PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Johan Nickson (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Rafael Amaral (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Nickson comes into the arena with Flybanger - Cavalry blaring out of the sound system. I can't wait for this one - let's get the fighter introductions out of the way and get this one started!

Nickson
vs
Amaral

190 cm
28
190 lbs
12 - 12 - 0

189 cm
25
194 lbs
10 - 3 - 0

Good wrestling
Excellent boxer
Granite chin

Good wrestler
Excellent MT
Good gas tank

Merciless Gladiators

Merciless Gladiators
Conviction

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 12 - 12 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Johan Nickson!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 10 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Rafael Amaral!
The judges for this bout are Jack Bonds, Timothy Bukovac and .

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Amaral tries to land a front kick but Nickson steps back. That was a bit too telegraphed.
Nickson throws a lazy right hand but Amaral sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
We've been hearing reports that Nickson has been drilling takedowns in recent sessions so let's see if that has an impact on the result of this fight.
Amaral stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Amaral wants it to stay on the feet.
Amaral on the wrong end of a vicious looking body shot.
A nice inside leg kick there by Amaral. That's going to slow Nickson down.
Amaral displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Nickson.
Nice takedown defense from Amaral. No joy for Nickson on that attempt.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Johan Nickson. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Nickson darts in looking for a takedown but Amaral gets double underhooks and turns Nickson into the cage.
Amaral is pushing Nickson up against the cage, for a bit of lean and pray action. Action being used the in the loosest possible sense of the word.
Nickson working hard to break the clinch.
Nickson misses with an elbow over the top.
Nickson creates a bit of space for himself and sneaks an elbow through Amaral's defenses.
A frustrated look appears on Nickson's face as he tries to break the clinch.
Amaral stalling the fight.
Nickson misses with an elbow over the top.
We've been informed that Amaral has been sparring a lot of Muay Thai in the buildup to this fight so let's see if that has an impact on the result.
Nickson is trying to break the clinch but Amaral has him pressed against the cage.
Nickson tries to circle away but Amaral has him pinned against the cage.

Amaral manages to break the clinch.
Amaral takes a step towards his opponent and connects with a left hand, before circling away.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Amaral slips a straight right by Nickson.
Horrible takedown by Nickson or perhaps it was just good defense by Amaral which made him look bad.
Nickson uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Amaral.
Nickson throws a head kick that misses.
Nickson throws a left and a right that both miss
and Nickson takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
Rafael Amaral is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Nickson takes a head kick and keeps coming.

It looks like Johan Nickson has been cut.
Amaral throws a mid kick that lands with a slap.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Nickson fails to land the takedown.
Nice defenses there by Nickson.
Amaral misses with a body kick.
Nickson misses with a takedown attempt - Amaral sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
Amaral misses with a two punch combination.

Amaral lands a big head kick that sends Nickson tumbling to the mat! Amaral takes a step backwards and waves Nickson back to his feet - he wants the finish!
Nickson goes for a double leg but Amaral avoids the attempt and the two fighters end up clinched against the cage as Amaral continues to drive forward.
Amaral with the Thai clinch, lands a knee to the head.

Amaral escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Thud! ouch! good body kick from Amaral - that will leave a mark!
Nickson is breathing heavily.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Amaral connects with a lovely right hand, straight down the pipe.
Johan Nickson seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
A thudding body kick lands there by Amaral!
Amaral on the wrong end of a nice low kick. He's acting like it's no big deal but he doesn't want to take many more of those.
Amaral fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
This is turning into a torrid day at the office for Nickson. He's trying desperately to land a takedown but he's failing miserably and getting slapped silly on the feet to compound his misery.

Amaral gets in close and instigates a clinch.
The pace slowing considerably in the clinch, as Nickson takes a break from that fighting nonsense to think about the finer things in life.
Nickson lands a glancing elbow in the clinch.
Amaral lands a right hand.
Nickson is trying to break the clinch but Amaral is controlling him.
Nickson is trying to break the clinch but Amaral has him pressed against the cage.

Amaral breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Amaral lands a pitter patter jab to the forehead of his opponent.
Nickson misses with a leg kick
and Amaral counters with a left and a right that stings Nickson.

Nickson is rocked!
Amaral cracks Nickson with a hook to the temple - Nickson is on wobbly legs here! Amaral swarms him with hook after hook, landing with each one! Nickson falls to the canvas face first and the referee dives in to stop the fight! Amaral wins by TKO!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 2:52 of round 1, we have a winner by way of TKO (Punches). Rafael Amaral!
An out of breath Rafael Amaral thanked his loyal fans in his post fight interview, giving them credit for his success over the course of his career.
Johan Nickson was interviewed post fight and said 'We left it all in the cage. I would like to thank my opponent, and my sponsors (Merciless Gladiators)I am gonna go back to the gym train even harder to make sure next time I come out on top. '.