PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Antonio Fionte (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and James Nelson (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). 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.

Fionte
vs
Nelson

172 cm
21
150 lbs
1 - 0 - 2

170 cm
23
147 lbs
4 - 3 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter striker
Cuts easily

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Granite chin

Londons Best Nutrition

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 1 - 0 - 2, fighting out of London, Antonio Fionte!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 4 - 3 - 0, fighting out of London, James Nelson!
The judges for this bout are Paul Tew, Daniel Bishop and Chris Edwards.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Fionte throws a two punch combo that lands nicely.
Nelson tries to clinch up.
Fionte blocks a head kick by Nelson.

Nelson closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.
Nelson tries to land a knee to the head but misses.
Nelson tries a knee to the head but he's missed.
Nelson wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Fionte has him pressed against the cage.
A short right hand to the side of the head by Nelson.

Fionte manages to break the clinch.
Nelson stalks Fionte and leaps in with a furious combination of punches. Uppercuts and crosses smash into Fionte's face. Fionte staggers backwards, shaken.

It looks like Antonio Fionte has been cut.
Nelson throws a series of punches but Fionte moves out of range.
Nelson throws a head kick that misses.
Nelson stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Nelson wants it to stay on the feet.
Nelson is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Fionte tries to bum rush Nelson with a series of wild strikes but Nelson uses good footwork to avoid the assault.

Nelson instigates a clinch.

Nelson breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
James Nelson seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Nelson throws a left and a right that both miss

and Fionte counters into the clinch. Nicely done.
Fionte blocks the elbow strike.
Fionte drops down for a takedown but doesn't get it.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Nelson breaks the clinch.
Nelson is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Nelson throws a looping overhand right but Fionte ducks down to avoid it.
Like a baseball bat into the meat of his leg there - nice leg kick by Fionte.
Nelson misses with a takedown attempt - Fionte sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
Nelson throws a combination that misses
and Fionte counters with a two punch combo.
Nelson darts in trying to clinch
and Fionte counters with a stiff right hand.

Fionte clinches with his opponent.

Nelson breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Nelson throws a body kick that misses.
Nelson looks to throw the jab but Fionte is out of range.
Nelson wants to clinch up but Fionte keeps it at a distance.
Nelson takes one to the side of the head.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Fionte shapes like he's going to throw a leg kick but settles back down.

Fionte has managed to clinch.
Nelson is looking to break free of the clinch but Fionte has double underhooks.
Nelson gets double underhooks to prevent a takedown attempt from Fionte.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Antonio Fionte. That's going to take a lot out of him.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Nelson.
Fionte drops to a knee looking for a takedown but Nelson gets the underhooks and prevents it.
Fionte tries for a takedown. No joy.
Fionte goes for a takedown attempt but Nelson pushes him away and we're back to fighting at a distance.
Nelson tries to close the distance and clinch but Fionte swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Nelson tries a head kick but it misses.

Nelson moves into the clinch.
Fionte is working for takedown but Nelson is calmly controlling the position for now.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Fionte on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
Nelson tries to land a knee to the head but misses.

Nelson's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
A solid leg kick lands there for Fionte.
Nelson looks gassed!
Nelson throws a body kick but he was well out of range there.
Fionte lands with a two punch combination before moving back out of range.

Fionte pushes Nelson up against the cage in a clinch.
Nelson has had enough of the clinch and is looking to separate.
Nelson misses with a short punch on the inside.
Fionte wants a takedown but no success here.

Nelson breaks the clinch.
Nelson tries to grapple but his opponent circles
and Fionte counters with a three punch combo that has Nelson backing up. Nelson nods at Fionte to acknowledge the strikes.
Fionte wants to clinch.
Danga de danga de dang - Fionte scores with a four punch combination!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Nelson is looking to clinch.
Nelson scores with a slapping inside leg kick.
Fionte bobs and weaves and throws out a fast jab that snaps Nelson's head backwards.
Fionte is working the combinations to good effect here.
Fionte closes the distance and lands a one-two.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Nelson tries to close the distance and clinch up but Fionte swats him away and circles back towards the center.

