PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Amir Sultanov (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Dario Nitiguchi (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Sultanov kept the crowd waiting but all that was forgotten when his ring entrance music started. The incomparable musical genuis that is No Vaseline. Well, the cameraman is lingering on a pretty young lady for a bit too long there. Keep your eyes on the fighters buddy or you'll miss the fighter intros!

Sultanov
vs
Nitiguchi

184 cm
18
177 lbs
2 - 2 - 0

180 cm
20
160 lbs
1 - 3 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter striker
Big heart

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter striker
Determined

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the welterweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 2 - 2 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Amir Sultanov!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 3 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Dario Nitiguchi!
The judges for this bout are Fedor Mirinova, Konstantin Menshow and Dmitry Maklakov.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Sultanov scores with a nice right hand.
Sultanov is looking to clinch but Nitiguchi is avoiding it.
Nitiguchi tries to clinch but fails miserably

and Sultanov counters by moving into the clinch.
Nitiguchi trying to land knees to the body.
Nitiguchi tries to pull guard but Sultanov holds him up against the cage and eventually Nitiguchi drops back down to his feet.

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

and Nitiguchi counters with a nice double leg into guard.
Sultanov pulls Nitiguchi in to control the position.
Nitiguchi stays in close to Sultanov's body and controls the position.
Sultanov is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Nitiguchi is controlling him.
Sultanov has Nitiguchi pulled in close to control his posture.

Sultanov has his feet on Nitiguchi's hips. He pushes off and gets to his feet. Nice work.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.

Nitiguchi has managed to clinch.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Nitiguchi jumps guard and drags Sultanov to the mat. He's obviously going to be looking for submissions off his back.
Nitiguchi trying to keep a closed guard but Sultanov is proving a slippery customer.

Nitiguchi is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
Sultanov is intent on slowing down the pace of the fight, simply looking to control.

Sultanov decides he's had enough of playing guard and decides to stand. Come on Nitiguchi, up you get!
Nitiguchi tries to clinch but fails miserably
and Sultanov counters with a stiff right hand.

Sultanov moves into the clinch successfully.
Sultanov avoiding damage as Nitiguchi throws knees to the body.
Sultanov scores with an uppercut up the middle.
Sultanov with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.
Nitiguchi looking to stall.

Nitiguchi decides to pull guard.

Sultanov stands and steps away. Nitiguchi gets to his feet too and we're back to the striking game.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Sultanov is looking to slow Nitiguchi down with leg kicks.
Nitiguchi darts in trying to clinch
and Sultanov counters with a nice jab to the body that keeps Nitiguchi thinking.
Nitiguchi looks gassed!
Nitiguchi takes a jab right on the nose. That must have hurt but he shrugs his shoulders and looks to return the favor.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Sultanov moves in looking to clinch but Nitiguchi pushes him off.
Nitiguchi misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
Sultanov tries to clinch there but Nitiguchi circles away.
Sultanov thuds his right hand into Nitiguchi's forehead from close range. That could be painful for both fighters.
Nitiguchi shoots for a double leg takedown but Sultanov sprawls well. He's pushed Nitiguchi's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
Amir Sultanov has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Dario Nitiguchi.

Sultanov clinches up with Nitiguchi and pushes him back against the cage.

Sultanov breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
The fight stays on the outside here - Sultanov looks like he's thinking about clinching though.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Sultanov lands with a straight right. Nitiguchi didn't see that one coming.
Nitiguchi is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Nitiguchi shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Sultanov circles away from the clinch attempt
and Sultanov counters with a three punch combo that has Nitiguchi backing up. Nitiguchi nods at Sultanov to acknowledge the strikes.
Nitiguchi fails to land the takedown.
Sultanov moves in looking to clinch but Nitiguchi pushes him off.
Nitiguchi tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Sultanov paws at him with a jab and circles away.

Nitiguchi shoots in for a takedown! He's got it and he's managed to land in full mount! That's better than Nitiguchi was expecting from the takedown attempt, I'm sure!
Sultanov tries to hold on but Nitiguchi postures up.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Nitiguchi lands a big shot there that rocks Sultanov but he's holding on and managing to survive for now.
Nitiguchi breaks from Sultanov's wrist control and lands an elbow.
Nitiguchi scores with a couple of good head shots there.
Nitiguchi trying to control but he's not successful this time.
Sultanov in a bad spot here, taking shots to the head.
Nitiguchi scores with a couple of good head shots there.

