PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Rogers Nelson (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Yamapi Chan (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Nelson kept the crowd waiting but all that was forgotten when his ring entrance music started. The incomparable musical genius that is Housequake. Chan has chosen Ikenai Tayou as his entrance music. Man, I cannot wait for this one!

Nelson
vs
Chan

175 cm
24
159 lbs
10 - 2 - 0

171 cm
25
163 lbs
11 - 9 - 0

Good wrestling
Dangerous knees
Very quick

BJJ Brown Belt
Dangerous knees
Powerful

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 5 rounds, for the lightweight championship of the world!
Introducing the champion to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 10 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Rogers Nelson!
And introducing the challenger to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 11 - 9 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Yamapi Chan!
The judges for this bout are Marco Blurström, Tarja Halkonen and Arvi Lind.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
A head kick by Chan misses
and Nelson counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
Chan tries for a takedown but Nelson circles away easily

and Nelson counters with a nice double leg into half guard.
Chan wants to get back to full guard but Nelson has passed into side control.
Chan is pushing Nelson's head away, looking to escape. Nelson manages to hold on to the position though.
Nelson misses with the ground and pound.
Nelson wants to control but Chan is keeping him busy.
Nelson lands an elbow.

Nelson tries for a kimura. Not really close to a finish though.
Chan manages to land a sweep and he's now on top! Lovely Jiu Jitsu!
Nelson is looking to control Chan's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Nelson avoid being mounted?
Nelson is in a bad position, trying to hold on for dear life but he is really struggling to maintain any sort of control.

That's one minute gone in the round.

We're going to have a standup here because Rogers Nelson wasn't active enough for the referee's liking.
Chan misses with a double jab
and he gets countered with a snapping leg kick.
Chan shoots and misses
and Nelson counters with a low kick, right behind Chan 's knee.
Nelson keeps the fight on the outside.
Nelson looking to throw a kick but he's pulled out of it.
Nelson ducks low and lands a nice hook to the body of his opponent.
Chan thows a body shot but no joy.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Nelson ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Chan moves away.
Nelson slips a jab from Chan.
Nelson tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Chan was well out of range. Poor timing from Nelson.
Nelson scores with a jab to the body.
Chan has his takedown stuffed
and Nelson counters with a straight right hand.
Rogers Nelson has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Yamapi Chan.
Chan throws a jab when Nelson was well out of range.
Nelson throws a front kick that sends Chan stumbling back into the cage.
Nelson scores with a jab to the body.
Chan throws a nice head kick!
Chan walks into a left hand.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Nelson looking for a takedown here - he's got it.
Nelson throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.

Nelson got a little sloppy there for a moment and Chan has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Nelson has managed to get both his arms back between Chan's legs - danger averted.
Both fighters really going for it on the ground here!
Nelson slips nicely into half guard.
Chan flails away from the bottom but he's not doing any damage.
Chan looks like he's trying to stand up.
Chan is looking for a sweep. Nelson is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Nice strikes from Nelson there.
Nelson controlling the pace.
Nelson is trying to control. Chan wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.
Chan wants to improve his position but Nelson is controlling well.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Nelson winds up and cracks Chan with a swinging punch to the side of the head.
Chan is trying to get back to full guard.
The fighters are battling for position here. Chan manages to regain full guard. Nice work.
Nelson postures up in Chan's guard and throws a big left but Chan blocks it.

Chan is looking for a triangle but Nelson pushes his legs off easily.
Nelson is frustrating his opponent with some stalling tactics from top position.
Nelson trying to control but Chan is working from the bottom.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Nelson throwing strikes from guard but Chan blocks nicely.
Nelson trying to control but Chan is working from the bottom.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Rogers Nelson dominated that round.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

Nelson misses with a body kick.
Nelson throws a lazy right hand but Chan sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Nelson throws a sloppy head kick

and Chan holds on and brings the fighters into a clinch.
Nelson tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.

