PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Fahad Firas (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Nathan Nelson (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Nathan Nelson has the power to score a knockout today if he connects clean with Fahad Firas's chin.

Firas
vs
Nelson

195 cm
17
177 lbs
0 - 1 - 0

179 cm
28
180 lbs
8 - 12 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Excellent MT
Very quick

Decent wrestler
Good elbows
Granite chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the welterweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Fahad Firas!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 8 - 12 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Nathan Nelson!
The judges for this bout are Trevor Gratis, Elvis Blanc and Ian Loll.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Nelson keeps the fight on the outside.

Nelson closes the distance and pushes Firas back into the cage.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Firas.
Firas managing to block the knees to the body from Nelson.
Nelson blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Firas.

Nelson breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Firas displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Nelson.
Firas moves into range and throws a lovely three punch combination.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Nelson feints and as Firas raises his hands in defense, Nelson changes levels and drives through with a takedown into guard.
Firas being controlled here, momentarily.
Nelson's corner are shouting for him to control the position and he seems happy to oblige.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Nelson looking to pass the guard.
Nelson seems content to control from guard here. He's going to have to remain active though if he doesn't want to get stood back up.
Nelson stops Firas from standing up.
Nelson slows down the pace of the fight, as he sits in guard.
More stalling from Nelson.

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.
Nelson with more of the same as he continues to hold on.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.
Fahad Firas is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Firas tries to close the distance and clinch up but Nelson swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Nelson appears to be waiting to throw a counter punch to the body.
Firas tries to close the distance and clinch but Nelson swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Firas slaps away a takedown attempt from Nelson, before circling back to the center of the mat.
Nelson shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Firas as he jumps to the side.
Fahad Firas has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Nathan Nelson.
Firas stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Firas wants it to stay on the feet.
Nelson gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily
and Firas counters with a three punch combo that has Nelson backing up. Nelson nods at Firas to acknowledge the strikes.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Nelson is trying hard to land a takedown here. Firas sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.
Firas lands a nice shot to the body.
Firas bobs and weaves and throws out a fast jab that snaps Nelson's head backwards.
Firas tries to land a front kick but Nelson steps back. That was a bit too telegraphed.
Nelson swats away the attempt to clinch by Firas.
Nelson is looking for the big counter here.
Nelson shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Firas but Firas pushes him off and we're back to square one.
Firas is looking to clinch.
Nelson misses with a takedown
and Firas counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
Firas tries to clinch but fails miserably
and Nelson counters with a straight punch to the midsection.
Nelson throws a head kick that misses.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A punch combination from Firas misses.
Nelson looked like he wanted to counter with a punch but didn't throw it.
Nelson shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Firas defends it nicely.
Nelson will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
Nelson circles away from the clinch attempt.
Nelson unleashes a big counter combination but Firas bobs and weaves and avoids any damage.
Firas is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
No luck with that takedown attempt from Nelson.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Firas throws a right and a left that Nelson avoids nicely.
Nelson tries a counter takedown but it's more of a dummy move, and he uses it to push himself away.
This has been an exciting period of action!

Nelson drops down and drives through with a powerful takedown into guard.
Nelson stands and throws Firas's legs to the side, diving into side control.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Firas tries to clinch up.
Nelson shoots in for a takedown but Firas shows good takedown defense.
Firas tries to clinch but Nelson is having none of it.
Firas fails with an attempt to clinch.
Firas is looking light on his feet compared to last time was saw him fight.
Nelson has his takedown stuffed
and Firas counters with a nice uppercut.
Nelson throws a head kick but Firas moves out of range.
Fahad Firas is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Firas tries to clinch but Nelson is having none of it.
Nelson connects with a looping right hand.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Firas wants to clinch up but Nelson keeps it at a distance.
Nelson moves his head to the side to avoid a jab but walks straight into a cross.
Firas is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Firas wants to clinch.
Nelson unleashes a big counter combination but Firas bobs and weaves and avoids any damage.

