PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Bryan Nickoson (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Charles Wates (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Charles Wates has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Nickoson
vs
Wates

182 cm
20
179 lbs
3 - 7 - 0

184 cm
26
170 lbs
0 - 4 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Excellent boxer
Very quick

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Granite chin

Spartan Nutrition

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 3 - 7 - 0, fighting out of London, Bryan Nickoson!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 4 - 0, fighting out of London, Charles Wates!
The judges for this bout are Steven Brown, Colin Fotheringham and Phil Schofield.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Nickoson connects with a slap. Keep your fist closed son.
Wates checks a low kick from Nickoson.
Nickoson thuds his right hand into Wates's forehead from close range. That could be painful for both fighters.
A leg kick checked by Wates.
Nickoson feints a jab promting Wates to slip. Nickoson then demonstrates his capabilities by jabbing again. Wates slips again and ducks right into an uppercut.

Wates is rocked!

Wates decides to change it up a bit and drives through with a nice takedown into half guard.
Nickoson has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Wates is working away from the top position though.
Nickoson punching from the bottom.
Wates stalling away here and it's allowed Nickoson to slip out his trapped foot and regain full guard.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Nickoson 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.
Nickoson has his hands on Wates's head, controlling the position.
Nickoson bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Wates's guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Nickoson is taking a break and basically stalling. The referee will not allow him to do that for long.
Nickoson tries to free his leg and advance position but Wates is retaining full guard.
Nickoson advances position into side control!

Nickoson tries for a kimura. Not really close to a finish though.
Nickoson controlling the position from side mount.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A few boos can be heard. I'm sure they will multiply if the fighters don't pick up the pace.

Nickoson working hard here to secure a kimura but he's not really in the right position for it.
Wates is looking for a sweep.
Wates managing to avoid any damage from the strikes thrown by Nickoson.
Nickoson is chipping away with strikes.
Wates is looking for a sweep.
Wates being controlled for a moment.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Nickoson working the ground and pound but Wates is defending the strikes.
Nickoson controlling the position.

Nickoson is trying to land an Americana. He has the arm isolated but Wates is keeping cool and he's avoided the danger for now.
Nickoson moving around in side mount but really he's just happy to control for now.
Wates avoids any damage from the ground and pound of Nickoson.

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.
Wates is trying to get back to half guard. He's pushing on Nickoson's leg. He's managed it. Nice work.
Wates felt the need to train up his defensive grappling in the buildup to the fight. Presumably he was expecting to be in a difficult position like this, so let's see if he can get out of it.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Nickoson sitting and controlling from the half guard.
Wates wants to get back to his feet.

Nickoson is looking for a kimura here.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Neither fighter is being very active at the moment, with Nickoson in particular looking to stall.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Bryan Nickoson dominated that round.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

Wates throws a loose over hand right and dives in with a double leg takedown. Nickoson tries to sprawl but it's too late and the fighters hit the mat. Wates is in Nickoson's guard.

Nickoson has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Wates can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
Wates really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Nickoson. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.
Wates trying to control but Nickoson is working from the bottom.
Bryan Nickoson overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Nickoson looking to control the pace of the fight rather than finish it.

Nickoson throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Wates stands up from Nickoson's guard - Wates perhaps looking for a knockout.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Wates scores a trip takedown into side control. Nice.
We've been hearing good reports from Nickoson'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.
Nickoson is not content to let Wates control the position.
Nickoson manages to work his way to half guard, despite Wates's best efforts.
Nickoson has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Wates is working away from the top position though.
Nickoson keeping control of the leg, stopping his opponent passing to mount.

Wates decides he's had enough of the ground and stands up.
Bryan Nickoson seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Wates takes a punch to the jaw and another one to the bread basket.

It looks like Charles Wates has been cut.
Nickoson misses with the combination.
Wates with the counter takedown but Nickoson avoids it easily.
Nickoson throws a right and a left that Wates avoids nicely.
Nickoson lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Wates circles away quickly and effectively.
Nickoson tries to bum rush Wates with a series of wild strikes but Wates uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
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!
Nickoson darts in and out, connecting with a jab.
Nickoson will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.

Wates drives through with a takedown into guard.
Nickoson working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Wates.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Nickoson is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Wates defends well.
Nickoson controlling the position.

Wates got a little sloppy there for a moment and Nickoson has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Wates has managed to get both his arms back between Nickoson's legs - danger averted.
Wates in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Nickoson manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Wates manages to get himself to full guard.

Nickoson sitting in guard here, content to control.
Nickoson postures up.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Nickoson trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Wates working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Nickoson.
Nickoson sitting in guard here, content to control.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Nickoson passes easily into side control. Nice work.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Bryan Nickoson dominated that second round.
The cut man is working on Charles Wates's cut.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin! Let's get this one finished - here comes the final round!

Wates takes a punch right to his stomach. That took the wind out of him momentarily.
Bryan Nickoson is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Nickoson throws a series of strikes that have Wates backpedaling.
Nickoson scores with a jab to the head.
Wates moves to clinch but Nickoson breaks away

and Nickoson counters with a shoot takedown. Wates fights it but they end up in guard.
Wates is still in real trouble! Can Nickoson finish him?
Wates is looking to sweep but instead, Nickoson has passed into half guard.
Wates seems to have recovered his senses.
Nickoson tries to pass the half guard into mount. Wates knows what he's doing though and prevents the attempt.
Nickoson not doing much here.
Nickoson has controlled the position for a good 20 seconds, which will no doubt be starting to frustrate his opponent.

That's one minute gone in the round.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are getting on the fighters' backs, as the pace has dropped off in the last minute or so.
Wates is trying to get back to full guard.
Nickoson controlling the action here.
Nickoson tries to pass the half guard into mount. Wates knows what he's doing though and prevents the attempt.
Nickoson is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Wates can do to turn this around?
Wates has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Nickoson is working away from the top position though.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Nickoson is taking a breather. Wates 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.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.
Nickoson pushes forward with a 1-2 combination that forces Wates back to the cage. Nickoson follows up with a solid lead hook to the liver.
Nickoson avoids the head kick by Wates.
A punch lands to the side of Wates 's head but he takes it in his stride.

Oooooh!!! Nickoson has knocked Wates down with a huge combo! Nickoson steps away and waves a wobbly Wates back to his feet! This one might not go much longer!
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
OH! Wates has been rocked by a huge right hand and is in deep trouble! Nickoson smells blood and charges in for the finish! Nickoson unloads a vicious overhand right and connects to the jaw of Wates sending him face first to the canvas! Unbelievable!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 3:43 of round 3, we have a winner by way of KO (Punches). Bryan Nickoson!