PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Alexandre Nieto (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Unai Arana (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Nieto's entrance music is Bullet the Blue Sky. A fine choice. Arana has chosen NoMeansNo - Beat on the Brat as his entrance music. The atmosphere really building for this one as we go over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Nieto
vs
Arana

170 cm
34
162 lbs
26 - 10 - 1

177 cm
27
180 lbs
14 - 6 - 0

Abu Dhabi Champ
Excellent boxer
Insanely flexible

Good wrestler
World class MT
Good gas tank

Affordable Quality + Reliable Laundry
Fury Nutrition Inc.

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 5 rounds, in the welterweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 26 - 10 - 1, fighting out of Las Vegas, Alexandre Nieto!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 14 - 6 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Unai Arana!
The judges for this bout are Cecil Peabody, Gwen Towbar and Tiny Johnson.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Nieto scores with a body shot.
Alexandre Nieto seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Nieto lands with an overhand left.
Arana takes one to the chin there.
Nieto slips a straight right by Arana.
Arana takes a step back and watches a body kick go sailing past his mid section.
Nieto connects with a leg kick. He turned his hip over nicely there.
Nieto looks to have improved his striking defense since last time we saw him fight.

Arana gets caught napping as Nieto dives in and scores a takedown. Arana manages to retain guard.
Nieto loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Nieto is looking to pass into half guard but Arana pushes him away with his feet and jumps on top - now Arana is in guard.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Arana stopping the sweep attempt from Nieto.
Arana tries to free his leg and advance position but Nieto is retaining full guard.

Nieto looking for a guillotine here but Arana defends easily.
Arana tries to free his leg and advance position but Nieto is retaining full guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Arana stopping the sweep attempt from Nieto.
Arana is frustrating his opponent with some stalling tactics from top position.
Arana looking to pass the guard.
Arana content to stall in guard here.
Nieto seems keen to control Arana's posture.

OK we're going to have a standup here. Unai Arana hasn't been effective enough on the ground and the referee wants a restart.
Nieto slips a straight right by Arana.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Nieto connects with a hook to the side of his opponent's head.
Arana throws a head kick but Nieto moves out of range.
Nieto works his jab well there, keeping his opponent at a distance.
Nieto fails in his attempt to clinch.
Nieto avoids the head kick by Arana.
Nieto throws a lazy right hand but Arana sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Nieto lands a body shot.
Nieto tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
A cross from Arana lands.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Arana misses with a wild body shot.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Nieto swings away with a leg kick that misses.
Nieto misses with a leg kick.
Nieto fakes and then throws a beautiful body shot. Arana looks a bit winded and takes a step backwards to take a breath.
Nieto thows a body kick. Arana tries to catch it but that hurt him.
A low kick from Arana misses
and Nieto counters with a slapping leg kick.
Nieto is looking to score with low kicks.
Nieto has his front leg slapped to the side - a nice low kick landing there from Arana.
Arana swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
Arana connects nicely with a jab. Noted by the judges no doubt.
Nieto thows a leg kick but Arana checks it
and Arana counters with a good, hard body kick but Nieto shrugs it off.
Arana looking to take his opponent's legs away with the low kicks.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Nieto turns his hip over beautifully as he lands a nice leg kick.
Nieto uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Arana.
Arana throws the left hand but Nieto avoids the punch easily.
Some bone on bone action there as Arana checks a low kick. Luckily it wasn't a particularly hard one.
Nieto avoids the head kick by Arana.
Nieto misses with a hook
and Arana counters with a nice leg kick.
Arana throws a head kick but Nieto moves out of range.
Arana ducks low and lands a nice hook to the body of his opponent.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Nieto keeps his opponent at a distance with a nice jab.
Arana fakes with a right hand and throws a good leg kick, right into the thigh. That had to hurt Nieto.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close round but I would say that Alexandre Nieto will probably get the nod.
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.

Arana connects with a right hand. Nieto shakes it off.
Arana is looking to score with low kicks.
Good leg kick by Arana there. It's the ones that make that thud noise that hurt and that was an almighty thud.
Nieto scores with a sloppy punch to the body. Not much technique there but it did the business.
Arana throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Arana lands with a thumping leg kick.
Unai Arana seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Nieto avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
Nieto throws a big shot that misses.
Nieto pivots, looking for a leg kick but Arana is out of range and Nieto settles back down.
Nieto goes for a spinning back kick but it misses.
Arana moves out of range as Nieto throws a body kick.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Nieto keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
A bone on bone clash there as Nieto blocks the leg kick.
Arana throws a low kick but his opponent is out of range.
Nieto throws a decent looking leg kick but it doesn't land clean.
Arana throws a jab but it's blocked by Nieto.
Nieto just misses with a punch to the body.
Arana uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Nieto.
Arana tries to land a leg kick but Nieto saw it coming and moves away.
Nieto misses the body punch
and Nieto takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
Nieto feints with a shoulder and throws a nice leg kick to Arana's calf.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Nieto throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Arana takes a really solid shot there but just smiles back and shrugs his shoulders.
Ouch! a nice leg kick from Nieto, right into the meat.
Nieto misses with a leg kick
and Arana makes the exchange count by landing a cracking kick to the body. Nieto really felt that one!
Nieto just misses with a punch to the body.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Nieto bobs and weaves and unloads with a good uppercut.
Nieto dips down and scores with a jab to the body.

