PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Jim Knife (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Mauricio Nicolosi (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Nicolosi has chosen Step Down as his entrance music, which hasn't gone down very well with the crowd. Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

Knife
vs
Nicolosi

180 cm
26
210 lbs
8 - 7 - 0

185 cm
22
214 lbs
6 - 3 - 0

BJJ Brown Belt
Solid boxing
Experienced

BJJ Purple Belt
Decent boxing
Powerful

SPARTAN FIGHTWARE-GTI

Vicious Nutrition (159 Recovery With Proof)

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 8 - 7 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Jim Knife!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 6 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Mauricio Nicolosi!
The judges for this bout are Dillan Fox, Gregory Folan and Steve Smith.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Knife misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Knife keeps the fight on the outside.
Nicolosi tries to clinch up.
Nicolosi throws a hook but Knife avoids it easily.
Knife looks for a takedown but Nicolosi sprawls well.
Knife on the wrong end of a nice hook.
Nicolosi moves in looking to clinch but Knife pushes him off.
Nicolosi moves in looking to clinch but Knife pushes him off.
Knife throws a big shot that misses.
Nicolosi tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Knife shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Knife keeps the fight on the outside.
Nicolosi doesn't manage to clinch there - Knife circles away.
Nicolosi tries to close the distance and clinch up but Knife swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Nicolosi tries to clinch up but Knife circles away and keeps his distance.
No luck with that takedown attempt from Knife.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Jim Knife. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Nicolosi leaves Knife with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Nicolosi ducks under a wild hook from Knife.
Knife shoots in but Nicolosi avoids the takedown attempt easily.
Nicolosi fakes and then throws a beautiful body shot. Knife looks a bit winded and takes a step backwards to take a breath.
Knife is breathing heavily.
Knife keeps the fight on the outside.
Knife stumbles momentarily as he takes a strong leg kick from Nicolosi.
Nicolosi throws a front kick that sends Knife stumbling back into the cage.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Nicolosi swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Knife keeps the fight on the outside.

Knife tries to keep at a distance but Nicolosi has taken the fight into the clinch.
Nicolosi scores with a knee to the head.
Nicolosi throws an elbow but it's blocked.
The referee calls for Nicolosi to work.
Nicolosi tries to land knees in the clinch but Knife avoids the damage to the body.
Nicolosi with an attempt at a knee that misses.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Nicolosi with an attempt at a knee that misses.
Nicolosi tries to land a knee to the head but Knife blocks with his arms.
Nicolosi with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.
Knife is working for takedown but Nicolosi is calmly controlling the position for now.
Nicolosi crunches a lovely knee into Knife's ribcage.
Nicolosi putting his Muay Thai to good use. He has Knife in a tight clinch and is doing some damage with knees to the body.
Nicolosi lands a nice knee to the body.
Nicolosi throws a knee to the head but misses.
Knife has had enough of the clinch but Nicolosi keeps him there for the moment.
Nicolosi landing some nice looking knees to the body.
Nicolosi tries a knee to the head but Knife blocks it.
Nicolosi landing knees to the head.
Nicolosi looking to throw knees to the head but Knife is blocking nicely.
Nicolosi using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Knife has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
Knife takes an elbow to the temple.
Nicolosi pushes off and fires off an elbow that misses, before clinching up again, against the cage.
Nicolosi gets double underhooks to prevent a takedown attempt from Knife.
Knife goes for a takedown in the clinch but Nicolosi prevents it.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Nicolosi scores with a knee to the head.
Nicolosi landing knees to the head.
Nicolosi misses with a knee strike.
A knee to the head by Nicolosi.
Nicolosi looking to throw knees to the head but Knife is blocking nicely.
Nicolosi landing knees to the head.

It looks like Jim Knife has been cut.
Nicolosi throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Knife blocks it with crossed arms.
Knife jumps guard but Nicolosi stands there with Knife around his waist. Knife gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.
Knife tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. Nicolosi just stands there and leans against the cage.
Nicolosi throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Knife blocks it with crossed arms.
Nicolosi with an attempt at a knee that misses.
Nicolosi misses with a knee strike.
Nicolosi looking to throw knees to the head but Knife is blocking nicely.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Nicolosi prevents the takedown attempt.
Knife is trying to break free.
Knife on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
Nicolosi landing knees to the head.
Nicolosi tries a knee to the head but he's missed.
Nicolosi tries a knee to the head but Knife blocks it.
Nicolosi using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Knife has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.

Knife jumps into guard, dragging Nicolosi to the mat.
Knife avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Knife manages to land a sweep and now he's in mount on top!
Nicolosi keeping his composure momentarily, calmly looking to get back to half guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Mauricio Nicolosi dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Jim Knife's cut.
That's time! Back to the action!

Nicolosi wants to clinch up but Knife keeps it at a distance.
Knife throws a hook but Nicolosi blocks it.
Knife checks the leg kick.
Nicolosi walks forward and throws out a flicking leg kick. Knife checks it nicely though, as he moves to the side.
Knife avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Jim Knife is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Knife checks a low kick. Bone on bone - not my idea of a good time.

