PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Damian Nitschke (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Heath Ledger (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Ledger has chosen Machine Head by Bush as his entrance music. Well, the cameraman is lingering on a pretty young lady for a bit too long there. Keep your eyes on the fighters buddy or you'll miss the fighter intros!

Nitschke
vs
Ledger

181 cm
24
184 lbs
9 - 11 - 1

200 cm
27
200 lbs
7 - 11 - 0

Powerful takedowns
Counter striker
Very strong

BJJ Purple Belt
Decent boxing
Granite chin

XTREME PWNAGE: Down Under!

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the middleweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 9 - 11 - 1, fighting out of Sydney, Damian Nitschke!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 7 - 11 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Heath Ledger!
The judges for this bout are Donatello Bradman, Steve Erwin and Eliza Hachem.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Nitschke dives in and grabs Ledger's left leg, looking for a takedown. Ledger pushes down on Nitschke's head and hops out.
Damian Nitschke seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Ledger shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Nitschke as he jumps to the side.
Ledger shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Nitschke sprawls well. Nitschke wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Ledger gets slowly back to his feet.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Ledger.
Damian Nitschke has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Heath Ledger.
No joy there for Ledger, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Nitschke is looking to land body kicks.
Nitschke pivots, looking for a leg kick but Ledger is out of range and Nitschke settles back down.
Nice defenses there by Ledger.
Nitschke scores with a jab to the jaw.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Nitschke fakes a strike and closes the distance, dragging Ledger to the ground. Nitschke is now in Ledger's guard.
Ledger is looking to sweep but instead, Nitschke has passed into half guard.
Ledger is controlling Nitschke's position as best he can from this difficult position.
Ledger tries to get to full guard but Nitschke has control of the leg.
Nitschke is taking a breather. Ledger says something to him but it's hard to make out. Perhaps he's telling him to get on with it and actually do something.

Ledger looking for submissions off his back.
Nitschke throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
Ledger wants to control but Nitschke is keeping busy and won't allow it.

Nitschke seems to be looking for submissions.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Ledger trying to control but Nitschke postures up.
Ledger is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.

Nitschke is working for a kimura but Ledger is defending it quite comfortably.
Ledger makes his way to full guard. A much better position for Ledger.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Nitschke wants to control from the top but Ledger keeps moving.
Ledger wants to stand up but Nitschke is controlling him.
Ledger keeping full guard, as Nitschke tries to pass.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Ledger is trying to control the position but Nitschke postures up.
Ledger looking for a sweep. Not yet Ledger, not yet.
Ledger is trying to keep Nitschke in close.
Nitschke trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

Ledger had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Nitschke defends it easily.
Nitschke looking to pass the guard.
Ledger is trying to control the position but Nitschke postures up.
Ledger looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Nitschke might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.
Ledger looking to control but Nitschke passes into half guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Nitschke content to sit in half guard and control for a moment.
Nitschke is keen to just control but Ledger is a slippery customer.
Ledger is looking to improve his position.
Ledger is persisting with the attempt to improve his position.
Nitschke performing his best blanket impression for a moment.
Nitschke missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Ledger is trying to get back to full guard.
Ledger is staying active underneath Nitschke, who seems content to just control the action from this position.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close round but I would say that Damian Nitschke will probably get the nod.
That's time! Nitschke's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight.

No luck with that takedown attempt from Ledger.
A looping hook to the body misses from Nitschke. Ledger does a little dance to reset his feet.
Nitschke tried to score with a low kick but Ledger checks it.
Nitschke throws a lazy uppercut
and Nitschke takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
Nitschke waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Ledger.
Ledger fails to land the takedown.
Nice defenses there by Ledger.
Nitschke ducks under a wild hook from Ledger.
Ledger avoids the clinch attempt nicely.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Ledger misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
Damian Nitschke has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Heath Ledger.
Ledger shoots for a double leg takedown but Nitschke sprawls well. He's pushed Ledger's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
A punch lands to the side of Ledger 's head but he takes it in his stride.
Nitschke looks to score with a jab to the body but Ledger is just out of range.
Ledger takes a shot to the body in his stride.
Nitschke goes for a spinning back kick but it misses.
Ledger misses with a takedown
letting Nitschke counter with a right hand.
Nitschke throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
Nitschke ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Ledger moves away.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Nitschke throws an overhand right that lands on Ledger's shoulder, as Ledger tries to avoid the shot.
Ledger avoids the body shot from Nitschke.

