PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Roan Silvergate (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and James Nickels (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). On his way into the cage it seems that Roan Silvergate has been attacked by a crazed fan! It looks like it might have been the just bleed guy! Luckily Roan Silvergate seems to be OK! I thought that lunatic was in prison!?

Silvergate
vs
Nickels

178 cm
20
175 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

170 cm
25
170 lbs
0 - 1 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Basic striking
Big heart

Decent wrestler
Brawler
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 - 0 - 0, fighting out of The Island, Roan Silvergate!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 1 - 0, fighting out of The Island, James Nickels!
The judges for this bout are Michael Johnstone, Bart Greer and Dirk Anderson.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Some wild striking there from Silvergate.
Silvergate takes a shot to the body in his stride.
Nickels scores with a hook.

Nickels moves into the clinch.

Nickels's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Nickels slips under a jab.
Nickels is trying to avoid his opponent's strikes and get into the clinch.

Nickels closes the distance and gets a trip takedown into side control. Silvergate quickly recovers to half guard.

Silvergate looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.

Nickels is working for a kimura but Silvergate is defending it quite comfortably.

Silvergate looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Silvergate looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.

Silvergate is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Nickels pulls his head out easily.
Nickels seems content to maintain position for now, rather than mounting any offense.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are hurling abuse towards the fighters... You can hardly blame them though because there isn't a lot going on in the fight.
Nickels trying to mount his opponent but Silvergate defends it.
Still in half guard, Nickels seems content to control.
Silvergate has hold of Nickels's hands but Nickels slips his arm to the side and lands an elbow.
Nickels sitting and controlling from the half guard.

Nickels is looking for a kimura here.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Nickels controlling the pace.
The referee is asking the fighters to pick up the pace.
It looks like Nickels might be adopting somewhat of a lay and pray gameplan here, which I'm sure won't go down too well with the paying fans in attendance... Or the ring announcers come to think of it.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.
Silvergate shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Nickels as he avoids it easily.

Nickels closes the distance and clinches.
Nickels will no doubt start fighting again in a minute but for now he's just having a little rest, leaning Silvergate up against the cage.

Nickels has Silvergate pressed up against the cage. He's trying to work for a single leg takedown. Nickels pulls back from the cage and twists to the side, sending Silvergate tumbling to the mat - Nickels dives into Silvergate's guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Silvergate has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Nickels can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
Silvergate being controlled here, momentarily.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Nickels passes Silvergate's left leg - he's now in half guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Silvergate swings wildly with a couple of big hooks

so Nickels counters with a double leg into guard. Good agility.
Nickels is just sitting in guard, looking to avoid any submissions.

Silvergate is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
Nickels tries to free his leg and advance position but Silvergate is retaining full guard.
Nickels wants to get up but he can't break Silvergate's closed guard. He needs to be careful trying to break the legs open, as he's open to submissions here.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Silvergate is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
Nickels wants to stand but Silvergate has a closed guard, so he can't escape.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Nickels is just sitting in guard, looking to avoid any submissions.
Nickels postures up and lands some nice ground and pound.
Nickels would like to get this fight back to the feet but can't get free from the closed guard.
Nickels slips nicely into half guard.

Silvergate looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.
Nickels takes advantage of the dominant position to land a couple of big hammer fists.
Nickels tries to stand but his arm is trapped.

Nickels is trying to work for a kimura. This could be trouble! No, Silvergate has managed to free his arm - good work.
Nickels with a momentary lay and pray from half guard.
Nickels seems to be taking a bit of a break to think of his next move. He lands a short punch in the meantime.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Nickels trying to pass the guard but Silvergate defending well.
Still in half guard, Nickels seems content to control.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.

Nickels looking to shoot here. He's gone for it and he's landed a takedown into side control! Oh, that's bad for Silvergate!
A lull in the action here as Nickels stalls from top position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Silvergate tries to improve position but can't.
Nickels controls the position from side control.
Nickels connects with a decent looking elbow from side control that caused Silvergate some visible discomfort.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Nickels controls the position.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

James Nickels showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business. The crowd applaud as we get ready to start the final round!

Silvergate will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
Nickels appeared to try and counter that last move with a leg kick.
Silvergate jabbing away but nothing is landing.
Silvergate throws a left and a right that both miss

and Nickels holds on and brings the fighters into a clinch.
Silvergate tries to pull guard but Nickels forces him back to his feet, against the cage.

Nickels jumps guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Nickels looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Nickels keeping moving, preventing Silvergate from controlling successfully.
Nickels 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.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Silvergate won't allow Nickels to get back to his feet.
Silvergate trying to control but Nickels is working from the bottom.
Nickels managing to control the position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Silvergate trying to control but Nickels is working from the bottom.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.
Silvergate lands a jab. Then a cross. Then finally a nice hook to the body. Good work there by Silvergate.
Roan Silvergate is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.

Nickels shoots in and gets a takedown into half guard. Nickels showed some decent athleticism there.
The two fighters exchange a few words. I couldn't hear what they were saying but maybe it's more fun if you make it up yourself. Nickels connects with a nice short shot to Silvergate's temple.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Nickels trying to control the pace.

Nickels looking for a kimura but he'll have to free his other leg if he wants to finish that. Perhaps he's just using it as a distraction technique.
Nickels is keeping good posture, landing some ground and pound.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Silvergate looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.
Well, if Nickels is going to just lie there, perhaps we should talk about what we're having for dinner tonight… I'm having a ham and pineapple pizza… Yum. Can't wait.
Nickels has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Nickels winds up and cracks Silvergate with a swinging punch to the side of the head.

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.
Nickels wants to stand but Silvergate has hold of a leg and an arm, so he's trapped for now.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Nickels not doing much here.

Silvergate looking for submissions off his back.
Nickels drops an elbow to the side of Silvergate's head.

And that's the end of the fight!
James Nickels comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Nickels has outworked and out performed his opponent in all aspects of the game today. He was simply too good and the decision should be no more than a formality. 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 Michael Johnstone scores the fight 26:30
Judge Bart Greer scores the fight 26:30
Judge Dirk Anderson scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... James Nickels!