PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Geordie Nicholson (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Carl Silva (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Nicholson comes to the cage accompanied by Knock Knock. Rumors backstage are that the fighters have been paid to keep it standing but we know that would never happen in MMA!

Nicholson
vs
Silva

178 cm
25
184 lbs
2 - 1 - 0

188 cm
25
185 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Solid Muay Thai
Big heart

BJJ Blue Belt
Excellent boxer
Heavy handed

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the middleweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 2 - 1 - 0, fighting out of London, Geordie Nicholson!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Carl Silva!
The judges for this bout are Dmitry Maklakov, Illya Tyunina and Valeri Chadov.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Nicholson fails with a takedown attempt.

Silva gets tackled into the cage by Nicholson. Nicholson maintains the clinch.
Nicholson tries a knee to the head but he's missed.

Nicholson successfully pulls guard.
Nicholson manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Silva manages to get himself to full guard.

Nicholson slips nicely into half guard.
Nicholson controlling the action here.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Nicholson has controlled the position for a good 20 seconds, which will no doubt be starting to frustrate his opponent.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Nicholson thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Silva's head.
Silva flails away from the bottom but he's not doing any damage.
Silva trying to hold on to Nicholson's head to control him but Nicholson postures up.
Nicholson prevents Silva from improving his position.
Silva is looking to escape.
Nicholson is taking a breather. Silva says something to him but it's hard to make out. Perhaps he's telling him to get on with it and actually do something.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are getting on the fighters' backs, as the pace has dropped off in the last minute or so.
Nicholson's ground tactics aren't going to win him many fans. Let's hope he's got fireworks for us if he gets back to his feet because he's not doing much on the ground.
Nicholson prevents Silva from improving his position.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.
Silva misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
Silva tries to score with a low kick but Nicholson moves his leg out of the way.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Silva scores with a hook to the body. Nicholson takes a step back and tries to catch his breath.
Nicholson defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Silva.
Nicholson wants to take advantage of his opponent's missed offense by moving into the clinch.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Nicholson.

Nicholson moves into the clinch successfully.
Silva drops down looking for an ankle pick but Nicholson pulls his leg out and moves away.
Geordie Nicholson has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Carl Silva.
No luck for Silva with that takedown attempt.
Nicholson pulls out of a head kick attempt.
We've been told by Nicholson's head coaches at Geo77 that he's been working on his takedown defense in preparation for this fight.
Silva uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Nicholson.

Nicholson pushes Silva up against the cage in a clinch.
Nicholson lands a right hand.
Nicholson keeps the fight in the clinch, despite Silva's efforts to push away.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Nicholson stalling here - the referee won't stand for too much of that.
Silva takes a knee to the side of the body.
Come on Nicholson - let's have some action - none of this stalling nonsense.
Nicholson throws a hook to the body. More of an arm punch but it's all scoring with the judges.
Silva stops a takedown attempt from Nicholson.
Silva goes for a takedown attempt but Nicholson pushes him away and we're back to fighting at a distance.
Silva looking to land some kicks to the body here.

Nicholson takes the fight into the clinch.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Nicholson pushes Silva back against the cage and lands a hook to the side of the head.

Nicholson manages to pull guard. Let's see whether he can land a sub off his back.
Nicholson wants to sweep but no luck.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Geordie Nicholson dominated that round.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

A punch combination from Silva misses.

The fight moves into the clinch position.
A short right from Nicholson on the inside.
Silva takes a knee to the side of the body.
The pace really dropping off here, momentarily.
A bit of stalling here from Nicholson.
Nicholson is defending well against a takedown attempt.
Nicholson taking a breather.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Nicholson prevents a takedown attempt there.
Silva is looking for a takedown.
Geordie Nicholson has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Carl Silva.
A nice left hand lands by Nicholson.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Knees in the clinch landing for Nicholson.
Geordie Nicholson has scored more points in the clinch so far.
Silva wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.

Nicholson gets control of Silva's arms and successfully pulls guard. Nicholson will no doubt be looking for submissions off his back.
Silva is looking to work some ground and pound but Nicholson has wrist control.
Silva pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Nicholson is keeping the position for now.
Silva looking to sit in guard and control but Nicholson gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.

Nicholson is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Silva can do to turn this around?
Nicholson pushing down on Silva's thigh, trying to pass to half guard. He's managed it... Nice work.
Nicholson missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.

