PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Blake Nash (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Justus Sheehan (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Sheehan has chosen Under the Dome as his entrance music. These two fighters really are very evenly matched on the feet - it will be fascinating to see who can assert themselves in that aspect of the fight.

Nash
vs
Sheehan

188 cm
30
200 lbs
19 - 11 - 0

187 cm
34
198 lbs
32 - 19 - 0

Good wrestling
World class MT
Insanely flexible

Good wrestler
World class boxer
Good gas tank

Fury Nutrition Inc.

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 5 rounds, for the middleweight championship of the world!
Introducing the champion to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 19 - 11 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Blake Nash!
And introducing the challenger to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 32 - 19 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Justus Sheehan!
The judges for this bout are Gregory Folan, Yves DeLean and Trevor Gratis.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Nash rushes Sheehan and presses him up against the cage.
Nash throws a nice elbow but it doesn't land.
Sheehan blocks an elbow strike.
Nash just leaning against Sheehan, taking a breather.

Sheehan gets a trip takedown into half guard.
We could do with one of the fighters taking the initiative a bit more on the ground - they're both waiting to capitalize on a mistake.
Nash is not content to let Sheehan control the position.
Sheehan passes to full mount!
Nash sneaks a leg back under and regains half guard and is working straight away to try and get back to guard. He hasn't managed just yet though.

Nash is defending against the submission attempts here by Sheehan.

Sheehan is looking for a kimura. It's going to be difficult to finish that from half guard though and Nash defends it well.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Sheehan is sneakily working for an arm triangle but Nash sees it coming and defends easily.
Nash wants to control but Sheehan is keeping busy and won't allow it.
Nash is trying to get back to full guard.
Nash is working hard here to advance position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Sheehan is looking for a kimura but he's never going to get it from there.
Nash trying to control from the bottom.
Sheehan tries to pass the half guard into mount. Nash knows what he's doing though and prevents the attempt.
Sheehan perhaps working for something from half guard, or maybe not. It looks like he's just sitting there.
Nash is looking to improve his position.
Nash wants to control but Sheehan is keeping busy.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Sheehan is trying a forearm choke… I don't think that's going to do much at this level of the game.
Nash wants to control but Sheehan is keeping busy and won't allow it.
Nash wants to improve his position but Sheehan is controlling well.

Sheehan is trying to work for a kimura. This could be trouble! No, Nash has managed to free his arm - good work.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Sheehan is looking for an arm triangle, whilst trying to pass to side control. Nash doesn't seem that keen to cooperate though. No luck this time Sheehan.
Sheehan trying to control the action but Nash is working from the bottom.

Sheehan is trying to work for a kimura. This could be trouble! No, Nash has managed to free his arm - good work.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Nash slips a foot under and gets full guard. Nice work.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Justus Sheehan will probably get the nod.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

Sheehan throws a low kick, looking for Nash's leg but Nash calmly moves out of range.
Nash throws out a loose jab but Sheehan uses good head movement to avoid it.
Nash throws a front kick that sends Sheehan stumbling back into the cage.
A looping hook to the body misses from Sheehan. Nash does a little dance to reset his feet.
Nash moves forwards but Sheehan connects with a nice, crisp jab.
Sheehan throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Nash sees it coming and avoids it easily.
Nash pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Nash is looking to slow Sheehan down with leg kicks.
Sheehan moves out of range of the leg kick from Nash.
Nash connects with the punch.
The fans in attendance giving it up for the two fighters, who have really let it all hang out in the last minute or so!
Nash throws a low kick, looking for Sheehan's leg but Sheehan calmly moves out of range.
Justus Sheehan is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Nash lands a nice leg kick that just misses Sheehan's sensitive parts.
We've been told by Nash's head coaches at Synergy Fight Team that he's been working on his takedown defense in preparation for this fight.
Nash scores with a reasonable looking shot to the body. Sheehan doesn't seem bothered though.
Sheehan dodges the punch combination from Nash.
Left hook, right uppercut from Sheehan.

It looks like Blake Nash has been cut.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Nash lands a leg kick and bounces back out of range.
Nash scores with a sloppy right hand. Sheehan should have avoided that one.
Sheehan checks the leg kick nicely there.
Nash tried to score with a low kick but Sheehan checks it.
No joy there for Sheehan, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Nash throws out a leg kick but Sheehan moves out of range and Nash only half commits.
Sheehan throws a right hand that Nash ducks under and follows up with a left that Nash also avoids with ease.
Sheehan sees a low kick coming and goes to check it, but it's actually a body kick and it thuds into his unprotected ribs.
Sheehan darts in and out, connecting with a jab.
Nash avoids the body shot from Sheehan.
Nash connects with a leg kick. Sheehan looked like he was expecting something else and didn't defend it.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Sheehan moves out of range of the body kick from Nash.
A good leg kick by Nash.
Nash connects with a leg kick. Sheehan looked like he was expecting something else and didn't defend it.
Nash misses with a head kick.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Nash throws a decent looking leg kick but it doesn't land clean.
Sheehan throws a jab when Nash was well out of range.
Blake Nash seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Sheehan blocks a head kick by Nash.
Sheehan throws a jab when Nash was well out of range.
Nash takes one on the chin but keeps coming.
A head kick misses from Nash.
Sheehan lands a jab to Nash's midsection.
Nash doesn't manage to clinch there - Sheehan circles away.
Nash pivots as if he's going to throw a leg kick but stops half way.
A head kick misses from Nash.

Sheehan shoots in for a takedown and gets it.
Sheehan passes to full mount!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Sheehan tries to control but Nash wriggling away.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

Sheehan goes for an armbar but he's fallen flat on his backside there and now Nash is on top in guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

Sheehan looking for a guillotine here but Nash defends easily.

