PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between JAH RASTAFARI (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Robert Nicholas (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). RASTAFARI's ring entrance music is that housewives' favourite, Welcome To Jamrock. Robert Nicholas struggled to make weight for this fight. He only made it down to 156.1lbs at the first attempt and had to take the additional two hours to make the official bout weight. Let's see how much it's taken out of him. Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

RASTAFARI
vs
Nicholas

197 cm
21
161 lbs
3 - 1 - 0

168 cm
24
169 lbs
3 - 2 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Solid Muay Thai
Good chin

Decent wrestler
Counter striker
Very confident

Rastafarii Clothing

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 3 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, JAH RASTAFARI!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 3 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Robert Nicholas!
The judges for this bout are Gregory Folan, William Peck and Yves DeLean.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
RASTAFARI throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
RASTAFARI thumps Nicholas with a low kick.
Nicholas blocks a head kick by RASTAFARI.
RASTAFARI throws a quick head kick that skims the top of Nicholas's head.
RASTAFARI pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Nicholas takes a kick to the side of the head.
Nicholas scores with a nice right hand.
RASTAFARI throws a head kick that looked like it stung.
Nicholas takes a kick to the side of the head.
RASTAFARI throws a right and a left that Nicholas avoids nicely.
A combination from Nicholas does no damage.
RASTAFARI throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
JAH RASTAFARI seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Nicholas fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
RASTAFARI throws a sloppy head kick and Nicholas moves out of range easily.
RASTAFARI lands a nice leg kick that just misses Nicholas's sensitive parts.
Nicholas shoots in but no luck this time.
Nicholas takes a body kick right on the floating rib. Ouchie.

Nicholas feints and as RASTAFARI raises his hands in defense, Nicholas changes levels and drives through with a takedown into guard.
Nicholas looks gassed!
Nicholas throws and elbow that misses. RASTAFARI uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in Nicholas's guard. Nice move by RASTAFARI!

That's one minute gone in the round.

Nicholas is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
RASTAFARI is looking to stand up but Nicholas won't let him.
RASTAFARI wants to stand and escape but instead Nicholas has hit a sweep and he's now on top in guard.
Nicholas working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Nicholas is looking to work some ground and pound but RASTAFARI has wrist control.
Nicholas trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Hammerfist, elbow! yells Nicholas's corner. There ya go! There ya go!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
RASTAFARI is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Nicholas is controlling him.
Hammerfist, elbow! yells Nicholas's corner. There ya go! There ya go!
Nicholas stands and throws RASTAFARI's legs to the side, diving into side control.
Sloppy strikes there by Nicholas.
Nicholas scoring with punches from side control.
An elbow from Nicholas crashes against the mat.
Nicholas throws a knee to the body but it doesn't do much damage.
Nicholas controls the position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Nicholas connects with a decent looking elbow from side control that caused RASTAFARI some visible discomfort.
Nicholas fails to land a wild elbow strike.
Nicholas is trying to ground and pound but RASTAFARI uses the momentary lack of control by Nicholas to regain half guard.
Nicholas throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
Nicholas thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.
Nicholas missing with the ground and pound from half guard.

RASTAFARI kicks Nicholas off and gets back to his feet.

That's four 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.
Nicholas walks forward, straight into a front kick from RASTAFARI.
RASTAFARI looking to take his opponent's legs away with the low kicks.
RASTAFARI goes for a high kick. It partially lands.
Nicholas tries to clinch there but RASTAFARI circles away.
Nicholas avoids the head kick by RASTAFARI.
RASTAFARI fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Nicholas avoids the head kick by RASTAFARI.

Nicholas throws the overhand right but ducks down into a quick takedown attempt. RASTAFARI was covering up waiting for the punch and Nicholas finishes the takedown easily into guard.
Nicholas throwing strikes from guard but RASTAFARI blocks nicely.
RASTAFARI wants to stand but Nicholas is controlling the position.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Robert Nicholas dominated that round.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

Nicholas is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
RASTAFARI buckles his opponent's knee momentarily with a nice leg kick.
RASTAFARI swings wildly with a couple of big hooks

and Nicholas counters by moving into the clinch.
Nicholas blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
Nicholas on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
RASTAFARI misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Nicholas.
A right handed body shot lands from Nicholas.

Nicholas is trying to trip RASTAFARI. He has hold of a leg but RASTAFARI is hopping around, keeping his balance for the moment. Nicholas persists though and gets the takedown into guard.
Nicholas throws a big right hand that misses.
Nicholas has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
Nicholas is looking to work some ground and pound but RASTAFARI has wrist control.
Nicholas trying to control but RASTAFARI is working from the bottom.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Nicholas with a nice head shot there.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Nicholas throws a strike but RASTAFARI rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.
RASTAFARI wanted to stand there but Nicholas had control of the position.

RASTAFARI avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
RASTAFARI has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.

Nicholas looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
RASTAFARI wants to get up but he can't break Nicholas's closed guard. He needs to be careful trying to break the legs open, as he's open to submissions here.

