PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Rusty Nales (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Roy Nelson (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Nelson is bobbing his head along to his entrance song: Don't Mean A Thing. Both these guys have solid standup skills and neither is particularly fantastic on the ground, so let's hope for a nice standup war!

Nales
vs
Nelson

175 cm
22
180 lbs
3 - 1 - 0

176 cm
22
183 lbs
5 - 3 - 0

Powerful takedowns
Excellent MT
Granite chin

BJJ Blue Belt
Excellent boxer
Granite chin

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 - 1 - 0, fighting out of New York, Rusty Nales!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 5 - 3 - 0, fighting out of New York, Roy Nelson!
The judges for this bout are Chad Campbell, Jorge Garcia and Bruno Lombardi.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Nelson scores with a jab to the jaw.
Nelson circles away from the clinch attempt.

Nales gets the takedown into side control.
Nelson pushes Nales away and creates a bit of space to escape. He's almost out here... but no, Nales gets a good hold of his legs and remains firmly in side control.
A lull in the action here as Nales stalls from top position.
The ground and pound from Nales seems to be hitting the mat more than his opponent.
Nelson is trying to control Nales's posture but Nales avoids it.
Nales wants to lay and pray for a moment but Nelson keeps working.
Nelson looks more muscular than last time we saw him. He must have been on the weights.
Nales fails to land a wild elbow strike.
Nelson pushes Nales away and creates a bit of space to escape. He's almost out here... but no, Nales gets a good hold of his legs and remains firmly in side control.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Nales creates some space and throws a big elbow, but Nelson sees it coming and moves his head just enough to avoid the strike.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Nelson is trying to get back to half guard. He's pushing on Nales's leg. He's managed it. Nice work.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Nales perhaps working for something from half guard, or maybe not. It looks like he's just sitting there.
Nales takes advantage of the dominant position to land a couple of big hammer fists.
Nelson avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Nales.

Nales decides to stand up and try his luck on the feet.
Nales needs to keep his hands up - Nelson had a free shot at his head there.
Nales misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Nales walks into a jab.
Nales lands a jab to Nelson's midsection.

Nales drops down and drives through with a powerful takedown into guard.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Nales in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Nales missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Nelson is doing well to control the posture of his opponent and prevent any damage.
Nelson keeping moving, preventing Nales from controlling successfully.
Nales throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Nelson not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
If this pace continues, the referee will definitely step in and force a standup.

Nales stands up from Nelson's guard - Nales perhaps looking for a knockout.
Nelson takes a punch to the jaw and another one to the bread basket.

It looks like Roy Nelson has been cut.
Nales defending well as Nelson loads up on a big left hand.
Nales looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Nales misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Nice cross by Nelson.
Roy Nelson seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Nales tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. Nelson manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.

Nales drives through with a takedown into Nelson's guard. Let's see what he can do from the top position.
Nales has been looking to land a fair amount of strikes on the ground. He might be looking to soften his opponent up in order to work for a submission.

Nales decides to stand up and beckons his opponent to follow.
Nelson lunges in with an uppercut that skims his opponent's chin.
A combination from Nelson does no damage.
Nales walks straight into a jab right on the nose. That one stung - he's blinking and trying to clear his head.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
A slow jab from Nelson misses its intended target.
Nales uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Nelson.
A nice combination there by Nelson.

Nales moves into range and clinches up with Nelson.
Nales displaying some good clinch control by pressing Nelson up against the cage.
Nelson wants to get back to striking at distance but Nales won't allow it.
Nelson is working hard here but doesn't seem to be able to control effectively, up against the cage.

