PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between King Nile (ranked 1735 p4p, 182 weight class) and Paul OConnell (ranked 2477 p4p, 250 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.

Nile
vs
OConnell

205 cm
50
270 lbs
21 - 11 - 0

209 cm
38
285 lbs
21 - 15 - 1

Good wrestling
Excellent boxer
Very strong

Excellent grappler
World class MT
Granite chin

Thomspon 90%

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 21 - 11 - 0, fighting out of London, King Nile!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 21 - 15 - 1, fighting out of New York, Paul OConnell!
The judges for this bout are , Jack Bonds and Don Winkell.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
OConnell fails with an attempt to clinch.
OConnell looks to land a combination but Nile avoids it well.
Nile swung with a counter right hand that didn't connect.
OConnell misses with a straight right.
OConnell throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
OConnell pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Nile walks into a straight right hand from OConnell.
Nile throws a jab but it's blocked by OConnell.
Nile ducks right into an uppercut from OConnell.
Nile throws a low kick, looking for OConnell's leg but OConnell calmly moves out of range.
Nile misses with a looping left.
OConnell connects with a lovely right hand, straight down the pipe.
OConnell has been working on his striking defense in training and it's paying off as Nile is landing a low percentage of strikes.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Nile keeps the fight on the outside.
OConnell displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Nile throws out the jab.
OConnell looks like he wants to counter punch here.
Nile is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by OConnell.
OConnell misses with the combination.

That's one minute gone in the round.
OConnell walks straight into an uppercut. Luckily it didn't land flush.
Nile throws a low kick but OConnell avoids it.
Nile has his head slapped from side to side by a 3 punch combination. That must have hurt him.

It looks like King Nile has been cut.
OConnell connects with a hook to the side of his opponent's head.
Nile moving in and out of range nicely, whilst landing the scoring shot.

Excellent takedown into side control there by Nile.

OConnell explodes and escapes back to his feet! Nice escape there!
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Nile throws a hook but OConnell avoids it easily.
Nile throws a right hand that OConnell ducks under and follows up with a left that OConnell also avoids with ease.
OConnell moves into range and connects with a jab.
OConnell misses with a left hand
and Nile counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Paul OConnell seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
OConnell catches Nile with a nice straight right. He seems pissed - ooooh, it's on now! On like donkey kong!
Paul OConnell is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Jab by Nile.
Nile walks straight into an uppercut. Luckily it didn't land flush.
Nile circles away from the clinch attempt
and Nile counters with a body kick that stops OConnell in his tracks momentarily.
Nile throws an off balance right hand
letting OConnell counter with a right hand.
OConnell connects with a body shot that sends Nile's belly button to the back.
Nile lands a nice shot to the body.
A chopping leg kick lands by Nile.
Nile tries a head kick but it misses.
Nile uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by OConnell.
OConnell looks to land a right hand but Nile moved out of range.
Nile throws the left hand but OConnell avoids the punch easily.
OConnell goes for a high kick. It partially lands.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
OConnell missing with a left hand there. Nile was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
Nile has his head snapped back a nice jab. A little nod from Nile there as he acknowledges the shot.
Nile misses the shot to the body.
OConnell steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Nile.
A looping hook to the body misses from Nile. OConnell does a little dance to reset his feet.
OConnell feints a straight left to the body, then turns around with a flashy move and hits Niles jaw with a dramatic spinning back fist!
OConnell connects with a hook to the side of his opponent's head.
OConnell rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Nile moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Nile throws a hook but OConnell avoids it easily.
Nile shoots and misses
and OConnell counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
An inside leg kick from Nile misses.
Nice shot lands for OConnell.
OConnell misses with a series of wild punches.
Nile appears to be looking for a counter punch to the body.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A lazy left from OConnell finds it's target.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Nice straight punches there by OConnell. You know Roy Jones Jr respects the hands of OConnell.
OConnell lands with a right hand.
OConnell tries a head kick but it misses.

OConnell moves into the clinch.
Nile throws a head punch that misses.
Nile lands a shot to the body.
Nile using the Thai plumb to throw knees but OConnell has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
Nile has been working on his balance at Pablo's Boxing Academy, so perhaps that has help him stuff some of the takedown attempts by OConnell.
A short right from OConnell.
OConnell scores with an uppercut up the middle.
OConnell managing to block the knees to the body from Nile.
Nile throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but OConnell blocks it with crossed arms.
The crowd applaud the fighters' efforts here as the round comes to an end.
A nice right hand lands inside from OConnell.
OConnell throws a head punch that misses.
OConnell misses with a hook from the clinch.
OConnell lands with a light punch inside.
OConnell swings wildly with an uppercut but Nile uses good head movement to avoid it.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Paul OConnell dominated that round.
The cut man is working on King Nile's cut.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business.

OConnell throws a head kick that Nile semi-blocks.
Nile takes a shot right to the bread basket.
The fight stays on the outside here - OConnell looks like he's thinking about clinching though.

OConnell takes the fight into the clinch.
OConnell throws a head punch that misses.
OConnell lands a nice looking hook to the body, against the cage.
Nile blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
OConnell blocks an uppercut.
Nile misses with the head strike.
Nile lands a nice shot to the body.
Nile takes a shot to the head.
Nile lands with a good tight uppercut to the head.
OConnell tries a body shot but Nile blocks it.
A quick uppercut on the inside from OConnell.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Nile misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from OConnell.
A knee to the head by Nile.
OConnell misses with the head strike.
Nile looking to throw knees to the head but OConnell is blocking nicely.
Nile is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. OConnell is defending well for now.
A short right from OConnell on the inside.
Nile throws a punch but it's blocked by OConnell.
Nile blocks a body shot from OConnell.
OConnell misses with a body punch.
Paul OConnell seems to be working more effectively in the clinch in the fight so far.
OConnell misses with a hook from the clinch.
Nile using the Thai plumb to throw knees but OConnell has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
OConnell lands a right hand that snaps the head of Nile backwards.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Nile misses with a punch on the inside.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for OConnell.
OConnell blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
OConnell lands with a short shot to the head.
OConnell lands with a short punch from the clinch.
OConnell on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
OConnell has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
OConnell pushes Nile back against the cage and unloads with a body punch.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
With the fighters clinched against the cage, OConnell creates a bit of distance for himself and scores with a nice uppercut.

Nile is rocked!
OConnell pushes Nile against the cage. OConnell is working some dirty boxing. OConnell pushes off with a quick right hook! Nile goes down! Nile tries to stand but stumbles back to his kness! OConnell moves in to finish and the ref steps in to prevent any more damage!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 2:55 of round 2, we have a winner by way of TKO (Strikes). Paul OConnell!
A victorious Paul OConnell thanked his army of followers in his post fight interview, telling people to make sure they follow him on Twitter.