Nelson breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Nelson rushes in with a sloppy looking punch
and Chan counters with a stiff right hand.
Chan digs a good hook to Nelson's body.
Nelson misses with a lunging right hand
enabling Chan to counter with a crisp jab.
Rogers Nelson seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Chan moves out of range of the body kick.
Chan takes one on the button.
Nelson throws a looping overhand right but Chan ducks down to avoid it.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Nelson throws a quick head kick that skims the top of Chan's head.
Chan tries to score a power double leg takedown but Nelson sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Chan somewhat.
A solid leg kick lands there for Nelson.
Nelson throws a body punch but Chan moves out of range.
Nelson throws a wild body kick that Chan sees coming a mile off.
Nelson misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Chan tries a head kick but it misses.
Chan moves in looking to clinch but Nelson pushes him off.

Nelson shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Oh and he's advanced to full mount straight away.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Chan is trying to escape the mount.
Chan wants to hold on but Nelson pushes him away.
Chan is looking to get to half guard.
Nelson with a couple of short strikes.
Chan is in a horrible position here. Nelson smacks him with another shot as he tries to escape the position.
Nelson with a couple of short strikes.
The crowd growing excited in anticipation of a finish here! Right on cue, Nelson cracks his opponent with a massive right hand that draws loud cheers!
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Chan is desperately trying to get back to half guard.
Chan is persisting with the attempt to improve his position.
Nelson is still in mount, landing shots to his trapped opponent. Chan can't stay in a position like this for much longer.
Chan is in a horrible position here. Nelson smacks him with another shot as he tries to escape the position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Nelson breaks from Chan's wrist control and lands an elbow.
The crowd growing excited in anticipation of a finish here! Right on cue, Nelson cracks his opponent with a massive right hand that draws loud cheers!
Chan is wriggling around trying to escape.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Chan trying desperately to get to his feet.
Chan is breathing heavily.
Chan is desperately trying to get back to half guard.
Nelson cracks Chan with a nasty head shot there - the crowd let out an audible gasp there, as the noise reverberated around the arena.
Chan is working to get back to half guard.
Chan is writhing around trying to get back to his feet.
Nelson with shots to the head and body - Chan looks very uncomfortable down there.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Chan is desperately trying to get back to half guard.
Nelson punishing his opponent with strikes.
Nelson lands a nice shot to the head.
Nelson cracks Chan with a nasty head shot there - the crowd let out an audible gasp there, as the noise reverberated around the arena.
Nelson lands a nice shot to the head.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Nelson trying to control but he's not successful this time.
Nelson has his opponent pinned against the cage, landing some nasty ground and pound that is really making a bit of a mess out of Chan's face.
Nelson with good strikes from the mount here!
Chan taking shots to the head.
Nelson punishing his opponent with strikes.
Nelson lands a big elbow.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Nelson scoring with some good ground and pound from mount here. Will he manage to finish Chan?

Chan is rocked!
Nelson scoring with strikes but Chan is staying in there.
Chan is still in real trouble! Can Nelson finish him?
Nelson is landing with some decent strikes but Chan is trying to advance his position so the referee is letting the fight continue.
Chan seems to have recovered his senses.
Nelson postures up and cracks his opponent a couple of times before moving back into close ground control. Chan looks a forlorn figure.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Rogers Nelson dominated that second round.
That's the end of the interval. I'm sure that seemed a lot quicker than a minute for our two fighters! Back to the action.

Nelson looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Chan uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Nelson.
Nelson throws a hook but Chan avoids it easily.
A big right from Chan misses.
Nelson throws a body kick that sends a sickening thudding noise reverberating around the arena.
Nelson is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Chan can do to turn this around?
Nelson throws a nice outside leg kick.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Chan checks the leg kick nicely there.
Nelson looking to throw a kick but he's pulled out of it.
Chan on the receiving end of a decent leg kick there by Nelson. Nelson obviously looking to wear him down.
Nelson swings widly with a right hand
and Chan connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Chan takes a thudding leg kick, right into the meat of the thigh.

