PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Max McCarlson (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Rowdy Nickoson (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). These two fighters really are very evenly matched on the feet - it will be fascinating to see who can assert themselves in that aspect of the fight.

McCarlson
vs
Nickoson

180 cm
18
200 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

185 cm
20
160 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Basic striking
Big heart

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Granite chin

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 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Max McCarlson!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Rowdy Nickoson!
The judges for this bout are Steve Smith, Gregory Folan and Robert Douchet.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

McCarlson looking for a takedown here - he's got it.

Nickoson looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
McCarlson looking to control the position here, rather than advance.
Nickoson looking for a sweep. Not yet Nickoson, not yet.
Nickoson wants to get back to his feet but McCarlson is in a dominant position and won't allow it.
Nickoson keeping moving, preventing McCarlson from controlling successfully.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Nickoson pushes McCarlson off and gets back to his feet.

McCarlson feints and as Nickoson raises his hands in defense, McCarlson changes levels and drives through with a takedown into guard.
Nickoson trying to keep a closed guard but McCarlson is proving a slippery customer.

Nickoson looking for a guillotine here but McCarlson defends easily.
McCarlson is in close to Nickoson's body, working some short punches and elbows.
McCarlson stopping the sweep attempt from Nickoson.
Nickoson is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
McCarlson is looking to advance position but Nickoson has hit a scissor sweep - now he's on top in mount!
Nickoson lands a nice shot to the head.
Nickoson tucks in and makes sure he doesn't lose the dominant position.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
McCarlson wants to control but Nickoson is having none of it.
McCarlson regains half guard.
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Nickoson is trying to control the action in half guard but McCarlson is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
McCarlson is looking for a sweep. Nickoson is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Nickoson missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.
McCarlson throws a strike from the bottom that misses.
Nickoson is controlling the pace.
The referee is pacing around the two fighters - he looks like he's thinking about a standup.

The ref stands the fighters back up. Rowdy Nickoson was stalling too much, according to the referee.
McCarlson shoots in looking for a takedown but Nickoson manages to keep the fight standing, pushing McCarlson's face into the canvas for good measure before circling away.
A looping hook to the body misses from McCarlson. Nickoson does a little dance to reset his feet.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
McCarlson displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Nickoson.
McCarlson doesn't manage to clinch there - Nickoson circles away.
Nickoson bobs and weaves and unloads with a good uppercut.
Nickoson looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
Nickoson is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Nickoson fails to land with a series of punches.
McCarlson fails with a takedown attempt.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Nickoson cracks a nice hook into McCarlson's ribs.
McCarlson fails with the takedown
and Nickoson counters with a low kick, right behind McCarlson 's knee.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Rowdy Nickoson will probably get the nod.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

Nickoson feints and then dives in with a takedown. That was a long way out but the feint bought him enough time to close the distance and complete the takedown. Now we'll play guard for a bit and see who can get the better of that position.
McCarlson tries to land a sweep but no joy.

Nickoson drops back for a leg but he's not going to get it - he lets go and McCarlson dives on top into guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
McCarlson tries to free his leg and advance position but Nickoson is retaining full guard.
Nickoson is trying to control the position from the bottom.
McCarlson trying to control the position from guard on top but Nickoson is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Nickoson 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.
Nickoson seems keen to control McCarlson's posture.
We must be close to a standup if these guys don't pick up the pace.
McCarlson trying to control the position from guard on top but Nickoson is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

That's one minute gone in the round.

The ref stands the fighters back up because Max McCarlson just wasn't active enough.
Nickoson fails with a takedown attempt.
McCarlson looks for a takedown but Nickoson sprawls well.
Nickoson tries for a takedown but McCarlson sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
Nickoson stuffs the takedown.
Nickoson works over McCarlson's head and body with a nice combination.
Nickoson looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? McCarlson is fending him off so far but Nickoson persists. Nope, McCarlson circles away and we're back to standing.
Max McCarlson has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Rowdy Nickoson.
Nickoson is breathing heavily.
McCarlson fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
McCarlson walks straight into a jab right on the nose. That one stung - he's blinking and trying to clear his head.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Nickoson leaves McCarlson with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.

Nickoson closes the distance and scores a nice trip takedown into half guard. McCarlson did well to prevent Nickoson getting side control.
Nickoson lands with a punch from half guard.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!

