PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Nicky Scarfo (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Adam Townsend (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Adam Townsend has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Scarfo
vs
Townsend

180 cm
29
183 lbs
4 - 5 - 0

180 cm
20
185 lbs
2 - 2 - 0

Good wrestling
Decent elbows
Very quick

Excellent grappler
Decent boxing
Granite chin

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 4 - 5 - 0, fighting out of London, Nicky Scarfo!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 2 - 0, fighting out of London, Adam Townsend!
The judges for this bout are Tarja Halkonen, Johanna Lukiainen and Ben Zyskovitsi.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Townsend throws a leg kick but he was too far away and it doesn't land.
A counter left hand to the body from Scarfo misses its target.
Townsend throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Townsend throws a sloppy head kick
and Scarfo counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
Townsend goes for a high kick. It partially lands.
Townsend's corner calls for a 1, 2 combination and Townsend duly obliges.
Townsend lands a pitter patter jab to the forehead of his opponent.

Scarfo is rocked!
Adam Townsend seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Townsend throws a body kick, spinning off balance
and Scarfo counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Oh Scarfo is still all over the place! His legs are completely gone! Will he be able to recover?!!

Scarfo has Townsend up against the cage in a clinch.
Scarfo seems to have got his legs back now.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Scarfo throws an elbow that misses.
Townsend has a body lock and is looking for a takedown. Scarfo is bouncing around trying to prevent the takedown and somehow he has indeed managed to stay on his feet.
Scarfo keeps the fight in the clinch, despite Townsend's efforts to push away.
Scarfo pushes off and fires off an elbow that misses, before clinching up again, against the cage.
Scarfo avoids a wild elbow strike from Townsend.
Townsend's head jolts backwards as he takes an uppercut right on the button!

Townsend pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Scarfo decides to change it up a bit and drives through with a nice takedown into half guard.
Townsend is trying to escape back to his feet but Scarfo uses the scramble to pass into side control.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Townsend is looking to regain half guard here but Scarfo keeps moving and retains side control.
Townsend takes an elbow right on the bridge of the nose and winces in pain.
Scarfo knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Townsend on the ground.
Townsend manages to land a sweep and he's now on top! Lovely Jiu Jitsu!
Townsend thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.
Townsend wants to take a breather but Scarfo is having none of it.
Scarfo keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.
Scarfo is trying to get back to full guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Scarfo is staying active underneath Townsend, who seems content to just control the action from this position.

Townsend is looking for an arm triangle, whilst trying to pass to side control. Scarfo doesn't seem that keen to cooperate though. No luck this time Townsend.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Scarfo is not content to let Townsend control the position.
Townsend is stalling here. Scarfo is in no mood to hang around though. He's locked up a kimura from the bottom! Townsend seems to be keeping calm but he's forced to roll out of the hold and Scarfo has ended up in side control on the top. Nice work.
Townsend tries to control the position but he's not in luck - Scarfo easily slips into full mount!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Scarfo breaks from Townsend's wrist control and lands an elbow.
Townsend swinging wildly from the bottom but he's not landing.
Townsend is desperately trying to get back to half guard.
Scarfo avoids the attempt from Townsend to control.
Townsend might have to switch it up a bit here because his efforts to control Scarfo haven't been going to plan, at least at the current moment in time.
Townsend regains half guard.
Townsend trying to hold on to Scarfo's head to control him but Scarfo postures up.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
We've been hearing that Scarfo has been drilling a lot of ground and pound in training, so let's see if he get the finish.
Townsend looks like he's trying to stand up.
Townsend regains full guard. Nicely done.
Townsend trying to keep a closed guard but Scarfo is proving a slippery customer.

Townsend is looking for a triangle but Scarfo pushes his legs off easily.
Scarfo trying to control the position from guard on top but Townsend is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Townsend has Scarfo pulled in close to control his posture.
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 Nicky Scarfo will probably get the nod.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

Scarfo drives through with a really nice takedown into side control.
Scarfo lands some shots froms side control.
Scarfo lands a decent elbow from side control.
Townsend controls the position for a moment.
A control attempt from Townsend but he's now mounted!
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Townsend holds on for dear life, controlling Scarfo's posture momentarily.
Scarfo landing strikes, looking to finish!

That's one minute gone in the round.
Scarfo controlling his opponent.
Townsend is wriggling around trying to escape.
Scarfo putting on the heat here with some good ground and pound!
Townsend is looking to improve his position but Scarfo isn't that keen on the idea.
Scarfo tries to control but Townsend wriggling away.
Townsend is writhing around trying to get back to his feet.
Townsend sneaks a leg back under and regains half guard and is working straight away to try and get back to guard. He hasn't managed just yet though.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Townsend is trying to get back to full guard.