Nieto forces Arana back against the cage and clinches.
Arana tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Nieto is looking to take this one to the mat.
Arana is leaning against Nieto and scores with a nice uppercut to the body.
Still in the clinch, Nieto scores with a nice short uppercut.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Arana throws a punch but it's blocked by Nieto.
Nieto goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Arana misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Arana is trying to wear down his opponent with knees to the body.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Nieto fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Nieto fails to land with a short punch on the inside.

Arana pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Oooooooooooh, not good. A low kick from Arana lands where it shouldn't have, right in the... well, you know what he did? He kicked him in the penis. He's injured, injured bad. The referee sends both fighters to their corners and Nieto has 5 minutes to recover. He's OK now though... a thumbs up from Nieto and we're back underway with a touch of gloves.
Nieto blocks a leg kick.
Nieto takes a shot right to the liver - Bas would have been proud of that punch.
Arana goes for a spinning back kick but it misses.
Nieto throws a leg kick
and Arana makes him pay by landing a thudding low kick.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Nieto misses with a left hand
and Arana counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Nieto lands a nice looking kick to the body. Arana takes a step back to recover.
Nieto lands a straight punch to the body, keeping Arana at a distance.
Arana misses with a low kick.
Nieto darts in and out, connecting with a jab.
Nieto stuns Arana with a nice body shot, before stepping back out of range.
Arana fakes a jab and throws a low kick but Nieto checks it well.
Arana misses with a series of wild punches.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Arana slips a jab from Nieto.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Unai Arana showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

A clash of legs there as Arana blocks the low kick.
Arana keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Nieto with poor footwork there. He got himself in a bit of a tangle, enabling Arana to score with a decent uppercut.

It looks like Alexandre Nieto has been cut.
Arana throws a hook but Nieto blocks it.

Nieto has closed the distance and engaged Arana in a clinch.
Nieto tries to score a body lock takedown but Arana shows good agility there to stay on his feet.

Arana escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
A head kick by Nieto misses
and Nieto takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
Arana avoids the body shot from Nieto.
Arana takes a step back and watches a body kick go sailing past his mid section.
Arana tries to score with a leg kick but it misses it's target.
Nieto is looking to chop away at Arana's legs.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Nice cross by Nieto.
Nieto misses with a right hand
and Arana counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
Arana fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Arana throws a poor cross that misses

and Nieto counters with a shoot takedown into half guard.
Nieto takes advantage of the dominant position to land a couple of big hammer fists.
Nieto wants to control but Arana is keeping him busy.
Arana regains full guard, whilst avoiding punches from Nieto.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Nieto slips nicely into half guard.
Nieto throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Nieto is working for submissions here but there's nothing on.
Arana is looking to improve his position.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Arana trying to control but Nieto postures up.
Arana is trying to avoid being dragged into an even worse position than he's already in but Nieto is staying active.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Nieto is trying to control the action in half guard but Arana is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.
Arana preventing any damage for now, controlling his opponent's head.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Nieto prevents Arana from improving his position.

The ref stands the fighters back up, due to lack of action by Unai Arana.
Arana waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Nieto.
Nieto misses with a wild body shot.
Nieto swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Nieto throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Arana chopped to the floor by a nice leg kick but he springs right back up before Nieto can pounce on him.
Arana keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Arana punishes Nieto's body with a nice straight punch.
Nieto swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
Arana loads up on a big right hand but Nieto slips the punch.
Nieto scores with a punch to the gut of his opponent.
Nieto takes a jab on the nose. He smiles like he loves it and keeps coming.
Nieto throws the kick towards the body but Arana avoids it.
Arana lands a jab.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Nieto throws a low kick but it's checked well by Arana.
Arana checks the leg kick nicely there.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close third round but Unai Arana just about did enough to take it.
The cut man is working on Alexandre Nieto's cut.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

