PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between James Rocksteady (ranked 1318 p4p, 2393 weight class) and Casimiro Nicoletta (ranked 173 p4p, 301 weight class). Rocksteady comes to the cage accompanied by Red Right Hand. Nicoletta has chosen For Once In My Life as his entrance music. There are an array of beautiful celebrities at ringside tonight! I wonder if any of them paid for their tickets.

Rocksteady
vs
Nicoletta

170 cm
19
205
5 - 0 - 0

190 cm
19
210
5 - 1 - 0

Good wrestling
Counter fighter
Cardio machine

Decent wrestler
Good kicks
Heavy handed

Carnage
Ma Balls Is Hot Clothing

Shadow Warrior Nutrition
Urban Fighter

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the light heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 5 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, James Rocksteady!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 5 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Casimiro Nicoletta!
The judges for this bout are Dmitry Maklakov, Konstantin Menshow and Aleksei Zolotukhin.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Nicoletta cracks a nice hook into Rocksteady's ribs.
Nicoletta lunges at Rocksteady with a hook that half lands and is half blocked by Rocksteady's hand.
Nicoletta lands with a cross.
Nice shot lands for Nicoletta.
Nicoletta thows a leg kick but Rocksteady checks it

and Rocksteady counters with a nice shoot takedown that brings the fighters to the ground.
Nicoletta wants to control here, rather than go for any submissions from the bottom. At least for now.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Rocksteady looking to pass the guard.
Nicoletta told us pre-fight that he has been working on his escapes in training. Let's see if he can call on some of his new skills to get back to his feet.
Rocksteady preventing the sweep.
Nicoletta keeping full guard, as Rocksteady tries to pass.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Nicoletta can't keep his opponent in guard - Rocksteady advances to half guard, no doubt looking to mount.
Rocksteady wants to free his trapped foot but Nicoletta is holding on for dear life with his legs.
Rocksteady controlling the action here.
Nicoletta is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Rocksteady works his way into full mount!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Nicoletta is trying to escape the mount.
Nicoletta controls the position.

Rocksteady goes for an armbar but Nicoletta turns quickly into his guard - lovely anticipation from Nicoletta.
Nicoletta stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Rocksteady swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Nicoletta is stalling in the full guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Nicoletta trying to control the position from guard on top but Rocksteady is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Rocksteady keeping full guard, as Nicoletta tries to pass.
Nicoletta content to stall in guard here.

Rocksteady looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Neither fighter has done anything of merit for a good minute or two here and the crowd are not happy about it.
Nicoletta 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.

Nicoletta avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
Nicoletta looking to pass the guard.

Rocksteady has his foot on Nicoletta's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Nicoletta works his way back into a safe position though.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Nicoletta trying to control the position from guard on top but Rocksteady is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Nicoletta's corner is telling him to maintain position.
Rocksteady is trying to keep Nicoletta in close.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

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

Nicoletta lands a jab to the nose.
Rocksteady slips a straight right by Nicoletta.
Rocksteady drops down looking for a counter takedown but Nicoletta sprawls and moves away.
Nicoletta throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Rocksteady tries to counter by moving into the clinch but Nicoletta manages to circle out of the way.
Rocksteady avoids the body shot from Nicoletta.
Rocksteady feinted with a counter takedown.
Rocksteady darts in looking for a takedown but Nicoletta gets double underhooks and turns Rocksteady into the cage.
Nicoletta let fly with a counter punch to the body but it didn't land.
A short right from Nicoletta.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Nicoletta lands a right hand.
Nicoletta works for underhooks and lands a body shot in the process.
Nicoletta struggles to land a body shot inside as Rocksteady controls his hands.
Rocksteady blocks a body shot from Nicoletta.
Nicoletta tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.

Rocksteady has Nicoletta pressed up against the cage. He's trying to work for a single leg takedown. Rocksteady pulls back from the cage and twists to the side, sending Nicoletta tumbling to the mat - Rocksteady dives into Nicoletta's guard.
Nicoletta looking to control but Rocksteady passes into half guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rocksteady is looking to take a break and control but Nicoletta is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.

Rocksteady is trying for a guillotine from the top but the pressure isn't in the right place so Nicoletta is just riding it out for now. Rocksteady eventually gives up the hold.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Nicoletta wants to improve his position but Rocksteady is controlling well.
Rocksteady stops Nicoletta from getting back to his feet.
Nicoletta is looking to improve his position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Rocksteady wants to work for an arm triangle but Nicoletta is really keeping half guard well and defending the submission attempt.
Nicoletta is looking for a sweep. Rocksteady is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Rocksteady trying to mount his opponent but Nicoletta defends it.
Nicoletta is trying to get back to full guard.
Nicoletta trying to hold on to Rocksteady's head to control him but Rocksteady postures up.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.

That's four 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.