Nelson closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.

Nelson is fighting off a takedown attempt but Fionte is just too persistent for him and manages to trip Nelson to the mat. Nelson regains guard as soon as the fighters hit the mat.
Nelson looking to sweep using the butterfly guard but Fionte puts pay to that idea as he passes nicely into half guard.
Nelson tries to kick Fionte off but Fionte keeps his base steady and stays in half guard.
Fionte is trying to control the action in half guard but Nelson is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Nelson is looking to escape.

Fionte looking for a kimura but he'll have to free his other leg if he wants to finish that. Perhaps he's just using it as a distraction technique.
Fionte slows the pace down in half guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Antonio Fionte dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Antonio Fionte's cut.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

Fionte scores with a kick to the midsection.
Fionte misses with the combination.
Fionte throws a decent looking leg kick but it doesn't land clean.
Fionte misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Fionte is pinned up against the cage taking some big shots here. The referee is looking closely deciding whether he should stop the fight.
Antonio Fionte is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Nelson tries to clinch but Fionte is having none of it.
Nelson lands a nice looking kick to the body. Fionte takes a step back to recover.
Nelson closes the distance looking to clinch
and Fionte counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Nelson is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Decent striking displayed by Fionte there.
Fionte works his jab well there, keeping his opponent at a distance.
Antonio Fionte is winning the standup battle so far.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Fionte's corner calls for a 1,2 combination and Fionte duly obliges.
Nelson fails to land the takedown.
Nelson is breathing heavily.
Nelson swings wildly with a couple of big hooks
and Fionte counters with a stiff right hand.
Like a baseball bat into the meat of his leg there - nice leg kick by Fionte.
Nelson wants to clinch
and Fionte counters with a two punch combo.
Fionte looks to land a combination. Nelson sees it coming but can only parry a couple of the shots.
An inside leg kick lands from Fionte.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Fionte lands with a nice combination. Nelson backs away looking to recover.
Fionte connects with a high kick.

Nelson is rocked!

Fionte instigates a clinch.
Nelson is still on wobbly legs! Can Fionte finish him?
Fionte changes levels and goes for a takedown here. Nelson fights it off and pushes away nicely.
Nelson seems to have recovered his senses.
Fionte lands a head kick. Nelson smiles back at him and beckons him forward.
Fionte tries to score a power double leg takedown but Nelson sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Fionte somewhat.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Nelson tries to clinch up
and Fionte counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
Fionte scores with a kick to the midsection.
Like a baseball bat into the meat of his leg there - nice leg kick by Fionte.

Fionte looks for a takedown. He's got it. We're now in half guard.

Fionte is looking for an arm triangle, whilst trying to pass to side control. Nelson doesn't seem that keen to cooperate though. No luck this time Fionte.

Fionte is working for submissions here but there's nothing on.
Nelson is trying to stand up here but Fionte is controlling him well.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Fionte trying to control the action but Nelson is working from the bottom.

Fionte looking for a kimura but he'll have to free his other leg if he wants to finish that. Perhaps he's just using it as a distraction technique.
Nelson is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Nelson is trying to stand back up but Fionte is controlling him

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are hurling abuse towards the fighters... You can hardly blame them though because there isn't a lot going on in the fight.
Fionte trying to control the action but Nelson is working from the bottom.
Nelson wants to get back to his feet.

Fionte looking for a kimura but he'll have to free his other leg if he wants to finish that. Perhaps he's just using it as a distraction technique.
Nelson tries to kick Fionte off but Fionte keeps his base steady and stays in half guard.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.

Fionte is trying to work for a kimura. He's got his hands clasped together - this could be trouble! No, Nelson has managed to free his arm - good work.

Fionte is trying to work for a kimura. He's got his hands clasped together - this could be trouble! No, Nelson has managed to free his arm - good work.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Antonio Fionte dominated that second round.
The cut man is working on Antonio Fionte's cut.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action! This is the final round!

