PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Kubrat Nikolov (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Andrew Kakanskas (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Kubrat Nikolov has the edge in experience - let's see if he can make that count tonight.

Nikolov
vs
Kakanskas

180 cm
25
185 lbs
0 - 3 - 0

175 cm
22
185 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Good 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 0 - 3 - 0, fighting out of London, Kubrat Nikolov!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of London, Andrew Kakanskas!
The judges for this bout are Colin Fotheringham, Paul Tew and Donald Grub.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Kakanskas looks for a takedown. He's got it. We're now in half guard.
We could do with one of the fighters taking the initiative a bit more on the ground - they're both waiting to capitalize on a mistake.
Nikolov looks exhausted already! Oh dear, he should have come in in better shape than this!
We may be looking at a referee standup if the pace doesn't pick up soon.
Nikolov is refusing to be controlled, as Kakanskas sits in half guard.
Kakanskas tries to stand but his hand is stuck under Nikolov.
Nikolov trying to hold on to Kakanskas's head to control him but Kakanskas postures up.
Nikolov is staying active underneath Kakanskas, who seems content to just control the action from this position.

The ref stands the fighters back up. Andrew Kakanskas was stalling too much, according to the referee.
Kakanskas fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
Kakanskas tries to clinch there but Nikolov circles away.
Kubrat Nikolov seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Nikolov avoids a kick to the body.
Kakanskas shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Nikolov but Nikolov pushes him off and we're back to square one.
Kakanskas stuffs the takedown attempt from Nikolov. Nikolov gets slowly back to his feet.

Kakanskas rushes Nikolov and presses him up against the cage.
Kakanskas is clearly stalling here... Pick up the pace son.
Kakanskas is looking for a takedown.
Kubrat Nikolov has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Andrew Kakanskas.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A frustrated look appears on Kakanskas's face as he tries to break the clinch.
A bit of stalling here from Kakanskas.
Kakanskas is looking to take this one to the mat.
Nikolov misses with a body punch.

Kakanskas pulls guard.
Kakanskas utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Kakanskas throws a couple of shots from the bottom but they don't land.
Nikolov throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Nikolov has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.
Kakanskas is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Kakanskas is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Nikolov trying to control from the bottom.

Kakanskas is trying for a guillotine from the top but the pressure isn't in the right place so Nikolov is just riding it out for now. Kakanskas eventually gives up the hold.

Kakanskas stands up from half guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Kakanskas scores to the head and body with a nice combination!
Nikolov tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in the close the distance. Kakanskas manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.

A momentary lapse in concentration from Nikolov enables Kakanskas to shoot in and score with a neat double leg. Nikolov manages to secure a closed guard as the fighters hit the mat.
Kakanskas looking to sit in guard and control but Nikolov gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.

Kakanskas had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Nikolov defends it easily.
Kakanskas trying to control the position.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Andrew Kakanskas dominated that round.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin!

Nikolov shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Kakanskas as he avoids it easily.
Nikolov avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Kakanskas lands a jab-cross combination.

Kakanskas feints and as Nikolov raises his hands in defense, Kakanskas changes levels and drives through with a takedown into guard.
Kakanskas trying to control but Nikolov is working from the bottom.
Kakanskas has decided he wants to stand but the closed guard of Nikolov is proving hard to escape from.
Kakanskas tries to free his leg and advance position but Nikolov is retaining full guard.
Kakanskas is intent on slowing down the pace of the fight, simply looking to control.
Andrew Kakanskas has got the better of the ground game so far.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
The referee looks like he's ready to step in and stand the fighters back up.

The ref stands the fighters back up. Andrew Kakanskas was stalling too much, according to the referee.
Kakanskas lands a leg kick that knocks Nikolov off balance momentarily.
Kakanskas tries to clinch but Nikolov moves out of range.

Kakanskas closes the distance, clinches up and gets a nice trip takedown into side control. Very smooth.

Kakanskas stands up.

Kakanskas closes the distance and clinches.
Nikolov slowing the pace effectively.

Kakanskas manages to pull guard. Let's see whether he can land a sub off his back.
Nikolov passes easily into side control. Nice work.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Nikolov working the ground and pound.
Nikolov is working Kakanskas over with some ground and pound from side control.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Kakanskas manages to work his way to half guard, despite Nikolov's best efforts.
Kakanskas blocking the ground and pound attempt from Nikolov.
Kakanskas trying to control from the bottom.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Kakanskas is trying to get back to full guard.
Nikolov blocks the strikes from Kakanskas.
Nikolov throws a big elbow that misses, also allowing Kakanskas to regain full guard.
Nikolov stops Kakanskas from standing up.
Nikolov throws a strike but Kakanskas rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Nikolov pushes Kakanskas off for just long enough to get back to his feet. Very athletic spring there.

Kakanskas shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Let's see what he's got on the mat.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Kakanskas wants to control from the top but Nikolov keeps moving.
Nikolov is trying to keep Kakanskas in close.
Kakanskas trying to control the position from guard on top but Nikolov is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Kakanskas accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.

The ref stands the fighters back up, due to lack of action by Andrew Kakanskas.
Nikolov avoids the head kick by Kakanskas.
Kakanskas shoots for a takedown but Nikolov saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
Nikolov slaps away a takedown attempt from Kakanskas, before circling back to the center of the mat.

Kakanskas gets caught napping as Nikolov dives in and scores a takedown. Kakanskas manages to retain guard.
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.
Kakanskas wants to control but Nikolov passes easily into half guard.
Kakanskas works his way to full guard. Good work.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Andrew Kakanskas showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action! And we move into the final round!

Nikolov displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Kakanskas.
Kakanskas shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Nikolov pinned against the cage. Nikolov gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.

Kakanskas scores a trip takedown into side control. Nice.

Kakanskas working hard here to secure a kimura but he's not really in the right position for it.
Kakanskas in side control, just content to control the action for now.

That's one minute gone in the round.
You can see the frustration on Nikolov's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Kakanskas has knee on belly momentarily but Nikolov bucks him off and regains half guard.
Kakanskas is trying to get back to his feet now but his leg is trapped.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Neither fighter has done anything of merit for a good minute or two here and the crowd are not happy about it.
Kakanskas trying to control from half guard but Nikolov is working away.

The ref stands the fighters back up, due to lack of action by Andrew Kakanskas.

Nikolov tries to keep at a distance but Kakanskas has taken the fight into the clinch.

Kakanskas pulls Nikolov into guard.
Kakanskas 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.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Nikolov throws a big elbow that misses.
Nikolov throws a strike but Kakanskas rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.
Nikolov is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Kakanskas is controlling him.
Kakanskas throwing strikes but missing.
Kakanskas trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Kakanskas stops Nikolov from standing up.
Nikolov working a defensive guard here.
We've had a lack of effective grappling in the last minute or so, which could well see a referee standup.
Nikolov keeping moving, preventing Kakanskas from controlling successfully.

Kubrat Nikolov has forced the referee to step in and bring the fight back to the feet.

Kakanskas scores a trip takedown into side control. Nice.
Nikolov is putting a lot of effort into getting back to his feet here.
Kubrat Nikolov has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Andrew Kakanskas is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.

Kakanskas stands up.

And that's the end of the fight!
Andrew Kakanskas comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Kakanskas has outworked and out performed his opponent in all aspects of the game today. He was simply too good and the decision should be no more than a formality. 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 Colin Fotheringham scores the fight 27:30
Judge Paul Tew scores the fight 27:30
Judge Donald Grub scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Andrew Kakanskas!