PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Darth Vader (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Azumah Nelson (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). These two fighters really are very evenly matched on the feet - it will be fascinating to see who can assert themselves in that aspect of the fight.

Vader
vs
Nelson

225 cm
18
175 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

185 cm
25
171 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Basic striking
Good chin

Good takedowns
Brawler
Very confident

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 Hilo, Darth Vader!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, Azumah Nelson!
The judges for this bout are , and .

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Nelson tries to clinch up.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Nelson.
Vader misses with the combination.
Vader throws a low kick but Nelson avoids it.
Vader throws a series of punches but Nelson moves out of range.
Nelson shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Vader but Vader pushes him off and we're back to square one.
Nice takedown defense from Nelson. No joy for Vader on that attempt.
Vader lands a jab, followed by a cross and another cross, as Nelson backs up against the cage.
Vader will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
Vader really does look like a pencil wearing a pair of gloves. Let's hope he has a gameplan to suit that ridiculous body shape.
Vader tries to bum rush Nelson with a series of wild strikes but Nelson uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
A right-left combo lands from Vader.

Nelson moves into range and clinches up with Vader.

Nelson manages to break the clinch.
Ouch! a nice leg kick from Vader, right into the meat.

Nelson rushes Vader and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Nelson blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.

Nelson has dropped down and is working for a takedown. Vader is trying to keep an underhook but Nelson manages to get the takedown into half guard.
Nelson stalling.

Nelson decides he's had enough of the ground and stands up.
Vader looks to land a body kick but Nelson moved away.
Vader checks the leg kick nicely there.

Excellent takedown into side control there by Nelson.

Nelson decides to stand up, so the ref orders Vader to his feet.
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 feints and then dives in with a takedown. That was a long way out but the feint bought him enough time to close the distance and complete the takedown. Now we'll play guard for a bit and see who can get the better of that position.
Nelson looks gassed!

Nelson decides he's had enough of playing guard and decides to stand. Come on Vader, up you get!
Darth Vader seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Nelson looking to score a takedown here. Vader is defending well but Nelson drives through and ends up in Vader's guard.
Vader will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.
Nelson is intent on slowing down the pace of the fight, simply looking to control.
Vader wants to get back to his feet but Nelson is in a dominant position and won't allow it.
Nelson controls the pace of the fight for a moment.
Vader wants to stand but Nelson is controlling the position.

The ref stands the fighters back up. Azumah Nelson was stalling too much, according to the referee.
Nelson lands a jab-cross combination.
Nelson slips a jab and a cross from Vader.
Vader throws a right and a left that both miss.

Nelson takes the fight into the clinch.

Nelson's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Nelson clinches with his opponent.

Nelson jumps guard and drags Vader to the mat. He's obviously going to be looking for submissions off his back.

Nelson working for a triangle but Vader defends it easily.
Nelson is trying to control the position but Vader postures up.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Vader accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Vader wants to get up but he can't break Nelson's closed guard. He needs to be careful trying to break the legs open, as he's open to submissions here.

Nelson working for a triangle but Vader defends it easily.
Vader in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Vader missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Nelson has momentary wrist control but Vader slips an elbow through the middle.

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

Vader avoids a guillotine attempt easily.

Nelson working for a triangle but Vader defends it easily.
Vader missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Azumah Nelson 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.

Vader shoots in but no luck this time.
A jab from Nelson misses.
Nelson pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Nelson stuffs the takedown.
Vader leaves Nelson with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.

Nelson throws a loose over hand right and dives in with a double leg takedown. Vader tries to sprawl but it's too late and the fighters hit the mat. Nelson is in Vader's guard.
Vader wants to get back to his feet but he's too absorbed in his own little project and Nelson manages to pass to side control.
Vader tries to kick Nelson off but Nelson keeps his base steady and stays in half guard.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

Nelson gets to his feet - back to striking we go!
Nice takedown defense from Nelson. No joy for Vader on that attempt.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Darth Vader. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Nelson wants to clinch up but Vader keeps it at a distance.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Vader fakes a jab and throws a low kick but Nelson checks it well.
Vader avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Vader with a poor takedown

and Nelson counters with a takedown into side control.
Nelson has knee on belly and now moves to full mount! Trouble for Vader!
Vader is trying to stand up.
Nelson controlling his opponent.
Vader trying desperately to get to his feet.

