PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Cesar Areza (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Johnny Nutz (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Areza
vs
Nutz

190 cm
24
210 lbs
3 - 5 - 0

190 cm
23
218 lbs
4 - 4 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Solid boxing
Granite chin

BJJ Brown Belt
Counter striker
Knockout power

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 3 - 5 - 0, fighting out of New York, Cesar Areza!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 4 - 4 - 0, fighting out of New York, Johnny Nutz!
The judges for this bout are Anthony Taglia, Jorge Garcia and John Kavanagh.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Nutz will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Nutz will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
Nutz fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
Areza swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
Nutz attempts a leg kick but it's missed by a good margin.
Nutz attempts a leg kick but it's missed by a good margin.
Areza is looking to clinch but Nutz is avoiding it.
Areza jabs Nutz right on the nose. Nutz blinks but takes it well.

It looks like Johnny Nutz has been cut.

Nutz shoots in from a long way out. He's driving through with the takedown attempt and he eventually gets it, landing in Areza's guard.

Nutz thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.

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

That's one minute gone in the round.

Areza throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
Nutz pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Areza is keeping the position for now.

Areza is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Nutz missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.

Areza looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
Areza avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.

Nutz thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.

Areza is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
Areza looking for a sweep. Not yet Areza, not yet.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Areza is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
Both fighters really going for it on the ground here!
Areza is breathing heavily.
Nutz loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.

Nutz thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.
Nutz trying to control the position from guard on top but Areza is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Nutz looking to pass the guard.
Areza trying to control the position.
Nutz postures up and lands a big shot to Areza's brow.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.
Areza takes one to the side of the head.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Nutz drives through with a really nice takedown into side control.
The fighters are starting to get a bit slippery now, which will make submissions a bit more difficult.
A bit of a lull in the action. I'm sure it will pick up again soon... even if the ref has to physically pick them up and put them back on their feet.
Areza is looking to reverse the position.
Areza sneaks a leg under to get back to half guard.
Areza is refusing to be controlled, as Nutz sits in half guard.
Nutz is in a good position here but he's just trying to control... And he's not even managing to do that successfully.
Nutz working over Areza with some ground and pound. Areza looks like he wants out of this position, which is understandable.

Areza is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Nutz pulls his head out easily.
Areza is not content to let Nutz control the position.
Areza manages to get to full guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Nutz trying to control the position from guard on top but Areza is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

Nutz got a little sloppy there for a moment and Areza has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Nutz has managed to get both his arms back between Areza's legs - danger averted.

Areza working away from the bottom but not quite defensive enough there because Nutz has passed into half guard!
Nutz is nestled in close to Areza, controlling him well. He's worked in a nice elbow to the side of the head as well, for good measure.

Nutz 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.
Nutz not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Johnny Nutz will probably get the nod.
The cut man is working on Johnny Nutz's cut.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

Nutz misses the jab.
Areza will need to close the distance a bit before he attacks - that leg kick was thrown from too far away.

Nutz decides to change it up a bit and drives through with a nice takedown into half guard.
Nutz thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Areza's head.
Areza is trying to maintain the position but Nutz is very close to passing his half guard.
Areza is looking to improve his position.
Areza keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.
Nutz wants to lay and pray for a moment but Areza keeps working.

Nutz is looking for a kimura. It's going to be difficult to finish that from half guard though and Areza defends it well.
Nutz is breathing heavily.
Areza moves his hips nicely and gets into full guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Areza looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
Nutz trying to control but Areza is working from the bottom.
Nutz missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Nutz missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Nutz looking to sit in guard and control but Areza gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.

Nutz is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
Areza trying to control but Nutz is working from the bottom.

Nutz is looking for a triangle but Areza pushes his legs off easily.

That's two 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.
Areza slips effortlessly into side control - very nice.

Areza tries for a kimura. Not really close to a finish though.
Nutz has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
Areza trying to control the action but Nutz is working from the bottom.
Nutz is trying to control Areza's posture but Areza avoids it.

Areza thinks about going for a far side armbar but bails out and retains the dominant position instead.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Areza goes for an armbar here - this could be all over! But no, Nutz has escaped beautifully and is now on top in side control! Oh, that's unlucky for Areza but great work by Nutz.
Nutz wants to lay and pray for a moment but Areza keeps working.
A bit of a lull in the action. I'm sure it will pick up again soon... even if the ref has to physically pick them up and put them back on their feet.

Nutz thinks about going for a far side armbar but bails out and retains the dominant position instead.
Areza wants to control but Nutz postures up.
Nutz trying to control the action but Areza is working from the bottom.
Areza regains half guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.

Nutz is working for a kimura but Areza is defending it quite comfortably.

Nutz is working for a submission of some sort.
Areza slips a foot under and gets full guard. Nice work.
Areza wants to stand and escape but Nutz is having none of it.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Areza looking to control.
Nutz won't allow Areza to get back to his feet.
Nutz keeps in close for a moment and lands a decent shot to the side of Areza's head.
Nutz content to stall in guard here.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Johnny Nutz will probably get the nod - 10:9.
The cut man is working on Johnny Nutz's cut.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business. This is the final round!

Good exchange - Areza coming out on top.
Some wild striking there from Nutz.
Cesar Areza is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Areza pulls out of a head kick attempt.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Areza misses with a double jab

and Nutz counters with a nice single leg takedown and he's in Areza's guard now.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Nutz is frustrating his opponent with some stalling tactics from top position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Areza keeping moving, preventing Nutz from controlling successfully.

Nutz drops back for a leg! It's a sloppy attempt though and Nutz jumps back into guard quickly, to retain the dominant position.
Nutz preventing the sweep.

Areza throws his legs up looking to secure a triangle. Oh, that looks pretty tight, I gotta say! Nutz escapes and throws Areza's legs to the side, diving into side control!
Areza is trying to get back to half guard.
Areza takes a nasty elbow to the side of the head.

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.
Areza wants to control but Nutz postures up.

Nutz is looking to finish here, going for an Americana. Areza knows the correct defense though, so he's OK.
Areza wings away with a couple of strikes but they don't land.
Areza manages to land a sweep and he's now on top! Lovely Jiu Jitsu!
Areza stalling away here and it's allowed Nutz to slip out his trapped foot and regain full guard.

Nutz throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
Nutz tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Areza in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Nutz looking to hit a scissor sweep but Areza is one step ahead there.
Nutz keeping full guard, as Areza tries to pass.

Areza postures up as if he's going to throw some strikes but drops back for an ankle! Nutz is in big trouble! He looks ready to tap! But no, he's escaped and dives on top of Areza, into his guard.

Areza had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Nutz defends it easily.
Nutz content to strike from guard, landing some decent shots.

Areza is active off his back here, looking for submissions.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Neither fighter has done anything of merit for a good minute or two here and the crowd are not happy about it.
Nutz postures up and lands some nice ground and pound.
Nutz showing good wrestling skills to control the position.

Nutz drops back for a leg! It's a sloppy attempt though and Nutz jumps back into guard quickly, to retain the dominant position.
Nutz postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Nutz wants to control from the top but Areza keeps moving.

Areza has his foot on Nutz's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Nutz works his way back into a safe position though.
Johnny Nutz has got the better of the ground game so far.
Nutz trying to control but Areza is working from the bottom.
Areza looking to control.

And that's the end of the fight!
Johnny Nutz comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Nutz 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 Anthony Taglia scores the fight 27:30
Judge Jorge Garcia scores the fight 27:30
Judge John Kavanagh scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Johnny Nutz!