PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Jacques Swanson (ranked 2560 p4p, 3238 weight class) and Dick Niaz (ranked 320 p4p, 385 weight class). Swanson comes to the cage accompanied by Gorillaz- Clint Eastwood. These two fighters really are very evenly matched on the feet - it will be fascinating to see who can assert themselves in that aspect of the fight.

Swanson
vs
Niaz

166 cm
27
158
7 - 8 - 1

170 cm
27
165
11 - 9 - 0

Good wrestling
World class boxer
Very quick

Excellent grappler
Excellent MT
Good gas tank

HELLBENT

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the lightweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 7 - 8 - 1, fighting out of Tokyo, Jacques Swanson!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 11 - 9 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Dick Niaz!
The judges for this bout are William Gold, Andrew Berry and James Atkins.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
An inside leg kick from Swanson misses.
Swanson throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
Swanson thows a leg kick but Niaz checks it

so Niaz counters with a double leg into guard. Good agility.

Swanson kicks Niaz off and gets to his feet.
Swanson has been talking about how he's improved his wrestling in the run up to the fight so let's see if that's enough to sway the balance.
Swanson throws a decent looking leg kick but it doesn't land clean.
Niaz checks a leg kick.
Swanson misses with a low kick.
Swanson thows a leg kick but Niaz checks it

and Niaz decides to take the opportunity to score a takedown. He's landed in Swanson's guard.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Niaz trying to control but Swanson is working from the bottom.
Swanson tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Swanson bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Niaz's guard.

Swanson tries to free his leg and advance position but Niaz is retaining full guard.
Niaz keeping moving, preventing Swanson from controlling successfully.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Swanson's corner is telling him to maintain position.

Niaz looking for a guillotine here but Swanson defends easily.
Swanson trying to control the position from guard on top but Niaz is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Swanson won't allow Niaz to sweep him here.
Niaz looking to control.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A few boos can be heard. I'm sure they will multiply if the fighters don't pick up the pace.
Niaz keeping moving, preventing Swanson from controlling successfully.
Swanson won't allow Niaz to sweep him here.

Niaz looks to be working for a triangle here. Oh, it looks like he might have it! Swanson has picked Niaz up and slammed him! Niaz can't keep hold of the triangle and Swanson manages to pass to side control!
Swanson just content to control the position.
Niaz struggling a bit here.
Niaz manages to get back to half guard.
Swanson wants to lay and pray for a moment but Niaz keeps working.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Swanson controlling the action here.
If this pace continues, the referee will definitely step in and force a standup.
Niaz trying to control from the bottom.

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

Niaz closes the distance and looks for a trip takedown... aaaand he's got it - Niaz lands in his opponent's guard.
Swanson looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Swanson throwing some rather feeble looking strikes off his back.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Niaz trying to control the position from guard on top but Swanson is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Swanson is pulling down on Niaz's head to control his posture.
Niaz stopping the sweep attempt from Swanson.
Niaz trying to control but Swanson is working from the bottom.
Swanson wants to sweep here but Niaz controlling him for the moment.
My spies in MMA Training and Sparring Buddies inform me that Niaz has been getting involved in the gym's BJJ sparring sessions. Let's see whether that pays dividends!
Swanson looking to control the pace of the fight rather than finish it.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.
Niaz shoots in but no luck this time.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Niaz moves out of range of the leg kick from Swanson.
Niaz throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Swanson's waist but Swanson gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Niaz off to one side.
Swanson is looking to counter punch.
Niaz tries to score a power double leg takedown but Swanson sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Niaz somewhat.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Jacques Swanson dominated that round.
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.

Swanson lands a high kick!

It looks like Dick Niaz has been cut.
Swanson throws a leg kick but Niaz sees it coming and checks it nicely.
Swanson looks to throw a body kick

and Niaz counters with a nice double leg into guard.
Swanson wants to get back to his feet but Niaz passes into half guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

Niaz is trying to control the action in half guard but Swanson is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.
Niaz trying to pass the guard but Swanson defending well.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Swanson is looking for a sweep. Niaz is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Swanson wants to control but Niaz is keeping busy and won't allow it.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Niaz trying to control the action but Swanson is working from the bottom.
Swanson wants to get back to full guard.

Niaz has hold of the far side arm. He's working for the Kimura, can Swanson defend it? Niaz steps over the head and cranks it - Swanson is tapping out! That was textbook stuff right there - nice submission victory for Niaz!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 1:20 of round 2, we have a winner by way of Submission (Kimura). Dick Niaz!
During a confident post fight interview, Dick Niaz thanked all his fans. He seemed very genuine when describing how motivated his fans keep him.
In defeat, Jacques Swanson stepped up to the mic, saying 'I don't think I have what it takes right now. I'm going to sit down and have a long talk with my family. See which way I want to go in life.'.