PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Rian Madison (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Scott Nicholson (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Madison comes into the arena with Smut Peddlers - If You're Gonna Be Dumb blaring out of the sound system. Nicholson is bobbing his head along to his entrance song: Tori Amos-The Power of Orange Knickers. These two fighters really are very evenly matched on the feet - it will be fascinating to see who can assert themselves in that aspect of the fight.

Madison
vs
Nicholson

212 cm
19
270 lbs
3 - 2 - 0

175 cm
22
240 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

Good takedowns
Counter striker
Granite chin

BJJ Blue Belt
Basic striking
Solid chin

Hell's Kitchen Lab Corp

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 3 - 2 - 0, fighting out of New York, Rian Madison!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of New York, Scott Nicholson!
The judges for this bout are Anthony Taglia, Dean Styles and Jorge Garcia.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Nicholson tries to close the distance and clinch but Madison swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Nicholson doesn't manage to clinch there - Madison circles away.
Nicholson tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Madison paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Madison shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Nicholson as he avoids it easily.
Nicholson fails with an attempt to clinch.
Madison shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Nicholson sprawls well. Nicholson wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Madison gets slowly back to his feet.
Nicholson tries to clinch but Madison is having none of it.
Nicholson tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.

Madison drives through with a really nice takedown into side control.
Madison works to advance to full mount. Nicholson defends for a few seconds but eventually he succumbs.
Nicholson wants to hold on but Madison pushes him away.
Madison working away from the top, dropping strikes.
Madison lands a nice shot to the head.
Madison looking to control but Nicholson is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Nicholson wants to control but Madison is having none of it.
Madison lands a heavy elbow.
Madison prevents Nicholson from getting the reversal.
Madison controlling the pace for now.
Nicholson is writhing around trying to get back to his feet.
Nicholson is trying to escape the mount.

Madison is going oldschool here, as he tries to force Nicholson to tap using a forearm choke. This isn't 1993 though, so Nicholson shrugs it off.
Nicholson takes a big shot to the head but keeps on trying to improve his position.
Madison wants to control the pace but Nicholson is squirming around nicely.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Nicholson tries to hold on but Madison pushes him away.

Madison looking to secure an arm triangle but Nicholson defends it well.
Madison looking to finish Nicholson with some ground and pound. This is bad for Nicholson!
Nicholson tries to get back to half guard but can't.
Madison can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as Nicholson is looking to escape.
Madison pausing momentarily but resumes with a couple of decent strikes that do a bit of damage.
Nicholson is desperately trying to get back to half guard.

Madison is working on an americana here. Ooh, that looks pretty nasty! Nope, Nicholson has managed to escape the submission attempt.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Nicholson tries to lock up and control but Madison gives him a forearm to the face and pushes him away.

Madison working for a submission but Nicholson is keeping him at bay.
Nicholson is writhing around trying to get back to his feet.

Madison is in full mount, looking to secure a guillotine but Nicholson is surviving well by controlling Madison's body position as best he can.
Madison is breathing heavily.
Nicholson is looking to improve his position but Madison isn't that keen on the idea.
Nicholson regains half guard.
Nicholson moves into full guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Nicholson is trying to control the position but Madison postures up.
Nicholson is looking to stand up but Madison isn't so interested in that idea.

Madison avoids a guillotine attempt easily.

Nicholson working for a triangle but Madison defends it easily.
Both fighters really going for it on the ground here!
Madison pushing down on Nicholson's thigh, trying to pass to half guard. He's managed it... Nice work.
Madison is nestled in close to Nicholson, controlling him well. He's worked in a nice elbow to the side of the head as well, for good measure.
The referee calls for the fighters to work.
Madison has been looking to land a fair amount of strikes on the ground. He might be looking to soften his opponent up in order to work for a submission.
Madison working over Nicholson with some ground and pound. Nicholson looks like he wants out of this position, which is understandable.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Rian Madison dominated that round.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

Madison fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
Madison keeps the fight on the outside.
Nicholson tries a head kick but it misses.
Nicholson fails with an attempt to clinch.
Madison shoots in and drives through. Nicholson sprawls well.
Madison swats away the attempt to clinch by Nicholson.
Nicholson fails in his attempt to clinch.
Nicholson tries to clinch up.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Madison gets a takedown into half guard.
Nicholson is looking to escape.
Nicholson is not content to let Madison control the position.
Madison 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.
Nicholson won't allow Madison to pass to mount.
Madison seems content to maintain position for now, rather than mounting any offense.
Nicholson has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Madison is working away from the top position though.
Madison is pressing down on Nicholson's thigh, looking to free his foot. Nicholson is holding on for now.
Nicholson is not content to let Madison control the position.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.
Nicholson misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Nicholson tries to clinch there but Madison circles away.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Madison circles away from the clinch attempt.
Nicholson is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Nicholson is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Madison shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Nicholson as he jumps to the side.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Rian Madison. That's going to take a lot out of him.
A head kick misses from Nicholson.
Nicholson throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Nicholson tries to clinch but Madison moves out of range.
Nicholson tries to clinch up.
Madison avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Madison swats away the attempt to clinch by Nicholson.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Madison is trying hard to land a takedown here. Nicholson sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.
Madison closes the distance and clinches up with Nicholson, looking for a takedown. Madison pushes Nicholson against the cage but Nicholson circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.

Madison shoots in with a lovely double leg takedown. Nicholson manages to land in full guard to minimise the damage.
Madison is pushing down on Nicholson's leg trying to pass to half guard. Nicholson is fighting to maintain full guard but Madison has managed to sneak the leg through.
Madison wants to pass the guard but Nicholson is defending well.

Nicholson looking for submissions from an awkward position here.
Rian Madison overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Nicholson is looking to improve his position.

Nicholson is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Madison pulls his head out easily.
Nicholson is breathing heavily.
Madison performing his best blanket impression for a moment.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Madison frees up his trapped foot and advances to mount.
Madison controlling from the full mount.
Nicholson is desperately trying to improve his position but Madison has a good base and remains in mount.
Madison controlling his opponent.

Madison has control of Nicholson's right arm, working for a kimura. It's a bit of a token attempt though and Nicholson regains control of the situation pretty easily.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Nicholson is trying desperately to improve position.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Rian Madison dominated that second round.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action! This is the final round!

Madison shoots in for a takedown but Nicholson shows good takedown defense.
Nicholson goes for a spinning back kick but it misses.

Madison closes the distance and looks for a trip takedown... aaaand he's got it - Madison lands in his opponent's guard.
Nicholson can't do much from the bottom at the moment, as Madison controls the pace.
Nicholson wants to sweep but no luck.
Nicholson really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Madison. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.

Nicholson looks to be working for a triangle here. Oh, it looks like he might have it! Madison has picked Nicholson up and slammed him! Nicholson can't keep hold of the triangle and Madison manages to pass to side control!
Madison trying to control the action but Nicholson is working from the bottom.
Nicholson is looking to reverse the position.
A bit of a lull in the action. I'm sure it will pick up again soon... even if the ref has to physically pick them up and put them back on their feet.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Madison working the ground and pound from side control.
Madison working the head with strikes.
Madison trying to control the action but Nicholson is working from the bottom.
Nicholson is trying to get back to half guard.
Nicholson manages to get back to half guard.

Nicholson looking for submissions off his back.
Nicholson takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Madison works his way into side control.
Madison works a knee to the body and follows up with a nice elbow to the head.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Madison in side control, working for a kimura. He's got hold of an arm and he's torquing it... Nicholson is tapping! That's the end of the fight!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 2:19 of round 3, we have a winner by way of Submission (Kimura). Rian Madison!