PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Edward Lion (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Rich Nixon (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). This should be fireworks!

Lion
vs
Nixon

180 cm
19
200 lbs
2 - 2 - 0

185 cm
23
200 lbs
2 - 2 - 0

Dangerous GnP
Counter striker
Granite chin

BJJ Purple Belt
Excellent boxer
Heavy handed

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 2 - 2 - 0, fighting out of London, Edward Lion!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 2 - 0, fighting out of London, Rich Nixon!
The judges for this bout are Paul Tew, Sam Margolis and James Ackerman.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
A jab from Nixon does it's job there.

It looks like Edward Lion has been cut.
Nixon keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
Lion fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Nixon avoids it really well and circles away.
Nixon throws a big shot that misses.
Lion avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
Nixon lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Lion circles away quickly and effectively.

Lion feints and then dives in with a takedown. That was a long way out but the feint bought him enough time to close the distance and complete the takedown. Now we'll play guard for a bit and see who can get the better of that position.
Nixon is trying to control the position from the bottom.

Lion is trying to work a guillotine from the top, or something like that? Don't know how he thinks he's going to get a finish from there.

Lion drops back, looking for a kneebar! Nixon looks panicked! The fighters roll across the mat, one looking to finish, one looking to escape. Nixon looks to have wriggled free... Yes, he's got his leg free and he's dived into side control! Good work there from Nixon!

That's one minute gone in the round.
Nixon is looking to take a break and control but Lion is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Lion tries to buck Nixon off but Nixon is having none of it.
Lion is working hard here to advance position.
Nixon trying to control the position but Lion is working away.
Lion is looking for a sweep.

Nixon is trying to land an Americana. He has the arm isolated but Lion is keeping cool and he's avoided the danger for now.
Nixon is looking to take a break and control but Lion is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Lion dodges the ground and pound from Nixon.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.
Nixon throws a nice looking combination but Lion bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Nixon just misses with a punch to the body.

Nixon gets taken down but at least he's managed to land in guard.
Nixon is adopting a defensive guard.

Lion is trying to work a guillotine from the top, or something like that? Don't know how he thinks he's going to get a finish from there.
Nixon looking to control the pace of the fight rather than finish it.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Nixon is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Nixon is in a good position here but he's just trying to control... And he's not even managing to do that successfully.
Nixon might have to switch it up a bit here because his efforts to control Lion kaven't been going to plan, at least at the current moment in time.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Nixon misses with a series of wild punches.
Nixon shoots in but doesn't get the takedown

and Lion counters with a nice double leg into guard.
Nixon looks gassed!
Nixon not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Lion is holding a leg here, probably looking for an ankle lock - he drops back and goes for it! Nixon is in trouble! Is it all over??? No! Nixon has escaped and now he's on top!
Nixon trying to control but Lion is working from the bottom.

Lion looking for a guillotine here but Nixon defends easily.
Lion keeping moving, preventing Nixon from controlling successfully.

Lion escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Nixon gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
Lion keeping moving, preventing Nixon from controlling successfully.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Rich Nixon will probably get the nod.
The cut man is working on Edward Lion's cut.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the ring so we can get back down to business.

Nixon scores with a shot to the body.
Nixon missing with a left hand there. Lion was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
A swing and a miss from Nixon.
Nixon throws a combination that misses

and Lion counters with a nice double leg into half guard.

Lion is looking for a kimura here.

Nixon is defending against the submission attempts here by Lion.
Nixon desperately trying to maintain half guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Lion is working for submissions here but there's nothing on.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Nixon slips a foot under and gets full guard. Nice work.

Lion drops back looking for a leg! Nixon is in trouble here! The fighters roll with the hold and Nixon manages to kick Lion off! Lion jumps back into Nixon's guard.
Nixon working a defensive guard here.

Lion thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.

Nixon has butterfly guard. He's looking to stand up here. He pushes Lion off him and springs to his feet nicely. The crowd applauds.

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.
Lion uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Nixon.
Nixon throws a big shot that misses.
Nixon gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily

and Lion counters with a nice double leg into side control. Nixon won't be happy with that.
Lion working away.
Both fighters really going for it on the ground here!
Nixon manages to work his way to half guard, despite Lion's best efforts.

Lion is trying a forearm choke… I don't think that's going to do much at this level of the game.
Nixon manages to get to full guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Nixon looking to control the pace of the fight rather than finish it.
Let's hope that Nixon 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.
Lion advances position into side control!

Lion wants to work for a kimura but he's foiled early by Nixon, who protects the arm well.
Who's going to make the next move?

That's four 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.

Lion thinks about going for a far side armbar but bails out and retains the dominant position instead.
Nixon gets one leg under and gets the fight to half guard.
Nixon trying to control here.
Nixon is trying to stand.

Nixon has one foot on Lion's thigh - he pushes off and manages to get back to his feet.

Nixon feints and as Lion raises his hands in defense, Nixon changes levels and drives through with a takedown into guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Rich Nixon will probably get the nod - 10:9.
The cut man is working on Edward Lion's cut.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the ring so we can get back down to business. This is the final round!

Nixon loads up on a big right hand but Lion slips the punch.
Nixon swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Lion ducks under a wild hook from Nixon.
Lion ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.

Lion gets the takedown into side control.
Nixon is looking for a sweep.
The fighters are tangled up in the ropes here. We might need a restart if the fighters can't break free themselves.
Nixon struggling a bit here.
What's Nixon going to do here then? He's in a bit of a pickle.

Lion is trying to get an arm triangle but Nixon is defending well.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Nixon is moving his hips around well on the bottom and has managed to get back to half guard.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Nixon wants to get back to full guard.

Lion is trying to work for a kimura. This could be trouble! No, Nixon has managed to free his arm - good work.
Nixon trying to hold on to Lion's head to control him but Lion postures up.
Nixon moves his hips nicely and gets into full guard.
Nixon pulls Lion in close to prevent any damage.

Lion drops back for a leg! It's a sloppy attempt though and Lion jumps back into guard quickly, to retain the dominant position.
Rich Nixon is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.

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.
Lion is looking to advance position but Nixon has hit a scissor sweep - now he's on top in mount!
Nixon sitting in mount, just looking to control for the moment.
Nixon dominating with strikes here.
Nixon content just to control the position here.
Lion sneaks a leg under to get to half guard.
Nixon is figuring out what he wants to do next.
Edward Lion overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Nixon wants to pass the guard but Lion is defending well.
Nixon is taking a breather. Lion says something to him but it's hard to make out. Perhaps he's telling him to get on with it and actually do something.
Lion wants to get back to full guard but Nixon has passed into side control.
Nixon trying to control but Lion is having none of it.

Despite being in the dominant position, Rich Nixon just isn't active enough and the referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Nixon thows a body shot but no joy.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
This fight brought to you by 5M nutrition - it's mmmmm tasty. Nice jab by Nixon.
Nixon swings wildly with a hook that is half blocked by Lion.
Nixon scores with a sloppy punch to the body. Not much technique there but it did the business.
Lion takes a shot to the eye socket. That's gotta hurt.
Nixon throws a series of punches but Lion avoids them all with ease.
Nixon throws a looping overhand right but Lion ducks down to avoid it.
Nixon connects with a looping left hand that seems like it dazed Lion momentarily.
Nixon connects with a jab.

And that's the end of the fight!
Rich Nixon comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Nixon 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 Paul Tew scores the fight 28:29
Judge Sam Margolis scores the fight 28:30
Judge James Ackerman scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Rich Nixon!