PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Gatto Besti (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Mattia Nicoletti (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Besti's ring entrance music is that housewives' favourite, Mucho Money Mucho Power. Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Besti
vs
Nicoletti

180 cm
21
181 lbs
8 - 0 - 0

175 cm
32
185 lbs
10 - 9 - 1

Abu Dhabi Champ
Counter fighter
Good chin

BJJ Purple Belt
Good elbows
Good gas tank

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 8 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Gatto Besti!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 10 - 9 - 1, fighting out of Las Vegas, Mattia Nicoletti!
The judges for this bout are Gwen Towbar, Robert Twigg and Frank Dennis.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Besti avoids a kick to the body.
Mattia Nicoletti seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Nicoletti throws a shot from downtown. Besti moves away and avoids it.
Nicoletti misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Besti.
Oooooooooooh, not good. A low kick from Nicoletti 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 Besti has 5 minutes to recover. He's OK now though... a thumbs up from Besti and we're back underway with a touch of gloves.
Besti looks to have improved his striking defense since last time we saw him fight.
Besti shoots in but Nicoletti avoids the takedown attempt easily.
Nice body punch from Nicoletti.
Nicoletti tries to clinch up.
Nicoletti throws a leg kick but Besti sees it coming and moves out of range.
Nicoletti's coach down at Elite Dojo [21 Coaches / 56 cap] was telling us pre-fight that they have been working on Nicoletti's balance. Obviously they view that as a key factor in the outcome of this fight.
Nicoletti scores with a jab to the jaw.
Nicoletti throws a nice inside leg kick.
Besti misses with a takedown attempt - Nicoletti sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
A big left from Nicoletti misses.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Nicoletti tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. Besti manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
A telegraphed right hand from Nicoletti misses the target.
Besti keeping at a good range here, avoiding a leg kick.
Nicoletti thows a left - swing and a miss!

That's one minute gone in the round.
Nicoletti misses with a leg kick.
Nicoletti scores with a head kick. Besti tried to block it but didn't get his arm up in time.

It looks like Gatto Besti has been cut.
Nicoletti just misses with a punch to the body.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Besti.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Gatto Besti. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Besti blocks a low kick nicely.
Nice defenses there by Besti.
Nicoletti throws a low kick but Besti avoids it.
Nicoletti throws a low kick but his opponent is out of range.

Besti darts in and lands a nice takedown into half guard.

Besti is working for a kimura but Nicoletti is defending it quite comfortably.
Besti looking to pass the half guard. Not this time.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Nicoletti trying to control but Besti postures up.
Nicoletti is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Nicoletti makes his way to full guard. A much better position for Nicoletti.
Besti sneaks a leg through and gets to half guard. That was like a knife through butter how easily he passed Nicoletti's guard.
Nicoletti is looking to control Besti's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Nicoletti avoid being mounted?
Nicoletti manages to get to full guard.
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!
Besti passes into half guard.

Besti is trying to work for a kimura but Nicoletti is defending well.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Besti seems to be working for a kimura but Nicoletti defends the submission attempt.

Besti looking for a kimura but he'll have to free his other leg if he wants to finish that. Perhaps he's just using it as a distraction technique.
Nicoletti tries to get to full guard but Besti has control of the leg.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Besti looks over to his corner - he wants some instructions but his corner are not responding.

Besti is working for a kimura but Nicoletti is defending it quite comfortably.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Well. There's a bit of a lull in the action here and the crowd are starting to get restless.
Nicoletti gets full guard.
Besti stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Nicoletti swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Besti trying to control but Nicoletti is working from the bottom.
Nicoletti is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Nicoletti is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.

Nicoletti controlling the pace.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Besti slips a foot under and gets full guard. Nice work.
Nicoletti tries to free his leg and advance position but Besti is retaining full guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Mattia Nicoletti dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Gatto Besti's cut.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

Besti moves out of range as Nicoletti throws a body kick.
Besti shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Nicoletti defends it nicely.
A telegraphed right hand from Nicoletti misses the target.
Besti shoots for a takedown but Nicoletti saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
Besti looks for a takedown but Nicoletti sprawls well.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Gatto Besti. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Besti looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
Besti blocks a head kick by Nicoletti.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
A nice leg kick lands there from Nicoletti.
Besti shoots for a takedown but Nicoletti saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
Nicoletti has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Nicoletti fails with an attempt to clinch.

