PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight kickboxing rules bout between Chris McArthur (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Damon Nickleson (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Both these guys have solid standup skills and neither is particularly fantastic on the ground, so let's hope for a nice standup war!

McArthur
vs
Nickleson

185 cm
23
144 lbs
8 - 7 - 1

176 cm
25
145 lbs
9 - 11 - 0

Excellent MT
Granite chin

Excellent boxer
Powerful

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 8 - 7 - 1, fighting out of Montreal, Chris McArthur!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 9 - 11 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Damon Nickleson!
The judges for this bout are Kenichi Hosakawa, Tatsuya Matsuyama and Hirohito Nitta.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Some wild striking there from Nickleson.
McArthur is looking to clinch.
Nickleson lands a nice shot that snaps McArthur's head back.
Nickleson throws a right and a left that both miss.
Nickleson misses with a head kick.
Nickleson ducks down and throws a hook to the body but McArthur moves away.
McArthur tries to clinch up.
McArthur tries to close the distance and clinch but Nickleson swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
McArthur tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in the close the distance. Nickleson manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Nickleson blocks a head kick by McArthur.
McArthur darts in trying to clinch
and Nickleson counters with a head kick.
McArthur goes for a high kick. It partially lands.
McArthur takes a kick to the side of the head.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
McArthur misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Nickleson misses with a shot to the body
and McArthur counters with a body kick that stops Nickleson in his tracks momentarily.
McArthur doesn't manage to clinch there - Nickleson circles away.
A solid body kick from McArthur.
McArthur doesn't manage to clinch there - Nickleson circles away.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Nickleson misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Some wild striking there from Nickleson.
The fight stays on the outside here - McArthur looks like he's thinking about clinching though.

McArthur moves into the clinch successfully.
Nickleson wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.

McArthur's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
McArthur is looking to clinch but Nickleson is avoiding it.
Nickleson circles away from the clinch attempt.
McArthur throws a sloppy head kick and Nickleson moves out of range easily.
McArthur is looking to clinch but Nickleson is avoiding it.
Nickleson fakes high and swings low for a body shot but McArthur manages to avoid it.
Nickleson throws an uppercut from half a mile away. McArthur sees it coming and avoids it easily.
McArthur tries to close the distance and clinch up but Nickleson swats him away and circles back towards the center.
McArthur moves out of range of the body kick.
Nickleson throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Nickleson pulls out of a head kick attempt.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
McArthur tries to clinch but Nickleson is having none of it.
McArthur fails in his attempt to clinch.
McArthur misses with a head kick.
Nickleson lands with a shot to the body.
Nickleson swings for the body but McArthur moves out of range.
McArthur moves out of range as Nickleson throws a body kick.
McArthur closes the distance looking to clinch
and Nickleson counters with a stiff right hand.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Nickleson throws a head kick that misses.
Nickleson closes the distance and lands a one-two.
Chris McArthur seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
McArthur lands a head kick. Nickleson smiles back at him and beckons him forward.
McArthur throws a sloppy head kick and Nickleson moves out of range easily.
McArthur is looking to clinch.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Nickleson throws a sloppy head kick
and McArthur counters with a flying knee. Nice.
Nickleson throws a right hand that misses
and McArthur counters with a good, hard body kick but Nickleson shrugs it off.
McArthur thuds a mid kick into his opponent's body. That will wear on Nickleson if he has to take too many more of those.
The fight stays on the outside here - McArthur looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Damon Nickleson will probably get the nod.
That's the end of the interval. I'm sure that seemed a lot quicker than a minute for our two fighters! Back to the action.

McArthur fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Nickleson, pushing him back against the cage.
McArthur misses with an elbow over the top.
Nickleson avoids a wild elbow strike from McArthur.
McArthur trying to control the position but instead, Nickleson has worked for underhooks and has pushed McArthur into the cage.

Nickleson pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
McArthur wants to clinch
and Nickleson counters with a big head kick but McArthur shrugs it off.
Nickleson tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but McArthur was well out of range. Poor timing from Nickleson.
Nickleson is throwing a lot of body shots here, looking to wear down McArthur rather than just go for the knockout.
McArthur tries to clinch up but Nickleson circles away and keeps his distance.
McArthur moves in looking to clinch but Nickleson pushes him off.
McArthur really does look like a pencil wearing a pair of gloves. Let's hope he has a gameplan to suit that ridiculous body shape.
Nickleson avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
McArthur avoids the body shot from Nickleson.
Damon Nickleson seems to be getting the better of the standup.

McArthur drives through and clinches with Nickleson against the cage.
Nickleson tries to break the clinch but McArthur is controlling the position.
McArthur lands with a short punch from the clinch.
McArthur keeps the fight in the clinch, despite Nickleson's efforts to push away.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Nickleson wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but McArthur has him pressed against the cage.
McArthur misses with a body punch.

Nickleson's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.

