PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Robert Nicholas (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Francis Highway (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). I'm sure you'll be fascinated to know that I was talking to some pointless Z list celebrity before the fight and he thought that Francis Highway was going to win. Let's see if he was right.

Nicholas
vs
Highway

168 cm
23
169 lbs
2 - 2 - 0

178 cm
19
162 lbs
1 - 1 - 0

Decent wrestler
Counter striker
Self confident

Good wrestler
Brawler
Determined

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 2 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Robert Nicholas!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Francis Highway!
The judges for this bout are Trevor Gratis, Gregory Folan and Alec Ball.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Highway shoots in but Nicholas avoids the takedown attempt easily.
Highway shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Nicholas sprawls well. Nicholas wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Highway gets slowly back to his feet.
Highway tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Nicholas swivels and escapes.
Robert Nicholas has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Francis Highway.

Nicholas clinches with his opponent.
Nicholas cracks Highway with a nice body shot.
Highway tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. Nicholas just stands there and leans against the ropes.
Nicholas wants a takedown.
Nicholas prevents a takedown attempt there.

Nicholas has double underhooks and is working for a body lock takedown. He's got it. The fighters land in half guard but Highway regains guard immediately.
Nicholas trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
We get told so often about how wrestlers don't like to be on their backs. Let's see if Highway can do anything to dispel that myth.
Nicholas landing with the ground and pound.
Highway trying to keep a closed guard but Nicholas is proving a slippery customer.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Nicholas working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Nicholas trying to control but Highway is working from the bottom.
Nicholas thows a big elbow that misses.
Highway utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Nicholas thows a big elbow that misses.
The fighters are trapped in the ropes so we're going to have a reposition here. The ref calls for a break and repositions the fighters in the center of the ring.
Nicholas postures up in Highway's guard and throws a big left but Highway blocks it.
Nicholas in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
Highway shoots in for a takedown but Nicholas shows good takedown defense.
Nicholas misses with a jab, cross combination.
Nicholas listening to his corner there, landing a nice uppercut.
Nicholas displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Highway.
Nicholas stuffs the takedown attempt from Highway. Highway gets slowly back to his feet.
Highway looks gassed!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Nicholas fakes a head shot and lands one to the body.
No luck with that takedown attempt from Highway.
Nicholas tests Highway's chin there with a solid looking shot.

Nicholas closes the distance and pushes Highway back into the ropes.
Nicholas is clearly stalling here... Pick up the pace son.

Nicholas is trying to trip Highway. He has hold of a leg but Highway is hopping around, keeping his balance for the moment. Nicholas persists though and gets the takedown into guard.
Nicholas trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Highway is trying to control the position but Nicholas postures up.
The fighters are tangled up in the ropes here. We might need a restart if the fighters can't break free themselves.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Nicholas distracts Highway with his right hand and drops a big elbow with his other arm.
Nicholas working in close now, lands a nice elbow to the side of Highway's head.
Highway wants to stand and escape but Nicholas is having none of it.
Nicholas passes Highway's left leg - he's now in half guard.
Nicholas wants to lay and pray for a moment but Highway keeps working.
Nicholas is really struggling to control Highway but he's trying to hold on to the position.
Highway has hold of Nicholas's hands but Nicholas slips his arm to the side and lands an elbow.
Nicholas working the head and body with strikes.
Nicholas missing with the ground and pound from half guard.
Nicholas thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Highway's head.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Nicholas working Highway over with strikes.
Highway really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Nicholas. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.
Nicholas not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
Nicholas not landing any meaningful shots this time.
Nicholas throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
Highway is trying to maintain the position but Nicholas is very close to passing his half guard.
Nicholas is keeping good posture, landing some ground and pound.
Ground and pound from Nicholas.
Nicholas 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.
Nicholas thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Highway's head.
Nicholas wants to take a breather but Highway is having none of it.
Nicholas throwing shots but Highway is blocking nicely.
Highway keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Robert Nicholas dominated that round.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action.

Highway will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.

Highway changes levels and drives through with a really nice takedown into side control. Nicholas looks really pissed at himself for not defending that better.
Highway in side control, throwing shots but Nicholas defends.
Nicholas sneaks back into half guard.

Nicholas is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Highway pulls his head out easily.
Highway throwing shots but Nicholas is blocking nicely.
Nicholas is pressing down on Highway's left leg trying to get back to full guard. He's managed it.
Highway postures up in Nicholas's guard and throws a big left but Nicholas blocks it.
Highway landing some decent shots from guard.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Highway looking to sit in guard and control but Nicholas gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Nicholas trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Highway avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Highway utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Nicholas lands a couple of decent looking shots.
Nicholas with a couple of shots to the head there. Not particularly brutal.
Nicholas throws a big right hand that misses.
Highway is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Nicholas wants to pass the guard but Highway is keeping the position.

