PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Nathan Nelson (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Ronnie Whiteford (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

Nelson
vs
Whiteford

179 cm
26
180 lbs
5 - 4 - 0

186 cm
25
181 lbs
3 - 2 - 0

Decent wrestler
Decent elbows
Granite chin

BJJ Blue Belt
Excellent boxer
Knockout power

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the welterweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 5 - 4 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Nathan Nelson!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 3 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Ronnie Whiteford!
The judges for this bout are Gregory Folan, William Peck and Elvis Blanc.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Whiteford shoots in and drives through. Nelson sprawls well.
Nelson pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Whiteford lands three nice shots there - that looked like it hurt!

Whiteford has closed the distance and engaged Nelson in a clinch.
Nelson wants a takedown but no success here.
Nelson tries a body shot but Whiteford blocks it.

Nelson breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Whiteford gets off balance looking for a body kick

and Nelson counters with a driving takedown into guard. Nice work there by Nelson.
Nelson wants to pass the guard but Whiteford is keeping the position.

Nelson stands up and waves to Whiteford to follow him.

Nelson closes the distance and pushes Whiteford back into the cage.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Whiteford gets underhooks to prevent Nelson's takedown attempt.

Whiteford pulls guard.

Nelson stands up and waves to Whiteford to follow him.
Whiteford throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Nelson's waist but Nelson gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Whiteford off to one side.

Nelson gets a clinch.

Whiteford breaks from the clinch.
Whiteford tries to close the distance and clinch up but Nelson swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Whiteford shoots in for a takedown but Nelson shows good takedown defense.
Nathan Nelson has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Ronnie Whiteford.
Nelson tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Whiteford tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Nelson keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Whiteford throws a head kick that misses.
Nelson throws a big counter combination but Whiteford scrambles out of danger and avoids any damage.
Nelson stuffs the takedown.
Whiteford looks winded!
Nelson shoots in for a double leg but Whiteford sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
A low kick from Whiteford is predictable there

and Nelson counters by moving into the clinch.

Nelson lands a takedown into guard.
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!
Nelson pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Whiteford is keeping the position for now.

Nelson postures up as if he's going to throw some strikes but drops back for an ankle! Whiteford is in big trouble! He looks ready to tap! But no, he's escaped and dives on top of Nelson, into his guard.

Whiteford trying to stand up but can't free himself from Nelson's guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Nelson pulls Whiteford in close to prevent any damage.
Whiteford trying to control the position from guard on top but Nelson is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Nelson looking to control the pace of the fight rather than finish it.
Nelson keeping moving, preventing Whiteford from controlling successfully.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A few boos can be heard. I'm sure they will multiply if the fighters don't pick up the pace.
Nelson is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.

Nelson lands with a punch from half guard.
Whiteford is trying to maintain the position but Nelson is very close to passing his half guard.
Still in half guard, Nelson seems content to control.
Nelson throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
The referee calls for the fighters to work.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Nathan Nelson dominated that round.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

Whiteford shoots and misses
and Nelson counters with a stiff right hand.

Nelson clinches.
Whiteford tries for a takedown. No joy.
Whiteford has a body lock and is looking for a takedown. Nelson is bouncing around trying to prevent the takedown and somehow he has indeed managed to stay on his feet.
Nathan Nelson has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Ronnie Whiteford.
Nelson fails to pull guard.
Whiteford wants to break the clinch but can't.

Nelson breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Whiteford throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Nelson stuffs the takedown attempt from Whiteford. Whiteford gets slowly back to his feet.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Nelson tries a head kick but it misses.
Whiteford tries to counter with a clinch but Nelson shakes him off and moves away.
Nelson throws a low kick, looking for Whiteford's leg but Whiteford calmly moves out of range.
Nelson pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Whiteford showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Nelson.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Nelson fails with the takedown.

Nelson drives through with a really nice takedown into side control.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Nelson prevents Whiteford from escaping the position.
Nelson is putting a hurting on Whiteford here, landing some big shots from side control.
You can see the frustration on Whiteford's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.
Nelson is working Whiteford over with some ground and pound from side control.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Whiteford regains half guard.
Nelson lands with an elbow from half guard - that looked like it hurt.
Neither fighter is being very active at the moment, with Nelson in particular looking to stall.
Nelson looking to pass the half guard. Not this time.

