PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Edward Ransel (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Roy Nelson (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Roy Nelson is the more experienced fighter, so let's see if that makes a difference tonight.

Ransel
vs
Nelson

191 cm
25
283 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

178 cm
27
265 lbs
11 - 8 - 0

Good wrestling
Basic striking
Good chin

BJJ Brown Belt
Decent boxing
Granite chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Edward Ransel!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 11 - 8 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Roy Nelson!
The judges for this bout are Winston Howard, John Mangel and Damien Edna.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Ransel throws the overhand right but ducks down into a quick takedown attempt. Nelson was covering up waiting for the punch and Ransel finishes the takedown easily into guard.
Ransel wanted to stand there but Nelson had control of the position.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Nelson can't do much from the bottom at the moment, as Ransel controls the pace.
Ransel knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Nelson on the ground.
Ransel wants to stand but Nelson is controlling his posture from full guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.

The ref stands the fighters back up. Edward Ransel wasn't doing enough on the ground.

Ransel instigates a clinch.
Ransel content to slow the pace in the clinch.
Nelson tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.
Nelson tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. Ransel smiles and moves away.
A jab from Nelson finds it's way through Ransel's defenses.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Nelson punishes Ransel's body with a nice straight punch.
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!
Nelson scores with a punch to the gut of his opponent.
Ransel is breathing heavily.
Ransel moves away from the strike by Nelson.
Nelson fakes a jab and throws a low kick but Ransel checks it well.
Ransel looks to be in better condition than last time we saw him fight. Obviously he's been working hard on his cardio.
Nelson scores with a jab to the jaw of his opponent.

Nelson cracks Ransel with a big right hand that sends him crashing to the floor. Nelson has the opportunity to follow him to the ground but instead he's beckoning Ransel to stand back up!
Nelson misses with a two punch combination.

Ransel looks for a takedown. He's got it. We're now in half guard.
Nelson manages to get to full guard.
Ransel postures up.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Ransel wants to stand but Nelson has a closed guard, so he can't escape.
Ransel throwing strikes but missing.
Ransel stopping the sweep attempt from Nelson.
Ransel will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.
Nelson has a closed guard, preventing Ransel from standing up.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Ransel postures up.
Ransel wanted to stand there but Nelson had control of the position.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.

Nelson gets taken down but at least he's managed to land in guard.
Ransel is looking to stand up but Nelson won't let him.
Ransel has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Nelson trying to keep a closed guard but Ransel is proving a slippery customer.

Ransel got a little sloppy there for a moment and Nelson has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Ransel has managed to get both his arms back between Nelson's legs - danger averted.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Roy Nelson dominated that 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.

Ransel moves his head to the side to avoid a jab but walks straight into a cross.

Ransel has Nelson up against the cage in a clinch.
Nelson wants to break free but Ransel has control.
Some stalling of biblical proportions here from Ransel.

Ransel turns his hips and lands a very nice judo throw into side control!
Nelson is moving his hips around well on the bottom and has managed to get back to half guard.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Ransel tries to stand but can't do so whilst Nelson controls his leg.
Ransel wants to stand up but Nelson manages to regain full guard.
Ransel is looking to stand up but Nelson won't let him.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Nelson is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Ransel defends well.
Nelson has a closed guard, preventing Ransel from standing up.
Ransel landing some decent shots from guard.
Ransel wants to stand and escape but instead Nelson has hit a sweep and he's now on top in guard.
Nelson postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Nelson stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Ransel swivels though and keeps the full guard.

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

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Ransel is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.
Ransel on his back here. We all know that wrestlers don't like being on their back so let's see if Ransel tries to get out of the position.
Ransel is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Nelson stops Ransel from standing up.
Nelson missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Ransel is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.
The referee wants the fighters to be more active or he's going to reset them on the feet.
Ransel wants to stand and escape but Nelson is having none of it.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Nelson stopping the sweep attempt from Ransel.
Nelson throws a big elbow that misses.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Ransel is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.
Nelson wants to control from the top but Ransel keeps moving.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.

Ransel fakes an overhand right and shoots for a takedown. Nelson sprawls well initially but Ransel persists and gets the takedown into half guard.
Ransel perhaps working for something from half guard, or maybe not. It looks like he's just sitting there.
Ransel wants to stand up but Nelson has a hold of him and won't allow it.
Ransel is figuring out what he wants to do next.
Ransel is looking to pass Nelson's guard but actually Nelson recovers to full guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Nelson is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
Ransel trying to stand up but can't free himself from Nelson's guard.
This has been an exciting period of action!

Nelson has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Ransel can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Ransel wants to get up but he can't break Nelson's closed guard. He needs to be careful trying to break the legs open, as he's open to submissions here.
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 Edward Ransel will probably get the nod.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action! So, we enter the final round. Let's see if either fighter can bring us a finish, or whether we're going to the judges scorecards.

Ransel gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.
Ransel dictating the pace here, as the fighters clinch against the cage.
Nelson is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.
Ransel slowing the pace effectively.

Ransel gets a nice trip takedown into half guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Nelson is looking to improve his position.
Nelson moves into full guard.
Ransel scoring with punches to the head and body.
Ransel is looking to stand up but Nelson won't let him.

Ransel stands up and waves to Nelson to follow him.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Nelson tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Ransel was well out of range. Poor timing from Nelson.

Ransel scores with a nice takedown into half guard. Let's see what he's got on the ground.
Ransel tries to stand but his arm is trapped.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Ransel is looking to stand up but he'll have to free his leg first. Instead, Nelson manages to get to full guard.
Ransel wants to stand but Nelson is controlling his posture from full guard.
Ransel throws an elbow that misses. Nelson uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in Ransel's guard. Nice move by Nelson!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Nelson stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Ransel swivels though and keeps the full guard.

Nelson avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
Ransel is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Nelson is controlling him.
Edward Ransel overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Nelson works a leg free and moves into half guard.
Nelson working the head and body with strikes.
Ransel is trying to stand.
This has been an exciting period of action!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Ransel is doing well to control the position and prevent Nelson from advancing to side control.
Nelson not landing any meaningful shots this time.
Nelson is trying to control the action in half guard but Ransel is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.
Nelson tries to pass the half guard into mount. Ransel knows what he's doing though and prevents the attempt.
Ransel is trying to stand up here but Nelson is controlling him well.

Roy Nelson has forced the referee to step in and restart the fight on the feet.
Nelson connects with a good right hand that stumbles Ransel. Ransel circles away out of range and recomposes himself.
Ransel avoids the body shot from Nelson.
Ransel takes a jab on the nose there. A little bit of blood seems to be coming out. Hopefully that won't affect his breathing.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Ransel keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.

Ransel gets the takedown into side control.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Ransel trying to control the position but Nelson is working away.
Ransel tries to get to his feet but he's trapped momentarily.
Nelson is trying to get back to half guard. He's pushing on Ransel's leg. He's managed it. Nice work.
Ransel tries to stand but can't do so whilst Nelson controls his leg.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.

And that's the end of the fight!
That was a close round. You could make an argument for either fighter but I would give it to Edward Ransel.
I think Ransel 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 Winston Howard scores the fight 29:28
Judge John Mangel scores the fight 29:28
Judge Damien Edna scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Edward Ransel!