PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Rafael Tran (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Don Nissin (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Don Nissin has the eye of the tiger tonight.

Tran
vs
Nissin

212 cm
21
193 lbs
0 - 2 - 0

184 cm
18
180 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Cuts easily

BJJ Blue Belt
Basic striking
Determined

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 0 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Rafael Tran!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Don Nissin!
The judges for this bout are Don Winkell, Frank Antenori and .

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Tran fails to land the takedown.
Nissin is loading up here, looking for a big counter of his own.
Nissin jabs Tran to the body, keeping him at a distance.
Tran really does look like a pencil wearing a pair of gloves. Let's hope he has a gameplan to suit that ridiculous body shape.

Nissin drives through with a takedown into Tran's guard. Let's see what he can do from the top position.
Nissin stopping the sweep attempt from Tran.
Nissin trying to pass the guard. He's being very persistent here but Tran manages to land a sweep and now he's on top!

Tran lands a nice shot whilst sitting in his opponent's guard.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Tran working some strikes from top position.
Nissin looks winded!
Tran working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Tran is sitting in guard, working some ground and pound.
Nissin really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Tran. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.
Tran works over Nissin with some ground and pound from guard.
Tran is working Nissin over from the guard. He should look to pass the guard and do a little more damage with these strikes.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Tran in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Tran working in close now, lands a nice elbow to the side of Nissin's head.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

Nissin is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
Tran content to strike from guard, landing some decent shots.
Tran keeps in close for a moment and lands a decent shot to the side of Nissin's head.
Tran throwing strikes from guard but Nissin blocks nicely.
Tran missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Tran lands a couple of decent looking shots.
Tran is working Nissin over from the guard. He should look to pass the guard and do a little more damage with these strikes.
Nissin looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Tran postures up and scores with a shot to the body and a follow up elbow to the head.
Tran scoring with punches to the head and body.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Tran scores with a decent looking elbow strike.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Tran working from the guard for now, landing some ground and pound.
Tran postures up and lands a big shot to Nissin's brow.
Tran keeps in close for a moment and lands a decent shot to the side of Nissin's head.
Nissin has momentary wrist control but Tran slips an elbow through the middle.
Tran makes a bit of distance and scores with some ground and pound, still in guard.
Tran works over Nissin with some ground and pound from guard.
Tran postures up and scores with a shot to the body and a follow up elbow to the head.
Tran is working Nissin over from the guard. He should look to pass the guard and do a little more damage with these strikes.
Tran landing some decent shots from guard.
Tran stands up over Nissin, holding his feet. He dives back in and lands a decent shot to the head.
Tran lands a nice shot whilst sitting in his opponent's guard.
Tran chips away with some ground and pound.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Tran scoring with punches to the head and body.
Nissin has momentary wrist control but Tran slips an elbow through the middle.
Tran working from the guard for now, landing some ground and pound.
Tran landing with the ground and pound.
Tran is working the ground and pound from guard. He might want to try advancing position though to get more of an impact.
Tran lands a couple of elbows.
Tran working in close now, lands a nice elbow to the side of Nissin's head.
Tran landing with the ground and pound.
Hammerfist, elbow! yells Tran's corner. There ya go! There ya go!
Tran lands a couple of digs.
Tran distracts Nissin with his right hand and drops a big elbow with his other arm.
Tran is sitting in guard, working some ground and pound.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Tran postures up and lands some nice ground and pound.
Tran landing some decent shots from guard.
Nissin has momentary wrist control but Tran slips an elbow through the middle.
Tran working some strikes from top position.
Tran with a couple of shots to the head there. Not particularly brutal.
Tran keeps in close for a moment and lands a decent shot to the side of Nissin's head.
Tran 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.
Tran stands up over Nissin, holding his feet. He dives back in and lands a decent shot to the head.
Tran lands a couple of digs.
Tran works over Nissin with some ground and pound from guard.
Tran is working Nissin over from the guard. He should look to pass the guard and do a little more damage with these strikes.
Tran working in close now, lands a nice elbow to the side of Nissin's head.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Hammerfist, elbow! yells Tran's corner. There ya go! There ya go!
Tran postures up and scores with a shot to the body and a follow up elbow to the head.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Rafael Tran dominated that round.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

Tran moves into range and clinches up with Nissin.

Tran breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Tran is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Nissin can do to turn this around?
Nissin throws a right hand that Tran ducks under and follows up with a left that Tran also avoids with ease.
A little feinted left hand from Tran on the counter but he doesn't commit to it.
Nissin has done a lot of speed work in the buildup to this fight.
Tran goes for a double leg but Nissin avoids the attempt and the two fighters end up clinched against the cage as Nissin continues to drive forward.

Nissin gets a clinch.
Tran has Nissin pressed against the cage.

Tran breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.

Nissin closes the distance and clinches up, looking for a takedown. He shifts his weight and gets a nice trip into half guard.
Nissin is breathing heavily.
Nissin with the ground and pound but Tran uses the opportunity to regain guard.

Tran is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Nissin defends well.

Tran looking for a guillotine here but Nissin defends easily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Tran lands a beautiful sweep and he's now moved into his opponent's guard.

