PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Atraeu Nelson (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Phantom Assasin (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Nelson comes to the cage accompanied by Sail by AWOL Nation. Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

Nelson
vs
Assasin

175 cm
26
170 lbs
4 - 0 - 0

185 cm
26
175 lbs
5 - 2 - 0

BJJ Brown Belt
Counter striker
Granite chin

BJJ Blue Belt
Decent boxing
Heavy handed

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 4 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Atraeu Nelson!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 5 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Phantom Assasin!
The judges for this bout are Shigeki Fujiwara, Yukihiro Yamamoto and Yuuki Gou.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Assasin swinging wildly here.

Assasin closes the distance and clinches.
A head punch on the inside from Assasin fails to land.
Assasin lands a body punch - he's looking to wear down Nelson.
Nelson wants a takedown but no success here.

Nelson has picked Assasin up - he's going for a ride! Nelson dumps his opponent to the mat with a thud and settles into half guard.
Assasin wants to get back to full guard.
Nelson trying to mount his opponent but Assasin defends it.

Nelson is looking for an arm triangle, whilst trying to pass to side control. Assasin doesn't seem that keen to cooperate though. No luck this time Nelson.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.

Nelson is trying for a guillotine from the top but the pressure isn't in the right place so Assasin is just riding it out for now. Nelson eventually gives up the hold.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Assasin is trying to get back to full guard.
Nelson tries to pass the half guard into mount. Assasin knows what he's doing though and prevents the attempt.

Nelson is working for a submission of some sort.
Assasin really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Nelson. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.
Assasin is looking to control Nelson's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Assasin avoid being mounted?
Nelson works his foot free and advances to mount.
Nelson tries to control but Assasin wriggling away.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Nelson has control of Assasin's right arm, working for a kimura. It's a bit of a token attempt though and Assasin regains control of the situation pretty easily.
Nelson avoids the attempt from Assasin to control.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Assasin is working to get back to half guard.
Nelson avoids the attempt from Assasin to control.

Nelson is thinking about an arm triangle here, looking to tighten it up before moving to side control. Assasin can see it coming though and defends well with a couple of strikes to the head and some good arm positioning.
Assasin tries to reverse the position but Nelson maintains control.
Nelson punching from mount but Assasin doing a good job of avoiding damage.
Nelson can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as Assasin is looking to escape.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Assasin is not a happy chappy… he wants out of there.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Nelson can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as Assasin is looking to escape.
Assasin wants to control but Nelson is having none of it.
Nelson tries to control but Assasin wriggling away.
Nelson scoring with strikes but Assasin is staying in there.
Assasin keeping his composure momentarily, calmly looking to get back to half guard.
A nice elbow there by Nelson.
Nelson trying to control but Assasin is having none of it.
Assasin is trying desperately to improve position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Nelson takes a little breather and maintains the position. The referee will be looking for him to stay active from such a dominant position though.

Nelson is working on an americana here. Ooh, that looks pretty nasty! Nope, Assasin has managed to escape the submission attempt.
Nelson looking to control and managing it successfully.
Nelson wants to take his opponent's back but he's not managed it.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Assasin is writhing around trying to get back to his feet.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Assasin is wriggling around trying to escape.
Nelson can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as Assasin is looking to escape.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Nelson moves away from the strike by Assasin.

Assasin gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.
Assasin doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Assasin taking a breather.
Nelson has dropped down and is looking to force the takedown but it's defended by Assasin after a bit of a struggle.
A short left from Assasin.
Nelson tries to pull guard but Assasin forces him back to his feet, against the cage.
Assasin doesn't land with the attempted body shot.

Nelson pulls Assasin into guard.
Nelson working a defensive guard here.
Assasin throwing strikes but missing.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Nelson is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Assasin defends well.
Atraeu Nelson overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Assasin postures up in Nelson's guard and throws a big left but Nelson blocks it.
Assasin is looking to stand up but Nelson won't let him.

