PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Vlad Impaler (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Daniel Nottingham (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). The key to victory for Vlad Impaler has got to be keeping the fight on the feet.

Impaler
vs
Nottingham

174 cm
24
160 lbs
8 - 3 - 0

185 cm
26
169 lbs
8 - 5 - 0

Good takedowns
Basic striking
Very quick

ADCC Champion
Counter striker
Granite chin

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 8 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Vlad Impaler!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 8 - 5 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Daniel Nottingham!
The judges for this bout are George Francis, Chris Downing and Wesley Smith.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Impaler scores a trip takedown into side control. Nice.
Nottingham tries to bench press Impaler off him but Impaler keeps the position.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Impaler is looking to take a break and control but Nottingham is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Nottingham holds on tight, trying to prevent any damage.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Nottingham tries to get back to half guard but can't.
Nottingham is trying to escape the position but Impaler is controlling the position.
Impaler throws an elbow but Nottingham slips to the side and avoids it well.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Nottingham manages to work his way to half guard, despite Impaler's best efforts.
Nottingham is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Impaler trying to control from half guard but Nottingham is working away.

Nottingham looking to force a kimura from the bottom here. He's concentrating on that move too much though and Impaler pushes past his half guard into mount!
Nottingham really trying hard to get back to half guard here.
Impaler tucks in and makes sure he doesn't lose the dominant position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Nottingham working to try and regain half guard.
Nottingham is persisting with the attempt to improve his position.

Impaler with some aggressive grappling here. He's looking for submissions here, rather than waiting for the opportunity to counter.
Nottingham is writhing around trying to get back to his feet.
Impaler sitting in mount, just looking to control for the moment.
Impaler looking to control but Nottingham is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Nottingham tries to hold on but Impaler pushes him away.
Impaler controlling his opponent.
Impaler looking to control but Nottingham is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.

We're going to have a standup here because Vlad Impaler wasn't active enough for the referee's liking.
Impaler misses with a takedown attempt
letting Nottingham counter with a right hand.

Impaler shoots in with a lovely double leg takedown. Nottingham manages to land in full guard to minimise the damage.
Impaler is just sitting in guard, looking to avoid any submissions.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Impaler trying to control the position from guard on top but Nottingham is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

Nottingham has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Impaler can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.

Nottingham is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Impaler defends well.
Nottingham wants to control here, rather than go for any submissions from the bottom. At least for now.
Nottingham looking for a sweep. Not yet Nottingham, not yet.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Vlad Impaler dominated that round.
That's time! Impaler's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight.

Nottingham tries to sprawl but Impaler drives through with a takedown into half guard.
Nottingham is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Nottingham is positioning himself well to prevent Impaler advancing to mount.
Nottingham is trying to maintain the position but Impaler is very close to passing his half guard.
Impaler not doing much here.
Nottingham wants to sweep but Impaler has passed to side control!
Nottingham on the wrong end of some ground and pound.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Impaler is staying tight to Nottingham's torso, preventing him from escaping.
You can see the frustration on Nottingham's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.
Nottingham is looking for a sweep.
Impaler trying to control the position but Nottingham is working away.
Nottingham is trying to improve his position.
Nottingham is not content to let Impaler control the position.

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.
Impaler slows the pace down.
We may be looking at a referee standup if the pace doesn't pick up soon.
Nottingham is trying to control Impaler's posture but Impaler avoids it.

We're going to have a standup here because Vlad Impaler wasn't active enough for the referee's liking.
Impaler fails with the takedown
and Nottingham cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.

Impaler drives through with a really nice takedown into side control.
Impaler working away.
Impaler in side control, trying to ground and pound but not landing this time.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
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Nottingham struggling a bit here.
Nottingham might have to switch it up a bit here because his efforts to control Impaler kaven't been going to plan, at least at the current moment in time.
Nottingham is looking for a sweep.
Impaler throws an elbow but Nottingham slips to the side and avoids it well.
Nottingham tries to improve position but can't.
Nottingham wants to control but Impaler postures up.

