PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Joe Strummer (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Adam Nelson (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Joe Strummer has a significant reach advantage - let's see if he can make it count.

Strummer
vs
Nelson

187 cm
22
162 lbs
4 - 2 - 0

170 cm
18
163 lbs
2 - 0 - 0

Good takedowns
Brawler
Big heart

BJJ Purple Belt
Basic striking
Granite chin

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 4 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Joe Strummer!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Adam Nelson!
The judges for this bout are Cecil Peabody, George Francis and Frank Dennis.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Strummer shoots for a takedown but Nelson saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
Nelson has his takedown stuffed

and Strummer counters with a nice double leg into half guard.
Strummer is keen to just control but Nelson is a slippery customer.
Nelson tries to roll over but Strummer keeps him under control.
Nelson slips a foot under and gets full guard. Nice work.

Strummer is trying to work a guillotine from the top, or something like that? Don't know how he thinks he's going to get a finish from there.
Strummer preventing the sweep.
Strummer pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Nelson is keeping the position for now.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Strummer trying to control the position from guard on top but Nelson is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

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

and Nelson counters with a takedown into side control.
Strummer is trying to improve his position.

Nelson tries for a kimura. Not really close to a finish though.
Strummer is positioning himself to get back to half guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Nelson is trying to land an Americana. He has the arm isolated but Strummer is keeping cool and he's avoided the danger for now.

Nelson looking for an arm triangle but it's way too loose to do anything.
Nelson looks gassed!
Strummer is trying to get back to half guard. He's pushing on Nelson's leg. He's managed it. Nice work.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

Nelson seems to be working for a kimura but Strummer defends the submission attempt.
Strummer moves his hips nicely and gets into full guard.

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

Strummer has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Nelson can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Strummer tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Both fighters really going for it on the ground here!

Nelson drops back looking for a leg! Strummer is in trouble here! The fighters roll with the hold and Strummer manages to kick Nelson off! Nelson jumps back into Strummer's guard.
Nelson wants to control from the top but Strummer keeps moving.
Nelson must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.
Nelson tries to free his leg and advance position but Strummer is retaining full guard.

Nelson working hard here to secure a kimura but he's not really in the right position for it.

Nelson tries for a kimura. Not really close to a finish though.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Strummer tries to bench press Nelson off him but Nelson keeps the position.
Strummer is working hard here to advance position.

Nelson looking for an arm triangle but it's way too loose to do anything.
Nelson wants to control but Strummer is keeping him busy.

Nelson tries for a kimura but Strummer is defending well.
Strummer managing to avoid any damage from the strikes thrown by Nelson.
Strummer really does look like a pencil wearing a pair of gloves. Let's hope he has a gameplan to suit that ridiculous body shape.

Nelson looking for an arm triangle but it's way too loose to do anything.

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

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Nelson is looking to finish here, going for an Americana. Strummer knows the correct defense though, so he's OK.
Strummer is looking to reverse the position.
Nelson advances to full mount.
Strummer regains half guard.
The fighters are battling for position here. Strummer manages to regain full guard. Nice work.

Strummer is looking for a triangle but Nelson pushes his legs off easily.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Strummer is on top in guard.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.

Nelson looking for a guillotine here but Strummer defends easily.
Strummer pushes down on Nelson's leg and manages to get into half guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close round but I would say that Joe Strummer will probably get the nod.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

Strummer scores with a takedown into Nelson's guard.
Strummer wants to control from the top but Nelson keeps moving.
Strummer pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Nelson is keeping the position for now.
Strummer throwing strikes from guard but Nelson blocks nicely.

Nelson escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Strummer gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.

Strummer postures up as if he's going to throw some strikes but drops back for an ankle! Nelson is in big trouble! He looks ready to tap! But no, he's escaped and dives on top of Strummer, into his guard.
Nelson won't allow Strummer to sweep him here.
Joe Strummer overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Nelson stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Strummer swivels though and keeps the full guard.