Nales lands a takedown into guard.
Nelson can't keep his opponent in guard - Nales advances to half guard, no doubt looking to mount.
Nales is looking to take a break and control but Nelson is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Nales is stalling here. Nelson is in no mood to hang around though. He's locked up a kimura from the bottom! Nales seems to be keeping calm but he's forced to roll out of the hold and Nelson has ended up in side control on the top. Nice work.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Nales tries to get back to half guard but can't.
Nelson tries to move into full mount but can't pass Nales's legs.
Nales is looking for a sweep.
Nales is trying to get back to half guard. He's pushing on Nelson's leg. He's managed it. Nice work.
Nales looks like he's trying to stand up.
Nelson wants to pass to mount but Nales is defending the position.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Nales regains full guard. Nicely done.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Rusty Nales dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Roy Nelson's cut.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

Nales misses with a combination
and Nelson connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Nales looks shocked there as he takes a right hand to the temple.
Wow, both these guys are really going for it!
Nales dodges the punch combination from Nelson.
Nelson lands with a cross to side of his opponent's head.

Nales gets a clinch.

Nales breaks the clinch.
Nelson scores with a nice strike.
Nales throws a hook to the side of Nelson's head but Nelson sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
Nelson lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Nales circles away quickly and effectively.
Rusty Nales is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Nelson blocks the body kick.
Nelson connects with a looping left hand that seems like it dazed Nales momentarily.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Nelson lands an overhand left. A wild punch that just about connected.
Nelson might want to mix his strikes up a bit more. He's just going for head shots at the moment and that can become a bit predictable.
Nelson loads up on a big right hand but Nales slips the punch.
Nelson throws a lazy right hand but Nales sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Nales has a takedown stuffed.
Nales shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Nales tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Nelson paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Nales uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Nelson.
Roy Nelson is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Nales misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Rusty Nales. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Nelson moves into range and connects with a jab.
Nales bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
Nales moves in looking to clinch but Nelson pushes him off.
Nales closes the distance and lands a one-two.
Nales shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Nelson as he jumps to the side.
Nales tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. Nelson manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Nales moves out of range of the strikes.
Nales shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Nelson but Nelson pushes him off and we're back to square one.
Nelson thows a body shot but no joy.
Nelson lands a nice hook to Nales's body. Nales takes it in his stride and looks to land his own strikes.
Nales defending well as Nelson loads up on a big left hand.
Nales misses with the combination.
Nales moves in looking to clinch but Nelson pushes him off.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Left hook, right uppercut from Nelson.
Nelson fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Nales manages to avoid it.
Nelson misses with a few strikes there.
Nales shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Nelson as he avoids it easily.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Nales tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Nales fails with an attempt to clinch.

Nales rushes Nelson and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.
Nelson gets through Nales's defenses to land a nice punch to the side of the head.
Nelson is working hard here but doesn't seem to be able to control effectively, up against the cage.

Nales breaks from the clinch.
Nales closes this distance looking for a takedown but Nelson circles away.
Nales fails in his attempt to clinch.
Nelson lands a head shot.
Danga de danga de dang - Nelson scores with a four punch combination!
Nales tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Nelson paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Nales tries to clinch up but Nelson circles away and keeps his distance.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Nales closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.
Nales keeps the fight in the clinch, despite Nelson's efforts to push away.

Nales breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Nelson swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Nales stalks Nelson and leaps in with a furious combination of punches. Uppercuts and crosses smash into Nelson's face. Nelson staggers backwards, shaken.
Nales showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Nelson.
Nelson moving in and out of range nicely, whilst landing the scoring shot.
Nales throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Nales missing with a left hand there. Nelson was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
Nales lands with a nice body kick.
Nales showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Nelson.
Nales misses with a jab, cross combination.
Nelson just misses with a punch to the body.
Nelson throws a jab when Nales was well out of range.
Nelson avoids the body shot from Nales.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Nales takes a punch to the jaw and another one to the bread basket.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Nelson misses with a wild body shot.
The crowd cheers as Nelson lands an impressive looking overhand right. Nales doesn't seem phased though.
Nelson swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Nales uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Nelson.
Nales attempts a leg kick but it's missed by a good margin.
No luck for Nales with that takedown attempt.
Nales showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Nelson.
Nales lands with a shot to the body.
Nelson thuds his right hand into Nales's forehead from close range. That could be painful for both fighters.
Nales tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. Nelson manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Nales tries to clinch there but Nelson circles away.
Nales slips a jab and a cross from Nelson.
Left hook, right uppercut from Nales.
Nelson throws a series of punches but Nales avoids them all with ease.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Roy Nelson showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The cut man is working on Roy Nelson's cut.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business. Let's hear some noise people - this is the final round!

