PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Jay Sponseller (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Zach Nielsen (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Jay Sponseller has the edge in experience - let's see if he can make that count tonight.

Sponseller
vs
Nielsen

185 cm
20
225 lbs
3 - 2 - 0

200 cm
18
265 lbs
2 - 2 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Counter striker
Intelligent

BJJ Purple Belt
Counter striker
Granite chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 3 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, Jay Sponseller!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, Zach Nielsen!
The judges for this bout are , and .

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Sponseller shoots in and gets a takedown into half guard. Sponseller showed some decent athleticism there.
Nielsen is looking to improve his position.
Nielsen wants to control but Sponseller is keeping busy and won't allow it.
Sponseller tries to stand but can't do so whilst Nielsen controls his leg.
Sponseller is thwarting Nielsen's attempts to control the position.
Sponseller wants to get back to his feet.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Nielsen wants to improve his position but Sponseller is controlling well.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.
Sponseller avoids the head kick by Nielsen.

That's one minute gone in the round.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Nielsen.
Sponseller moves out of range of the body kick from Nielsen.
Nielsen throws a shot from downtown. Sponseller moves away and avoids it.
Nielsen throws a right and a left that Sponseller avoids nicely.

That's two 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.
Nielsen misses with a jab, cross combination.
Nielsen is looking to clinch.
Nielsen throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Nielsen shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Sponseller but Sponseller pushes him off and we're back to square one.
Nielsen fails with the takedown.
Jay Sponseller has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Zach Nielsen.
Nielsen looks gassed!

Sponseller moves into the clinch successfully.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Sponseller with an attempt at a knee that misses.
Sponseller throws a knee to the head but misses.
Sponseller with a knee to the head.
Sponseller scores a nice knee to the body.
Sponseller looking to throw knees to the head but Nielsen is blocking nicely.

Nielsen manages to pull guard. Let's see whether he can land a sub off his back.
Sponseller knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Nielsen on the ground.
Nielsen looking to control.
Nielsen has a closed guard, preventing Sponseller from standing up.
Sponseller might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Sponseller decides to stand up and beckons his opponent to follow.
Nielsen throws a leg kick but Sponseller moved away.
Nielsen paws at his opponent with the jab and then lunges in with a straight, right on the button.
Nielsen misses with a takedown attempt

and Sponseller counters with a shoot takedown. Nielsen fights it but they end up in guard.
Nielsen looking to hit a scissor sweep but Sponseller is one step ahead there.
Sponseller has decided he wants to stand but the closed guard of Nielsen is proving hard to escape from.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Jay Sponseller dominated that round.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

Nielsen keeps the fight on the outside.
Sponseller tries to clinch there but Nielsen circles away.
Nielsen loads up on a big right hand but Sponseller slips the punch.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Nielsen misses with a combination

and Sponseller counters with a single leg into guard. Nielsen didn't expect that.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Sponseller tries to stand but Nielsen is controlling from the bottom.
Nielsen is trying to control the position but Sponseller postures up.
Sponseller trying to stand up but can't free himself from Nielsen's guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Nielsen trying to keep a closed guard but Sponseller is proving a slippery customer.
Nielsen manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Sponseller manages to get himself to full guard.
Sponseller wants to stand but Nielsen is controlling the position.

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.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Nielsen accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Nielsen prevents Sponseller from getting back to his feet.
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Nielsen thows a big elbow that misses.
Nielsen is breathing heavily.

Sponseller uses the cage to get back to his feet.
Sponseller tries to clinch there but Nielsen circles away.
Sponseller tries to clinch up.
Sponseller could do with loosing a few pounds - he looks very soft around the mid section, to put it politely.
Nielsen has his takedown stuffed

and Sponseller counters with a nice single leg takedown and he's in Nielsen's guard now.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Sponseller won't allow Nielsen to sweep him here.

Sponseller gets to his feet - Nielsen follows without any prompting.
Sponseller tries to clinch but Nielsen moves away
and Nielsen counters with a leg kick that reverborates around the arena.
Jay Sponseller is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.

Excellent takedown into side control there by Sponseller.

