PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between David Nail (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Robert al Matador (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). David Nail had a look across the cage there at his opponent. He definitely means business

Nail
vs
al Matador

180 cm
23
190 lbs
3 - 4 - 0

192 cm
22
194 lbs
0 - 1 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter striker
Granite chin

BJJ White Belt
Excellent boxer
Granite chin

•‡• LION Clothing •‡• [CBK]
•‡• LION Clothing •‡• [CBK]

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 3 - 4 - 0, fighting out of London, David Nail!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 1 - 0, fighting out of London, Robert al Matador!
The judges for this bout are James Ackerman, Sam Margolis and Chris Edwards.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
al Matador shoots in and drives through. Nail sprawls well.
al Matador tries to close the distance and clinch but Nail swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
al Matador stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and al Matador wants it to stay on the feet.
Nice sprawl there from al Matador as Nail shoots in.
al Matador tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Nail shoots in for a double leg but al Matador sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for David Nail. That's going to take a lot out of him.
al Matador fails in his attempt to clinch.
al Matador tries to clinch but Nail moves out of range.
al Matador tries to close the distance and clinch but Nail swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
al Matador is looking to clinch but Nail is avoiding it.
al Matador lands a two punch combo.

It looks like David Nail has been cut.
Nail circles away from the clinch attempt.
al Matador tries to close the distance and clinch but Nail swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Nail fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
al Matador tries to close the distance and clinch but Nail swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Nail misses with a takedown
and al Matador counters with a series of strikes. Nail will be more careful next time no doubt.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Nail circles away from the clinch attempt.

al Matador moves into the clinch.

That's one minute gone in the round.
al Matador lands a knee to the head there! That was nasty!
al Matador is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Nail is defending well for now.
An uppercut to the body lands inside from al Matador.
Nail tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. al Matador smiles and moves away.
Nail stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Nail wants it to stay on the feet.

Nail closes the distance and gets a double leg, slamming al Matador to the mat! al Matador manages to get full guard.
Nail is breathing heavily.

Nail decides to stand up and beckons his opponent to follow.
Nail shoots in but al Matador avoids the takedown attempt easily.
al Matador tries to clinch there but Nail circles away.
Nail circles away from the clinch attempt.
Nail keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
al Matador fails with an attempt to clinch.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
al Matador tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
al Matador keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
al Matador tries to clinch there but Nail circles away.
al Matador throws a right hand that Nail ducks under and follows up with a left that Nail also avoids with ease.
Nail circles away from the clinch attempt.
Nail shoots in looking for a takedown. al Matador tries to sprawl out of it but Nail keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. al Matador manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
al Matador moves in looking to clinch but Nail pushes him off.
al Matador misses with a head kick.
al Matador closes the distance and lands a one-two.
This has been an exciting period of action!
al Matador wants to clinch.

al Matador pushes Nail up against the cage in a clinch.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Nail has had enough of the clinch but al Matador keeps him there for the moment.
Nail jumps guard but al Matador stands there with Nail around his waist. Nail gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.
Nail tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. al Matador smiles and moves away.
A nice combination there by al Matador.
al Matador tries to close the distance and clinch but Nail swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
al Matador tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Nail paws at him with a jab and circles away.

al Matador lands a left and a right that send Nail crashing to the mat, dazed. al Matador thinks about following him to the mat but decides to wave him back up to his feet!
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Nail keeps the fight on the outside.
al Matador tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Nail swivels and escapes.
al Matador rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Nail moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
al Matador throws a front kick aimed at Nail's knee but Nail avoids it well.
Nail tries to score a power double leg takedown but al Matador sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Nail somewhat.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
al Matador works over Nail's head and body with a nice combination.
al Matador throws a right hand that Nail ducks under and follows up with a left that Nail also avoids with ease.
A punch combination from al Matador misses.
al Matador is working the combinations to good effect here.
Nail looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
Nail closes this distance looking for a takedown but al Matador circles away.
al Matador wants to clinch up but Nail keeps it at a distance.
Nail keeps the fight on the outside.
al Matador misses with a wild combination.
al Matador will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Nail fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Robert al Matador dominated that round.
The cut man is working on David Nail's cut.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action.

al Matador closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.
Nail swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Nail prevents al Matador from breaking the clinch.
Nail makes some space for himself and lands an uppercut.
Nail letting al Matador take a breather here.
Nail tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. al Matador smiles and moves away.
Nail fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
al Matador with a poor takedown

and Nail counters with a shoot takedown into half guard.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

Nail seems to be working for a kimura but al Matador defends the submission attempt.
al Matador is looking for a sweep. Nail is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Nail is looking for a kimura. It's going to be difficult to finish that from half guard though and al Matador defends it well.
al Matador tries to roll over but Nail keeps him under control.
al Matador really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Nail. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.

Nail is working for submissions here but there's nothing on.
Nail stops al Matador from getting back to his feet.

Nail is trying to work for a kimura but al Matador is defending well.
We get told so often about how wrestlers don't like to be on their backs. Let's see if al Matador can do anything to dispel that myth.

Nail is looking for an arm triangle, whilst trying to pass to side control. al Matador doesn't seem that keen to cooperate though. No luck this time Nail.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.
al Matador looks to clinch

and Nail counters with a takedown into side control.

