PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Wesley Carter (ranked 7124 p4p, 4179 weight class) and Jean Nicholas (ranked 257 p4p, 197 weight class). Wesley Carter could well score a knockout today. He has the power to get to Jean Nicholas's chin.

Carter
vs
Nicholas

177 cm
25
140
1 - 2 - 0

175 cm
25
142
1 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Solid Muay Thai
Big heart

Good wrestler
Brawler
Powerful

Core Combat
MKFC

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the bantamweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 1 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Wesley Carter!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Jean Nicholas!
The judges for this bout are Shirou Masuda, Yuuki Gou and Yukihiro Shimada.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Nicholas closes the distance and scores a nice trip takedown into half guard. Carter did well to prevent Nicholas getting side control.
Carter is trying to stand up here but Nicholas is controlling him well.
Nicholas not landing any meaningful shots this time.
Nicholas is just sitting in half guard, waiting for something to happen.
We've been hearing good reports from Carter's training camp. Apparently he has been rolling around with some good quality BJJ practitioners and has been sharpening his skills. Let's see if that has an impact on the fight today.
Nicholas lands with an elbow from half guard - that looked like it hurt.
Nicholas not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Nicholas sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Carter defending well though.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Carter wants to get back to full guard.
Nicholas prevents Carter from standing back up.
Nicholas slows the pace down in half guard.
Carter is trying to maintain the position but Nicholas is very close to passing his half guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Nicholas controlling the action here.
Nice strikes from Nicholas there.
Carter is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Nicholas slips a nice elbow through Carter's hands, connecting with Carter's forehead.
The referee walks around the fighters to get a better view of the action. Nicholas lands a nice short elbow.
Carter is trying to stand up here but Nicholas is controlling him well.
Carter won't allow Nicholas to pass to mount.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Nicholas slows the pace down in half guard.
Carter slips a foot under and gets full guard. Nice work.
Nicholas scoring with some ground and pound.
Nicholas makes a bit of distance and scores with some ground and pound, still in guard.
Nicholas controls the pace of the fight for a moment.
Nicholas tries to free his leg and advance position but Carter is retaining full guard.
Nicholas lands a nice shot whilst sitting in his opponent's guard.
Nicholas with a couple of shots to the head there. Not particularly brutal.
Carter not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Nicholas is in close to Carter's body, working some short punches and elbows.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Nicholas scores with a decent looking elbow strike.
Carter tries to strike from the bottom.
Carter really does look like a pencil wearing a pair of gloves. Let's hope he has a gameplan to suit that ridiculous body shape.
Nicholas working some strikes from top position.
Nicholas is just sitting in guard, looking to avoid any submissions.
Nicholas postures up and lands a big shot to Carter's brow.
Nicholas won't allow Carter to get back to his feet.
Carter is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Nicholas controls the pace of the fight for a moment.
Carter looking to control.
Nicholas stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Carter swivels though and keeps the full guard.
The referee is pacing around the two fighters, thinking about a standup.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Nicholas's corner is telling him to maintain position.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up.

Nicholas shoots in and bounces Carter off the cage to secure the takedown into guard.
Carter is looking to stand back up but Nicholas counters by passing into half guard. Oops... bit sloppy there by Carter.

Nicholas landing with strikes to the body and head, softening up his opponent.
Nicholas is just sitting in half guard, waiting for something to happen.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Jean Nicholas dominated that round.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

Nicholas gets the takedown into side control.

Carter sneaks out the side door and pushes Nicholas away - he's back to his feet. The crowd show their appreciation for the escape.
Carter fails with a takedown attempt from distance.

Nicholas shoots in with a lovely double leg takedown. Carter manages to land in full guard to minimise the damage.
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!
Nicholas stopping the sweep attempt from Carter.
Nicholas postures up.
Nicholas with a nice head shot there.
Nicholas has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
Nicholas won't allow Carter to sweep him here.
Nicholas chips away with some ground and pound.
Nicholas postures up and lands some nice ground and pound.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Nicholas controls from within his opponent's guard.
Nicholas distracts Carter with his right hand and drops a big elbow with his other arm.
Nicholas controlling from the top position.
Nicholas has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Carter has momentary wrist control but Nicholas slips an elbow through the middle.
Nicholas sitting in guard here, content to control.

