PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Samu Sand (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Mattia Nicoletti (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Samu Sand could well score a knockout today. He has the power to get to Mattia Nicoletti's chin.

Sand
vs
Nicoletti

180 cm
26
185 lbs
3 - 1 - 0

175 cm
25
185 lbs
1 - 1 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Good knees
KO power

BJJ Purple Belt
Good elbows
Powerful

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the middleweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 3 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Samu Sand!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Mattia Nicoletti!
The judges for this bout are Marco Blurström, Johanna Lukiainen and Anni Minnemäki.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Nicoletti misses with a takedown attempt

and Sand counters by moving into the clinch. Good anticipation by Sand.
Nicoletti scores with a knee to the head.
Good anti-grappling being displayed by Sand as Nicoletti tries to tie him up.
Sand with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.
Sand stalling here - the referee won't stand for too much of that.
Nicoletti pushes off and fires off an elbow that misses, before clinching up again, against the ropes.
Sand will no doubt start fighting again in a minute but for now he's just having a little rest, leaning Nicoletti up against the ropes.
Sand with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.
Nicoletti throws an elbow but it's blocked.
Nicoletti throws a nice elbow but it doesn't land.
Nicoletti looks to throw an elbow but misses.
Sand avoiding damage as Nicoletti throws knees to the body.
Nicoletti misses with an elbow strike.
Nicoletti misses with a knee to the head.
Nicoletti takes a knee right on the jaw!
Both fighters working to control the clinch.
Nicoletti misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Sand.
Nicoletti throws an elbow but it's blocked.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Sand scores with a knee to the head.
Nicoletti tries to land knees in the clinch but Sand avoids the damage to the body.
Nicoletti looks to throw an elbow but misses.
Sand avoids a wild elbow strike from Nicoletti.
Sand is trying to maintain a safe position but Nicoletti gets an underhook and turns Sand into the ropes.
Sand tries to land a knee to the head but Nicoletti blocks with his arms.
Knees in the clinch landing for Sand.
Nicoletti lands an elbow inside that Sand shrugs off.
Sand tries to land a knee to the head but Nicoletti blocks with his arms.
Nicoletti takes a knee right on the jaw!

It looks like Mattia Nicoletti has been cut.
Nicoletti trying to land knees to the body.
Sand tries a body shot but Nicoletti blocks it.

Sand ties up his opponent against the ropes and manages to drag the fight down to the ground. Sand no doubt will be looking to work submissions from his guard.
Sand wants to stand but Nicoletti is controlling 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!
Nicoletti lands a couple of digs.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Nicoletti pushes down on Sand's leg and manages to get into half guard.
Nicoletti not landing any meaningful shots this time.
Nicoletti tries to pass the half guard into mount. Sand knows what he's doing though and prevents the attempt.
Sand is in trouble now - Nicoletti has advanced to mount!
Sand prevents Nicoletti from taking his back.
Nicoletti throwing sloppy strikes, which aren't doing any damage.
Nicoletti trying to control but Sand is having none of it.
Nicoletti has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
Sand is in a horrible position here. Nicoletti smacks him with another shot as he tries to escape the position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Nicoletti is controlling this nicely and is looking to make no mistakes. Sand is trying to wiggle out of this horrible position. Sand flips to his side and attempts to get a leg in for half guard. Nicoletti anticipates the leg and manages to get behind Sand and secures both hooks! This could be bad! Nicoletti slips an arm under Sand chin and tries to position for a rear naked choke. Nicoletti has worked the choke in now and it looks tight. Nicoletti is squeezing on Sand like an anaconda would it's prey. Sand fails to tap and has fallen unconscious! We've got ourselves a winner by way of a rear naked choke!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 3:26 of round 1, we have a winner by way of Submission (RNC). Mattia Nicoletti!
An out of breath Mattia Nicoletti thanked his loyal fans in his post fight interview, giving them credit for his success over the course of his career.