PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Peter Nicholson (ranked 1872 p4p, 2802 weight class) and Talon Cannonier (ranked 269 p4p, 375 weight class). Nicholson's entrance music is We Will Rock You. A fine choice. Peter Nicholson has the edge in experience - let's see if he can make that count tonight.

Nicholson
vs
Cannonier

193 cm
26
187
5 - 0 - 0

188 cm
25
197
1 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Solid boxing
Good chin

Good wrestler
Basic striking
Heavy handed

FinnFighter Nutrition (Five 160Q supps!)
Bondi MMA 🏝️

Nutritional Shaved Ice

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the middleweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 5 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Peter Nicholson!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Talon Cannonier!
The judges for this bout are Jeff Smith, Ryoma Takatsuka and Colin Fray.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Boom, another hit is landed. "You're gunna get knocked out" taunts Nicholson, as that shot connected.
Cannonier avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Peter Nicholson seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Cannonier misses with a hook
and Nicholson counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
Nicholson falls off balance throwing a combination

and Cannonier holds on and brings the fighters into a clinch.
The fighters are pressed against the cage, as the pace of the fight slows.
Nicholson misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Cannonier.
Cannonier tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Nicholson's elbow.
Cannonier lands a right uppercut that snaps the head of Nicholson backwards.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Nicholson swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Cannonier gets through Nicholson's defenses to land a nice punch to the side of the head.
A body shot lands from Cannonier.
Cannonier dictating the pace here, as the fighters clinch against the cage.
Cannonier's coach down at Shinobi Martial Arts & Ninjutsu was telling us pre-fight that they have been working on Cannonier's balance. Obviously they view that as a key factor in the outcome of this fight.
Nicholson tries a knee to the head but he's missed.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Cannonier tries to work over Nicholson's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
Cannonier goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Nicholson with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.
Cannonier throws a hook to the body. More of an arm punch but it's all scoring with the judges.
Nicholson looks like he'd prefer to be striking at range right now.
Cannonier tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Nicholson's elbow.
Nicholson looking to stall.
Cannonier can't find room to land a body shot as Nicholson controls the action.
Cannonier struggles to land a body shot inside as Nicholson controls his hands.
Nicholson definitely looks more muscular than last time we saw him fight.
With the two fighters working up against the cage, Nicholson just misses with a elbow thrown towards Cannonier's brow.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
There's not a lot going on here and the crowd are letting the fighters know they're not willing to tolerate a lack of action.
Nicholson tries to land a knee to the head but Cannonier blocks with his arms.
Cannonier softening up his opponent with strikes, against the cage.
Cannonier tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Nicholson's elbow.
Cannonier holding his opponent close, against the cage.
Cannonier tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Nicholson's elbow.
Cannonier can't find room to land a body shot as Nicholson controls the action.
Nicholson throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Cannonier blocks it with crossed arms.
Cannonier lands on the inside with an uppercut.
Cannonier digs a right hand underneath Nicholson's ribcage. Nicholson let out a lung full of air as it connected.
Cannonier dodges an elbow strike from Nicholson.
Cannonier leaning his opponent against the cage.
Cannonier doesn't land with the attempted body shot.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Nicholson is trying to slow down the pace of the fight but Cannonier is keeping busy.
Nicholson is trying to maintain a safe position but Cannonier gets an underhook and turns Nicholson into the cage.
Maybe Nicholson would be better served going for some more strikes rather than trying to control so much.
Nicholson tries a knee to the head but Cannonier blocks it.
Cannonier taking a breather.
Cannonier is working Nicholson over against the cage.
Cannonier misses with a punch to the body.
A right hand to the body from Cannonier.
Cannonier lands a body punch.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Cannonier taking a breather.
Cannonier lands with a short shot to the head.
Cannonier works for underhooks and lands a body shot in the process.
Cannonier tries to work over Nicholson's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
Cannonier struggles to land a body shot inside as Nicholson controls his hands.
Nicholson blocks a body shot from Cannonier.
Nicholson misses with a knee strike.
Cannonier is working Nicholson over against the cage.
Nicholson throws an elbow but it misses.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Nicholson stalling in the clinch but Cannonier improves position.
Nicholson looking to slow down the pace here.
A quick uppercut on the inside from Cannonier.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Talon Cannonier dominated that round.
That's time! Nicholson's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight.

