PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Atreau Nelson (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Raqeem Deprave (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.

Nelson
vs
Deprave

175 cm
18
160 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

155 cm
18
165 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Counter fighter
Cuts easily

BJJ Purple Belt
Brawler
Intelligent

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the lightweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Atreau Nelson!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Raqeem Deprave!
The judges for this bout are Tarja Halkonen, Anni Minnemäki and Roosa Järviläinen.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

The fight moves into the clinch position.

Deprave escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.

Nelson looking to score a takedown here. Deprave is defending well but Nelson drives through and ends up in Deprave's guard.
Nelson engaging in some classic timewasting tactics.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Deprave bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Nelson's guard.
Deprave is stalling in the full guard.
Deprave must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.
Deprave stopping the sweep attempt from Nelson.

Nelson escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Deprave gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Deprave avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
Nelson will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.
Deprave looking to control the position here, rather than advance.
Nelson tries to land a sweep but no joy.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Nelson has an active guard here but Deprave has managed to pass into half guard.
Deprave is figuring out what he wants to do next.
Deprave throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
Deprave throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
Deprave should think about turning a few of those tyres round his middle into muscle if he wants people to take him seriously as an athlete.
Nelson trying to control but Deprave postures up.
Deprave is trying to get back to his feet now but his leg is trapped.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Nelson flails away from the bottom but he's not doing any damage.
Deprave prevents Nelson from standing back up.
Deprave is thwarting Nelson's attempts to control the position.

Deprave is looking for an arm triangle, whilst trying to pass to side control. Nelson doesn't seem that keen to cooperate though. No luck this time Deprave.
Nelson keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Nelson is working for an escape here. He's hooked one of Deprave's legs and he's managed to sneak out and take Deprave's back!
Nelson missing with strikes.
Deprave looking very determined here, making life difficult for Nelson.
Deprave is very frustrated here, being controlled quite effectively by Nelson.
Deprave trying to get back to his feet but Nelson is in full control for now.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Nelson has the hooks in. Deprave is trying to push off one leg but he has to do so cautiously to avoid being submitted.
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 Atreau Nelson will probably get the nod.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

Nelson is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Nelson shoots in but no luck this time.
Nelson stuffs the takedown.
Nelson gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily
and Deprave counters with a nice jab to the body that keeps Nelson thinking.
Nelson shoots and misses

and Deprave counters by moving into the clinch.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Atreau Nelson. That's going to take a lot out of him.

Deprave breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.

Nelson shoots in and bounces Deprave off the cage to secure the takedown into guard.
Deprave is doing well to control the posture of his opponent and prevent any damage.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Nelson postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Deprave being controlled here, momentarily.

Deprave looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
Nelson missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Deprave tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Nelson's corner is telling him to maintain position.
Nelson wants to stand but Deprave is controlling his posture from full guard.
Nelson looking to sit in guard and control but Deprave gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Deprave stopping the sweep attempt from Nelson.
Nelson keeping moving, preventing Deprave from controlling successfully.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Nelson looks to be working for a triangle here. Oh, it looks like he might have it! Deprave has picked Nelson up and slammed him! Nelson can't keep hold of the triangle and Deprave manages to pass to side control!

Deprave is trying to land an Americana. He has the arm isolated but Nelson is keeping cool and he's avoided the danger for now.
Nelson is trying to control Deprave's posture but Deprave avoids it.
Nelson is trying to get back to half guard. He's pushing on Deprave's leg. He's managed it. Nice work.

Nelson is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Deprave pulls his head out easily.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Deprave missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.
Deprave is trying to control the action in half guard but Nelson is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.

Nelson looking for submissions off his back.
Nelson trying to control but Deprave postures up.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Nelson regains full guard. Nicely done.
Deprave postures up.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Atreau Nelson dominated that second round.
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. This is the final round!

Deprave tries to close the distance and clinch up but Nelson swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Deprave stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Deprave wants it to stay on the feet.
Nelson shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Deprave pinned against the cage. Deprave gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
Nelson throws a body punch but Deprave moves out of range.
Deprave shoots and misses

and Nelson counters with a shoot takedown. Deprave fights it but they end up in guard.
Nelson slips nicely into half guard.
Nelson working over Deprave with some ground and pound. Deprave looks like he wants out of this position, which is understandable.
Deprave is refusing to be controlled, as Nelson sits in half guard.
Nelson trying to pass the guard but Deprave defending well.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Nelson throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.

Nelson 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.
Nelson trying to control from half guard but Deprave is working away.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Deprave is working for an escape here. He's hooked one of Nelson's legs and he's managed to sneak out and take Nelson's back!
Nelson trying to control the hands but Deprave won't let him.
Deprave is controlling his opponent, waiting for an opportunity to finish.
Nelson just trying to survive but Deprave is wriggling into a better position, looking to finish.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Nelson staying busy and making it hard for Deprave to control.
Even with his hooks in, Deprave manages to miss with strikes from the back.
Nelson looking to stop the rear naked choke attempt by controlling the hands.

Deprave is staying calm and holding on to the back position, whilst working on a rear naked choke. Nelson is defending well though. Deprave let's go of the attempt for now.
Deprave biding his time, controlling Nelson.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Nelson wants to escape the position.
Nelson wants to control his opponent's hands but Deprave gets his hands free.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.

Deprave patiently working for the choke. Which fighter will keep their nerve here?

And that's the end of the fight!
Atreau Nelson showed his dominance in that final round.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Nelson, winning every round. Will the judges agree? They are the ones who matter, even if they are often depressingly incompetent. 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 Tarja Halkonen scores the fight 30:27
Judge Anni Minnemäki scores the fight 30:27
Judge Roosa Järviläinen scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Atreau Nelson!