PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Finn Balor (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Alexandr Nikitin (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Balor comes into the arena with Monster blaring out of the sound system. Nikitin is bobbing his head along to his entrance song: Smack My Bitch Up . The fight MMA fans around the world have waited their entire lives for!

Balor
vs
Nikitin

172 cm
35
152 lbs
22 - 10 - 1

170 cm
27
159 lbs
11 - 8 - 1

Abu Dhabi Champ
World class boxer
Insanely flexible

Excellent grappler
Excellent MT
Good gas tank

BlackStar Athletics
On Tap (Laundry Available)

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the featherweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 22 - 10 - 1, fighting out of Helsinki, Finn Balor!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 11 - 8 - 1, fighting out of Hilo, Alexandr Nikitin!
The judges for this bout are Roger Salmon, Josh West and Colin Fray.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Nikitin throws a hook but Balor avoids it easily.
Balor gets cracked there but stands up to it.
Nikitin takes a solid shot to the body. That one hurt him but he's trying not to show it.
Nikitin misses with an uppercut. Balor saw that one coming.
Nikitin waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Balor.
Balor connects with a leg kick. Nikitin looked like he was expecting something else and didn't defend it.
Balor lands a high kick!
Nikitin avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
Nikitin drops down looking to force a counter takedown but Balor defends it well.
Balor is looking to score with low kicks.
Balor is looking to score with low kicks.
And an attempted straight right on the counter from Nikitin! But no joy.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Nikitin rushes Balor and presses him up against the cage.
Balor tries to work over Nikitin's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
Nikitin misses with the head strike.
A right hook to the body lands for Nikitin.
Balor lands a body punch - he's looking to wear down Nikitin.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Nikitin misses with a hook from the clinch.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Nikitin cracks Balor with a nice body shot.
Balor struggles to land a body shot inside as Nikitin controls his hands.
Nikitin lands a right uppercut that snaps the head of Balor backwards.
Balor swings wildly with an uppercut but Nikitin uses good head movement to avoid it.
Nikitin blocking some punches.
Nikitin blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Nikitin tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Balor doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Balor lands a left hand that snaps the head of Nikitin backwards.
Balor working some nice short punches in the clinch.
Balor throws a punch but it's blocked by Nikitin.
A left hand lands to the body for Balor.
Nikitin has dropped down and is looking to force the takedown but it's defended by Balor after a bit of a struggle.
Nikitin tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Balor's elbow.
Balor can't find room to land a body shot as Nikitin controls the action.
Nikitin goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Balor lands a left hand that snaps the head of Nikitin backwards.
Balor lands a right hand.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Balor.
Balor has been talking about how he's improved his wrestling in the run up to the fight so let's see if that's enough to sway the balance.
Balor lands with a light punch inside.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Balor tries to work over Nikitin's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
Balor tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Still in the clinch, Nikitin scores with a nice short uppercut.
Balor swings wildly with an uppercut but Nikitin uses good head movement to avoid it.
A short right hand to the side of the head by Nikitin.
Balor throws a punch but it's blocked by Nikitin.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Balor.
A head punch on the inside from Balor fails to land.
Nikitin misses with a punch on the inside.
Nikitin is stalling here.
Nikitin lands with a light punch inside.
A hook to the body from Balor.
Balor lands a shoulder strike that jolts his opponent's head backwards.

Nikitin tightens his grip and picks Balor up, before dumping him to the ground. Balor manages to land in guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Nikitin distracts Balor with his right hand and drops a big elbow with his other arm.
Nikitin lands a couple of decent looking shots.
Nikitin has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
Balor lands a beautiful sweep and he's now moved into his opponent's guard.

Balor lands a couple of decent looking shots.
Balor tries to free his leg and advance position but Nikitin is retaining full guard.
Balor loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Nikitin pulls Balor in to control the position.
Nikitin manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Balor manages to get himself to full guard.

Nikitin tries to free his leg and advance position but Balor is retaining full guard.
Balor wants to stand up but Nikitin is controlling him.
Balor looking to sweep here. No luck so far.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Balor controls Nikitin momentarily but Nikitin frees himself.
Nikitin is sitting in guard, working some ground and pound.

Nikitin got a little sloppy there for a moment and Balor has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Nikitin has managed to get both his arms back between Balor's legs - danger averted.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Nikitin accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.

Balor working for a triangle but Nikitin defends it easily.

