PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between James Nelson (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Matt King (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Both fighter's entrance songs getting the crowd jumping here.

Nelson
vs
King

170 cm
23
147 lbs
2 - 3 - 0

200 cm
20
145 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Granite chin

BJJ White Belt
Basic striking
Solid chin

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 2 - 3 - 0, fighting out of London, James Nelson!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of London, Matt King!
The judges for this bout are James Atkins, Andrew Berry and Colin Fotheringham.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Nelson gets in close and instigates a clinch.

Nelson breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
King throws a head kick that Nelson semi-blocks.
King takes a swing at Nelson's ribcage but misses.
King throws a body kick that sends a sickening thudding noise reverberating around the arena.
Nelson fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Wow, both these guys are really going for it!
Nelson tries a head kick but it misses.

Nelson moves into the clinch.
Nelson lands with a short punch from the clinch.

Nelson manages to break the clinch.
Nelson throws out a powerful jab.

It looks like Matt King has been cut.
King closes the distance but Nelson moves to the side

and Nelson counters with a nice shoot takedown that brings the fighters to the ground.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.

King is working an open guard so Nelson takes the opportunity to get back to his feet.
No joy there for Nelson, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Nelson blocks a head kick by King.
King closes the distance looking to clinch

and Nelson counters by moving into the clinch.
King wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.
Nelson lands with a good tight uppercut to the head.
King tries to circle away but Nelson has him pinned against the cage.

Nelson manages to break the clinch.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Nelson takes a kick to the side of the head.
Nelson fails to land with a series of punches.
King scores with a head kick.

Nelson has King up against the cage in a clinch.

Nelson manages to break the clinch.

King fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Nelson, pushing him back against the cage.
King blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
King has had enough of the clinch and is looking to separate.
Nelson looks to throw an elbow but misses.
King tries to score a body lock takedown but Nelson shows good agility there to stay on his feet.

Nelson pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Left hook, right uppercut from King.

King moves into the clinch successfully.
Nelson looking to throw knees to the head but King is blocking nicely.
King wants to get back to striking at distance but Nelson won't allow it.
King wants to get back to striking at distance but Nelson won't allow it.
King is working for a takedown up against the cage. He can't get it on this occasion though.

Nelson breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Nelson misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Nelson throws a lazy head kick

and King counters with a nice double leg into guard.
Nelson bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in King's guard.
King really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Nelson. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.

Nelson gets to his feet - King follows without any prompting.
Matt King seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Nelson throws a hook but King blocks it.
King tries to clinch but Nelson moves away
and Nelson connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
King with a poor takedown
and Nelson counters with a head kick.
James Nelson has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Matt King.
Nelson is breathing heavily.
King throws a right high kick that is partially blocked by Nelson.
Nelson keeps the fight on the outside.
King darts in trying to clinch

and Nelson holds on and brings the fighters into a clinch.
King tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. Nelson just stands there and leans against the cage.

Nelson breaks the clinch.

Nelson clinches.
Nelson swings away with an uppercut that misses.
King is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.
King blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
A nice left hand lands by Nelson.
Nelson with a knee to the head.

Nelson escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.

King instigates a clinch.

Nelson breaks from the clinch.

King clinches.
King tries for a takedown. No joy.
A nice glancing elbow lands by Nelson.

Nelson pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.

Nelson clinches.
A right handed body shot lands from Nelson.
A right hook to the body lands for Nelson.

Nelson breaks from the clinch.
Nelson avoids the body shot from King.
No luck for King with that takedown attempt.

Nelson rushes King and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.
With the fighters clinched against the cage, Nelson creates a bit of distance for himself and scores with a nice uppercut.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Nelson escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Nelson misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
King shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Nelson sprawls well. Nelson wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. King gets slowly back to his feet.
King uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Nelson.
King dodges the punch combination from Nelson.
Nelson fails to land with a series of punches.
Nelson bobs and weaves and unloads with a good uppercut.

