PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Antonio Gatmaitan (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Kaleb Nickels (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Antonio Gatmaitan has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Gatmaitan
vs
Nickels

168 cm
25
155 lbs
3 - 1 - 0

180 cm
25
165 lbs
0 - 1 - 0

Good wrestling
Basic striking
KO power

BJJ White Belt
Excellent MT
Tends to cut

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the lightweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 3 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, Antonio Gatmaitan!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Kaleb Nickels!
The judges for this bout are Paul Gruel, Josh West and Chris Saunders.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
A looping hook to the body misses from Gatmaitan. Nickels does a little dance to reset his feet.
Gatmaitan stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Gatmaitan wants it to stay on the feet.
Gatmaitan shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Nickels as he avoids it easily.
Nickels plants his feet and lands a nice head kick!

It looks like Antonio Gatmaitan has been cut.
Gatmaitan misses the shot to the body.
Nickels tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Gatmaitan was well out of range. Poor timing from Nickels.
Gatmaitan tries to counter by clinching up but Nickels breaks away and moves out of range.
Nickels moves out of range as Gatmaitan strikes.
Nickels is definitely looking for the counter takedowns here.
Nickels shoots in looking for a takedown but Gatmaitan manages to keep the fight standing, pushing Nickels's face into the canvas for good measure before circling away.
The fight stays on the outside here - Nickels looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Gatmaitan lands a jab to the nose.
Gatmaitan throws a body kick but he was well out of range there.
Nickels tries to bum rush Gatmaitan with a series of wild strikes but Gatmaitan uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Nickels closes this distance looking for a takedown but Gatmaitan circles away.
Gatmaitan definitely looks more muscular than last time we saw him fight.
Antonio Gatmaitan has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Kaleb Nickels.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Gatmaitan throws a hook but Nickels avoids it easily.
Gatmaitan misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Nickels.
Nickels darts in trying to clinch

and Gatmaitan decides to take the opportunity to score a takedown. He's landed in Nickels's guard.
Gatmaitan chips away with some ground and pound.
Nickels has momentary wrist control but Gatmaitan slips an elbow through the middle.
Gatmaitan working some strikes from top position.
Gatmaitan with a nice head shot there.
Gatmaitan stands up over Nickels, holding his feet. He dives back in and lands a decent shot to the head.
Gatmaitan cracks Nickels with a solid left hand.
Gatmaitan lands a nice shot whilst sitting in his opponent's guard.
Gatmaitan lands a couple of elbows.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Gatmaitan postures up and lands a big shot to Nickels's brow.

Nickels is rocked!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Nickels is looking to stand up but Gatmaitan isn't so interested in that idea.
Nickels is still in real trouble! Can Gatmaitan finish him?
Gatmaitan is in close to Nickels's body, working some short punches and elbows.
Gatmaitan arches his back and unloads with a massive left and a right! Nickels's eyes roll back into his head, he's out cold! The ref dives in to stop the fight - wow, they were hard shots!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 2:31 of round 1, we have a winner by way of KO (Strikes). Antonio Gatmaitan!
An out of breath Antonio Gatmaitan thanked his loyal fans in his post fight interview, giving them credit for his success over the course of his career.