Sultanov is rocked!
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Nitiguchi trying to control but he's not successful this time.
Nitiguchi prevents Sultanov from getting the reversal.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close round but I would say that Amir Sultanov will probably get the nod.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

Sultanov keeps the fight on the outside.
Sultanov tries to close the distance and clinch up but Nitiguchi swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Sultanov throws a head kick that misses.
Nitiguchi wants to clinch
and Sultanov counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
Nitiguchi tries to grapple but his opponent circles

and Sultanov counters by moving into the clinch. Good anticipation by Sultanov.
Nitiguchi fails to pull guard.
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Sultanov is looking to control Nitiguchi's arms but Nitiguchi gets an underhook and turns him. Now Sultanov has his back to the cage.
Nitiguchi is trying to maintain a safe position but Sultanov gets an underhook and turns Nitiguchi into the cage.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Sultanov manages to break the clinch.

Nitiguchi shoots in from a long way out. He's driving through with the takedown attempt and he eventually gets it, landing in Sultanov's guard.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Nitiguchi trying to control the position from guard on top but Sultanov is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Nitiguchi works a leg free and moves into half guard.
Sultanov is looking to control Nitiguchi's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Sultanov avoid being mounted?

That's one minute gone in the round.
Sultanov is going to have to think about doing something other than just controlling because Nitiguchi is managing to avoid having the position dictated to him.
Sultanov is trying is best to control the position here.
Sultanov tries to kick Nitiguchi off but Nitiguchi keeps his base steady and stays in half guard.
Nitiguchi wants to stand up but Sultanov has a hold of him and won't allow it.
Sultanov trying to control from the bottom.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Nitiguchi prevents Sultanov from improving his position.
Nitiguchi with a momentary lay and pray from half guard.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.
Nitiguchi closes the distance and clinches up with Sultanov, looking for a takedown. Nitiguchi pushes Sultanov against the cage but Sultanov circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.

Sultanov has taken the fight to the clinch.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Nitiguchi tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. Sultanov smiles and moves away.
Amir Sultanov has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Dario Nitiguchi.

Sultanov fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Nitiguchi, pushing him back against the cage.
Knees to the body from Sultanov.
Sultanov looking to stall.
Nitiguchi landing some nice looking knees to the body.

Sultanov manages to break the clinch.
Sultanov keeps his opponent at a distance with a nice jab.
Sultanov tries to clinch up but Nitiguchi circles away and keeps his distance.

Sultanov forces Nitiguchi back against the cage and clinches.

Sultanov escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Sultanov tries to clinch up but Nitiguchi circles away and keeps his distance.
Sultanov buckles his opponent's knee momentarily with a nice leg kick.

Sultanov closes the distance and clinches.
Nitiguchi tries to land knees in the clinch but Sultanov avoids the damage to the body.
Sultanov managing to block the knees to the body from Nitiguchi.
Nitiguchi connects with a knee to the head.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Knees to the body from Nitiguchi.
Nitiguchi tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. Sultanov just stands there and leans against the cage.
Sultanov lands a hook to the body. It's hard to tell if that hurt Nitiguchi or not.

Sultanov breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Sultanov misses with a wild body shot.
Amir Sultanov is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Sultanov looks to score with a jab to the body but Nitiguchi is just out of range.
Nitiguchi tries to clinch up
and Sultanov counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
Sultanov tries to close the distance and clinch but Nitiguchi swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Sultanov tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Amir Sultanov is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Sultanov swats away the attempt to clinch by Nitiguchi.
Sultanov throws a sloppy head kick and Nitiguchi moves out of range easily.
Nitiguchi bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
Sultanov swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Sultanov tries to clinch up but Nitiguchi circles away and keeps his distance.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Sultanov wants to clinch.
Nitiguchi slips a jab from Sultanov.

Nitiguchi rushes Sultanov and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.

Nitiguchi ties up his opponent against the cage and manages to drag the fight down to the ground. Nitiguchi no doubt will be looking to work submissions from his guard.
Sultanov wants to get up but he can't break Nitiguchi's closed guard. He needs to be careful trying to break the legs open, as he's open to submissions here.

Nitiguchi is working an open guard so Sultanov takes the opportunity to get back to his feet.

Sultanov moves into the clinch.
Sultanov missing with knees to the body.
Sultanov on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.

