PBP Commentary

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

Khan
vs
Nitschke

175 cm
27
192 lbs
13 - 6 - 0

181 cm
27
184 lbs
17 - 12 - 1

Powerful takedowns
Brawler
KO power

Powerful takedowns
Counter fighter
Good gas tank

Black Hand Alliance Only Laundry Service
Fishy Fighting

Black Hand Alliance Only Laundry Service
BeastMode

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 5 rounds, for the middleweight championship of the world!
Introducing the champion to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 13 - 6 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Amir Khan!
And introducing the challenger to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 17 - 12 - 1, fighting out of Sydney, Damian Nitschke!
The judges for this bout are John Mangel, Summer Carpenter and Steve Erwin.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Khan fails with the takedown

and Nitschke decides to take the opportunity to score a takedown. He's landed in Khan's guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
The referee is pacing around the two fighters - he looks like he's thinking about a standup.

Khan looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
Khan looking to hit a scissor sweep but Nitschke is one step ahead there.
Khan lands a beautiful switch and he's in full mount! That could spell trouble for Nitschke!

Khan moves into side control, trying to work for a kimura. That looks painful! Will he finish!!?? No, Nitschke has worked his arm free - good work by Nitschke!
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!
Nitschke is trying to get back to half guard.
Khan scores with a couple of short elbows.
Khan misses with the ground and pound.
Khan in side control, throwing shots but Nitschke defends.
Nitschke is looking to reverse the position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Nitschke managing to avoid any damage from the strikes thrown by Khan.
Nitschke tries to bench press Khan off him but Khan keeps the position.
Nitschke gets one leg under and gets the fight to half guard.
Nitschke has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Khan is working away from the top position though.
Nitschke wants to improve his position but Khan is controlling well.
Khan is looking to take a break and control but Nitschke is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Khan not landing any meaningful shots this time.
Khan wants to pass to mount but Nitschke is defending the position.
Nitschke wants to improve his position but Khan is controlling well.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Nitschke manages to get to full guard.
Khan pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Nitschke is keeping the position for now.
Khan scoring with some ground and pound.
Khan stands up over Nitschke, holding his feet. He dives back in and lands a decent shot to the head.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Khan wants to control from the top but Nitschke keeps moving.

Nitschke working for a triangle but Khan defends it easily.

Nitschke is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
Khan loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Nitschke keeping moving, preventing Khan from controlling successfully.
Khan is going to have to think about doing something other than just controlling because Nitschke is managing to avoid having the position dictated to him.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Khan avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
Nitschke has momentary wrist control but Khan slips an elbow through the middle.

Nitschke is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
Nitschke has momentary wrist control but Khan slips an elbow through the middle.
Khan pushes down on Nitschke's leg and manages to get into half guard.

Nitschke looking for submissions off his back.

Khan looking for a kimura but he'll have to free his other leg if he wants to finish that. Perhaps he's just using it as a distraction technique.

Nitschke looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Nitschke is trying to defend against the ground and pound but Khan scores with a couple of nice shots.
Both fighters really going for it on the ground here!
Nitschke tries to roll over but Khan keeps him under control.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Khan sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Nitschke defending well though.
Khan lands strikes from half guard.
Nitschke is pressing down on Khan's left leg trying to get back to full guard. He's managed it.
Khan throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Khan has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.

Nitschke looking for a guillotine here but Khan defends easily.
Khan loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Khan accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Khan passes Nitschke's left leg - he's now in half guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close round but I would say that Amir Khan will probably get the nod.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

Khan with a lazy takedown attempt

and Nitschke counters with a driving takedown into guard. Nice work there by Nitschke.
Nitschke lands a couple of digs.
Nitschke throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Nitschke throwing strikes from guard but Khan blocks nicely.
Nitschke lands a nice shot whilst sitting in his opponent's guard.
Hammerfist, elbow! yells Nitschke's corner. There ya go! There ya go!
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!
Nitschke won't allow Khan to sweep him here.

