PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Mauro Ziccardo (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Mats Nilsson (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Mauro Ziccardo could well score a knockout today. He has the power to get to Mats Nilsson's chin.

Ziccardo
vs
Nilsson

175 cm
22
205 lbs
2 - 0 - 0

175 cm
22
210 lbs
3 - 0 - 0

BJJ Brown Belt
Brawler
Granite chin

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Tends to cut

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 2 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Mauro Ziccardo!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 3 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Mats Nilsson!
The judges for this bout are Radbod Blank, Saam Ante and Paulsen Ambrosius.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Nilsson closes the distance and clinches.
Nilsson tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. Ziccardo just stands there and leans against the cage.
Nilsson fails to pull guard.

Nilsson has clasped his hands together around Ziccardo's back... aaand, he's got a takedown into side control. Nicely done.
Ziccardo throwing some weak shots from the bottom that do no damage.
Ziccardo is trying to control Nilsson's posture but Nilsson avoids it.
Nilsson prevents Ziccardo from escaping the position.
Nilsson happy to just control the position for now.
Ziccardo could do with loosing a few pounds - he looks very soft around the mid section, to put it politely.
Ziccardo is trying to stand back up. He's worked his way up against the cage but Nilsson has just dragged him back down to the mat.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Ziccardo is breathing heavily.
Nilsson throws an elbow but Ziccardo slips to the side and avoids it well.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Ziccardo tries to get back to half guard but can't.

Nilsson tries for an arm triangle. That looks pretty tight to me. Is this one over!?! Possibly, maybe, no Nilsson has let go of the choke. Obviously it wasn't as tight as we thought!

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Nilsson throws a low kick but it's checked well by Ziccardo.
Nilsson throws a wild body kick that Ziccardo sees coming a mile off.
Ziccardo shoots in for a takedown but Nilsson shows good takedown defense.

Nilsson 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.

Nilsson drops back, looking for a kneebar! Ziccardo looks panicked! The fighters roll across the mat, one looking to finish, one looking to escape. Ziccardo looks to have wriggled free... Yes, he's got his leg free and he's dived into side control! Good work there from Ziccardo!

Ziccardo has had enough of the ground for now and decides to stand.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Nilsson with a poor takedown

and Ziccardo counters with a takedown into side control.
Mauro Ziccardo has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Mats Nilsson.
Ziccardo tries to move to mount but Nilsson blocks the move with his legs.
Nilsson tries to bench press Ziccardo off him but Ziccardo keeps the position.
Nilsson is not content to let Ziccardo control the position.
Nilsson tries to bench press Ziccardo off him but Ziccardo keeps the position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Ziccardo has an Americana. Nilsson didn't react quickly enough there and he's in big trouble now! He tries to squirm out but is forced to tap! Ziccardo is delighted and gyrates in front of the ring girls. They seem to like the attention - it'll be interesting to see if Ziccardo hooks up with any of them at the after show party.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 3:25 of round 1, we have a winner by way of Submission (Americana). Mauro Ziccardo!