PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Charlie Wax (ranked 1641 p4p, 180 weight class) and Alexandr Nikitin (ranked 678 p4p, 80 weight class). Nikitin has chosen Smack My Bitch Up as his entrance music. Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

Wax
vs
Nikitin

179 cm
30
160 lbs
17 - 11 - 0

170 cm
34
166 lbs
26 - 25 - 5

Great wrestler
World class boxer
Insanely flexible

Excellent grappler
World class MT
Good gas tank

Humanoid Nutrition (160Q for 180$)
Bullet Proof System

FORCEE
Humanoid Nutrition (160Q for 180$)

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 17 - 11 - 0, fighting out of London, Charlie Wax!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 26 - 25 - 5, fighting out of Hilo, Alexandr Nikitin!
The judges for this bout are Donald Grub, Phil Schofield and Paul Tew.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Wax shakes his hands off, looking to compose himself, but takes a jab to the jaw whilst he does it.
Nice defenses there by Nikitin.
Nikitin throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Wax sees it coming and avoids it easily.

Nikitin shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Let's see what he's got on the mat.
Wax working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Nikitin.
Nikitin trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Wax wants to control here, rather than go for any submissions from the bottom. At least for now.
Nikitin loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Nikitin throws a big right hand that misses.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Nikitin looking to pass the guard.
Nikitin trying to control but Wax is working from the bottom.
Nikitin has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Wax has control of Nikitin's left arm, preventing Nikitin from doing any damage.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up. He just wasn't happy with the level of activity.
Good standup being displayed there by Nikitin as he connects with a hook.
Wax buckles his opponent's knee momentarily with a nice leg kick.

Wax closes the distance and clinches.
Wax lands a shoulder strike that jolts his opponent's head backwards.
Nikitin presses Wax against the cage and delivers a mid-strength body shot.
Nikitin looking to slow down the pace here.
Wax connects with a knee to the head.
A hook to the body from Nikitin.
Wax looking to throw knees to the head but Nikitin is blocking nicely.
Wax scores with a shot to the side of Nikitin's head.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Wax misses with a punch on the inside.
Wax 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.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Wax.
Wax using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Nikitin has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
Nikitin misses with a body punch.
Nikitin blocking some punches.
Wax is pressed up against the cage. Nikitin has hold of a leg and is looking to drag Wax down to the mat. Wax avoids the attempt though and has circled away. We're back to striking at a distance.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Wax takes a nice looking leg kick right on the meat of his thigh there.
Charlie Wax is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.

Wax darts in and clinches Nikitin up against the cage.
Wax creates a bit of distance and throws an elbow that only just misses.
Wax with the Thai clinch, lands a knee to the head.

Nikitin manages to pull guard. Let's see whether he can land a sub off his back.
Wax wants to control from the top but Nikitin keeps moving.
Nikitin wants to sweep here but Wax controlling him for the moment.
Wax is taking a break and basically stalling. The referee will not allow him to do that for long.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

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

Nikitin looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
A real slowdown in the pace of the fight for a moment, as Nikitin holds on and takes a little breather.
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Nikitin is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Nikitin has his hands on Wax's head, controlling the position.
We must be close to a standup if these guys don't pick up the pace.

That's four 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.
Nikitin working a defensive guard here.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up. He just wasn't happy with the level of activity.
Nikitin is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Wax.
Wax swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Nikitin now looks to counter with a shot at the body.
Nikitin misses the shot to the body.
No joy there for Nikitin, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Wax doesn't manage to clinch there - Nikitin circles away.
Wax avoids a punch combination nicely.

Wax drives through and clinches with Nikitin against the cage.
A battle for position here, against the cage.
A right handed body shot lands from Nikitin.
Wax lands on the inside with an uppercut.
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 Charlie Wax will probably get the nod.
That's time! Back to the action!

Nikitin lands with a straight right. Wax didn't see that one coming.
Wax tries to close the distance and clinch but Nikitin swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Nikitin swings away with a counter right hand but no contact made.
Wax keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Nikitin tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Wax was well out of range. Poor timing from Nikitin.
Wax fails in his attempt to clinch.
Nikitin doesn't react quick enough there as he takes a shot to the body.
Nikitin throws a lazy right hand but Wax sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Nikitin circles away from the clinch attempt.
Nikitin swings for the body but Wax moves out of range.
An inside leg kick lands from Wax.
Decent striking displayed by Wax there.
Wax tries to clinch but Nikitin is having none of it.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Nikitin thows a left - swing and a miss!
Nikitin lands a nice shot to the body.
Nikitin throws a series of punches but Wax moves out of range.
Nikitin takes a jab on the nose there. A little bit of blood seems to be coming out. Hopefully that won't affect his breathing.
Alexandr Nikitin seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Wax 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.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Wax stooping low to avoid any incoming strikes and then lunges in with an uppercut come cross that lands flush.
Wax throws a wild body kick that Nikitin sees coming a mile off.
Nice body kick from Wax.
Wax looks to land a combination but Nikitin avoids it well.
Sloppy strikes from Wax. Those never looked like landing.
Nikitin misses with a body shot.
Wax throws a decent looking leg kick but it doesn't land clean.
Wax looks to score with a jab to the body but Nikitin is just out of range.
Wax pivots, looking for a leg kick but Nikitin is out of range and Wax settles back down.
Nikitin looked like he wanted to counter with a punch but didn't throw it.
Nikitin fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Wax manages to avoid it.
An inside leg kick lands from Wax.
Nikitin throws a body shot but no joy.
Wax's jab looks to have found its range, popping Nikitin under the eye.
Nikitin ducks down and throws a hook to the body.
Nikitin fails with a takedown attempt from distance.