Sponseller decides to stand up, so the ref orders Nielsen to his feet.
Nielsen misses with a takedown attempt

and Sponseller holds on and brings the fighters into a clinch.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Sponseller using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Nielsen has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
Sponseller throws a knee to the head but misses.
Sponseller with an attempt at a knee that misses.
Nielsen is trying to drag Sponseller to the mat but Sponseller just about manages to keep his footing. He used the cage to his advantage there.
Jay Sponseller has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Zach Nielsen.
Sponseller landing knees to the head.
Sponseller lands a knee to the head.
Sponseller with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.
Sponseller with a knee to the head.
Sponseller lands a knee to the head.
Sponseller tries a knee to the head but he's missed.
Sponseller looking to throw knees to the head but Nielsen is blocking nicely.
Nielsen misses with a knee to the head.
Sponseller tries a knee to the head but he's missed.
Nielsen digs a right hand into Sponseller's ribs. Those have got to be taking their toll on Sponseller's gas tank.
Sponseller with an attempt at a knee that misses.
Sponseller throws a knee to the head but misses.
Nielsen throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Sponseller blocks it with crossed arms.
Sponseller throws a knee to the head but misses.
Sponseller with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Jay Sponseller 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. Let's get this one finished - here comes the final round!

Sponseller fails in his attempt to clinch.
Nielsen tries for a takedown but Sponseller circles away easily

so Sponseller counters with a double leg into guard. Good agility.
Nielsen looking for a sweep. Not yet Nielsen, not yet.
Jay Sponseller overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Nielsen controls Sponseller momentarily but Sponseller frees himself.
Sponseller wanted to stand there but Nielsen had control of the position.

Nielsen has his foot on Sponseller's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Sponseller works his way back into a safe position though.
Nielsen takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Sponseller trying to stand up but can't free himself from Nielsen's guard.
Nielsen is trying to control the position but Sponseller postures up.
Sponseller wants to stand but Nielsen has a closed guard, so he can't escape.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
Nielsen misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Sponseller darts in trying to clinch

and Nielsen counters into the clinch. Nicely done.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Neither fighter has done anything of merit for a good minute or two here and the crowd are not happy about it.
Sponseller tries a knee to the head but he's missed.
Sponseller connects with a knee to the head.
Sponseller throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Nielsen blocks it with crossed arms.
Sponseller looking to throw knees to the head but Nielsen is blocking nicely.
Sponseller tries a knee to the head but he's missed.
Sponseller throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Nielsen blocks it with crossed arms.
Sponseller misses with a knee strike.
Nielsen working aggressively here.
Some stalling of biblical proportions here from Nielsen.
Sponseller tries a knee to the head but Nielsen blocks it.
Nielsen tries to land knees in the clinch but Sponseller avoids the damage to the body.
Nielsen jumps guard but his hands slip and he falls flat on his back. Well, he's made himself look a right mug there, as Sponseller walks away with a smile on his face. Nielsen gets slowly back to his feet and shakes his head.
Nielsen closes the distance but Sponseller moves to the side

and Sponseller decides to take the opportunity to score a takedown. He's landed in Nielsen's guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Nielsen is looking to sweep but instead, Sponseller has passed into half guard.

Sponseller stands up from half guard... He's had enough of that ground malarky for the time being.
The fight stays on the outside here - Sponseller looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Sponseller tries to clinch
and Nielsen cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Zach Nielsen has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

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.
Sponseller fails in his attempt to clinch.
Sponseller tries to close the distance and clinch up but Nielsen swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Jay Sponseller is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Nielsen throws a jab when Sponseller was well out of range.
The fight stays on the outside here - Sponseller looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Sponseller slips a jab and a cross from Nielsen.

And that's the end of the fight!
Jay Sponseller showed his dominance in that final round.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Sponseller, winning every round. Will the judges agree? They are the ones who matter, even if they are often depressingly incompetent. 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 Andi Peters scores the fight 30:27
Judge Gordon Ramsey scores the fight 30:27
Judge Frank Skinner scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Jay Sponseller!