PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Oleg Minakov (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Nivolumab Opdivo (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Both fighters really staring each other down here, as Nivolumab Opdivo enters the cage!

Minakov
vs
Opdivo

177 cm
26
163 lbs
4 - 3 - 0

180 cm
18
175 lbs
0 - 1 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Good chin

BJJ Blue Belt
Excellent boxer
Granite chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the welterweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 4 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Oleg Minakov!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Nivolumab Opdivo!
The judges for this bout are Steve Smith, Alec Ball and Gregory Folan.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Opdivo slaps away a takedown attempt from Minakov, before circling back to the center of the mat.

Minakov closes the distance, clinches up and gets a nice trip takedown into side control. Very smooth.
Opdivo is looking to regain half guard here but Minakov keeps moving and retains side control.
Minakov misses with a strike but at least he's keeping busy, looking to cause some damage - that will still help him when it comes to the judges scorecards.
Opdivo tries to get back to half guard but can't.
Opdivo gets one leg under and gets the fight to half guard.
Minakov sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Opdivo defending well though.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Opdivo wants to get back to full guard.
Opdivo is pressing down on Minakov's left leg trying to get back to full guard. He's managed it.
Opdivo wants to sweep here but Minakov controlling him for the moment.

Opdivo looking for a guillotine here but Minakov defends easily.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Opdivo looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
Opdivo is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.
Minakov 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.
Opdivo looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Opdivo manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Minakov manages to get himself to full guard.

Minakov keeping full guard, as Opdivo tries to pass.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Minakov keeping moving, preventing Opdivo from controlling successfully.
Opdivo pushes down on Minakov's leg and manages to get into half guard.
Opdivo wants to pass the guard but Minakov is defending well.
My spies in Jitsu Jim inform me that Opdivo has been getting involved in the gym's BJJ sparring sessions. Let's see whether that pays dividends!
Opdivo is trying to control. Minakov wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.
Opdivo is looking to advance position but Minakov won't allow it.
Minakov gets full guard.
Opdivo wants to pass the guard but Minakov is keeping the position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Opdivo keeps trying to improve his position.
Opdivo trying to control but Minakov is working from the bottom.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Opdivo stops Minakov from standing up.
Minakov on his back here. We all know that wrestlers don't like being on their back so let's see if Minakov tries to get out of the position.
Minakov looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Minakov pulls Opdivo in to control the position.
Opdivo stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Minakov swivels though and keeps the full guard.
We've had a lack of effective grappling in the last minute or so, which could well see a referee standup.
Opdivo slips nicely into half guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

Minakov actively working from the bottom here.
Minakov is trying to get back to full guard.

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.
Opdivo seems to have lost interest with the ground game and is thinking about standing back up.
Opdivo uses his free foot to push down on Minakov's thigh. Eventually he works his other foot free and he's advanced to mount - this is trouble for Minakov.
Opdivo wants to take Minakov's back here but Minakov is holding on to an arm, himself looking to escape.
Minakov is squirming around, avoiding Opdivo's attempts to control the action.
Minakov tries to hold on but Opdivo postures up.
Opdivo wants to take his opponent's back but instead Minakov manages to regain half guard.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Minakov is looking to control Opdivo's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Minakov avoid being mounted?
Minakov is looking to improve his position.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Nivolumab Opdivo 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.

Opdivo misses with a double jab.
Opdivo just manages to avoid a counter high kick fromMinakov.
Opdivo fails to land with a series of punches.
Opdivo lands an overhand left. A wild punch that just about connected.
Opdivo has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Minakov closes this distance looking for a takedown but Opdivo circles away.

Minakov clinches up with Opdivo and pushes him back against the cage.
Opdivo lands with a right to the head.
Opdivo lands with a light punch inside.
Opdivo tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Minakov's elbow.
Opdivo is leaning against Minakov and scores with a nice uppercut to the body.
Opdivo lands a shoulder strike.
Minakov can't get the takedown.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Opdivo can't find room to land a body shot as Minakov controls the action.
Opdivo struggles to land a body shot inside as Minakov controls his hands.

Minakov breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Opdivo misses with a series of wild punches.

That's one minute gone in the round.
A looping hook to the body misses from Opdivo. Minakov does a little dance to reset his feet.
Minakov went nuts there looking for a big combo counter but none of the flurry connected.

Minakov closes the distance, clinches up and gets a nice trip takedown into side control. Very smooth.
Minakov tries to land with some ground and pound but misses.
Opdivo gets back to half guard.
Opdivo is looking to get full guard. It looks like he might be successful but at the last minute Minakov jumps into side control!
Opdivo is looking for a sweep.
Opdivo looks to move to half guard but instead Minakov has passed into mount! Damn!
Opdivo slips a leg in and gets back to half guard.
Opdivo is breathing heavily.
Opdivo gets full guard.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Opdivo is on top in guard.