Sultanov manages to break the clinch.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Nitiguchi throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Sultanov's waist but Sultanov gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Nitiguchi off to one side.
Nitiguchi tries to clinch but Sultanov moves out of range.
Sultanov is looking to clinch but Nitiguchi is avoiding it.
Nitiguchi tries to close the distance and clinch but Sultanov swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Amir Sultanov dominated that second round.
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. This is the final round!

Nitiguchi wants to clinch up but Sultanov keeps it at a distance.
Sultanov moves in looking to clinch but Nitiguchi pushes him off.
Sultanov looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.

The fight moves into the clinch position.
Sultanov with an attempt at a knee that misses.
Sultanov is trying to stall.
Sultanov fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Sultanov using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Nitiguchi has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
Nitiguchi wants a takedown.
Nitiguchi is working for takedown but Sultanov is calmly controlling the position for now.

Sultanov manages to break the clinch.
Nitiguchi shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Amir Sultanov has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Dario Nitiguchi.
Sultanov misses with a few strikes there.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

The fight moves into the clinch position.
Nitiguchi tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Nice body punch from Sultanov - that landed with a thud.
Knees in the clinch landing for Nitiguchi.
Nitiguchi drops down looking for an ankle pick but Sultanov pulls his leg out and moves away.

Sultanov rushes Nitiguchi and presses him up against the cage.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Nitiguchi has hold of one of Sultanov's legs. Sultanov is fighting the takedown attempt but Nitiguchi gets the trip and lands the takedown into guard.

Nitiguchi stands up from guard. Let's bang!
Nitiguchi tries to clinch
and Sultanov counters with a right hand to the body.

The fight moves into the clinch position.

Sultanov breaks from the clinch.
Sultanov throws a right and a left that Nitiguchi avoids nicely.
Sultanov keeps the fight on the outside.
Sultanov paws at his opponent with the jab and then lunges in with a straight, right on the button.
A combination from Sultanov does no damage.
No joy there for Sultanov, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Sultanov misses with a left hand
and Nitiguchi counters with a body kick.
Sultanov throws a jab, cross combination which is slipped

and Nitiguchi counters by moving into the clinch.
Nitiguchi is trying to break the clinch but Sultanov has him pressed against the cage.

Sultanov manages to break the clinch.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Nitiguchi slips under a jab.
A jab lands there for Sultanov.
Sultanov misses with a double jab.
Nitiguchi fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
Sultanov tries to work over Nitiguchi's front leg with a kick but Nitiguchi checks it.
Nitiguchi shoots in but Sultanov avoids the takedown attempt easily.
Sultanov closes the distance but Nitiguchi moves to the side

and Nitiguchi decides to take the opportunity to score a takedown. He's landed in Sultanov's guard.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Sultanov pulls Nitiguchi in to control the position.
Nitiguchi trying to control the position from guard on top but Sultanov is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Sultanov wants to stand and escape but Nitiguchi is having none of it.

Sultanov is working an open guard so Nitiguchi takes the opportunity to get back to his feet.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Sultanov throws a nice looking combination but Nitiguchi bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Sultanov lands a left and a right that sends Nitiguchi crashing to the canvas! Sultanov dives into mount looking to finish!

Nitiguchi is rocked!
Nitiguchi is in a horrible position here. Sultanov smacks him with another shot as he tries to escape the position.
Nitiguchi is still in real trouble! Can Sultanov finish him?
Sultanov throwing sloppy strikes here. Perhaps if he tightened up his striking from such a dominant position, he'd be able to finish easier.
Sultanov wants to control the pace but Nitiguchi is squirming around nicely.
Nitiguchi is in a horrible position here, under a barrage of strikes, he's managing to avoid any damage.
Sultanov tries to control but Nitiguchi wriggling away.
Sultanov is really struggling to control Nitiguchi but he's trying to hold on to the position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Nitiguchi seems to have recovered his senses.
Nitiguchi keeping his composure momentarily, calmly looking to get back to half guard.
Sultanov sitting in mount, just looking to control for the moment.
Nitiguchi regains half guard.
Dario Nitiguchi has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Sultanov content to control rather than advance.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Nitiguchi tries to roll over but Sultanov keeps him under control.

And that's the end of the fight!
That was a close round. You could make an argument for either fighter but I would give it to Amir Sultanov.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Sultanov, winning every round. Will the judges agree? They are the ones who matter, even if they are often depressingly incompetent. 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 Fedor Mirinova scores the fight 29:28
Judge Konstantin Menshow scores the fight 30:27
Judge Dmitry Maklakov scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Amir Sultanov!