PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Nels Cline (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Lucas Chavalier (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). We have two fighters making their debuts here, so let's see who comes out of this one with their first professional victory.

Cline
vs
Chavalier

187 cm
22
180 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

170 cm
22
168 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter striker
Big heart

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter striker
Plays chess

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 Tokyo, Nels Cline!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Lucas Chavalier!
The judges for this bout are Shigeki Fujiwara, Kenichi Hosakawa and Tatsuya Matsuyama.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Chavalier wants to clinch up but Cline keeps it at a distance.
Chavalier moves in looking to clinch but Cline pushes him off.
Chavalier throws a right and a left that Cline avoids nicely.
Cline throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Cline moves in looking to clinch but Chavalier pushes him off.
Cline thows a body shot but no joy.

Cline shoots in for a takedown and gets it.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Chavalier wants to improve his position but Cline is controlling well.
Chavalier is staying active underneath Cline, who seems content to just control the action from this position.
Cline knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Chavalier on the ground.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Chavalier wants to get back to full guard.
Cline looking to pass the half guard. Not this time.
Cline not landing any meaningful shots this time.
Cline with the ground and pound but Chavalier uses the opportunity to regain guard.
Cline postures up in Chavalier's guard and throws a big left but Chavalier blocks it.
Cline working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fight is doing enough on the ground.
Chavalier throws a jab, cross combination which is slipped

and Cline counters with a takedown into full mount! That could mean trouble for Chavalier!
Cline cracks Chavalier with a nasty head shot there - the crowd let out an audible gasp there, as the noise reverberated around the arena.
Chavalier in a bad spot here, taking shots to the head.
Chavalier tries to hold on but Cline postures up.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Chavalier is wriggling around trying to escape.
Cline takes a little breather and maintains the position. The referee will be looking for him to stay active from such a dominant position though.
Chavalier tries to get back to half guard but can't.
Cline sitting in mount, just looking to control for the moment.
Cline looking to ground and pound but Chavalier is blocking nicely.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Cline putting on the heat here with some good ground and pound!
Chavalier tries to hold on but Cline postures up.
Chavalier suckers Cline into throwing a sloppy strike and uses the momentum to reverse the position beautifully! Chavalier is now in Cline's guard!
Cline on his back here. We all know that wrestlers don't like being on their back so let's see if Cline tries to get out of the position.
Chavalier postures up.
Chavalier won't allow Cline to sweep him here.
Chavalier showing good wrestling skills to control the position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A few boos can be heard. I'm sure they will multiply if the fighters don't pick up the pace.
Cline wants to sweep here but Chavalier controlling him for the moment.
Cline keeping full guard, as Chavalier tries to pass.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.
Chavalier slips under a jab.
Chavalier tries to bum rush Cline with a series of wild strikes but Cline uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Chavalier looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.

Cline feints and as Chavalier raises his hands in defense, Cline changes levels and drives through with a takedown into guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Nels Cline dominated that round.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin!

Cline rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Chavalier moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Chavalier swinging wilding here.
Cline wants to clinch up but Chavalier keeps it at a distance.
Chavalier is looking to clinch but Cline is avoiding it.
Chavalier fails to land with a series of punches.
Chavalier misses with a combination
and Cline counters with a series of strikes. Chavalier will be more careful next time no doubt.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Chavalier falls off balance throwing a combination
and Cline counters with a one-two to the body.
Cline swats away the attempt to clinch by Chavalier.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Chavalier looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Chavalier scores with a three punch combo!
Cline tries to close the distance and clinch up but Chavalier swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Chavalier misses with a jab, cross combination.
Chavalier falls off balance throwing a combination

and Cline counters with a single leg into guard. Chavalier didn't expect that.
Chavalier is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Cline trying to control but Chavalier is working from the bottom.
Chavalier looking to control.
Cline makes a bit of distance and scores with some ground and pound, still in guard.
Cline looking to pass the guard.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Cline is pushing down on Chavalier's leg trying to pass to half guard. Chavalier is fighting to maintain full guard but Cline has managed to sneak the leg through.
Cline is pressing down on Chavalier's thigh, looking to free his foot. Chavalier is holding on for now.
Cline is thwarting Chavalier's attempts to control the position.
Cline stalling.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Chavalier is looking to sinch up a gullotine here but Cline pulls his head out easily.
Cline is looking to take a break and control but Chavalier is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Chavalier is working for an escape here. He's hooked one of Cline's legs and he's managed to sneak out and take Cline's back!
Cline trying to control but not successfully.

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.
A lull in the action here.
Cline can't escape the position.
Cline looking very determined here, making life difficult for Chavalier.
Chavalier avoiding Cline 's attempts to control his hands.

Chavalier is staying calm and holding on to the back position, whilst working on a rear naked choke. Cline is defending well though. Chavalier let's go of the attempt for now.
Chavalier really has the hooks in deep now - there seems like no escape for Cline.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Nels Cline dominated that second round.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action! Ladies and gentlemen, this is the final round!

Cline feints and as Chavalier raises his hands in defense, Cline changes levels and drives through with a takedown into guard.
Chavalier keeping moving, preventing Cline from controlling successfully.
Clineis looking to pass into half guard but Chavalier pushes him away with his feet and jumps on top - now Chavalier is in guard.
Chavalier trying to control but Cline is working from the bottom.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Cline looking to hit a scissor sweep but Chavalier is one step ahead there.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Cline is trying to keep Chavalier in close.
Chavalier trying to control the position from guard on top but Cline is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
Chavalier misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Chavalier throws a combination that misses

and Cline counters with a driving takedown into guard. Nice work there by Cline.
Nels Cline overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.

Chavalier is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
Cline scores with a decent looking elbow strike.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Cline is holding a leg here, probably looking for an ankle lock - he drops back and goes for it! Chavalier is in trouble! Is it all over??? No! Chavalier has escaped and now he's on top!
Cline thows some rabbit punches from the bottom but they don't do any damage.
Cline working a defensive guard here.
Cline tries to strike from the bottom.
Cline tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Cline looking to control but Chavalier passes into half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Cline is looking to improve his position.
Chavalier wants to lay and pray for a moment but Cline keeps working.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
Cline misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.

Cline closes the distance and gets a double leg, slamming Chavalier to the mat! Chavalier manages to get full guard.
Cline missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Cline not doing a lot at the moment. He'll have to show some more aggression or the fight will get stood up.
Chavalier working a defensive guard here.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Cline looking to control the position here, rather than advance.
Cline trying to control the position from guard on top but Chavalier is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Cline throwing strikes but missing.
Cline tries to free his leg and advance position but Chavalier is retaining full guard.

And that's the end of the fight!
Nels Cline showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Cline has outscored his opponent in every aspect of the fight today. Only a scarily incompetent judge or two will keep him from a well deserved win... 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 Shigeki Fujiwara scores the fight 30:27
Judge Kenichi Hosakawa scores the fight 30:27
Judge Tatsuya Matsuyama scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Nels Cline!