Nales tries to clinch but Nelson moves out of range.
Nales throws a right and a left that both miss.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Nales is defended easily by Nelson.
Nales's corner calls for a 1-2. Nales obliges with the 1 part as he scores the single shot and moves back out of range.

Nales clinches up with Nelson and pushes him back against the cage.

Nales breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Nelson misses with a looping left.
Nelson looks to land a left hand but Nales moved out of range nicely.
Nales tries to close the distance and clinch but Nelson swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Nelson missing with a left hand there. Nales was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
Nales tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. Nelson manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Nelson swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Nales dodges the punch combination from Nelson.
Roy Nelson seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Nales tries to move into range but Nelson moves to the side and lands with a nice right hand.
Nales shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Nelson but Nelson pushes him off and we're back to square one.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Nales 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.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Nelson wants to get back to his feet but Nales is in a dominant position and won't allow it.
Rusty Nales overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Nales missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.

Nelson is working an open guard so Nales takes the opportunity to get back to his feet.
Nales lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Nelson circles away quickly and effectively.
Nales swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Nelson scores with a nice looking left hook and follows it up with an uppercut!
Nelson throws a shot to the body.
Nelson throws out a powerful jab.
Nelson stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Nelson wants it to stay on the feet.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Rusty Nales. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Nales slips a jab and a cross from Nelson.
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!
Nales displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Nelson throws out the jab.
Nales darts in looking for a takedown but Nelson gets double underhooks and turns Nales into the cage.
Nelson tries to break free but Nales pushes him back against the cage.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Nelson looking to slow down the pace here.
Nelson wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Nales has him pressed against the cage.
Nelson avoiding damage as Nales throws knees to the body.
Nales blocks a punch to the side of the head.

Nales jumps guard.
Nales seems to have improved his submission grappling technique since last time we saw him. Let's see if he can pull off a submission.
Nelson trying to control but Nales is working from the bottom.
Nales is trying to control the position but Nelson postures up.
Nales manages to land a sweep and now he's in mount on top!
Nales landing strikes from the mount.
Nales tries to control but Nelson wriggling away.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Nales looking to control and managing it successfully.
Nales is landing with some decent strikes but Nelson is trying to advance his position so the referee is letting the fight continue.
Nelson wants to control but Nales is having none of it.
Nales raining down hammerfists from mount.
Nelson wants to hold on but Nales pushes him away.
Nales looking to control but Nelson is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.
Nales has his opponent pinned against the cage, landing some nasty ground and pound that is really making a bit of a mess out of Nelson's face.
Nales lands with some vicious ground and pound - can Nelson hang on?

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Nelson working to try and regain half guard.
Nales takes a little breather and maintains the position. The referee will be looking for him to stay active from such a dominant position though.
Nales's ground tactics aren't going to win him many fans. Let's hope he's got fireworks for us if he gets back to his feet because he's not doing much on the ground.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Nales in mount throwing good strikes here, bouncing his opponent's head off the canvas.
Nales raining down shots from the mount!
Nelson taking shots to the head.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Nelson wants to get back to his feet.
Nelson tries to hold on but Nales pushes him away.

And that's the end of the fight!
Rusty Nales showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Nales 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 Chad Campbell scores the fight 29:28
Judge Jorge Garcia scores the fight 29:28
Judge Bruno Lombardi scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Rusty Nales!