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.
Carter is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
We've had a lack of effective grappling in the last minute or so, which could well see a referee standup.
Nicholas passes Carter's right leg, so he's now in half guard.
Nicholas scoring with strikes to the body and head.
Nicholas looks to score some points with some ground and pound.
Nicholas working some ground and pound from close in. He's looking to maintain this position and strike for a while by the looks of things... although he'll probably advance to full mount in a minute now I've said that.
Carter looks like he's trying to stand up.
Carter is working for an escape here. He's hooked one of Nicholas's legs and he's managed to sneak out and take Nicholas's back!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
I really don't envy Nicholas right now.

Carter is looking to finish the fight by rear naked choke. Nicholas knows exactly what he's got planned though, so he's defending well. Maybe a few strikes would soften Nicholas for a finish.
Carter trying to control momentarily.
Nicholas breaks Carter's hooks off and manages to turn into his guard.

The fighters are working up against the cage. Carter manages to wriggle his way back to his feet, so the fighters are now clinched against the cage.
Carter with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Nicholas is trying to drag Carter to the mat but Carter just about manages to keep his footing. He used the cage to his advantage there.
Carter looking to slow down the pace here.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Carter is trying to wear down his opponent with knees to the body.
A quick uppercut on the inside from Carter.
Carter is trying to drag Nicholas to the mat but Nicholas just about manages to keep his footing. He used the cage to his advantage there.

Carter pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Carter with a poor takedown

and Nicholas moves into the clinch.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Wesley Carter. That's going to take a lot out of him.

Carter breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.

Nicholas is looking for a takedown here. He's shot in and has managed to get it, finishing up in Carter's half guard.
The referee walks around the fighters to get a better view of the action. Nicholas lands a nice short elbow.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Jean Nicholas will probably get the nod - 10:9.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action. This is the final round!

Nicholas looking for a takedown here - he's got it.
Nicholas is frustrating his opponent with some stalling tactics from top position.
Nicholas postures up and lands some nice ground and pound.

Carter is rocked!
Nicholas is intent on slowing down the pace of the fight, simply looking to control.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Nicholas stops Carter from standing up.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Nicholas wants to pass the guard but Carter is keeping the position.
Nicholas controls from within his opponent's guard.

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

Nicholas shoots in with a lovely double leg takedown. Carter manages to land in full guard to minimise the damage.
Nicholas content to strike from guard, landing some decent shots.
Nicholas postures up and lands some nice ground and pound.
Carter is trying to control the position but Nicholas postures up.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Nicholas is intent on slowing down the pace of the fight, simply looking to control.
Carter trying to keep a closed guard but Nicholas is proving a slippery customer.
Nicholas landing some decent shots from guard.
Carter trying to control the position.
Nicholas scores with a decent looking elbow strike.
Nicholas is just sitting in guard, looking to avoid any submissions.
Carter wants to stand up but Nicholas is controlling him.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Carter looking to control.
Carter wants to stand but Nicholas is controlling the position.

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

Nicholas closes the distance, clinches up and gets a nice trip takedown into side control. Very smooth.
Jean Nicholas has got the better of the ground game so far.
Nicholas connects with a decent looking elbow from side control that caused Carter some visible discomfort.
Carter wants to escape from the position here - easier said than done!
Carter is trying to escape the position but Nicholas is controlling the position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Nicholas is continuing to stall.
Nicholas creates a bit of distance and throws down some hard shots.
Nicholas landing a few strikes.
Oh Carter is still in real trouble! Will he be able to recover?!!
Nicholas scores with a couple of short elbows.
Carter is letting Nicholas control him for a moment.
Jean Nicholas is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
Nicholas working away.

And that's the end of the fight!
Jean Nicholas comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Nicholas winning every round here. Surely the decision will go his way and he'll pick up a well deserved decision victory. 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 Shirou Masuda scores the fight 27:30
Judge Yuuki Gou scores the fight 28:29
Judge Yukihiro Shimada scores the fight 28:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Jean Nicholas!