The fight stays on the outside here - Nieto looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Nieto moves to clinch but Arana breaks away
and Arana cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Nieto swings and misses with a shot to the body
and Arana counters with a nice body shot.
Nieto throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Arana throws a right and a left that both miss.
Arana avoids a low kick by using good footwork.
Nieto scores with a jab to the body.
Nieto tries a head kick but it misses.
Nieto fakes and then throws a beautiful body shot. Arana looks a bit winded and takes a step backwards to take a breath.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Nieto tries to clinch but Arana moves out of range.
Arana throws a hook but Nieto avoids it easily.
Nieto tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Arana dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
Nice uppercut there from Arana.
Nieto is looking to wear down Arana with body shots, infact he's throwing more body shots than head shots at the moment.
Arana avoids the head kick by Nieto.
Like a baseball bat into the meat of his leg there - nice leg kick by Nieto.
Nieto tries to land a leg kick but Arana saw it coming and moves away.
Nieto ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Arana moves away.
Arana plants his feet and lands a nice head kick!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Arana tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Nieto was well out of range. Poor timing from Arana.
A slow jab from Arana misses its intended target.
Arana avoids the body shot from Nieto.
Nieto throws a nice outside leg kick.
Nieto has his hands up protecting his head but a hook from Arana finds it's way round the side to connect with Nieto's head.
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!
Arana uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Nieto.
Arana rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Nieto moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Nieto explodes with a nice body kick and back out of range. Nice work.
Nieto dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
Arana tries to check a leg kick but that clearly hurt him.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Nieto shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Arana sprawls well. Arana wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Nieto gets slowly back to his feet.
Arana lands with a nice low kick. That'll leave a bruise.
A telegraphed right hand from Arana misses the target.
Jab, jab by Arana - just one landing.
Nieto throws a quick inside leg kick.
Unai Arana is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Nieto lands a right hook to the body.
Nieto moves into range and lands a nice leg kick.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Nieto throws a wild body kick that Arana sees coming a mile off.
Arana misses with a looping right.
A looping hook to the body misses from Nieto. Arana does a little dance to reset his feet.
Nieto misses with a wild body shot.
Nieto misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Arana fakes a jab and then connects with a hook.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Arana swats away the attempt to clinch by Nieto.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Nieto moves out of range of the leg kick from Arana.
Nieto lands a leg kick that knocks Arana off balance momentarily.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Unai Arana dominated that fourth round.
The cut man is working on Alexandre Nieto's cut.
That's time! Nieto's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight. This is the final round!

A looping hook to the body misses from Nieto. Arana does a little dance to reset his feet.
Arana's leg has a nasty welt from taking a succession of leg kicks. That must be slowing him down.
Arana loads up on a big right hand but Nieto slips the punch.
Arana scores with a decent looking hook.
Arana throws a head kick but Nieto moves out of range.
Arana throws a leg kick

and Nieto decides to take the opportunity to score a takedown. He's landed in Arana's guard.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Nieto accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Arana 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.
Nieto throwing strikes but missing.
Nieto tries to free his leg and advance position but Arana is retaining full guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Nieto trying to control the position from guard on top but Arana is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Nieto throws a big right hand that misses.
Arana keeping full guard, as Nieto tries to pass.

Arana pushes Nieto off and scrambles back to his feet.
Arana throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Nieto sees it coming and avoids it easily.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Arana smiles there as he lands a nice right hand right on the button.
Nieto connects with a crisp jab.
Arana throws a leg kick

and Nieto counters with a takedown into side control.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Arana tries to buck Nieto off but Nieto is having none of it.
Arana wants to control but Nieto postures up.
Nieto scoring with punches and elbows.
Arana dodges the ground and pound from Nieto.
Nieto remains in side control and seems content to stay there. It's a versatile position from which he can work both strikes and submissions, whilst maintaining that control, so maybe he'll sit here for a while.
Nieto is looking to take a break and control but Arana is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Alexandre Nieto has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Sloppy strikes there by Nieto.
Nieto works to advance to full mount. Arana defends for a few seconds but eventually he succumbs.

Nieto looking for a guillotine from mount but Arana is having none of it.
Nieto dominating with strikes here.
Nieto thowing strikes but they're hitting the gloves, not doing any damage.

Nieto is looking to secure an arm. He's managed it! He's pivoting for an armbar - that looks tight! But Arana has managed to get out of it and now he's in a dominant position. Nice work from Arana!

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Nieto has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Arana can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
Arana tries to free his leg and advance position but Nieto is retaining full guard.
Arana slows down the pace of the fight, as he sits in guard.

Nieto looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
Arana looking to pass the guard.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.

Nieto looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
Nieto looking for a sweep. Not yet Nieto, not yet.

And that's the end of the fight!
Alexandre Nieto showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Arana has won this one but let's see whether the judges agree with me. Over to the ring announcer for the scorecards.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 5 rounds of action, we go to the scorecards for a decision.
Judge Cecil Peabody scores the fight 48:48
Judge Gwen Towbar scores the fight 48:48
Judge Tiny Johnson scores the fight 48:47

The fight is ruled a majority draw!