Townsend actively working from the bottom here.
Scarfo lands strikes from half guard.
Scarfo wants to take a breather but Townsend is having none of it.
Townsend is trying to get back to full guard.
Scarfo blocks the strikes from Townsend.
Nicky Scarfo overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Nice strikes from Scarfo there.
Townsend gets back to full guard.
Scarfo in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Scarfo trying to control but Townsend is working from the bottom.
Scarfo working in close now, lands a nice elbow to the side of Townsend's head.
Townsend tries to strike from the bottom.

Scarfo avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
Townsend trying to control the position here.
Scarfo with a nice head shot there.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Scarfo tries to free his leg and advance position but Townsend is retaining full guard.
Townsend lands a beautiful sweep and he's now moved into his opponent's guard.

Townsend trying to control the position from guard on top but Scarfo is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

Scarfo pushes Townsend off and scrambles back to his feet.
Townsend misses with a double jab.

Scarfo fakes an overhand right and shoots for a takedown. Townsend sprawls well initially but Scarfo persists and gets the takedown into half guard.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Townsend is refusing to be controlled, as Scarfo sits in half guard.
Scarfo content to sit in half guard and control for a moment.
Scarfo is scoring with some nice ground and pound from the dominant position.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Nicky Scarfo dominated that second 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. This is the final round!

Townsend throws a jab, cross combination which is slipped

and Scarfo holds on and brings the fighters into a clinch.
Scarfo lands with a short shot to the head.
Townsend's coach down at Liverpools Red Tri-Angle MMA & Fitness was telling us pre-fight that they have been working on Townsend's balance. Obviously they view that as a key factor in the outcome of this fight.
Scarfo scores with a shoulder strike.
Scarfo lands a right uppercut that snaps the head of Townsend backwards.
Scarfo misses with an elbow over the top.
Townsend wants to take the fight to the mat but Scarfo manages to get underhooks and keep the fight in the clinch.
Townsend tries to break free but Scarfo pushes him back against the cage.
Scarfo lands with a good tight uppercut to the head.
Townsend is trying to break the clinch but Scarfo is controlling him.
Townsend drops down for a takedown but doesn't get it.
A real battle for position is taking place between these two warriors.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
An uppercut to the body lands inside from Scarfo.
Still in the clinch, Scarfo scores with a nice short uppercut.
Scarfo is defending well against a takedown attempt.
Nicky Scarfo has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Adam Townsend.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Scarfo lands with a quick shot inside that doesn't really do much damage.
Townsend wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.
Scarfo is working Townsend over against the cage.
Scarfo pushes off and fires off an elbow that misses, before clinching up again, against the cage.
Scarfo digs a right hand underneath Townsend's ribcage. Townsend let out a lung full of air as it connected.
Townsend takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
A left hand lands to the body for Scarfo.
Both guys are working to get underhooks.
A hook to the body from Scarfo.
Townsend fails to pull guard.
Scarfo misses with an elbow over the top.
Scarfo scores with a hook to the body.
Scarfo creates a bit of distance and throws an elbow that only just misses.
A body shot lands from Scarfo.
Townsend wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.
Scarfo prevents a takedown attempt there.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Scarfo lands an elbow inside that Townsend shrugs off.
Townsend fails to pull the fight into his guard.
Scarfo lands an elbow that stopped Townsend in his tracks for a moment.
Townsend takes an elbow to the forehead.
Scarfo presses Townsend against the cage and delivers a mid-strength body shot.
A short body shot lands from Scarfo as the two fighters clinch.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Townsend looking to slow down the pace here.
Scarfo lands a right uppercut that snaps the head of Townsend backwards.
Townsend takes an elbow to the forehead.
Townsend wants to break free but Scarfo has control.
Scarfo is pressed up against the cage. Townsend has hold of a leg and is looking to drag Scarfo down to the mat. Scarfo avoids the attempt though and has circled away. We're back to striking at a distance.

Scarfo shoots in for a takedown from distance. He catches Townsend napping and manages to drive through into side control!
Townsend wants to get back to his feet but Scarfo is dominant here and he's now got Townsend's back!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Scarfo controlling well, preventing Townsend from escaping the position.
Townsend takes a big shot to the side of the head.
Townsend trying to control the hands but Scarfo won't let him.
Nicky Scarfo is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Scarfo controls the position.
Townsend wants to escape the position.
So, who will make the next big move? In this position it could be crucial.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Scarfo'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.
Scarfo seems to have a rather negative gameplan on the ground. He seems keen to just score the takedown and hold down Townsend for as long as he can get away with.
Scarfo is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Townsend can do to turn this around?
Townsend wants to escape the position.
Townsend trying to control the hands but Scarfo won't let him.
Adam Townsend has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Scarfo controlling well, preventing Townsend from escaping the position.

And that's the end of the fight!
Nicky Scarfo showed his dominance in that final round.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Scarfo, 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 Tarja Halkonen scores the fight 30:28
Judge Johanna Lukiainen scores the fight 30:28
Judge Ben Zyskovitsi scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Nicky Scarfo!
Nicky Scarfo decided to thank the fans in attendance for making a great atmosphere. It seemed to go down pretty well.