That's one minute gone in the round.
A big right from Nelson misses.
Firas seemed to be looking to counter by closing the distance.
Firas tries to close the distance and clinch but Nelson swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Nelson changes levels for a counter takedown but doesn't follow through with his attempt.
Firas fails in his attempt to clinch.
Firas really does look like a pencil wearing a pair of gloves. Let's hope he has a gameplan to suit that ridiculous body shape.
Firas fails with an attempt to clinch.
Firas tries to clinch but Nelson moves out of range.
Nelson is loading up here, looking for a big counter of his own.
Nelson swats away the attempt to clinch by Firas.
Firas tries to clinch there but Nelson circles away.
Nelson goes for a double leg but Firas avoids the attempt and the two fighters end up clinched against the cage as Firas continues to drive forward.
Firas seemed to be looking to counter by closing the distance.
Fahad Firas has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Nathan Nelson.
Firas tries to close the distance and clinch up but Nelson swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Firas slaps away a takedown attempt from Nelson, before circling back to the center of the mat.
Firas throws a big counter combination but Nelson scrambles out of danger and avoids any damage.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Nelson scores with a takedown into Firas's guard.
Nelson stops Firas from standing up.

Firas wriggles free and stands up.
Nelson takes a punch to the jaw and another one to the bread basket.
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!

Nelson clinches.
Firas misses with a short punch on the inside.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Nelson.
Firas working aggressively here.
Firas swings wildly with an uppercut but Nelson uses good head movement to avoid it.
Firas is pressed up against the cage. Nelson has hold of a leg and is looking to drag Firas down to the mat. Firas avoids the attempt though and has circled away. We're back to striking at a distance.
Firas fails with an attempt to clinch.
Firas tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. Nelson manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Nelson looking to land some kicks to the body here.
Fahad Firas seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Firas is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Firas tries to clinch up but Nelson circles away and keeps his distance.
Firas tries to grapple but his opponent circles

and Nelson counters with a nice double leg into guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Nelson stops Firas from standing up.
Nelson controls the pace of the fight for a moment.
Nelson throwing strikes from guard but Firas blocks nicely.
Nelson works over Firas with some ground and pound from guard.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Nelson won't allow Firas to get back to his feet.
Firas working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Nelson.
The referee must be thinking about standing these guys back up.

Firas is working an open guard so Nelson takes the opportunity to get back to his feet.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Nathan Nelson will probably get the nod - 10:9.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action! This is the final round!

Firas tries to close the distance and clinch but Nelson swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Firas jabs. That one connects to the head of his opponent.
Firas is looking to clinch.
Firas wants to clinch

and Nelson counters with a takedown into side control.
Nelson happy to just control the position for now.
Nelson is working Firas over with some ground and pound from side control.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Nelson working hard here to secure a kimura but he's not really in the right position for it.
Firas is letting Nelson control him for a moment.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Nelson is continuing to stall.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Let's hope that Nelson has the urge to step up the pace any second now because for the last 15 or 20 seconds he's just been holding on tight.
Firas is trying to stand back up. He's worked his way up against the cage but Nelson has just dragged him back down to the mat.
Nathan Nelson has got the better of the ground game so far.

Nelson wants to work for a kimura but he's foiled early by Firas, who protects the arm well.
Nelson misses with an attempted head punch from side control.

Firas throws Nelson to one side and escapes!
A combination from Firas does no damage.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Firas tries to close the distance and clinch but Nelson swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Firas tries to clinch but Nelson is having none of it.
Firas darts in trying to clinch
and Nelson counters with a right hand to the body.
Firas tries to clinch up but Nelson circles away and keeps his distance.
Nelson throws a lazy right hand but Firas sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Firas stuffs the takedown.
Firas appears to be looking for a counter takedown.
Nelson pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Firas defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Nelson.
Nelson looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Firas is fending him off so far but Nelson persists. Nope, Firas circles away and we're back to standing.
Fahad Firas has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Nathan Nelson.
Nelson takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.

Nelson moves into range and clinches up with Firas.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Firas fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Nelson misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Firas.
Nelson wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.
Firas misses with a short punch on the inside.
Nelson blocking some punches.
Nelson looks like he'd prefer to be striking at range right now.
Firas managing to block the knees to the body from Nelson.
Firas misses with the head strike.
Nelson blocking some punches.
Firas swings wildly with an uppercut but Nelson uses good head movement to avoid it.
Firas is pressed up against the cage. Nelson has hold of a leg and is looking to drag Firas down to the mat. Firas avoids the attempt though and has circled away. We're back to striking at a distance.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Nelson shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Firas defends it 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 Fahad Firas.
I think Firas has won this one but let's see what the judges have to say. 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 Trevor Gratis scores the fight 28:29
Judge Elvis Blanc scores the fight 29:29
Judge Ian Loll scores the fight 29:28

The fight is ruled a draw!