PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Jarod Nielsen (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Thomas Kentucky (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Thomas Kentucky has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Nielsen
vs
Kentucky

161 cm
20
193 lbs
0 - 1 - 0

180 cm
25
190 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Cuts easily

BJJ Blue Belt
Decent boxing
Very confident

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 0 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Jarod Nielsen!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Thomas Kentucky!
The judges for this bout are Daniel Cesar, Seu Braga and Leandro Rodrigues.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Kentucky tries to close the distance and clinch up but Nielsen swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Nielsen was looking to counter that last move with a shot to the body but he didn't commit.
Kentucky looks really tired already! That doesn't bode well for a good, competitive fight!
Nielsen lands a slapping body shot.
Nielsen throws a nice hook to the body that draws an oooh from the crowd.
Nielsen tries a head kick but it misses.

Kentucky scores a trip takedown into side control. Nice.
Kentucky trying to control the action but Nielsen is working from the bottom.

Kentucky tries for an arm triangle. That looks pretty tight to me. Is this one over!?! Possibly, maybe, no Kentucky has let go of the choke. Obviously it wasn't as tight as we thought!
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Nielsen struggling a bit here.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Nielsen is looking for a sweep.
You can see the frustration on Nielsen's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.
Nielsen tries to slip a leg under to move to half guard but Kentucky presses down on the leg and jumps into full mount!
Nielsen is desperately trying to get back to half guard.
Nielsen tries to lock up and control but Kentucky gives him a forearm to the face and pushes him away.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Nielsen is going to have to think about doing something other than just controlling because Kentucky is managing to avoid having the position dictated to him.
Nielsen is in a bad position, trying to hold on for dear life but he is really struggling to maintain any sort of control.
Kentucky looking to control but Nielsen is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.
Nielsen tries to reverse the position but Kentucky maintains control.
Nielsen is in a horrible position here, under a barrage of strikes, he's managing to avoid any damage.
Kentucky avoids the attempt from Nielsen to control.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kentucky prevents Nielsen from getting the reversal.
Kentucky avoids the attempt from Nielsen to control.
Nielsen keeping his composure momentarily, calmly looking to get back to half guard.
Nielsen is writhing around trying to get back to his feet.
Kentucky controlling his opponent.

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.
Kentucky looking to control but Nielsen is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.
Nielsen gets back to half guard.
Kentucky trying to control the pace.
Nielsen flails away from the bottom but he's not doing any damage.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Nielsen pushes Kentucky off looking to stand but Kentucky dives back in and keeps control.
Kentucky missing with the ground and pound from half guard.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Nielsen showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Kentucky.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Thomas Kentucky dominated that round.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business.

Nielsen darts in and clinches Kentucky up against the cage.
Nielsen wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Kentucky has him pressed against the cage.
Kentucky is trying to break the clinch but Nielsen is controlling him.

Kentucky successfully pulls guard.

Kentucky has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Nielsen can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
Kentucky keeping moving, preventing Nielsen from controlling successfully.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Nielsen looking to sit in guard and control but Kentucky gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.

Nielsen might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Nielsen is looking for a triangle here but Kentucky uses the submission attempt to pass into side control.
Kentucky has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Kentucky is breathing heavily.
Nielsen stops Kentucky from passing to mount.
Nielsen tries to buck Kentucky off but Kentucky is having none of it.
Nielsen struggling a bit here.
Nielsen is trying to get back to half guard.
Nielsen manages to work his way to half guard, despite Kentucky's best efforts.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Nielsen trying to control here.
Nielsen tries to roll over but Kentucky keeps him under control.

Kentucky is trying to work for a kimura but Nielsen is defending well.
Nielsen works his way to full guard. Good work.
Kentucky postures up.

Nielsen is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Kentucky defends well.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Nielsen not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Nielsen keeping full guard, as Kentucky tries to pass.

Kentucky drops back, looking for a kneebar! Nielsen looks panicked! The fighters roll across the mat, one looking to finish, one looking to escape. Nielsen looks to have wriggled free... Yes, he's got his leg free and he's dived into side control! Good work there from Nielsen!

Nielsen looking for an arm triangle but it's way too loose to do anything.
Nielsen staying calm.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Nielsen wants to lay and pray for a moment but Kentucky keeps working.
Kentucky can't do much from the bottom here.
Kentucky tries to improve position but can't.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!

Nielsen tries for an arm triangle. That looks pretty tight to me. Is this one over!?! Possibly, maybe, no Nielsen has let go of the choke. Obviously it wasn't as tight as we thought!
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Thomas Kentucky will probably get the nod - 10:9.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action! This is the final round!

Kentucky fakes an overhand right and shoots for a takedown. Nielsen sprawls well initially but Kentucky persists and gets the takedown into half guard.
We've been informed that Kentucky has been working hard on his conditioning in the buildup to the fight.
Kentucky wants to stand up but Nielsen is controlling the position.
Nielsen tries to get to full guard but Kentucky has control of the leg.
Nielsen trying to control but Kentucky postures up.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Kentucky is looking to advance position but Nielsen won't allow it.
Nielsen tries to get to full guard but Kentucky has control of the leg.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Nielsen looking for submissions off his back.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Nielsen is looking to improve his position.

Kentucky is trying a forearm choke… I don't think that's going to do much at this level of the game.
Nielsen is refusing to be controlled, as Kentucky sits in half guard.

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.
Nielsen tries to roll over but Kentucky keeps him under control.
Nielsen is trying to control but can't.

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.
Nielsen looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.

Kentucky tries to sprawl but Nielsen drives through with a takedown into half guard.
Nielsen wants to lay and pray for a moment but Kentucky keeps working.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Nielsen takes advantage of the dominant position to land a couple of big hammer fists.
Kentucky blocking the ground and pound attempt from Nielsen.
Kentucky trying to control from the bottom.
Nielsen thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Kentucky's head.
Nielsen not landing any meaningful shots this time.

Nielsen is looking for an arm triangle, whilst trying to pass to side control. Kentucky doesn't seem that keen to cooperate though. No luck this time Nielsen.
Kentucky gets full guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Neither fighter has done anything of merit for a good minute or two here and the crowd are not happy about it.
Nielsen trying to control the position from guard on top but Kentucky is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Kentucky is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.

Kentucky shoots in and gets a takedown into half guard. Kentucky showed some decent athleticism there.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Nielsen is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.

And that's the end of the fight!
Thomas Kentucky comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Kentucky 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 Daniel Cesar scores the fight 28:29
Judge Seu Braga scores the fight 28:29
Judge Leandro Rodrigues scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Thomas Kentucky!