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.
Nicholas working from the guard for now, landing some ground and pound.
Highway wants to stand and escape but Nicholas is having none of it.
Nicholas scoring with some ground and pound.
Nicholas lands a couple of elbows.
Nicholas is looking to work some ground and pound but Highway has wrist control.
Nicholas connects with a couple of short punches.
Nicholas throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Highway works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Highway utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Nicholas slips nicely into half guard.
Nicholas works his foot free and advances to mount.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Nicholas raining down shots from the mount!
Nicholas misses with a series of strikes from mount. He'll no doubt be working on his ground and pound when he gets back to the gym.
Nicholas fakes a shot to the body and cracks his opponent in the head. Nice ground and pound there!
Nicholas throwing strikes here but Highway is writhing around nicely and avoiding any serious damage.
Highway is desperately trying to get back to half guard.
Nicholas with the ground and pound from mount.
Nicholas punching from mount but Highway doing a good job of avoiding damage.
Nicholas punishing his opponent with strikes.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Nicholas looking to finish with strikes here!
Nicholas scoring with some good ground and pound from mount here. Will he manage to finish Highway?
Nicholas landing punches.
Highway in a bad spot here, taking shots to the head.
Nicholas connects with a couple of good shots from mount.
Highway tries to get back to half guard but can't.
Nicholas punishing his opponent with strikes.
Nicholas trying to control but he's not successful this time.
Nicholas throwing shots from mount but they're not landing.
Nicholas working the ground and pound effectively.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Robert Nicholas dominated that second round.
That's time! Nicholas's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight. This is the final round!

Nicholas moves into the clinch.
Nicholas taking a break, stalling in the clinch.
Nicholas lands a nice looking hook to the body, against the ropes.
Nicholas lands a body punch.
A right handed body shot lands from Nicholas.
Highway wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.
Nicholas throws a blind hook that connects with the side of Highways head.
Nicholas scores with a hook to the body.
Highway being controlled against the ropes.
Highway tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Nicholas is trying to drag Highway to the mat but Highway just about manages to keep his footing. He used the ropes to his advantage there.
A shot in the inside from Nicholas.
Nicholas prevents the takedown attempt.

Nicholas is working on a single leg takedown against the ropes. Highway can't fight it off and eventually Nicholas manages to take the fight to the floor. Highway looks annoyed but at least he's managed to land in guard.
Highway keeping moving, preventing Nicholas from controlling successfully.
Nicholas slips nicely into half guard.
Nicholas scores with a couple of good hammerfists.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Highway wants to get back to full guard.
Nicholas wants to take a breather but Highway is having none of it.
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.
Nicholas thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Highway's head.
Highway controlling the position for now.
Nicholas drops an elbow to the side of Highway's head.
Nicholas scoring with strikes to the body and head.
Highway is looking for a sweep. Nicholas is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Nicholas is keen to just control but Highway is a slippery customer.
Highway is trying to stand.
Nicholas throwing shots but Highway is blocking nicely.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Nicholas takes advantage of the dominant position to land a couple of big hammer fists.
The two fighters exchange a few words. I couldn't hear what they were saying but maybe it's more fun if you make it up yourself. Nicholas connects with a nice short shot to Highway's temple.
Nicholas not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
Nicholas not landing any meaningful shots this time.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.
Highway fails with a takedown attempt.
Robert Nicholas has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Francis Highway.

Nicholas closes the distance and clinches.
An uppercut to the body lands inside from Nicholas.
Highway tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. Nicholas just stands there and leans against the ropes.

Nicholas works for the underhooks and manages to get a trip takedown into guard.
Highway not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Nicholas scoring with punches to the head and body.
Nicholas throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Highway works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Robert Nicholas is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Nicholas loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Robert Nicholas overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Highway keeping moving, preventing Nicholas from controlling successfully.
Highway working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Nicholas.
Nicholas wants to control from the top but Highway keeps moving.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.
Highway closes the distance and clinches up with Nicholas, looking for a takedown. Highway pushes Nicholas against the ropes but Nicholas circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.

Nicholas shoots in and bounces Highway off the ropes to secure the takedown into guard.
Nicholas trying to control the position from guard on top but Highway is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

And that's the end of the fight!
Robert Nicholas showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Nicholas has outscored his opponent in every aspect of the fight today. Only a scarily incompetent judge or two will keep him from a well deserved win... 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 Trevor Gratis scores the fight for Robert Nicholas!
Judge Gregory Folan scores the fight for Robert Nicholas!
Judge Alec Ball scores the fight for Robert Nicholas!

Robert Nicholas wins by unanimous decision!