Nicholson stands up out of the half guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Silva darts in looking for a takedown but Nicholson gets double underhooks and turns Silva into the cage.
Silva fails to land the takedown.
Silva is breathing heavily.
Silva fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.

Silva tries to keep at a distance but Nicholson has taken the fight into the clinch.
Nicholson lands a nice uppercut.

Nicholson manages to pull guard. Let's see whether he can land a sub off his back.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Nicholson is adopting a defensive guard.
Nicholson 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 three minutes gone in the round.
Nicholson wants to control here, rather than go for any submissions from the bottom. At least for now.
Silva preventing the sweep.
Silva looking to sit in guard and control but Nicholson gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.

Silva can't do much from the bottom at the moment, as Nicholson controls the pace.

Silva is looking for a triangle but Nicholson pushes his legs off easily.
Nicholson is taking a break and basically stalling. The referee will not allow him to do that for long.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Nicholson slips nicely into half guard.
Nicholson is working hard to pass the guard. He's done it - he's now in full mount! Trouble for Silva!
Nicholson controlling his opponent.
Silva tries to reverse the position but Nicholson maintains control.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Nicholson avoids the attempt from Silva to control.

Nicholson is going oldschool here, as he tries to force Silva to tap using a forearm choke. This isn't 1993 though, so Silva shrugs it off.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Geordie Nicholson dominated that second round.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action. This is the final round!

Nicholson changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Silva tries to avoid it but Nicholson manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Silva to the ground. Silva escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
Silva replies with a solid counter kick to the body but Nicholson blocks it well.
Nicholson defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Silva.
It looked like Nicholson was looking amped, ready to throw a big counter but didn't commit.
Silva fails with the takedown

and Nicholson counters by moving into the clinch. Good anticipation by Nicholson.

Nicholson's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Nicholson misses with a takedown attempt - Silva sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
Nicholson throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Silva's waist but Silva gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Nicholson off to one side.
And Silva tries to counter it with a takedown but Nicholson pushes his down on his head and steps out.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Geordie Nicholson. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Nicholson tries for a takedown but Silva circles away easily
and Silva counters with a two punch combo.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Nicholson gets a clinch.
A right hook to the body lands for Nicholson.
Silva is trying to drag Nicholson to the mat but Nicholson just about manages to keep his footing. He used the cage to his advantage there.
Silva has dropped down and is looking to force the takedown but it's defended by Nicholson after a bit of a struggle.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Nicholson has Silva pressed against the cage.
Nice elbow from Nicholson.

It looks like Carl Silva has been cut.
Still in the clinch, Nicholson scores with a nice short uppercut.
A short right from Nicholson on the inside.
Nicholson lands a nice uppercut.
Nicholson tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
A right handed body shot lands from Nicholson.

Nicholson manages to break the clinch.
A left and a right from Silva both land. Nice combination.
Nicholson closes this distance looking for a takedown but Silva circles away.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Silva will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Silva swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Nicholson is looking to counter the offense by Silva and move into the clinch.
Silva is trying hard to land a takedown here. Nicholson sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.
Silva throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Nicholson's waist but Nicholson gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Silva off to one side.

Nicholson rushes Silva and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.
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!

Nicholson pulls Silva into guard.
Nicholson utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Nicholson wants to sweep here but Silva controlling him for the moment.
Silva wants to control from the top but Nicholson keeps moving.
Nicholson is adopting a defensive guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Further stalling from Nicholson.
Silva is looking to stand up but Nicholson won't let him.
We must be close to a standup if these guys don't pick up the pace.
Geordie Nicholson is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Silva trying to control the position from guard on top but Nicholson is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Silva misses with an uppercut.

Nicholson darts in and clinches Silva up against the cage.
Good body shot from Nicholson.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.
Nicholson has Silva pressed against the cage, preventing Silva from circling away and getting back to striking at range.
Silva tries to land knees in the clinch but Nicholson avoids the damage to the body.
Silva tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Nicholson's elbow.
A short left from Nicholson.
Silva tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. Nicholson smiles and moves away.

The fight moves into the clinch position.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Nicholson lands punches inside but they're not really causing much damage.

And that's the end of the fight!
Geordie Nicholson showed his dominance in that final round.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Nicholson, 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 Dmitry Maklakov scores the fight 30:27
Judge Illya Tyunina scores the fight 30:27
Judge Valeri Chadov scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Geordie Nicholson!
Geordie Nicholson decided to hype himself up post fight. It was going well but he went on about it a bit too long and the crowd turned on him a little.