PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Player Four (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Damon Nickleson (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Damon Nickleson is the more experienced fighter, so let's see if that makes a difference tonight.

Four
vs
Nickleson

179 cm
24
150 lbs
2 - 1 - 0

176 cm
22
145 lbs
6 - 6 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Solid boxing
Big right hand

BJJ Blue Belt
Excellent boxer
Powerful

Ganja's Warehouse

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the featherweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 2 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Player Four!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 6 - 6 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Damon Nickleson!
The judges for this bout are Frank Antenori, Jack Bonds and Don Winkell.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Four takes a swing at Nickleson's ribcage but misses.
Nickleson slips a jab from Four.

Nickleson gets a takedown into half guard.
Nickleson tries to stand but his arm is trapped.
Four looks like he's trying to stand up.
Nickleson tries to stand but can't do so whilst Four controls his leg.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Nickleson decides he's had enough of the ground and stands up.
Nickleson goes to the watering hole and comes back with a big thumbs up from the judges as he scores a three punch combo.
Nickleson tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Four swivels and escapes.
Nickleson slips a jab and a cross from Four.
A punch combination from Four misses.
Nickleson tries to score a power double leg takedown but Four sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Nickleson somewhat.
Nickleson tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Four was well out of range. Poor timing from Nickleson.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Nickleson shoots for a double leg takedown but Four sprawls well. He's pushed Nickleson's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
Player Four has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Damon Nickleson.

Four moves into the clinch successfully.

Nickleson breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Four shakes his hands off, looking to compose himself, but takes a jab to the jaw whilst he does it.

Nickleson closes the distance and clinches up, looking for a takedown. He shifts his weight and gets a nice trip into half guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Nickleson trying to pass the guard but Four defending well.

Nickleson is looking for submissions but instead, Four has regained full guard.
Nickleson prevents Four from getting back to his feet.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Four has a closed guard, preventing Nickleson from standing up.

Damon Nickleson has forced the referee to step in and restart the fight on the feet.
Four misses with a series of wild punches.
Four throws a body kick but he was well out of range there.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Nickleson will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Four tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Nickleson paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Nickleson throws a hook to the side of Four's head but Four sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
Donk. Nickleson catches Four right on the button with a cross.
Four misses with a two punch combination.
Four fails in his attempt to clinch.
Four tries to clinch but Nickleson is having none of it.
Four goes to the watering hole and comes back with a big thumbs up from the judges as he scores a three punch combo.
Four fails to land with a series of punches.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Four tries to close the distance and clinch but Nickleson swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Nickleson keeps the fight on the outside.
Nickleson throws a two punch combo that lands nicely.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Damon Nickleson dominated that round.
That's time! Back to the action!

Nickleson throws a left and a right that both miss
and Four connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Nickleson fails with a takedown attempt.
A right-left combo lands from Four.
Four ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
Nickleson shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Nickleson swings for the body but Four moves out of range.

Four gets caught on his heels momentarily as he allows Nickleson to score an easy takedown into full guard.
Nickleson trying to stand up but can't free himself from Four's guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Nickleson stands and steps away. Four gets to his feet too and we're back to the striking game.
Nickleson shoots in but no luck this time.
Player Four has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Damon Nickleson.
Nickleson swats away the attempt to clinch by Four.
Nickleson shoots in but no luck this time.
A combination from Four does no damage.
Four stuffs the takedown.
Nickleson tries to bum rush Four with a series of wild strikes but Four uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Four tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Nickleson avoids the clinch attempt nicely.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Nickleson connects with a lovely jab that went straight through the gap between Four's hands.
Four throws a series of punches but Nickleson moves out of range.
Nickleson fails with a takedown attempt.
Four leaves Nickleson with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
Four showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Nickleson.
Four takes a hook to the side of the head. I wonder if that's got his ears ringing.
Nickleson fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Four avoids it really well and circles away.
Four tries a head kick but it misses.
Damon Nickleson seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Four moves forwards but Nickleson connects with a nice, crisp jab.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Nickleson tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Four was well out of range. Poor timing from Nickleson.
Nickleson scores with a three punch combo!
Four looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Nickleson is fending him off so far but Four persists. Nope, Nickleson circles away and we're back to standing.
Nickleson slips under a jab from Four.
Nickleson fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Four avoids it really well and circles away.
Nickleson feints a jab promting Four to slip. Nickleson then demonstrates his capabilities by jabbing again. Four slips again and ducks right into an uppercut.
A combination from Nickleson does no damage.
Nickleson tries to bum rush Four with a series of wild strikes but Four uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Sloppy strikes from Nickleson. Those never looked like landing.
Nickleson throws the left hand but Four avoids the punch easily.
Nickleson fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Nickleson shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Let's see what he's got on the mat.
Nickleson is breathing heavily.

