PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Azumah Nelson (ranked 2288 p4p, 211 weight class) and Jeff Roberts (ranked 3433 p4p, 286 weight class). The crowd giving both fighters a great reception on their way into the arena. That's good to see.

Nelson
vs
Roberts

178 cm
28
148 lbs
16 - 9 - 1

182 cm
33
154 lbs
22 - 15 - 0

Good wrestling
Excellent boxer
Cardio machine

Good wrestler
Decent boxing
Granite chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the featherweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 16 - 9 - 1, fighting out of New York, Azumah Nelson!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 22 - 15 - 0, fighting out of London, Jeff Roberts!
The judges for this bout are Wesley Smith, Gwen Towbar and Tiny Johnson.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Good work by Roberts as he checks the leg kick.
Like a baseball bat into the meat of his leg there - nice leg kick by Nelson.
Nelson scores with a sloppy punch to the body. Not much technique there but it did the business.

Roberts gets the takedown into side control.
Roberts throws a strike aimed at the side of Nelson's head but Nelson avoids it well.
Roberts fails to land a wild elbow strike.
Roberts scores with punches from side control.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Nelson wants to control but Roberts postures up.
Nelson is not content to let Roberts control the position.
Roberts fails to land a wild elbow strike.
Roberts working the ground and pound but Nelson is defending the strikes.

Roberts tries for an arm triangle. That looks pretty tight to me. Is this one over!?! Possibly, maybe, no Roberts has let go of the choke. Obviously it wasn't as tight as we thought!
Roberts wants to lay and pray for a moment but Nelson keeps working.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Roberts working the ground and pound but Nelson is defending the strikes.
Roberts staying calm.
Roberts misses with an attempted head punch from side control.
Nelson takes a nasty elbow to the side of the head.
Nelson wants to control but Roberts postures up.
Roberts in side control, trying to ground and pound but not landing this time.
Nelson is trying to stand back up. He's worked his way up against the cage but Roberts has just dragged him back down to the mat.
Nelson gets one leg under and gets the fight to half guard.
Roberts has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
Roberts throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Roberts thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Nelson's head.
Roberts not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
Roberts sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Nelson defending well though.
Roberts throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
Roberts not landing any meaningful shots this time.
Nelson blocking the ground and pound attempt from Roberts.
The referee walks around the fighters to get a better view of the action. Roberts lands a nice short elbow.
Roberts not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
Roberts not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
The two fighters exchange a few words. I couldn't hear what they were saying but maybe it's more fun if you make it up yourself. Roberts connects with a nice short shot to Nelson's temple.
Nelson wants to control but Roberts is keeping busy and won't allow it.
The referee walks around the fighters to get a better view of the action. Roberts lands a nice short elbow.
Nelson has hold of Roberts's hands but Roberts slips his arm to the side and lands an elbow.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Nelson controlling the position well.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Roberts throwing shots but Nelson is blocking nicely.
Roberts throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
Nelson keeping control of the leg, stopping his opponent passing to mount.
Roberts thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Nelson's head.
Nelson is trying to defend against the ground and pound but Roberts scores with a couple of nice shots.
Roberts throws a big elbow that misses, also allowing Nelson to regain full guard.
Roberts is looking to work some ground and pound but Nelson has wrist control.
Roberts wants to control from the top but Nelson keeps moving.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Roberts landing some decent shots from guard.
Roberts throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Roberts postures up in Nelson's guard and throws a big left but Nelson blocks it.
Roberts is in close to Nelson's body, working some short punches and elbows.

Nelson has his feet on Roberts's hips. He pushes off and gets to his feet. Nice work.
Nelson uses good footwork to get in and out, landing a nice hook.
Nelson darts in and out, connecting with a jab.
Nice body kick from Nelson.
Roberts steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Nelson.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Nelson throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Roberts.
Roberts is definitely looking for the counter takedowns here.
Nelson throws a body punch but Roberts moves out of range.
Nelson waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Roberts.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Jeff Roberts will probably get the nod.
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.

Nelson darts in and out, connecting with a jab.
Nelson connects with a lovely jab that went straight through the gap between Roberts's hands.
Roberts bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
Roberts is definitely looking for the counter takedowns here.
Roberts walks into a jab.
Jab from Nelson.

Roberts throws a loose over hand right and dives in with a double leg takedown. Nelson tries to sprawl but it's too late and the fighters hit the mat. Roberts is in Nelson's guard.
Nelson wants to sweep but no luck.
Nelson keeping moving, preventing Roberts from controlling successfully.
Nelson bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Roberts's guard.

Roberts controlling Nelson's posture.
Nelson is intent on slowing down the pace of the fight, simply looking to control.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Nelson has decided he wants to stand but the closed guard of Roberts is proving hard to escape from.
Roberts wants to stand but Nelson is controlling the position.
Roberts tries to land a sweep but no joy.

