PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Vasilko Nikolaevich (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Marcin Hopek (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Hopek is bouncing up and down as he enters the arena, backed by PMM - Poza Horyzont. Rumors backstage are that the fighters have been paid to keep it standing but we know that would never happen in MMA!

Nikolaevich
vs
Hopek

178 cm
18
185 lbs
2 - 0 - 0

180 cm
21
174 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Solid Muay Thai
Very quick

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Tends to cut

Mango Nutrition

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 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Vasilko Nikolaevich!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Marcin Hopek!
The judges for this bout are Daniel Cesar, Edson Gomes and Seu Braga.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Hopek scores a trip takedown into side control. Nice.

Hopek is trying to land an Americana. He has the arm isolated but Nikolaevich is keeping cool and he's avoided the danger for now.
Nikolaevich struggling a bit here.

Hopek is trying to get an arm triangle but Nikolaevich is defending well.
A bit of a lull in the action here.

Hopek is trying to land an Americana. He has the arm isolated but Nikolaevich is keeping cool and he's avoided the danger for now.

Hopek is looking for a kimura. He might have it! No, Nikolaevich has escaped the position, nice work there.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Hopek prevents Nikolaevich from escaping the position.
Hopek wants to control but Nikolaevich is keeping him busy.

Hopek is trying to land an Americana. He has the arm isolated but Nikolaevich is keeping cool and he's avoided the danger for now.
Hopek wants to control but Nikolaevich is keeping him busy.
Nikolaevich knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Hopek on the ground.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Hopek tries to move to mount but Nikolaevich blocks the move with his legs.
Nikolaevich is looking for a sweep.

Hopek swings around for an armbar but Nikolaevich sees it coming a mile off and turns beautifully into Hopek's guard.

Hopek is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Nikolaevich is aware though and is defending well.
Nikolaevich postures up.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Hopek bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Nikolaevich's guard.
Nikolaevich avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Nikolaevich trying to control the position here.
Nikolaevich keeping moving, preventing Hopek from controlling successfully.
Nikolaevich looking to hit a scissor sweep but Hopek is one step ahead there.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Hopek wants to pass the guard but Nikolaevich is keeping the position.
Hopek stands and throws Nikolaevich's legs to the side, diving into side control.

Hopek tries for a kimura. Not really close to a finish though.

Hopek working hard here to secure a kimura but he's not really in the right position for it.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Hopek wants to control but Nikolaevich is keeping him busy.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Marcin Hopek dominated that 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.

Hopek misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
Nice sprawl there from Nikolaevich as Hopek shoots in.
Nikolaevich goes for a spinning back kick but it misses.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Hopek.
Vasilko Nikolaevich has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Marcin Hopek.
Nikolaevich looking to take his opponent's legs away with the low kicks.
Nikolaevich misses with a body kick.
Nikolaevich defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Hopek.
Nikolaevich lands with a nice body kick.
Marcin Hopek is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Hopek is breathing heavily.
Nikolaevich misses with a head kick.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Ooooh, nice body kick lands from Nikolaevich. Hopek shrugs it off though.
Hopek closes this distance looking for a takedown but Nikolaevich circles away.
Nikolaevich lands a high kick!

It looks like Marcin Hopek has been cut.
Nikolaevich lands with a kick to the ribs.
Hopek shapes like he's going to throw a leg kick but settles back down.
Hopek takes a head kick and shrugs it off.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Thud! ouch! good body kick from Nikolaevich - that will leave a mark!
Nikolaevich throws a nice inside leg kick.
Nikolaevich throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Nikolaevich throws out a loose jab but Hopek uses good head movement to avoid it.
Nikolaevich throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A swing and a miss from Nikolaevich.
Nikolaevich misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Hopek.
Hopek changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Nikolaevich tries to avoid it but Hopek manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Nikolaevich to the ground. Nikolaevich escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
Hopek steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Nikolaevich.
Nikolaevich throws a front kick that sends Hopek stumbling back into the ropes.
Nikolaevich throws a series of punches but Hopek avoids them all with ease.
Nikolaevich bobs and weaves and then throws a good body kick.
Hopek takes a kick to the body and keeps moving.
Nikolaevich throws a leg kick which misses Hopek's front leg but catches the back leg as Hopek tries to avoid it.
Nikolaevich lands a nice looking kick to the body. Hopek takes a step back to recover.
Hopek walks forward, straight into a front kick from Nikolaevich.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Nikolaevich scores with a push kick.
Nikolaevich lands with a nice body kick.
Nikolaevich scores with a kick to the midsection.
Nikolaevich throws a body kick that sends a sickening thudding noise reverberating around the arena.
Nikolaevich fakes a couple of low kicks, before throwing one on the third attempt. It connects and Hopek has to reset his feet before getting ready to engage.
Nice defenses there by Hopek.
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!
Hopek on the wrong end of a kick to the body.
Nikolaevich throws a head kick that connects with a bit of head and a bit of hand.
Vasilko Nikolaevich is winning the standup battle so far.
Nikolaevich lands a head kick. Hopek smiles back at him and beckons him forward.
Hopek has developed a nice purple lump on his ribcage, as a result of some heavy body kicks from Nikolaevich.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Hopek dodges the punch combination from Nikolaevich.
Nikolaevich throws a big shot that misses.
Hopek takes a body kick right on the floating rib. Ouchie.
Nice body kick from Nikolaevich.
Nikolaevich connects with a solid leg kick.
Vasilko Nikolaevich is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Nikolaevich feints and then cracks Hopek's leading leg with a nice low kick. He's obviously looking to slow Hopek down.
Nikolaevich throws a right hand that Hopek ducks under and follows up with a left that Hopek also avoids with ease.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Nikolaevich lands with a thumping leg kick.
Nikolaevich lands a head kick!
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Vasilko Nikolaevich dominated that second round.
The cut man is working on Marcin Hopek's cut.
That's time! Back to the action! Ladies and gentlemen, this is the final round!

