PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Nels Preston (ranked 4368 p4p, 5450 weight class) and Pawel Nastula (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

Preston
vs
Nastula

194 cm
18
145
0 - 0 - 0

185 cm
18
150
4 - 1 - 0

BJJ Brown Belt
Basic striking
Good chin

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Determined

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the featherweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Nels Preston!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 4 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Pawel Nastula!
The judges for this bout are Roosa Järviläinen, Matti Vanhoillinen and Ben Zyskovitsi.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Nastula keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.

Nastula closes the distance and after a bit of a stuggle, scores a takedown into Preston's guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Nastula lands a nice shot whilst sitting in his opponent's guard.

Preston looks to be working for a triangle here. Oh, it looks like he might have it! Nastula has picked Preston up and slammed him! Preston can't keep hold of the triangle and Nastula manages to pass to side control!
Preston is looking to reverse the position.
Nastula working away.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Nastula moving around in side mount but really he's just happy to control for now.
Nastula wants to stand but Preston is controlling his arm.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Nastula controlling the position.
Nastula works a knee to the body and follows up with a nice elbow to the head.
Preston is looking to reverse the position.
Preston can't do much from the bottom here.
Preston is not content to let Nastula control the position.
Preston seems a little lost for a moment, as Nastula dominates the positioning.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Nastula looking to control but instead Preston has slipped a leg in, to regain half guard.

Preston looking for submissions from an awkward position here.
The fighters are going at a pretty good pace and they're both starting to sweat now.
Nastula content to sit in half guard and control for a moment.
The referee is pacing around the two fighters, thinking about a standup.
Nastula trying to pass the guard but Preston defending well.

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

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Preston gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily

and Nastula counters into the clinch. Nicely done.
Nastula controlling the action here for a moment.

Nastula has managed to pull guard. Let's see whether he can work an aggressive guard. It will also be interesting to see what tactics Preston uses from the top position.
Nastula really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Preston. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.

Preston is holding a leg here, probably looking for an ankle lock - he drops back and goes for it! Nastula is in trouble! Is it all over??? No! Nastula has escaped and now he's on top!

Preston is breathing heavily.
Nastula lands a couple of digs.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Nastula is frustrating his opponent with some stalling tactics from top position.
Preston really does look like a pencil wearing a pair of gloves. Let's hope he has a gameplan to suit that ridiculous body shape.
Nastula wants to stand but Preston is controlling his posture from full guard.
Nastula showing good wrestling skills to control the position.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Nastula stands up over Preston, holding his feet. He dives back in and lands a decent shot to the head.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Pawel Nastula dominated that round.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin!

Nastula throws the overhand right but ducks down into a quick takedown attempt. Preston was covering up waiting for the punch and Nastula finishes the takedown easily into guard.

Preston working away from the bottom but not quite defensive enough there because Nastula has passed into half guard!
Nastula works his foot free and advances to mount.
Preston is trying desperately to improve position.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Nastula is looking to stand but Preston has his arms wrapped tightly around him, looking to prevent the damage.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Nastula controlling from mount.

Nastula looking for a guillotine from mount but Preston is having none of it.
Nastula controlling from mount.
Nastula working the ground and pound effectively.
Nastula lands with some strikes.
The referee warns Preston that he has to improve his position here as he takes two more clean shots to the head.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Preston regains half guard.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Nastula seems to be taking a bit of a break to think of his next move. He lands a short punch in the meantime.
The referee calls for the fighters to work.
The referee walks around the fighters to get a better view of the action. Nastula lands a nice short elbow.
Nastula content to sit in half guard and control for a moment.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Preston is trying to maintain the position but Nastula is very close to passing his half guard.
Nastula not doing much here.
Let's hope that Nastula 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.

That's four 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.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.

Nastula instigates a clinch.
Preston is trying to break free.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!

Nastula breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.

Nastula closes the distance and clinches up, looking for a takedown. He shifts his weight and gets a nice trip into half guard.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Pawel Nastula showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action! Let's hear some noise people - this is the final round!

Nastula closes the distance and clinches.

Nastula has clasped his hands together around Preston's back... aaand, he's got a takedown into side control. Nicely done.
Nastula trying to control the action but Preston is working from the bottom.
Preston is trying to get back to half guard.
Nastula wants to stand but Preston has his arm trapped.
Nastula has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Preston is looking to reverse the position.
Nastula tries to cartwheel into mount but he doesn't manage it.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Preston tries to work a leg under to get back to half guard but Nastula wriggles his own leg back out and remains in side control.
The referee asks Nastula politely if he wouldn't mind getting on with it and actually doing something. Nastula prefers to stall for the moment though.
Nastula tries to get to his feet but he's trapped momentarily.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Preston is looking to clinch.
Nastula tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Preston is looking to counter the offense by Nastula and move into the clinch.

Nastula darts in and lands a nice takedown into half guard.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Preston is working for an escape here. He's hooked one of Nastula's legs and he's managed to sneak out and take Nastula's back!
Nels Preston has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Preston throwing sloppy strikes.

Nastula defends a rear naked choke attempt by controlling one of Preston's arms.
Nastula tries to escape the position - he's now mounted. Is that better or worse? Hard to tell!
Preston thuds his fist into the canvas! Oooouch!
Nastula tries to hold on but Preston postures up.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Preston prevents Nastula from getting the reversal.
Nastula slips a leg in and gets back to half guard.
Preston not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
Pawel Nastula has got the better of the ground game so far.
Nastula keeping hold of Preston's head, controlling as best he can.
Nastula is pressing down on Preston's left leg trying to get back to full guard. He's managed it.
Nastula wants to sweep but no luck.

That's four 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.

Nastula is looking for a triangle but Preston pushes his legs off easily.
Preston won't allow Nastula to sweep him here.
Preston being controlled here momentarily.
Nastula is looking to stand up but Preston isn't so interested in that idea.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Nastula pulls Preston in close to prevent any damage.

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

And that's the end of the fight!
I would just about give that final round to Pawel Nastula.
Well Nastula 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 Roosa Järviläinen scores the fight 26:30
Judge Matti Vanhoillinen scores the fight 27:29
Judge Ben Zyskovitsi scores the fight 26:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Pawel Nastula!