Nelson rushes King and presses him up against the cage.
Nelson digs a right hand underneath King's ribcage. King let out a lung full of air as it connected.
Nelson works on King's body with a couple of short punches.
Nelson has King pressed against the cage, preventing King from circling away and getting back to striking at range.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Nelson lands a right hand.
Nelson scores with a shot to the side of King's head.
A nice left hand lands by Nelson.
A quick uppercut on the inside from Nelson.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

James Nelson dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Matt King's cut.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin!

Nelson rushes King and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.
Nelson scores with an uppercut up the middle.
King wants to break the clinch but can't.
Nelson softening up his opponent with strikes, against the cage.
Nelson digs a right hand underneath King's ribcage. King let out a lung full of air as it connected.
King wants to break free but Nelson has control.
Nelson throws a knee to the head but misses.
King is trying to break free.
King wants to break free but Nelson has control.

Nelson's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.

The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Nelson takes the fight into the clinch.
Nelson looking to throw knees to the head but King is blocking nicely.
King has had enough of the clinch but Nelson keeps him there for the moment.
King is breathing heavily.

Nelson breaks from the clinch.
King ducks under a wild hook from Nelson.
Nelson leaves King with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.

Nelson pushes King up against the cage in a clinch.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Nelson lands a hook to the body. It's hard to tell if that hurt King or not.
With the fighters up against the cage, Nelson throws an elbow but misses.

Nelson escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
King is a painfully thin specimen of a man. You do wonder whether a good body kick would snap him clean in two.
King throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.

Nelson fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with King, pushing him back against the cage.
Nelson prevents King from breaking the clinch.

Nelson pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.

Nelson forces King back against the cage and clinches.
King takes a shot to the head.
King tries a body shot but Nelson blocks it.
King jumps guard but his hands slip and he falls flat on his back. Well, he's made himself look a right mug there, as Nelson walks away with a smile on his face. King gets slowly back to his feet and shakes his head.

Nelson rushes King and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.
Nelson with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.
Nelson lands with a good tight uppercut to the head.

Nelson's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Nelson tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
King throws a head kick that looked like it stung.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
King throws a sloppy head kick and Nelson moves out of range easily.
Nelson throws a sloppy head kick and King moves out of range easily.

Nelson clinches up with King and pushes him back against the cage.
Nelson scores with an uppercut up the middle.
A frustrated look appears on King's face as he tries to break the clinch.

Nelson manages to break the clinch.
No joy there for Nelson, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Nelson tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.

Nelson closes the distance and pushes King back into the cage.

Nelson manages to break the clinch.
Nelson looks to land a right hand but King moved out of range.
Nelson tries to clinch up.
A head kick misses from Nelson.
King misses with a head kick.
King tries to clinch but fails miserably

and Nelson moves into the clinch.
Nelson looking to throw knees to the head but King is blocking nicely.
Nelson lands a right hand that snaps the head of King backwards.
King tries to pull guard but Nelson won't allow it.
James Nelson has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Matt King.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
A short right from Nelson on the inside.

Nelson's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
James Nelson is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Nelson has a takedown stuffed.

Nelson closes the distance and clinches.

Nelson escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.

King decides to change it up a bit and drives through with a nice takedown into half guard.
King wants to control but Nelson is keeping him busy.
Nelson tries to strike from the bottom but it doesn't land.
Nelson pushes King off looking to stand but King dives back in and keeps control.
Nelson is looking to get back to is feet but King passes into side control.
Nelson wants to get back to his feet but King is dominant here and he's now got Nelson's back!
King wants to control but Nelson manages to buck him off and is now in King's guard! Nice work there by Nelson!
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
King is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.

King is working an open guard so Nelson takes the opportunity to get back to his feet.
Nelson misses with a series of wild punches.
King tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Nelson paws at him with a jab and circles away.

Nelson pushes King up against the cage in a clinch.

