm
21
192 lbs
8 - 2 - 0

174 cm
23
190 lbs
7 - 2 - 0

Decent wrestler
Excellent MT
Very strong

BJJ Purple Belt
Decent boxing
Powerful

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 8 - 2 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Sam Nut!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 7 - 2 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Uncle Rico!
The judges for this bout are Ivan Kurochkin, Sergei Dronov and Aleksei Zolotukhin.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Rico misses the shot to the body.
Rico throws a lazy right hand but Nut sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Rico throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.

Nut has closed the distance and engaged Rico in a clinch.
Nut lands an elbow inside that Rico shrugs off.
Rico misses with a hook from the clinch.
Nut tries to land a knee to the head but Rico blocks with his arms.
Rico working some nice short punches in the clinch.
A nice right hand lands inside from Rico.
Nut landing knees to the body. They look like they could hurt.
Rico goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
A left hand lands to the body for Rico.
Rico avoiding damage as Nut throws knees to the body.
Rico lands a hook to the body. It's hard to tell if that hurt Nut or not.
Rico misses with a hook from the clinch.
Nut lands a knee to the body.
Rico lands a nice shot to the body.
Rico blocks an elbow strike.
Nut tries to land a knee to the head but misses.
Rico misses with a hook from the clinch.
Rico is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.
Rico blocks the elbow strike.
Nut working Rico over with knees to the body.
A nice left hand lands by Rico.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Rico.
Rico blocks an uppercut.
Nut lands an elbow that stopped Rico in his tracks for a moment.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Nut pushes off an throws an elbow but Rico leans to the side and avoids it. We're back to clinching against the cage.
Rico on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Rico.
Rico dodges an elbow strike from Nut.
Nut lands a damaging elbow.
Nut connects with a nasty looking knee right to Rico's face.
Rico has a couple of punches blocked by Nut.
Rico blocks the elbow strike.
Nut throws an elbow that misses.
Rico lands a left hand that snaps the head of Nut backwards.
Rico lands a shoulder strike.
Nut lands a knee to the head there! That was nasty!
Rico lands with a quick shot inside that doesn't really do much damage.
With the two fighters working up against the cage, Nut just misses with a elbow thrown towards Rico's brow.
Nut misses with a punch on the inside.
Nut pushes off and fires off an elbow that misses, before clinching up again, against the cage.
Rico gets through Nut's defenses to land a nice punch to the side of the head.
Rico lands a left hand.
Nut lands an elbow just above Rico 's eye.
Nut has Rico pressed against the cage, preventing Rico from circling away and getting back to striking at range.
Nut tries to land knees in the clinch but Rico avoids the damage to the body.
Nut is trying to wear down his opponent with knees to the body.
Rico tries a body shot but Nut blocks it.
Rico can't get the takedown.
Nut working Rico over with knees to the body.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Rico tries to circle away but Nut has him pinned against the cage.
Rico tries for a takedown but Nut manages to get underhooks.
Rico looks gassed!
Rico lands a body punch - he's looking to wear down Nut.
Rico misses with some punches.
Rico blocks the elbow strike.
Nut using the Thai clinch to land knees to the body.
Nut lands a nice knee to the body.
Rico tries to score a body lock takedown but Nut shows good agility there to stay on his feet.
Sam Nut has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Uncle Rico.
A short right hand to the side of the head by Rico.
Nut lands an uppercut.
Nut looking to throw knees to the head but Rico is blocking nicely.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Rico.
A right hand to the body from Rico.
Nut comes over the top with an elbow. That landed flush.
Nut lands an elbow inside that Rico shrugs off.
Nut blocking some punches.
Rico blocks the elbow strike.
Rico throws a head punch that misses.
Nut throws an elbow that misses.
Nut lands an elbow inside.
Nut trying to land knees to the body.
Nice elbow from Nut.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Nut.
Nut lands a knee to the head there! That was nasty!
Rico working aggressively here.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Nut crunches a lovely knee into Rico's ribcage.
Nice elbow from Nut.
Nut lands a nice elbow from the clinch.
Nut throws an elbow that misses.
Rico has a couple of punches blocked by Nut.
Nice elbow from Nut.
Nut creates a bit of space for himself and sneaks an elbow through Rico's defenses.
Nut lands a nice elbow.
Nut creates a bit of space for himself and sneaks an elbow through Rico's defenses.

