PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a super heavyweight MMA rules bout between Zachariah Nichols (ranked 6023 p4p, 0 weight class) and Jackson Starling (ranked 23819 p4p, 0 weight class). Jackson Starling looks lathargic as he enters the arena. Wake up son, you're about to have a fight!

Nichols
vs
Starling

164 cm
21
346 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

200 cm
22
280 lbs
1 - 3 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Cuts easily

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Tends to cut

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the super heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of New York, Zachariah Nichols!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 3 - 0, fighting out of New York, Jackson Starling!
The judges for this bout are Reed Andrews, Steve Montenegro and Alyssa Summers.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Nichols drops down and drives through with a powerful takedown into guard.

Starling manages to wriggle out and sneak his way back up to his feet, so the fighters are now clinched up against the cage.
Nichols tries a knee to the head but Starling blocks it.
Nichols with an attempt at a knee that misses.
Nichols misses with a knee strike.
Starling lands with a short punch from the clinch.

It looks like Zachariah Nichols has been cut.

Starling decides to pull guard.
Starling is looking to stand up but Nichols isn't so interested in that idea.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Nichols with a couple of shots to the head there. Not particularly brutal.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Starling wants to stand and escape but Nichols is having none of it.
Nichols has been looking to land a fair amount of strikes on the ground. He might be looking to soften his opponent up in order to work for a submission.
Starling preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Nichols pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Starling is keeping the position for now.

Starling is scooting his butt against the cage and has managed to get back to his feet. Nichols presses him back against the cage, presumably looking to take the fight back to the mat.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Nichols looking to slow down the pace here.
Nichols wants to break the clinch but can't.
A short right from Starling.

Starling drags the fight down to the ground.
Nichols throws a big right hand that misses.
Nichols working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Starling looks winded!
Nichols throws a strike but Starling rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.

A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Starling accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Starling landing some decent shots from guard.
Nichols utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Nichols wants to sweep but no luck.
Starling chips away with some ground and pound.

Starling decides he's had enough of playing guard and decides to stand. Come on Nichols, up you get!

Starling clinches up with Nichols and pushes him back against the cage.

Nichols breaks the clinch.

Starling drives through with a really nice takedown into side control.
Nichols really is a fat lump.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Starling working away.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Starling trying to control the action but Nichols is working from the bottom.
Starling working the ground and pound but Nichols is defending the strikes.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Nichols is not content to let Starling control the position.
Nichols manages to work his way to half guard, despite Starling's best efforts.
Starling is keen to just control but Nichols is a slippery customer.
Nichols is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Nichols avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Starling.
Starling seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Nichols does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.
Nichols is pressing down on Starling's left leg trying to get back to full guard. He's managed it.
Nichols wants to sweep but no luck.

Nichols working for a triangle but Starling defends it easily.
Nichols looking to hit a scissor sweep but Starling is one step ahead there.

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.
Starling postures up and lands a big shot to Nichols's brow.
Nichols working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Starling.
Starling slows down the pace of the fight for a moment. He'll need to remain active if he doesn't want to see the fight stood back up.

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

Nichols gets taken down but at least he's managed to land in guard.
Nichols controls Starling momentarily but Starling frees himself.
Starling chips away with some ground and pound.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Jackson Starling dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Zachariah Nichols's cut.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

Starling closes the distance and clinches.
Nichols is looking to take this one to the mat.
A shot in the inside from Starling.

Nichols jumps guard.
Starling must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.
Starling trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Starling postures up.
Starling throwing strikes from guard but Nichols blocks nicely.
The step up in weight doesn't seem to be a problem for Starling. He's performing admirably here against the bigger man.
Starling controls from within his opponent's guard.
Nichols working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Starling.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Starling wanted to stand there but Nichols had control of the position.
Starling postures up and lands some nice ground and pound.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Nichols looking to sweep here. No luck so far.

Starling stands and steps away. Nichols gets to his feet too and we're back to the striking game.