Nail tries for a kimura. Not really close to a finish though.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
al Matador is looking to work his way out of this bad position but Nail is controlling him well.

Nail is trying to get an arm triangle but al Matador is defending well.
al Matador tries to get back to half guard but can't.

Nail tries for an arm triangle. That looks pretty tight to me. Is this one over!?! Possibly, maybe, no Nail has let go of the choke. Obviously it wasn't as tight as we thought!
al Matador is looking to work his way out of this bad position but Nail is controlling him well.

Nail is looking for a kimura. He might have it! No, al Matador has escaped the position, nice work there.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
al Matador can't do much from the bottom here.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
al Matador doesn't manage to clinch there - Nail circles away.

al Matador has taken the fight to the clinch.
Nail tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for David Nail. That's going to take a lot out of him.
al Matador lands a body shot in the clinch.
A nice left hand lands by al Matador.
A shot in the inside from al Matador.
al Matador lands a hook to the side of the head.
Nail has had enough of the clinch but al Matador keeps him there for the moment.
al Matador slows down the pace here.
Nail changes levels and goes for a takedown here. al Matador fights it off and pushes away nicely.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Nail is defended easily by al Matador.
Robert al Matador seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
al Matador tries to clinch up but Nail circles away and keeps his distance.
al Matador tries to close the distance and clinch up but Nail swats him away and circles back towards the center.
al Matador lands a jab-cross combination.

al Matador moves into range and clinches up with Nail.
al Matador working some nice short punches in the clinch.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Nail blocks the elbow strike.
al Matador pushes Nail back against the cage and unloads with a body punch.
al Matador is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Nail is defending well for now.

al Matador's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

David Nail dominated that second round.
The cut man is working on David Nail's cut.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action. This is the final round!

al Matador doesn't manage to clinch there - Nail circles away.
Nail shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts al Matador as he jumps to the side.
al Matador moves in looking to clinch but Nail pushes him off.

al Matador lands a left and a right that send Nail crashing to the mat, dazed. al Matador thinks about following him to the mat but decides to wave him back up to his feet!
al Matador tries to clinch up but Nail circles away and keeps his distance.
Nail fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but al Matador avoids it really well and circles away.
al Matador tries to clinch up.

al Matador gets a clinch.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
A short left from al Matador.
A short left from al Matador.
Nail wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.
al Matador manages to get underhooks and slows down the pace for a moment.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
A frustrated look appears on Nail's face as he tries to break the clinch.

That's one minute gone in the round.
al Matador missing with knees to the body.
Nail drops to a knee looking for a takedown but al Matador gets the underhooks and prevents it.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for David Nail. That's going to take a lot out of him.
al Matador content to slow the pace in the clinch.
The crowd are getting on al Matador's back here. They're not happy about his lack of aggression in the clinch.
Nail tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.
Nail blocks an elbow strike.
Nail tries to pull guard but al Matador holds him up against the cage and eventually Nail drops back down to his feet.
al Matador scores with a shot to the side of Nail's head.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.
A short right from al Matador.
al Matador lands with a quick shot inside that doesn't really do much damage.
al Matador misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Nail.
al Matador lands with a quick shot inside that doesn't really do much damage.
al Matador is trying to break free.
Nail has al Matador pressed up against the cage and is working for takedown. al Matador manages to improve position though and keeps the fight standing.
Nail wants to get back to striking at distance but al Matador won't allow it.
al Matador can't break the clinch.
Nail fails to pull guard.

Nail's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
al Matador pulls out of a head kick attempt.
al Matador tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Nail paws at him with a jab and circles away.
al Matador misses with a series of wild punches.
The fight stays on the outside here - al Matador looks like he's thinking about clinching though.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
al Matador tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
al Matador swinging wildly here.
Nail fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but al Matador avoids it really well and circles away.
Nail stuffs the takedown attempt from al Matador. al Matador gets slowly back to his feet.
al Matador doesn't manage to clinch there - Nail circles away.
al Matador tries to clinch up but Nail circles away and keeps his distance.
al Matador doesn't manage to clinch there - Nail circles away.

al Matador moves into the clinch successfully.
Nail is trying to break the clinch but al Matador is controlling him.
al Matador holding his opponent close, against the cage.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
My god... these two guys really need to pick up the pace or everyone will leave to go get a beer.
Nail is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.
al Matador misses with an elbow strike.
al Matador lands a short shot on the inside that snaps the head of Nail backwards.
Nail fails to pull the fight into his guard.
Nail taking a breather.
al Matador lands a shoulder strike.
al Matador working hard to break the clinch.
Nail is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. al Matador is defending well for now.
al Matador prevents Nail from breaking the clinch.
Nail wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but al Matador has him pressed against the cage.
al Matador stalling the fight.

Nail escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
al Matador tries a head kick but it misses.

al Matador instigates a clinch.

And that's the end of the fight!
Robert al Matador comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think al Matador has won this one but let's see whether the judges agree with me. 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 Ackerman scores the fight 28:29
Judge Sam Margolis scores the fight 28:29
Judge Chris Edwards scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Robert al Matador!