PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Alexandr Nikitin (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Lamont Sanford (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Nikitin comes to the cage accompanied by Smack My Bitch Up . Sanford is bouncing up and down as he enters the arena, backed by Theme from Sanford and Son. Both these guys have really solid chins. Will we see a standup war or will they both decide that a knockout is unlikely and try to win the fight elsewhere?

Nikitin
vs
Sanford

170 cm
27
169 lbs
11 - 9 - 1

170 cm
24
163 lbs
9 - 5 - 0

Abu Dhabi Champ
Excellent boxer
Insanely flexible

Good wrestler
World class MT
Granite chin

BlackStar Athletics
On Tap (160Q & Laundry)

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the lightweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 11 - 9 - 1, fighting out of Hilo, Alexandr Nikitin!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 9 - 5 - 0, fighting out of New York, Lamont Sanford!
The judges for this bout are Jeff Smith, Chris Saunders and Paul Gruel.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Nikitin clinches up with Sanford and pushes him back against the cage.
Sanford working aggressively here.
Sanford lands an uppercut.
Nikitin manages to get underhooks and slows down the pace for a moment.
Nikitin blocking some punches.
Sanford swings wildly with an uppercut but Nikitin uses good head movement to avoid it.
Sanford lands a nice uppercut.
Nikitin misses with a short punch on the inside.
Sanford doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Nikitin lands a shot to the body.
Sanford tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Nikitin lands with a short shot to the head.
Sanford can't find room to land a body shot as Nikitin controls the action.
Nice body punch from Sanford.
Nikitin presses Sanford against the cage and delivers a mid-strength body shot.
Nikitin misses with some punches.
Nikitin swings wildly with an uppercut but Sanford uses good head movement to avoid it.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Nikitin taking a break, stalling in the clinch.
Sanford misses with a shot to the kidneys.
A short right from Nikitin on the inside.
Nikitin is trying to pull guard but Sanford turns him against the cage and we stay in the clinch.
Nikitin blocking some punches.
Nikitin working aggressively here.
Sanford is working Nikitin over against the cage.
Sanford misses with a punch on the inside.
Sanford lands a body punch.
Nikitin swings wildly with an uppercut but Sanford uses good head movement to avoid it.
Sanford fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Nikitin tries to throw a body punch but Sanford avoids it by throwing Nikitin back against the cage.
Sanford misses with a punch on the inside.
Nikitin throws a punch but it's blocked by Sanford.
Sanford misses with the head strike.
Nikitin lands a hook to the body. It's hard to tell if that hurt Sanford or not.
Sanford lands a body shot.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Nikitin tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Sanford's elbow.
A head punch on the inside from Nikitin fails to land.
Sanford lands with a right to the head.
Sanford prevents a body shot from Nikitin.
Sanford lands with a short head shot on the inside.
Sanford swings wildly with an uppercut but Nikitin uses good head movement to avoid it.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Sanford fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Nikitin misses with a hook from the clinch.
Nikitin working on landing some head shots here - that one got through nicely.
A short right from Sanford.

Nikitin has Sanford pressed up against the cage. He's trying to work for a single leg takedown. Nikitin pulls back from the cage and twists to the side, sending Sanford tumbling to the mat - Nikitin dives into Sanford's guard.
Nikitin looking to sit in guard and control but Sanford gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.

Nikitin looking to sweep here. No luck so far.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Sanford is intent on slowing down the pace of the fight, simply looking to control.

Nikitin is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
Sanford trying to control but Nikitin is working from the bottom.
Sanford preventing the sweep.
Sanford told us pre-fight that he has been working on his escapes in training. Let's see if he can call on some of his new skills to get back to his feet.
Nikitin is trying to control the position from the bottom.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Neither fighter has done anything of merit for a good minute or two here and the crowd are not happy about it.
Nikitin manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Sanford manages to get himself to full guard.

Nikitin loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Sanford keeping full guard, as Nikitin tries to pass.
Nikitin with a flurry of punches that miss.
Sanford avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Nikitin trying to control but Sanford is working from the bottom.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close round but I would say that Alexandr Nikitin will probably get the nod.
That's time! Nikitin's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight.

Sanford cracks Nikitin with an open hand slap.
Nikitin is looking to clinch but Sanford is avoiding it.
Sanford uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Nikitin.
Sanford replies with a solid counter kick to the body but Nikitin blocks it well.
Nikitin slips in close and lands a nice hook before moving back out of range.
Nikitin shakes his hands off, looking to compose himself, but takes a jab to the jaw whilst he does it.
Nice uppercut there from Sanford.
Nikitin tries to grapple but his opponent circles
and Sanford counters with a stiff right hand.
Nikitin missing with a left hand there. Sanford was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
Nikitin takes one on the button.
Sanford scoring well with a low kick there.
Sanford dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
Lamont Sanford seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Sanford misses with a series of wild punches.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Nikitin blocks a head kick by Sanford.
Nikitin swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Nikitin instigates a clinch.
Nikitin misses with a hook from the clinch.
Nikitin looking to stall.
Sanford can't find room to land a body shot as Nikitin controls the action.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Nikitin.
Nikitin struggles to land a body shot inside as Sanford controls his hands.