Nelson breaks from the clinch.
Nelson throws a series of punches but King moves out of range.
King looks to clinch

and Nelson moves into the clinch.
A head punch on the inside from Nelson fails to land.
King is trying to break free.
Nelson doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

James Nelson dominated that second round.
The cut man is working on Matt King's cut.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin! This is the final round!

Nelson gets in close and instigates a clinch.
King is trying to break free.
Nelson lands with a short punch from the clinch.
Nelson has King pressed against the cage, preventing King from circling away and getting back to striking at range.

Nelson breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.

Nelson drives through with a takedown into guard.
Nelson tries to free his leg and advance position but King is retaining full guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

Nelson gets to his feet. King looking to butt scoot but the ref puts an end to that. On your feet son!
King scores with a leg kick.
King scores with a reasonable looking shot to the body. Nelson doesn't seem bothered though.
Nelson tries to close the distance and clinch but King swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Nelson avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Nelson tries to close the distance and clinch up but King swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Nelson tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but King paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Nelson swats away the attempt to clinch by King.
King avoids the clinch attempt nicely.

That's one minute gone in the round.
King tries to clinch but Nelson moves away

and Nelson counters into the clinch. Nicely done.
King keeps the fight in the clinch, despite Nelson's efforts to push away.

Nelson breaks the clinch.
Nelson rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but King moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
King fails with the takedown

and Nelson counters with a nice shoot takedown that brings the fighters to the ground.

Nelson stands up from King's guard - Nelson perhaps looking for a knockout.
Nelson does a little shimmy and throws a leg kick. The leg kick missed by a considerable margin though, making him look a little bit silly for doing the shimmy.
Good standup being displayed there by Nelson as he connects with a hook.
King avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Nelson keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.

Nelson closes the distance and pushes King back into the cage.

Nelson escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Nelson clinches up with King and pushes him back against the cage.
Nelson tries a knee to the head but he's missed.
King prevents Nelson from breaking the clinch.
King blocking some punches.
King wants to break the clinch but can't.
King looks like he'd prefer to be striking at range right now.

Nelson breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Nelson misses with a leg kick
and King counters with a head kick. That will keep Nelson thinking before he tries any more sloppy attacks!

Nelson has closed the distance and engaged King in a clinch.
Nelson tries a knee to the head but he's missed.
King tries to break the clinch but Nelson is controlling the position.
King is trying to break the clinch but Nelson is controlling him.
King takes an elbow to the temple.

King has hold of one of Nelson's legs. Nelson is fighting the takedown attempt but King gets the trip and lands the takedown into guard.
King must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Nelson lands a beautiful switch and he's in full mount! That could spell trouble for King!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Nelson working King over with strikes here.

Nelson get's back to his feet.
Nelson throws a head kick but King moves out of range.
King wants to clinch up but Nelson keeps it at a distance.

Nelson rushes King and presses him up against the cage.
James Nelson has scored more points in the clinch so far.
Nelson tries to land a knee to the head but misses.
Kneeeeees! The crowd are calling for knees to the body. Nelson obliges.
Nelson is pressed up against the cage. King has hold of a leg and is looking to drag Nelson down to the mat. Nelson avoids the attempt though and has circled away. We're back to striking at a distance.
James Nelson has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Matt King.
Nelson misses with a wild combination.
King closes the distance looking to clinch

and Nelson counters with a takedown into full mount! That could mean trouble for King!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
King is trying to escape the mount.

Nelson goes for an armbar but he's not got it… King turns into him and now he's in Nelson's guard.

Nelson wriggles free and stands up.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
King tries to clinch up but Nelson circles away and keeps his distance.

Nelson pushes King up against the cage in a clinch.
Matt King has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
James Nelson is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
King misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Nelson lands with a short head shot on the inside.

And that's the end of the fight!
James Nelson showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Nelson has outscored his opponent in every aspect of the fight today. Only a scarily incompetent judge or two will keep him from a well deserved win... 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 James Atkins scores the fight 30:27
Judge Andrew Berry scores the fight 30:27
Judge Colin Fotheringham scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... James Nelson!