PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Derek Garner (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Forrest Nickells (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Nickells has chosen Kayne West - Stronger as his entrance music. This should be fireworks!

Garner
vs
Nickells

195 cm
18
265 lbs
0 - 3 - 0

200 cm
21
250 lbs
0 - 2 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Basic striking
Good chin

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Granite chin

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 0 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Derek Garner!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Forrest Nickells!
The judges for this bout are Donatello Bradman, Skip Squint and Eliza Hachem.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Garner feints and as Nickells raises his hands in defense, Garner changes levels and drives through with a takedown into guard.
Garner seems content to control from guard here. He's going to have to remain active though if he doesn't want to get stood back up.
Garner throws a big right hand that misses.
Garner wants to control from the top but Nickells keeps moving.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Nickells is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
Nickells looks gassed!
Garner is stalling in the full guard.

Nickells is looking for a triangle but Garner pushes his legs off easily.
Garner is intent on slowing down the pace of the fight, simply looking to control.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.

The referee stands the fighters back up. Derek Garner just wasn't active enough from the dominant position.
Garner lands a jab followed by a nice looking cross.
Garner fakes a head punch and goes low to the body. Nicely done.
Garner jabs at Nickells's body.
Garner's corner calls for a 1,2 combination and Garner duly obliges.
Garner digs a good hook to Nickells's body.

Garner bobs and weaves into range and then changes levels and scores with a nice takedown into side control.
Garner takes a little break here. Nickells wants to take advantage but he is being controlled well.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Garner has controlled the position for a good 20 seconds, which will no doubt be starting to frustrate his opponent.

Garner wants to work for a kimura but he's foiled early by Nickells, who protects the arm well.
Garner working the head and body with strikes.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Neither fighter has done anything of merit for a good minute or two here and the crowd are not happy about it.
Garner in side control, just content to control the action for now.
Garner creates a bit of distance and throws down some hard shots.
Garner controls the position.
Garner cracks Nickells with an elbow. That is naaassty.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.

Garner is trying to land an Americana. He has the arm isolated but Nickells is keeping cool and he's avoided the danger for now.
Check out the look on Garner's face as he threw that strike - that's one determined fighter!
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Derek Garner dominated that round.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin!

Garner shoots in for a takedown! He's got it and he's managed to land in full mount! That's better than Garner was expecting from the takedown attempt, I'm sure!
Garner blocks Nickells's feeble attempts to strike from the bottom.
Garner sitting in mount, just looking to control for the moment.
Garner scoring with strikes but Nickells is staying in there.
Nickells is wriggling around trying to escape.

Garner is going oldschool here, as he tries to force Nickells to tap using a forearm choke. This isn't 1993 though, so Nickells shrugs it off.
Garner landing strikes from the mount and Nickells is in trouble!
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Garner content just to control the position here.
Garner's ground tactics aren't going to win him many fans. Let's hope he's got fireworks for us if he gets back to his feet because he's not doing much on the ground.
Garner with shots to the head and body - Nickells looks very uncomfortable down there.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Well. There's a bit of a lull in the action here and the crowd are starting to get restless.
Garner controlling the pace for now.
Garner seems to have a rather negative gameplan on the ground. He seems keen to just score the takedown and hold down Nickells for as long as he can get away with.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

The referee stands the fighters back up. Derek Garner just wasn't active enough from the dominant position.

Garner closes the distance and looks for a trip takedown... aaaand he's got it - Garner lands in his opponent's guard.
Garner content to stall in guard here.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Derek Garner dominated that second round.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business. This is the final round!

Nickells doesn't succeed with the takedown

and Garner counters with a shoot takedown into half guard.
Garner is taking a breather. Nickells 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.
Garner knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Nickells on the ground.
Nickells won't allow Garner to pass to mount.
Garner drops an elbow to the side of Nickells's head.

Nickells is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Garner pulls his head out easily.
Garner performing his best blanket impression for a moment.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.

The referee stands the fighters back up. Derek Garner just wasn't active enough from the dominant position.
Nickells has his head slapped from side to side by a 3 punch combination. That must have hurt him.

Garner closes the distance and scores a nice trip takedown into half guard. Nickells did well to prevent Garner getting side control.
Garner is taking a breather. Nickells 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.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Garner looks towards his corner to check for any instructions. The corner give him nothing to work with, so he cracks Nickells with a short hammerfist. I guess that's as good as any advice he could get in this position.
Derek Garner overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Garner is pressing down on Nickells's thigh, looking to free his foot. Nickells is holding on for now.

Nickells actively working from the bottom here.
Garner sitting and controlling from the half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

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.
Garner wants to free his trapped foot but Nickells is holding on for dear life with his legs.
Garner controlling the pace.

Garner is trying to work for a kimura but Nickells is defending well.

And that's the end of the fight!
Derek Garner showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Garner 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 Donatello Bradman scores the fight 30:26
Judge Skip Squint scores the fight 30:26
Judge Eliza Hachem scores the fight 30:26

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Derek Garner!