PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Azumah Nelson (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Tai Ni Po Ni (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). We have two fighters making their debuts here, so let's see who comes out of this one with their first professional victory.

Nelson
vs
Ni Po Ni

178 cm
18
160 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

177 cm
18
163 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Excellent boxer
Big right hand

BJJ Brown Belt
Counter fighter
Determined

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 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of New York, Azumah Nelson!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of New York, Tai Ni Po Ni!
The judges for this bout are John Roberts, Steve Montenegro and Alyssa Summers.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Nelson fakes a head shot and lands one to the body.
Well, he's not going to score with shots like that. A lazy body kick attempt from Nelson.
Nelson scores with a nice looking left hook and follows it up with an uppercut!
Nelson lands with a nice body kick.
Nelson works the jab nicely.
A head kick misses from Nelson.
Po Ni only half commits to the counter leg kick.
Nelson getting the better of the striking in that exchange.
Po Ni takes one on the chin but keeps coming.
Nelson scores with a jab to the jaw of his opponent.
Nelson feints and then cracks Po Ni's leading leg with a nice low kick. He's obviously looking to slow Po Ni down.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Nelson throws a mid kick that lands with a slap.
Ouch! a nice leg kick from Nelson, right into the meat.
A good leg kick by Nelson.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Nelson tries a head kick but it misses.

Nelson moves into range and clinches up with Po Ni.
Nelson misses with a short punch on the inside.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Nelson.
Nelson pushes Po Ni back against the cage and lands a hook to the side of the head.
A nice left hand lands by Nelson.
Po Ni is trying to push Nelson away but Nelson has him pressed against the cage, so he's going nowhere.
Nelson swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Nelson prevents a body shot from Po Ni.
Nelson tries to throw a body punch but Po Ni avoids it by throwing Nelson back against the cage.
Po Ni tries for a takedown but Nelson manages to get underhooks.
Nelson working aggressively here.
Nelson swings wildly with an uppercut but Po Ni uses good head movement to avoid it.
Nelson prevents a takedown attempt there.
Nelson misses with a punch on the inside.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Nelson gets underhooks to prevent Po Ni's takedown attempt.
Azumah Nelson has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Tai Ni Po Ni.
Po Ni taking a breather.
Nelson taking a break, stalling in the clinch.
A head punch on the inside from Nelson fails to land.
Po Ni wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.
Po Ni missing with knees to the body.
Nelson working on landing some head shots here - that one got through nicely.
Po Ni tries to break free but Nelson pushes him back against the cage.
A head punch on the inside from Nelson fails to land.
Po Ni tries to pull guard but Nelson forces him back to his feet, against the cage.
A short right from Nelson on the inside.
Stalling in the clinch from Nelson.
Nelson prevents Po Ni from breaking the clinch.
Nelson throws a punch but it's blocked by Po Ni.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Nelson swings wildly with an uppercut but Po Ni uses good head movement to avoid it.
Nelson has Po Ni pressed against the cage, preventing Po Ni from circling away and getting back to striking at range.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Good anti-grappling being displayed by Nelson as Po Ni tries to tie him up.
Po Ni goes for a takedown attempt but Nelson pushes him away and we're back to fighting at a distance.
Nelson digs a good body shot into Po Ni's ribs.
Po Ni on the wrong end of an overhand right that came out of nowhere.
That kick from Nelson tenderised Po Ni's leg. Po Ni is trying to keep his angry face on.
Po Ni on the receiving end of a decent leg kick there by Nelson. Nelson obviously looking to wear him down.
Po Ni swats away the attempt to clinch by Nelson.
Po Ni tries a quick counter leg kick but Nelson is wise to it.
Azumah Nelson seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Nelson wants to clinch up but Po Ni keeps it at a distance.
Nelson throws a low kick but it's checked well by Po Ni.
Nelson thuds a mid kick into his opponent's body. That will wear on Po Ni if he has to take too many more of those.
Nelson lands with a nice low kick. That'll leave a bruise.
Well, he's not going to score with shots like that. A lazy body kick attempt from Nelson.
Nelson throws a body kick but he was well out of range there.
Nelson tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Po Ni feints a counter leg kick.
Nelson throws a low kick but his opponent is out of range.
Nelson fakes with the hands and throws a leg kick but Po Ni is out of range.
Po Ni feints a counter leg kick.
Nelson finds nothing but air with that leg kick attempt.
Nelson lands a slapping body shot.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Azumah Nelson dominated that round.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin!

