PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Hakeem Nicks (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Mitsuakii Inose (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Nicks comes to the cage accompanied by Money by i fight dragons. The crowd giving both fighters a great reception on their way into the arena. That's good to see.

Nicks
vs
Inose

182 cm
25
175 lbs
6 - 2 - 0

180 cm
20
175 lbs
5 - 7 - 0

Decent wrestler
Brawler
KO power

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter striker
Solid chin

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 6 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Hakeem Nicks!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 5 - 7 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Mitsuakii Inose!
The judges for this bout are , Frank Antenori and Timothy Bukovac.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Nicks misses with a low kick as Inose jumps back.
Inose has his takedown stuffed
and Nicks counters with a two punch combo.

Inose tries to keep at a distance but Nicks has taken the fight into the clinch.

Nicks ties up his opponent against the cage and manages to drag the fight down to the ground. Nicks no doubt will be looking to work submissions from his guard.
Inose looking to sit in guard and control but Nicks gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.
Nicks pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Inose is keeping the position for now.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Nicks sitting in guard here, content to control.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Nicks prevents Inose from getting back to his feet.

Nicks drops back for a leg! It's a sloppy attempt though and Nicks jumps back into guard quickly, to retain the dominant position.
Nicks postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Inose being controlled here, momentarily.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Nicks accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Nicks trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Nicks throws a big elbow that misses.
Nicks advances position into side control!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Inose tries to escape but Nicks is in control.

Nicks decides to stand back up.
Nicks darts in trying to clinch

and Inose counters with a nice single leg takedown and he's in Nicks's guard now.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!

Inose got a little sloppy there for a moment and Nicks has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Inose has managed to get both his arms back between Nicks's legs - danger averted.
Inose wants to control from the top but Nicks keeps moving.

Nicks has his foot on Inose's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Inose works his way back into a safe position though.

Nicks had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Inose defends it easily.
Inose looking to sit in guard and control but Nicks gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Inose is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.
Nicks wants to control from the top but Inose keeps moving.
Inose is looking to stand back up... there's a bit of a scramble and Nicks dives into side control.
Nicks trying to control the position but Inose is working away.
Nicks is going to have to think about doing something other than just controlling because Inose is managing to avoid having the position dictated to him.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Nicks stands up.

Nicks closes the distance and gets a double leg, slamming Inose to the mat! Inose manages to get full guard.
Nicks slips nicely into half guard.
Inose blocking the ground and pound attempt from Nicks.
Neither fighter is being very active at the moment, with Nicks in particular looking to stall.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
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!
Nicks trying to mount his opponent but Inose defends it.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Hakeem Nicks dominated that round.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

Nicks clinches.

Nicks gets a nice trip takedown into half guard.
Inose wants to get back to his feet.
Nicks takes a deep breath and rests his weight momentarily on top of his opponent, to control the position.
Inose is looking to get back to is feet but Nicks passes into side control.
Inose is trying to stand back up. He's worked his way up against the cage but Nicks has just dragged him back down to the mat.

Nicks tries for a kimura. Not really close to a finish though.

Nicks is looking to finish here, going for an Americana. Inose knows the correct defense though, so he's OK.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Nicks taking a breather here.
Inose is trying to get back to his feet.
Nicks in side control lands a nice looking series of punches and elbows.
Nicks wants to control but Inose is keeping him busy.

Nicks looking for an arm triangle but it's way too loose to do anything.
Nicks has knee on belly and moves into mount.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Inose is really trying hard to get back to his feet.
Inose stops Nicks from taking his back. Still, being mounted isn't any better.
Nicks controlling from mount.
Nicks trying to control but Inose is having none of it.
Nicks looking to control and managing it successfully.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Inose is trying to stand but he's just given Nicks his back.
Inose is taking damage to the body and head.
Good control from Nicks.
Hakeem Nicks overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Inose controlling the position well but he knows he's in a bad position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Nicks trying to secure his dominant position for a moment - making sure Inose doesn't escape.

Nicks tightening his grip on Inose, looking for the choke.
Inose has the hand control, trying to stop the rear naked choke.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
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.

Hakeem Nicks dominated that second round.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action! This is the final round!

Nicks looking to score a takedown here. Inose is defending well but Nicks drives through and ends up in Inose's guard.
Nicks looking to control the position here, rather than advance.
Inose avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Nicks working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Nicks engaging in some classic timewasting tactics.

Inose is working an open guard so Nicks takes the opportunity to get back to his feet.
Inose shoots and misses

and Nicks counters into the clinch. Nicely done.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Nicks tries a knee to the head but Inose blocks it.

Nicks manages to pull guard. Let's see whether he can land a sub off his back.
Inose wants to control from the top but Nicks keeps moving.
Inose preventing the sweep.
Nicks lands a beautiful switch and he's in full mount! That could spell trouble for Inose!
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Nicks unloading with bombs!
Nicks looking to control and managing it successfully.

Nicks stands up from the dominant position, so we're back on the feet.
Hakeem Nicks seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Nicks throws the overhand right but ducks down into a quick takedown attempt. Inose was covering up waiting for the punch and Nicks finishes the takedown easily into guard.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!

Nicks gets to his feet and steps away from his opponent.

Nicks closes the distance and clinches up, looking for a takedown. He shifts his weight and gets a nice trip into half guard.
Nicks lands with an elbow from half guard - that looked like it hurt.
Inose blocking the ground and pound attempt from Nicks.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Nicks content to control rather than advance.
Inose tries to kick Nicks off but Nicks keeps his base steady and stays in half guard.
Nicks looking to pass the half guard. Not this time.

Nicks escapes and gets back to his feet.
Nicks misses with a straight right.
Hakeem Nicks is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Nicks looks to score with a jab to the body but Inose is just out of range.

Nicks changes levels and drives through with a really nice takedown into side control. Inose looks really pissed at himself for not defending that better.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Inose wants to get back to his feet but Nicks is dominant here and he's now got Inose's back!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Inose is trying to stand back up.

Nicks working for the choke.

Inose preventing the rear naked choke attempt from Nicks.
Inose has the hand control, trying to stop the rear naked choke.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.

And that's the end of the fight!
Hakeem Nicks showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Nicks 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 Percy O'Donnell scores the fight 30:27
Judge Frank Antenori scores the fight 30:27
Judge Timothy Bukovac scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Hakeem Nicks!
Hakeem Nicks took to the mic after the fight and begged the organizational hierarchy for a shot at the title.