Nikitin drops back for a leg! It's a sloppy attempt though and Nikitin jumps back into guard quickly, to retain the dominant position.
Nikitin looking to sit in guard and control but Balor gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.

Balor wants to get up but he can't break Nikitin's closed guard. He needs to be careful trying to break the legs open, as he's open to submissions here.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Finn Balor dominated that round.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action.

Nikitin doesn't react quick enough there as he takes a shot to the body.
Nikitin shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Balor but Balor pushes him off and we're back to square one.
Balor throws a quick counter kick to the body but Nikitin avoids it.
A head kick misses from Balor.

Nikitin closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.
A short right hand to the side of the head by Balor.
Good anti-grappling being displayed by Balor as Nikitin tries to tie him up.
Balor lands a shoulder strike.
Balor tries to throw a body punch but Nikitin avoids it by throwing Balor back against the cage.
Nikitin prevents a body shot from Balor.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Balor lands a body punch in the clinch.
Nikitin wants to take the fight to the mat but Balor manages to get underhooks and keep the fight in the clinch.
Balor makes some space for himself and lands an uppercut.
Balor cracks Nikitin with a nice body shot.
Nikitin tries for a takedown but Balor manages to get underhooks.
Finn Balor has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Alexandr Nikitin.
Nikitin has Balor pressed up against the cage and is working for takedown. Balor manages to improve position though and keeps the fight standing.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Nikitin's head jolts backwards as he takes an uppercut right on the button!
Nikitin misses with a punch to the body.
Nikitin can't get the takedown.
Balor presses Nikitin against the cage and delivers a mid-strength body shot.
Nikitin is breathing heavily.
Balor lands with a light punch inside.
Still in the clinch, Balor scores with a nice short uppercut.
Finn Balor has scored more points in the clinch so far.
Balor swings wildly with an uppercut but Nikitin uses good head movement to avoid it.
Balor is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Nikitin can do to turn this around?
Balor softening up his opponent with strikes, against the cage.
Nikitin is trying to slow down the pace of the fight but Balor is keeping busy.
Balor softening up his opponent with strikes, against the cage.
Balor misses with a hook to the ribs.
Balor tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Nikitin throws a punch but it's blocked by Balor.
Nikitin has a couple of punches blocked by Balor.
Balor lands a shoulder strike that jolts his opponent's head backwards.
Balor misses with a punch on the inside.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Balor tries to work over Nikitin's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
Nikitin stalling in the clinch but Balor improves position.
Balor misses with a hook from the clinch.
A short right from Balor.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Nikitin prevents a body shot from Balor.
Nikitin blocks a body shot from Balor.
Balor doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Nikitin's head jolts backwards as he takes an uppercut right on the button!
Balor pushes Nikitin back against the cage and lands a hook to the side of the head.
Balor softening up his opponent with strikes, against the cage.
Nikitin misses with a body punch.
Balor misses with a body punch.
Balor struggles to land a body shot inside as Nikitin controls his hands.
A head punch on the inside from Nikitin fails to land.
Still in the clinch, Balor scores with a nice short uppercut.
Balor goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
A short right from Nikitin on the inside.
Balor struggles to land a body shot inside as Nikitin controls his hands.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Nikitin slowing the pace effectively.
Nikitin lands with a good tight uppercut to the head.
Nikitin can't find room to land a body shot as Balor controls the action.
Nikitin has Balor pressed up against the cage and is working for takedown. Balor manages to improve position though and keeps the fight standing.
Nikitin working aggressively here.
Balor tries to throw a body punch but Nikitin avoids it by throwing Balor back against the cage.
Balor misses with the head strike.
Balor blocks a body shot from Nikitin.
Nikitin stays in close to his opponent and throws a right hand to the body.
Balor misses with a shot to the kidneys.
A short right from Nikitin.
Nikitin blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Nikitin stalling in the clinch but Balor improves position.
Nikitin takes a shot to the head.
Nikitin blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Nikitin blocking some punches.
Balor goes for a body shot but it's blocked.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Nikitin blocks an uppercut.
Balor throws a punch but it's blocked by Nikitin.
Balor working some nice short punches in the clinch.
A short right from Balor.
Balor lands with a right to the head.
This has been an exciting period of action!
A short right hand to the side of the head by Nikitin.
Nikitin blocking some punches.
Balor swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Nikitin tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Nikitin holding his opponent close, against the cage.
Nikitin misses with a punch on the inside.
Good anti-grappling being displayed by Balor as Nikitin tries to tie him up.
Nikitin tries to stall but Balor uses the opportunity to gain a better position.
Nikitin seems frustrated at his inability to get double underhooks.
Balor misses with a punch on the inside.
Nikitin tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Nikitin prevents a body shot from Balor.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Finn Balor dominated that second round.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action. This is the final round!

