PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Maurício Aurelio (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Volya Nikolaev (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Nikolaev has chosen Fever as his entrance music. Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

Aurelio
vs
Nikolaev

177 cm
29
165 lbs
21 - 10 - 0

170 cm
30
165 lbs
22 - 17 - 0

Abu Dhabi Champ
World class boxer
Cardio machine

Olympic wrestler
World class boxer
Good gas tank

FinnFighter Nutrition (Five 160Q supps!)

Bos Energy MMA159.4

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 21 - 10 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Maurício Aurelio!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 22 - 17 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Volya Nikolaev!
The judges for this bout are Phil Schofield, Andrew Berry and James Atkins.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Aurelio uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Nikolaev.
Aurelio changes levels looking for a counter takedown but doesn't commit.
Volya Nikolaev seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Nikolaev shoots for a double leg takedown but Aurelio sprawls well. He's pushed Nikolaev's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
Aurelio fakes a jab and scores with a low kick.
Aurelio throws a low kick but Nikolaev moves out of range easily.
We've been hearing reports that Aurelio has been drilling takedowns in recent sessions so let's see if that has an impact on the result of this fight.
Aurelio misses with an uppercut
and Nikolaev counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
Aurelio lands a nice looking body kick.

Nikolaev gets a double leg takedown into Aurelio's guard.
Nikolaev throwing strikes but missing.
Nikolaev looking to sit in guard and control but Aurelio gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.

The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Nikolaev wants to sweep here but Aurelio controlling him for the moment.

Nikolaev looking for submissions from the bottom but instead Aurelio passes into half guard.
Aurelio scoring with strikes to the body and head.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.

Aurelio is trying to work for a kimura. This could be trouble! No, Nikolaev has managed to free his arm - good work.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Aurelio wants to work for an arm triangle but Nikolaev is really keeping half guard well and defending the submission attempt.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

Aurelio is trying a forearm choke… I don't think that's going to do much at this level of the game.
Nikolaev is trying to get back to full guard.

Aurelio is working for a kimura but Nikolaev is defending it quite comfortably.
Aurelio is thwarting Nikolaev's attempts to control the position.

Aurelio is looking for a kimura but Nikolaev is holding onto that half guard position, so it's hard for Aurelio to get the leverage.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A few boos can be heard. I'm sure they will multiply if the fighters don't pick up the pace.
Aurelio trying to control the action but Nikolaev is working from the bottom.
Nikolaev is looking for a sweep. Aurelio is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Nikolaev is trying to control but can't.
Nikolaev tries to roll over but Aurelio keeps him under control.

Nikolaev looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.
Nikolaev wants to get back to full guard.
Nikolaev flails away from the bottom but he's not doing any damage.
Nikolaev is staying active underneath Aurelio, who seems content to just control the action from this position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Aurelio is working for submissions here but there's nothing on.
Nikolaev regains full guard. Nicely done.
Nikolaev is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Aurelio working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Aurelio postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.

Nikolaev working for a triangle but Aurelio defends it easily.

Nikolaev looking for a guillotine here but Aurelio defends easily.
Nikolaev working a defensive guard here.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are hurling abuse towards the fighters... You can hardly blame them though because there isn't a lot going on in the fight.

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

Nikolaev throws his legs up looking to secure a triangle. Oh, that looks pretty tight, I gotta say! Aurelio escapes and throws Nikolaev's legs to the side, diving into side control!
Nikolaev can't do much from the bottom here.
Nikolaev regains half guard.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.

Nikolaev is defending against the submission attempts here by Aurelio.

Nikolaev is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Aurelio pulls his head out easily.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Maurício Aurelio dominated that round.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business.

Aurelio cracks Nikolaev with a nice right hand that draws applause from the crowd.
Aurelio fakes a couple of low kicks, before throwing one on the third attempt. It connects and Nikolaev has to reset his feet before getting ready to engage.
Nikolaev misses with a looping right.
Aurelio throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Sloppy strikes from Nikolaev. Those never looked like landing.

Nikolaev closes the distance and clinches up, looking for a takedown. He shifts his weight and gets a nice trip into half guard.
Aurelio wants to improve his position but Nikolaev is controlling well.

Aurelio looking for submissions off his back.
Aurelio avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Nikolaev.
Nikolaev is keeping good posture, landing some ground and pound.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Nikolaev wants to lay and pray for a moment but Aurelio keeps working.
Nikolaev throwing shots but Aurelio is blocking nicely.
Aurelio tries to get to full guard but Nikolaev has control of the leg.
Nikolaev is keeping good posture, landing some ground and pound.
Nikolaev lands a big shot. The thud that echoes around the arena is like music to the fans' ears.

