PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Dylan Nolan (ranked 4644 p4p, 4611 weight class) and Focal Point (ranked 0 p4p, 377 weight class). We have two fighters making their debuts here, so let's see who comes out of this one with their first professional victory.

Nolan
vs
Point

200 cm
18
170
0 - 0 - 0

178 cm
19
145
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Good chin

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Solid chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the light heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Dylan Nolan!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Focal Point!
The judges for this bout are Tarja Halkonen, Ben Zyskovitsi and Marco Blurström.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Point gets in close and instigates a clinch.
Point stalls.
Nolan is trying to drag Point to the mat but Point just about manages to keep his footing. He used the cage to his advantage there.
Nolan tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. Point just stands there and leans against the cage.
Point wants a takedown.
Nolan is looking for a takedown.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Dylan Nolan. That's going to take a lot out of him.

Point wants the takedown. Nolan is fighting it off but Point persists and manages to bring the fight to the ground, ending up in Nolan's guard against the cage.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Nolan has a butterfly guard looking to sweep but Point has passed into side control.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Point landing strikes.
Nolan is positioning himself to get back to half guard.
Nolan being controlled for a moment.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Point wants to control but Nolan is keeping him busy.
Point wants to stand but Nolan has his arm trapped.

Point decides to stand back up. Point steps back and let's Nolan get back to his feet.

Point gets a double leg takedown into Nolan's guard.

Nolan pushes Point off and scrambles back to his feet.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Nice sprawl there from Point as Nolan shoots in.
Point tries to counter by closing the distance.
Nolan tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Point paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Nolan tries to score a power double leg takedown but Point sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Nolan somewhat.

Point clinches up against the cage.

Point has Nolan pressed up against the cage. He's trying to work for a single leg takedown. Point pulls back from the cage and twists to the side, sending Nolan tumbling to the mat - Point dives into Nolan's guard.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.

Nolan throws his legs up looking for a submission but Point uses it to pass to side control.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Nolan wants to get back to his feet.

Point tries for a kimura but Nolan is defending well.
Nolan wants to control but Point postures up.
Nolan on the wrong end of some ground and pound.
Nolan is trying to get back to half guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A few boos can be heard. I'm sure they will multiply if the fighters don't pick up the pace.

Point looking for an arm triangle but it's way too loose to do anything.

Point working hard here to secure a kimura but he's not really in the right position for it.

Point wants to work for a kimura but he's foiled early by Nolan, who protects the arm well.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Point taking a breather here.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Focal Point dominated that round.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

Point fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.

Point dives in and scores a takedown into Nolan's guard.
Point stopping the sweep attempt from Nolan.

Nolan pushes Point off and scrambles back to his feet.
Nolan avoids the body shot from Point.
Nolan dives in for a single leg takedown but Point sprawls and the fighters end up clinched against the cage.
Nolan lands on the inside with an uppercut.

Point has managed to pull guard. Let's see whether he can work an aggressive guard. It will also be interesting to see what tactics Nolan uses from the top position.
Nolan will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.
Nolan in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Point has Nolan pulled in close to control his posture.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Point is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Nolan is aware though and is defending well.
Point is controlling Nolan's posture.
Point utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Point trying to keep a closed guard but Nolan is proving a slippery customer.
The referee looks like he's ready to step in and stand the fighters back up.
Point keeping moving, preventing Nolan from controlling successfully.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
There's not a lot going on here and the crowd are letting the fighters know they're not willing to tolerate a lack of action.
Nolan shoots in looking for a takedown. Point tries to sprawl out of it but Nolan keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Point manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.

Point forces Nolan back against the cage and clinches.
Point has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Nolan wants to break the clinch but can't.
The pace slowing considerably in the clinch, as Point takes a break from that fighting nonsense to think about the finer things in life.
Point is stalling here.

Point jumps guard and drags Nolan to the mat. He's obviously going to be looking for submissions off his back.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Nolan wants to control from the top but Point keeps moving.
Nolan being controlled here momentarily.
Nolan missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Point is trying to control the position from the bottom.

Nolan stands up from Point's guard - Nolan perhaps looking for a knockout.

That's four 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.
Point pulls out of a head kick attempt.

Point shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Let's see what he's got on the mat.
Nolan wants to sweep here but Point controlling him for the moment.
Point advances position into side control!
Point is breathing heavily.
Nolan wants to control but Point postures up.
Point is moving around in side control but his primary objective seems to be to maintain the position.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Nolan is trying to get back to half guard. He's pushing on Point's leg. He's managed it. Nice work.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Focal Point showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin! This is the final round!

Nolan fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
Nolan fails with a takedown attempt.
Dylan Nolan is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Nolan tries a head kick but it misses.

Point gets a clinch.

Point jumps guard and drags Nolan to the mat. He's obviously going to be looking for submissions off his back.
Point is doing well to control the posture of his opponent and prevent any damage.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Nolan won't allow Point to sweep him here.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Nolan has a momentary lapse of concentration, allowing Point to throw up a leg and lock on what appears to be a pretty tight triangle! Nolan is fighting it off but it's all too little too late - Point pulls down on the head and he's put Nolan to sleep! This one is all over!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 1:23 of round 3, we have a winner by way of Submission (Triangle). Focal Point!