Nelson moves in looking to clinch but Fionte pushes him off.
Fionte moves in looking to clinch but Nelson pushes him off.
Fionte comes forward and lands a shot to the body, then darts back out of range.
Nelson doesn't manage to clinch there - Fionte circles away.
Fionte keeps the fight on the outside.
Fionte misses with a jab, cross combination.
Nelson tries to close the distance and clinch up but Fionte swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Nelson circles away from the clinch attempt.
Fionte throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Nelson wants to clinch
and Fionte counters with a one-two to the body.

Nelson moves into the clinch.

Nelson escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.

Fionte clinches with his opponent.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Nelson breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Nelson takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Nelson jabs away that one connects to the head of his opponent.
Fionte scores with a nice looking left hook and follows it up with an uppercut!
Fionte fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Nelson avoids it really well and circles away.
Fionte swinging wilding here.
A head kick misses from Nelson.
Fionte throws a quick head kick that skims the top of Nelson's head.
Nelson tries to clinch there but Fionte circles away.
Fionte blocks a head kick by Nelson.
Fionte lands a jab. Then a cross. Then finally a nice hook to the body. Good work there by Fionte.
Nelson closes the distance but Fionte moves to the side
and Fionte counters with a three punch combo that has Nelson backing up. Nelson nods at Fionte to acknowledge the strikes.
Fionte tried to score with a low kick but Nelson checks it.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Fionte is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Fionte tries a head kick but it misses.
Fionte lets the fists fly and connects with a left straight followed by a right hook.
Nelson cracks the inside of Fionte's front leg.

Nelson closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.
Nelson is trying to break the clinch but Fionte has him pressed against the cage.
Fionte blocks an uppercut.
Fionte keeps control of Nelson as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.
Fionte goes for a takedown in the clinch but Nelson prevents it.
Nelson lands a right hand.
Fionte is working for takedown but Nelson is calmly controlling the position for now.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Antonio Fionte. That's going to take a lot out of him.

Fionte breaks the clinch.
Fionte throws a one two combo.
Fionte scores with a big left there. The judges will like that one.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Fionte moves forwards but Nelson connects with a nice, crisp jab.
Nelson throws a hook but Fionte avoids it easily.
A head kick misses from Nelson.

Fionte takes the fight into the clinch.
Nelson is leaning against Fionte and scores with a nice uppercut to the body.

Nelson manages to break the clinch.
Nice jab there from Fionte.
Nelson tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Fionte paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Fionte scores with a one two! Nelson had his feet all tangled up there and couldn't avoid the strikes.
Nelson cracks the inside of Fionte's front leg.
A leg kick checked by Fionte.
Fionte changes levels and scores with a jab to the body.
Nelson takes a thudding leg kick, right into the meat of the thigh.
Nelson has a pretty nasty looking mouse under his right eye.
Ooooh, nice body kick lands from Fionte. Nelson shrugs it off though.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Fionte fakes a head punch and goes low to the body. Nicely done.
Nelson is on the wrong end of a nice combination from Fionte.
Fionte is looking to clinch.
Fionte blocks a head kick by Nelson.
Fionte is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Nelson can do to turn this around?
A right-left combo lands from Fionte.

Fionte closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.
Fionte is trying to drag Nelson to the mat but Nelson just about manages to keep his footing. He used the cage to his advantage there.
Fionte tries to score a body lock takedown but Nelson shows good agility there to stay on his feet.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!

Nelson escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.

Fionte closes the distance and clinches.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Fionte has hold of a leg and is looking for a trip takedown. Nelson avoids it nicely though and we remain in the clinch.
James Nelson has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

Nelson breaks the clinch.
Antonio Fionte is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Nelson lands an overhand left. A wild punch that just about connected.

And that's the end of the fight!
Antonio Fionte showed his dominance in that final round.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Fionte, winning every round. Will the judges agree? They are the ones who matter, even if they are often depressingly incompetent. 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 Paul Tew scores the fight 30:27
Judge Daniel Bishop scores the fight 30:27
Judge Chris Edwards scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Antonio Fionte!