Nickleson is holding a leg here, probably looking for an ankle lock - he drops back and goes for it! Four is in trouble! Is it all over??? No! Four has escaped and now he's on top!

Four gets to his feet and steps away from his opponent.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Nickleson shoots for a double leg takedown but Four sprawls well. He's pushed Nickleson's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
Nickleson pushes forward with a 1-2 combination that forces Four back to the cage. Nickleson follows up with a solid lead hook to the liver.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Four takes a really solid shot there but just smiles back and shrugs his shoulders.
Player Four is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Four misses with a wild combination.
Four tries to score with a low kick but Nickleson moves his leg out of the way.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Damon Nickleson showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin! And we move into the final round!

Nickleson looks to land a left hand but Four moved out of range nicely.
Nickleson swinging wildly here.
Nickleson throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Four sees it coming and avoids it easily.
Nickleson shoots in and drives through. Four sprawls well.
Nickleson getting the better of the striking in that exchange.
Nickleson connects with a looping right hand.
Nickleson leaves Four with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
Nickleson fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Four manages to avoid it.
Nickleson misses with a few strikes there.
Four moves out of range of the strikes.
Nickleson throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Nickleson throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Nickleson throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Four.
Damon Nickleson seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Nickleson throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Nickleson takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
A telegraphed right hand from Nickleson misses the target.
Nickleson throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.

Nickleson gets caught napping as Four dives in and scores a takedown. Nickleson manages to retain guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

Four gets to his feet - Nickleson follows without any prompting.
Nickleson throws a lazy right hand but Four sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Four throws a nice looking combination but Nickleson bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Nickleson shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.

Four moves into range and clinches up with Nickleson.
With the fighters clinched against the cage, Four creates a bit of distance for himself and scores with a nice uppercut.
Four lands with a good tight uppercut to the head.
Nickleson keeps control of Four as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.

Four breaks from the clinch.

Nickleson drives through with a takedown into Four's guard. Let's see what he can do from the top position.
Damon Nickleson has got the better of the ground game so far.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!

Four is working an open guard so Nickleson takes the opportunity to get back to his feet.
Four will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Four tries to land a front kick but Nickleson steps back. That was a bit too telegraphed.
Nickleson fakes a head shot and lands one to the body.
Four takes a body punch but keeps moving.
A punch combination from Four misses.
Four is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Nickleson will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
Player Four has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Damon Nickleson.
Four misses with a few strikes there.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
No joy there for Nickleson, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Nickleson fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Four misses with a wild combination.
Some wild striking there from Four.
Four lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Nickleson circles away quickly and effectively.
Four on the wrong end of a decent looking cross there.
Nickleson circles away from the clinch attempt.
Nickleson fails to land the takedown.
Four fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Player Four has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
A punch combination from Nickleson misses.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Nickleson shoots in and drives through. Four sprawls well.
A shot to the body from Nickleson misses
and Four counters with a three punch combination, finished off with a leg kick. Nice work.

Four instigates a clinch.
Nickleson keeps the fight in the clinch, despite Four's efforts to push away.

Nickleson's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
The fight stays on the outside here - Four looks like he's thinking about clinching though.

Four gets in close and instigates a clinch.

Nickleson manages to break the clinch.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Nickleson comes forward and lands a shot to the body, then darts back out of range.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Nickleson closes the distance and lands a one-two.
Damon Nickleson is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
Four moves into range and throws a combination. A nice jab followed by a hook to the body.
Nickleson avoids a punch combination nicely.

And that's the end of the fight!
That was a close round. You could make an argument for either fighter but I would give it to Player Four.
I think Nickleson 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 Frank Antenori scores the fight 27:30
Judge Jack Bonds scores the fight 28:29
Judge Don Winkell scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Damon Nickleson!