Khan is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Nitschke is aware though and is defending well.
Nitschke keeps in close for a moment and lands a decent shot to the side of Khan's head.
Nitschke throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Khan wants to improve his position but instead Nitschke has moved into half guard.
Damian Nitschke has got the better of the ground game so far.
Nitschke seems to be taking a bit of a break to think of his next move. He lands a short punch in the meantime.
Nitschke has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
Nitschke lands with a punch from half guard.
Khan on the receiving end of some nice ground and pound.
Khan wants to improve his position but Nitschke is controlling well.
Khan is pressing down on Nitschke's left leg trying to get back to full guard. He's managed it.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Nitschke working from the guard for now, landing some ground and pound.

Khan throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
Khan looking to hit a scissor sweep but Nitschke is one step ahead there.
Nitschke connects with a couple of short punches.
Nitschke scoring with punches to the head and body.
Khan looking for a sweep. Not yet Khan, not yet.
Nitschke trying to control the position from guard on top but Khan is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Nitschke throws a big right hand that misses.
Nitschke throws a big right hand that misses.

Khan looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
Khan wants to improve his position but instead Nitschke has moved into half guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Nitschke landing with strikes to the body and head, softening up his opponent.
Nitschke scores with a couple of good hammerfists.
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!
Nitschke slips a nice elbow through Khan's hands, connecting with Khan's forehead.
Khan tries to roll over but Nitschke keeps him under control.
The two fighters exchange a few words. I couldn't hear what they were saying but maybe it's more fun if you make it up yourself. Nitschke connects with a nice short shot to Khan's temple.
Khan is working for an escape here. He's hooked one of Nitschke's legs and he's managed to sneak out and take Nitschke's back!
Nitschke staying busy and making it hard for Khan to control.
Nitschke is defending well here and trying to improve his position.
Khan scores with strikes from the back.
Nitschke is trying to break free.
Nitschke is persisting with the attempt to improve his position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Nitschke turns into Khan and is now in his guard.
Khan wants to sweep but no luck.

Khan is looking for a triangle but Nitschke pushes his legs off easily.

Khan working away from the bottom but not quite defensive enough there because Nitschke has passed into half guard!
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Nitschke lands with a punch from half guard.
Khan has hold of Nitschke's hands but Nitschke slips his arm to the side and lands an elbow.
Nitschke lands a big shot. The thud that echoes around the arena is like music to the fans' ears.

Khan looking for submissions from an awkward position here.
Khan has hold of Nitschke's hands but Nitschke slips his arm to the side and lands an elbow.
Khan tries to get to full guard but Nitschke has control of the leg.
Ground and pound from Nitschke.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Nitschke takes advantage of the dominant position to land a couple of big hammer fists.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Khan wants to get back to full guard.
Khan taking some punishment here, with Nitschke in his half guard.
Nice strikes from Nitschke there.
Nitschke lands with an elbow from half guard - that looked like it hurt.
Nitschke uses his free foot to push down on Khan's thigh. Eventually he works his other foot free and he's advanced to mount - this is trouble for Khan.
Nitschke has his opponent pinned against the cage, landing some nasty ground and pound that is really making a bit of a mess out of Khan's face.
Nitschke cracks Khan with a nasty head shot there - the crowd let out an audible gasp there, as the noise reverberated around the arena.
Nitschke lands with some strikes.

Khan is rocked!
Nitschke is still in mount, landing shots to his trapped opponent. Khan can't stay in a position like this for much longer.
Oh Khan is still in real trouble! Will he be able to recover?!!
Nitschke drops a big elbow. That's hurt Khan! More shots from Nitschke and the ref steps in! The fight is over!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 4:59 of round 2, we have a winner by way of TKO (Strikes). Damian Nitschke!
Damian Nitschke is the new middleweight champion!
Post fight, an emotional Damian Nitschke said 'Thanks to everyone that supported me when I was going through rough times. I'm back, baby!'.