PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Zack Nichols (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Jesse Thielke (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). We have two fighters making their debuts here, so let's see who comes out of this one with their first professional victory.

Nichols
vs
Thielke

170 cm
20
140 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
KO power

BJJ Blue Belt
Basic striking
Intelligent

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the bantamweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of New York, Zack Nichols!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of New York, Jesse Thielke!
The judges for this bout are David Schapiro, Chad Campbell and Steve Montenegro.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Sloppy strikes from Nichols. Those never looked like landing.
Thielke shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Nichols pinned against the cage. Nichols gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
A looping hook to the body misses from Nichols. Thielke does a little dance to reset his feet.
Nichols throws a front kick aimed at Thielke's knee but Thielke avoids it well.
Nichols swings away with a leg kick that misses.
Thielke ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Nichols moves away.
Thielke looks to score with a jab to the body but Nichols is just out of range.

Nichols takes the fight into the clinch.
Thielke blocks an elbow strike from Nichols.

Nichols manages to break the clinch.
Nichols throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Nichols shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Thielke as he avoids it easily.
Thielke shoots in but no luck this time.

Thielke shoots in from a long way out. He's driving through with the takedown attempt and he eventually gets it, landing in Nichols's guard.
The referee is asking the fighters to pick up the pace.
Thielke trying to control the position from guard on top but Nichols is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Thielke working some strikes from top position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Nichols is doing well to control the posture of his opponent and prevent any damage.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Nichols is trying to control the position but Thielke postures up.
Nichols preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Thielke postures up.

We're going to have a standup here because Zack Nichols wasn't active enough for the referee's liking.

Thielke scores a takedown into full mount!
Thielke sends his fist crashing into the mat - the crowd let out a collective ooooooh. Let's hope he's not broken it!
Nichols is trying desperately to improve position.
Thielke looking to finish with strikes here!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Nichols is looking to improve his position but Thielke isn't that keen on the idea.
Thielke landing punches.

Thielke with some aggressive grappling here. He's looking for submissions here, rather than waiting for the opportunity to counter.
Thielke scores with a couple of good head shots there.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Nichols blocking the ground and pound.
Nichols is trying desperately to improve position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Nichols wants to control but Thielke is having none of it.
Nichols is squirming around, avoiding Thielke's attempts to control the action.
Nichols tries to lock up and control but Thielke gives him a forearm to the face and pushes him away.
Nichols is trying desperately to improve position.
Nichols regains half guard.
Nichols is trying to maintain the position but Thielke is very close to passing his half guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Nichols is looking for a sweep. Thielke is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Thielke throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
Thielke moves into full mount! Nichols won't be happy about that!
Thielke wants to control the pace but Nichols is squirming around nicely.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Nichols wants to control but Thielke is having none of it.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Jesse Thielke dominated that round.
That's time! Back to the action!

Thielke has a takedown stuffed.
Nichols uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Thielke.
Thielke shoots in looking for a takedown. Nichols tries to sprawl out of it but Thielke keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Nichols manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
Horrible takedown by Thielke or perhaps it was just good defense by Nichols which made him look bad.
Zack Nichols has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Jesse Thielke.
A combination from Nichols does no damage.
Zack Nichols is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Thielke takes a swing at Nichols's ribcage but misses.
A combination from Nichols does no damage.
Nichols motions for Thielke to come forward. Nichols throws a leg kick but it misses it's target.
Thielke throws a push kick but Nichols slaps the foot to one side.
Nichols lands with a nice low kick. That'll leave a bruise.
No luck for Nichols with that takedown attempt.
Jesse Thielke seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
A punch combination from Nichols misses.
Nichols misses with a double jab.
Thielke shoots in for a double leg but Nichols sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Thielke darts in and lands a nice takedown into half guard.
Thielke is breathing heavily.
Nichols pushes Thielke off but Thielke dives into side control.
You can see the frustration on Nichols's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.
Jesse Thielke has got the better of the ground game so far.
The strikes coming from Thielke are missing the target in this wave of attacks.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Thielke working the ground and pound but he's contacting the mat, not the fighter.
Nichols avoids any damage from the ground and pound of Thielke.
Thielke working away.
Nichols tries to work a leg under to get back to half guard but Thielke wriggles his own leg back out and remains in side control.
The strikes coming from Thielke are missing the target in this wave of attacks.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Nichols parries the strikes from Thielke easily there. Thielke is wary of posturing up too much because it might enable Nichols to escape.
Thielke wants to lay and pray for a moment but Nichols keeps working.
Nichols gets back to half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Nichols is trying to control but can't.
Nichols moves his hips nicely and gets into full guard.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Thielke accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Nichols looking to hit a scissor sweep but Thielke is one step ahead there.
Nichols wants to control here, rather than go for any submissions from the bottom. At least for now.
Thielke working from the guard for now, landing some ground and pound.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Thielke trying to control but Nichols is working from the bottom.
Thielke stopping the sweep attempt from Nichols.
Nichols is looking to stand up but Thielke isn't so interested in that idea.
Thielke loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Nichols is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.
Thielke won't allow Nichols to get back to his feet.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close second round but I would say that Zack Nichols will probably get the nod.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action. This is the final round!

Nichols looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.

Nichols closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.
Nichols has had enough of the clinch but Thielke keeps him there for the moment.
Nichols is looking to control Thielke's arms but Thielke gets an underhook and turns him. Now Nichols has his back to the cage.

Thielke lands a nice trip takedown into half guard.
Nichols is trying to maintain the position but Thielke is very close to passing his half guard.
Nichols is not content to let Thielke control the position.
Thielke stops Nichols from getting back to his feet.

Nichols looking for submissions off his back.
Nichols regains full guard. Nicely done.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Thielke is trying to work a guillotine from the top, or something like that? Don't know how he thinks he's going to get a finish from there.
Thielke working some strikes from top position.
Nichols working a defensive guard but Thielke passes into half guard.
Thielke is scoring with some nice ground and pound from the dominant position.
Nichols keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.
Nichols wants to stand back up but Thielke manages to pass into side control.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Thielke cracks Nichols with a big elbow.
Nichols manages to get back to half guard.
Nichols wants to stand back up but Thielke manages to pass into side control.
Thielke wants to lay and pray for a moment but Nichols keeps working.
Thielke lands a few punches from side control.
Nichols tries to work a leg under to get back to half guard but Thielke wriggles his own leg back out and remains in side control.
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!
Thielke throws a knee to the body but it doesn't do much damage.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Thielke working the ground and pound.
Nichols is trying to improve his position.
You can see the frustration on Nichols's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.
Nichols is looking to regain half guard here but Thielke keeps moving and retains side control.

Thielke working hard here to secure a kimura but he's not really in the right position for it.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Thielke misses with the ground and pound.
Nichols tries to buck Thielke off but Thielke is having none of it.
Nichols can't do much from the bottom here.

Thielke is trying to get an arm triangle but Nichols is defending well.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.

Thielke tries for a kimura but Nichols is defending well.

And that's the end of the fight!
Jesse Thielke comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Thielke has won this one but let's see whether the judges agree with me. 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 David Schapiro scores the fight 28:30
Judge Chad Campbell scores the fight 28:30
Judge Steve Montenegro scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Jesse Thielke!