PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Ronnie Nicholson (ranked 4081 p4p, 4101 weight class) and Radim Polak (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). We have two fighters making their debuts here, so let's see who comes out of this one with their first professional victory.

Nicholson
vs
Polak

178 cm
18
155
0 - 0 - 0

184 cm
18
150
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
KO power

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Enjoys gardening

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the featherweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Ronnie Nicholson!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of London, Radim Polak!
The judges for this bout are Robert Twigg, Cecil Peabody and Tiny Johnson.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Nicholson fails miserably with a takedown attempt.

Polak drives through with a takedown into Nicholson's guard. Let's see what he can do from the top position.
Nicholson trying to keep a closed guard but Polak is proving a slippery customer.
Polak is just sitting in guard, looking to avoid any submissions.
Polak is a painfully thin specimen of a man. You do wonder whether a good body kick would snap him clean in two.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Nicholson looking to hit a scissor sweep but Polak is one step ahead there.
Polak slips nicely into half guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Polak is thwarting Nicholson's attempts to control the position.
Polak wants to stand but Nicholson has hold of a leg and an arm, so he's trapped for now.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Nicholson wants to improve his position but Polak is controlling well.
Polak drops an elbow to the side of Nicholson's head.
Nicholson is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.

That's two 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.
Nicholson is working hard here to advance position.
The referee calls for the fighters to work.

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.

Polak throws a loose over hand right and dives in with a double leg takedown. Nicholson tries to sprawl but it's too late and the fighters hit the mat. Polak is in Nicholson's guard.
Nicholson is looking to stand back up... there's a bit of a scramble and Polak dives into side control.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Polak controlling the position.
Nicholson taking a bit of punishment here - Polak scoring with strikes.
Polak tries to stand but Nicholson is controlling his head.
Nicholson gives up the full mount - oops, sloppy defensive grappling there!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Polak lands with some strikes.
Nicholson tries to hold on but Polak postures up.
Polak controlling from mount.
Nicholson tries to control Polak's body but Polak pushes him off. Nicholson squirms to his side and now Polak has his back!
Nicholson trying to control the hands but Polak won't let him.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!

Polak patiently working for the choke. Which fighter will keep their nerve here?
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Radim Polak dominated that round.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

Nicholson swats away the attempt to clinch by Polak.
Nicholson tries to drive through with a takedown attempt but Polak defends well and Nicholson ends up having to push Polak into the cage where they will battle it out in the clinch.
Polak has been the more effective fighter overall so far.

Polak jumps into guard, dragging Nicholson to the mat.
We get told so often about how wrestlers don't like to be on their backs. Let's see if Polak can do anything to dispel that myth.

Polak escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Nicholson gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
Polak looking for a sweep. Not yet Polak, not yet.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Polak is adopting a defensive guard.
Polak wants to sweep here but Nicholson controlling him for the moment.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Nicholson wants to pass the guard but Polak is keeping the position.
Polak wants to sweep but no luck.
Polak tries to strike from the bottom.
The referee is asking the fighters to pick up the pace.
Polak trying to control the position here.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.
Nicholson shoots for a double leg takedown but Polak sprawls well. He's pushed Nicholson's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
Nicholson sets himself, and Polak steps forward looking for the clinch! Nicholson avoids it this time.
Polak fails with a takedown attempt.
Polak throws a nice looking combination but Nicholson bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Well. There's a bit of a lull in the action here and the crowd are starting to get restless.

Nicholson takes the fight into the clinch.
Nicholson tries to land knees in the clinch but Polak avoids the damage to the body.
Nicholson is looking for a takedown up against the cage. Polak gets underhooks though and prevents the takedown attempt.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Ronnie Nicholson. That's going to take a lot out of him.

Polak's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Nicholson shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Polak as he avoids it easily.
Nicholson misses with a head kick.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Nicholson looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Polak is fending him off so far but Nicholson persists. Nope, Polak circles away and we're back to standing.

Polak rushes Nicholson and presses him up against the cage.

Polak has Nicholson pressed up against the cage. He's trying to work for a single leg takedown. Polak pulls back from the cage and twists to the side, sending Nicholson tumbling to the mat - Polak dives into Nicholson's guard.
Polak would like to get this fight back to the feet but can't get free from the closed guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Nicholson being controlled here, momentarily.

Polak stands and steps away. Nicholson gets to his feet too and we're back to the striking game.

Polak looking for a takedown here - he's got it.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Polak working from the guard for now, landing some ground and pound.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Polak 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.
Let's hope that Polak has the urge to step up the pace any second now because for the last 15 or 20 seconds he's just been holding on tight.

Polak drops back for a leg! It's a sloppy attempt though and Polak jumps back into guard quickly, to retain the dominant position.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Radim Polak 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. The crowd applaud as we get ready to start the final round!

Polak leaves Nicholson with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
Polak throws a hook to the side of Nicholson's head but Nicholson sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
Polak tries to clinch there but Nicholson circles away.
Nicholson shoots in looking for a takedown but Polak manages to keep the fight standing, pushing Nicholson's face into the canvas for good measure before circling away.
Polak is trying to avoid his opponent's strikes and get into the clinch.
Nicholson wants to clinch.
Polak tries a counter takedown but it's more of a dummy move, and he uses it to push himself away.

Polak closes the distance, clinches up and gets a nice trip takedown into side control. Very smooth.
Nicholson tries to wriggle free to get back to his feet but he's given up his back! Oops.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Polak just keeping the dominant position. He can't wait too long though, otherwise the referee will stand them back up.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Nicholson is staying cool under pressure, defending well against the rear naked choke attempt from his opponent.
Polak is riding his opponent, not letting Nicholson buck him off.

Nicholson is staying cool under pressure, defending well against the rear naked choke attempt from his opponent.

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.
Nicholson looks to control his opponent's hands but he's not mananging it at the moment.
Polak lands strikes to the head.
Nicholson wants to control his opponent's hands but Polak gets his hands free.
Polak slows the pace down here. Having a little breather whilst he's in a dominant position, looking to rest and regain some energy, ready to go for the finish.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Nicholson preventing the rear naked choke attempt from Polak.
Polak lands a punch to the side of the head from the back.
Polak lands shots from the back.

Polak is persistently looking for the submission but Nicholson is defending it well.
Nicholson tries to escape but Polak has the hooks in and won't let him break free.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Polak is staying calm and holding on to the back position, whilst working on a rear naked choke. Nicholson is defending well though. Polak let's go of the attempt for now.
Polak is not going to allow Nicholson to sit and survive in this position.
Nicholson is trapped and Polak is scoring with shots to the head and body.

Polak has his opponent's back and is working for the choke.
Radim Polak has got the better of the ground game so far.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Polak tries to get the hooks in deep but Nicholson pushed the leg off.

And that's the end of the fight!
Radim Polak comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Polak 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 Robert Twigg scores the fight 27:30
Judge Cecil Peabody scores the fight 27:30
Judge Tiny Johnson scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Radim Polak!