Nicolosi has taken the fight to the clinch.
Nicolosi tries to land a knee to the head but Knife blocks with his arms.
Knife on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.

Knife successfully pulls guard.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Nicolosi trying to pass the guard. He's being very persistent here but Knife manages to land a sweep and now he's on top!
Knife wants to pass the guard but Nicolosi is keeping the position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Nicolosi trying to control the position.
Knife wants to control from the top but Nicolosi keeps moving.
Knife looking to sit in guard and control but Nicolosi gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Nicolosi throwing strikes from guard but Knife blocks nicely.
Nicolosi works over Knife with some ground and pound from guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Nicolosi stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Knife swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Knife wants to stand but Nicolosi is controlling the position.
Nicolosi working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Nicolosi distracts Knife with his right hand and drops a big elbow with his other arm.
Knife is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.
Knife manages to land a sweep and now he's in mount on top!
Knife trying to control but Nicolosi is having none of it.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Nicolosi is desperately trying to improve his position but Knife has a good base and remains in mount.
Nicolosi tries to lock up and control but Knife gives him a forearm to the face and pushes him away.
Nicolosi regains half guard.
The fighters are battling for position here. Nicolosi manages to regain full guard. Nice work.
Knife wants to control from the top but Nicolosi keeps moving.

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.
Knife controls from within his opponent's guard.
Knife wants to control from the top but Nicolosi keeps moving.

Knife drops back looking for a heel hook - he quickly realises he's not going to get it but Nicolosi manages to dive on top of him before he can escape and now Knife has Nicolosi in his guard.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Nicolosi working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Mauricio Nicolosi showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The cut man is working on Jim Knife's cut.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business. This is the final round!

Nicolosi tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Knife fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
Nicolosi tries to clinch up but Knife circles away and keeps his distance.
Nicolosi is looking to clinch.
Good standup being displayed there by Nicolosi as he connects with a hook.
Nicolosi is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Nicolosi lands a really nice looking cross but Knife seems unphased.
Nicolosi ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
Knife shoots in for a takedown but Nicolosi shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
Knife shoots in for a double leg but Nicolosi sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Jim Knife. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Knife keeps the fight on the outside.
Nicolosi wants to clinch up but Knife keeps it at a distance.
Nicolosi lands a really nice looking cross but Knife seems unphased.
Nicolosi wants to clinch up but Knife keeps it at a distance.
Nicolosi throws a two punch combo that lands nicely.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Knife fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
Nicolosi fails with an attempt to clinch.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
The fighters circle momentarily. Nicolosi darts into range and connects with a nice straight punch.
Nicolosi throws a leg kick but Knife moved away.
Knife misses with a wild combination.
Nicolosi fails with an attempt to clinch.
Knife pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Nicolosi misses with a double jab.
Nicolosi tries to clinch but Knife moves out of range.
Nicolosi attempts a low kick but it misses it's target.
Nicolosi lands with a good body shot.
Nicolosi fails in his attempt to clinch.
Mauricio Nicolosi is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Knife ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Nicolosi moves away.
Nicolosi ducks down and throws a hook to the body.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A nice leg kick lands there from Nicolosi.
Nicolosi fails with an attempt to clinch.

Nicolosi drops Knife with a right and a left! Nicolosi comes rushing in but Knife regains his composure and manages to keep Nicolosi in guard.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Nicolosi trying to control but Knife is working from the bottom.
Nicolosi passes into half guard.
Knife tries to get to full guard but Nicolosi has control of the leg.
Nicolosi thows a huge punch but Knife dodges it nicely.
Nicolosi thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.
Nicolosi tries to pass to full mount but Knife defends it.
Knife tries to roll over but Nicolosi keeps him under control.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Knife avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Nicolosi.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.
Nicolosi scores with a one two! Knife had his feet all tangled up there and couldn't avoid the strikes.
Nicolosi lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Knife circles away quickly and effectively.
Mauricio Nicolosi seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Nicolosi moves in looking to clinch but Knife pushes him off.
Nicolosi lands a jab to Knife's midsection.
Nicolosi wants to clinch.

Nicolosi gets caught flat footed, as Knife shoots in with a quick takedown into guard.
Nicolosi lands a beautiful switch and he's in full mount! That could spell trouble for Knife!
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Nicolosi looking to finish with strikes here!
Mauricio Nicolosi is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Knife working to try and regain half guard.
Nicolosi lands with some strikes.
Nicolosi thowing shots but they're missing.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Poor strikes thrown by Nicolosi there. More accuracy and less frantic strikes would help!
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Nicolosi can't control as he wanted to and Knife manages to get the fight back to his half guard.
Nice strikes from Nicolosi there.
Jim Knife has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Knife misses with some strikes from the bottom.

And that's the end of the fight!
Mauricio Nicolosi comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Nicolosi 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 Dillan Fox scores the fight 27:30
Judge Gregory Folan scores the fight 26:30
Judge Steve Smith scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Mauricio Nicolosi!