PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Aznar Thrul (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Alexandr Nikitin (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Nikitin has chosen Smack My Bitch Up as his entrance music. Alexandr Nikitin has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Thrul
vs
Nikitin

189 cm
24
196 lbs
10 - 7 - 0

170 cm
28
175 lbs
13 - 10 - 1

Good wrestling
World class boxer
Insanely flexible

BJJ Red Belt
Excellent MT
Good gas tank

KAISER

On Tap (160Q)

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 1 rounds, in the middleweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 10 - 7 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Aznar Thrul!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 13 - 10 - 1, fighting out of New York, Alexandr Nikitin!
The judges for this bout are Eddie Farnsworth, Columbo Gatti and Dean Styles.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Nikitin lands an overhand right.
Thrul fails in his attempt to clinch.
We've been informed that Nikitin has been sparring a lot of Muay Thai in the buildup to this fight so let's see if that has an impact on the result.
Nikitin loads up on a big right hand but Thrul slips the punch.
Nikitin checks a leg kick.
Nikitin fails in his attempt to clinch.
Thrul circles away from the clinch attempt.
Thrul lands a head kick!
Thrul lands with an overhand left.
Thrul fakes a jab and scores with a low kick.
Thrul fakes and then throws a beautiful body shot. Nikitin looks a bit winded and takes a step backwards to take a breath.
Aznar Thrul seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Thrul chopping away at his opponent's legs.
Thrul bobs and weaves and unloads with a good uppercut.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Thrul swats away the attempt to clinch by Nikitin.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Thrul darts in trying to clinch

and Nikitin counters with a driving takedown into guard. Nice work there by Nikitin.
We've been hearing good reports from Thrul's training camp. Apparently he has been rolling around with some good quality BJJ practitioners and has been sharpening his skills. Let's see if that has an impact on the fight today.
We could do with one of the fighters taking the initiative a bit more on the ground - they're both waiting to capitalize on a mistake.
Thrul is pulling down on Nikitin's head to control his posture.
Nikitin trying to control the position from guard on top but Thrul is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Nikitin controlling from the top position.
Thrul is trying to keep Nikitin in close.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Thrul keeping full guard, as Nikitin tries to pass.
Thrul looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Nikitin is looking to work some ground and pound but Thrul has wrist control.
Nikitin wants to control from the top but Thrul keeps moving.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.

Thrul closes the distance and after a bit of a stuggle, scores a takedown into Nikitin's guard.
Thrul stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Nikitin swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Thrul will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Nikitin is on top in guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Thrul wants to control but instead he gets his guard passed and Nikitin is now in half guard.
Nikitin working Thrul over with strikes.
Thrul wants to get back to full guard.
Nikitin wants to control but Thrul is keeping him busy.
Nikitin trying to pass the guard but Thrul defending well.
Thrul works his way to full guard. Good work.
Thrul keeping full guard, as Nikitin tries to pass.
Nikitin showing good wrestling skills to control the position.
Thrul wants to sweep here but Nikitin controlling him for the moment.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Thrul is trying to keep Nikitin in close.
Nikitin looking to pass the guard.
Thrul is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Nikitin looking to sit in guard and control but Thrul gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.

The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

That's five minutes gone in the round.
Thrul tries to free his leg and advance position but Nikitin is retaining full guard.
Thrul stopping the sweep attempt from Nikitin.

Thrul avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
Thrul throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Nikitin works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Thrul wants to pass the guard but Nikitin is keeping the position.
Nikitin pulls Thrul in to control the position.
Thrul working from the guard for now, landing some ground and pound.
Thrul loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.

That's six minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Thrul won't allow Nikitin to sweep him here.
Thrul wants to control from the top but Nikitin keeps moving.
Nikitin tries to land a sweep but no joy.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Nikitin rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Thrul moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Nikitin throws the left hand but Thrul avoids the punch easily.
Thrul was looking to counter that move with a punch but didn't quite pull the trigger.
A head kick by Thrul misses
and Nikitin cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Thrul lands a jab. Then a cross. Then finally a nice hook to the body. Good work there by Thrul.
Nikitin scores to the head and body with a nice combination!
Thrul scores with a shot to the body.
Thrul rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Nikitin moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Thrul doesn't manage to clinch there - Nikitin circles away.

That's seven minutes gone in the round.

Nikitin has closed the distance and engaged Thrul in a clinch.
Nikitin tries to pull guard but Thrul forces him back to his feet, against the cage.
Nikitin tries to pull guard but Thrul forces him back to his feet, against the cage.
Nikitin misses with a short punch on the inside.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Thrul.
Nice body punch from Thrul.
Nikitin tries to pull guard but Thrul holds him up against the cage and eventually Nikitin drops back down to his feet.
Aznar Thrul has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Alexandr Nikitin.
A head punch on the inside from Nikitin fails to land.
Thrul's head jolts backwards as he takes an uppercut right on the button!
Thrul is looking for a takedown up against the cage. Nikitin gets underhooks though and prevents the takedown attempt.
Nikitin fails to pull guard.

Nikitin successfully pulls guard.
Nikitin avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.

That's eight minutes gone in the round.
Thrul lands a nice shot whilst sitting in his opponent's guard.
Thrul won't allow Nikitin to sweep him here.

Thrul got a little sloppy there for a moment and Nikitin has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Thrul has managed to get both his arms back between Nikitin's legs - danger averted.
Nikitin is trying to control the position from the bottom.

Nikitin working for a triangle but Thrul defends it easily.
Thrul throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.

That's nine minutes gone in the round.
Nikitin controls Thrul momentarily but Thrul frees himself.
Nikitin avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Thrul throws a big elbow that misses.
Nikitin controls Thrul momentarily but Thrul frees himself.
Nikitin has Thrul pulled in close to control his posture.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.
Thrul uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Nikitin.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Thrul lands a body shot.
Thrul throws a leg kick which misses Nikitin's front leg but catches the back leg as Nikitin tries to avoid it.
Thrul feints and then cracks Nikitin's leading leg with a nice low kick. He's obviously looking to slow Nikitin down.

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 Aznar Thrul.
I think Thrul has won this one but let's see what the judges have to say. Over to the ring announcer for the scorecards.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 1 round of action, we go to the scorecards for a decision.
Judge Eddie Farnsworth scores the fight for Aznar Thrul!
Judge Columbo Gatti scores the fight for Aznar Thrul!
Judge Dean Styles scores the fight for Aznar Thrul!

Aznar Thrul wins by unanimous decision!
In his post fight interview, Aznar Thrul started talking himself up. Luckily his charisma kept the crowd on side and gave him a good reception.