PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Rolando Alves (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Nick Nicatina (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Nicatina has chosen Andre Nickatina as his entrance music, which hasn't gone down very well with the crowd. Well, I have no idea who's going to take this one!

Alves
vs
Nicatina

182 cm
21
170 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

175 cm
25
167 lbs
1 - 1 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Counter striker
Good chin

BJJ White Belt
Excellent boxer
Granite chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the welterweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Rolando Alves!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Nick Nicatina!
The judges for this bout are , Jack Bonds and Frank Antenori.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Nicatina looks to land a left hand but Alves moved out of range nicely.
A swing and a miss from Nicatina.
Alves fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
Nicatina swings for the body but Alves moves out of range.
Alves uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Nicatina.
Alves shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Nicatina pinned against the cage. Nicatina gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
Nicatina lands a jab to the nose.
Nicatina moves in looking to clinch but Alves pushes him off.

Nicatina forces Alves back against the cage and clinches.
Nicatina blocking some punches.
Alves drops down looking for an ankle pick but Nicatina pulls his leg out and moves away.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Rolando Alves. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Nicatina throws a series of punches but Alves moves out of range.
Alves tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Alves misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Nicatina paws at his opponent with the jab and then lunges in with a straight, right on the button.
A slow jab from Nicatina misses its intended target.
Alves dives in and grabs Nicatina's left leg, looking for a takedown. Nicatina pushes down on Alves's head and hops out.
The crowd cheers as Alves lands an impressive looking overhand right. Nicatina doesn't seem phased though.

Nicatina has closed the distance and engaged Alves in a clinch.
Nicatina lands a nice shot to the body.

Alves breaks from the clinch.

Nicatina clinches up with Alves and pushes him back against the cage.
Nicatina has had enough of the clinch but Alves keeps him there for the moment.
Nicatina manages to get underhooks and slows down the pace for a moment.
Nicatina is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.
Alves has hold of a leg and is looking for a trip takedown. Nicatina avoids it nicely though and we remain in the clinch.
Alves tries to throw a body punch but Nicatina avoids it by throwing Alves back against the cage.
Nicatina prevents a takedown attempt there.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Nicatina has had enough of the clinch and is looking to separate.
Nicatina prevents the takedown attempt.
Nicatina holding his opponent close, against the cage.
Nicatina has had enough of the clinch but Alves keeps him there for the moment.
Nicatina takes a knee to the side of the body.
Nicatina is trying to break the clinch but Alves is controlling him.
Nicatina is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.
Nicatina lands a right hand that snaps the head of Alves backwards.
Alves fails to pull the fight into his guard.
Alves stalling in the clinch but Nicatina improves position.
A right handed body shot lands from Nicatina.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Alves has Nicatina pressed against the cage, preventing Nicatina from circling away and getting back to striking at range.
Nicatina is looking to break free of the clinch but Alves has double underhooks.
Alves tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. Nicatina just stands there and leans against the cage.
Nicatina is trying to break the clinch but Alves has him pressed against the cage.
Alves misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Nicatina managing to block the knees to the body from Alves.
Alves tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. Nicatina just stands there and leans against the cage.
The pace really dropping off here, momentarily.
Nicatina has had enough of the clinch but Alves keeps him there for the moment.
Alves fails to pull guard.
Nicatina stalling against the cage.
Alves tries a body shot but Nicatina blocks it.

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.

Alves breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Alves walks into a stiff left hand from Nicatina.

Nicatina moves into the clinch.
Nicatina lands a right uppercut that snaps the head of Alves backwards.
Nicatina tries to break the clinch but Alves is controlling the position.
Nicatina lands a shoulder strike that jolts his opponent's head backwards.

Nicatina breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Nicatina connects with a lovely jab that went straight through the gap between Alves's hands.
Alves is breathing heavily.
Jab from Nicatina.
Nicatina fails with an attempt to clinch.
Nicatina lands a pitter patter jab to the forehead of his opponent.

Nicatina rushes Alves and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Nicatina is pressed up against the cage. Alves has hold of a leg and is looking to drag Nicatina down to the mat. Nicatina avoids the attempt though and has circled away. We're back to striking at a distance.
Alves has a takedown stuffed.

Nicatina instigates a clinch.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Nick Nicatina dominated that round.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

Nicatina moves into range and clinches up with Alves.
Nicatina scores with a shoulder strike.
Nicatina stalling against the cage.
Nicatina can't break the clinch.
Nicatina is trying to break the clinch but Alves has him pressed against the cage.
Alves looking to slow down the pace here.
Nicatina blocks the elbow strike.
Alves tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. Nicatina just stands there and leans against the cage.
Nicatina looks like he'd prefer to be striking at range right now.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Alves looking to throw knees to the head but Nicatina is blocking nicely.

