PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between David Hua (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Marshall Nickolsson (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Nickolsson is bouncing up and down as he enters the arena, backed by X gon give to ya. These two fighters really are very evenly matched on the feet - it will be fascinating to see who can assert themselves in that aspect of the fight.

Hua
vs
Nickolsson

162 cm
21
165 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

185 cm
18
185 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Good chin

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Solid 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 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, David Hua!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Marshall Nickolsson!
The judges for this bout are Ben Zyskovitsi, Matti Vanhoillinen and Anni Minnemäki.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Hua keeps the fight on the outside.

Nickolsson moves into the clinch.
Hua is pushing Nickolsson up against the cage, for a bit of lean and pray action. Action being used the in the loosest possible sense of the word.
Hua seems to have come into the fight with the intention of avoiding any damage in the clinch, rather than actually showing any aggression.
Hua gets a warning from the ref for wasting time.
Hua wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.

Hua pulls guard.

Nickolsson drops back for a leg but he's not going to get it - he lets go and Hua dives on top into guard.
Hua trying to move into half guard but instead Nickolsson has managed to sweep!
Nickolsson looking to pass the guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Hua wants to stand but Nickolsson is controlling the position.
Nickolsson slips nicely into half guard.
Nickolsson missing with the ground and pound from half guard.
Nickolsson controlling the action here.
Hua tries to get to full guard but Nickolsson has control of the leg.
Hua regains full guard. Nicely done.
Nickolsson trying to control the position from guard on top but Hua is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Nickolsson won't allow Hua to get back to his feet.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Nickolsson wants to control from the top but Hua keeps moving.
Nickolsson pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Hua is keeping the position for now.
Hua could do with losing a few pounds - he looks very soft around the mid section, to put it politely.

Hua throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
Hua looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Nickolsson wants to stand but Hua has a closed guard, so he can't escape.
Hua looking to control.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Hua trying to strike off his back.
Nickolsson forces his way into half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Nickolsson is looking for a kimura. It's going to be difficult to finish that from half guard though and Hua defends it well.
Hua wants to control but Nickolsson is keeping busy and won't allow it.
Hua is in trouble now - Nickolsson has advanced to mount!
Hua on his back here. We all know that wrestlers don't like being on their back so let's see if Hua tries to get out of the position.
Hua tries to lock up and control but Nickolsson gives him a forearm to the face and pushes him away.
Hua might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.
Nickolsson fails to advance to Hua's back.
Hua is trying to stand.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Hua can't escape the position.

Nickolsson is working on an americana here. Ooh, that looks pretty nasty! Nope, Hua has managed to escape the submission attempt.
Hua wriggling around on the bottom manages to avoid the strikes thrown by Nickolsson.
Nickolsson looking to control but Hua is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.
Hua wants to control but Nickolsson is having none of it.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Hua is desperately trying to improve his position but Nickolsson has a good base and remains in mount.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Marshall Nickolsson will probably get the nod.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

Hua looks for a takedown. He's got it. We're now in half guard.
Hua stops Nickolsson from getting back to his feet.
Hua working the head and body with strikes.
Hua seems content to maintain position for now, rather than mounting any offense.
Hua is trying to get back to his feet now but his leg is trapped.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Nickolsson wants to get back to full guard.
Nickolsson keeps trying to improve his position.
Hua moves into full mount! Nickolsson won't be happy about that!
Hua tucks in and makes sure he doesn't lose the dominant position.

Hua is in full mount, looking to secure a guillotine but Nickolsson is surviving well by controlling Hua's body position as best he can.
The referee warns Nickolsson that he has to improve his position here as he takes two more clean shots to the head.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Nickolsson is wriggling around trying to escape.
Hua sitting in mount, just looking to control for the moment.
Hua avoids the attempt from Nickolsson to control.
Hua is landing with some decent strikes but Nickolsson is trying to advance his position so the referee is letting the fight continue.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Hua wants to finish this one by submission but Nickolsson is holding onto his waist, trying to prevent any attacks from Hua.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Hua working Nickolsson over with strikes here.
Hua pausing momentarily but resumes with a couple of decent strikes that do a bit of damage.
Hua sitting in mount, just looking to control for the moment.

Hua jumps to the side looking to secure the arm triangle…. Ooooh, that looks tight… Nickolsson is gargling but he's managed to escape! Nice work there by Nickolsson and Hua has given up the dominant position trying to land that submission.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Nickolsson trying to remain calm as Hua controls from the top position.
Nickolsson is trying to control Hua's posture but Hua avoids it.
Hua tries to move to full mount but Nickolsson actually manages to regain half guard.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Hua wants to stand but Nickolsson has hold of a leg and an arm, so he's trapped for now.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

David Hua dominated that second round.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action. This is the final round!

Nickolsson misses with a takedown

and Hua counters with a single leg into guard. Nickolsson didn't expect that.
David Hua overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Hua working some strikes from top position.
Hua passes into half guard.
Hua controlling the pace.
Hua seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Nickolsson does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.
Nickolsson is looking to improve his position.
Hua controlling the action here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Hua seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Nickolsson does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.

We're going to have a standup here because David Hua wasn't active enough for the referee's liking.
Hua misses with a double jab.
Marshall Nickolsson seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Nickolsson misses with a takedown

and Hua counters with a shoot takedown. Nickolsson fights it but they end up in guard.
Nickolsson takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Hua trying to stand up but can't free himself from Nickolsson's guard.
Hua pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Nickolsson is keeping the position for now.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Nickolsson looking to sweep here. No luck so far.

Hua drops back for a leg! It's a sloppy attempt though and Hua jumps back into guard quickly, to retain the dominant position.
Nickolsson wants to stand up but Hua is controlling him.
Hua trying to control but Nickolsson is working from the bottom.
Hua trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Nickolsson keeping moving, preventing Hua from controlling successfully.
We must be close to a standup if these guys don't pick up the pace.

The ref stands the fighters back up. David Hua wasn't doing enough on the ground.

Hua clinches up against the cage.
Hua is pushing Nickolsson up against the cage, for a bit of lean and pray action. Action being used the in the loosest possible sense of the word.
Nickolsson prevents a takedown attempt there.
Nickolsson is trying to force a seperation but Hua has the dominant position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Nickolsson prevents a body shot from Hua.
Hua using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Nickolsson has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
Nickolsson drops down looking for an ankle pick but Hua pulls his leg out and moves away.
David Hua has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Marshall Nickolsson.
Nickolsson has a takedown stuffed.
Hua shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Nickolsson as he avoids it easily.
Nickolsson misses with a takedown attempt - Hua sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Hua tries to clinch

and Nickolsson decides to take the opportunity to score a takedown. He's landed in Hua's guard.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Hua wants to stand up but Nickolsson is controlling him.
Marshall Nickolsson has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

Nickolsson decides he's had enough of playing guard and decides to stand. Come on Hua, up you get!

And that's the end of the fight!
David Hua showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Hua has won this one but let's see what the judges have to say. 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 Ben Zyskovitsi scores the fight for David Hua!
Judge Matti Vanhoillinen scores the fight for David Hua!
Judge Anni Minnemäki scores the fight for David Hua!

David Hua wins by unanimous decision!