Sheehan working for a triangle but Nash defends it easily.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Nash looking to pass the guard.
Nash has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.

Nash decides he's had enough of playing guard and decides to stand. Come on Sheehan, up you get!
Nash uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Sheehan.
Blake Nash is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Sheehan takes one to the side of the head.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Sheehan sizes up Nash with a pawing jab and scores with a straight right down the middle.
This fight brought to you by 5M nutrition - it's mmmmm tasty. Nice jab by Sheehan.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Nice body kick from Nash.
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 Blake Nash will probably get the nod.
The cut man is working on Blake Nash's cut.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

Sheehan loads up on a big right hand but Nash slips the punch.
Some bone on bone action there as Sheehan checks a low kick. Luckily it wasn't a particularly hard one.
Nash slips in close and lands a nice hook before moving back out of range.
Sheehan misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Nash.
Nash swings wildly with a hook that is half blocked by Sheehan.

Nash moves into the clinch successfully.
Nash misses with a knee strike.
Sheehan being controlled against the cage.
With the two fighters working up against the cage, Nash just misses with a elbow thrown towards Sheehan's brow.
Nash throws a knee to the head but misses.
Nash throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Sheehan blocks it with crossed arms.
Nash is trying to maintain a safe position but Sheehan gets an underhook and turns Nash into the cage.
Nash swings wildly with an uppercut but Sheehan uses good head movement to avoid it.
Sheehan is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Sheehan wants to break free but Nash has control.
Nash lands an elbow just above Sheehan 's eye.

It looks like Justus Sheehan has been cut.
Sheehan wants to break the clinch but can't.
Both guys are working to get underhooks.
Sheehan has Nash pressed up against the cage and is working for takedown. Nash manages to improve position though and keeps the fight standing.
Sheehan is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.
Nash is struggling to control the position.
Sheehan blocks an elbow strike from Nash.
Nash scores with a knee to the head.
Nash is working hard here but doesn't seem to be able to control effectively, up against the cage.
Sheehan has hold of a leg and is looking for a trip takedown. Nash avoids it nicely though and we remain in the clinch.
Sheehan wants to take the fight to the mat but Nash manages to get underhooks and keep the fight in the clinch.
Blake Nash has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Justus Sheehan.
Sheehan is trying to break the clinch but Nash is controlling him.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Sheehan working hard to break the clinch.
A frustrated look appears on Sheehan's face as he tries to break the clinch.
Nash gets an overhook and lands an elbow to the side of the head.
Nash tries a knee to the head but he's missed.
Sheehan has had enough of the clinch and is looking to separate.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Nash.
Nash misses with an elbow strike.
Nash misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Sheehan.
Nash keeps control of Sheehan as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.
Sheehan is looking for a takedown.
Nash stalls.
This has been an exciting period of action!
A frustrated look appears on Sheehan's face as he tries to break the clinch.
A bit of stalling here from Nash.
Sheehan is trying to work for a single leg takedown but Nash pulls him back up using the underhooks.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Sheehan has had enough of the clinch but Nash keeps him there for the moment.

Sheehan pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Sheehan misses with a two punch combination.
Nash feints and then cracks Sheehan's leading leg with a nice low kick. He's obviously looking to slow Sheehan down.
Nash lands with a nice low kick. That'll leave a bruise.
Nash looks for the body kick but Sheehan saw that one coming.
Nash throws a nice outside leg kick.
Sheehan takes a hook to the side of the head. I wonder if that's got his ears ringing.
Nash lands a jab to Sheehan's midsection.
Sheehan takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Nash uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Sheehan.
Sheehan swats away the attempt to clinch by Nash.
Nash feints with a shoulder and throws a nice leg kick to Sheehan's calf.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.

Nash closes the distance and clinches.
Nash stalling.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Nash seems to have come into the fight with the intention of avoiding any damage in the clinch, rather than actually showing any aggression.
Nash throws an elbow but it's blocked.
Sheehan has had enough of the clinch but Nash keeps him there for the moment.
Nash looking to stall.
The ref breaks the fighters up, due to lack of action by Blake Nash.
Sheehan takes a swing at Nash's ribcage but misses.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Nash scores with a leg kick.
Sheehan throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Nash lands a leg kick and bounces back out of range.
Sheehan takes a nasty kick to the mid section... That should keep him thinking. Does he try and block and risk a head kick landing?
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Blake Nash clearly takes that round.
Both fighters have cut men working on them during the interval.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin!

Nash getting the better of the striking in that exchange.

Nash pushes Sheehan up against the cage in a clinch.
Nash lands a nice elbow from the clinch.
Nash pushes off an throws an elbow but Sheehan leans to the side and avoids it. We're back to clinching against the cage.
Nash scores with a nice hook to the head.
Nash keeps the fight in the clinch, despite Sheehan's efforts to push away.

Sheehan escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
A cross from Nash lands.
Nash connects with a superb combination that knocks Sheehan out cold! The referee charges across the mat and tackles Nash before he can land any more shots to the unconscious Sheehan!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 0:40 of round 4, we have a winner by way of KO (Punches). Blake Nash!
Blake Nash retains his middleweight title!
A very excited looking Blake Nash made sure he remembered to thank all the fans both in the arena and on the internet. He said all the coolest people spend all day on MMA websites, which got a big reaction.
Justus Sheehan spoke after the fight, saying 'I just wanted to thank all the fans and the OFC as what you just witnessed was my last fight. I had a lot of ups and downs in my career with my biggest achievement being the OFC Middleweight Champion. It was an experience I will never forget. Thank you from the bottom of my heart!'.