Starling dives in and scores a takedown into Nichols's guard.
Starling keeps in close for a moment and lands a decent shot to the side of Nichols's head.
Starling slows down the pace of the fight for a moment. He'll need to remain active if he doesn't want to see the fight stood back up.
Starling lands a couple of elbows.
Starling engaging in some classic timewasting tactics.
Starling preventing the sweep.
Starling cracks Nichols with a solid left hand.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Starling landing some decent shots from guard.
Starling slows down the pace of the fight for a moment. He'll need to remain active if he doesn't want to see the fight stood back up.
Starling wants to control from the top but Nichols keeps moving.
Starling postures up and lands a big shot to Nichols's brow.
Starling trying to control the position from guard on top but Nichols is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Nichols is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.

Starling clinches up against the cage.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Nichols works for the underhooks and manages to get a trip takedown into guard.

Starling is scooting his butt against the cage and has managed to get back to his feet. Nichols presses him back against the cage, presumably looking to take the fight back to the mat.
Starling lands a right uppercut that snaps the head of Nichols backwards.
Starling lands with a good tight uppercut to the head.

Starling pulls guard effortlessly.

Nichols stands and steps away. Starling gets to his feet too and we're back to the striking game.
Starling wants to clinch.
Starling tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. Nichols manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.

Starling gets a clinch.

Starling pulls guard effortlessly.

Nichols gets to his feet. Starling looking to butt scoot but the ref puts an end to that. On your feet son!
Jackson Starling seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

Nichols closes the distance and scores a nice trip takedown into half guard. Starling did well to prevent Nichols getting side control.
Starling wants to stand back up but Nichols manages to pass into side control.

Nichols is trying to get an arm triangle but Starling is defending well.
Nichols looking to punish the body of his opponent here but Starling is avoiding damage well.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Jackson Starling showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The cut man is working on Zachariah Nichols's cut.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action. And we move into the final round!

Starling gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.
Nichols with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.
Starling has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Nichols manages to get underhooks and slows down the pace for a moment.
Starling gets underhooks to prevent Nichols's takedown attempt.

Starling ties up his opponent against the cage and manages to drag the fight down to the ground. Starling no doubt will be looking to work submissions from his guard.
Nichols throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Starling works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Jackson Starling has got the better of the ground game so far.
Nichols won't allow Starling to get back to his feet.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Nichols throwing strikes but missing.

Starling is working an open guard so Nichols takes the opportunity to get back to his feet.

Starling bobs and weaves into range and then changes levels and scores with a nice takedown into side control.
Nichols is looking for a sweep.
Starling controlling from side mount.
Starling creates some space and throws a big elbow, but Nichols sees it coming and moves his head just enough to avoid the strike.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Starling fails to land a wild elbow strike.
Starling in side control, throwing shots but Nichols defends.
Starling throwing strikes but Nichols manages to buck up and roll into a nice reversal - now he's on top in side control!

Nichols decides to stand up, so the ref orders Starling to his feet.
Starling tries to clinch but Nichols is having none of it.

Starling closes the distance and scores a nice trip takedown into half guard. Nichols did well to prevent Starling getting side control.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Starling is controlling the pace.

Starling stands up from half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Starling stalks Nichols and leaps in with a furious combination of punches. Uppercuts and crosses smash into Nichols's face. Nichols staggers backwards, shaken.
Starling walks forward, straight into a front kick from Nichols.

A momentary lapse in concentration from Nichols enables Starling to shoot in and score with a neat double leg. Nichols manages to secure a closed guard as the fighters hit the mat.
Starling keeps in close for a moment and lands a decent shot to the side of Nichols's head.
Starling tries to free his leg and advance position but Nichols is retaining full guard.
Nichols working a defensive guard here.
Starling trying to control the position from guard on top but Nichols is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Starling postures up and lands some nice ground and pound.
Nichols keeping moving, preventing Starling from controlling successfully.
Starling throwing strikes but missing.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.

Starling closes the distance and pushes Nichols back into the cage.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Nichols is stalling here. The referee will be looking to step in if he doesn't pick up the pace.
Zachariah Nichols has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Jackson Starling is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
Nichols has Starling pressed against the cage.

And that's the end of the fight!
Jackson Starling comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Starling has outworked and out performed his opponent in all aspects of the game today. He was simply too good and the decision should be no more than a formality. 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 Reed Andrews scores the fight 27:30
Judge Steve Montenegro scores the fight 27:30
Judge Alyssa Summers scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Jackson Starling!