Balor keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
Balor jabs Nikitin to the body, keeping him at a distance.
Nice uppercut lands for Balor. That snapped Nikitin's head back.
Balor lands a nice looking body shot.
Finn Balor seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Nikitin tries to clinch but Balor is having none of it.
Finn Balor is winning the standup battle so far.
Balor misses with a wild body shot.
Balor throws a quick inside leg kick.
Nikitin tries to clinch but Balor moves out of range.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Balor throws a body kick but he was well out of range there.

The fight moves into the clinch position.
Balor misses with a shot to the kidneys.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Balor misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Nikitin tries to throw a body punch but Balor avoids it by throwing Nikitin back against the cage.
A short body shot lands from Nikitin as the two fighters clinch.
Balor misses with the head strike.
Balor tries a body shot but Nikitin blocks it.
Nikitin lands a right uppercut that snaps the head of Balor backwards.
Nikitin misses with a hook to the ribs.
Nikitin swings wildly with an uppercut but Balor uses good head movement to avoid it.
Nikitin lands a right hand.
Balor misses with a punch to the body.
Balor throws a head punch that misses.
Balor misses with a hook from the clinch.
Balor misses with some punches.
Nikitin blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Balor tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Nikitin tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Balor's elbow.
Balor lands a shoulder strike.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Balor misses with the head strike.
Balor throws a punch but it's blocked by Nikitin.
Nikitin working on landing some head shots here - that one got through nicely.
Balor swings wildly with an uppercut but Nikitin uses good head movement to avoid it.
Nikitin drops to a knee looking for a takedown but Balor gets the underhooks and prevents it.
A shot in the inside from Balor.
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!
Nikitin throws a head punch that misses.
Nikitin digs a right hand underneath Balor's ribcage. Balor let out a lung full of air as it connected.
Nikitin throws a hook to the body. More of an arm punch but it's all scoring with the judges.
Alexandr Nikitin has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Balor has a couple of punches blocked by Nikitin.
Balor working aggressively here.
Balor blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Nikitin goes for a takedown attempt but Balor pushes him away and we're back to fighting at a distance.
Finn Balor has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Alexandr Nikitin.
Balor misses with a head kick.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Balor shapes like he's going to throw a leg kick but settles back down.
Nikitin has his takedown stuffed
and Balor counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Balor avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Balor throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Nikitin throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Finn Balor is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Balor is looking to wear down Nikitin with body shots, infact he's throwing more body shots than head shots at the moment.
Balor scoring well with a low kick there.
Nikitin goes for a double leg but Balor avoids the attempt and the two fighters end up clinched against the cage as Balor continues to drive forward.
Nikitin stumbles momentarily as he takes a strong leg kick from Balor.
Nikitin throws a jab but it's blocked by Balor.
Balor throwing a counter right hand but Nikitin manages to avoid it.
Balor fakes a couple of low kicks, before throwing one on the third attempt. It connects and Nikitin has to reset his feet before getting ready to engage.
Balor scores with a kick to the midsection.
Balor slips a straight right by Nikitin.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A head kick misses from Balor.
A little jabbing left from Nikitin on the counter but it doesn't find it's target.
Nikitin takes a shot to the eye socket. That's gotta hurt.
Nikitin tries to clinch but Balor moves out of range.
Nikitin changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Balor tries to avoid it but Nikitin manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Balor to the ground. Balor escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
A chopping leg kick lands by Balor.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Nikitin ducks right into an uppercut from Balor.
Nikitin fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Balor avoids it really well and circles away.
Nikitin takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Nikitin is looking to clinch but Balor is avoiding it.
Nikitin misses with a jab to the body
and Balor finishes the little exchange by landing a big kick to the body.
Balor clobbers Nikitin with an overhand right that has the crowd gasping. That made a horrendous noise.

And that's the end of the fight!
Finn Balor showed his dominance in that final round.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Balor, winning every round. Will the judges agree? They are the ones who matter, even if they are often depressingly incompetent. 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 Roger Salmon scores the fight 30:27
Judge Josh West scores the fight 30:27
Judge Colin Fray scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Finn Balor!
During a confident post fight interview, Finn Balor thanked all his fans. He seemed very genuine when describing how motivated his fans keep him.