PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Ed Nelson (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Denny Prokopos (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Nelson comes to the cage accompanied by Stephen Lynch - Special Ed. Prokopos has chosen Deep River Blues - Doc Watson as his entrance music. Well, the cameraman is lingering on a pretty young lady for a bit too long there. Keep your eyes on the fighters buddy or you'll miss the fighter intros!

Nelson
vs
Prokopos

175 cm
28
152 lbs
14 - 4 - 0

180 cm
32
144 lbs
22 - 6 - 0

Abu Dhabi Champ
Solid boxing
Cardio machine

Good wrestler
Decent boxing
Granite chin

Milwaukee's Best 160

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the featherweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 14 - 4 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Ed Nelson!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 22 - 6 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Denny Prokopos!
The judges for this bout are Emerson Jorge, Seu Braga and Daniel Cesar.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
A combination from Prokopos does no damage.
Prokopos defending well as Nelson loads up on a big left hand.
Nelson connects with a lovely right hand, straight down the pipe.
Nelson throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Prokopos sees it coming and avoids it easily.
Prokopos throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Prokopos connects with a good right hand that stumbles Nelson. Nelson circles away out of range and recomposes himself.
Prokopos lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Nelson circles away quickly and effectively.
Prokopos misses the shot to the body.
Nelson misses with a left hand
and Prokopos counters with a shot to the ribs. That looked like it hurt.
Nice defenses there by Prokopos.
Prokopos tries a head kick but it misses.
Nelson takes a swing at Prokopos's ribcage but misses.
Nelson waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Prokopos.
Nelson misses with a straight right.
Nelson lands a jab to Prokopos's midsection.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Nelson tries to sprawl but Prokopos drives through with a takedown into half guard.
Prokopos wants to pass to mount but Nelson is defending the position.
Prokopos is a painfully thin specimen of a man. You do wonder whether a good body kick would snap him clean in two.
Nelson has his hands clasped together around Prokopos's back. He's all about the action.
Prokopos wants to pass to mount but Nelson is defending the position.
Nelson wants to improve his position but Prokopos is controlling well.
Prokopos is thwarting Nelson's attempts to control the position.
Nelson tries to get to full guard but Prokopos has control of the leg.

Prokopos is looking for a kimura. It's going to be difficult to finish that from half guard though and Nelson defends it well.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Nelson tries to roll over but Prokopos keeps him under control.
Nelson has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Prokopos is working away from the top position though.
Prokopos moves nicely into side control.
Nelson is sneaking out the side here. He's bucked Prokopos off and has taken his back!
Prokopos wants to escape the position.
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 lands with a nice looking elbow that stuns Prokopos.
Nelson lands a shot to the head.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Prokopos takes a big shot to the side of the head.
Prokopos is in a world of trouble here. He's outmatched on the ground here and he'd better get Nelson off his back sharpish unless he wants to be submitted.
Nelson scores with punches to the body.
Nelson is looking to control Prokopos but Prokopos is wriggling around and keeping busy.
Nelson has his opponent trapped and is landing shots. Not a good position for Prokopos.
The referee is taking a good look at Prokopos as he is on the wrong end of some big shots from Nelson!
Nelson lands a couple of good shots to his opponent's body and a final shot to the head. Good little attack there by Nelson.
Prokopos covering up well under a series of strikes from Nelson.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

Nelson patiently working for the choke. Which fighter will keep their nerve here?
This has been an exciting period of action!
Nelson is working the ground and pound. Can Prokopos escape?

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Nelson wants to control but Prokopos is keeping busy.
Nelson lands punches and elbows.
Nelson lands with a hammerfist to the side of Prokopos's head.
Nelson lands with a nice looking elbow that stuns Prokopos.
Nelson lands with a nice looking elbow that stuns Prokopos.
You can see the frustration on Prokopos's face… He knows he is in trouble unless he improves his position sooner rather than later.
Prokopos prevents Nelson from getting a body triangle.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Nelson connects with a series of strikes and the referee is calling for Prokopos to escape the position.
Nelson lands a punch to the side of the head from the back.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Ed Nelson dominated that round.
That's time! Back to the action!

