PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Tom Campbells (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Paul Niche (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). 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.

Campbells
vs
Niche

185 cm
25
185 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

180 cm
18
190 lbs
0 - 1 - 0

Decent wrestler
Good knees
Very strong

BJJ White Belt
Solid Muay Thai
Heavy handed

KAISER
King of Fists

KAISER

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 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Tom Campbells!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Paul Niche!
The judges for this bout are Frank Antenori, Don Winkell and Jack Bonds.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Campbells misses with a kick to the body.
And an attempted straight right on the counter from Niche! But no joy.
Campbells dances in quickly and lands a nice inside leg kick on Niche. That did some damage!
Niche throws a poor cross that misses

and Campbells counters into the clinch. Nicely done.
Niche misses with some punches.
Campbells tries a knee to the head but he's missed.
Niche's coach down at The Dutch Training Company was telling us pre-fight that they have been working on Niche's balance. Obviously they view that as a key factor in the outcome of this fight.
Campbells missing with knees to the body.
Niche slowing the pace effectively.
Campbells misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Niche.
Niche working aggressively here.
Campbells with the Thai clinch, lands a knee to the head.

It looks like Paul Niche has been cut.
Niche goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Campbells tries to land a knee to the head but misses.
Campbells missing with knees to the body.
Niche working aggressively here.
Campbells with the Thai clinch, lands a knee to the head.
Campbells throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Niche blocks it with crossed arms.
Both guys are working to get underhooks.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Campbells trying to land knees to the body.
Campbells missing with knees to the body.
Campbells tries to land a knee to the head but Niche blocks with his arms.
Niche misses with some punches.
Niche is looking to break free of the clinch but Campbells has double underhooks.
Campbells tries to land a knee to the head but misses.
Campbells using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Niche has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
Niche blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
Campbells tries to land knees in the clinch but Niche avoids the damage to the body.
Niche works on Campbells's body with a couple of short punches.
Campbells tries a knee to the head but he's missed.
Niche misses with a body punch.
Niche digs a right hand underneath Campbells's ribcage. Campbells let out a lung full of air as it connected.
Kneeeeees! The crowd are calling for knees to the body. Campbells obliges.
Campbells definitely looks more muscular than last time we saw him fight.
Niche lands a right hand that snaps the head of Campbells backwards.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A nice left hand lands by Niche.
Niche trying to stall but Campbells improves his position.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Niche.
Campbells connects with a knee to the head.
Niche tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Campbells tries a knee to the head but Niche blocks it.
Campbells blocks an uppercut.
A head punch on the inside from Niche fails to land.
Campbells lands a good knee to the midsection. Niche won't want to take too many of those.
Campbells with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.
Niche has a couple of punches blocked by Campbells.
With the two fighters working up against the cage, Campbells just misses with a elbow thrown towards Niche's brow.
Campbells with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.

Niche manages to break the clinch.
A jab from Niche misses.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Campbells explodes with a nice body kick and back out of range. Nice work.
Niche swings for the body but Campbells moves out of range.
Campbells is looking to land body kicks.
Well, he's not going to score with shots like that. A lazy body kick attempt from Campbells.
Campbells takes a hook to the side of the head. I wonder if that's got his ears ringing.
Niche avoids the head kick by Campbells.
Niche avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Campbells swings away with a leg kick that misses.
Niche sees a low kick coming and goes to check it, but it's actually a body kick and it thuds into his unprotected ribs.
Niche stumbles momentarily as he takes a strong leg kick from Campbells.
Campbells throws a body kick but he wasn't in range.
Campbells lands with a slapping head kick.
Campbells throws a body kick but he was well out of range there.
Niche now looks to counter with a shot at the body.
Niche avoids a kick to the body.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Campbells chopping away at his opponent's legs.
Good work by Niche as he checks the leg kick.
Niche misses with an uppercut.
Campbells jinks towards his opponent looking like he wants to counter with a mid kick but doesn't commit.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Niche just misses with a punch to the body.
Niche throws a body punch but Campbells moves out of range.

