PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Jona Than (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Forrest Nickells (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Nickells has chosen Kayne West - Stronger as his entrance music, which hasn't gone down very well with the crowd. Forrest Nickells has the power to score a knockout today if he connects clean with Jona Than's chin.

Than
vs
Nickells

192 cm
19
266 lbs
0 - 2 - 0

200 cm
21
250 lbs
0 - 4 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Solid Muay Thai
KO power

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter striker
Granite chin

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 0 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Jona Than!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 4 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Forrest Nickells!
The judges for this bout are Eliza Hachem, Steve Erwin and John Mangel.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Than doesn't manage to clinch there - Nickells circles away.
Jeez, both these guys look absolutely knackered already, that's not a good sign!
Than throws a quick inside leg kick.
Than tries to close the distance and clinch up but Nickells swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Than moves in looking to clinch but Nickells pushes him off.
Than throws a quick head kick that skims the top of Nickells's head.
Than throws a half hearted mid kick.

Nickells gets a takedown into half guard.
We could do with one of the fighters taking the initiative a bit more on the ground - they're both waiting to capitalize on a mistake.

Nickells is looking for a kimura but Than is holding onto that half guard position, so it's hard for Nickells to get the leverage.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Than regains full guard. Nicely done.

Nickells drops back for a leg! It's a sloppy attempt though and Nickells jumps back into guard quickly, to retain the dominant position.

Nickells drops back looking for a leg! Than is in trouble here! The fighters roll with the hold and Than manages to kick Nickells off! Nickells jumps back into Than's guard.

Nickells drops back for a leg but he's not going to get it - he lets go and Than dives on top into guard.
Nickells wants to sweep but no luck.

That's two 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.
Nickells preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.

Nickells looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
Than wants to get up but he can't break Nickells's closed guard. He needs to be careful trying to break the legs open, as he's open to submissions here.
Than could do with loosing a few pounds - he looks very soft around the mid section, to put it politely.
Than 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.

Nickells looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Thanis looking to pass into half guard but Nickells pushes him away with his feet and jumps on top - now Nickells is in guard.
Than is trying to hold Nickells in close to prevent damage but Nickells has managed to pass into half guard.
Than is looking to improve his position.
Than wants to control but Nickells is keeping busy.

Nickells is sneakily working for an arm triangle but Than sees it coming and defends easily.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Than is trying to maintain the position but Nickells is very close to passing his half guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

Nickells seems to be looking for submissions.

Nickells is looking for a kimura but Than is holding onto that half guard position, so it's hard for Nickells to get the leverage.
Than is not content to let Nickells control the position.

Nickells is looking for a kimura but he's never going to get it from there.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.
Than shoots in but doesn't get the takedown

so Nickells counters with a double leg into guard. Good agility.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Forrest Nickells will probably get the nod.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business.

Than throws a body kick but he wasn't in range.

Nickells looks for a takedown. He's got it. We're now in half guard.
Than looks like he's trying to stand up.
Nickells wants to control but Than is keeping him busy.

Nickells is trying for a guillotine from the top but the pressure isn't in the right place so Than is just riding it out for now. Nickells eventually gives up the hold.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Nickells is looking for a kimura. It's pretty deep but Than still has the half guard so he's probably OK. Oh, Than has exploded into a beautiful escape there and after a quick scramble, he's ended up in side control on top! Nice work!
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Nickells is not content to let Than control the position.

That's two 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.
Than is pausing for a moment. What's he doing? It looks like he's clearing his nose. Oh dude! He's shot a load of snot all down Nickells's shoulder. That is not cool.
Nickells gets one leg under and gets the fight to half guard.
Than tries to stand but can't do so whilst Nickells controls his leg.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Nickells is staying active underneath Than, who seems content to just control the action from this position.
Than looking to pass the half guard. Not this time.
Than tries to stand and escape but Nickells is controlling the position.
Than is keen to just control but Nickells is a slippery customer.

Nickells looking for submissions from an awkward position here.

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.
Nickells taking some punishment here, with Than in his half guard.
Than working the head and body with strikes.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.
Than tries to clinch up

so Nickells counters with a double leg into guard. Good agility.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Than wants to sweep here but Nickells controlling him for the moment.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Forrest Nickells 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!

Nickells takes a step back and watches a body kick go sailing past his mid section.

Nickells closes the distance and gets a double leg, slamming Than to the mat! Than manages to get full guard.
Than keeping full guard, as Nickells tries to pass.

Nickells is holding a leg here, probably looking for an ankle lock - he drops back and goes for it! Than is in trouble! Is it all over??? No! Than has escaped and now he's on top!
Than trying to move into half guard but instead Nickells has managed to sweep!
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Nickells wants to control from the top but Than keeps moving.

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

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

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.
Nickells tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Than controlling from the guard. I say controlling but really, he's stalling.
Nickells tries to land a sweep but no joy.

Nickells throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Than decides to stand up and beckons his opponent to follow.
Than tries to grapple but his opponent circles

and Nickells counters with a nice double leg into half guard.
Than desperately trying to maintain half guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Than keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.

Nickells is thinking about going for an arm triangle but he can't free his leg.

Nickells is working for a kimura but Than is defending it quite comfortably.

Nickells is looking for a kimura here.

And that's the end of the fight!
Forrest Nickells comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Nickells winning every round here. Surely the decision will go his way and he'll pick up a well deserved decision victory. 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 Eliza Hachem scores the fight 27:30
Judge Steve Erwin scores the fight 28:30
Judge John Mangel scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Forrest Nickells!