PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Kevin Nelson (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Dom Moraca (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Kevin Nelson has the edge in experience - let's see if he can make that count tonight.

Nelson
vs
Moraca

175 cm
21
155 lbs
1 - 2 - 0

180 cm
25
150 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Good kicks
Cuts easily

BJJ White Belt
Brawler
Determined

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 1 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Kevin Nelson!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Dom Moraca!
The judges for this bout are Eliza Hachem, Winston Howard and Steve Erwin.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Moraca shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Oh and he's advanced to full mount straight away.
We must be close to a standup if these guys don't pick up the pace.
Nelson is really trying hard to get back to his feet.
Nelson takes a big shot to the head but keeps on trying to improve his position.
Nelson is really trying hard to get back to his feet.
Moraca 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 really trying hard to get back to his feet.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Moraca looking to control but Nelson is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.
Moraca sends his fist crashing into the mat - the crowd let out a collective ooooooh. Let's hope he's not broken it!
Moraca thowing strikes but they're hitting the gloves, not doing any damage.
Nelson is trying to stand but he's just given Moraca his back.
Nelson looking to stop the rear naked choke attempt by controlling the hands.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
The crowd hopeful of a finish here - Moraca's supporters are on their feet, screaming for him to go for the rear naked choke.

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

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Nelson is keeping busy.

Moraca looking to break Nelson's wrist control so he can sink in the choke. Nelson remaining controlled and patient though - he really has to keep calm otherwise Moraca will wrap this one up with the rear naked choke!
Nelson trying to get back to his feet but Moraca is in full control for now.
Moraca wants to control the position but Nelson frees himself and scrambles - Moraca manages to regain control in side control.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Nelson wants to escape from the position here - easier said than done!
Moraca in side control, throwing shots but Nelson defends.
Moraca prevents Nelson from escaping the position.
Moraca slows the pace down.
Let's hope that Moraca has the urge to step up the pace any second now because for the last 15 or 20 seconds he's just been holding on tight.
Moraca's corner are shouting for him to control the position and he seems happy to oblige.
Nelson is trying to escape and get back to his feet.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Nelson sneaks out the side door and pushes Moraca away - he's back to his feet. The crowd show their appreciation for the escape.
Moraca circles away from the clinch attempt.
Moraca shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Nelson as he jumps to the side.

The fight moves into the clinch position.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Moraca drops to a knee looking for a takedown but Nelson gets the underhooks and prevents it.
Nelson prevents the takedown attempt.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Dom Moraca dominated that round.
That's time! Nelson's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight.

Moraca looks for a takedown. He's got it. We're now in half guard.
Moraca wants to pass to mount but Nelson is defending the position.
Moraca trying to control from Nelson's half guard. Nelson has other ideas though and has regained full guard.
Moraca wanted to stand there but Nelson had control of the position.
Moraca must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.
Moraca won't allow Nelson to get back to his feet.
Moraca is intent on slowing down the pace of the fight, simply looking to control.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Dom Moraca has forced the referee to step in and restart the fight on the feet.
Moraca has a takedown stuffed.
Nelson looks for a takedown but Moraca sprawls well.
Nelson doesn't manage to clinch there - Moraca circles away.
Moraca tries to score a power double leg takedown but Nelson sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Moraca somewhat.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Nelson leaves Moraca with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
Kevin Nelson has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Dom Moraca.

Moraca closes the distance, clinches up and gets a nice trip takedown into side control. Very smooth.
Moraca is breathing heavily.
Nelson is pushing Moraca's head away, looking to escape. Moraca manages to hold on to the position though.
Moraca wants to lay and pray for a moment but Nelson keeps working.
Nelson wants to get back to his feet but Moraca drags him back down.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Moraca is looking for a kimura. He might have it! No, Nelson has escaped the position, nice work there.

Moraca decides to take the fight back to the feet.
No luck with that takedown attempt from Moraca.
Nelson throws the left hand but Moraca avoids the punch easily.
Nelson moves in looking to clinch but Moraca pushes him off.
Moraca shoots for a takedown but Nelson saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
Moraca shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Nelson tries to close the distance and clinch but Moraca swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Nelson tries for a takedown but Moraca sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
Nelson tries to clinch but Moraca moves away

and Moraca decides to take the opportunity to score a takedown. He's landed in Nelson's guard.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Nelson wants to stand and escape but Moraca is having none of it.

Nelson kicks Moraca off and gets to his feet.
Nelson tries to clinch there but Moraca circles away.
Nelson tries to close the distance and clinch up but Moraca swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Nelson is looking to clinch but Moraca is avoiding it.
Moraca looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Nelson tries to clinch up but Moraca circles away and keeps his distance.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Dom Moraca showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin! This is the final round!

Moraca circles away from the clinch attempt.
Moraca changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Nelson tries to avoid it but Moraca manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Nelson to the ground. Nelson escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
Moraca shoots in but no luck this time.
Nelson wants to clinch

and Moraca counters with a shoot takedown into half guard.
Moraca is trying to control. Nelson wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.
Nelson wants to get back to his feet.
Moraca wants to lay and pray for a moment but Nelson keeps working.
Moraca thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.
Moraca takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Nelson avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Moraca.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Moraca prevents Nelson from standing back up.
Moraca is looking to pass Nelson's guard but actually Nelson recovers to full guard.
Moraca content to stall in guard here.
The referee is asking the fighters to pick up the pace.
Nelson is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.

Nelson is working an open guard so Moraca takes the opportunity to get back to his feet.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Nelson tries to clinch there but Moraca circles away.
Nelson moves in looking to clinch but Moraca pushes him off.

Moraca darts in and clinches Nelson up against the cage.
Nelson tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. Moraca smiles and moves away.
Nice takedown defense from Nelson. No joy for Moraca on that attempt.
Kevin Nelson has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Dom Moraca.

Nelson closes the distance and clinches.
Nelson wants to break the clinch but can't.
Nelson creates a bit of space for himself and sneaks an elbow through Moraca's defenses.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Nelson tries a knee to the head but Moraca blocks it.

Nelson pulls guard.
Nelson is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Moraca is controlling him.
Moraca trying to control the position from guard on top but Nelson is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

The ref stands the fighters back up, due to lack of action by Dom Moraca.

Moraca gets a clinch.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Nelson throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Moraca blocks it with crossed arms.
Nelson jumps guard but Moraca turns him against the cage and keeps the fight standing.
Nelson tries to break free but Moraca pushes him back against the cage.

Moraca pulls guard successfully.
Nelson would like to get this fight back to the feet but can't get free from the closed guard.
A real slowdown in the pace of the fight for a moment, as Moraca holds on and takes a little breather.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Nelson wants to control from the top but Moraca keeps moving.

And that's the end of the fight!
Dom Moraca comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Moraca winning every round here. Surely the decision will go his way and he'll pick up a well deserved decision victory. 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 Eliza Hachem scores the fight 27:30
Judge Winston Howard scores the fight 27:30
Judge Steve Erwin scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Dom Moraca!