It looks like Uncle Rico has been cut.
Nut tries a knee to the head but he's missed.
Nut lands an elbow that stopped Rico in his tracks for a moment.
Nut throws an elbow but it misses.
Rico jumps guard but Nut stands there with Rico around his waist. Rico gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.
Nice elbow from Nut.
Nut keeps the fight in the clinch, despite Rico's efforts to push away.
Nut lands a nice elbow.
Rico tries a body shot but Nut blocks it.
Nut gets an overhook and lands an elbow to the side of the head.
Nut comes over the top with an elbow. That landed flush.
Nut prevents a body shot from Rico.
Nut lands an elbow inside.
Nut looks to throw an elbow but misses.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Nut lands an elbow inside that Rico shrugs off.
Nut lands a nice elbow.
Rico misses with some punches.
Nut throws an elbow but it misses.
Nut lands a nice elbow.
Nut looks to throw an elbow but misses.
Rico managing to block the knees to the body from Nut.
Nut blocks a body shot from Rico.
Nut unloads a knee to the mid-section. Rico lets out a prehistoric sounding urrrrgh.
Nut creates a bit of space for himself and sneaks an elbow through Rico's defenses.
Nut throws an elbow but it's blocked.
Nut lands a damaging elbow.
Nut trying to land knees to the body.
Nut lands a nice elbow from the clinch.
Rico lands punches inside but they're not really causing much damage.
Nut lands a nice elbow.
Nut misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Rico.
Knees to the body from Nut.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Nut working Rico over with knees to the body.
Rico takes a knee right on the jaw!
Rico takes an elbow to the temple.
A body shot lands from Rico.
Nut looks to throw an elbow but misses.
Rico throws a head punch that misses.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Sam Nut dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Uncle Rico's cut.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

Rico circles away from the clinch attempt.
Uncle Rico seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Nut tries to close the distance and clinch up but Rico swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Nut tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Rico waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Nut.
Nut plants his feet and lands a nice head kick!
Nut wants to clinch up but Rico keeps it at a distance.
Nut avoids the body shot from Rico.
Rico swats away the attempt to clinch by Nut.

Nut instigates a clinch.
Rico working aggressively here.
Nut's head jolts backwards as he takes an uppercut right on the button!
Rico swings wildly with an uppercut but Nut uses good head movement to avoid it.
Rico misses with a hook from the clinch.
Nut lands a glancing elbow in the clinch.
Rico blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
Nut lands a glancing elbow in the clinch.
A right hand to the body from Rico.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rico managing to block the knees to the body from Nut.
Rico scores with a nice hook to the head.
Rico lands a body punch in the clinch.
Nut pushes off an throws an elbow but Rico leans to the side and avoids it. We're back to clinching against the cage.
Rico working some nice short punches in the clinch.
Good body shot from Rico.
A nice glancing elbow lands by Nut.
Rico misses with a punch on the inside.
Sam Nut has scored more points in the clinch so far.
Nice body punch from Rico - that landed with a thud.
Rico doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Rico.
Nut with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.
Rico throws a head punch that misses.
Nut lands a knee to the head there! That was nasty!
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Rico lands a shot to the body.
Nut with an attempt at a knee that misses.
Rico dodges an elbow strike from Nut.
Rico blocks an elbow strike.
Nut throws a head punch that misses.
Nut lands a nice knee to the body.
Nut throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Rico blocks it with crossed arms.
Rico lands with a short punch from the clinch.
Rico tries to break free but Nut pushes him back against the cage.
Rico swings wildly with an uppercut but Nut uses good head movement to avoid it.
Still in the clinch, Rico scores with a nice short uppercut.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Nut throws an elbow but it misses.
Rico blocks an elbow strike.
Rico is working Nut over against the cage.
Nut trying to land knees to the body.
Rico wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Nut has him pressed against the cage.
Rico is trying to work for a single leg takedown but Nut pulls him back up using the underhooks.
Rico working aggressively here.
Rico lands with a right to the head.
Nut takes a shot to the head.
With the fighters up against the cage, Nut throws an elbow but misses.
Rico tries a body shot but Nut blocks it.
Rico lands a shoulder strike that jolts his opponent's head backwards.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Nut.
Rico tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Nut lands a glancing elbow in the clinch.
Nut lands an elbow that stopped Rico in his tracks for a moment.
Rico blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
Rico blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
Nut blocks a punch to the side of the head.
A short right hand to the side of the head by Rico.
Nut tries to land knees in the clinch but Rico avoids the damage to the body.
Rico scores with a shoulder strike.
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!
Rico tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Nut throws a knee to the head but misses.
Nut throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Rico blocks it with crossed arms.
Nut pushes off an throws an elbow but Rico leans to the side and avoids it. We're back to clinching against the cage.
Nut lands an elbow inside.
Rico avoids a wild elbow strike from Nut.
Rico tries to throw a body punch but Nut avoids it by throwing Rico back against the cage.
Rico lands a right hand that snaps the head of Nut backwards.
Nut lands with a short head shot on the inside.
Nut misses with an elbow strike.
Rico misses with the head strike.
A short right hand to the side of the head by Rico.
Rico has had enough of the clinch but Nut keeps him there for the moment.
Rico is working for takedown but Nut is calmly controlling the position for now.
Nut crunches a lovely knee into Rico's ribcage.
A body shot lands from Rico.
Rico working aggressively here.
Nut lands an elbow inside that Rico shrugs off.
Nut using the Thai clinch to land knees to the body.
Nut tries to land knees in the clinch but Rico avoids the damage to the body.
A short right from Rico.
Nut tries to throw a body punch but Rico avoids it by throwing Nut back against the cage.
Nut keeps control of Rico as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.
Nut missing with knees to the body.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Nut creates a bit of distance and throws an elbow that only just misses.
Rico tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Nut lands a left hand that snaps the head of Rico backwards.
Nut using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Rico has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
A nice glancing elbow lands by Nut.
Rico throws a punch but it's blocked by Nut.
Rico makes some space for himself and lands an uppercut.
Rico fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Rico scores with a shoulder strike.
Rico on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
Rico dodges an elbow strike from Nut.
Rico throws a blind hook that connects with the side of Nuts head.
Rico blocks the elbow strike.
Rico avoids a wild elbow strike from Nut.
Nut doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Rico presses Nut against the cage and delivers a mid-strength body shot.
Rico is looking for a takedown up against the cage. Nut gets underhooks though and prevents the takedown attempt.
Sam Nut has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Uncle Rico.
Rico tries to circle away but Nut has him pinned against the cage.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Rico throws a blind hook that connects with the side of Nuts head.
Rico tries a body shot but Nut blocks it.
Nut misses with an elbow strike.
Nut trying to land knees to the body.
Nut misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Rico.
Nut lands a nice elbow.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Uncle Rico showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The cut man is working on Uncle Rico's cut.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action! This is the final round!

