PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Craig Nice (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Vasile Carlova (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Vasile Carlova will no doubt be trying to keep this one on the feet, where he has a distinct advantage.

Nice
vs
Carlova

164 cm
26
145 lbs
3 - 1 - 0

175 cm
25
145 lbs
1 - 1 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Good kicks
Big heart

BJJ White Belt
Excellent MT
Solid chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the featherweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 3 - 1 - 0, fighting out of The Island, Craig Nice!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 1 - 0, fighting out of The Island, Vasile Carlova!
The judges for this bout are Peter Branson, Michael Johnstone and Dirk Anderson.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Nice takedown defense from Carlova. No joy for Nice on that attempt.
Carlova scores with a nice right hand.

Carlova closes the distance and pushes Nice back into the ropes.
Carlova jumps guard but his hands slip and he falls flat on his back. Well, he's made himself look a right mug there, as Nice walks away with a smile on his face. Carlova gets slowly back to his feet and shakes his head.
Nice pulls out of a head kick attempt.
No joy there for Nice, who threw a few shots but didn't land.

Nice pushes Carlova up against the ropes in a clinch.
Nice wants to break the clinch but can't.
Carlova is trying to stall.
We've been informed that Carlova has been sparring a lot of Muay Thai in the buildup to this fight so let's see if that has an impact on the result.
Carlova misses with a knee strike.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Carlova stalling in the clinch but Nice improves position.
A quick uppercut on the inside from Nice.
Nice avoiding damage as Carlova throws knees to the body.
Nice dictating the pace here, as the fighters clinch against the ropes.

Nice has picked Carlova up - he's going for a ride! Nice dumps his opponent to the mat with a thud and settles into half guard.
The fighters are tangled up in the ropes here. We might need a restart if the fighters can't break free themselves.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Carlova is trying to stand.

Nice is looking for a kimura but he's never going to get it from there.
Nice thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.
Carlova is trying to stand back up but Nice is controlling him

Nice decides to stand up.
No joy there for Nice, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Carlova moves in looking to clinch but Nice pushes him off.

Nice drops down and drives through with a powerful takedown into guard.
Nice 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.
Nice is fighting to break Carlova's control of his arms but Carlova is doing a good job of controlling the position at the moment.
Nice trying to control the position from guard on top but Carlova is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Nice decides he's had enough of playing guard and decides to stand. Come on Carlova, up you get!
Carlova moves out of range as Nice throws a body kick.

Nice pushes Carlova up against the ropes in a clinch.

Nice pulls guard.
Nice wants to stand up but Carlova is controlling him.

Carlova gets to his feet - Nice follows without any prompting.
Carlova is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Nice throws a push kick but Carlova slaps the foot to one side.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Nice takes a head kick and shrugs it off.

Carlova has taken the fight to the clinch.
Carlova looks to throw an elbow but misses.
Nice has a body lock and is looking for a takedown. Carlova is bouncing around trying to prevent the takedown and somehow he has indeed managed to stay on his feet.
Nice is breathing heavily.

Nice jumps guard and drags Carlova to the mat. He's obviously going to be looking for submissions off his back.
Nice looking for a sweep. Not yet Nice, not yet.
Carlova trying to stand up but can't free himself from Nice's guard.
Carlova trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Carlova wants to stand but Nice has a closed guard, so he can't escape.
Carlova trying to control the position from guard on top but Nice is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Carlova landing with the ground and pound.
Carlova sneaks a leg through and gets to half guard. That was like a knife through butter how easily he passed Nice's guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Nice looking for submissions off his back.
Nice punching from the bottom.
Carlova throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
The referee must be thinking about standing these guys back up.
Nice avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Carlova.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up. He just wasn't happy with the level of activity.
Nice misses with a head kick.
Carlova is trying to avoid his opponent's strikes and get into the clinch.
Carlova tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Nice misses with the combination.
Carlova is loading up here, looking for a big counter of his own.
Nice throws a body kick that misses
and Carlova cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Nice looks to land a combination but Carlova avoids it well.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Craig Nice dominated that round.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

Carlova gets in close and instigates a clinch.
Carlova throws an elbow but it's blocked.
Carlova jumps guard but Nice stands there with Carlova around his waist. Carlova gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.
Carlova misses with a punch on the inside.

Nice manages to break the clinch.
Nice shoots in but doesn't get the takedown

and Carlova counters with a nice double leg into guard.
Nice avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Carlova is looking to stand up but Nice won't let him.
Nice wants to stand up but Carlova is controlling him.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Nice is trying to keep Carlova in close.
Nice throws a couple of weedy looking strikes off his back.
Carlova wanted to stand there but Nice had control of the position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Carlova wants to stand and escape but instead Nice has hit a sweep and he's now on top in guard.
Nice looking to pass the guard.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Carlova tries to clinch up.
Carlova throws a body kick that sends a sickening thudding noise reverberating around the arena.
Nice misses with a wild combination.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Nice throws a head kick that misses
and Carlova counters with a three punch combo that has Nice backing up. Nice nods at Carlova to acknowledge the strikes.
Horrible takedown attempt by Nice or perhaps it was just good defense by Carlova, which made it look bad.
Carlova is definitely looking for the counter takedowns here.
Craig Nice is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.