Nicholas looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
RASTAFARI wants to stand but Nicholas has a closed guard, so he can't escape.
We get told so often about how wrestlers don't like to be on their backs. Let's see if Nicholas can do anything to dispel that myth.
RASTAFARI wants to stand and escape but instead Nicholas has hit a sweep and he's now on top in guard.
Nicholas scores with a decent looking elbow strike.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Nicholas slips effortlessly into side control - very nice.
RASTAFARI taking punishment in the form of punches.
RASTAFARI wants to get back to his feet.
Nicholas trying to control the position but RASTAFARI is working away.
RASTAFARI takes a couple of big shots there - the referee warns him that he has to defend himself better.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Nicholas lands a decent elbow from side control.
Nicholas looking to punish the body of his opponent here but RASTAFARI is avoiding damage well.
Nicholas lands an elbow.
Nicholas wants to lay and pray for a moment but RASTAFARI keeps working.
Nicholas throwing strikes but RASTAFARI manages to buck up and roll into a nice reversal - now he's on top in side control!
Nicholas is sneaking out the side here. He's bucked RASTAFARI off and has taken his back!
RASTAFARI covering up well and avoiding damage.
Nicholas throwing strikes and RASTAFARI squirms under the pressure, ending up mounted.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Robert Nicholas showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action. And we move into the final round!

Nicholas tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but RASTAFARI paws at him with a jab and circles away.
RASTAFARI lands with a nice low kick. That'll leave a bruise.
RASTAFARI throws a quick head kick that skims the top of Nicholas's head.
RASTAFARI throws a right high kick that is partially blocked by Nicholas.
Nicholas doesn't manage to clinch there - RASTAFARI circles away.
RASTAFARI drops his hands momentarily and Nicholas takes advantage with a crisp shot to the head.
Nicholas tries to clinch up but RASTAFARI circles away and keeps his distance.
RASTAFARI really does look like a pencil wearing a pair of gloves. Let's hope he has a gameplan to suit that ridiculous body shape.
Nicholas fails to land the takedown.
RASTAFARI throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Nicholas.
RASTAFARI fakes with a right hand and throws a good leg kick, right into the thigh. That had to hurt Nicholas.
RASTAFARI closes the distance and lands a one-two.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
RASTAFARI swats away the attempt to clinch by Nicholas.
RASTAFARI connects with a leg kick. He turned his hip over nicely there.
A punch combination from RASTAFARI misses.

That's one minute gone in the round.
RASTAFARI lands with a nice low kick. That'll leave a bruise.
RASTAFARI throws a head kick that looked like it stung.
RASTAFARI pulls out of a head kick attempt.

Nicholas pushes RASTAFARI up against the cage in a clinch.
Nicholas avoiding damage as RASTAFARI throws knees to the body.
RASTAFARI tries to land knees in the clinch but Nicholas avoids the damage to the body.
Nicholas wants a takedown but no success here.
RASTAFARI tries to land knees in the clinch but Nicholas avoids the damage to the body.
RASTAFARI tries to land knees in the clinch but Nicholas avoids the damage to the body.
RASTAFARI tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Nicholas avoids it.
Nicholas blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
RASTAFARI tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Nicholas avoids it.
Nicholas lands a shot to the body.

Nicholas is working on a single leg takedown against the cage. RASTAFARI can't fight it off and eventually Nicholas manages to take the fight to the floor. RASTAFARI looks annoyed but at least he's managed to land in guard.
Nicholas scoring with punches to the head and body.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Nicholas throws a big right hand that misses.
Nicholas trying to move into half guard but instead RASTAFARI has managed to sweep!
RASTAFARI trying to stand up but can't free himself from Nicholas's guard.
RASTAFARI wants to stand and escape but instead Nicholas has hit a sweep and he's now on top in guard.
Nicholas chips away with some ground and pound.
RASTAFARI has momentary wrist control but Nicholas slips an elbow through the middle.
Nicholas pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. RASTAFARI is keeping the position for now.
Nicholas postures up in RASTAFARI's guard and throws a big left but RASTAFARI blocks it.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Nicholas distracts RASTAFARI with his right hand and drops a big elbow with his other arm.
RASTAFARI keeping moving, preventing Nicholas from controlling successfully.
Nicholas lands a couple of decent looking shots.
RASTAFARI working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Nicholas.
RASTAFARI keeping full guard, as Nicholas tries to pass.
Robert Nicholas is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.

Nicholas clinches with his opponent.
RASTAFARI trying to land knees to the body.
RASTAFARI misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Nicholas.
Nicholas on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
Nicholas lands a hook that snaps the head of RASTAFARI backwards.

Nicholas has double underhooks and is working for a body lock takedown. He's got it. The fighters land in half guard but RASTAFARI regains guard immediately.
Nicholas throws a strike but RASTAFARI rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.
Nicholas has a closed guard, preventing RASTAFARI from standing up.

Nicholas working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. RASTAFARI doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. RASTAFARI manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.

And that's the end of the fight!
Robert Nicholas comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Nicholas winning every round here. Surely the decision will go his way and he'll pick up a well deserved decision victory. 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 Gregory Folan scores the fight 27:30
Judge William Peck scores the fight 27:30
Judge Yves DeLean scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Robert Nicholas!