PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Nigel Branch (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Travis Bickle (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the ring.

Branch
vs
Bickle

170 cm
21
164 lbs
3 - 2 - 0

175 cm
18
162 lbs
2 - 2 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Basic striking
Good chin

BJJ Purple Belt
Basic striking
Determined

Forbidden Apple

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 3 - 2 - 0, fighting out of New York, Nigel Branch!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 2 - 0, fighting out of New York, Travis Bickle!
The judges for this bout are Eddie Farnsworth, David Schapiro and Anthony Taglia.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Branch with a nice cross.
Branch moves out of range as Bickle strikes.

Bickle closes the distance, clinches up and gets a nice trip takedown into side control. Very smooth.

Bickle thinks about going for a far side armbar but bails out and retains the dominant position instead.

Bickle is looking for a kimura. He might have it! No, Branch has escaped the position, nice work there.
Branch is looking for a sweep.

Bickle decides to stand back up. Bickle steps back and let's Branch get back to his feet.
Branch lands a beauty of a right hand that gets the crowd cheering.

Branch takes the fight into the clinch.
Branch has Bickle pressed against the ropes.
Branch lands a right uppercut that snaps the head of Bickle backwards.
Bickle goes for a takedown in the clinch but Branch prevents it.
Branch working some nice short punches in the clinch.
Branch lands a shoulder strike.

Branch escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Danga de danga de dang - Branch scores with a four punch combination!
Branch works over Bickle's head and body with a nice combination.
This has been an exciting period of action!

Bickle shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Let's see what he's got on the mat.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Bickle stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Branch swivels though and keeps the full guard.

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

Branch looking for a guillotine here but Bickle defends easily.
The fighters are tangled up in the ropes here. We might need a restart if the fighters can't break free themselves.
Branch is breathing heavily.

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

Bickle thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.
Bickle wants to pass the guard but Branch is keeping the position.
Bickle passes Branch's right leg, so he's now in half guard.

Bickle seems to be looking for submissions.
Bickle wants to free his trapped foot but Branch is holding on for dear life with his legs.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Branch is working for an escape here. He's hooked one of Bickle's legs and he's managed to sneak out and take Bickle's back!
I really don't envy Bickle right now.

Bickle is displaying good submission defense - not really looking in danger of submitting to the rear naked choke at the moment. That could change in an instant of course if Branch gets his way!
Bickle manages to reverse the position and now he's in Branch's guard. Nice work there by Bickle.
Bickle looking to pass the guard.
Both fighters really going for it on the ground here!
Branch looking for a sweep. Not yet Branch, not yet.

Bickle drops back for a leg! It's a sloppy attempt though and Bickle jumps back into guard quickly, to retain the dominant position.

Bickle drops back looking for a leg! Branch is in trouble here! The fighters roll with the hold and Branch manages to kick Bickle off! Bickle jumps back into Branch's guard.
Bickle stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Branch swivels though and keeps the full guard.

Branch is active off his back here, looking for submissions.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Branch keeping full guard, as Bickle tries to pass.

Branch looking for a guillotine here but Bickle defends easily.

Branch escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Bickle gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
Bickle advances position into side control!

Bickle tries for a kimura. Not really close to a finish though.

Bickle tries for a kimura. Not really close to a finish though.
Branch is looking for a sweep.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Branch is trying to get back to half guard. He's pushing on Bickle's leg. He's managed it. Nice work.
Branch is trying to get back to full guard.

Bickle is trying a forearm choke… I don't think that's going to do much at this level of the game.
Branch wants to improve his position but Bickle is controlling well.

Bickle is trying to work for a kimura. He's got his hands clasped together - this could be trouble! No, Branch has managed to free his arm - good work.
Branch is working for an escape here. He's hooked one of Bickle's legs and he's managed to sneak out and take Bickle's back!
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.

Branch has his opponent's back and is working for the choke.

Branch looking for the RNC.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Nigel Branch dominated that round.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the ring so we can get back down to business.

Bickle lands with an overhand left.
Branch works Bickle's body with a nice hook.
Bickle doesn't manage to clinch there - Branch circles away.
Branch lets the fists fly and connects with a left straight followed by a right hook.

Branch moves into the clinch.
Branch prevents the takedown attempt.
Bickle keeps control of Branch as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.
Branch gets double underhooks to prevent a takedown attempt from Bickle.
Branch lands a shoulder strike.

Branch breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Branch rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Bickle moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Bickle takes a shot to the body in his stride.
Branch moves into range and throws a lovely three punch combination.
No joy there for Branch, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Bickle takes a solid shot to the body. That one hurt him but he's trying not to show it.
Branch buckles his opponent's knee momentarily with a nice leg kick.
Bickle throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
Bickle throws a body kick but he wasn't in range.
The fight stays on the outside here - Bickle looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Wow, both these guys are really going for it!

Bickle gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.
Bickle tries for a takedown. No joy.
Nigel Branch has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Travis Bickle.
Branch is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the ropes.
Branch softening up his opponent with strikes, against the ropes.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Branch wants to get back to striking at distance but Bickle won't allow it.
Branch is pressed up against the ropes. Bickle has hold of a leg and is looking to drag Branch down to the mat. Branch avoids the attempt though and has circled away. We're back to striking at a distance.
Branch lands a jab, followed by a cross and another cross, as Bickle backs up against the ropes.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Bickle tries to clinch but Branch is having none of it.
Branch lands a lovely overhand right.
Bickle takes one on the chin but seems OK.
Branch showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Bickle.
Danga de danga de dang - Branch scores with a four punch combination!
Good exchange - Branch coming out on top.
Bickle throws a series of punches but Branch moves out of range.
Branch takes a swing at Bickle's ribcage but misses.
Branch tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Nigel Branch is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Bickle tries to clinch up but Branch circles away and keeps his distance.
The fight stays on the outside here - Branch looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Bickle moves in looking to clinch but Branch pushes him off.
Branch looks to land a combination. Bickle sees it coming but can only parry a couple of the shots.
Bickle is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Branch loads up on a big right hand but Bickle slips the punch.
Branch connects with a good right hand that stumbles Bickle. Bickle circles away out of range and recomposes himself.

Bickle looks for a takedown. He's got it. We're now in half guard.
Bickle is breathing heavily.
Bickle prevents Branch from improving his position.
Travis Bickle has got the better of the ground game so far.

Branch looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.
Bickle thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Bickle passes the guard and advances to mount!

Bickle is working for a guillotine from mount but Branch frees his head quite easily.
Branch really trying hard to get back to half guard here.

Bickle looking for a guillotine from mount but Branch is having none of it.
Bickle seems to be looking to move to his opponent's back but Branch is holding on tight.

Bickle looking for a guillotine from mount but Branch is having none of it.

Branch defends a decent attempt at a guillotine from Bickle.
This has been an exciting period of action!

Bickle is working to isolate an arm here. It's a choreographed submission attempt but he's gone for it anyway - and he's got it! Bickle extends the arm and Branch is forced to tap!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 3:02 of round 2, we have a winner by way of Submission (Armbar). Travis Bickle!