Opdivo looking to pass the guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Opdivo won't allow Minakov to sweep him here.
Minakov is working hard here to advance position.
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!
Minakov keeping moving, preventing Opdivo from controlling successfully.
Minakov is pulling down on Opdivo's head. It's preventing any offense from Opdivo, at least for the moment.
Opdivo stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Minakov swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Opdivo wants to control from the top but Minakov keeps moving.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Opdivo advances to half guard.
Minakov missing with punches from the bottom.
Opdivo tries to pass to full mount but Minakov defends it.
Minakov is not content to let Opdivo control the position.
Opdivo is looking to advance position but Minakov won't allow it.
Minakov is trying to get back to full guard.
Minakov trying to control here.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
My god... these two guys really need to pick up the pace or everyone will leave to go get a beer.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Nivolumab Opdivo is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Opdivo looks to land a combination. Minakov sees it coming but can only parry a couple of the shots.
Opdivo lands a beauty of a right hand that gets the crowd cheering.
Opdivo swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Opdivo misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Opdivo misses with a body shot.
Nice body punch from Opdivo.
Oleg Minakov is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Opdivo lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Minakov circles away quickly and effectively.

Minakov closes the distance and pushes Opdivo back into the cage.
Minakov tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. Opdivo smiles and moves away.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Oleg Minakov. That's going to take a lot out of him.

Minakov gets a double leg takedown into Opdivo's guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Nivolumab Opdivo showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business. Let's hear some noise people - this is the final round!

Minakov fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
Opdivo fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Opdivo will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Minakov wants to take advantage of his opponent's missed offense by moving into the clinch.
Opdivo shuffles to his left behind two crisp jabs. Minakov eats them both and turns towards Opdivo to reposition himself and eats a stinging right hand-left hook combo.
Opdivo leaves Minakov with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
Nivolumab Opdivo seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Opdivo digs a good body shot into Minakov's ribs.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Opdivo throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Opdivo throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
An attempted straight right counter from Minakov misses the target.
Opdivo throws a left and a right that both miss

and Minakov moves into the clinch.
Opdivo takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Opdivo misses with a body punch.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Opdivo swings wildly with an uppercut but Minakov uses good head movement to avoid it.
Opdivo lands a shot to the body.
Opdivo goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Opdivo misses with a body punch.
Minakov presses Opdivo against the cage and delivers a mid-strength body shot.
Minakov jumps guard but his hands slip and he falls flat on his back. Well, he's made himself look a right mug there, as Opdivo walks away with a smile on his face. Minakov gets slowly back to his feet and shakes his head.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Oleg Minakov. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Minakov shoots for a double leg takedown but Opdivo sprawls well. He's pushed Minakov's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
Nice body punch from Opdivo.
Minakov avoids the body shot from Opdivo.
A combination from Opdivo does no damage.
Minakov uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Opdivo.
Nice defenses there by Minakov.
Opdivo misses with the combination.
Nivolumab Opdivo is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Opdivo just misses with a punch to the body.

Minakov drives through with a takedown into guard.
Opdivo is trying to keep Minakov in close.
Minakov sitting in guard, not really doing much.
Opdivo trying to keep a closed guard but Minakov is proving a slippery customer.
Minakov tries to free his leg and advance position but Opdivo is retaining full guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Minakov stopping the sweep attempt from Opdivo.
Opdivo bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Minakov's guard.

Minakov is doing well to control the posture of his opponent and prevent any damage.
Opdivo looking to sit in guard and control but Minakov gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.

Minakov stands and throws Opdivo's legs to the side, diving into side control.
Minakov working the ground and pound.
Opdivo struggling a bit here.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Opdivo tries to get back to half guard but can't.
Oleg Minakov overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Opdivo parries the strikes from Minakov easily there. Minakov is wary of posturing up too much because it might enable Opdivo to escape.
Minakov takes a little break here. Opdivo wants to take advantage but he is being controlled well.
Opdivo manages to get back to half guard.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Opdivo trying to control here.
Oleg Minakov has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Opdivo slips a foot under and gets full guard. Nice work.

And that's the end of the fight!
Nivolumab Opdivo comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Opdivo winning every round here. Surely the decision will go his way and he'll pick up a well deserved decision victory. 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 Steve Smith scores the fight 27:30
Judge Alec Ball scores the fight 27:30
Judge Gregory Folan scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Nivolumab Opdivo!