Nelson takes a swing at Prokopos's ribcage but misses.
Prokopos misses with a two punch combination.
Prokopos swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
Nelson throws a shot from downtown. Prokopos moves away and avoids it.
Nelson showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Prokopos.
Prokopos doesn't succeed with the takedown
and Nelson counters with a straight punch to the midsection.
Nelson jabs at Prokopos's body.
Prokopos tries to score with a leg kick but it misses it's target.
Prokopos gets cracked with a nice right hand there by Nelson.
Prokopos shoots in but Nelson avoids the takedown attempt easily.
Nelson slips in close and lands a nice hook before moving back out of range.
Prokopos fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
Ed Nelson has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Denny Prokopos.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Prokopos tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Nelson swivels and escapes.
Nelson bobbing and weaving, closes the distance and lands a hook to the side of Prokopos's head.
Prokopos will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
Nelson moves into range and connects with a jab.
Prokopos steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Nelson.
Nelson pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
A punch combination from Nelson misses.
Nelson connects nicely with a jab. Noted by the judges no doubt.
Nelson lands a slapping body shot.
A telegraphed right hand from Nelson misses the target.
Ed Nelson is winning the standup battle so far.
Nelson looks to throw the jab but Prokopos is out of range.

Nelson gets caught on his heels momentarily as he allows Prokopos to score an easy takedown into full guard.
Prokopos must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Nelson pulls Prokopos in close to his closed guard and prevents Prokopos from doing any damage or advancing position.
Prokopos tries to free his leg and advance position but Nelson is retaining full guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Prokopos trying to control the position from guard on top but Nelson is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Nelson has been looking to land a fair amount of strikes on the ground. He might be looking to soften his opponent up in order to work for a submission.
Nelson looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Prokopos passes Nelson's left leg - he's now in half guard.
Nelson is trying to get back to full guard.
Prokopos wants to control but Nelson is keeping him busy.
Ed Nelson overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Nelson is trying to maintain the position but Prokopos is very close to passing his half guard.

Nelson looking for submissions from an awkward position here.
Nelson is working for an escape here. He's hooked one of Prokopos's legs and he's managed to sneak out and take Prokopos's back!
Nelson not allowing Prokopos to control his hands.
Nelson is landing with strikes. Prokopos can't take much more of this.
The crowd hopeful of a finish here - Nelson's supporters are on their feet, screaming for him to go for the rear naked choke.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Nelson is trying to stick to Prokopos's back but Prokopos is turning into Nelson. He's managed to reverse the position - now he's in Nelson's guard. Polite applause from the crowd in appreciation of some nice Jiu Jitsu by Prokopos.

Nelson had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Prokopos defends it easily.
Nelson is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Nelson trying to control from Prokopos's half guard. Prokopos has other ideas though and has regained full guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Ed Nelson dominated that second round.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action! Let's hear some noise people - this is the final round!

Nelson scores with the left hand. Prokopos knows he should have avoided that one.

Prokopos dives in and scores a takedown into Nelson's guard.
Nelson managing to control the position.

Nelson looking for a guillotine here but Prokopos defends easily.
Nelson looking to hit a scissor sweep but Prokopos is one step ahead there.
Nelson has Prokopos pulled in close to control his posture.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Nelson looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
Prokopos stopping the sweep attempt from Nelson.
Prokopos trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Nelson looking for a sweep. Not yet Nelson, not yet.
Nelson lands a beautiful switch and he's in full mount! That could spell trouble for Prokopos!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Nelson trying to control but Prokopos is having none of it.
Nelson working away from the top, dropping strikes.
Prokopos is trying to escape the mount.
Nelson unloading with bombs!
Nelson putting on the heat here with some good ground and pound!
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Prokopos really trying hard to get back to half guard here.
Nelson landing shots from mount.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Nelson tries to control but Prokopos wriggling away.
Prokopos is desperately trying to get back to half guard.
Nelson with the ground and pound from mount.
Nelson working Prokopos over with strikes here.
Nelson lands a heavy elbow.
Nelson lands with some strikes.
Nelson lands a big elbow.
Nelson controlling from mount.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Prokopos is looking to get to half guard.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Nelson with good strikes from the mount here!
Nelson punishing his opponent with strikes.
Denny Prokopos has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Prokopos is trying desperately to improve position.
Nelson breaks from Prokopos's wrist control and lands an elbow.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
The referee warns Prokopos that he has to improve his position here as he takes two more clean shots to the head.
Ed Nelson is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Prokopos is desperately trying to improve his position but Nelson has a good base and remains in mount.
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.

And that's the end of the fight!
Ed Nelson showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Nelson 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 Emerson Jorge scores the fight 30:27
Judge Seu Braga scores the fight 30:27
Judge Daniel Cesar scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Ed Nelson!
A very excited looking Ed Nelson made sure he remembered to thank all the fans both in the arena and on the internet. He said all the coolest people spend all day on MMA websites, which got a big reaction.