PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Nick Briggs (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Erwin Rommel (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Rommel is bobbing his head along to his entrance song: Eric B. & Rakim - Don't Sweat The Technique. Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

Briggs
vs
Rommel

183 cm
26
175 lbs
3 - 4 - 0

184 cm
23
175 lbs
4 - 2 - 0

Abu Dhabi Champ
Basic striking
Cardio machine

BJJ Purple Belt
Basic striking
Determined

Affordable Quality + Reliable Laundry

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the welterweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 3 - 4 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Nick Briggs!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 4 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Erwin Rommel!
The judges for this bout are Saam Ante, Patrick Alders and Paul Aken.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Rommel is trying hard to land a takedown here. Briggs sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.

Briggs pushes Rommel up against the cage in a clinch.

Briggs has double underhooks and is working for a body lock takedown. He's got it. The fighters land in half guard but Rommel regains guard immediately.
Rommel wants to sweep here but Briggs controlling him for the moment.
Briggs stays in close to Rommel's body and controls the position.
Rommel is controlling Briggs's posture.
Briggs preventing the sweep.
Briggs stands and throws Rommel's legs to the side, diving into side control.
Rommel is trying to work for a sweep but Briggs has mounted him!
Rommel is trying to stand up.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Briggs looking to control and managing it successfully.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Rommel is desperately trying to improve his position but Briggs has a good base and remains in mount.
Briggs sitting in mount, just looking to control for the moment.
Rommel really trying hard to get back to half guard here.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Briggs postures up and cracks his opponent a couple of times before moving back into close ground control. Rommel looks a forlorn figure.
Briggs sitting in mount, just looking to control for the moment.
Briggs has controlled the position for a good 20 seconds, which will no doubt be starting to frustrate his opponent.
Rommel tries to lock up and control but Briggs gives him a forearm to the face and pushes him away.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Briggs looking to control and managing it successfully.
Briggs seems to have a rather negative gameplan on the ground. He seems keen to just score the takedown and hold down Rommel for as long as he can get away with.
Briggs prevents Rommel from getting the reversal.
Briggs controlling from the full mount.
Rommel felt the need to train up his defensive grappling in the buildup to the fight. Presumably he was expecting to be in a difficult position like this, so let's see if he can get out of it.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

The ref stands the fighters back up because Nick Briggs just wasn't active enough.
Boom, another hit is landed. "You're gunna get knocked out" taunts Briggs, as that shot connected.
Rommel fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
Briggs shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Rommel defends it nicely.
No joy there for Briggs, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Rommel shoots in but Briggs avoids the takedown attempt easily.
Nick Briggs has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Erwin Rommel.

Briggs closes the distance and pushes Rommel back into the cage.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Briggs prevents a body shot from Rommel.
Briggs gets underhooks to prevent Rommel's takedown attempt.

Briggs turns his hips and lands a very nice judo throw into side control!
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Nick Briggs dominated that round.
That's time! Briggs's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight.

Rommel throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Rommel shoots in but Briggs avoids the takedown attempt easily.
Rommel shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Briggs as he jumps to the side.
Briggs avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Briggs tries to drive through with a takedown attempt but Rommel defends well and Briggs ends up having to push Rommel into the cage where they will battle it out in the clinch.

Briggs is working on a single leg takedown against the cage. Rommel can't fight it off and eventually Briggs manages to take the fight to the floor. Rommel looks annoyed but at least he's managed to land in guard.
Briggs content to stall in guard here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rommel striking off his back but it's not causing Briggs any problems.
Briggs not doing a lot at the moment. He'll have to show some more aggression or the fight will get stood up.
We may be looking at a referee standup if the pace doesn't pick up soon.

Rommel looking for a guillotine here but Briggs defends easily.
Briggs sitting in guard, not really doing much.

The ref stands the fighters back up because Nick Briggs just wasn't active enough.
Rommel defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Briggs.
Nick Briggs is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Rommel tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. Briggs manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.