Nelson working for a triangle but Assasin defends it easily.

Assasin avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
Nelson preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Assasin has decided he wants to stand but the closed guard of Nelson is proving hard to escape from.
Nelson controls Assasin momentarily but Assasin frees himself.

Nelson working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Assasin doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Assasin manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.
Nelson preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
The fans in attendance giving it up for the two fighters, who have really let it all hang out in the last minute or so!

Nelson has his foot on Assasin's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Assasin works his way back into a safe position though.
Assasin throws a big elbow that misses.
Assasin won't allow Nelson to sweep him here.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Nelson has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Assasin can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
Assasin is looking to work some ground and pound but Nelson has wrist control.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Assasin accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Assasin with a flurry of punches that miss.
Nelson not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Assasin is looking to stand up but Nelson won't let him.
Assasin won't allow Nelson to sweep him here.
Assasin throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Assasin throwing strikes but missing.
Assasin is looking to work some ground and pound but Nelson has wrist control.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Assasin avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
A real slowdown in the pace of the fight for a moment, as Nelson holds on and takes a little breather.
Assasin loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Assasin throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Nelson works some decent striking defense from the bottom.

Nelson is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Assasin defends well.

Nelson looking for a guillotine here but Assasin defends easily.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Atraeu Nelson dominated that second round.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action! This is the final round!

A nice combination there by Assasin.
Nelson avoids a punch combination nicely.
Nice jab there from Assasin.

Nelson closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Nelson wants a takedown but no success here.
Assasin tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Nelson's elbow.
Assasin lands a right hand that snaps the head of Nelson backwards.
Nelson can't get the takedown.
Nelson blocks a body shot from Assasin.
Assasin throws a punch but it's blocked by Nelson.
Assasin tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
A short uppercut from Assasin.
Assasin looking to slow down the pace here.
Nelson can't get the takedown.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Atraeu Nelson. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Assasin misses with a hook to the ribs.

Nelson pulls guard.
Assasin throws a strike but Nelson rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.
Nelson preventing the sweep.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Nelson in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Assasin keeping full guard, as Nelson tries to pass.
Assasin controlling the position.
Nelson looking to pass the guard.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!

The ref stands the fighters back up, due to lack of action by Phantom Assasin.
Danga de danga de dang - Assasin scores with a four punch combination!
Assasin misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
No joy there for Assasin, who threw a few shots but didn't land.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Nelson shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Oh and he's advanced to full mount straight away.
Nelson trying to control but he's not successful this time.
Assasin is trying to get to the cage to help him get back to his feet.
Nelson looking to ground and pound but Assasin is blocking nicely.
Nelson content just to control the position here.

Nelson is working on an americana here. Ooh, that looks pretty nasty! Nope, Assasin has managed to escape the submission attempt.
Nelson avoids the attempt from Assasin to control.
Phantom Assasin has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Nelson tucks in and makes sure he doesn't lose the dominant position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Nelson landing strikes, looking to finish!

Nelson with some aggressive grappling here. He's looking for submissions here, rather than waiting for the opportunity to counter.
Assasin tries to reverse the position but Nelson maintains control.
Nelson trying to control but he's not successful this time.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Assasin keeping his composure momentarily, calmly looking to get back to half guard.
Nelson wants to control the pace but Assasin is squirming around nicely.
Atraeu Nelson is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.

Nelson looks like he's working for a submission but he's not found anything just yet.
Nelson seems to be looking to move to his opponent's back but Assasin is holding on tight.

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 Atraeu Nelson.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Nelson, winning every round. Will the judges agree? They are the ones who matter, even if they are often depressingly incompetent. 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 Yukihiro Yamamoto scores the fight 30:28
Judge Yuuki Gou scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Atraeu Nelson!
An out of breath Atraeu Nelson thanked his loyal fans in his post fight interview, giving them credit for his success over the course of his career.