Nikitin dives in and scores a takedown into Wax's guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Nikitin is sitting in guard, working some ground and pound.
Wax is pulling down on Nikitin's head to control his posture.
Nikitin pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Wax is keeping the position for now.
Wax is adopting a defensive guard.
Nikitin throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Wax works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Nikitin sneaks a leg through and gets to half guard. That was like a knife through butter how easily he passed Wax's guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Nikitin wants to lay and pray for a moment but Wax keeps working.
Nikitin slows the pace down in half guard.
Wax wants to control but Nikitin is keeping busy.
Alexandr Nikitin has got the better of the ground game so far.
Wax wants to improve his position but Nikitin is controlling well.
The referee claps his hands together and tells the fighters to work.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Nikitin is looking to advance position but Wax won't allow it.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are getting on the fighters' backs, as the pace has dropped off in the last minute or so.
Nikitin sitting and controlling from the half guard.

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.
Wax is looking to clinch but Nikitin is avoiding it.
Nikitin avoids a punch combination nicely.
Nikitin lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Wax circles away quickly and effectively.
Wax throws a low kick but it's checked well by Nikitin.
A nice side step and Nikitin releases a counter shot to the body, but it doesn't find it's home.
Nikitin staying out of range there.
A shot to the liver by Nikitin. Beautiful body shot.
Wax is using his height advantage well here, landing a good percentage of his punches.
Nikitin takes one on the button.
Nikitin tries to drive through with a takedown attempt but Wax defends well and Nikitin ends up having to push Wax into the cage where they will battle it out in the clinch.
Wax takes a body punch but keeps moving.
Wax darts in trying to clinch
and Nikitin counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close second round but I would say that Charlie Wax will probably get the nod.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action! This is the final round!

Nikitin works the jab nicely.
Wax checks the leg kick nicely there.
Nikitin takes a solid shot to the body. That one hurt him but he's trying not to show it.

Wax has closed the distance and engaged Nikitin in a clinch.
Wax stays in close to his opponent and throws a right hand to the body.
Wax lands a knee to the head there! That was nasty!
Nikitin stalls.
Wax trying to land knees to the body.
Wax throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Nikitin blocks it with crossed arms.
Wax blocks a body shot from Nikitin.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Wax stalling in the clinch but Nikitin improves position.
Wax misses with the head strike.
Nikitin blocking some punches.
Wax lands a short shot on the inside that snaps the head of Nikitin backwards.
Nikitin trying to stall but Wax improves his position.

Nikitin ties up his opponent against the cage and manages to drag the fight down to the ground. Nikitin no doubt will be looking to work submissions from his guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Wax 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.
Nikitin looking for a sweep. Not yet Nikitin, not yet.
Wax 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.
Wax looking to pass the guard.
Nikitin has Wax pulled in close to control his posture.
Wax is stalling in the full guard.
We may be looking at a referee standup if the pace doesn't pick up soon.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are getting on the fighters' backs, as the pace has dropped off in the last minute or so.
Nikitin working a defensive guard here.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up. He just wasn't happy with the level of activity.
Wax throws a series of strikes that have Nikitin backpedaling.
Wax misses with a straight right.
Nikitin has his head snapped back a nice jab. A little nod from Nikitin there as he acknowledges the shot.
Nikitin takes one to the side of the head.
Nikitin scores with a leg kick.
Nikitin shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Nikitin walks into a jab.
Alexandr Nikitin has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Nikitin lands with a shot to the body.
Nikitin swings and misses with a hook to the body.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Nikitin takes a shot to the eye socket. That's gotta hurt.
Nikitin swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Nikitin throws a body punch but Wax moves out of range.
Wax ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Nikitin moves away.
Nikitin fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Wax manages to avoid it.
Wax tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
A nice side step and Nikitin releases a counter shot to the body, but it doesn't find it's home.
Nikitin is throwing a lot of body shots here, looking to wear down Wax rather than just go for the knockout.
Nikitin scores with a nice body kick.
Charlie Wax is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Nikitin misses with a straight left.
No luck with that takedown attempt from Nikitin.
Nikitin takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Nikitin takes one on the button.
Wax connects with a looping right hand.

Wax closes the distance and clinches.
Nikitin tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. Wax just stands there and leans against the cage.
Charlie Wax has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Alexandr Nikitin.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A battle for position here, against the cage.
Nikitin throws a head punch that misses.
Wax letting Nikitin take a breather here.
Nikitin tries to pull guard but Wax forces him back to his feet, against the cage.
Nikitin misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Nikitin misses with a punch to the body.
Nikitin swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Nikitin has been looking to improve his clinch game in recent weeks. Wax seems to have the measure of him in the clinch so far, so let's see if Nikitin can turn it around.
This has been an exciting period of action!
A bit of stalling here from Nikitin.

And that's the end of the fight!
Charlie Wax showed his dominance in that final round.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Wax, 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 Donald Grub scores the fight 30:28
Judge Phil Schofield scores the fight 30:28
Judge Paul Tew scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Charlie Wax!
Charlie Wax decided to hype himself up post fight. It was going well but he went on about it a bit too long and the crowd turned on him a little.