Nicatina escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Nick Nicatina seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Nicatina throws a hook to the side of Alves's head but Alves sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
Nicatina with a body punch. A glancing blow.

Nicatina clinches.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Alves with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.
Nicatina has had enough of the clinch but Alves keeps him there for the moment.
A short right from Nicatina.
Nicatina wants to break the clinch but can't.
Nicatina tries to circle away but Alves has him pinned against the cage.
Nicatina wants to get back to striking at distance but Alves won't allow it.
Alves keeps the fight in the clinch, despite Nicatina's efforts to push away.
This is turning into a torrid day at the office for Alves. He's trying desperately to land a takedown but he's failing miserably and getting slapped silly on the feet to compound his misery.
Nicatina has had enough of the clinch and is looking to separate.
Nicatina stops a takedown attempt from Alves.
Nicatina is trying to push Alves away but Alves has him pressed against the cage, so he's going nowhere.
Nicatina softening up his opponent with strikes, against the cage.
Alves tries to pull guard but Nicatina holds him up against the cage and eventually Alves drops back down to his feet.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Rolando Alves. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Nicatina gets underhooks to prevent Alves's takedown attempt.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Nicatina wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.
Alves jumps guard but his hands slip and he falls flat on his back. Well, he's made himself look a right mug there, as Nicatina walks away with a smile on his face. Alves gets slowly back to his feet and shakes his head.
Alves displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Nicatina throws out the jab.
Alves on the wrong end of a nice hook.
Nicatina darts in trying to clinch
and Alves counters with a one-two to the body.
Nicatina throws a looping overhand right but Alves ducks down to avoid it.
Nicatina is looking to clinch but Alves is avoiding it.
Nicatina lands the left hand.
Alves slips under a jab.
Rolando Alves is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Nicatina throws a body punch but Alves moves out of range.
Nicatina throws a decent looking leg kick but it doesn't land clean.

Alves scores a trip takedown into side control. Nice.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Nicatina keeping his opponent close.
Nicatina is looking for a sweep.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Nicatina is not content to let Alves control the position.

Alves tries for a kimura. Not really close to a finish though.
Alves in side control, trying to ground and pound but not landing this time.

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.
Alves is looking to take a break and control but Nicatina is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.

Alves working hard here to secure a kimura but he's not really in the right position for it.
Alves wants to lay and pray for a moment but Nicatina keeps working.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Nick Nicatina showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
That's the end of the interval. I'm sure that seemed a lot quicker than a minute for our two fighters! Back to the action. This is the final round!

Alves shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Alves gets cracked with a nice right hand there by Nicatina.
Alves uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Nicatina.
Nice shot by Nicatina.
Alves looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Nicatina is fending him off so far but Alves persists. Nope, Nicatina circles away and we're back to standing.
Nicatina moves into range and throws a combination. A nice jab followed by a hook to the body.
Alves throws a right and a left that Nicatina avoids nicely.
Alves fails with an attempt to clinch.
Nicatina misses with a wild body shot.

Alves darts in and clinches Nicatina up against the cage.
Nicatina wants to get back to striking at distance but Alves won't allow it.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

Alves manages to pull guard. Let's see whether he can land a sub off his back.
Nicatina postures up.
Nicatina has decided he wants to stand but the closed guard of Alves is proving hard to escape from.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Nicatina is using up a lot of energy trying to get back to his feet. Perhaps he should improve his position first.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Alves manages to land a sweep and now he's in mount on top!
Nicatina tries to get back to half guard but can't.
Alves landing punches.
Alves looking to ground and pound his opponent to a finish here.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Alves throwing sloppy strikes, which aren't doing any damage.
Alves trying to control but Nicatina is having none of it.
Nicatina really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Alves. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.
Alves putting on the heat here with some good ground and pound!
Alves throwing shots from mount but they're not landing.
Nicatina is in a horrible position here. Alves smacks him with another shot as he tries to escape the position.
Alves trying to control but Nicatina is having none of it.

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.
Alves lands with some strikes.
Nick Nicatina is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Alves lands a nice shot to the head.
Alves 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.
Alves lands a shot to the body, followed up by a shot to the exposed head of his trapped opponent.
Alves wants to control the pace but Nicatina is squirming around nicely.
Alves controlling from the full mount.

And that's the end of the fight!
That was a close round. You could make an argument for either fighter but I would give it to Rolando Alves.
I think Nicatina has won this one but let's see whether the judges agree with me. 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 Suge Night scores the fight 27:30
Judge Jack Bonds scores the fight 27:30
Judge Frank Antenori scores the fight 27:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Nick Nicatina!