PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Kiec Bicas (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Nikita Shmelev (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Kiec Bicas has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Bicas
vs
Shmelev

185 cm
23
180 lbs
2 - 1 - 0

180 cm
18
185 lbs
0 - 1 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Solid boxing
Granite chin

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
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 2 - 1 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Kiec Bicas!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 1 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Nikita Shmelev!
The judges for this bout are Aleksandr Martynov, Igor Prikhodko and Aleksei Zolotukhin.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Bicas rushes Shmelev and presses him up against the cage.
Bicas looks exhausted already! Oh dear, he should have come in in better shape than this!
Shmelev jumps guard but Bicas stands there with Shmelev around his waist. Shmelev gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.
Bicas prevents the takedown attempt.
Bicas stalling in the clinch.
Shmelev is trying to break the clinch but Bicas has him pressed against the cage.
Bicas prevents Shmelev from breaking the clinch.

Shmelev manages to break the clinch.
Bicas thumps Shmelev with a low kick.

Shmelev has taken the fight to the clinch.
Shmelev fails to pull guard.
Kiec Bicas has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Nikita Shmelev.
Shmelev looks like he'd prefer to be striking at range right now.
Shmelev tries to pull guard but Bicas won't allow it.
Shmelev jumps guard but his hands slip and he falls flat on his back. Well, he's made himself look a right mug there, as Bicas walks away with a smile on his face. Shmelev gets slowly back to his feet and shakes his head.
Shmelev keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Bicas shoots for a double leg takedown but Shmelev sprawls well. He's pushed Bicas's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.

Shmelev closes the distance and looks for a trip takedown... aaaand he's got it - Shmelev lands in his opponent's guard.
Shmelev pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Bicas is keeping the position for now.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Bicas preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Shmelev in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Shmelev controls the pace of the fight for a moment.

Shmelev 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.
Shmelev engaging in some classic timewasting tactics.

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.
We must be close to a standup if these guys don't pick up the pace.

OK we're going to have a standup here. Nikita Shmelev hasn't been effective enough on the ground and the referee wants a restart.
Shmelev tries to score a power double leg takedown but Bicas sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Shmelev somewhat.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Shmelev scoring well with a low kick there.

Shmelev moves into range and clinches up with Bicas.

Shmelev pulls Bicas into guard.
Shmelev lands a beautiful switch and he's in full mount! That could spell trouble for Bicas!

Shmelev is working on an americana here. Ooh, that looks pretty nasty! Nope, Bicas has managed to escape the submission attempt.
Shmelev lands a big elbow.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Bicas is trying to get back to his feet but can't.
Bicas is squirming around, avoiding Shmelev's attempts to control the action.
Shmelev controlling the position easily from mount.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Nikita Shmelev dominated that round.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

Shmelev throws a head kick that connects with a bit of head and a bit of hand.
Bicas fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
Kiec Bicas seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

Shmelev closes the distance and scores a nice trip takedown into half guard. Bicas did well to prevent Shmelev getting side control.
Bicas is staying active underneath Shmelev, who seems content to just control the action from this position.
Shmelev is figuring out what he wants to do next.
Shmelev is trying to control. Bicas wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Nikita Shmelev has forced the referee to step in and restart the fight on the feet.
Bicas with a poor takedown

and Shmelev counters with a single leg into guard. Bicas didn't expect that.
Shmelev working from the guard for now, landing some ground and pound.
Shmelev is stalling in the full guard.
Bicas keeping moving, preventing Shmelev from controlling successfully.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Shmelev wants to stand but Bicas is controlling his posture from full guard.
Shmelev is looking to advance position but Bicas has hit a scissor sweep - now he's on top in mount!
Bicas breaks from Shmelev's wrist control and lands an elbow.
Bicas thuds his fist into the canvas! Oooouch!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Shmelev tries to lock up and control but Bicas gives him a forearm to the face and pushes him away.
Bicas postures up and cracks his opponent a couple of times before moving back into close ground control. Shmelev looks a forlorn figure.
Shmelev working to try and regain half guard.
Bicas avoids the attempt from Shmelev to control.
Bicas lands a shot to the body, followed up by a shot to the exposed head of his trapped opponent.
Shmelev wants to hold on but Bicas pushes him away.
Shmelev keeping his composure momentarily, calmly looking to get back to half guard.

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.
A nice elbow there by Bicas.
Bicas avoids the attempt from Shmelev to control.
Bicas looking to finish with strikes here!

Bicas moves into side control, trying to work for a kimura. That looks painful! Will he finish!!?? No, Shmelev has worked his arm free - good work by Shmelev!
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Bicas grinds an elbow into Shmelev's temple.
Shmelev wants to get back to his feet.
Bicas working the ground and pound from side control.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Nikita Shmelev showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin! Ladies and gentlemen, this is the final round!

Bicas lands with a straight right. Shmelev didn't see that one coming.
Shmelev buckles his opponent's knee momentarily with a nice leg kick.
Kiec Bicas is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Shmelev tries to clinch but Bicas is having none of it.
Shmelev scores with a three punch combo!

Shmelev feints and then dives in with a takedown. That was a long way out but the feint bought him enough time to close the distance and complete the takedown. Now we'll play guard for a bit and see who can get the better of that position.
Shmelev is pushing down on Bicas's leg trying to pass to half guard. Bicas is fighting to maintain full guard but Shmelev has managed to sneak the leg through.
Shmelev controlling the action here.
Nikita Shmelev has got the better of the ground game so far.
Shmelev is trying to control the action in half guard but Bicas is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Shmelev moves into full mount! Bicas won't be happy about that!
Shmelev landing strikes from the mount.
Bicas is squirming around, avoiding Shmelev's attempts to control the action.
Shmelev controlling the position easily from mount.
Bicas is working to get back to half guard.

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.
Shmelev lands a big elbow.
Shmelev thuds his fist into the canvas! Oooouch!
Bicas is squirming around, avoiding Shmelev's attempts to control the action.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Bicas wants to try and get back to his feet.
Shmelev with good strikes from the mount here!
Bicas is trying desperately to improve position.
Shmelev wants to control but instead Bicas manages to regain half guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Shmelev working to pass to mount. He's got his hand pressing down on Bicas's thigh. Bicas counters though and makes it back to full guard.
Shmelev with a flurry of punches that miss.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Shmelev stops Bicas from standing up.

And that's the end of the fight!
Nikita Shmelev comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Shmelev winning every round here. Surely the decision will go his way and he'll pick up a well deserved decision victory. 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 Aleksandr Martynov scores the fight 27:30
Judge Igor Prikhodko scores the fight 27:30
Judge Aleksei Zolotukhin scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Nikita Shmelev!