Campbells closes the distance and pushes Niche back into the cage.
Campbells keeps the fight in the clinch, despite Niche's efforts to push away.
Campbells putting his Muay Thai to good use. He has Niche in a tight clinch and is doing some damage with knees to the body.
Campbells tries a knee to the head but Niche blocks it.
Niche lands a shot to the body.
The pace slowing considerably in the clinch, as Campbells takes a break from that fighting nonsense to think about the finer things in life.
Niche throws a head punch that misses.
Campbells scores a nice knee to the body.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Tom Campbells dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Paul Niche's cut.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

Niche looking to take his opponent's legs away with the low kicks.
Campbells is looking to score with low kicks.
Campbells is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Niche can do to turn this around?
Campbells lands with a kick to the temple. Niche shrugs as if to say "is that all you've got?"
Ouch! a nice leg kick from Campbells, right into the meat.
Niche throws a looping overhand right but Campbells ducks down to avoid it.
Campbells is trying to close the distance and clinch up, after that failed offence from Niche.
Niche misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Campbells.
Campbells slips a straight right by Niche.
Niche keeps his opponent at a distance with a nice jab.

Campbells has managed to clinch.

Niche breaks from the clinch.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
A chopping leg kick lands by Campbells.
Jab, cross, leg kick. Nice combination by Niche!
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Campbells plants his feet and lands a nice head kick!
Campbells throws a body kick that misses.
Niche appears to be waiting to throw a counter punch to the body.
Niche avoids a kick to the body.

That's one minute gone in the round.
An inside leg kick from Campbells misses.
Campbells takes a solid shot to the body. That one hurt him but he's trying not to show it.
Campbells throws a solid leg kick but Niche takes the impact on his shin and smiles at Campbells.
Campbells throws a decent looking leg kick but it doesn't land clean.

Campbells pushes Niche up against the cage in a clinch.
Campbells trying to land knees to the body.
Niche blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
Campbells throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Niche blocks it with crossed arms.
Niche misses with a hook from the clinch.
Campbells is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Niche is defending well for now.
Campbells lands a knee to the body.
Niche presses Campbells against the cage and delivers a mid-strength body shot.
Niche is trying to break free.
Campbells missing with knees to the body.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Campbells lands a knee to the body.
Niche tries to throw a body punch but Campbells avoids it by throwing Niche back against the cage.
Campbells stalling the fight.
Niche tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Campbells's elbow.
Niche scores with a shoulder strike.
Niche misses with a punch to the body.
Niche wants to break the clinch but can't.
Niche misses with a punch to the body.
Campbells tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Niche avoids it.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Niche fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Niche avoiding damage as Campbells throws knees to the body.
Niche has had enough of the clinch but Campbells keeps him there for the moment.
Campbells using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Niche has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
Campbells blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Niche fails to land with a short punch on the inside.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Niche's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Campbells misses with a low kick.

Campbells closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.
Niche on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
The pace really dropping off here, momentarily.
Campbells connects with a nasty looking knee right to Niche's face.
Campbells misses with a knee to the head.
Niche swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Niche tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Campbells's elbow.
A knee to the head by Campbells.
Niche misses with a hook from the clinch.
Campbells is trying to wear down his opponent with knees to the body.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Campbells with an attempt at a knee that misses.
Niche tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Campbells's elbow.
Campbells tries to land a knee to the head but Niche blocks with his arms.
Niche managing to block the knees to the body from Campbells.

Niche breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Niche takes a swing at Campbells's ribcage but misses.
Niche tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Campbells was well out of range. Poor timing from Niche.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Campbells misses with a low kick as Niche jumps back.

