PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Royce Gracie (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Boyer Nickelsen (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Gracie comes to the cage accompanied by Stand Alone. Nickelsen has a niggling injury. He would have liked to come in 100% fit but that's not always possible. Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Gracie
vs
Nickelsen

185 cm
18
175 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

201 cm
18
170 lbs
0 - 1 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Counter striker
Cuts easily

Good wrestler
Basic striking
Likes ground

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 Rio de Janeiro, Royce Gracie!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Boyer Nickelsen!
The judges for this bout are Daniel Cesar, Luis Engracia and Emerson Jorge.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Gracie fails with a takedown attempt.
Nickelsen stuffs the takedown.
Gracie closes this distance looking for a takedown but Nickelsen circles away.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Royce Gracie. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Nickelsen gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily

and Gracie counters with a takedown into side control.
Nickelsen prevents Gracie from moving into mount.
Gracie wants to control but Nickelsen is keeping him busy.
Gracie is really struggling to control Nickelsen but he's trying to hold on to the position.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Gracie wants to work for a kimura but he's foiled early by Nickelsen, who protects the arm well.
Gracie in side control, trying to ground and pound but not landing this time.
Nickelsen is looking for a sweep.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.
Gracie with a lazy takedown attempt

so Nickelsen counters with a double leg into guard. Good agility.
Nickelsen preventing the sweep.
Gracie is breathing heavily.

Gracie working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Nickelsen doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Nickelsen manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.
Nickelsen is a painfully thin specimen of a man. You do wonder whether a good body kick would snap him clean in two.

Gracie looking for a guillotine here but Nickelsen defends easily.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Nickelsen controls from within his opponent's guard.
Gracie not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Nickelsen won't allow Gracie to sweep him here.
Gracie being controlled here, momentarily.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Gracie manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Nickelsen manages to get himself to full guard.
Gracie tries to free his leg and advance position but Nickelsen is retaining full guard.
Gracie is working hard here to advance position.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Gracie trying to control the position from guard on top but Nickelsen is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

Gracie thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.
Gracie pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Nickelsen is keeping the position for now.

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.
Gracie pushing down on Nickelsen's thigh, trying to pass to half guard. He's managed it... Nice work.
Gracie looking to pass the half guard. Not this time.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.
Gracie misses with a takedown

and Nickelsen counters with a nice shoot takedown that brings the fighters to the ground.

Gracie is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
Gracie keeping full guard, as Nickelsen tries to pass.
Nickelsen postures up.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Boyer Nickelsen will probably get the nod.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action.

Gracie with a poor takedown

and Nickelsen counters with a nice double leg into side control. Gracie won't be happy with that.
Gracie manages to work his way to half guard, despite Nickelsen's best efforts.
Nickelsen really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Gracie. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.
Gracie is trying to maintain the position but Nickelsen is very close to passing his half guard.

Gracie is looking to sinch up a gullotine here but Nickelsen pulls his head out easily.
Nickelsen seems content to maintain position for now, rather than mounting any offense.
Gracie tries to get to full guard but Nickelsen has control of the leg.
Nickelsen with a momentary lay and pray from half guard.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

Gracie looking for submissions from an awkward position here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Gracie wants to get back to full guard.
Gracie slips a foot under and gets full guard. Nice work.
Gracie might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.
Gracie is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Nickelsen wants to control from the top but Gracie keeps moving.
Gracie controls Nickelsen momentarily but Nickelsen frees himself.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

Gracie looking for a guillotine here but Nickelsen defends easily.
Gracie is trying to control the position but Nickelsen postures up.

That's two 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.
Nickelsen trying to control but Gracie is working from the bottom.
Nickelsen is taking a break and basically stalling. The referee will not allow him to do that for long.
Nickelsen postures up.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Gracie is on top in guard.
Gracie looking to pass the guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Gracie trying to control but Nickelsen is working from the bottom.
Gracie stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Nickelsen swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Gracie won't allow Nickelsen to sweep him here.

Gracie drops back looking for a leg! Nickelsen is in trouble here! The fighters roll with the hold and Nickelsen manages to kick Gracie off! Gracie jumps back into Nickelsen's guard.
Nickelsen looking to control the pace of the fight rather than finish it.
Gracie wants to control from the top but Nickelsen keeps moving.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
My god... these two guys really need to pick up the pace or everyone will leave to go get a beer.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.
Gracie fails with the takedown

and Nickelsen decides to take the opportunity to score a takedown. He's landed in Gracie's guard.

Nickelsen avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
Nickelsen not doing a lot at the moment. He'll have to show some more aggression or the fight will get stood up.
Nickelsen postures up.
Gracie wants to sweep but no luck.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Boyer Nickelsen showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business. So, we enter the final round. Let's see if either fighter can bring us a finish, or whether we're going to the judges scorecards.

Nickelsen with a poor takedown

and Gracie counters with a shoot takedown into half guard.
Gracie tries to pass the half guard into mount. Nickelsen knows what he's doing though and prevents the attempt.

Gracie is thinking about going for an arm triangle but he can't free his leg.
Nickelsen trying to control from the bottom.

Gracie is working for submissions here but there's nothing on.
Nickelsen is trying is best to control the position here.

Gracie is looking for a kimura here.
Gracie wants to pass to mount but Nickelsen is defending the position.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Nickelsen tries to get to full guard but Gracie has control of the leg.
Gracie seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Nickelsen does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.
Gracie has his takedown stuffed

and Nickelsen counters with a driving takedown into guard. Nice work there by Nickelsen.
Gracie looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Nickelsen stands and throws Gracie's legs to the side, diving into side control.
Nickelsen working away.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Nickelsen controlling the position.
Gracie is positioning himself to get back to half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.
Gracie with a lazy takedown attempt

and Nickelsen counters with a driving takedown into guard. Nice work there by Nickelsen.

Gracie is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.

Gracie is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
Gracie striking off his back but it's not causing Nickelsen any problems.
Gracie can't do much from the bottom at the moment, as Nickelsen controls the pace.
Boyer Nickelsen has got the better of the ground game so far.

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

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Gracie 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.
Nickelsen showing good wrestling skills to control the position.
Nickelsen postures up.
Nickelsen must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.

Gracie is working for submissions here. He's thrown up his legs looking for a tringle but Nickelsen frees his head nicely. Oh but Gracie has switched to an armbar! Nickelsen is tapping furiously! Lovely submission there!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 4:51 of round 3, we have a winner by way of Submission (Triangle Armbar). Royce Gracie!