Aurelio looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.
Aurelio is trying to control but can't.
Nikolaev thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Aurelio's head.
Aurelio is staying active underneath Nikolaev, who seems content to just control the action from this position.
Nikolaev lands with an elbow from half guard - that looked like it hurt.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Aurelio is trying to maintain the position but Nikolaev is very close to passing his half guard.
Nikolaev is looking to take a break and control but Aurelio is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Nikolaev throwing shots but Aurelio is blocking nicely.
Nikolaev is thwarting Aurelio's attempts to control the position.
Aurelio is looking for a sweep. Nikolaev is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Aurelio is trying to defend against the ground and pound but Nikolaev scores with a couple of nice shots.
Nikolaev working over Aurelio with some ground and pound. Aurelio looks like he wants out of this position, which is understandable.

Nikolaev is looking for a kimura. It's going to be difficult to finish that from half guard though and Aurelio defends it well.

Aurelio actively working from the bottom here.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Nikolaev takes advantage of the dominant position to land a couple of big hammer fists.
Aurelio is looking to improve his position.

Aurelio looking for submissions off his back.
Nikolaev takes advantage of the dominant position to land a couple of big hammer fists.
Nikolaev lands with a punch from half guard.
Nikolaev looks towards his corner to check for any instructions. The corner give him nothing to work with, so he cracks Aurelio with a short hammerfist. I guess that's as good as any advice he could get in this position.
Nikolaev sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Aurelio defending well though.
Nikolaev is figuring out what he wants to do next.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Nikolaev trying to control from half guard but Aurelio is working away.
Aurelio wants to get back to full guard but Nikolaev has passed into side control.
Nikolaev in side control lands a decent elbow.
Aurelio can't do much from the bottom here.
Nikolaev trying to control the position but Aurelio is working away.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Nikolaev is working Aurelio over with some ground and pound from side control.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Volya Nikolaev showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action! This is the final round!

Aurelio takes a swing at Nikolaev's ribcage but misses.
Aurelio gets cracked there but stands up to it.
Nikolaev connects with a looping left hand that seems like it dazed Aurelio momentarily.

Nikolaev shoots in for a takedown! He's got it and he's managed to land in side control! That's better than Nikolaev was expecting from the takedown attempt, I'm sure!
Aurelio is trying to control Nikolaev's posture but Nikolaev avoids it.
Aurelio is looking for a sweep.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Nikolaev working hard here to secure a kimura but he's not really in the right position for it.
Nikolaev cracks Aurelio with a big elbow.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Nikolaev working the ground and pound.
Aurelio tries to work a leg under to get back to half guard but Nikolaev wriggles his own leg back out and remains in side control.
Nikolaev lands a knee to the body and follows it up with some ground and pound to the head. That will wear Aurelio down.
Nikolaev cracks Aurelio with a big elbow.
Aurelio takes a couple of big shots there - the referee warns him that he has to defend himself better.
Aurelio manages to get one leg in to regain half guard.
Nikolaev wants to take a breather but Aurelio is having none of it.
Aurelio wants to control but Nikolaev is keeping busy.
Nikolaev thows a huge punch but Aurelio dodges it nicely.
Ground and pound from Nikolaev.
Nikolaev prevents Aurelio from improving his position.
Aurelio taking some punishment here, with Nikolaev in his half guard.
Volya Nikolaev has got the better of the ground game so far.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Nikolaev working some ground and pound from close in. He's looking to maintain this position and strike for a while by the looks of things... although he'll probably advance to full mount in a minute now I've said that.
Nikolaev seems to be taking a bit of a break to think of his next move. He lands a short punch in the meantime.
Nikolaev looks towards his corner to check for any instructions. The corner give him nothing to work with, so he cracks Aurelio with a short hammerfist. I guess that's as good as any advice he could get in this position.
Aurelio gets back to full guard.
Nikolaev is frustrating his opponent with some stalling tactics from top position.
Nikolaev trying to control but Aurelio is working from the bottom.
Nikolaev throwing strikes from guard but Aurelio blocks nicely.
Nikolaev landing some decent shots from guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Nikolaev with a nice head shot there.
Nikolaev lands a couple of decent looking shots.
Nikolaev is in close to Aurelio's body, working some short punches and elbows.
Nikolaev seems content to control from guard here. He's going to have to remain active though if he doesn't want to get stood back up.
Nikolaev is continuing to stall.
Nikolaev has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
Aurelio trying to control the position.
Nikolaev landing some decent shots from guard.
Nikolaev throws an elbow that misses. Aurelio uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in Nikolaev's guard. Nice move by Aurelio!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Aurelio slows down the pace of the fight for a moment. He'll need to remain active if he doesn't want to see the fight stood back up.
Aurelio postures up.

Nikolaev has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Aurelio can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.

Nikolaev is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
Aurelio wants to control from the top but Nikolaev keeps moving.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.

And that's the end of the fight!
Volya Nikolaev comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Nikolaev 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 Phil Schofield scores the fight 28:29
Judge Andrew Berry scores the fight 28:29
Judge James Atkins scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Volya Nikolaev!
A very excited looking Volya Nikolaev made sure he remembered to thank all the fans both in the arena and on the internet. He said all the coolest people spend all day on MMA websites, which got a big reaction.