PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Dave Waters (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Davey Nicholls (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Davey Nicholls is the more experienced fighter, so let's see if that makes a difference tonight.

Waters
vs
Nicholls

180 cm
25
185 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

190 cm
18
190 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Solid boxing
Self confident

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter striker
Very confident

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the middleweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of London, Dave Waters!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of London, Davey Nicholls!
The judges for this bout are Andrew Berry, Donald Grub and Chris Edwards.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Waters misses with a double jab
and Nicholls counters with a lovely shot to the body.
Some wild striking there from Nicholls.
Nicholls misses with a two punch combination.
Waters throws a sloppy head kick and Nicholls moves out of range easily.
Waters is looking to clinch.
Waters scores with a body shot.
Waters throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.

Waters closes the distance and clinches.

Waters jumps guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Waters is on top in guard.
Waters controlling from the guard. I say controlling but really, he's stalling.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Waters decides he's had enough of playing guard and decides to stand. Come on Nicholls, up you get!
Waters tries to score with an inside leg kick but telegraphs it and Nicholls is able to avoid easily.
Waters shapes like he's going to throw a leg kick but settles back down.

Waters moves into the clinch.
Waters pushes Nicholls back against the cage and lands a hook to the side of the head.
Waters is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.
A battle for position here, against the cage.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Stalling in the clinch from Waters.
Nicholls is looking to break free of the clinch but Waters has double underhooks.
Nicholls is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.
Waters wants to get back to striking at distance but Nicholls won't allow it.
A battle for position here, against the cage.
Nicholls is trying to break the clinch but Waters has him pressed against the cage.
Nicholls tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.

Waters escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Waters avoids the body shot from Nicholls.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Waters fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Nicholls avoids it really well and circles away.
Nicholls on the wrong end of a vicious looking body shot.

Waters pushes Nicholls up against the cage in a clinch.
The pace really dropping off here, momentarily.
Nicholls is trying to force a seperation but Waters has the dominant position.
Nicholls keeps control of Waters as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.
Waters gets underhooks to prevent Nicholls's takedown attempt.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Nicholls wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.
Nicholls prevents Waters from breaking the clinch.
Nicholls wants to get back to striking at distance but Waters won't allow it.

Waters escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Dave Waters seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Nicholls looks to land a body kick but Waters moved away.

Waters has taken the fight to the clinch.

Waters's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Waters dips to his left and cracks Nicholls with an uppercut!
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Nicholls stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Nicholls wants it to stay on the feet.
Nicholls throws a series of punches but Waters avoids them all with ease.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.

Waters moves into range and clinches up with Nicholls.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Dave Waters dominated that round.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business.

Nicholls fails with a takedown attempt.
A looping hook to the body misses from Nicholls. Waters does a little dance to reset his feet.
Nice sprawl there from Waters as Nicholls shoots in.
Waters changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Nicholls tries to avoid it but Waters manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Nicholls to the ground. Nicholls escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
Waters wants to clinch.
Dave Waters is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Waters just misses with a punch to the body.
Nicholls misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Waters.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Waters closes the distance and clinches.
A nice right hand lands inside from Waters.
Nicholls wants to get back to striking at distance but Waters won't allow it.
Waters misses with an elbow strike.
Waters tries to break free but Nicholls pushes him back against the cage.
Nicholls wants to break free but Waters has control.
Waters throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Nicholls blocks it with crossed arms.
Waters is trying to push Nicholls away but Nicholls has him pressed against the cage, so he's going nowhere.

Nicholls breaks the clinch.

Waters instigates a clinch.
Nicholls is trying to break the clinch but Waters is controlling him.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Nicholls escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.

Waters takes the fight into the clinch.
Nicholls is looking to control Waters's arms but Waters gets an underhook and turns him. Now Nicholls has his back to the cage.
Nicholls leaning his opponent against the cage.
Nicholls wants to break the clinch but can't.
Waters drops down looking for an ankle pick but Nicholls pulls his leg out and moves away.
Nicholls gets cracked with a nice right hand there by Waters.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Nicholls tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Waters was well out of range. Poor timing from Nicholls.
Nicholls shoots in for a takedown but Waters shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
Dave Waters has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Davey Nicholls.
Nicholls is breathing heavily.
Waters blocks a head kick by Nicholls.
Waters dodges the punch combination from Nicholls.
Waters lands a two punch combo.
A head kick misses from Waters.
Nicholls moves out of range of the body kick.
Waters feints a jab promting Nicholls to slip. Waters then demonstrates his capabilities by jabbing again. Nicholls slips again and ducks right into an uppercut.

Waters has managed to clinch.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Good anti-grappling being displayed by Waters as Nicholls tries to tie him up.
Waters lands a right uppercut that snaps the head of Nicholls backwards.
Nicholls wants to break the clinch but can't.
Waters manages to get underhooks and slows down the pace for a moment.
Nicholls tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
A short body shot lands from Waters as the two fighters clinch.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Dave Waters dominated that second round.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business. Let's hear some noise people - this is the final round!

Nicholls avoids a punch combination nicely.
Waters lands an overhand left. A wild punch that just about connected.
Waters fails with an attempt to clinch.
Nicholls is throwing a lot of body shots here, looking to wear down Waters rather than just go for the knockout.
A head kick misses from Waters.
Waters lands with a cross to side of his opponent's head.
Dave Waters is winning the standup battle so far.
Nicholls misses with a takedown attempt - Waters sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
Waters dodges the punch combination from Nicholls.
No joy there for Nicholls, who threw a few shots but didn't land.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Waters rushes Nicholls and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.
Waters tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Nicholls avoids it.
Waters drops to a knee looking for a takedown but Nicholls gets the underhooks and prevents it.
Waters scores with an uppercut up the middle.
Waters has Nicholls pressed against the cage, preventing Nicholls from circling away and getting back to striking at range.
Waters with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.
Come on Waters - let's have some action - none of this stalling nonsense.
Waters goes for a takedown in the clinch but Nicholls prevents it.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Waters jumps guard.
Waters wants to sweep here but Nicholls controlling him for the moment.
Waters keeping moving, preventing Nicholls from controlling successfully.
Waters is adopting a defensive guard.
Waters wants to stand but Nicholls is controlling the position.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Waters utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Nicholls wants to stand but Waters is controlling his posture from full guard.
We've had a lack of effective grappling in the last minute or so, which could well see a referee standup.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.
Nicholls with poor footwork there. He got himself in a bit of a tangle, enabling Waters to score with a decent uppercut.
Waters throws a series of punches but Nicholls moves out of range.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Waters wants to clinch.
Waters shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Dave Waters. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Waters motions for Nicholls to come forward. Waters throws a leg kick but it misses it's target.
Waters throws a sloppy head kick and Nicholls moves out of range easily.
Nicholls shoots in for a double leg but Waters sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
Nicholls misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
The fighters circle momentarily. Nicholls darts into range and connects with a nice straight punch.
Davey Nicholls has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Dave Waters is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.

Waters moves into range and clinches up with Nicholls.

And that's the end of the fight!
Dave Waters showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Waters 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 Andrew Berry scores the fight 30:27
Judge Donald Grub scores the fight 30:27
Judge Chris Edwards scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Dave Waters!