Campbells takes the fight into the clinch.
Niche takes a knee to the side of the body.
Niche throws a head punch that misses.
Campbells tries to land a knee to the head but Niche blocks with his arms.
Campbells misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Niche.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Tom Campbells dominated that second round.
The cut man is working on Paul Niche's cut.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business. This is the final round!

Campbells pivots, looking for a leg kick but Niche is out of range and Campbells settles back down.
Campbells tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Niche paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Niche throws an overhand right that lands on Campbells's shoulder, as Campbells tries to avoid the shot.
Campbells on the wrong end of an overhand right that came out of nowhere.
Niche throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Campbells avoids a kick to the body.
Campbells misses with the body kick
and Niche cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Niche throws a jab to the body, straight down the pipe. Boom. That sent Campbells stumbling backwards but he manages to regain his composure quickly.
A big left from Niche misses.
Campbells throws a low kick but it's checked well by Niche.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Campbells lands a nice looking kick to the body. Niche takes a step back to recover.
A looping hook to the body misses from Niche. Campbells does a little dance to reset his feet.
Campbells slips a straight right by Niche.
Campbells throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
A chopping leg kick lands by Campbells.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Campbells tries a low kick but Niche avoids it.
Niche scores with a punch to the gut of his opponent.
Niche throws a body punch but Campbells moves out of range.
Campbells tried to counter with a leg kick but Niche avoided it.
Campbells dances in quickly and lands a nice inside leg kick on Niche. That did some damage!
Campbells looking to throw a kick but he's pulled out of it.
Niche tries a quick counter leg kick but Campbells is wise to it.
Niche throws a solid leg kick but Campbells takes the impact on his shin and smiles at Niche.
Campbells is looking to counter the offense by Niche and move into the clinch.
Campbells throws the kick towards the body but Niche avoids it.
Campbells wants to land a leg kick but Niche is out of range.
Niche circles away from the clinch attempt.
Niche fakes a head shot and lands one to the body.
Niche misses with an uppercut. Campbells saw that one coming.
Campbells tried to counter with a leg kick but Niche avoided it.
Campbells doesn't manage to clinch there - Niche circles away.
Niche lands with a hook. Campbells tried to avoid it but it clipped the top of his head.
Paul Niche has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Campbells scores with a kick to the body.
Niche connects with a body shot.
Campbells fakes with the hands and throws a leg kick but Niche is out of range.
Niche wants to counter the offense by Campbells and move into the clinch position.

Campbells darts in and clinches Niche up against the cage.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Campbells throws a knee to the head but misses.
Niche on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
A head punch on the inside from Niche fails to land.
Campbells tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Niche avoids it.
Campbells connects with a knee to the head.
Niche has a couple of punches blocked by Campbells.
Campbells blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Campbells throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Niche blocks it with crossed arms.
Niche throws a hook to the body. More of an arm punch but it's all scoring with the judges.
Niche misses with the head strike.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Niche swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Niche lands with a left to the head.
Niche lands with a left to the head.
Campbells blocks a body shot from Niche.
Campbells tries to land knees in the clinch but Niche avoids the damage to the body.
Campbells with an attempt at a knee that misses.
The pace really dropping off here, momentarily.
Campbells holding his opponent close, against the cage.
The crowd are getting pretty annoyed with Campbells for his constant stalling in the clinch and are voicing their displeasure.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Campbells.
Campbells taking a breather.
Niche misses with some punches.
Tom Campbells is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Campbells tries to land a knee to the head but misses.
Niche swings wildly with an uppercut but Campbells uses good head movement to avoid it.
Niche controlling the action here for a moment.
Niche doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Campbells trying to land knees to the body.
Campbells keeps control of Niche as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.
Campbells is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Niche is defending well for now.
Niche tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.

And that's the end of the fight!
Paul Niche comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Campbells 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 Frank Antenori scores the fight 29:28
Judge Don Winkell scores the fight 29:28
Judge Jack Bonds scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Tom Campbells!
Tom Campbells bigged himself up after the win. The crowd seemed to love it.