Chan gets caught napping as Nelson dives in and scores a takedown. Chan manages to retain guard.

Chan working for a triangle but Nelson defends it easily.
Nelson has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.
Chan wants to get back to his feet but Nelson is in a dominant position and won't allow it.
Chan takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Nelson missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.

Chan escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Nelson gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
Nelson working in close now, lands a nice elbow to the side of Chan's head.
Nelson sneaks a leg through and gets to half guard. That was like a knife through butter how easily he passed Chan's guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Nelson takes advantage of the dominant position to land a couple of big hammer fists.
Chan avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Nelson.
Nelson lands a big shot. The thud that echoes around the arena is like music to the fans' ears.
Chan taking some punishment here, with Nelson in his half guard.
Chan is refusing to be controlled, as Nelson sits in half guard.
Nelson landing with strikes to the body and head, softening up his opponent.
Nelson working some ground and pound from close in. He's looking to maintain this position and strike for a while by the looks of things... although he'll probably advance to full mount in a minute now I've said that.
Chan is trying to stand back up but Nelson is controlling him
Nelson stalling.
Nelson thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Chan's head.
Nelson not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.

Nelson moves into side control, avoiding a weak kimura attempt from Chan.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Nelson is looking for a kimura. He might have it! No, Chan has escaped the position, nice work there.
Chan is looking for a sweep.
Nelson is looking to take a break and control but Chan is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
The ground and pound from Nelson seems to be hitting the mat more than his opponent.
Nelson trying to control the position but Chan is working away.
Nelson is going to have to think about doing something other than just controlling because Chan is managing to avoid having the position dictated to him.
Chan is positioning himself to get back to half guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are hurling abuse towards the fighters... You can hardly blame them though because there isn't a lot going on in the fight.
Nelson advances to full mount.
Chan is in all sorts of trouble here.
Nelson scores with a couple of good head shots there.
Nelson lands a shot to the body, followed up by a shot to the exposed head of his trapped opponent.
Nelson trying to control but Chan is having none of it.
Chan is trying desperately to improve position.
A nice elbow there by Nelson.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Rogers Nelson clearly takes that round.
That's the end of the interval. I'm sure that seemed a lot quicker than a minute for our two fighters! Back to the action.

Chan takes a body punch but keeps moving.
Nelson misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Nelson throws a leg kick
and Chan counters with a kick to the head that grazes his opponent. Nelson is lucky that one didn't land flush.
Nelson throws a push kick but Chan slaps the foot to one side.

Chan shoots in and gets a takedown into Nelson's guard.
Nelson looking to hit a scissor sweep but Chan is one step ahead there.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Nelson is on top in guard.
Nelson is working Chan over from the guard. He should look to pass the guard and do a little more damage with these strikes.
Hammerfist, elbow! yells Nelson's corner. There ya go! There ya go!
Nelson won't allow Chan to sweep him here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Nelson trying to control the position from guard on top but Chan is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Nelson accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Chan manages to land a sweep and now he's in mount on top!
Nelson tries to get back to half guard but can't.

Chan is going oldschool here, as he tries to force Nelson to tap using a forearm choke. This isn't 1993 though, so Nelson shrugs it off.
Nelson is trying to escape the mount.

That's two 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.
Nelson has given up his back.
Chan is trying to stick to Nelson's back but Nelson is turning into Chan. He's managed to reverse the position - now he's in Chan's guard. Polite applause from the crowd in appreciation of some nice Jiu Jitsu by Nelson.
Chan is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Nelson is controlling him.
Chan is absolutely dripping with sweat - he looks exhausted.
Hammerfist, elbow! yells Nelson's corner. There ya go! There ya go!
Chan wants to control but instead he gets his guard passed and Nelson is now in half guard.
Nelson performing his best blanket impression for a moment.
Nelson works his way into side control.
Nelson trying to control the position but Chan is working away.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Chan manages to get back to half guard.

