PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Nathan Nelson (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Ronnie Whiteford (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Whiteford has a niggling injury. He would have liked to come in 100% fit but that's not always possible. Nathan Nelson has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Nelson
vs
Whiteford

179 cm
26
180 lbs
7 - 6 - 0

186 cm
26
181 lbs
5 - 5 - 0

Decent wrestler
Decent elbows
Granite chin

BJJ Blue Belt
Excellent boxer
Knockout power

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 7 - 6 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Nathan Nelson!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 5 - 5 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Ronnie Whiteford!
The judges for this bout are Robert Douchet, Steve Smith and Dillan Fox.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Nelson closes the distance and clinches up with Whiteford, looking for a takedown. Nelson pushes Whiteford against the cage but Whiteford circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
A head kick misses from Whiteford.
Whiteford is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Nelson misses with a takedown
letting Whiteford counter with a right hand.
Nelson shoots in but Whiteford avoids the takedown attempt easily.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Nathan Nelson. That's going to take a lot out of him.
A chopping leg kick lands by Whiteford.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Whiteford avoids a low kick by using good footwork.
Whiteford avoids the head kick by Nelson.
Whiteford thinks about the counter body kick.
Nelson displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Whiteford.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Nelson shoots in and bounces Whiteford off the cage to secure the takedown into guard.
Whiteford looks winded!
Nelson scoring with punches to the head and body.

Nelson gets to his feet and steps away from his opponent.
No luck for Nelson with that takedown attempt.

Nelson shoots in for a takedown and gets it.

Nelson decides to stand and escape the position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Whiteford throws a head kick but Nelson moves out of range.
Nelson feinted with a counter takedown.
Whiteford blocks the body kick.
Whiteford stalks Nelson and leaps in with a furious combination of punches. Uppercuts and crosses smash into Nelson's face. Nelson staggers backwards, shaken.
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 just misses with a punch to the body.
Whiteford looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Nelson is fending him off so far but Whiteford persists. Nope, Nelson circles away and we're back to standing.
Whiteford displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Nelson.
Whiteford throws out a counter right but Nelson avoids it with no problem.

Nelson clinches with his opponent.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Whiteford jumps guard but Nelson turns him against the cage and keeps the fight standing.
Nelson lands a knee to the body.
Nelson wants a takedown.

Nelson gets a trip takedown into half guard.
Nelson tries to pass the half guard into mount. Whiteford knows what he's doing though and prevents the attempt.
Nelson is just sitting in half guard, waiting for something to happen.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Nelson trying to mount his opponent but Whiteford defends it.
Nelson moves into full mount! Whiteford won't be happy about that!
Nelson controlling the position easily from mount.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Nathan Nelson dominated that round.
That's time! Nelson's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight.

Nelson pushes Whiteford up against the cage in a clinch.
Nelson's corner are urging him to control the action in the clinch for a moment, rather than mount any serious offense. I'm sure the crowd appreciate those instructions... not.

Nelson breaks the clinch.
Horrible takedown attempt by Nelson or perhaps it was just good defense by Whiteford, which made it look bad.
Whiteford tries to score a power double leg takedown but Nelson sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Whiteford somewhat.
Whiteford is breathing heavily.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Nelson shoots in for a takedown! He's got it and he's managed to land in side control! That's better than Nelson was expecting from the takedown attempt, I'm sure!

That's one minute gone in the round.
Nelson tries to move into full mount but can't pass Whiteford's legs.

Nelson is trying to get an arm triangle but Whiteford is defending well.
Whiteford tries to get back to half guard but can't.

That's two 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 working the body and head with strikes.
Whiteford being controlled for a moment.
Whiteford taking punishment in the form of punches.
A lull in the action here.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Nelson decides to stand back up. Nelson steps back and let's Whiteford get back to his feet.

A momentary lapse in concentration from Whiteford enables Nelson to shoot in and score with a neat double leg. Whiteford manages to secure a closed guard as the fighters hit the mat.
Nelson trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Nelson seems content to control from guard here. He's going to have to remain active though if he doesn't want to get stood back up.
Nelson slips effortlessly into side control - very nice.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Whiteford is letting Nelson control him for a moment.
Nelson lands a nice forearm strike.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Nelson remains in side control and seems content to stay there. It's a versatile position from which he can work both strikes and submissions, whilst maintaining that control, so maybe he'll sit here for a while.
Nelson lands a few punches from side control.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Nathan Nelson dominated that second round.
That's the end of the interval. I'm sure that seemed a lot quicker than a minute for our two fighters! Back to the action. And we move into the final round!

Nelson tries a head kick but it misses.
Nelson throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
The fight stays on the outside here - Whiteford looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Nelson fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.

Nelson closes the distance and pushes Whiteford back into the cage.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Nelson stalling here - the referee won't stand for too much of that.
Nelson changes levels and goes for a takedown here. Whiteford fights it off and pushes away nicely.
Nelson defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Whiteford.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Boom, another hit is landed. "You're gunna get knocked out" taunts Nelson, as that shot connected.
Whiteford takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Whiteford dodges the punch combination from Nelson.
Whiteford tries a counter takedown but it's more of a dummy move, and he uses it to push himself away.
Good work by Nelson as he checks the leg kick.
It looked like Nelson was looking amped, ready to throw a big counter but didn't commit.
Nelson is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Whiteford can do to turn this around?
Nelson looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
Whiteford is clearly looking to counter with head kicks.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Nathan Nelson. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Whiteford shoots in for a takedown but Nelson shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
Nelson throwing a counter right hand but Whiteford manages to avoid it.
Nelson tries to score a power double leg takedown but Whiteford sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Nelson somewhat.
Whiteford is looking to clinch.
Whiteford shoots in but Nelson avoids the takedown attempt easily.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Nelson takes the fight into the clinch.
The pace slowing considerably in the clinch, as Nelson takes a break from that fighting nonsense to think about the finer things in life.
Nelson lands a nice shot to the body.
Nelson landing knees to the head.

Nelson ties up his opponent against the cage and manages to drag the fight down to the ground. Nelson no doubt will be looking to work submissions from his guard.

Nelson has butterfly guard. He's looking to stand up here. He pushes Whiteford off him and springs to his feet nicely. The crowd applauds.
This has been an exciting period of action!
No luck for Nelson with that takedown attempt.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Nelson shoots for a takedown but Whiteford saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
Whiteford is looking for the big counter here.
Nice sprawl there from Nelson as Whiteford shoots in.

Nelson gets a clinch.
Nelson stalling in the clinch.
Nelson tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.
Nelson is pushing Whiteford up against the cage, for a bit of lean and pray action. Action being used the in the loosest possible sense of the word.
Nelson taking a break, stalling in the clinch.
Nelson is looking for a takedown.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Nelson slows down the pace here.

Nelson has dropped down and is working for a takedown. Whiteford is trying to keep an underhook but Nelson manages to get the takedown into half guard.
Nelson wants to lay and pray for a moment but Whiteford keeps working.
Nelson is taking a breather. Whiteford 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.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.

Nelson is looking for a kimura but Whiteford is holding onto that half guard position, so it's hard for Nelson to get the leverage.
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.
Nathan Nelson overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Nelson trying to control the pace.

And that's the end of the fight!
Nathan Nelson showed his dominance in that final round.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Nelson, winning every round. Will the judges agree? They are the ones who matter, even if they are often depressingly incompetent. 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 Robert Douchet scores the fight 30:27
Judge Steve Smith scores the fight 30:27
Judge Dillan Fox scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Nathan Nelson!
A victorious Nathan Nelson thanked his army of followers in his post fight interview, telling people to make sure they follow him on Twitter.