That's two 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.
Nelson controls from within his opponent's guard.
Roberts tries to land a sweep but no joy.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up. He just wasn't happy with the level of activity.
Nelson lands a nice shot to the body.

Roberts closes the distance, clinches up and gets a nice trip takedown into side control. Very smooth.
Nelson is looking for a sweep.
You can see the frustration on Nelson's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.
Nelson is trying to get back to half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Roberts lands a few punches from side control.
Roberts wants to lay and pray for a moment but Nelson keeps working.
Roberts sitting in side control, looking to soften his opponent up with elbows and hammerfists but Nelson is avoiding damage well and looking to escape the position.
Nelson is looking to reverse the position.
Roberts throws a strike aimed at the side of Nelson's head but Nelson avoids it well.
Roberts misses with a strike but at least he's keeping busy, looking to cause some damage - that will still help him when it comes to the judges scorecards.
Nelson regains half guard.
Roberts throwing shots but Nelson is blocking nicely.
Roberts thows a huge punch but Nelson dodges it nicely.
Nelson is staying active underneath Roberts, who seems content to just control the action from this position.
Roberts with the ground and pound but Nelson uses the opportunity to regain guard.
Roberts in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Roberts working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Roberts scores with a decent looking elbow strike.
Roberts pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Nelson is keeping the position for now.
Roberts postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Nelson avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Nelson working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Roberts.
The referee wants the fighters to be more active or he's going to reset them on the feet.
Roberts in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Jeff Roberts has got the better of the ground game so far.
Nelson has his hands on Roberts's head, controlling the position.

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.
Nelson thuds his right hand into Roberts's forehead from close range. That could be painful for both fighters.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.

Roberts shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Let's see what he's got on the mat.
Nelson preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close second round but I would say that Azumah Nelson will probably get the nod.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action! This is the final round!

Jab, jab by Nelson - just one landing.

Roberts shoots in for a takedown and gets it.
Roberts not landing any meaningful shots this time.
Nelson avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Roberts.
Nelson is pressing down on Roberts's left leg trying to get back to full guard. He's managed it.
Nelson not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Roberts connects with a couple of short punches.
Roberts throwing strikes from guard but Nelson blocks nicely.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Roberts throws a big elbow that misses.
Roberts trying to control the position from guard on top but Nelson is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Roberts working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Roberts works over Nelson with some ground and pound from guard.
Roberts throwing strikes but missing.
Nelson seems keen to control Roberts's posture.
Roberts throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Nelson works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Roberts postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Roberts throws a strike but Nelson rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.

Roberts manages to wriggle out and sneak his way back up to his feet, so the fighters are now clinched up against the cage.

Roberts manages to pull guard. Let's see whether he can land a sub off his back.
Nelson has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.
Nelson is looking to stand up but Roberts won't let him.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Roberts throws a couple of weedy looking strikes off his back.
Nelson postures up.
Nelson not doing a lot at the moment. He'll have to show some more aggression or the fight will get stood up.
Roberts is trying to keep Nelson in close.
Nelson slips nicely into half guard, despite the strikes coming from Roberts.
Roberts pushes Nelson off looking to stand but Nelson dives back in and keeps control.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.
Nelson cracks Roberts with an open hand slap.
Roberts moves out of range as Nelson throws a body kick.
And Roberts tries to counter it with a takedown but Nelson pushes his down on his head and steps out.

Roberts drives through with a really nice takedown into side control.
Nelson taking a bit of punishment here - Roberts scoring with strikes.
Nelson parries the strikes from Roberts easily there. Roberts is wary of posturing up too much because it might enable Nelson to escape.
Nelson defending against the ground and pound.
Roberts trying to control the action but Nelson is working from the bottom.
Roberts in side control lands a nice looking series of punches and elbows.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Roberts throws an elbow but Nelson slips to the side and avoids it well.
Nelson regains half guard, as Roberts was trying to land strikes.
Nelson has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Roberts is working away from the top position though.
Roberts thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.
Nelson wants to improve his position but Roberts is controlling well.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Nelson avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Roberts.
Roberts takes advantage of the dominant position to land a couple of big hammer fists.

And that's the end of the fight!
Jeff Roberts comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Roberts has won this one but let's see whether the judges agree with me. 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 Wesley Smith scores the fight 28:29
Judge Gwen Towbar scores the fight 28:29
Judge Tiny Johnson scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Jeff Roberts!
A relieved looking Jeff Roberts thanked the fans for their support and gave the usual line about them being amazing. They seemed to believe that he actually meant it.
Azumah Nelson spoke after the fight, saying 'the slowest learner I have ever had. lol had no chance'.