McArthur takes the fight into the clinch.
Nickleson blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
With the two fighters working up against the cage, McArthur just misses with a elbow thrown towards Nickleson's brow.
McArthur creates a bit of distance and throws an elbow that only just misses.
A short left from McArthur.

McArthur breaks from the clinch.
McArthur tries to clinch
and Nickleson counters with an outside leg kick.
McArthur slips a straight right by Nickleson.
Nickleson throws a head kick but McArthur moves out of range.
McArthur fails in his attempt to clinch.
Nickleson throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Nickleson looks for the body kick but McArthur saw that one coming.
McArthur tries to clinch up but Nickleson circles away and keeps his distance.
Nickleson fakes high and swings low for a body shot but McArthur manages to avoid it.
McArthur misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
McArthur tries to clinch up.
McArthur tries to close the distance and clinch but Nickleson swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
McArthur fails with an attempt to clinch.
McArthur tries a head kick but it misses.
McArthur scores with a head kick.
Nickleson fakes high and swings low for a body shot but McArthur manages to avoid it.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Nickleson tries to score with an inside leg kick but telegraphs it and McArthur is able to avoid easily.
McArthur lands with a kick to the temple. Nickleson shrugs as if to say "is that all you've got?"
McArthur tries to clinch up but Nickleson circles away and keeps his distance.
Sloppy strikes from Nickleson. Those never looked like landing.
McArthur throws a sloppy head kick and Nickleson moves out of range easily.
McArthur misses with a body kick.
McArthur slips a straight right by Nickleson.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Nickleson throws a one two combo.

McArthur instigates a clinch.
Nickleson is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.
Nickleson dodges an elbow strike from McArthur.
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 Chris McArthur will probably get the nod.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin! The crowd applaud as we get ready to start the final round!

Nickleson misses with a head kick.
Nickleson throws a sloppy head kick and McArthur moves out of range easily.
McArthur fails with an attempt to clinch.
McArthur wants to clinch up but Nickleson keeps it at a distance.
McArthur uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Nickleson.
Nickleson tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Nickleson throws a sloppy head kick
and McArthur counters with a kick to the head that grazes his opponent. Nickleson is lucky that one didn't land flush.

Nickleson is rocked!
McArthur doesn't manage to clinch there - Nickleson circles away.
Nickleson blocks a head kick by McArthur.
No joy there for Nickleson, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
A decent looking body kick lands there for McArthur.
McArthur tries to close the distance and clinch up but Nickleson swats him away and circles back towards the center.

McArthur has taken the fight to the clinch.
McArthur is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Nickleson is defending well for now.

Nickleson pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
A head kick misses from Nickleson.
McArthur throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
McArthur avoids the head kick by Nickleson.
Nickleson takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
McArthur moves in looking to clinch but Nickleson pushes him off.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Nickleson pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Nickleson takes a head kick and keeps coming.
Nickleson displaying good standup as he scores with a three punch combination.
McArthur is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
McArthur throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Nickleson tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.

McArthur has Nickleson up against the cage in a clinch.
Nickleson wants to break the clinch but can't.
McArthur putting his Muay Thai to good use. He has Nickleson in a tight clinch and is doing some damage with knees to the body.
McArthur lands a damaging elbow.
McArthur lands an elbow inside that Nickleson shrugs off.
McArthur misses with an elbow strike.
Nickleson has had enough of the clinch and is looking to separate.
McArthur creates a bit of distance and throws an elbow that only just misses.
Nickleson is trying to break the clinch but McArthur has him pressed against the cage.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Nickleson wants to break free but McArthur has control.
McArthur scores with a nice hook to the head.
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!

Nickleson escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
McArthur moves out of range as Nickleson strikes.

McArthur has closed the distance and engaged Nickleson in a clinch.
Nickleson keeps the fight in the clinch, despite McArthur's efforts to push away.
McArthur scores with an uppercut up the middle.

Nickleson's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Nickleson tries to land a front kick but McArthur steps back. That was a bit too telegraphed.
Nickleson looking to throw a kick but he's pulled out of it.
McArthur tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Nickleson paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Nickleson throws an overhand right that lands on McArthur's shoulder, as McArthur tries to avoid the shot.
McArthur lands with a kick to the temple. Nickleson shrugs as if to say "is that all you've got?"
Nickleson is still on wobbly legs! Can McArthur finish him?
Damon Nickleson is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
McArthur is looking to clinch.
A head kick from McArthur lands but Nickleson takes it in his stride.
McArthur moves out of range as Nickleson throws a body kick.

McArthur gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.
McArthur gets an overhook and lands an elbow to the side of the head.

And that's the end of the fight!
Chris McArthur showed his dominance in that final round.
Well McArthur 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 Kenichi Hosakawa scores the fight 29:28
Judge Tatsuya Matsuyama scores the fight 29:28
Judge Hirohito Nitta scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Chris McArthur!