PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between David Hall (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Igor Nabokov (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Nabokov has chosen Sparks - The Who as his entrance music. Buckle up people - heeeeeeeeeere we go!

Hall
vs
Nabokov

177 cm
19
185 lbs
3 - 2 - 0

182 cm
23
185 lbs
4 - 0 - 0

Decent wrestler
Basic striking
Cuts easily

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
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 3 - 2 - 0, fighting out of London, David Hall!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 4 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Igor Nabokov!
The judges for this bout are Johanna Lukiainen, Ben Zyskovitsi and Arvi Lind.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Hall shoots in and drives through. Nabokov sprawls well.
Nabokov leaves Hall with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
Hall fails with a takedown attempt.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for David Hall. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Jab by Nabokov.

It looks like David Hall has been cut.
Hall with a lazy takedown attempt

and Nabokov holds on and brings the fighters into a clinch.
Hall tries to break the clinch but Nabokov is controlling the position.

Nabokov is working on a single leg takedown against the cage. Hall can't fight it off and eventually Nabokov manages to take the fight to the floor. Hall looks annoyed but at least he's managed to land in guard.
Hall working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Nabokov.

Hall is looking for a triangle but Nabokov pushes his legs off easily.
This has been an exciting period of action!

Nabokov thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Nabokov tries to stand but Hall is controlling from the bottom.
Nabokov trying to control the position from guard on top but Hall is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Nabokov postures up.
Hall has Nabokov pulled in close to control his posture.
Nabokov looking to pass the guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.
Hall walks into a stiff left hand from Nabokov.

Hall shoots in for a takedown and gets it.

Hall is thinking about going for an arm triangle but he can't free his leg.

Nabokov is defending against the submission attempts here by Hall.
Nabokov tries to get to full guard but Hall has control of the leg.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Hall looking to pass the half guard. Not this time.
Nabokov wants to get back to full guard.
Nabokov moves into full guard.
Hall looking to pass the guard.
Hall wants to control from the top but Nabokov keeps moving.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Hall looking to pass the guard.
Hall is pushing down on Nabokov's leg trying to pass to half guard. Nabokov is fighting to maintain full guard but Hall has managed to sneak the leg through.
Nabokov trying to control from the bottom.
Hall is pressing down on Nabokov's thigh, looking to free his foot. Nabokov is holding on for now.
Nabokov is trying to get back to full guard.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Hall has freed up his trapped foot and advances to mount.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Igor Nabokov will probably get the nod.
The cut man is working on David Hall's cut.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin!

Hall looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
Nice sprawl there from Nabokov as Hall shoots in.
Hall moves in looking to clinch but Nabokov pushes him off.

Hall changes levels and drives through with a really nice takedown into side control. Nabokov looks really pissed at himself for not defending that better.
Nabokov prevents Hall from moving into mount.
Hall wants to lay and pray for a moment but Nabokov keeps working.
David Hall overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Nabokov is trying to get back to half guard. He's pushing on Hall's leg. He's managed it. Nice work.
Hall is looking to pass Nabokov's guard but actually Nabokov recovers to full guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Nabokov is pulling down on Hall's head to control his posture.
Nabokov trying to control the position.
Nabokov utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Hall trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.

Hall drops back looking for a heel hook - he quickly realises he's not going to get it but Nabokov manages to dive on top of him before he can escape and now Hall has Nabokov in his guard.
Nabokov landing with the ground and pound.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Nabokov working from the guard for now, landing some ground and pound.

Hall working for a triangle but Nabokov defends it easily.
Nabokov scoring with some ground and pound.
Hall keeping full guard, as Nabokov tries to pass.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Nabokov throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Nabokov tries to free his leg and advance position but Hall is retaining full guard.
Nabokov pushing down on Hall's thigh, trying to pass to half guard. He's managed it... Nice work.
Nabokov is keen to just control but Hall is a slippery customer.

Nabokov is trying for a guillotine from the top but the pressure isn't in the right place so Hall is just riding it out for now. Nabokov eventually gives up the hold.
Nabokov is keen to just control but Hall is a slippery customer.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Hall moves into full guard.
Nabokov works over Hall with some ground and pound from guard.
Hall controls Nabokov momentarily but Nabokov frees himself.
Nabokov lands a couple of digs.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Nabokov throwing strikes but missing.
Nabokov showing good wrestling skills to control the position.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Igor Nabokov showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The cut man is working on David Hall's cut.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action! This is the final round!

Hall throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Hall dives in and grabs Nabokov's left leg, looking for a takedown. Nabokov pushes down on Hall's head and hops out.
Nabokov moves out of range of the leg kick from Hall.
Nabokov doesn't manage to clinch there - Hall circles away.
David Hall seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Nabokov blocks a low kick nicely.
Hall shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Nabokov as he jumps to the side.

Nabokov closes the distance and clinches.

Nabokov's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Hall shoots in but doesn't get the takedown

and Nabokov counters with a nice double leg into side control. Hall won't be happy with that.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for David Hall. That's going to take a lot out of him.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Nabokov creates a bit of distance and throws down some hard shots.
Nabokov tries to advance position but instead Hall slips a leg back in to half guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Hall slips a foot under and gets full guard. Nice work.
Hall 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.
Hall can't keep his opponent in guard - Nabokov advances to half guard, no doubt looking to mount.
Nabokov with a momentary lay and pray from half guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Nabokov passes to full mount!
Nabokov postures up and connects with a big shot that has rocked Hall badly. He's trying desperately to grab hold of Nabokov around the waist but Nabokov pushes him off and unloads with more strikes, forcing the referee to jump in and save him! Nabokov is the winner by TKO! Nabokov jumps onto the cage and shouts into the camera. "We did it momma!"

Ladies and gentlemen, after 2:35 of round 3, we have a winner by way of TKO (Strikes). Igor Nabokov!
A very excited looking Igor Nabokov made sure he remembered to thank all the fans both in the arena and on the internet. He said all the coolest people spend all day on MMA websites, which got a big reaction.