Nelson is sneakily working for an arm triangle but Chan sees it coming and defends easily.
Nelson not landing any meaningful shots this time.
Nelson wants to control but Chan is keeping him busy.
Chan is looking to get back to is feet but Nelson passes into side control.
Nelson working the body and head with strikes.
Check out the look on Nelson's face as he threw that strike - that's one determined fighter!
Chan is looking for a sweep.
Nelson in side control lands a nice looking series of punches and elbows.
Nelson trying to control the action but Chan is working from the bottom.
Nelson landing with strikes to the head and body from side control.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Nelson passes to full mount! That's big trouble for Chan!
Nelson landing strikes from the mount and Chan is in trouble!
Nelson raining down hammerfists from mount.
Nelson landing strikes from the mount.
Nelson lands a couple of nice shots there from mount.

Nelson jumps to the side looking to secure the arm triangle…. Ooooh, that looks tight… Chan is gargling but he's managed to escape! Nice work there by Chan and Nelson has given up the dominant position trying to land that submission.
Nelson trying to control the position but Chan is working away.
You can see the frustration on Chan's face as Nelson controls the position.
Chan is looking to reverse the position.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Rogers Nelson had his way with Yamapi Chan in that round.
That's time! Nelson's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight. And we move into the final round!

Chan lands with a slapping head kick.
Chan shoots in but doesn't get the takedown
and Nelson counters with a solid body kick.
Nelson jabs away that one connects to the head of his opponent.
Chan is looking to clinch but Nelson is avoiding it.
A lazy body kick from Chan
and Nelson counters with a body kick that stops Chan in his tracks momentarily.
Nelson throws a shot from downtown. Chan moves away and avoids it.
A head kick misses from Chan.
Chan scores with a nice strike.
Nelson throws a body kick despite being completely out of range

and Chan counters with a nice double leg into half guard.
Rogers Nelson overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Chan is wobbling all over the place through exhaustion. Will he make it to the final bell?

That's one minute gone in the round.
Nelson is pressing down on Chan's left leg trying to get back to full guard. He's managed it.

Chan thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.
Nelson looking to hit a scissor sweep but Chan is one step ahead there.
Nelson is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Nelson looking to sweep here. No luck so far.

Nelson working away from the bottom but not quite defensive enough there because Chan has passed into half guard!
Nelson is staying active underneath Chan, who seems content to just control the action from this position.

Chan seems to be working for a kimura but Nelson defends the submission attempt.
Rogers Nelson is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.

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.
Chan stops Nelson from getting back to his feet.

Chan is thinking about going for an arm triangle but he can't free his leg.
Nelson tries to get to full guard but Chan has control of the leg.
Nelson wants to control but Chan is keeping busy.
Chan throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.

Chan seems to be looking for submissions.
Nelson gets back to full guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Chan trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Chan passes Nelson's left leg - he's now in half guard.
Nelson slips a foot under and gets full guard. Nice work.
Chan wants to control from the top but Nelson keeps moving.
Chan preventing the sweep.
Nelson wants to get back to his feet but Chan is in a dominant position and won't allow it.
Nelson trying to keep a closed guard but Chan is proving a slippery customer.

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.
Chan looking to pass the guard.
Yamapi Chan has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
The referee must be thinking about standing these guys back up.
Nelson looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Nelson is trying to control the position but Chan postures up.

Rogers Nelson has forced the referee to step in and bring the fight back to the feet.
Chan throws a head kick but Nelson moves out of range.
Chan misses with a takedown
and Nelson counters with a straight punch to the midsection.
Chan tries to clinch but Nelson is having none of it.
Nelson lands with a thumping leg kick.
Chan throws a sloppy head kick and Nelson moves out of range easily.

And that's the end of the fight!
Yamapi Chan comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Nelson 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 5 rounds of action, we go to the scorecards for a decision.
Judge Marco Blurström scores the fight 49:46
Judge Tarja Halkonen scores the fight 49:46
Judge Arvi Lind scores the fight 49:46

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Rogers Nelson!
Rogers Nelson is the new lightweight champion!