Rico cracks Nut with a nice right hand that draws applause from the crowd.
Nut slips a jab from Rico.
Rico misses the jab.

Nut forces Rico back against the cage and clinches.
Rico digs a right hand into Nut's ribs. Those have got to be taking their toll on Nut's gas tank.
Rico avoids a wild elbow strike from Nut.
Rico is looking for a takedown up against the cage. Nut gets underhooks though and prevents the takedown attempt.
Nut tries to land a knee to the head but Rico blocks with his arms.
Rico is working Nut over against the cage.
Nut fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Rico lands a body punch in the clinch.
Rico lands on the inside with an uppercut.
Rico lands a body shot in the clinch.
Rico drops down looking for an ankle pick but Nut pulls his leg out and moves away.
A swing and a miss from Rico.
Rico looks to score with a jab to the body but Nut is just out of range.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Nut uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Rico.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Nut forces Rico back against the cage and clinches.
Nut prevents a takedown attempt there.
Sam Nut has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Uncle Rico.
Rico presses Nut against the cage and delivers a mid-strength body shot.
Nut lands a knee to the head there! That was nasty!
Rico dodges an elbow strike from Nut.
Nut keeps control of Rico as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.
Rico misses with a short punch on the inside.
Rico doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Nut blocks an uppercut.
Nut blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Nut lands an elbow inside that Rico shrugs off.
Nut comes over the top with an elbow. That landed flush.
A right handed body shot lands from Rico.
Nut tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Rico avoids it.
Nut lands a glancing elbow in the clinch.
Rico lands a shot to the body.
Rico scores with an uppercut up the middle.
A short left from Rico.
Nut lands a knee to the head.
Nut throws an elbow that misses.
Rico working hard to break the clinch.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Rico blocks an elbow strike from Nut.
Rico lands a shoulder strike that jolts his opponent's head backwards.
Rico is really struggling to land any decent head shots against his taller opponent.
With the two fighters working up against the cage, Nut just misses with a elbow thrown towards Rico's brow.
Rico avoiding damage as Nut throws knees to the body.
A right hook to the body lands for Rico.
A short body shot lands from Rico as the two fighters clinch.
A right hook to the body lands for Rico.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Rico.
Nut is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Rico is defending well for now.
A hook to the body from Rico.
Rico lands punches inside but they're not really causing much damage.
Rico works for underhooks and lands a body shot in the process.
Rico tries to break the clinch but Nut is controlling the position.
A right handed body shot lands from Rico.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Rico trying to land knees to the body.
Rico tries to pull guard but Nut holds him up against the cage and eventually Rico drops back down to his feet.
A shot in the inside from Rico.
A short body shot lands from Rico as the two fighters clinch.
Rico lands a left hand.
Rico avoids a wild elbow strike from Nut.

Rico has double underhooks and is working for a body lock takedown. He's got it. The fighters land in half guard but Nut regains guard immediately.
Nut controlling Rico's posture.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Rico accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Rico trying to control but Nut is working from the bottom.
Nut is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.
Nut will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.
Nut keeping moving, preventing Rico from controlling successfully.
Nut tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Nut controls Rico momentarily but Rico frees himself.

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.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.
Rico takes a swing at Nut's ribcage but misses.

Nut gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.
Nut using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Rico has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
Nut gets an overhook and lands an elbow to the side of the head.
Rico misses with a hook from the clinch.
Nut lands a nice elbow from the clinch.
Rico goes for a takedown in the clinch but Nut prevents it.
Rico lands a left hand.
Nut is trying to wear down his opponent with knees to the body.
Rico blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
Rico changes levels and goes for a takedown here. Nut fights it off and pushes away nicely.
Rico takes a head kick and shrugs it off.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Rico swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Nut misses with a few strikes there.

And that's the end of the fight!
Uncle Rico comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Rico has won this one but let's see whether the judges agree with me. 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 Ivan Kurochkin scores the fight 28:29
Judge Sergei Dronov scores the fight 28:29
Judge Aleksei Zolotukhin scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Uncle Rico!