Po Ni moves out of range as Nelson throws a body kick.
Po Ni was about to counter that last move with a leg kick but changes his mind.
Nelson lands a jab to the head.
Nelson scores with a sloppy punch to the body. Not much technique there but it did the business.
Nelson misses with a kick to the body.
Nelson throws a low kick but Po Ni moves out of range easily.
Po Ni feints a counter leg kick.
Nelson fakes with the hands and throws a leg kick but Po Ni is out of range.
Po Ni checks a low kick from Nelson.
Nelson throws a push kick but Po Ni slaps the foot to one side.
Po Ni appeared to try and counter that last move with a leg kick.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Po Ni on the wrong end of a nice low kick. He's acting like it's no big deal but he doesn't want to take many more of those.
Nelson digs a good body shot into Po Ni's ribs.
Nelson misses with a low kick.
Po Ni appeared to try and counter that last move with a leg kick.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Some bone on bone action there as Po Ni checks a low kick. Luckily it wasn't a particularly hard one.
Po Ni was about to counter that last move with a leg kick but changes his mind.
Nelson dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
Nelson is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Po Ni can do to turn this around?
Nelson tries to close the distance and clinch up but Po Ni swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Po Ni tries a quick counter leg kick but Nelson is wise to it.
Nelson tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Po Ni flicks out a counter leg kick but Nelson steps away.
Nelson connects with a lovely jab that went straight through the gap between Po Ni's hands.
Po Ni's hands are dropping dangerously low here and Nelson connects clean with a right hook that sends him down to one knee! Po Ni scrambles back to his feet.
Nelson's jab looks to have found its range, popping Po Ni under the eye.
A good leg kick by Nelson.
Po Ni moves out of range of the body kick.
Po Ni only half commits to the counter leg kick.
Nice shot by Nelson.
Nelson looks to land a body kick but Po Ni moved away.
Po Ni flicks out a counter leg kick but Nelson steps away.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Jab from Nelson.
Nelson changes levels and scores with a jab to the body.
Nelson tries to bum rush Po Ni with a series of wild strikes but Po Ni uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Nelson backing away here, and Po Ni unleashes a leg kick that just misses.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Po Ni avoids a low kick by using good footwork.
Nelson backing away here, and Po Ni unleashes a leg kick that just misses.
A left and a right from Nelson both land. Nice combination.
Nelson throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Po Ni walks straight into an uppercut. Luckily it didn't land flush.
Nelson lands a leg kick that knocks Po Ni off balance momentarily.
Nelson lands with a straight right. Po Ni didn't see that one coming.
Nelson tries to score with a leg kick but it misses it's target.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Nelson scores with a shot to the body.
Po Ni blocks a head kick by Nelson.
Nelson tries to work over Po Ni's front leg with a kick but Po Ni checks it.
Nelson throws a leg kick
and Po Ni counters with a leg kick.
Nelson tries a low kick but Po Ni avoids it.
Po Ni feints a counter leg kick.
Nelson throws a quick inside leg kick.
Nelson punishes Po Ni's body with a nice straight punch.
Nelson fakes a jab and throws a low kick but Po Ni checks it well.
An inside leg kick from Nelson misses.
Po Ni appeared to try and counter that last move with a leg kick.
A chopping leg kick lands by Nelson.
Po Ni's leg has a nasty welt from taking a succession of leg kicks. That must be slowing him down.
Nelson lands a jab to the nose.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Nelson gets a clinch.
Po Ni is trying to pull guard but being pressed up against the cage enables Nelson to keep the fight standing.
Po Ni has dropped down and is looking to force the takedown but it's defended by Nelson after a bit of a struggle.
Po Ni throws an elbow but it misses.
Nelson using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Po Ni has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
Nelson working aggressively here.
Po Ni blocks an elbow strike from Nelson.
Azumah Nelson has scored more points in the clinch so far.
Nelson misses with a hook from the clinch.
Po Ni avoiding damage as Nelson throws knees to the body.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Nelson tries to stall but Po Ni uses the opportunity to gain a better position.
Po Ni letting Nelson take a breather here.
Nelson struggles to land a body shot inside as Po Ni controls his hands.
Nelson misses with some punches.
Nelson is working Po Ni over against the cage.
Nelson misses with a shot to the kidneys.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Azumah Nelson dominated that second round.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin! So, we enter the final round. Let's see if either fighter can bring us a finish, or whether we're going to the judges scorecards.

