PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Droski De La Cruz (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Bryan Nickoson (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Nickoson is bobbing his head along to his entrance song: Eye of the Tiger. Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

De La Cruz
vs
Nickoson

183 cm
19
175 lbs
2 - 0 - 0

185 cm
19
185 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Granite chin

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 2 - 0 - 0, fighting out of The Island, Droski De La Cruz!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of The Island, Bryan Nickoson!
The judges for this bout are , and .

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Nickoson lands a jab. Then a cross. Then finally a nice hook to the body. Good work there by Nickoson.

De La Cruz scores with a takedown into Nickoson's guard.
De La Cruz trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Nickoson keeping moving, preventing De La Cruz from controlling successfully.
De La Cruz loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Nickoson looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
De La Cruz being controlled here momentarily.
De La Cruz wants to control from the top but Nickoson keeps moving.

That's one minute gone in the round.
De La Cruz wants to stand and escape but instead Nickoson has hit a sweep and he's now on top in guard.
Nickoson wants to control from the top but De La Cruz keeps moving.

Bryan Nickoson has forced the referee to step in and restart the fight on the feet.
Nickoson tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but De La Cruz was well out of range. Poor timing from Nickoson.
Nickoson throws a leg kick
and De La Cruz makes the exchange count by landing a cracking kick to the body. Nickoson really felt that one!
De La Cruz fails with a takedown attempt.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Nickoson avoids the head kick by De La Cruz.
De La Cruz doesn't manage to clinch there - Nickoson circles away.
De La Cruz wants to clinch but Nickoson slips to the side
letting Nickoson counter with a right hand.
De La Cruz with a poor takedown
and Nickoson counters with a left and a right that stings De La Cruz.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.

Nickoson fakes an overhand right and shoots for a takedown. De La Cruz sprawls well initially but Nickoson persists and gets the takedown into half guard.
Nickoson controlling the pace.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Nickoson trying to mount his opponent but De La Cruz defends it.
If this pace continues, the referee will definitely step in and force a standup.

Nickoson wants to work for an arm triangle but De La Cruz is really keeping half guard well and defending the submission attempt.
Nickoson is just sitting in half guard, waiting for something to happen.

The ref stands the fighters back up. Bryan Nickoson was stalling too much, according to the referee.
De La Cruz fails with the takedown
and Nickoson counters with a left and a right that stings De La Cruz.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Droski De La Cruz. That's going to take a lot out of him.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
De La Cruz misses with a head kick.

De La Cruz has Nickoson up against the cage in a clinch.
De La Cruz working hard to break the clinch.
The two fighters are working to gain dominance in the clinch.
Nickoson looks like he'd prefer to be striking at range right now.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Nickoson is pressed up against the cage. De La Cruz has hold of a leg and is looking to drag Nickoson down to the mat. Nickoson avoids the attempt though and has circled away. We're back to striking at a distance.

Nickoson closes the distance and gets a trip takedown into side control. De La Cruz quickly recovers to half guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Bryan Nickoson dominated that round.
That's time! De La Cruz's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight.

Nickoson fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
Droski De La Cruz is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Nickoson tries to clinch up but De La Cruz circles away and keeps his distance.
De La Cruz looking to throw a kick but he's pulled out of it.
Droski De La Cruz seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

De La Cruz moves into the clinch.
Nickoson jumps guard but his hands slip and he falls flat on his back. Well, he's made himself look a right mug there, as De La Cruz walks away with a smile on his face. Nickoson gets slowly back to his feet and shakes his head.
Nickoson stuffs the takedown attempt from De La Cruz. De La Cruz gets slowly back to his feet.
Nickoson lands a nice shot to the body.

That's one minute gone in the round.
De La Cruz swings wildly with a couple of big hooks

and Nickoson counters into the clinch. Nicely done.

Nickoson escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Nice takedown defense from Nickoson. No joy for De La Cruz on that attempt.