Nicoletti gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.
Nicoletti throws a nice elbow but it doesn't land.
Nicoletti pushes off an throws an elbow but Besti leans to the side and avoids it. We're back to clinching against the cage.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Nicoletti throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Besti blocks it with crossed arms.
Nicoletti scores with a shot to the side of Besti's head.
Nicoletti utilising his Muay Thai to score with a knee to the body.
Besti dodges an elbow strike from Nicoletti.
Nicoletti tries to land knees in the clinch but Besti avoids the damage to the body.
Nicoletti pushes off an throws an elbow but Besti leans to the side and avoids it. We're back to clinching against the cage.
Besti takes a knee right on the jaw!
Besti is looking for a takedown.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Nicoletti comes over the top with an elbow. That landed flush.
Nicoletti lands a nice elbow.
Nicoletti lands an elbow inside that Besti shrugs off.
A nice glancing elbow lands by Nicoletti.
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!
Nicoletti misses with an elbow over the top.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Besti takes an elbow to the temple.

Gatto Besti's cut is getting worse.
Nicoletti creates a bit of distance and throws an elbow that only just misses.
Nicoletti lands an elbow inside.
Nicoletti lands an elbow just above Besti 's eye.

Gatto Besti's cut is bleeding quite badly. He's got to try and protect it.
Nicoletti is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Besti is defending well for now.

Besti wants the takedown. Nicoletti is fighting it off but Besti persists and manages to bring the fight to the ground, ending up in Nicoletti's guard against the cage.
Besti passes into half guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

Besti is looking for a kimura but he's never going to get it from there.
Nicoletti trying to control but Besti postures up.

Besti is looking for a kimura but he's never going to get it from there.
Nicoletti trying to hold on to Besti's head to control him but Besti postures up.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Nicoletti makes his way to full guard. A much better position for Nicoletti.
Nicoletti is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Nicoletti is looking to sweep but instead, Besti has passed into half guard.
Nicoletti is looking to control Besti's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Nicoletti avoid being mounted?
Nicoletti moves his hips nicely and gets into full guard.
Nicoletti looking for a sweep. Not yet Nicoletti, not yet.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
My god... these two guys really need to pick up the pace or everyone will leave to go get a beer.
Nicoletti bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Besti's guard.

Nicoletti stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Besti swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Besti keeping moving, preventing Nicoletti from controlling successfully.
Besti trying to control the position.
Nicoletti tries to free his leg and advance position but Besti is retaining full guard.
Nicoletti is still trying to improve position.
Besti keeping moving, preventing Nicoletti from controlling successfully.
Nicoletti passes Besti's left leg - he's now in half guard.
Nicoletti trying to pass the guard but Besti defending well.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Mattia Nicoletti showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The cut man is working on Gatto Besti's cut.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business.

Besti checks the leg kick.
Nicoletti throws a right hand that misses

and Besti counters with a nice shoot takedown that brings the fighters to the ground.

Besti drops back looking for a heel hook - he quickly realises he's not going to get it but Nicoletti manages to dive on top of him before he can escape and now Besti has Nicoletti in his guard.

Besti is looking for a triangle but Nicoletti pushes his legs off easily.
Nicoletti loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Besti trying to keep a closed guard but Nicoletti is proving a slippery customer.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Besti looking to hit a scissor sweep but Nicoletti is one step ahead there.
Nicoletti looking to pass the guard.
Nicoletti really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Besti. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Nicoletti trying to control but Besti is working from the bottom.