Po Ni checks a low kick from Nelson.
Nelson misses with a low kick.
Po Ni appeared to try and counter that last move with a leg kick.
Nelson throws a low kick but his opponent is out of range.
Nelson connects with a crisp jab.
Po Ni checks a leg kick.
Po Ni was about to counter that last move with a leg kick but changes his mind.
Nelson pivots, looking for a leg kick but Po Ni is out of range and Nelson settles back down.
Po Ni feints a counter leg kick.
Nelson lands a front kick.
That's a knee to de groin and it's over and out! Po Ni crumples to the ground after an illegal strike from Nelson - the referee stops the clock and Po Ni gets 5 minutes to recover from that one. "I'm sorry" says Nelson. Po Ni manages to get back to his feet and the fight resumes.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Nelson throws a leg kick which misses Po Ni's front leg but catches the back leg as Po Ni tries to avoid it.
Po Ni takes a push kick to the midsection and stumbles backwards.
A nice leg kick lands there from Nelson.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Nelson feints and then cracks Po Ni's leading leg with a nice low kick. He's obviously looking to slow Po Ni down.
Nelson scores with a leg kick.
Nelson lands with a nice combination. Po Ni backs away looking to recover.
Nelson throws a body kick that misses.
Po Ni feints a counter leg kick.
Nelson fakes low and throws an overhand right that catches Po Ni on the side of the head.
Po Ni has his hands up protecting his head but a hook from Nelson finds it's way round the side to connect with Po Ni's head.
A left lands for Nelson.
Nelson looking to land some kicks to the body here.
Nelson wants to land a leg kick but Po Ni is out of range.
Po Ni appeared to try and counter that last move with a leg kick.

Nelson has closed the distance and engaged Po Ni in a clinch.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The fighters are starting to get sweaty, which will make takedowns a bit more tricky.
Po Ni is trying to pull guard but being pressed up against the cage enables Nelson to keep the fight standing.
Nelson swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Po Ni jumps guard but Nelson stands there with Po Ni around his waist. Po Ni gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.
Po Ni has developed a nice purple lump on his ribcage, as a result of some heavy body kicks from Nelson.
Po Ni is trying to maintain a safe position but Nelson gets an underhook and turns Po Ni into the cage.
Nelson goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Nelson lands a right hand that snaps the head of Po Ni backwards.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Nelson swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Nelson lands a hook that snaps the head of Po Ni backwards.
Nelson presses Po Ni against the cage and delivers a mid-strength body shot.
Nelson manages to get underhooks and slows down the pace for a moment.
Nelson tries to throw a body punch but Po Ni avoids it by throwing Nelson back against the cage.
Po Ni fails to pull the fight into his guard.
Azumah Nelson has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Tai Ni Po Ni.
Po Ni has Nelson pressed up against the cage and is working for takedown. Nelson manages to improve position though and keeps the fight standing.
Po Ni looks like he'd prefer to be striking at range right now.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Po Ni blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Nelson prevents the takedown attempt.
Po Ni wants a takedown but no success here.
Nelson misses with a hook from the clinch.
Nelson tries a body shot but Po Ni blocks it.
Po Ni tries to break free but Nelson pushes him back against the cage.
Nelson using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Po Ni has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
Po Ni wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.
Nelson misses with a hook from the clinch.
Po Ni jumps guard but his hands slip and he falls flat on his back. Well, he's made himself look a right mug there, as Nelson walks away with a smile on his face. Po Ni gets slowly back to his feet and shakes his head.
Well, he's not going to score with shots like that. A lazy body kick attempt from Nelson.
Po Ni was about to counter that last move with a leg kick but changes his mind.
Nelson lands the left hand.
Nelson looking to throw a kick but he's pulled out of it.
Po Ni tries a quick counter leg kick but Nelson is wise to it.
Nelson connects with a looping right hand.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Po Ni checks the leg kick.
Nelson throws a leg kick that misses.
Po Ni looks shocked there as he takes a right hand to the temple.
Nelson throws a front kick aimed at Po Ni's knee but Po Ni avoids it well.
Nelson backing away here, and Po Ni unleashes a leg kick that just misses.

Nelson darts in and clinches Po Ni up against the cage.
The two fighters are working to gain dominance in the clinch.
Nelson has a couple of punches blocked by Po Ni.
Po Ni is working for takedown but Nelson is calmly controlling the position for now.
Po Ni fails to pull guard.
Po Ni jumps guard but Nelson stands there with Po Ni around his waist. Po Ni gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.
A short left from Nelson.

And that's the end of the fight!
Azumah Nelson showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Nelson has outscored his opponent in every aspect of the fight today. Only a scarily incompetent judge or two will keep him from a well deserved win... 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 John Roberts scores the fight 30:24
Judge Steve Montenegro scores the fight 30:24
Judge Alyssa Summers scores the fight 30:24

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Azumah Nelson!