Nice clinches with his opponent.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Carlova misses with a knee strike.
Carlova misses with a hook from the clinch.
Nice tries for a takedown but Carlova manages to get underhooks.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Craig Nice. That's going to take a lot out of him.

Carlova breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Nice falls off balance throwing a combination
and Carlova counters with a series of strikes. Nice will be more careful next time no doubt.
Nice keeps the fight on the outside.

Nice gets tackled into the ropes by Carlova. Carlova maintains the clinch.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!

Carlova breaks the clinch.
Carlova cracks the inside of Nice's front leg.
Nice fails with the takedown.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Nice swats away the attempt to clinch by Carlova.
Nice swats away the attempt to clinch by Carlova.
Carlova lands with a kick to the ribs.
Nice tries for a takedown but Carlova sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
Carlova fails with an attempt to clinch.
A nice inside leg kick there by Carlova. That's going to slow Nice down.
Carlova is looking to clinch but Nice is avoiding it.
Craig Nice seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Carlova goes for a high kick. It partially lands.
Carlova tries to close the distance and clinch up but Nice swats him away and circles back towards the center.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Carlova tries to clinch up.
Nice half commits to a counter takedown before pushing away, out of range.
Carlova lands a leg kick that knocks Nice off balance momentarily.
Carlova tries to close the distance and clinch up against the ropes but Nice paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Nice went nuts there looking for a big combo counter but none of the flurry connected.
Nice fails in his attempt to clinch.
Carlova is definitely looking for the counter takedowns here.
Vasile Carlova seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Nice doesn't manage to clinch there - Carlova circles away.
Nice throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Carlova tries to counter with a clinch but Nice shakes him off and moves away.
Carlova defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Nice.
Carlova connects with a high kick.
Carlova throws a series of punches but Nice avoids them all with ease.
Nice shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Carlova tries to counter with a clinch but Nice shakes him off and moves away.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Carlova connects with a leg kick. Nice looked like he was expecting something else and didn't defend it.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Vasile Carlova 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 ring so we can get back down to business. This is the final round!

Nice tries to clinch up but Carlova circles away and keeps his distance.
Carlova throws a one two combo.
Nice tries for a takedown but Carlova sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
Carlova is looking to clinch but Nice is avoiding it.

Nice has managed to clinch.
Carlova using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Nice has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
Nice wants to take the fight to the mat but Carlova manages to get underhooks and keep the fight in the clinch.
Vasile Carlova seems to be working more effectively in the clinch in the fight so far.
Carlova lands punches inside but they're not really causing much damage.
Carlova misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Nice.
Carlova stalling in the clinch but Nice improves position.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Carlova lands a shoulder strike.
Carlova prevents Nice from breaking the clinch.
Carlova goes for a takedown attempt but Nice pushes him away and we're back to fighting at a distance.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Carlova showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Nice.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Nice darts in trying to clinch
and Carlova counters with a three punch combo that has Nice backing up. Nice nods at Carlova to acknowledge the strikes.
Nice darts in looking for a takedown but Carlova gets double underhooks and turns Nice into the ropes.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Craig Nice. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Nice throws a leg kick that is checked
and Carlova finishes the little exchange by landing a big kick to the body.
Carlova tries to clinch but Nice is having none of it.
Carlova uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Nice.
Carlova is looking to clinch.
Nice throws a right and a left that Carlova avoids nicely.
Carlova doesn't manage to clinch there - Nice circles away.
Nice keeps the fight on the outside.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Carlova moves into range and throws a lovely three punch combination.

Carlova clinches with his opponent.
Carlova with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.
Carlova throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Nice blocks it with crossed arms.
Nice has Carlova pressed against the ropes.
Carlova is trying to stall.
Carlova pushes off an throws an elbow but Nice leans to the side and avoids it. We're back to clinching against the ropes.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.

Nice breaks the clinch.
Nice swats away the attempt to clinch by Carlova.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Carlova keeps the fight on the outside.
Nice shoots in looking for a takedown. Carlova tries to sprawl out of it but Nice keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the ropes. Carlova manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
Carlova scores with a nice body kick.
Carlova throws a combination. Nice tries to block but a couple of punches get through.

Nice clinches.

Carlova escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Carlova fails with an attempt to clinch.
Nice changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Carlova tries to avoid it but Nice manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Carlova to the ground. Carlova escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
Carlova tries a counter takedown but it's more of a dummy move, and he uses it to push himself away.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Carlova tries to close the distance and clinch up but Nice swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Carlova throws a one two combo.
Carlova has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Horrible takedown attempt by Carlova or perhaps it was just good defense by Nice, which made it look bad.
Nice appears to be looking for a big counter.
Carlova tries to close the distance and clinch up but Nice swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Nice has his takedown stuffed
and Carlova counters with a two punch combo.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Carlova scores with a head kick. Nice tried to block it but didn't get his arm up in time.

Carlova closes the distance and clinches.
Carlova throws an elbow but it's blocked.
Carlova with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.

And that's the end of the fight!
Vasile Carlova comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Carlova has won this one but let's see whether the judges agree with me. 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 Peter Branson scores the fight 28:29
Judge Michael Johnstone scores the fight 28:29
Judge Dirk Anderson scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Vasile Carlova!