PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Norris Small (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Conor Nelson (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). I can't wait for this one - let's get the fighter introductions out of the way and get this one started!

Small
vs
Nelson

214 cm
23
162 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

179 cm
24
155 lbs
2 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Cuts easily

BJJ Blue Belt
Good kicks
Heavy handed

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 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Norris Small!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Conor Nelson!
The judges for this bout are Chris Downing, Cecil Peabody and Gwen Towbar.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Nelson misses with a two punch combination.

Small closes the distance and gets a double leg, slamming Nelson to the mat! Nelson manages to get full guard.
Nelson wants to sweep but no luck.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Nelson trying to strike from the bottom but really, it's not the best position to be doing that from!
Small cracks Nelson with a solid left hand.
Small slows down the pace of the fight, as he sits in guard.

Small stands up from guard. Let's bang!
Small will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
Norris Small seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

Small tries to sprawl but Nelson drives through with a takedown into half guard.
Small is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Small is holding on to half guard well.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Small is staying active underneath Nelson, who seems content to just control the action from this position.
Small wants to get back to his feet.
Small is doing well to control the position and prevent Nelson from advancing to side control.
Small gets full guard.

Small has his foot on Nelson's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Nelson works his way back into a safe position though.
Small looking to control the pace of the fight rather than finish it.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.

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.
Small misses with a takedown attempt
and Nelson counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
Nelson thuds his shin into the meat of Small's side.
Small has his takedown stuffed

so Nelson counters with a double leg into guard. Good agility.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Norris Small. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Nelson looks winded!
Small pulls Nelson in close to his closed guard and prevents Nelson from doing any damage or advancing position.
Nelson wants to control from the top but Small keeps moving.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Nelson wants to pass the guard but Small is keeping the position.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Nelson trying to control the position from guard on top but Small is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Small is doing well to control the posture of his opponent and prevent any damage.
Nelson stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Small swivels though and keeps the full guard.

That's four 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.

Small working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Nelson doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Nelson manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.
Nelson being controlled here momentarily.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.

Small bobs and weaves into range and then changes levels and scores with a nice takedown into side control.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Conor Nelson will probably get the nod.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

Small fails with the takedown
and Nelson counters with a left and a right that stings Small.

Nelson darts in and lands a nice takedown into half guard.
Small is pressing down on Nelson's left leg trying to get back to full guard. He's managed it.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Nelson controls the pace of the fight for a moment.
Small wants to get back to his feet but Nelson is in a dominant position and won't allow it.
Small is controlling Nelson's posture.
Nelson must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Small keeping moving, preventing Nelson from controlling successfully.
The referee must be thinking about standing these guys back up.
Small will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up. He just wasn't happy with the level of activity.

Small shoots in with a lovely double leg takedown. Nelson manages to land in full guard to minimise the damage.
Nelson is breathing heavily.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Small working some strikes from top position.
Small is just sitting in guard, looking to avoid any submissions.

Small drops back looking for a leg! Nelson is in trouble here! The fighters roll with the hold and Nelson manages to kick Small off! Small jumps back into Nelson's guard.
Nelson is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Small is controlling him.
Small landing some decent shots from guard.
Small throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Nelson is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Small is controlling him.
The referee is asking the fighters to pick up the pace.
Nelson is adopting a defensive guard.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.

Small changes levels and drives through with a really nice takedown into side control. Nelson looks really pissed at himself for not defending that better.
Small creates a bit of distance and throws down some hard shots.

Small has had enough of the ground for now and decides to stand.

Nelson gets tackled into the cage by Small. Small maintains the clinch.
Small really does look like a pencil wearing a pair of gloves. Let's hope he has a gameplan to suit that ridiculous body shape.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Small manages to break the clinch.
Small misses with a takedown attempt
and Nelson counters with a one-two to the body.
Small shoots in but no luck this time.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Norris Small. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Small shoots in for a takedown but Nelson shows good takedown defense.
Norris Small is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Small tries for a takedown but Nelson circles away easily
and Nelson counters with a three punch combination, finished off with a leg kick. Nice work.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.

Small scores a trip takedown into side control. Nice.
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 Norris Small will probably get the nod.
That's time! Back to the action! Let's get this one finished - here comes the final round!

Nelson throws a combination. Small tries to block but a couple of punches get through.
Small shoots for a takedown but Nelson saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.

Small drives through with a takedown into Nelson's guard. Let's see what he can do from the top position.
Small scoring with some ground and pound.
Small wanted to stand there but Nelson had control of the position.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Nelson wants to stand and escape but Small is having none of it.
Small controls the pace of the fight for a moment.
Nelson takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Nelson is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Small stands and steps away. Nelson gets to his feet too and we're back to the striking game.
Small doesn't succeed with the takedown
and Nelson counters with a three punch combo that has Small backing up. Small nods at Nelson to acknowledge the strikes.

Small shoots in from a long way out. He's driving through with the takedown attempt and he eventually gets it, landing in Nelson's guard.
Nelson looking to hit a scissor sweep but Small is one step ahead there.

Small drops back looking for a leg! Nelson is in trouble here! The fighters roll with the hold and Nelson manages to kick Small off! Small jumps back into Nelson's guard.
Small lands a couple of elbows.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Nelson pushes Small off and gets back to his feet.

Nelson gets caught on his heels momentarily as he allows Small to score an easy takedown into full guard.
Small wants to get up but he can't break Nelson's closed guard. He needs to be careful trying to break the legs open, as he's open to submissions here.
Small distracts Nelson with his right hand and drops a big elbow with his other arm.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Small with a flurry of punches that miss.
Small stopping the sweep attempt from Nelson.
Nelson being controlled here, momentarily.
The referee is pacing around the two fighters - he looks like he's thinking about a standup.

Nelson is working an open guard so Small takes the opportunity to get back to his feet.
Nelson stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Nelson wants it to stay on the feet.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Norris Small. That's going to take a lot out of him.

That's four 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.

Small gets taken down but at least he's managed to land in guard.
A real slowdown in the pace of the fight for a moment, as Small holds on and takes a little breather.
Nelson pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Small is keeping the position for now.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Small has his hands on Nelson's head, controlling the position.

And that's the end of the fight!
I would just about give that final round to Conor Nelson.
I think Nelson 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 Chris Downing scores the fight 28:29
Judge Cecil Peabody scores the fight 29:28
Judge Gwen Towbar scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by split decision... Conor Nelson!