PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Skyler Nelson (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Maksim Zotov (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Nelson comes to the cage accompanied by One. Zotov has chosen Мы расправи as his entrance music. These two fighters really are very evenly matched on the feet - it will be fascinating to see who can assert themselves in that aspect of the fight.

Nelson
vs
Zotov

180 cm
38
145 lbs
15 - 21 - 0

160 cm
31
137 lbs
13 - 13 - 0

BJJ Brown Belt
Solid boxing
Granite chin

BJJ Brown Belt
Good kicks
Granite chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the bantamweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 15 - 21 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Skyler Nelson!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 13 - 13 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Maksim Zotov!
The judges for this bout are Anni Minnemäki, Johanna Lukiainen and Ben Zyskovitsi.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Zotov cracks the inside of Nelson's front leg.
Nelson 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.
Zotov lands a front kick.
Zotov fakes with the hands and throws a leg kick but Nelson is out of range.
Zotov throws a sloppy head kick and Nelson moves out of range easily.
Zotov throws a leg kick which misses Nelson's front leg but catches the back leg as Nelson tries to avoid it.
Zotov throws a leg kick that misses.
Zotov misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Nelson avoids a kick to the body.
Zotov scores with a slapping inside leg kick.

Zotov darts in and clinches Nelson up against the cage.
Nelson avoiding damage as Zotov throws knees to the body.
Zotov tries to land a knee to the head but misses.

Nelson gets a trip takedown into half guard.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
The referee looks like he's ready to step in and stand the fighters back up.

Nelson seems to be looking for submissions.
Zotov is looking to improve his position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Zotov is trying to control but can't.
Zotov is looking to improve his position.
Nelson really does look like a pencil wearing a pair of gloves. Let's hope he has a gameplan to suit that ridiculous body shape.

Nelson is looking for a kimura but he's never going to get it from there.
Zotov regains full guard. Nicely done.
Zotov lands a beautiful switch and he's in full mount! That could spell trouble for Nelson!
Nelson is working to get back to half guard.
Nelson stops Zotov from taking his back. Still, being mounted isn't any better.
Zotov is persisting with the attempt to improve his position.
Nelson can't escape the position.
Zotov fails to advance to Nelson's back.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Zotov with a couple of short strikes.
Zotov thowing shots but they're missing.

Zotov looking for an armbar but decides to keep the dominant position instead.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Nelson is desperately trying to get back to half guard.
Zotov can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as Nelson is looking to escape.

Zotov looking for a guillotine from mount but Nelson is having none of it.
Nelson working to try and regain half guard.

Zotov is in full mount, looking to secure a guillotine but Nelson is surviving well by controlling Zotov's body position as best he can.
Zotov with shots to the head and body - Nelson looks very uncomfortable down there.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Nelson is trying to escape the mount.

Zotov is working on an americana here. Ooh, that looks pretty nasty! Nope, Nelson has managed to escape the submission attempt.
Zotov throws an elbow from mount that misses. Lucky escape for Nelson because Zotov loaded up on that one.
Nelson tries to reverse the position but Zotov maintains control.
Zotov wants to take Nelson's back here but Nelson is holding on to an arm, himself looking to escape.
Nelson sneaks a leg back under and regains half guard and is working straight away to try and get back to guard. He hasn't managed just yet though.

Nelson looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.

Zotov seems to be working for a kimura but Nelson defends the submission attempt.

Nelson actively working from the bottom here.
Zotov has freed up his trapped foot and advances to mount.
Zotov can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as Nelson is looking to escape.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Zotov fails to move to back control.
Nelson tries to reverse the position but Zotov maintains control.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
We've been informed that Zotov has been working hard on his conditioning in the buildup to the fight.

Zotov has hold of Nelson's left arm, perhaps looking for a submission. The two fighters tussle over control of the isolated limb and Nelson manages to get his arm back to his side and away from danger.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Nelson working to try and regain half guard.

Zotov is going oldschool here, as he tries to force Nelson to tap using a forearm choke. This isn't 1993 though, so Nelson shrugs it off.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Nelson is trying to escape the mount but Zotov keeps good control and instead manages to take Nelson's back.
Nelson wants to escape the position.

Zotov looking for the choke but no joy.
Nelson tries to roll but Zotov sticks to his back.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Maksim Zotov 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.

Zotov looks for the body kick but Nelson saw that one coming.
Zotov throws a low kick but it's checked well by Nelson.
Zotov is looking to land body kicks.
Zotov lands a kick to the ribs of his opponent. Nice work there - in and out in a flash.
Nelson blocks a low kick nicely.
Zotov throws a nice outside leg kick.
Zotov misses with an uppercut. Nelson saw that one coming.
Skyler Nelson is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Zotov throws a wild body kick that Nelson sees coming a mile off.
A clash of legs there as Nelson blocks the low kick.
Nelson moves out of range of the leg kick from Zotov.
That kick from Zotov tenderised Nelson's leg. Nelson is trying to keep his angry face on.
This fight brought to you by 5M nutrition - it's mmmmm tasty. Nice jab by Zotov.
Zotov throws a low kick but his opponent is out of range.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Both fighters circling a little - Zotov finishes the exchange with a kick to the body.
Zotov throws a feint and then finishes with a kick to the body.
Ouch! a nice leg kick from Zotov, right into the meat.
Zotov throws a body kick but he wasn't in range.
Zotov will need to close the distance a bit before he attacks - that leg kick was thrown from too far away.
Maksim Zotov seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Zotov throws a low kick but his opponent is out of range.
Zotov throws a head kick that misses

and Nelson counters with a nice double leg into half guard.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.

