PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Mike iupati (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Brandon Nolan (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). We have two fighters making their debuts here, so let's see who comes out of this one with their first professional victory.

iupati
vs
Nolan

190 cm
22
220 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

189 cm
18
220 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Solid boxing
Self confident

BJJ White Belt
Brawler
Solid chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Mike iupati!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Brandon Nolan!
The judges for this bout are George Francis, Tiny Johnson and Chris Downing.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Nolan fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
iupati stalks Nolan and leaps in with a furious combination of punches. Uppercuts and crosses smash into Nolan's face. Nolan staggers backwards, shaken.

It looks like Brandon Nolan has been cut.
iupati tries to close the distance and clinch up but Nolan swats him away and circles back towards the center.
iupati throws a right and a left that both miss.
Nolan fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but iupati avoids it really well and circles away.
iupati swinging wilding here.
iupati lands an overhand left. A wild punch that just about connected.
iupati will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.

iupati moves into the clinch.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Nolan tries a body shot but iupati blocks it.
iupati has had enough of the clinch and is looking to separate.

iupati jumps guard and drags Nolan to the mat. He's obviously going to be looking for submissions off his back.
Nolan postures up.
iupati tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Nolan throws and elbow that misses. iupati uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in Nolan's guard. Nice move by iupati!
iupati trying to control but Nolan is working from the bottom.

That's one minute gone in the round.
iupati missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
iupati is looking to work some ground and pound but Nolan has wrist control.
Nolan not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
We get told so often about how wrestlers don't like to be on their backs. Let's see if Nolan can do anything to dispel that myth.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
Nolan shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts iupati as he jumps to the side.
Mike iupati has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Brandon Nolan.
Nolan looks gassed!
iupati misses with a series of wild punches.
iupati is trying hard to land a takedown here. Nolan sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.
iupati misses with a wild combination.
Nolan takes a punch to the jaw and another one to the bread basket.
iupati closes the distance and lands a one-two.
iupati misses with a few strikes there.
iupati throws a right and a left that both miss.
Nolan with a poor takedown
and iupati counters with a nice body shot.

Nolan looking for a takedown here - he's got it.
iupati scores with a short punch from the bottom.
Nolan throws a strike but iupati rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.

iupati gets to his feet - Nolan follows without any prompting.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
iupati rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Nolan moves out of range and avoids them all easily.

iupati shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Let's see what he's got on the mat.
iupati would like to get this fight back to the feet but can't get free from the closed guard.
iupati sitting in guard here, content to control.
iupati wants to control from the top but Nolan keeps moving.
iupati stopping the sweep attempt from Nolan.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
iupati looking to pass the guard.
iupati showing good wrestling skills to control the position.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.

iupati stands up from Nolan's guard - iupati perhaps looking for a knockout.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Nolan closes the distance and clinches up with iupati, looking for a takedown. Nolan pushes iupati against the cage but iupati circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
iupati tries to clinch up but Nolan circles away and keeps his distance.
Nolan throws a combination that misses

and iupati counters with a single leg into guard. Nolan didn't expect that.
iupati tries to free his leg and advance position but Nolan is retaining full guard.

iupati gets to his feet. Nolan looking to butt scoot but the ref puts an end to that. On your feet son!
iupati throws a combination that misses

and Nolan decides to take the opportunity to score a takedown. He's landed in iupati's guard.
This has been an exciting period of action!
iupati controlling Nolan's posture.

Nolan got a little sloppy there for a moment and iupati has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Nolan has managed to get both his arms back between iupati's legs - danger averted.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Nolan missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Nolan wants to stand but iupati is controlling his posture from full guard.
iupati keeping full guard, as Nolan tries to pass.
iupati looking to hit a scissor sweep but Nolan is one step ahead there.

iupati has butterfly guard. He's looking to stand up here. He pushes Nolan off him and springs to his feet nicely. The crowd applauds.

