PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Nickolas Duke (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Nick Scheihing (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). This should be fireworks!

Duke
vs
Scheihing

178 cm
18
177 lbs
1 - 2 - 0

175 cm
25
169 lbs
0 - 1 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Cuts easily

BJJ White Belt
Decent boxing
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 1 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Nickolas Duke!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Nick Scheihing!
The judges for this bout are Darius Henderson, Steve Erwin and Summer Carpenter.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Scheihing is trying hard to land a takedown here. Duke sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.
Scheihing throws a head kick but Duke moves out of range.
Scheihing misses with a takedown
and Scheihing takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
Scheihing fails with the takedown.
Nickolas Duke has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Nick Scheihing.
Scheihing fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
Scheihing fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Duke is looking for a counter combo.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Duke blocks a head kick by Scheihing.
It looked like Duke wanted to counter with a hook but didn't fully commit.

Duke instigates a clinch.
Scheihing tries to pull guard but Duke forces him back to his feet, against the cage.
Scheihing looks winded!
Scheihing has dropped down and is looking to force the takedown but it's defended by Duke after a bit of a struggle.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Duke jumps guard but Scheihing turns him against the cage and keeps the fight standing.
Scheihing gets underhooks to prevent Duke's takedown attempt.
Scheihing blocks an elbow strike from Duke.

Duke manages to pull guard. Let's see whether he can land a sub off his back.
Duke 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.
Duke is striking from the bottom but Scheihing uses the opportunity to pass into half guard.
Duke missing with punches from the bottom.
Duke regains full guard, whilst avoiding punches from Scheihing.
Scheihing stopping the sweep attempt from Duke.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Scheihing stands and steps away. Duke gets to his feet too and we're back to the striking game.
Scheihing tries to close the distance and clinch but Duke swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.

Scheihing takes the fight into the clinch.
Duke wants a takedown.
Scheihing is trying to drag Duke to the mat but Duke just about manages to keep his footing. He used the cage to his advantage there.
Duke prevents the takedown attempt.

Duke lands a takedown into guard.
Duke trying to stand up but can't free himself from Scheihing's guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Duke throws a big elbow that misses.
Scheihing is controlling Duke's posture.
Scheihing preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Scheihing trying to keep a closed guard but Duke is proving a slippery customer.

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.
Duke being controlled here momentarily.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up. He just wasn't happy with the level of activity.
Duke dives in and grabs Scheihing's left leg, looking for a takedown. Scheihing pushes down on Duke's head and hops out.
Scheihing fails with the takedown
and Duke counters with a stiff right hand.
Duke darts in trying to clinch

and Scheihing counters with a takedown into side control! That could mean trouble for Duke!
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
The referee asks Scheihing politely if he wouldn't mind getting on with it and actually doing something. Scheihing prefers to stall for the moment though.
Scheihing blocks the strikes from Duke.
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 Nickolas Duke will probably get the nod.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

Scheihing changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Duke tries to avoid it but Scheihing manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Duke to the ground. Duke escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
Scheihing fails miserably with a takedown attempt.

Scheihing clinches up against the cage.
Duke has had enough of the clinch but Scheihing keeps him there for the moment.
Scheihing prevents a takedown attempt there.
Scheihing keeps control of Duke as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Duke looking to slow down the pace here.
Duke can't break the clinch.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Scheihing wants the takedown. Duke is fighting it off but Scheihing persists and manages to bring the fight to the ground, ending up in Duke's guard against the cage.
Scheihing postures up.
Scheihing stands and throws Duke's legs to the side, diving into side control.
Duke manages to get one leg in to regain half guard.
Scheihing with a momentary lay and pray from half guard.
Duke is looking to improve his position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Scheihing sitting and controlling from the half guard.
Duke wants to control the action here but instead Scheihing manages to pass to full mount!
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Duke is looking to get to half guard.
Duke looking to escape from mount but he's given up his back!
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Duke is very frustrated here, being controlled quite effectively by Scheihing.
Scheihing is trying to stick to Duke's back but Duke is turning into Scheihing. He's managed to reverse the position - now he's in Scheihing's guard. Polite applause from the crowd in appreciation of some nice Jiu Jitsu by Duke.

Scheihing is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
Scheihing looking for a sweep. Not yet Scheihing, not yet.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Duke throws a big elbow that misses.
Scheihing wants to sweep here but Duke controlling him for the moment.
Scheihing looking to control the pace of the fight rather than finish it.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Scheihing is on top in guard.

And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Nick Scheihing 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! This is the final round!

Duke stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Duke wants it to stay on the feet.
Scheihing tries a head kick but it misses.
Duke throwing a counter right hand but Scheihing manages to avoid it.
Scheihing tries to clinch but Duke moves out of range.
Duke was looking to counter that move with a punch but didn't quite pull the trigger.
Duke is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
A low kick from Scheihing misses
and Duke counters with a stiff right hand.
Duke fails in his attempt to clinch.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Duke tries to clinch but Scheihing moves out of range.
Nick Scheihing seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Scheihing avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Scheihing with a lazy takedown attempt
and Duke counters with a straight right hand.
Scheihing takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Scheihing shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Duke sprawls well. Duke wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Scheihing gets slowly back to his feet.
Duke throws a quick counter kick to the body but Scheihing avoids it.
Nickolas Duke has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Nick Scheihing.
Scheihing throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Duke's waist but Duke gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Scheihing off to one side.
Scheihing avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Scheihing fails with a takedown attempt.
Scheihing tries to clinch
and Scheihing takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
Duke is looking to clinch but Scheihing is avoiding it.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Scheihing tries to clinch but Duke moves out of range.
Scheihing swats away the attempt to clinch by Duke.
Duke throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Scheihing's waist but Scheihing gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Duke off to one side.
Scheihing lets it all go there with a big combo counter but none of the punches connected.
Duke tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Duke tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. Scheihing manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Scheihing changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Duke tries to avoid it but Scheihing manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Duke to the ground. Duke escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
Scheihing looking to throw a kick but he's pulled out of it.
Duke swung with a counter punch to the body but it didn't connect.
Scheihing misses with a takedown attempt - Duke sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
An attempted straight right counter from Duke misses the target.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Duke tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Scheihing paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Duke wants to clinch.
Scheihing is clearly looking to counter with head kicks.
Scheihing with a lazy takedown attempt
and Duke counters with a nice uppercut.
Duke doesn't manage to clinch there - Scheihing circles away.
Duke shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Scheihing looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Duke tries to clinch but Scheihing moves out of range.
Despite the aggression on Scheihing's face he doesn't fully commit to the counter.
Duke doesn't manage to clinch there - Scheihing circles away.
Scheihing shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Duke looked to counter with a high kick but didn't commit.
Scheihing takes a nice looking leg kick right on the meat of his thigh there.
Duke tries to close the distance and clinch up but Scheihing swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Duke tries to close the distance and clinch but Scheihing swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Scheihing gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily
and Duke counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Duke shoots in for a takedown but Scheihing shows good takedown defense.
Scheihing wants to counter with a clinch but Duke pushes him away.
Nice sprawl there from Duke as Scheihing shoots in.
A little feinted left hand from Duke on the counter but he doesn't commit to it.

And that's the end of the fight!
Nickolas Duke showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Duke 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 Darius Henderson scores the fight 29:28
Judge Steve Erwin scores the fight 29:28
Judge Summer Carpenter scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by split decision... Nickolas Duke!