PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Chris Flint (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Nicol Bolas (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). These two fighters really are very evenly matched on the feet - it will be fascinating to see who can assert themselves in that aspect of the fight.

Flint
vs
Bolas

182 cm
24
190 lbs
9 - 6 - 0

170 cm
23
195 lbs
10 - 6 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Basic striking
Very quick

Good wrestler
Decent boxing
Powerful

Beaver Jooce!

GREEN!160

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 9 - 6 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Chris Flint!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 10 - 6 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Nicol Bolas!
The judges for this bout are Gregory Folan, Trevor Gratis and Dillan Fox.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Bolas slips a jab from Flint.

Bolas closes the distance and looks for a trip takedown... aaaand he's got it - Bolas lands in his opponent's guard.
Bolas lands a couple of digs.
Bolas is stalling in the full guard.
Bolas wants to control from the top but Flint keeps moving.
Bolas is taking a break and basically stalling. The referee will not allow him to do that for long.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Bolas trying to control but Flint is working from the bottom.
Bolas throws a big right hand that misses.
We've been hearing good reports from Flint's training camp. Apparently he has been rolling around with some good quality BJJ practitioners and has been sharpening his skills. Let's see if that has an impact on the fight today.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Bolas wants to pass the guard but Flint is keeping the position.
Flint being controlled here, momentarily.
Bolas trying to control but Flint is working from the bottom.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.

Bolas scores with a nice takedown into half guard. Let's see what he's got on the ground.
Flint is staying active underneath Bolas, who seems content to just control the action from this position.
Bolas is scoring with some nice ground and pound from the dominant position.
Flint is refusing to be controlled, as Bolas sits in half guard.
Flint moves his hips nicely and gets into full guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Flint keeping moving, preventing Bolas from controlling successfully.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Bolas looking to pass the guard.
Bolas not doing a lot at the moment. He'll have to show some more aggression or the fight will get stood up.
Bolas with a flurry of punches that miss.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Bolas with a flurry of punches that miss.
Bolas is in close to Flint's body, working some short punches and elbows.
Bolas trying to control the position from guard on top but Flint is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Bolas throwing strikes but missing.
Bolas engaging in some classic timewasting tactics.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up. He just wasn't happy with the level of activity.
Bolas tries to drive through with a takedown attempt but Flint defends well and Bolas ends up having to push Flint into the cage where they will battle it out in the clinch.
Flint appears to be looking for a big counter.
Flint uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Bolas.
Bolas closes the distance and lands a one-two.
Nicol Bolas seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Flint jabbing away but nothing is landing.
Bolas lands a nice hook to Flint's body. Flint takes it in his stride and looks to land his own strikes.
Flint lets the fists fly and connects with a left straight followed by a right hook.
Bolas shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Flint pinned against the cage. Flint gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Flint stumbles momentarily as he takes a strong leg kick from Bolas.
Bolas swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Flint walks straight into an uppercut. Luckily it didn't land flush.

Flint is rocked!
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Bolas throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Bolas fails to land the takedown.
Chris Flint has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Nicol Bolas.
Bolas shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Flint fakes low and throws an overhand right that catches Bolas on the side of the head.
Bolas shoots in for a takedown but Flint shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Bolas shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Flint defends it nicely.
Flint avoids a low kick by using good footwork.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Nicol Bolas dominated that round.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

Flint keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
Bolas swings wildly with a hook that is half blocked by Flint.
Bolas gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily
and Flint counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
Bolas misses with a low kick.
Flint fails with a takedown attempt.
Flint takes a hook to the side of the head. I wonder if that's got his ears ringing.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Bolas connects with a good right hand that stumbles Flint. Flint circles away out of range and recomposes himself.
Oh Flint is still all over the place! His legs are completely gone! Will he be able to recover?!!
Bolas misses with a takedown attempt - Flint sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
Flint seems to have got his legs back now.
Chris Flint has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Nicol Bolas.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Bolas shoots in for a takedown and gets it.
Flint keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.
Bolas slows the pace down in half guard.
Bolas is looking to advance position but Flint won't allow it.

Bolas is working for a kimura but Flint is defending it quite comfortably.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Bolas looks over to his corner - he wants some instructions but his corner are not responding.
Bolas thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.
Bolas seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Flint does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.
Flint keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.

