PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Balal Lama (ranked 1128 p4p, 4109 weight class) and Jimmy Nickels (ranked 136 p4p, 434 weight class). Balal Lama is staring across the cage at his opponent, tweaking his nipples... Tweaking his own nipples that is.

Lama
vs
Nickels

195 cm
35
220
19 - 13 - 0

190 cm
46
245
19 - 17 - 0

Good wrestling
Solid boxing
Granite chin

Good wrestler
Great elbows
Granite chin

Brooklyn Apothecary
Brooklyn Threads

Furnace Performance ðŸ”¥
Silverguard Outfitters ðŸ›¡

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 19 - 13 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Balal Lama!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 19 - 17 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Jimmy Nickels!
The judges for this bout are Patrick Alders, Paul Aken and Daniel Blasius.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Lama fakes a strike and closes the distance, dragging Nickels to the ground. Lama is now in Nickels's guard.
Lama controls from within his opponent's guard.
Lama postures up and lands a big shot to Nickels's brow.
Lama trying to control but Nickels is working from the bottom.
Lama scoring with punches to the head and body.
Nickels can't do much from the bottom at the moment, as Lama controls the pace.
Lama wants to control from the top but Nickels keeps moving.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Nickels is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Nickels working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Lama.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Nickels can't do much from the bottom at the moment, as Lama controls the pace.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Lama is sitting in guard, working some ground and pound.
Lama stops Nickels from standing up.
Lama trying to control the position from guard on top but Nickels is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Nickels is on top in guard.

Nickels must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.
Lama controls Nickels momentarily but Nickels frees himself.
Lama looking for a sweep. Not yet Lama, not yet.
Lama seems to have improved his submission grappling technique since last time we saw him. Let's see if he can pull off a submission.
Lama is pulling down on Nickels's head to control his posture.
Lama is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Nickels prevents Lama from getting back to his feet.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Nickels won't allow Lama to sweep him here.
Lama has control of Nickels's left arm, preventing Nickels from doing any damage.
Nickels stops Lama from standing up.
We've had a lack of effective grappling in the last minute or so, which could well see a referee standup.
Lama trying desperately to get back to his feet here but he's not having any joy at all. He's going to tire himself out if he's not careful.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.
Lama throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.

Nickels instigates a clinch.

Lama is fighting off a takedown attempt but Nickels is just too persistent for him and manages to trip Lama to the mat. Lama regains guard as soon as the fighters hit the mat.
Lama looking to hit a scissor sweep but Nickels is one step ahead there.

Lama working for submissions but it's allowed Nickels to get to half guard.
Lama is not content to let Nickels control the position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Lama trying to control here.
Lama tries to roll over but Nickels keeps him under control.
Lama moves into full guard.

Lama working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Nickels doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Nickels manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.

Lama is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Nickels defends well.
Lama trying to control the position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Lama has his feet on Nickels's hips. He pushes off and gets to his feet. Nice work.
Nickels throws a body kick that misses.
Nickels scores to the head and body with a nice combination!
Lama shoots in for a takedown but Nickels shows good takedown defense.
Lama throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Lama misses with a left hand
and Nickels counters with a left to the body.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Jab, cross, leg kick. Nice combination by Lama!
Sloppy strikes from Nickels. Those never looked like landing.
Lama is looking to counter with head kicks.
Lama shoots in for a takedown but Nickels shows good takedown defense.
Lama throws a leg kick
letting Nickels counter with a right hand.
Lama throws a head kick but Nickels moves out of range.
Nickels drops his hands and takes a jab to the jaw for his troubles.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close round but I would say that Balal Lama will probably get the nod.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

Lama closes the distance and pushes Nickels back into the cage.

Nickels works for the underhooks and manages to get a trip takedown into guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Lama working a defensive guard here.
Nickels prevents Lama from getting back to his feet.
Lama 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.
Nickels's corner is telling him to maintain position.

Lama escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Nickels gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
Lama wants to sweep here but Nickels controlling him for the moment.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Lama is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.

Lama has his foot on Nickels's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Nickels works his way back into a safe position though.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Lama wants to sweep but no luck.
Lama controls Nickels momentarily but Nickels frees himself.
Balal Lama overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Lama wants to sweep here but Nickels controlling him for the moment.

Nickels gets to his feet - Lama follows without any prompting.

Nickels dives in and scores a takedown into Lama's guard.
Lama looking to control.
Lama looking to sweep here. No luck so far.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Lama trying to keep a closed guard but Nickels is proving a slippery customer.

Lama throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
Nickels wants to control from the top but Lama keeps moving.
Lama looking for a sweep. Not yet Lama, not yet.
Nickels wants to control from the top but Lama keeps moving.
Lama looking for a sweep. Not yet Lama, not yet.

Lama throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Nickels gets to his feet and steps away from his opponent.
Nickels fails with an attempt to clinch.
Lama keeps the fight on the outside.
Lama darts in looking for a takedown but Nickels gets double underhooks and turns Lama into the cage.
Lama wants a takedown but no success here.
Nickels gets underhooks to prevent Lama's takedown attempt.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Balal Lama. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Lama is working for a takedown up against the cage. He can't get it on this occasion though.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

Nickels lands a nice trip takedown into half guard.
Lama looks like he's trying to stand up.
Nickels lands with a punch from half guard.
Lama is looking for a sweep. Nickels is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Lama trying to control from the bottom.
Nickels drops an elbow to the side of Lama's head.
Lama taking some punishment here, with Nickels in his half guard.
Lama wants to get back to full guard.
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 wants to lay and pray for a moment but Lama keeps working.

Lama looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.
Lama works his way to full guard. Good work.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.

Lama 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.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Jimmy Nickels will probably get the nod - 10:9.
That's the end of the interval. I'm sure that seemed a lot quicker than a minute for our two fighters! Back to the action. Let's hear some noise people - this is the final round!

Lama throws a hard body shot but it just misses.

Nickels gets a clinch.

Nickels breaks the clinch.
The fight stays on the outside here - Nickels looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Lama fails with a takedown attempt.
Lama shoots in for a takedown but Nickels shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
Lama misses with a double jab.
Lama fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Balal Lama. That's going to take a lot out of him.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Lama stuffs the takedown.

Nickels drops down and drives through with a powerful takedown into guard.

Nickels is trying to tuck his arms in to keep them safe but Lama has managed to isolate one of them and has got a loose triangle. Nickels is looking to defend but Lama has done well to lock his legs together - this could be big trouble for Nickels! Lama pulls down on the head and a little smile comes across his face - he knows he's got it. Yep, Nickels taps out and this one is all over!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 1:59 of round 3, we have a winner by way of Submission (Triangle). Balal Lama!
Balal Lama gave a mention to Altitude Clothing in his post fight interview. That will please them (and hopefully generate some sales).