Nelson has control of Vader's right arm, working for a kimura. It's a bit of a token attempt though and Vader regains control of the situation pretty easily.

Nelson looking for an armbar but decides to keep the dominant position instead.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Nelson connects with a couple of good shots from mount.
Vader trying desperately to get to his feet.
Nelson raining down hammerfists from mount.

Nelson working for a submission but Vader is keeping him at bay.
Vader is trying to stand but he's not in a good position to be doing that! Nelson has taken his back!
Nelson is working the ground and pound here and the referee is taking a close look at Vader. He must escape soon or this one will be stopped.
Vader is trying to get back to his feet but he's not managed it yet.
Vader trying desperately to get back to his feet here but he's not having any joy at all. He's going to tire himself out if he's not careful.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Nelson keeps control of the position easily here as Vader tries to buck him off.

Vader is staying cool under pressure, defending well against the rear naked choke attempt from his opponent.
Nelson lands with a hammerfist to the side of Vader's head.

Nelson has his hand under the chin of his opponent looking for the choke. He's nearly got it! This one could be all over! But no, Vader has freed his hand and lives to survive another… well, another couple of seconds at least!
Vader is trying to get back to his feet but he's not managed it yet.
Vader covers up after that shot from Nelson.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Nelson lands with a nice looking elbow that stuns Vader.
Nelson is working the ground and pound. Can Vader escape?
Vader is trying to get back to his feet but he's not managed it yet.
Nelson is controlling his opponent, waiting for an opportunity to finish.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.

Nelson has his hand under the chin of his opponent looking for the choke. He's nearly got it! This one could be all over! But no, Vader has freed his hand and lives to survive another… well, another couple of seconds at least!
Vader has the hand control, trying to stop the rear naked choke.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Azumah Nelson showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business. Let's get this one finished - here comes the final round!

Nelson has closed the distance and engaged Vader in a clinch.
Nelson throws an elbow that misses.
Nelson prevents a takedown attempt there.

Nelson jumps guard and drags Vader to the mat. He's obviously going to be looking for submissions off his back.
Vader has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.

Nelson throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
Vader throws an elbow that misses. Nelson uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in Vader's guard. Nice move by Nelson!
Nelson passes easily into side control. Nice work.

Vader bucks up and manages to escape back to his feet!
Vader displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Nelson.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Vader shoots in for a takedown but Nelson shows good takedown defense.
Vader shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Darth Vader. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Vader lets the fists fly and connects with a left straight followed by a right hook.
Vader looks to land a combination but Nelson avoids it well.

Nelson drives through with a takedown into guard.
Nelson sitting in guard, not really doing much.
Vader is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.
Vader wants to get back to his feet but Nelson passes into half guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Nelson is looking to pass the guard... He's managed it - he's now in full mount!
Vader taking shots to the head.
Vader is trying to stand but he's not in a good position to be doing that! Nelson has taken his back!
Nelson has his opponent trapped and is landing shots. Not a good position for Vader.
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!
Vader has the hand control, trying to stop the rear naked choke.

Nelson is staying calm and holding on to the back position, whilst working on a rear naked choke. Vader is defending well though. Nelson let's go of the attempt for now.

Nelson looking for the choke from the back.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Vader is keeping busy.
Vader holding both Nelson 's hands and preventing any damage.
Nelson has been the more effective fighter overall so far.

Nelson has his opponent's back and is working for the choke.

Nelson is working hard for the rear naked choke here.
Vader trying to get back to his feet but Nelson is in full control for now.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Nelson is looking cool and calm here, just waiting for a good opportunity to attack and finish the fight from this dominant position.

Nelson has got one arm under Vader's chin. This could be trouble... Vader trying to control the other hand but Nelson gets it free and sqeezes tight - just a matter of time now! Yep, Vader has tapped out! The fight is over!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 4:58 of round 3, we have a winner by way of Submission (RNC). Azumah Nelson!