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.
Nottingham tries to work a leg under to get back to half guard but Impaler wriggles his own leg back out and remains in side control.
Nottingham is breathing heavily.
Impaler throwing ground and pound but whilst doing so, he forgets to control position and Nottingham works his way back to half guard. Good composure under pressure.
Impaler trying to control the action but Nottingham is working from the bottom.
Still in half guard, Impaler seems content to control.

We're going to have a standup here because Vlad Impaler wasn't active enough for the referee's liking.
Impaler misses with a takedown attempt
and Nottingham counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Impaler misses with a takedown attempt
and Nottingham counters with a stiff right hand.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Vlad Impaler. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Impaler misses with a takedown attempt
and Nottingham counters with a nice uppercut.
Vlad Impaler seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Impaler slips a jab from Nottingham.
Impaler fails with the takedown

and Nottingham counters with a nice single leg takedown and he's in Impaler's guard now.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close second round but I would say that Vlad Impaler will probably get the nod.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action! Let's get this one finished - here comes the final round!

Impaler shoots and misses
and Nottingham counters with a nice body shot.
Impaler has his takedown stuffed

and Nottingham counters with a shoot takedown into half guard.
Nottingham passes to side control.
Nottingham works to advance to full mount. Impaler defends for a few seconds but eventually he succumbs.
Nottingham looking to control but Impaler is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.
Nottingham throws a strike there. Impaler manages to avoid it well and slips a leg under to get to half guard.
Impaler is looking to improve his position.
Nottingham perhaps working for something from half guard, or maybe not. It looks like he's just sitting there.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Nottingham wants to lay and pray for a moment but Impaler keeps working.
Impaler trying to control here.
Nottingham is just sitting in half guard, waiting for something to happen.
We may be looking at a referee standup if the pace doesn't pick up soon.
Nottingham stops Impaler from getting back to his feet.

OK we're going to have a standup here. Daniel Nottingham hasn't been effective enough on the ground and the referee wants a restart.
Nottingham throws a hook to the side of Impaler's head but Impaler sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
Nottingham looks to score with a jab to the body but Impaler is just out of range.

That's two 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.
Nottingham throws a hook to the side of Impaler's head but Impaler sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
Impaler with a lazy takedown attempt

and Nottingham counters with a single leg into guard. Impaler didn't expect that.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Vlad Impaler. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Impaler keeping moving, preventing Nottingham from controlling successfully.
Nottingham controlling from the guard. I say controlling but really, he's stalling.
Nottingham trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Impaler preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Nottingham's corner is telling him to maintain position.
If this pace continues, the referee will definitely step in and force a standup.
Nottingham stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Impaler swivels though and keeps the full guard.

The ref stands the fighters back up. Daniel Nottingham was stalling too much, according to the referee.
Horrible takedown by Nottingham or perhaps it was just good defense by Impaler which made him look bad.
Nottingham is using his reach advantage to land shots from outside his opponent's range.
Nottingham takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Impaler gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily

and Nottingham counters with a shoot takedown into half guard.
Impaler has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Nottingham is working away from the top position though.
Nottingham stops Impaler from getting back to his feet.
Impaler trying to control but Nottingham postures up.
Impaler tries to roll over but Nottingham keeps him under control.
Still in half guard, Nottingham seems content to control.

Impaler actively working from the bottom here.
Vlad Impaler is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Nottingham is thwarting Impaler's attempts to control the position.
Impaler is working for an escape here. He's hooked one of Nottingham's legs and he's managed to sneak out and take Nottingham's back!
You can see the frustration on Nottingham's face… He knows he is in trouble unless he improves his position sooner rather than later.
Nottingham prevents Impaler from getting a body triangle.
Nottingham rolls, trying to escape but Impaler keeps control of the position.

And that's the end of the fight!
Daniel Nottingham comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Impaler 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 George Francis scores the fight 29:28
Judge Chris Downing scores the fight 29:28
Judge Wesley Smith scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Vlad Impaler!