De La Cruz has managed to clinch.

De La Cruz manages to break the clinch.
Sloppy strikes from Nickoson. Those never looked like landing.
Nickoson takes a swing at De La Cruz's ribcage but misses.

A momentary lapse in concentration from De La Cruz enables Nickoson to shoot in and score with a neat double leg. De La Cruz manages to secure a closed guard as the fighters hit the mat.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

De La Cruz working for a triangle but Nickoson defends it easily.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The fighters are starting to get a bit slippery now, which will make submissions a bit more difficult.
Nickoson wants to control from the top but De La Cruz keeps moving.
Nickoson slows down the pace of the fight for a moment. He'll need to remain active if he doesn't want to see the fight stood back up.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Nickoson tries to free his leg and advance position but De La Cruz is retaining full guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
It looks like the ref is thinking about a standup.
Nickoson postures up.

Bryan Nickoson has forced the referee to step in and restart the fight on the feet.
Nickoson tries to clinch up but De La Cruz circles away and keeps his distance.
Nickoson fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
Droski De La Cruz has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Bryan Nickoson.

De La Cruz gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.
Nickoson is trying to push De La Cruz away but De La Cruz has him pressed against the cage, so he's going nowhere.
Nickoson wants to break free but De La Cruz has control.
Nickoson is trying to break free.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Nickoson is pressed up against the cage. De La Cruz has hold of a leg and is looking to drag Nickoson down to the mat. Nickoson avoids the attempt though and has circled away. We're back to striking at a distance.

De La Cruz gets caught on his heels momentarily as he allows Nickoson to score an easy takedown into full guard.
Nickoson trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Nickoson trying to control the position from guard on top but De La Cruz is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
De La Cruz is trying to keep Nickoson in close.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Bryan Nickoson showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action! This is the final round!

Nickoson cracks De La Cruz with a right hand to the side of the head.
De La Cruz wants to clinch up but Nickoson keeps it at a distance.
De La Cruz shoots in but doesn't get the takedown

and Nickoson counters by moving into the clinch.
De La Cruz fails to pull guard.
De La Cruz holding his opponent close, against the cage.
De La Cruz tries for a takedown but Nickoson manages to get underhooks.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Droski De La Cruz. That's going to take a lot out of him.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Nickoson tries to pull guard but De La Cruz won't allow it.
De La Cruz goes for a takedown attempt but Nickoson pushes him away and we're back to fighting at a distance.
Nickoson circles away from the clinch attempt
and Nickoson counters with a three punch combo that has De La Cruz backing up. De La Cruz nods at Nickoson to acknowledge the strikes.
Nickoson looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
De La Cruz ducks right into an uppercut from Nickoson.
De La Cruz wants to clinch

and Nickoson counters with a nice shoot takedown that brings the fighters to the ground.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
De La Cruz wants to improve his position but instead Nickoson has moved into half guard.
De La Cruz is in trouble now - Nickoson has advanced to mount!
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Nickoson controlling his opponent.
De La Cruz is trying to escape the mount.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Nickoson tucks in and makes sure he doesn't lose the dominant position.
De La Cruz tries to hold on but Nickoson postures up.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Nickoson looking to control but De La Cruz is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.

Nickoson is in full mount, looking to secure a guillotine but De La Cruz is surviving well by controlling Nickoson's body position as best he can.
Droski De La Cruz has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Bryan Nickoson is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
Nickoson avoids the attempt from De La Cruz to control.

And that's the end of the fight!
Bryan Nickoson comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Nickoson winning every round here. Surely the decision will go his way and he'll pick up a well deserved decision victory. 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 Andi Peters scores the fight 27:30
Judge Gordon Ramsey scores the fight 27:30
Judge Frank Skinner scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Bryan Nickoson!
A very excited looking Bryan Nickoson made sure he remembered to thank all the fans both in the arena and on the internet. He said all the coolest people spend all day on MMA websites, which got a big reaction.