PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Roy Nelson (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Erik Clausen (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Nelson has a slight injury, which hopefully won't affect the fight too much. I can't wait for this one - let's get the fighter introductions out of the way and get this one started!

Nelson
vs
Clausen

190 cm
20
175 lbs
0 - 1 - 0

200 cm
18
170 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

Decent wrestler
Counter striker
Good in bed

BJJ White Belt
Brawler
Determined

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 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Roy Nelson!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Erik Clausen!
The judges for this bout are Shigeki Sano, Tatsuya Matsuyama and Shigeki Fujiwara.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Clausen moves in looking to clinch but Nelson pushes him off.
Erik Clausen seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

Clausen scores with a nice takedown into half guard. Let's see what he's got on the ground.
Nelson is breathing heavily.
Clausen wants to control but Nelson is keeping him busy.

Clausen is trying to work for a kimura. This could be trouble! No, Nelson has managed to free his arm - good work.
Clausen trying to control from Nelson's half guard. Nelson has other ideas though and has regained full guard.
Clausen has decided he wants to stand but the closed guard of Nelson is proving hard to escape from.

Nelson manages to escape and get back to his feet.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Clausen connects with the punch.

Clausen closes the distance and clinches.

Clausen gets a trip takedown into half guard.
Clausen is pressing down on Nelson's thigh, looking to free his foot. Nelson is holding on for now.
Clausen throwing shots but Nelson is blocking nicely.
Clausen is a painfully thin specimen of a man. You do wonder whether a good body kick would snap him clean in two.

Clausen is thinking about going for an arm triangle but he can't free his leg.
Clausen wants to get back to his feet.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Clausen not landing any meaningful shots this time.
Nelson on his back here. We all know that wrestlers don't like being on their back so let's see if Nelson tries to get out of the position.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Clausen thows a huge punch but Nelson dodges it nicely.

Clausen is looking for a kimura. It's going to be difficult to finish that from half guard though and Nelson defends it well.
Clausen missing with the ground and pound from half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Clausen is trying to control. Nelson wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.
Clausen stops Nelson from getting back to his feet.
Clausen seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Nelson does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.
It looks like Clausen is going to stand back up.
If this pace continues, the referee will definitely step in and force a standup.
Clausen is trying to control. Nelson wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

OK we're going to have a standup here. Erik Clausen hasn't been effective enough on the ground and the referee wants a restart.
Clausen feints a jab promting Nelson to slip. Clausen then demonstrates his capabilities by jabbing again. Nelson slips again and ducks right into an uppercut.
Nelson stuffs the takedown attempt from Clausen. Clausen gets slowly back to his feet.
Nelson slaps away a takedown attempt from Clausen, before circling back to the center of the mat.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Clausen shoots in for a takedown but Nelson shows good takedown defense.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Erik Clausen 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.

Clausen tries to clinch but fails miserably

so Nelson counters with a double leg into guard. Good agility.
Nelson working some strikes from top position.
Clausen is trying to control the position but Nelson postures up.
Nelson preventing the sweep.
Clausen controls Nelson momentarily but Nelson frees himself.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Clausen lands a beautiful switch and he's in full mount! That could spell trouble for Nelson!
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Nelson's corner are shouting for him to stand up but that's bad cornering - how is he meant to stand up when he's mounted? He should be looking to improve his position on the ground before trying to stand back up.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Clausen looking to secure an arm triangle but Nelson defends it well.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Clausen trying to control but Nelson is having none of it.
Clausen punching from mount but Nelson doing a good job of avoiding damage.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Nelson is trying to stand but he's not in a good position to be doing that! Clausen has taken his back!
Clausen is punishing Nelson with some ground and pound.
So, who will make the next big move? In this position it could be crucial.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Clausen scores with punches from the back.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Clausen tries to get the hooks in deep but Nelson pushed the leg off.
Nelson wants to get back to his feet.
A lull in the action here.

Clausen looking for the choke but no joy.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Nelson prevents Clausen from getting a body triangle.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Erik Clausen showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action! This is the final round!

Clausen gets a clinch.
Clausen lands an elbow that stopped Nelson in his tracks for a moment.

Clausen gets control of Nelson's arms and successfully pulls guard. Clausen will no doubt be looking for submissions off his back.

Clausen pushes Nelson off and scrambles back to his feet.
Nelson shoots in but Clausen avoids the takedown attempt easily.
Clausen shoots in for a double leg but Nelson sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
No luck for Clausen with that takedown attempt.
Nelson closes the distance and clinches up with Clausen, looking for a takedown. Nelson pushes Clausen against the cage but Clausen circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Clausen will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
Roy Nelson has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Erik Clausen.
A head kick misses from Clausen.
Clausen tries to clinch but Nelson moves out of range.
No luck with that takedown attempt from Clausen.
Nelson stuffs the takedown.

Nelson drives through with a takedown into guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Clausen bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Nelson's guard.
Clausen postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.

Clausen stands up from Nelson's guard - Clausen perhaps looking for a knockout.

Clausen gets caught on his heels momentarily as he allows Nelson to score an easy takedown into full guard.
Erik Clausen has got the better of the ground game so far.
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 got a little sloppy there for a moment and Clausen has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Nelson has managed to get both his arms back between Clausen's legs - danger averted.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Nelson chips away with some ground and pound.
Clausen trying to control the position.
Clausen is in a good position here but he's just trying to control... And he's not even managing to do that successfully.
Nelson lands a couple of elbows.

Clausen working for a triangle but Nelson defends it easily.
Nelson stands up over Clausen, holding his feet. He dives back in and lands a decent shot to the head.
Nelson with a flurry of punches that miss.

Clausen escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Nelson gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Clausen is looking to stand up but Nelson isn't so interested in that idea.
Clausen is trying to keep Nelson in close.
Nelson stands up over Clausen, holding his feet. He dives back in and lands a decent shot to the head.
Nelson content to strike from guard, landing some decent shots.
Nelson in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Clausen avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Roy Nelson has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Clausen wants to sweep but no luck.
Nelson throws a big right hand that misses.
Erik Clausen is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
Nelson is working the ground and pound from guard. He might want to try advancing position though to get more of an impact.

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 Roy Nelson.
Well Clausen has outworked and out performed his opponent in all aspects of the game today. He was simply too good and the decision should be no more than a formality. 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 Sano scores the fight 28:30
Judge Tatsuya Matsuyama scores the fight 28:29
Judge Shigeki Fujiwara scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Erik Clausen!