PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Gareth McCall (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Nikolai Radev (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Chooooooooon! I think McCall might be my favorite fighter, now he's come out to Bobby Darin - Mack The Knife. Nikolai Radev told me before the fight that he's been watching a lot of DVDs so let's see if that helps him in this one! I can't wait to find out!

McCall
vs
Radev

185 cm
23
195 lbs
9 - 1 - 0

184 cm
22
190 lbs
6 - 3 - 0

Good wrestling
Great elbows
Granite chin

Good wrestler
Lethal high kicks
Good gas tank

TFP Graphics - Pit Inc

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 9 - 1 - 0, fighting out of New York, Gareth McCall!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 6 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Nikolai Radev!
The judges for this bout are Don Winkell, and Timothy Bukovac.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
McCall thuds his right hand into Radev's forehead from close range. That could be painful for both fighters.
McCall ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
Nice takedown defense from McCall. No joy for Radev on that attempt.
Radev fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
McCall throws a solid leg kick but Radev takes the impact on his shin and smiles at McCall.
McCall throws a lazy uppercut
and Radev counters with a straight right hand.
Radev takes a step towards his opponent and connects with a left hand, before circling away.
McCall pivots as if he's going to throw a leg kick but stops half way.

McCall gets a clinch.
Radev misses with a body punch.
McCall lands an elbow just above Radev 's eye.

It looks like Nikolai Radev has been cut.
Radev lands with a short head shot on the inside.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Radev lands an uppercut.
Nice elbow from McCall.
Radev dodges an elbow strike from McCall.
McCall throws a head punch that misses.
McCall is defending well against a takedown attempt.
Gareth McCall has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Nikolai Radev.
McCall lands an elbow inside that Radev shrugs off.

That's one minute gone in the round.
McCall lands punches inside but they're not really causing much damage.
McCall pushes off and fires off an elbow that misses, before clinching up again, against the cage.
With the fighters clinched against the cage, Radev creates a bit of distance for himself and scores with a nice uppercut.
Stalling in the clinch from McCall.
McCall lands an elbow inside.
McCall tries a body shot but Radev blocks it.
A quick uppercut on the inside from McCall.
Radev blocks an elbow strike.
McCall swings wildly with an uppercut but Radev uses good head movement to avoid it.
McCall blocks a body shot from Radev.
A battle for position here, against the cage.
Radev misses with a hook to the ribs.
Radev is leaning against McCall and scores with a nice uppercut to the body.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Radev doesn't land with the attempted body shot.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Radev swings away with an uppercut that misses.
A head punch blocked on the inside by McCall.
Radev lands a left hand that snaps the head of McCall backwards.
McCall is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Radev is defending well for now.
McCall doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Radev lands a hook that snaps the head of McCall backwards.
Radev dodges an elbow strike from McCall.
Radev blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
The pace slowing considerably in the clinch, as McCall takes a break from that fighting nonsense to think about the finer things in life.
Radev misses with a body punch.
McCall throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Radev blocks it with crossed arms.
Radev misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Radev can't find room to land a body shot as McCall controls the action.
Radev tries to stall but McCall uses the opportunity to gain a better position.
McCall is looking to control Radev's arms but Radev gets an underhook and turns him. Now McCall has his back to the cage.
Radev lands a hook to the side of the head.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
McCall creates a bit of distance and throws an elbow that only just misses.
Still in the clinch, Radev scores with a nice short uppercut.
McCall trying to land knees to the body.
McCall blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Radev manages to get underhooks and slows down the pace for a moment.
Radev blocks an elbow strike from McCall.
Radev scores with a hook to the body.
Radev lands a nice shot to the body.
Radev digs a right hand into McCall's ribs. Those have got to be taking their toll on McCall's gas tank.
McCall's head jolts backwards as he takes an uppercut right on the button!
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Radev lands a body punch - he's looking to wear down McCall.
Radev working some nice short punches in the clinch.
Radev lands a body punch.
McCall is breathing heavily.
Radev is working McCall over against the cage.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Radev has hold of a leg and is looking for a trip takedown. McCall avoids it nicely though and we remain in the clinch.
Radev is working for takedown but McCall is calmly controlling the position for now.
McCall creates a bit of distance and throws an elbow that only just misses.
Both guys are working to get underhooks.
Radev works for underhooks and lands a body shot in the process.
A right hook to the body lands for Radev.
Radev stays in close to his opponent and throws a right hand to the body.
McCall throws an elbow but it's blocked.
Radev scores with a shot to the side of McCall's head.
McCall throws an elbow but it's blocked.
Radev lands with a good tight uppercut to the head.
Radev lands a short shot on the inside that snaps the head of McCall backwards.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Radev lands a hook that snaps the head of McCall backwards.
Good body shot from Radev.
McCall misses with a hook from the clinch.
McCall blocking some punches.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Nikolai Radev dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Nikolai Radev's cut.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

McCall lands a nice looking body kick.
McCall scores with a head kick.
McCall throws the kick towards the body but Radev avoids it.
Radev scores with a sloppy right hand. McCall should have avoided that one.
Radev throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
McCall thows a left - swing and a miss!
Gareth McCall seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Radev moves out of range as McCall throws a body kick.
Radev lands with a nice low kick. That'll leave a bruise.
Radev feints with a shoulder and throws a nice leg kick to McCall's calf.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Radev cracks a nice hook into McCall's ribs.
McCall tries to work over Radev's front leg with a kick but Radev checks it.
McCall on the wrong end of a nice low kick. He's acting like it's no big deal but he doesn't want to take many more of those.
McCall takes a shot to the body in his stride.