Tran with a couple of shots to the head there. Not particularly brutal.
Tran stands up over Nissin, holding his feet. He dives back in and lands a decent shot to the head.
Tran postures up and lands some nice ground and pound.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Tran makes a bit of distance and scores with some ground and pound, still in guard.
Tran working in close now, lands a nice elbow to the side of Nissin's head.
Tran lands a couple of digs.
Tran lands a nice shot whilst sitting in his opponent's guard.
Tran working in close now, lands a nice elbow to the side of Nissin's head.
Tran distracts Nissin with his right hand and drops a big elbow with his other arm.
Tran working in close now, lands a nice elbow to the side of Nissin's head.
Tran cracks Nissin with a solid left hand.
Tran working some strikes from top position.
Nissin looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Tran chips away with some ground and pound.
Tran landing with the ground and pound.
Tran scoring with punches to the head and body.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Hammerfist, elbow! yells Tran's corner. There ya go! There ya go!
Tran connects with a couple of short punches.
Tran landing with the ground and pound.
Tran stands up over Nissin, holding his feet. He dives back in and lands a decent shot to the head.
Tran lands a couple of decent looking shots.
Tran postures up and scores with a shot to the body and a follow up elbow to the head.
Tran lands a couple of digs.
Tran lands a couple of decent looking shots.
Tran working from the guard for now, landing some ground and pound.
Tran is in close to Nissin's body, working some short punches and elbows.
Tran is working the ground and pound from guard. He might want to try advancing position though to get more of an impact.
Tran landing with the ground and pound.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Tran lands a nice shot whilst sitting in his opponent's guard.
Tran is sitting in guard, working some ground and pound.
Tran is in close to Nissin's body, working some short punches and elbows.
Tran working in close now, lands a nice elbow to the side of Nissin's head.
Tran is in close to Nissin's body, working some short punches and elbows.
Rafael Tran overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Tran scoring with punches to the head and body.
Tran cracks Nissin with a solid left hand.
Tran working some strikes from top position.
Tran lands a couple of digs.
Tran scores with a decent looking elbow strike.
Tran lands a couple of digs.
Tran is sitting in guard, working some ground and pound.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Rafael Tran dominated that second round.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business. The crowd applaud as we get ready to start the final round!

Tran moves into the clinch successfully.

Tran is fighting off a takedown attempt but Nissin is just too persistent for him and manages to trip Tran to the mat. Tran regains guard as soon as the fighters hit the mat.
Nissin wants to pass the guard but Tran is keeping the position.

Tran looking for a guillotine here but Nissin defends easily.

Tran is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Nissin is aware though and is defending well.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Tran throws a couple of shots from the bottom but they don't land.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Tran is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.

Nissin takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Tran is keeping good posture, landing some ground and pound.
Tran winds up and cracks Nissin with a swinging punch to the side of the head.
Tran working some ground and pound from close in. He's looking to maintain this position and strike for a while by the looks of things... although he'll probably advance to full mount in a minute now I've said that.

Tran is trying to work for a kimura. This could be trouble! No, Nissin has managed to free his arm - good work.
Tran working Nissin over with strikes.
Nissin has hold of Tran's hands but Tran slips his arm to the side and lands an elbow.

Tran seems to be working for a kimura but Nissin defends the submission attempt.
Tran working some ground and pound from close in. He's looking to maintain this position and strike for a while by the looks of things... although he'll probably advance to full mount in a minute now I've said that.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Tran is sneakily working for an arm triangle but Nissin sees it coming and defends easily.

Tran seems to be working for a kimura but Nissin defends the submission attempt.
Tran slips a nice elbow through Nissin's hands, connecting with Nissin's forehead.

Tran is working for submissions here but there's nothing on.
Tran seems to be taking a bit of a break to think of his next move. He lands a short punch in the meantime.
Tran winds up and cracks Nissin with a swinging punch to the side of the head.
Tran lands strikes from half guard.
Nissin has hold of Tran's hands but Tran slips his arm to the side and lands an elbow.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Tran is trying a forearm choke… I don't think that's going to do much at this level of the game.
Tran seems to be taking a bit of a break to think of his next move. He lands a short punch in the meantime.
Tran working the head and body with strikes.
Tran is keeping good posture, landing some ground and pound.

Tran is trying for a guillotine from the top but the pressure isn't in the right place so Nissin is just riding it out for now. Tran eventually gives up the hold.
Tran scores with a couple of good hammerfists.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Tran is keeping good posture, landing some ground and pound.
Tran working some ground and pound from close in. He's looking to maintain this position and strike for a while by the looks of things... although he'll probably advance to full mount in a minute now I've said that.
Nissin has hold of Tran's hands but Tran slips his arm to the side and lands an elbow.
Nissin on the receiving end of some nice ground and pound.

Nissin is defending against the submission attempts here by Tran.
The two fighters exchange a few words. I couldn't hear what they were saying but maybe it's more fun if you make it up yourself. Tran connects with a nice short shot to Nissin's temple.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Tran is nestled in close to Nissin, controlling him well. He's worked in a nice elbow to the side of the head as well, for good measure.
Don Nissin has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Rafael Tran is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Tran will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.
Tran is nestled in close to Nissin, controlling him well. He's worked in a nice elbow to the side of the head as well, for good measure.

And that's the end of the fight!
Rafael Tran showed his dominance in that final round.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Tran, winning every round. Will the judges agree? They are the ones who matter, even if they are often depressingly incompetent. 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 Don Winkell scores the fight 30:27
Judge Frank Antenori scores the fight 30:27
Judge Percy O'Donnell scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Rafael Tran!