Briggs gets a clinch.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Briggs manages to pull guard.
Rommel trying to pass the guard. He's being very persistent here but Briggs manages to land a sweep and now he's on top!
Rommel wants to stand but Briggs is controlling the position.
Briggs is stalling in the full guard.

Rommel had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Briggs defends it easily.
Briggs controls the pace of the fight for a moment.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Rommel tries to land a sweep but no joy.

Rommel is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
Briggs 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 referee wants the fighters to be more active or he's going to reset them on the feet.

The ref stands the fighters back up because Nick Briggs just wasn't active enough.
Briggs avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Briggs shoots in but Rommel avoids the takedown attempt easily.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Nick Briggs. That's going to take a lot out of him.

Rommel rushes Briggs and presses him up against the cage.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Briggs has Rommel pressed up against the cage and is working for takedown. Rommel manages to improve position though and keeps the fight standing.
Rommel pushes Briggs back against the cage and lands a hook to the side of the head.

Rommel breaks the clinch.
Briggs connects with a looping left hand that seems like it dazed Rommel momentarily.
Briggs stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Briggs wants it to stay on the feet.
Briggs closes this distance looking for a takedown but Rommel circles away.
Rommel tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Briggs keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
Briggs looks to be in better condition than last time we saw him fight. Obviously he's been working hard on his cardio.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Rommel slips under a jab from Briggs.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Briggs shoots in but Rommel avoids the takedown attempt easily.
Nick Briggs seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Briggs closes the distance and clinches up with Rommel, looking for a takedown. Briggs pushes Rommel against the cage but Rommel circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
Rommel throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Nick Briggs dominated that second round.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action! Ladies and gentlemen, this is the final round!

Briggs feints and then dives in with a takedown. That was a long way out but the feint bought him enough time to close the distance and complete the takedown. Now we'll play guard for a bit and see who can get the better of that position.
Rommel is trying to keep Briggs in close.

Rommel has his foot on Briggs's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Briggs works his way back into a safe position though.
Briggs controls the pace of the fight for a moment.
Rommel keeping moving, preventing Briggs from controlling successfully.
Briggs is sitting in guard, working some ground and pound.
Briggs seems content to control from guard here. He's going to have to remain active though if he doesn't want to get stood back up.
Rommel keeping moving, preventing Briggs from controlling successfully.
We've had a lack of effective grappling in the last minute or so, which could well see a referee standup.
Rommel 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.

That's one minute gone in the round.

The ref stands the fighters back up because Nick Briggs just wasn't active enough.
Rommel shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.

Briggs looking to score a takedown here. Rommel is defending well but Briggs drives through and ends up in Rommel's guard.
Rommel being controlled here, momentarily.

Rommel is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Briggs is aware though and is defending well.
Briggs sitting in guard, not really doing much.
Briggs tries to free his leg and advance position but Rommel is retaining full guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Rommel is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Briggs is controlling him.
Briggs preventing the sweep.
Rommel not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Briggs showing good wrestling skills to control the position.

The ref stands the fighters back up because Nick Briggs just wasn't active enough.

Briggs looking for a takedown here - he's got it.
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!

Rommel is looking for a triangle but Briggs pushes his legs off easily.
Briggs is intent on slowing down the pace of the fight, simply looking to control.
Briggs advances position into side control!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Check out the look on Briggs's face as he threw that strike - that's one determined fighter!
Briggs staying calm.
Rommel gives up the full mount - oops, sloppy defensive grappling there!
Briggs controlling his opponent.
Rommel is desperately trying to improve his position but Briggs has a good base and remains in mount.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Briggs controlling from the full mount.
Rommel tries to lock up and control but Briggs gives him a forearm to the face and pushes him away.
Briggs breaks from Rommel's wrist control and lands an elbow.

Briggs throws some shoulder strikes here and then postures up. Oh, he's gone for an armbar! Rommel has his hands clasped together but Briggs breaks the hold and Rommel is forced to tap! This one is aaaaaaaaaaall over! That was lightning fast by Briggs!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 4:53 of round 3, we have a winner by way of Submission (Armbar). Nick Briggs!