Nelson is sneakily working for an arm triangle but Zotov sees it coming and defends easily.

Nelson is working for a kimura but Zotov is defending it quite comfortably.
Zotov is looking for a sweep. Nelson is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Both fighters really going for it on the ground here!
Zotov manages to get to full guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Nelson drops back for a leg! It's a sloppy attempt though and Nelson jumps back into guard quickly, to retain the dominant position.

Zotov throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
Nelson trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Zotov looking to control.

Nelson drops back looking for a leg! Zotov is in trouble here! The fighters roll with the hold and Zotov manages to kick Nelson off! Nelson jumps back into Zotov's guard.

Nelson thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.
Nelson will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.
Zotov wants to sweep but no luck.
Zotov controls Nelson momentarily but Nelson frees himself.
Zotov looking for a sweep. Not yet Zotov, not yet.
Zotov is trying to control the position from the bottom.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Nelson is trying to work a guillotine from the top, or something like that? Don't know how he thinks he's going to get a finish from there.
Zotov wants to sweep but no luck.

Nelson thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.
Zotov controls Nelson momentarily but Nelson frees himself.

Zotov escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Nelson gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.

Nelson drops back for a leg! It's a sloppy attempt though and Nelson jumps back into guard quickly, to retain the dominant position.

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

Zotov working for a triangle but Nelson defends it easily.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Zotov wants to sweep but no luck.

Nelson thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.
Nelson looking to pass the guard.
Zotov looking for a sweep. Not yet Zotov, not yet.

Nelson got a little sloppy there for a moment and Zotov has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Nelson has managed to get both his arms back between Zotov's legs - danger averted.

Nelson drops back looking for a leg! Zotov is in trouble here! The fighters roll with the hold and Zotov manages to kick Nelson off! Nelson jumps back into Zotov's guard.

Zotov has his foot on Nelson's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Nelson works his way back into a safe position though.
Zotov is breathing heavily.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Nelson advances to half guard.

Nelson is trying a forearm choke… I don't think that's going to do much at this level of the game.

Nelson wants to work for an arm triangle but Zotov is really keeping half guard well and defending the submission attempt.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Maksim Zotov will probably get the nod - 10:9.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action! Ladies and gentlemen, this is the final round!

Zotov lands with a thumping leg kick.
Zotov throws out a leg kick but Nelson moves out of range and Zotov only half commits.
A head kick misses from Zotov.
Zotov feints with a shoulder and throws a nice leg kick to Nelson's calf.
Zotov misses with a low kick.
A head kick misses from Zotov.
Zotov tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Zotov cracks the inside of Nelson's front leg.
Nice defenses there by Nelson.
Zotov feints and then cracks Nelson's leading leg with a nice low kick. He's obviously looking to slow Nelson down.
A shot to the body from Zotov misses

and Nelson decides to take the opportunity to score a takedown. He's landed in Zotov's guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Nelson slips effortlessly into side control - very nice.
Zotov is looking to reverse the position.
Zotov takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.

Nelson wants to work for a kimura but he's foiled early by Zotov, who protects the arm well.
Zotov manages to land a sweep and he's now on top! Lovely Jiu Jitsu!
Nelson gets back to full guard.
Zotov stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Nelson swivels though and keeps the full guard.

Nelson is active off his back here, looking for submissions.

Nelson has his foot on Zotov's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Zotov works his way back into a safe position though.
Zotov stands and throws Nelson's legs to the side, diving into side control.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!

Zotov looking for an arm triangle but it's way too loose to do anything.
Nelson sneaks back into half guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Zotov trying to pass the guard but Nelson defending well.

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

Nelson is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Zotov pulls his head out easily.

Nelson actively working from the bottom here.
Zotov looking to pass the half guard. Not this time.
Zotov passes to full mount!
Nelson regains half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Zotov is trying for a guillotine from the top but the pressure isn't in the right place so Nelson is just riding it out for now. Zotov eventually gives up the hold.
Nelson tries to get to full guard but Zotov has control of the leg.

Nelson looking for submissions from an awkward position here.
Maksim Zotov is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.

Nelson looking for submissions off his back.

Nelson is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Zotov pulls his head out easily.
Zotov stalling.
Zotov trying to pass the guard but Nelson defending well.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Zotov is looking to pass the guard... He's managed it - he's now in full mount!
Nelson really trying hard to get back to half guard here.
Nelson is working hard here to advance position.
Zotov is trying to take his opponent's back.
Nelson is working to get back to half guard.
Zotov sitting in mount, just looking to control for the moment.
Nelson regains half guard.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Nelson is staying active underneath Zotov, who seems content to just control the action from this position.
Skyler Nelson has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Zotov uses his free foot to push down on Nelson's thigh. Eventually he works his other foot free and he's advanced to mount - this is trouble for Nelson.

And that's the end of the fight!
That was a close round. You could make an argument for either fighter but I would give it to Skyler Nelson.
I think Zotov has won this one but let's see whether the judges agree with me. 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 Anni Minnemäki scores the fight 28:29
Judge Johanna Lukiainen scores the fight 28:29
Judge Ben Zyskovitsi scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Maksim Zotov!
After the fight, Maksim Zotov was humble in paying tribute to his opponent but made it clear he wants to go on to bigger and better things. It seemed to go down well with the crowd who cheered him loudly.