Nikitin pulls Sanford into guard.
Nikitin wants to improve his position but instead Sanford has moved into half guard.
The fighters are battling for position here. Nikitin manages to regain full guard. Nice work.
Nikitin managing to control the position.
Nikitin working a defensive guard here.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Nikitin is pulling down on Sanford's head. It's preventing any offense from Sanford, at least for the moment.
Sanford is just sitting in guard, looking to avoid any submissions.
Nikitin looking for a sweep. Not yet Nikitin, not yet.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Sanford sitting in guard, not really doing much.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Nikitin looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
Nikitin has Sanford pulled in close to control his posture.
Sanford wants to control from the top but Nikitin keeps moving.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.
Well, he's not going to score with shots like that. A lazy body kick attempt from Sanford.
Nikitin takes a body kick right on the floating rib. Ouchie.
Sanford swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.

Sanford forces Nikitin back against the cage and clinches.

Nikitin decides to pull guard.
Sanford trying to control but Nikitin is working from the bottom.
Alexandr Nikitin overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Nikitin looking to control.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Nikitin is avoiding any damage by keeping wrist control.
Sanford preventing the sweep.
Nikitin controls Sanford momentarily but Sanford frees himself.
Sanford trying to control but Nikitin is working from the bottom.
Sanford is frustrating his opponent with some stalling tactics from top position.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Nikitin wants to improve his position but instead Sanford has moved into half guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Lamont Sanford showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action! This is the final round!

Sanford throws a body kick that misses
letting Nikitin counter with a right hand.

Sanford pushes Nikitin up against the cage in a clinch.
Sanford lands a hook to the side of the head.
Nikitin managing to block the knees to the body from Sanford.
Sanford misses with a hook to the ribs.
Sanford lands a body shot in the clinch.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Nikitin.
Sanford misses with a punch to the body.
Sanford scores with a shoulder strike.
Lamont Sanford seems to be working more effectively in the clinch in the fight so far.
Sanford working aggressively here.
Nikitin working aggressively here.
Nikitin goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Nikitin leaning against his opponent.
Nikitin leaning against his opponent.
Sanford prevents a body shot from Nikitin.
Sanford misses with a punch on the inside.
Sanford misses with a hook to the ribs.
Sanford misses with a body punch.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Nikitin pushes Sanford back against the cage and unloads with a body punch.
Sanford can't find room to land a body shot as Nikitin controls the action.
A head punch on the inside from Sanford fails to land.
Nikitin tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Nikitin misses with a body punch.
Sanford throws a blind hook that connects with the side of Nikitins head.
Nikitin misses with the head strike.
Sanford has a couple of punches blocked by Nikitin.
Sanford fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Sanford tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Nikitin is trying to stall.
Stalling in the clinch from Nikitin.
Sanford utilising his Muay Thai to score with a knee to the body.
Good body shot from Nikitin.
Nikitin misses with a punch on the inside.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Nikitin pushes Sanford back against the cage and lands a hook to the side of the head.
Sanford working aggressively here.
Sanford working some nice short punches in the clinch.
Nikitin tries to pull guard but Sanford holds him up against the cage and eventually Nikitin drops back down to his feet.
Nikitin blocking some punches.
Nikitin blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
Sanford struggles to land a body shot inside as Nikitin controls his hands.
Sanford has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Sanford has a couple of punches blocked by Nikitin.
A head punch on the inside from Nikitin fails to land.
This has been an exciting period of action!
A head punch on the inside from Sanford fails to land.
Nikitin lands a right hand that snaps the head of Sanford backwards.
Sanford stays in close to his opponent and throws a right hand to the body.
Sanford tries to work over Nikitin's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
Sanford goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Sanford prevents a takedown attempt there.
Sanford scores with an uppercut up the middle.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Sanford lands a hook that snaps the head of Nikitin backwards.

Nikitin has clasped his hands together around Sanford's back... aaand, he's got a takedown into side control. Nicely done.
Nikitin is trying to ground and pound but Sanford uses the momentary lack of control by Nikitin to regain half guard.
Nikitin wants to control but Sanford is keeping him busy.
Nikitin misses with a head shot. Sanford uses the momentum to regain guard.
Nikitin passes Sanford's left leg - he's now in half guard.
Nikitin not landing any meaningful shots this time.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Nikitin looks over to his corner - he wants some instructions but his corner are not responding.
Sanford keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.
Nikitin not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
Nikitin missing with the ground and pound from half guard.
Nikitin controlling the action here.
Nikitin missing with the ground and pound from half guard.

And that's the end of the fight!
Lamont Sanford comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Sanford 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 Jeff Smith scores the fight 28:29
Judge Chris Saunders scores the fight 27:30
Judge Paul Gruel scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Lamont Sanford!
A relieved looking Lamont Sanford thanked the fans for their support and gave the usual line about them being amazing. They seemed to believe that he actually meant it.