Nolan feints and then dives in with a takedown. That was a long way out but the feint bought him enough time to close the distance and complete the takedown. Now we'll play guard for a bit and see who can get the better of that position.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Nolan lands a couple of elbows.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Nolan accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Nolan really doesn't want to stay on the ground with iupati. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.
iupati lands a couple of decent looking body shots there.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Nolan content to strike from guard, landing some decent shots.
Nolan throws a big right hand that misses.
Both fighters really going for it on the ground here!
Nolan throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
iupati wants to get back to his feet but Nolan is in a dominant position and won't allow it.
iupati striking off his back, scoring a few points.
Mike iupati overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.

Nolan gets a takedown into half guard.

iupati kicks off Nolan and gets to his feet.
A nice combination there by iupati.

Nolan feints and as iupati raises his hands in defense, Nolan changes levels and drives through with a takedown into guard.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!

iupati is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Nolan is aware though and is defending well.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
iupati throws some shots to the body, keeping his opponent honest.
iupati wants to stand but Nolan is controlling the position.
iupati throwing strikes off his back to little effect.
iupati is controlling Nolan's posture.
Nolan working in close now, lands a nice elbow to the side of iupati's head.
Nolan is working the ground and pound from guard. He might want to try advancing position though to get more of an impact.
iupati lands a beautiful switch and he's in full mount! That could spell trouble for Nolan!

iupati looking for an armbar but decides to keep the dominant position instead.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
There's not a lot going on here and the crowd are letting the fighters know they're not willing to tolerate a lack of action.
Nolan tries to hold on but iupati postures up.
iupati controlling from the full mount.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Brandon Nolan will probably get the nod - 10:9.
The cut man is working on Brandon Nolan's cut.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action. This is the final round!

iupati shoots in with a lovely double leg takedown. Nolan manages to land in full guard to minimise the damage.

iupati stands up and waves to Nolan to follow him.
Nolan shoots and misses
and iupati counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Nolan shoots and misses

and iupati counters by moving into the clinch.
iupati is looking to break free of the clinch but Nolan has double underhooks.

iupati drags the fight down to the ground.
Nolan must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.
Nolan throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as iupati works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
iupati trying to control the position.
iupati throwing rabbit punches from the bottom - showing the judges that he's keeping busy.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
iupati bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Nolan's guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Nolan trying to control the position here.
Nolan working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from iupati.
iupati tries to free his leg and advance position but Nolan is retaining full guard.
Nolan wants to stand but iupati is controlling the position.
Nolan has a butterfly guard looking to sweep but iupati has passed into side control.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
My god... these two guys really need to pick up the pace or everyone will leave to go get a beer.
Nolan tries to contro but end up mounted... ooooh, that's bad.
iupati lands with some vicious ground and pound - can Nolan hang on?
iupati avoids the attempt from Nolan to control.
iupati is landing with some decent strikes but Nolan is trying to advance his position so the referee is letting the fight continue.

iupati is standing up, even though he is in mount.
iupati misses with a jab, cross combination.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Nolan misses with a telegraphed body shot
and iupati counters with a two punch combo.
iupati lands three nice shots there - that looked like it hurt!
Nolan tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
iupati scores to the head and body with a nice combination!
Nolan shoots in but doesn't get the takedown

and iupati counters with a shoot takedown. Nolan fights it but they end up in guard.
Mike iupati has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Brandon Nolan.
Nolan trying to keep a closed guard but iupati is proving a slippery customer.
iupati is just sitting in guard, looking to avoid any submissions.
iupati trying to control but Nolan is working from the bottom.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
iupati wants to pass the guard but Nolan is keeping the position.
iupati 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.
iupati missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.

And that's the end of the fight!
Mike iupati showed his dominance in that final round.
Well iupati 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 George Francis scores the fight 29:28
Judge Tiny Johnson scores the fight 29:28
Judge Chris Downing scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Mike iupati!