Nickoson decides to return to a standing position.
McCarlson loads up on a big right hand but Nickoson slips the punch.
Nickoson fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but McCarlson avoids it really well and circles away.

McCarlson shoots in and gets a takedown into half guard. McCarlson showed some decent athleticism there.
Nickoson tries to get to full guard but McCarlson has control of the leg.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
McCarlson is keen to just control but Nickoson is a slippery customer.
McCarlson perhaps working for something from half guard, or maybe not. It looks like he's just sitting there.
McCarlson seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Nickoson does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.

Nickoson has one foot on McCarlson's thigh - he pushes off and manages to get back to his feet.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from McCarlson is defended easily by Nickoson.
McCarlson keeps the fight on the outside.
Max McCarlson is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
McCarlson shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Nickoson sprawls well. Nickoson wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. McCarlson gets slowly back to his feet.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
McCarlson stuffs the takedown attempt from Nickoson. Nickoson gets slowly back to his feet.
Nickoson throws a series of punches but McCarlson avoids them all with ease.
McCarlson throws a nice looking combination but Nickoson bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
The step up in weight doesn't seem to be a problem for Nickoson. He's performing admirably here against the bigger man.
McCarlson shoots in for a takedown but Nickoson shows good takedown defense.

A momentary lapse in concentration from McCarlson enables Nickoson to shoot in and score with a neat double leg. McCarlson manages to secure a closed guard as the fighters hit the mat.
Nickoson content to stall in guard here.
Rowdy Nickoson has got the better of the ground game so far.
The fans in attendance giving it up for the two fighters, who have really let it all hang out in the last minute or so!
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Nickoson advances position into side control!
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Rowdy Nickoson showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action! This is the final round!

Nickoson gets a double leg takedown into McCarlson's guard.
McCarlson is trying to keep Nickoson in close.

McCarlson looking for a guillotine here but Nickoson defends easily.
Nickoson slows down the pace of the fight, as he sits in guard.
McCarlson keeping full guard, as Nickoson tries to pass.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Nickoson trying to control but McCarlson is working from the bottom.
McCarlson not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.

McCarlson is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Nickoson is aware though and is defending well.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Nickoson scores with a decent looking elbow strike.
McCarlson trying to keep a closed guard but Nickoson is proving a slippery customer.
Nickoson trying to control the position from guard on top but McCarlson is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

McCarlson working away from the bottom but not quite defensive enough there because Nickoson has passed into half guard!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
McCarlson trying to hold on to Nickoson's head to control him but Nickoson postures up.
Nickoson is working hard to pass the guard. He's done it - he's now in full mount! Trouble for McCarlson!
McCarlson wants to control but Nickoson is having none of it.
The referee warns McCarlson that he has to improve his position here as he takes two more clean shots to the head.
Nickoson trying to control but McCarlson is having none of it.

Nickoson is thinking about an arm triangle here, looking to tighten it up before moving to side control. McCarlson can see it coming though and defends well with a couple of strikes to the head and some good arm positioning.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Nickoson tucks in and makes sure he doesn't lose the dominant position.
Nickoson landing shots from mount.
Nickoson controlling the pace for now.
Nickoson blocks McCarlson's feeble attempts to strike from the bottom.
McCarlson wants to hold on but Nickoson pushes him away.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
McCarlson slips a leg in and gets back to half guard.
McCarlson trying to hold on to Nickoson's head to control him but Nickoson postures up.
McCarlson gets full guard.
Nickoson is looking to work some ground and pound but McCarlson has wrist control.

McCarlson has an omoplata and is looking to use it perhaps as a submission or perhaps to transition. Nickoson is in a bit of discomfort here, but he's managed to free himself and has dived into side control! That didn't work out too well for McCarlson.
Nickoson wants to control but McCarlson is keeping him busy.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Nickoson scores with a couple of short elbows.

And that's the end of the fight!
Rowdy Nickoson comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Nickoson 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 Steve Smith scores the fight for Rowdy Nickoson!
Judge Gregory Folan scores the fight for Rowdy Nickoson!
Judge Robert Douchet scores the fight for Rowdy Nickoson!

Rowdy Nickoson wins by unanimous decision!