Nitschke closes the distance, clinches up and gets a nice trip takedown into side control. Very smooth.
Ledger wants to control but Nitschke postures up.
Ledger tries to improve position but can't.
Ledger sneaks back into half guard.
Damian Nitschke overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Neither fighter is being very active at the moment, with Nitschke in particular looking to stall.
Ledger regains full guard. Nicely done.

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

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

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Ledger pulls Nitschke in close to prevent any damage.
Ledger is trying to control the position but Nitschke postures up.
Nitschke working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.

Ledger looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
Nitschke in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Nitschke trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.

Ledger working for a triangle but Nitschke defends it easily.

Ledger is looking for a triangle here but Nitschke uses the submission attempt to pass into side control.
Ledger is breathing heavily.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Nitschke wants to control but Ledger is keeping him busy.
Nitschke working the ground and pound but Ledger is defending the strikes.
Ledger tries to slip a leg under to move to half guard but Nitschke presses down on the leg and jumps into full mount!
Nitschke scores with a couple of good head shots there.
Ledger working to try and regain half guard.

Nitschke is working on an americana here. Ooh, that looks pretty nasty! Nope, Ledger has managed to escape the submission attempt.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Nitschke wants to control the pace but Ledger is squirming around nicely.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Damian Nitschke dominated that second round.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action! This is the final round!

Ledger doesn't succeed with the takedown
and Nitschke cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Ledger tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Nitschke was well out of range. Poor timing from Ledger.

Nitschke rushes Ledger and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.
Ledger throws an elbow but it misses.
Nitschke tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Ledger avoids it.
Nitschke can't find room to land a body shot as Ledger controls the action.
Ledger is looking to take this one to the mat.
Ledger drops down looking for an ankle pick but Nitschke pulls his leg out and moves away.
Damian Nitschke has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Heath Ledger.

Nitschke darts in and lands a nice takedown into half guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Nitschke is working for submissions here but there's nothing on.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Ledger is looking to improve his position.
Ledger is refusing to be controlled, as Nitschke sits in half guard.
Nitschke wants to free his trapped foot but Ledger is holding on for dear life with his legs.
Ledger is looking to get back to full guard here but Nitschke has managed to pass to side control instead.
Nitschke working the ground and pound but Ledger is defending the strikes.
Damian Nitschke is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Ledger looks to move to half guard but instead Nitschke has passed into mount! Damn!
Nitschke can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as Ledger is looking to escape.
Ledger working to try and regain half guard.
Nitschke looking to control and managing it successfully.
Ledger tries to improve his position but instead Nitschke has taken his back!
Nitschke tries to keep control of the position but Ledger is staying busy.
Ledger is defending well here and trying to improve his position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Nitschke just keeping the dominant position. He can't wait too long though, otherwise the referee will stand them back up.
Ledger tries to break free.
Ledger is very frustrated here, being controlled quite effectively by Nitschke.
Nitschke's ground tactics aren't going to win him many fans. Let's hope he's got fireworks for us if he gets back to his feet because he's not doing much on the ground.
Ledger prevents Nitschke from getting a body triangle.
Good control from Nitschke.

We're going to have a standup here because Damian Nitschke wasn't active enough for the referee's liking.
Ledger is trying hard to land a takedown here. Nitschke sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Nitschke catches Ledger with a nice straight right. He seems pissed - ooooh, it's on now! On like donkey kong!
Ledger shoots in for a takedown but Nitschke shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
Heath Ledger is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Ledger misses with a wild body shot.
Ledger blocks a jab.
Damian Nitschke is winning the standup battle so far.

Nitschke shoots in and bounces Ledger off the cage to secure the takedown into guard.
Ledger can't do much from the bottom at the moment, as Nitschke controls the pace.
Heath Ledger has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.

Ledger working away from the bottom but not quite defensive enough there because Nitschke has passed into half guard!
Nitschke content to sit in half guard and control for a moment.

And that's the end of the fight!
Damian Nitschke showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Nitschke has outscored his opponent in every aspect of the fight today. Only a scarily incompetent judge or two will keep him from a well deserved win... 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 Donatello Bradman scores the fight 30:27
Judge Steve Erwin scores the fight 30:27
Judge Eliza Hachem scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Damian Nitschke!
Damian Nitschke very nearly forgot to thank XTREME PWNAGE: Down Under! amongst all the excitement of his win but just as the interview came to a close, he screamed their name. Hopefully he'll get a few nice freebies in the mail as a thank you.