Bolas wants to work for an arm triangle but Flint is really keeping half guard well and defending the submission attempt.
Bolas sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Flint defending well though.
Bolas sitting and controlling from the half guard.
Bolas trying to pass the guard but Flint defending well.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Bolas trying to control the action but Flint is working from the bottom.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.

Bolas drives through with a takedown into Flint's guard. Let's see what he can do from the top position.
Flint 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.
Bolas landing some decent shots from guard.
Flint is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.

Flint thows a huge punch but Bolas dodges it nicely.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Flint throwing shots but Bolas is blocking nicely.

Flint is sneakily working for an arm triangle but Bolas sees it coming and defends easily.

Bolas has one foot on Flint's thigh - he pushes off and manages to get back to his feet.
Bolas misses with a wild body shot.
Chris Flint is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Bolas fails with the takedown
and Flint counters nicely by changing levels and landing a hook to the body.
Flint throws a right and a left that Bolas avoids nicely.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Flint shapes like he's going to throw a leg kick but settles back down.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!

Bolas 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 absolutely exhausted here.
Bolas makes a bit of distance and scores with some ground and pound, still in guard.
Bolas controlling from the guard. I say controlling but really, he's stalling.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Nicol Bolas showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business. This is the final round!

Bolas tries to clinch but Flint moves out of range.
Bolas misses with an uppercut.
A combination from Flint does no damage.
Bolas connects with a body shot.

Bolas instigates a clinch.

Bolas breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Bolas misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.

Bolas clinches with his opponent.

Bolas breaks from the clinch.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Bolas shoots in looking for a single leg takedown. Flint is trying to defend but Bolas finishes it well and ends up in half guard. Let's see if he can advance position further.
Bolas wants to pass the guard but Flint is defending well.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Bolas throwing shots but Flint is blocking nicely.
Bolas is keen to just control but Flint is a slippery customer.
Bolas is in a good position here but he's just trying to control... And he's not even managing to do that successfully.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Bolas winds up and cracks Flint with a swinging punch to the side of the head.
Flint won't allow Bolas to pass to mount.
Bolas is taking a breather. Flint says something to him but it's hard to make out. Perhaps he's telling him to get on with it and actually do something.
Flint works his way to full guard. Good work.
Bolas tries to free his leg and advance position but Flint is retaining full guard.
Bolas loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Bolas is working Flint over from the guard. He should look to pass the guard and do a little more damage with these strikes.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Flint keeping moving, preventing Bolas from controlling successfully.
Bolas is in close to Flint's body, working some short punches and elbows.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Bolas throws a big elbow that misses.
Bolas trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Bolas fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
Flint feinted there with a counter leg kick.
Bolas fakes a head punch and goes low to the body. Nicely done.
A punch combination from Bolas misses.
Bolas ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Flint moves away.
Bolas moves in looking to clinch but Flint pushes him off.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Flint swings wildly with a hook that is half blocked by Bolas.

Bolas drives through with a takedown into Flint's guard. Let's see what he can do from the top position.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Bolas accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.

Flint is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Bolas defends well.
Bolas distracts Flint with his right hand and drops a big elbow with his other arm.
Chris Flint has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Nicol Bolas is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
Nicol Bolas has got the better of the ground game so far.
Bolas looking to control the position here, rather than advance.
Bolas trying to control but Flint is working from the bottom.
Bolas not doing a lot at the moment. He'll have to show some more aggression or the fight will get stood up.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Let's hope that Bolas has the urge to step up the pace any second now because for the last 15 or 20 seconds he's just been holding on tight.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.
Bolas dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
No luck for Bolas with that takedown attempt.
Chris Flint has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Nicol Bolas.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Flint is pinned up against the cage taking some big shots here. The referee is looking closely deciding whether he should stop the fight.
Flint throws a hook but Bolas avoids it easily.

And that's the end of the fight!
Nicol Bolas comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Bolas has outworked and out performed his opponent in all aspects of the game today. He was simply too good and the decision should be no more than a formality. 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 Gregory Folan scores the fight 27:30
Judge Trevor Gratis scores the fight 27:30
Judge Dillan Fox scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Nicol Bolas!
A relieved looking Nicol Bolas thanked the fans for their support and gave the usual line about them being amazing. They seemed to believe that he actually meant it.