Nikolaevich lands a high kick!
Hopek shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Nikolaevich scores with a push kick.
Hopek moves in looking to clinch but Nikolaevich pushes him off.
A kick lands to the mid section there for Nikolaevich.
Nikolaevich throws a nice outside leg kick.
Hopek keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Nikolaevich lands a head kick. Hopek smiles back at him and beckons him forward.
Hopek takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Nice body kick from Nikolaevich.
Nikolaevich turns his hip over beautifully as he lands a nice leg kick.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Nikolaevich tries a head kick but it misses.
Nikolaevich thuds his shin into the meat of Hopek's side.
Nikolaevich is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Hopek can do to turn this around?
Crunch! Nikolaevich slams his shin into Hopek's torso.
Nikolaevich lands with a head kick! That's gotta hurt.
Hopek has a nice red mark on his side after a thudding body kick by Nikolaevich.
Hopek tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Nikolaevich swivels and escapes.
A slow jab from Nikolaevich misses its intended target.
Hopek tries to check the leg kick but that clearly hurt him.
Nikolaevich thows a left - swing and a miss!
Nikolaevich throws a body kick that digs right into the meat.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Nikolaevich takes a swing at Hopek's ribcage but misses.
Crunch! Nikolaevich slams his shin into Hopek's torso.
Nikolaevich ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Hopek moves away.
Nikolaevich misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Hopek.
Nikolaevich throws a body kick that sends a sickening thudding noise reverberating around the arena.
A slapping body kick lands there for Nikolaevich.
Nikolaevich misses with a body shot.
Nikolaevich stuffs the takedown.
Vasilko Nikolaevich has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Marcin Hopek.
A kick lands to the mid section there for Nikolaevich.
Hopek throws a head kick that misses
and Nikolaevich counters with a kick to the head that grazes his opponent. Hopek is lucky that one didn't land flush.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Nikolaevich throws a mid kick that lands with a slap.
Nikolaevich connects with a solid leg kick.
Nice defenses there by Hopek.
Hopek closes the distance and clinches up with Nikolaevich, looking for a takedown. Hopek pushes Nikolaevich against the ropes but Nikolaevich circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
Nikolaevich lands with a kick to the ribs.
A decent looking body kick lands there for Nikolaevich.
Hopek takes a nice looking leg kick right on the meat of his thigh there.
Nikolaevich lands with a slapping head kick.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Nikolaevich with a body punch. A glancing blow.
Nikolaevich thumps Hopek with a low kick.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Nikolaevich goes for a high kick. It partially lands.
Marcin Hopek seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Hopek avoids the body shot from Nikolaevich.
Nikolaevich throws a quick inside leg kick.
Hopek blocks a jab.
Nikolaevich thuds his shin into the meat of Hopek's side.
Nikolaevich lands a high kick!
Both fighters circling a little - Nikolaevich finishes the exchange with a kick to the body.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Nikolaevich fakes the leg kick and cracks Hopek in the body.
Nikolaevich lands with a kick to the temple. Hopek shrugs as if to say "is that all you've got?"
Nikolaevich lands a leg kick. The shin dug right into the meat of the thigh.

And that's the end of the fight!
Vasilko Nikolaevich showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Nikolaevich has won this one but let's see what the judges have to say. 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 Daniel Cesar scores the fight 29:26
Judge Edson Gomes scores the fight 29:26
Judge Seu Braga scores the fight 29:26

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Vasilko Nikolaevich!
A victorious Vasilko Nikolaevich thanked his army of followers in his post fight interview, telling people to make sure they follow him on Twitter.