Radev closes the distance and gets a trip takedown into side control. McCall quickly recovers to half guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
McCall keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Radev is pressing down on McCall's thigh, looking to free his foot. McCall is holding on for now.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Radev missing with the ground and pound from half guard.
Radev wants to take a breather but McCall is having none of it.
Radev looks to score some points with some ground and pound.
Radev thows a huge punch but McCall dodges it nicely.
Radev has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
Radev performing his best blanket impression for a moment.
Radev tries to pass to full mount but McCall defends it.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
McCall is not content to let Radev control the position.

OK we're going to have a standup here. Nikolai Radev hasn't been effective enough on the ground and the referee wants a restart.
McCall on the receiving end of a decent leg kick there by Radev. Radev obviously looking to wear him down.
Radev moves out of range as McCall throws a body kick.
McCall is looking to chop away at Radev's legs.
McCall misses with a low kick.
McCall throws a body kick but he was well out of range there.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Radev looking to land some kicks to the body here.
Radev fakes a head punch and goes low to the body. Nicely done.
Radev throws a wild body kick that McCall sees coming a mile off.
McCall doesn't react quick enough there as he takes a shot to the body.
McCall looks to score with a jab to the body but Radev is just out of range.
McCall leaves Radev with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
A nice inside leg kick there by Radev. That's going to slow McCall down.
McCall takes a jab on the nose. He smiles like he loves it and keeps coming.
McCall tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Radev was well out of range. Poor timing from McCall.
The fighters circling - McCall throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
McCall scores with a leg kick.
Radev throws an uppercut from half a mile away. McCall sees it coming and avoids it easily.
Radev connects with a body shot.
Radev has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
McCall lands a front kick.
Good leg kick by Radev there. It's the ones that make that thud noise that hurt and that was an almighty thud.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Radev throws a low kick but it's checked well by McCall.
Radev throws a head kick but McCall moves out of range.
A chopping leg kick lands by McCall.
Donk. McCall catches Radev right on the button with a cross.
Radev takes a swing at McCall's ribcage but misses.
McCall misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Radev scores with a straight right hand, right through his opponent's guard.
McCall throws a body kick that misses.
McCall lands a leg kick and bounces back out of range.
Radev goes for a high kick. It partially lands.
Radev fails with a takedown attempt.
McCall turns his hip over beautifully as he lands a nice leg kick.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Radev stooping low to avoid any incoming strikes and then lunges in with an uppercut come cross that lands flush.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Nikolai Radev showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The cut man is working on Nikolai Radev's cut.
That's time! Back to the action! This is the final round!

Radev turns his hip over beautifully as he lands a nice leg kick.
A head kick from Radev lands but McCall takes it in his stride.
Radev moves away from the strike by McCall.
McCall thumps Radev with a low kick.
Radev throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
McCall moves out of range of the body kick from Radev.
Radev scores with a crisp jab that stopped McCall in his tracks.
A head kick misses from McCall.
McCall pivots, looking for a leg kick but Radev is out of range and McCall settles back down.
Radev avoids the head kick by McCall.
McCall throws a low kick but Radev avoids it.

Radev changes levels and drives through with a really nice takedown into side control. McCall looks really pissed at himself for not defending that better.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Radev in side control, throwing shots but McCall defends.
Check out the look on Radev's face as he threw that strike - that's one determined fighter!

That's one minute gone in the round.
Radev just content to control the position.
Radev laying and praying for a moment but McCall takes advantage and regains half guard.
McCall is staying active underneath Radev, who seems content to just control the action from this position.
Radev is in a good position here but he's just trying to control... And he's not even managing to do that successfully.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Radev not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
Radev thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.
Radev works his foot free and advances to mount.
Radev tries to control but McCall wriggling away.
Gareth McCall has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Radev throws some wild stikes that McCall manages to avoid easily.
Radev wants to control but McCall has made it back to half guard. Nice work.
Still in half guard, Radev seems content to control.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

The ref calls for a clean break and stands the fighters back up. Nikolai Radev wasn't active enough on the ground.
Radev throws a low kick but his opponent is out of range.
Radev jabs at McCall's body.

Radev closes the distance and gets a double leg, slamming McCall to the mat! McCall manages to get full guard.
Radev postures up and scores with a shot to the body and a follow up elbow to the head.
Radev's corner is telling him to maintain position.
Nikolai Radev is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
McCall working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Radev.
McCall keeping moving, preventing Radev from controlling successfully.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Radev loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.

And that's the end of the fight!
Nikolai Radev comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Radev 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 Don Winkell scores the fight 27:30
Judge Percy O'Donnell scores the fight 27:30
Judge Timothy Bukovac scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Nikolai Radev!
Our winner, Nikolai Radev, made sure he spent some time buttering up the crowd during his post fight interview, which will no doubt bring him a few more fans.