PBP Commentary

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

Connell
vs
Golubev

190 cm
27
180 lbs
1 - 3 - 0

178 cm
23
170 lbs
0 - 1 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Solid Muay Thai
KO power

BJJ White Belt
Good kicks
Granite chin

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 1 - 3 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Chael Connell!
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 Golubev!
The judges for this bout are Vladimir Khabensky, Viktor Lagutenko and Valeri Chadov.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Golubev fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
Golubev tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Connell paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Golubev swats away the attempt to clinch by Connell.
Connell connects with a high kick.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Golubev.
Golubev dives in for a single leg takedown but Connell sprawls and the fighters end up clinched against the cage.
Chael Connell has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Nikita Golubev.
Golubev misses with an elbow over the top.
Connell jumps guard but Golubev stands there with Connell around his waist. Connell gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.
A frustrated look appears on Connell's face as he tries to break the clinch.
Golubev lands a knee to the head.

It looks like Chael Connell has been cut.

Connell gets control of Golubev's arms and successfully pulls guard. Connell will no doubt be looking for submissions off his back.
Golubev wants to stand but Connell has a closed guard, so he can't escape.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Connell trying to control the position.
Connell has a closed guard, preventing Golubev from standing up.
Connell is trying to control the position but Golubev postures up.

Golubev stands up and waves to Connell to follow him.
Golubev tries to clinch but Connell moves away

and Connell counters by moving into the clinch.
Connell lands a left hand that snaps the head of Golubev backwards.

Connell pulls Golubev into guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Connell is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.
Connell missing with the ground and pound from half guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Connell looking to pass the half guard. Not this time.

Connell decides he's had enough of the ground and stands up.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Golubev moves in looking to clinch but Connell pushes him off.
Golubev keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
Connell is trying hard to land a takedown here. Golubev sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.
Connell leaves Golubev with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
Connell is looking to slow Golubev down with leg kicks.
Golubev tries to clinch up but Connell circles away and keeps his distance.

Golubev has managed to clinch.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Golubev prevents a takedown attempt there.
Connell drops down for a takedown but doesn't get it.

Connell manages to pull guard. Let's see whether he can land a sub off his back.
Connell trying to keep a closed guard but Golubev is proving a slippery customer.

Golubev stands and steps away. Connell gets to his feet too and we're back to the striking game.
Golubev closes the distance and clinches up with Connell, looking for a takedown. Golubev pushes Connell against the cage but Connell circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
Golubev fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
Golubev looks winded!

Connell has managed to clinch.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Connell blocks an elbow strike.

Golubev escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
A head kick by Connell misses
and Connell takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
Golubev stuffs the takedown.
Golubev dives in and grabs Connell's left leg, looking for a takedown. Connell pushes down on Golubev's head and hops out.
Connell tries to clinch but Golubev moves out of range.
Connell is trying hard to land a takedown here. Golubev sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.
Connell shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Golubev defends it nicely.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Golubev dives in for a single leg takedown but Connell sprawls and the fighters end up clinched against the cage.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Connell is looking to take this one to the mat.
Connell wants a takedown.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Chael Connell dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Chael Connell's cut.
That's time! Back to the action!

Golubev shoots in looking for a takedown but Connell manages to keep the fight standing, pushing Golubev's face into the canvas for good measure before circling away.
Golubev rushes in with a sloppy looking punch
letting Connell counter with a right hand.
Connell is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Connell fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Connell shoots for a takedown but Golubev saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
Golubev blocks the body kick.
Connell leaves Golubev with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
Connell throws a head kick that misses.
Golubev tries to land a body kick
and Connell counters with a nice body kick.
Connell tries to clinch but Golubev is having none of it.
A head kick misses from Connell.

Golubev has taken the fight to the clinch.

Connell manages to pull guard.
Golubev must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Golubev tries to stand but Connell is controlling from the bottom.
Golubev is breathing heavily.

Connell has his foot on Golubev's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Golubev works his way back into a safe position though.

Golubev stands and steps away. Connell gets to his feet too and we're back to the striking game.
Golubev pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Connell scores with a slapping inside leg kick.
Chael Connell is winning the standup battle so far.
Golubev tries to land a body kick
and Connell counters with a body kick.
Connell misses with a takedown attempt - Golubev sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.

Connell closes the distance and clinches.
Connell can't get the takedown.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Chael Connell. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Golubev working hard to break the clinch.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Connell looking for a takedown.
Kneeeeees! The crowd are calling for knees to the body. Connell obliges.
This has been an exciting period of action!