Cannonier has taken the fight to the clinch.
Nicholson is trying to push Cannonier away but Cannonier has him pressed against the cage, so he's going nowhere.
Cannonier can't find room to land a body shot as Nicholson controls the action.
Talon Cannonier seems to be working more effectively in the clinch in the fight so far.
Cannonier lands a right hand.
A body shot lands from Cannonier.
Nicholson creates a bit of distance and throws an elbow that only just misses.
Nicholson using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Cannonier has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
A frustrated look appears on Nicholson's face as he tries to break the clinch.
Cannonier will no doubt start fighting again in a minute but for now he's just having a little rest, leaning Nicholson up against the cage.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Cannonier lands a left hand that snaps the head of Nicholson backwards.
Come on Cannonier - let's have some action - none of this stalling nonsense.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Cannonier lands an uppercut.
Cannonier scores with an uppercut up the middle.
Cannonier tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Nicholson's elbow.
Nicholson throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Cannonier blocks it with crossed arms.
A right hand to the body from Cannonier.
Cannonier dictating the pace here, as the fighters clinch against the cage.
Nicholson is looking to break free of the clinch but Cannonier has double underhooks.
Nicholson takes a shot to the head.
Nicholson is trying to push Cannonier away but Cannonier has him pressed against the cage, so he's going nowhere.
Cannonier tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Nicholson's elbow.
Nicholson looking to throw knees to the head but Cannonier is blocking nicely.
Cannonier has been the more effective fighter overall so far.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Cannonier tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Nicholson's elbow.
Cannonier lands with a good tight uppercut to the head.
Nicholson tries a knee to the head but he's missed.
Cannonier lands a body punch.
Cannonier lands a body punch - he's looking to wear down Nicholson.
Cannonier tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Nicholson's elbow.
Cannonier keeps control of Nicholson as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.
Cannonier lands a hook that snaps the head of Nicholson backwards.
Cannonier will no doubt start fighting again in a minute but for now he's just having a little rest, leaning Nicholson up against the cage.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Nicholson blocks a body shot from Cannonier.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Nicholson with an attempt at a knee that misses.
Cannonier struggles to land a body shot inside as Nicholson controls his hands.
Nicholson with an attempt at a knee that misses.
Cannonier misses with a punch to the body.
Nicholson blocks a body shot from Cannonier.
Cannonier struggles to land a body shot inside as Nicholson controls his hands.
Cannonier avoiding damage.
Cannonier lands a shoulder strike.
Cannonier taking a break, stalling in the clinch.
Nicholson misses with a knee to the head.
Cannonier presses Nicholson against the cage and delivers a mid-strength body shot.
Cannonier can't find room to land a body shot as Nicholson controls the action.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Cannonier lands a right hand that snaps the head of Nicholson backwards.
Both guys are working to get underhooks.
Cannonier struggles to land a body shot inside as Nicholson controls his hands.
A body shot lands from Cannonier.
Nicholson is working hard here but doesn't seem to be able to control effectively, up against the cage.
Cannonier has Nicholson pressed against the cage.
Cannonier pushes Nicholson back against the cage and unloads with a body punch.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Cannonier stalling here - the referee won't stand for too much of that.
Cannonier tries to work over Nicholson's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Talon Cannonier 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. This is the final round!

Cannonier closes the distance and clinches.
A frustrated look appears on Nicholson's face as he tries to break the clinch.
Nicholson misses with a knee to the head.
Cannonier throws a hook to the body. More of an arm punch but it's all scoring with the judges.
Nicholson tries a knee to the head but Cannonier blocks it.
Cannonier lands a shot to the body.
Cannonier blocks an elbow strike from Nicholson.
Nicholson is trying to push Cannonier away but Cannonier has him pressed against the cage, so he's going nowhere.
Nicholson stalling.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Cannonier works for underhooks and lands a body shot in the process.
Cannonier slows down the pace here.
Cannonier is pushing Nicholson up against the cage, for a bit of lean and pray action. Action being used the in the loosest possible sense of the word.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Cannonier avoiding damage.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Cannonier.
Cannonier is pushing Nicholson up against the cage, for a bit of lean and pray action. Action being used the in the loosest possible sense of the word.
Cannonier tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Nicholson's elbow.
Nicholson is trying to maintain a safe position but Cannonier gets an underhook and turns Nicholson into the cage.
Cannonier is pushing Nicholson up against the cage, for a bit of lean and pray action. Action being used the in the loosest possible sense of the word.

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.
Cannonier stalling against the cage.
Cannonier continues to stall. The referee tells him to work or he's going to break them up.
The ref breaks the fighters up, due to lack of action by Talon Cannonier.
Nice defenses there by Cannonier.
Nicholson drops his hands momentarily and Cannonier takes advantage with a crisp shot to the head.
Nicholson slips in close and lands a nice hook before moving back out of range.
Cannonier on the wrong end of a decent looking cross there.
Cannonier displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Nicholson throws out the jab.
Nicholson scores with a punch to the head.
A telegraphed right hand from Nicholson misses the target.
Cannonier darts in trying to clinch
enabling Nicholson to counter with a crisp jab.

Cannonier has taken the fight to the clinch.
Cannonier goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Nicholson is trying to break the clinch but Cannonier is controlling him.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
The pace really dropping off here, momentarily.
Cannonier stalling here - the referee won't stand for too much of that.
The crowd are getting on Cannonier's back here. They're not happy about his lack of aggression in the clinch.
Cannonier scores with a nice hook to the head.
Cannonier lands a hook to the side of the head.
The two fighters are working to gain dominance in the clinch.
Nicholson tries to break the clinch but Cannonier is controlling the position.
Cannonier tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Nicholson's elbow.
Cannonier misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Cannonier pushes Nicholson back against the cage and lands a hook to the side of the head.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Nice body punch from Cannonier - that landed with a thud.
Cannonier lands with a right to the head.
Cannonier misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Nice body punch from Cannonier - that landed with a thud.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Cannonier struggles to land a body shot inside as Nicholson controls his hands.
Cannonier tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Nicholson's elbow.
Peter Nicholson has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
A right hook to the body lands for Cannonier.
A short left from Cannonier.
Cannonier scores with an uppercut up the middle.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Nicholson misses with a knee to the head.
Cannonier is leaning against Nicholson and scores with a nice uppercut to the body.
Talon Cannonier is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
A short right from Cannonier on the inside.

And that's the end of the fight!
Talon Cannonier comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Cannonier 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 Jeff Smith scores the fight 27:30
Judge Ryoma Takatsuka scores the fight 27:30
Judge Colin Fray scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Talon Cannonier!
An out of breath Talon Cannonier thanked his loyal fans in his post fight interview, giving them credit for his success over the course of his career.