Besti throws his legs up looking to secure a triangle. Oh, that looks pretty tight, I gotta say! Nicoletti escapes and throws Besti's legs to the side, diving into side control!
Nicoletti trying to control the position but Besti is working away.
Nicoletti is pausing for a moment. What's he doing? It looks like he's clearing his nose. Oh dude! He's shot a load of snot all down Besti's shoulder. That is not cool.
Besti managing to avoid any damage from the strikes thrown by Nicoletti.
Nicoletti trying to control the position but Besti is working away.
Sloppy strikes there by Nicoletti.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
There's not a lot going on here and the crowd are letting the fighters know they're not willing to tolerate a lack of action.
Nicoletti sitting in side control, looking to soften his opponent up with elbows and hammerfists but Besti is avoiding damage well and looking to escape the position.
Besti can't do much from the bottom here.
Nicoletti tries to get to his feet but he's trapped momentarily.
Nicoletti tries to advance to mount but Besti denies him.
Nicoletti trying to control the action but Besti is working from the bottom.
Besti is holding Nicoletti down, trying to stall.
Besti can't do much from the bottom here.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Nicoletti is moving around in side control but his primary objective seems to be to maintain the position.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.
Nicoletti dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
Nicoletti throws a shot from downtown. Besti moves away and avoids it.
Nicoletti throws a head kick that misses.
Besti will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
Mattia Nicoletti seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Besti dives in for a single leg takedown but Nicoletti sprawls and the fighters end up clinched against the cage.
Besti avoids the elbow strike from Nicoletti, against the cage.
Nicoletti is trying to slow down the pace in the clinch, to catch his breath.
Besti has a body lock and is looking for a takedown. Nicoletti is bouncing around trying to prevent the takedown and somehow he has indeed managed to stay on his feet.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Gatto Besti. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Nicoletti throws an elbow that misses.
Nicoletti lands an elbow inside.
Nicoletti trying to land knees to the body.
Nicoletti looking to stall.
Besti blocks an elbow strike from Nicoletti.
Nicoletti pushes off an throws an elbow but Besti leans to the side and avoids it. We're back to clinching against the cage.
Besti takes an elbow to the forehead.
Besti blocks the elbow strike.
Mattia Nicoletti seems to be working more effectively in the clinch in the fight so far.
Besti has dropped down and is looking to force the takedown but it's defended by Nicoletti after a bit of a struggle.
Besti dodges an elbow strike from Nicoletti.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Nicoletti stops a takedown attempt from Besti.
With the fighters up against the cage, Nicoletti throws an elbow but misses.
Besti avoiding damage as Nicoletti throws knees to the body.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Mattia Nicoletti really dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Gatto Besti's cut.
That's time! Besti's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight.

Besti shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Nicoletti sprawls well. Nicoletti wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Besti gets slowly back to his feet.
Nicoletti fails with an attempt to clinch.
Nicoletti lands a body shot.
Besti is pinned up against the cage taking some big shots here. The referee is looking closely deciding whether he should stop the fight.

Nicoletti takes the fight into the clinch.
Nicoletti landing some nice looking knees to the body.
With the two fighters working up against the cage, Nicoletti just misses with a elbow thrown towards Besti's brow.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Besti goes for a takedown attempt but Nicoletti pushes him away and we're back to fighting at a distance.
Nicoletti tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Nicoletti stooping low to avoid any incoming strikes and then lunges in with an uppercut come cross that lands flush.
It's got to the stage where if one of these guys blows hard enough, the other might fall over.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Nicoletti moves into range and clinches up with Besti.
Nicoletti has Besti pressed against the cage.
Besti avoids the elbow strike from Nicoletti, against the cage.
Besti wants a takedown but no success here.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Gatto Besti. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Nicoletti trying to land knees to the body.
Nicoletti gets double underhooks to prevent a takedown attempt from Besti.
Nicoletti lands a nice elbow.
Besti takes an elbow to the temple.
Besti is working on a leg, looking for a takedown but Nicoletti is defending well.
Nicoletti missing with knees to the body.
Nicoletti scores with a knee to the head.

Jeez, Gatto Besti's cut is really nasty now. The referee must be thinking about getting that checked.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Nicoletti lands a right uppercut that snaps the head of Besti backwards.
Nicoletti landing some nice looking knees to the body.
Nicoletti tries to land knees in the clinch but Besti avoids the damage to the body.
Besti avoiding damage as Nicoletti throws knees to the body.
A knee to the head by Nicoletti.

The referee calls the doctor in to look at Gatto Besti's cut. Oh no, the doctor has called an end to the bout!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 2:32 of round 4, we have a winner by way of TKO (Cut). Mattia Nicoletti!
Mattia Nicoletti decided to hype himself up post fight. It was going well but he went on about it a bit too long and the crowd turned on him a little.