Rocksteady shoots in from a long way out. He's driving through with the takedown attempt and he eventually gets it, landing in Nicoletta's guard.

Nicoletta pushes Rocksteady off and gets back to his feet.
Rocksteady takes a thudding leg kick, right into the meat of the thigh.
Rocksteady avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Nicoletta misses the shot to the body.
Rocksteady tries to counter by moving into the clinch but Nicoletta manages to circle out of the way.
Rocksteady closes the distance and takes a jab right on the nose as he does so.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Casimiro Nicoletta showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
That's time! Back to the action! This is the final round!

Rocksteady shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Nicoletta sprawls well. Nicoletta wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Rocksteady gets slowly back to his feet.
Nicoletta throws a decent looking leg kick but it doesn't land clean.
Rocksteady dives in for a single leg takedown but Nicoletta sprawls and the fighters end up clinched against the cage.
Nicoletta lands a left hand that snaps the head of Rocksteady backwards.
Nicoletta working some nice short punches in the clinch.
Rocksteady is working for takedown but Nicoletta is calmly controlling the position for now.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for James Rocksteady. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Nicoletta misses with a body punch.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Nicoletta throws a head punch that misses.
Rocksteady blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Nicoletta pushes Rocksteady back against the cage and lands a hook to the side of the head.
Rocksteady is trying to pull guard but Nicoletta has him pressed against the cage.
Nicoletta lands with a right to the head.
Nicoletta prevents a takedown attempt there.
Nicoletta throws a head punch that misses.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rocksteady jumps guard but Nicoletta turns him against the cage and keeps the fight standing.
I was talking to Rocksteady's coach per-fight and he was telling me that they'd been working on the clinch in the runup to this fight.
Nice body punch from Nicoletta.
Rocksteady has dropped down and is looking to force the takedown but it's defended by Nicoletta after a bit of a struggle.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Rocksteady has a body lock and is looking for a takedown. Nicoletta is bouncing around trying to prevent the takedown and somehow he has indeed managed to stay on his feet.
Nicoletta lands a short shot on the inside that snaps the head of Rocksteady backwards.
Nicoletta pushes Rocksteady back against the cage and lands a hook to the side of the head.
Nicoletta gets double underhooks to prevent a takedown attempt from Rocksteady.
Casimiro Nicoletta seems to be working more effectively in the clinch in the fight so far.
Nicoletta scores with an uppercut up the middle.
Nicoletta pushes Rocksteady back against the cage and lands a hook to the side of the head.
Nicoletta lands on the inside with an uppercut.
Nicoletta tries a body shot but Rocksteady blocks it.
Nicoletta lands a right hand.
Nicoletta misses with a body punch.

Rocksteady decides to pull guard.
Nicoletta pushing down on Rocksteady's thigh, trying to pass to half guard. He's managed it... Nice work.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Nicoletta trying to mount his opponent but Rocksteady defends it.
Nicoletta keeps trying to improve his position.
James Rocksteady has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Nicoletta passes the guard and advances to mount!
Nicoletta takes a little breather and maintains the position. The referee will be looking for him to stay active from such a dominant position though.
Nicoletta wants to control the pace but Rocksteady is squirming around nicely.

Nicoletta get's back to his feet.
Nicoletta is using his reach advantage to land shots from outside his opponent's range.
Nicoletta connects with a single shot there.
Nicoletta fakes a head punch and goes low to the body. Nicely done.
Casimiro Nicoletta seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Nicoletta ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Rocksteady moves away.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Rocksteady moves out of range as Nicoletta strikes.
Nicoletta connects with a crisp jab.
Nicoletta scores with a sloppy right hand. Rocksteady should have avoided that one.
Nicoletta misses with a left hand

and Rocksteady counters with a driving takedown into guard. Nice work there by Rocksteady.
Nicoletta trying to keep a closed guard but Rocksteady is proving a slippery customer.
Nicoletta has Rocksteady pulled in close to control his posture.
Rocksteady trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Nicoletta keeping full guard, as Rocksteady tries to pass.
Rocksteady is looking to work some ground and pound but Nicoletta has wrist control.
Nicoletta is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.

Rocksteady has gone for a leg lock! Nicoletta slips out almost immediately though and dives into Rocksteady's guard.

Nicoletta not doing a lot at the moment. He'll have to show some more aggression or the fight will get stood up.

And that's the end of the fight!
Casimiro Nicoletta comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Nicoletta 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 Dmitry Maklakov scores the fight for Casimiro Nicoletta!
Judge Konstantin Menshow scores the fight for Casimiro Nicoletta!
Judge Aleksei Zolotukhin scores the fight for Casimiro Nicoletta!

Casimiro Nicoletta wins by unanimous decision!
An out of breath Casimiro Nicoletta thanked his loyal fans in his post fight interview, giving them credit for his success over the course of his career.