Nelson stands up out of the half guard.
Whiteford stuffs the takedown.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Whiteford wants to clinch.
Whiteford shoots for a double leg takedown but Nelson sprawls well. He's pushed Whiteford's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.

Nelson instigates a clinch.
Nelson is working for a takedown up against the cage. He can't get it on this occasion though.
Whiteford takes an elbow to the forehead.

Nelson breaks from the clinch.

Nelson instigates a clinch.

Nelson lands a nice trip takedown into half guard.
Nelson tries to pass to full mount but Whiteford defends it.
Whiteford looks like he's trying to stand up.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Nelson sitting and controlling from the half guard.
Nelson is nestled in close to Whiteford, controlling him well. He's worked in a nice elbow to the side of the head as well, for good measure.
Nelson takes advantage of the dominant position to land a couple of big hammer fists.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Nelson seems content to maintain position for now, rather than mounting any offense.
Nelson is looking to pass Whiteford's guard but actually Whiteford recovers to full guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Nathan Nelson dominated that second round.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action! This is the final round!

Nelson gets in close and instigates a clinch.

Whiteford breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Whiteford checks a leg kick.
Nelson tries for a takedown but Whiteford sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
Whiteford tries a quick counter leg kick but Nelson is wise to it.
Whiteford takes a step back and watches a body kick go sailing past his mid section.
Whiteford tries to counter with a clinch but Nelson shakes him off and moves away.
Whiteford dives in and grabs Nelson's left leg, looking for a takedown. Nelson pushes down on Whiteford's head and hops out.
Whiteford throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Nelson clinches up with Whiteford and pushes him back against the cage.
Nelson is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Whiteford can do to turn this around?
Whiteford is working hard here but doesn't seem to be able to control effectively, up against the cage.

Nelson decides to pull guard.
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.
Whiteford pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Nelson is keeping the position for now.
Nelson tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Nelson pulls Whiteford in close to prevent any damage.
The referee looks like he's ready to step in and stand the fighters back up.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up. He just wasn't happy with the level of activity.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Well. There's a bit of a lull in the action here and the crowd are starting to get restless.
Nelson tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Whiteford swivels and escapes.
Whiteford stuffs the takedown.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Nathan Nelson. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Good leg kick by Whiteford there. It's the ones that make that thud noise that hurt and that was an almighty thud.
Nelson fails with a takedown attempt.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Whiteford throws a head kick that half lands.
Nelson stuffs the takedown attempt from Whiteford. Whiteford gets slowly back to his feet.
Nelson defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Whiteford.
Nelson tries to counter by moving into the clinch but Whiteford manages to circle out of the way.
Whiteford stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Whiteford wants it to stay on the feet.
Nelson tries for a takedown but Whiteford sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
Ronnie Whiteford seems to be getting the better of the standup.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Nelson moves into the clinch.

Nelson escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
A good leg kick by Whiteford.
Whiteford displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Nelson.
Whiteford tries to score a power double leg takedown but Nelson sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Whiteford somewhat.
Nelson fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Whiteford avoids it really well and circles away.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Whiteford displaying good standup as he scores with a three punch combination.
Whiteford throws a head kick that misses.
Nelson displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Whiteford.
Nelson is looking to counter the offense by Whiteford and move into the clinch.

Nelson feints and as Whiteford raises his hands in defense, Nelson changes levels and drives through with a takedown into guard.
Nelson prevents Whiteford from getting back to his feet.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Nelson sitting in guard, not really doing much.
Ronnie Whiteford has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Nathan Nelson is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.

Whiteford working for a triangle but Nelson defends it easily.

And that's the end of the fight!
I would just about give that final round to Ronnie Whiteford.
I think Nelson has won this one but let's see what the judges have to say. 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 Gregory Folan scores the fight 29:28
Judge William Peck scores the fight 30:27
Judge Elvis Blanc scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Nathan Nelson!
Nathan Nelson seemed lost for words in his post fight interview but he remembered to thank his fans and directed everyone to his website.