Connell's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Golubev fails with a takedown attempt.
Connell tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Golubev swivels and escapes.
Golubev stuffs the takedown.
Connell will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
Chael Connell is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Connell dives in and grabs Golubev's left leg, looking for a takedown. Golubev pushes down on Connell's head and hops out.
Golubev throws a sloppy head kick and Connell moves out of range easily.
Golubev misses with an uppercut. Connell saw that one coming.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Connell shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Golubev pinned against the cage. Golubev gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
Golubev stuffs the takedown.
Golubev shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Connell as he avoids it easily.
Golubev lets loose with a powerful body kick. Connell will feel that in the morning.
Golubev throws a jab when Connell was well out of range.
Golubev misses with an uppercut. Connell saw that one coming.
Golubev is trying hard to land a takedown here. Connell sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.
Connell avoids a punch combination nicely.
No luck for Connell with that takedown attempt.
Golubev throws a combination that misses

and Connell counters by clinching up.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Connell breaks from the clinch.
Golubev stuffs the takedown.
Connell throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Golubev's waist but Golubev gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Connell off to one side.
Golubev wants to clinch.
Nice sprawl there from Golubev as Connell shoots in.
Connell tries to drive through with a takedown attempt but Golubev defends well and Connell ends up having to push Golubev into the cage where they will battle it out in the clinch.
Connell tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. Golubev just stands there and leans against the cage.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Golubev is trying to pull guard but Connell turns him against the cage and we stay in the clinch.
Golubev displaying some good clinch control by pressing Connell up against the cage.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Connell misses with a knee to the head.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Chael Connell dominated that second round.
The cut man is working on Chael Connell's cut.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business. This is the final round!

Golubev shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Connell pinned against the cage. Connell gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
Connell leaves Golubev with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
Golubev changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Connell tries to avoid it but Golubev manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Connell to the ground. Connell escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
Chael Connell has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Nikita Golubev.
Connell shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Golubev defends it nicely.
No luck with that takedown attempt from Golubev.
Golubev tries to clinch up
and Connell counters with a flying knee. Nice.
Connell dives in and grabs Golubev's left leg, looking for a takedown. Golubev pushes down on Connell's head and hops out.
Golubev takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Golubev throws a right and a left that both miss.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Connell tries to clinch but Golubev is having none of it.
Connell lands a lovely overhand right.
Connell shoots in and drives through. Golubev sprawls well.
Golubev shoots for a double leg takedown but Connell sprawls well. He's pushed Golubev's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
Connell tries to close the distance and clinch but Golubev swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Connell tries to clinch up but Golubev circles away and keeps his distance.
Golubev shoots in looking for a takedown. Connell tries to sprawl out of it but Golubev keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Connell manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
Horrible takedown by Connell or perhaps it was just good defense by Golubev which made him look bad.
Golubev looks to land a left hand but Connell moved out of range nicely.
Connell's jab looks to have found its range, popping Golubev under the eye.
Golubev is trying desperately to land a takedown but Connell is having absolutely none of it. This is turning into a bit of a nightmare for Golubev.
Connell shoots in looking for a takedown but Golubev manages to keep the fight standing, pushing Connell's face into the canvas for good measure before circling away.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Golubev takes a punch to the jaw and another one to the bread basket.
Nikita Golubev seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

Golubev takes the fight into the clinch.

Connell ties up his opponent against the cage and manages to drag the fight down to the ground. Connell no doubt will be looking to work submissions from his guard.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.

Golubev decides to stand up and beckons his opponent to follow.
Connell shoots for a double leg takedown but Golubev sprawls well. He's pushed Connell's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
Golubev fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
Golubev tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. Connell manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Golubev is pinned up against the cage taking some big shots here. The referee is looking closely deciding whether he should stop the fight.
Connell checks a leg kick nicely.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Connell shoots in looking for a takedown. Golubev tries to sprawl out of it but Connell keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Golubev manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
Connell doesn't manage to clinch there - Golubev circles away.
Golubev shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Connell sprawls well. Connell wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Golubev gets slowly back to his feet.
Connell is using his reach advantage well here, landing the more effective single shots from range.

Golubev gets tackled into the cage by Connell. Connell maintains the clinch.
Connell leaning against his opponent.
Connell lands with a quick shot inside that doesn't really do much damage.
Connell just leaning against Golubev, taking a breather.
Golubev throws an elbow but it's blocked.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Connell breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Golubev shoots in for a takedown but Connell shows good takedown defense.

Connell moves into the clinch.
Golubev is trying to drag Connell to the mat but Connell just about manages to keep his footing. He used the cage to his advantage there.

Connell's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Connell tries to clinch but Golubev is having none of it.
Nikita Golubev has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Connell misses with a takedown attempt - Golubev sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
Golubev throws a two punch combo that lands nicely.
Chael Connell is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
The fighters circling - Golubev throws out the jab but it was never going to land.

And that's the end of the fight!
Chael Connell showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Connell has outscored his opponent in every aspect of the fight today. Only a scarily incompetent judge or two will keep him from a well deserved win... 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 Vladimir Khabensky scores the fight 30:27
Judge Viktor Lagutenko scores the fight 30:27
Judge Valeri Chadov scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Chael Connell!
After the big win, Chael Connell made sure to do all the important stuff like thanking his sponsors Rhino and telling the interviewer how much he loves him.