PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Rick Astley (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Nick Szyslak (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Astley comes to the cage accompanied by Never Gonna Give You Up Hip-Hop Beat. Rick Astley has the edge in experience - let's see if he can make that count tonight.

Astley
vs
Szyslak

180 cm
20
155 lbs
2 - 1 - 0

165 cm
22
160 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter striker
Granite chin

BJJ White Belt
Decent boxing
Tends to cut

Clothes for Gentlemen

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 2 - 1 - 0, fighting out of London, Rick Astley!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of London, Nick Szyslak!
The judges for this bout are James Atkins, Donald Grub and Steven Brown.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Astley drives through with a really nice takedown into side control.

Astley tries for a kimura. Not really close to a finish though.
Astley tries to score with some ground and pound. Szyslak controls his posture well this time though and the shots don't do any damage.
Szyslak really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Astley. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.
Astley wants to lay and pray for a moment but Szyslak keeps working.
Szyslak gives up the full mount - oops, sloppy defensive grappling there!
Astley trying to control but Szyslak is having none of it.
Astley will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Astley controlling from mount.
Astley lands a nice shot to the head.

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.
Szyslak is looking to improve his position but Astley isn't that keen on the idea.
Astley trying to control but Szyslak is having none of it.
Astley controlling from the full mount.

The referee stands the fighters back up. Rick Astley just wasn't active enough from the dominant position.
Astley lands a head kick!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Szyslak clobbers Astley with an overhand right that has the crowd gasping. That made a horrendous noise.
Szyslak looks to land a right hand but Astley moved out of range.
Szyslak misses with a jab, cross combination.
Astley fails to land the takedown.
Szyslak keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
Astley is breathing heavily.
Nice shot by Szyslak.
Szyslak stuffs the takedown attempt from Astley. Astley gets slowly back to his feet.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Rick Astley. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Szyslak lands a left and a right that sends Astley crashing to the canvas! Szyslak dives into mount looking to finish!

Astley is rocked!
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Szyslak controlling the pace for now.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Szyslak prevents Astley from getting the reversal.
Szyslak controlling his opponent.
Astley wants to control but Szyslak is having none of it.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Szyslak scores with a decent looking hook.

Astley gets the takedown into side control.

Astley stands up and we're back to a striking position.
Szyslak lands a head shot.

Astley decides to change it up a bit and drives through with a nice takedown into half guard.
Astley trying to control from half guard but Szyslak is working away.
Szyslak tries to kick Astley off but Astley keeps his base steady and stays in half guard.
Szyslak is looking to improve his position.
Astley wants to lay and pray for a moment but Szyslak keeps working.
Astley is really struggling to control Szyslak but he's trying to hold on to the position.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Astley tries to stand but his hand is stuck under Szyslak.
Astley slows the pace down in half guard.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fight is doing enough on the ground.
Szyslak misses with a straight left.
Szyslak throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Astley sees it coming and avoids it easily.
Szyslak lands three nice shots there - that looked like it hurt!

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Astley fakes an overhand right and shoots for a takedown. Szyslak sprawls well initially but Astley persists and gets the takedown into half guard.
Astley wants to free his trapped foot but Szyslak is holding on for dear life with his legs.

Astley decides to stand up.

Astley shoots in for a takedown and gets it.
Astley content to control rather than advance.
Astley works his way into side control.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Check out the look on Astley's face as he threw that strike - that's one determined fighter!
Astley wants to control but Szyslak is keeping him busy.
Astley controls the position from side control.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Szyslak controls the position for a moment.
Szyslak seems a little lost for a moment, as Astley dominates the positioning.

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.
Astley creates some space and throws a big elbow, but Szyslak sees it coming and moves his head just enough to avoid the strike.
Astley trying to control the position but Szyslak is working away.
Astley moves into full mount!
Astley can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as Szyslak is looking to escape.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Astley looking to control and managing it successfully.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Rick Astley dominated that second round.
That's time! Back to the action! And we move into the final round!

Szyslak throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Astley.
Astley takes an uppercut right on the button but keeps his composure.
Astley misses with a takedown attempt - Szyslak sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
Astley is looking to clinch but Szyslak is avoiding it.
Szyslak cracks Astley with a hook to the jaw. Both fighters smile at eachother and high-five before getting back down to business.
Szyslak throws a series of punches but Astley avoids them all with ease.
Szyslak lands a head shot.
Astley shoots for a takedown but Szyslak saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
Szyslak has used his reach advantage pretty well so far tonight.
Astley looks frusrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Rick Astley. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Szyslak fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Astley needs to keep his hands up - Szyslak had a free shot at his head there.
Astley takes a punch to the jaw and another one to the bread basket.

Astley shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Let's see what he's got on the mat.
Astley loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Astley wants to pass the guard but Szyslak is keeping the position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Astley sitting in guard here, content to control.
Szyslak keeping full guard, as Astley tries to pass.
Astley is just sitting in guard, looking to avoid any submissions.
Astley slips nicely into half guard.
Szyslak is looking to escape.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Astley controlling the action here.
Astley not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
Astley prevents Szyslak from standing back up.
Astley performing his best blanket impression for a moment.
Szyslak is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Astley sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Szyslak defending well though.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Astley slows the pace down in half guard.
Astley wants to control but Szyslak is keeping him busy.
Astley with a momentary lay and pray from half guard.
Astley not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
Rick Astley overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.

Astley stands, ready to strike. The ref makes him back up and allows Szyslak to get to his feet.
Astley shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Szyslak as he avoids it easily.

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.
Szyslak throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Astley throws a head kick that half lands.
Szyslak swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
Astley looks frusrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
Rick Astley is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Nice defenses there by Astley.
Astley fails to land the takedown.
Szyslak throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.

Astley gets the takedown into side control.
Astley is maintaining the dominant position - no doubt Szyslak will start to get frustrated soon if he's not already.
Astley throws a knee to the body but it doesn't do much damage.

Astley tries for an arm triangle. That looks pretty tight to me. Is this one over!?! Possibly, maybe, no Astley has let go of the choke. Obviously it wasn't as tight as we thought!

And that's the end of the fight!
That was a close round. You could make an argument for either fighter but I would give it to Rick Astley.
I think Astley has won this one but let's see what the judges have to say. 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 29:28
Judge Donald Grub scores the fight 29:28
Judge Steven Brown scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Rick Astley!