Nelson drops back looking for a leg! Strummer is in trouble here! The fighters roll with the hold and Strummer manages to kick Nelson off! Nelson jumps back into Strummer's guard.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

Strummer had isolated an arm as going for an omaplata. Nelson is defending the submission well but is in a very vulnerable position. Strummer Is leaning forward trying to finish the omaplata but decides to abandon it, and take Nelson's back instead.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Nelson manages to reverse the position and now he's in Strummer's guard. Nice work there by Nelson.

Strummer looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
Strummer can't keep his opponent in guard - Nelson advances to half guard, no doubt looking to mount.
Strummer gets back to full guard.

Strummer looking for a guillotine here but Nelson defends easily.

Nelson has gone for a leg lock! Strummer slips out almost immediately though and dives into Nelson's guard.
Strummer loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Strummer wants to pass the guard but Nelson is keeping the position.
Strummer sneaks a leg through and gets to half guard. That was like a knife through butter how easily he passed Nelson's guard.

Strummer is looking for a kimura but Nelson is holding onto that half guard position, so it's hard for Strummer to get the leverage.
Nelson wants to improve his position but Strummer is controlling well.
Strummer will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.

Nelson actively working from the bottom here.
Strummer tries to pass to full mount but Nelson defends it.

Strummer is working for submissions here but there's nothing on.
Nelson tries to get to full guard but Strummer has control of the leg.
Strummer is looking to advance position but Nelson won't allow it.

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

Nelson shoots in and bounces Strummer off the cage to secure the takedown into guard.
Nelson trying to control but Strummer is working from the bottom.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Nelson passes Strummer's right leg, so he's now in half guard.
Strummer is trying to get back to full guard.
Strummer works his way to full guard. Good work.
Nelson pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Strummer is keeping the position for now.
Nelson is persisting with the attempt to improve his position.

Nelson avoids a guillotine attempt easily.

Strummer is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.

Strummer is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
Nelson passes easily into side control. Nice work.
Strummer is moving his hips around well on the bottom and has managed to get back to half guard.

Nelson is trying to work for a kimura but Strummer is defending well.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Nelson is looking for an arm triangle, whilst trying to pass to side control. Strummer doesn't seem that keen to cooperate though. No luck this time Nelson.
Strummer gets back to full guard.
Nelson preventing the sweep.
Nelson advances to half guard.
Nelson seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Strummer does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.
Strummer wants to improve his position but Nelson is controlling well.
Strummer moves his hips nicely and gets into full guard.
Strummer looking to control.
Strummer keeping full guard, as Nelson tries to pass.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Joe Strummer dominated that second round.
That's time! Back to the action! This is the final round!

Strummer doesn't succeed with the takedown
and Nelson counters with an inside leg kick.
Nelson shoots in looking for a takedown. Strummer tries to sprawl out of it but Nelson keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Strummer manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
Strummer doesn't succeed with the takedown

and Nelson counters with a nice shoot takedown that brings the fighters to the ground.
Nelson wants to control from the top but Strummer keeps moving.
Strummer is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Nelson throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Nelson looking to pass the guard.

Strummer looking for a guillotine here but Nelson defends easily.
Strummer manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Nelson manages to get himself to full guard.
Nelson is trying to control the position but Strummer postures up.
Nelson takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Strummer pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Nelson is keeping the position for now.

Nelson had isolated an arm as going for an omaplata. Strummer is defending the submission well but is in a very vulnerable position. Nelson Is leaning forward trying to finish the omaplata but decides to abandon it, and take Strummer's back instead.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Strummer turns into Nelson and is now in his guard.
Nelson manages to land a sweep and now he's in mount on top!
Nelson tries to control but Strummer wriggling away.
Strummer working to try and regain half guard.

Nelson is working for a guillotine from mount but Strummer frees his head quite easily.
Nelson breaks from Strummer's wrist control and lands an elbow.
Nelson fails to take his opponent's back.
Strummer gets back to half guard.
Strummer gets full guard.

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

Strummer is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Nelson is trying to work a guillotine from the top, or something like that? Don't know how he thinks he's going to get a finish from there.

Strummer pushes a forearm under Nelson's chin to create some space. He's escaped his hips and pivoted quickly for an armbar! Can he extend the arm? Yes, Nelson is tapping out! Damn, that was fast!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 2:30 of round 3, we have a winner by way of Submission (Armbar). Joe Strummer!