PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Gabriel Dahl (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Iosue Nicu (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Nicu has chosen It's Dark and Hell Is Hot as his entrance music. I can't wait for this one - let's get the fighter introductions out of the way and get this one started!

Dahl
vs
Nicu

185 cm
28
209 lbs
11 - 7 - 0

190 cm
22
216 lbs
10 - 1 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Solid Muay Thai
Very quick

BJJ Purple Belt
Lethal high kicks
Good gas tank

Highland Clothing

KAISER
Sun-Tzu

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the light heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 11 - 7 - 0, fighting out of London, Gabriel Dahl!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 10 - 1 - 0, fighting out of New York, Iosue Nicu!
The judges for this bout are Sam Margolis, James Glass and Richard Clark.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
A nice leg kick lands there from Nicu.
Nicu misses with a low kick as Dahl jumps back.
Dahl tries to counter by clinching up but Nicu breaks away and moves out of range.
Nicu throws a sloppy head kick and Dahl moves out of range easily.
Nicu throws a leg kick
and Dahl counters with a lovely straight right hand!

It looks like Iosue Nicu has been cut.
Dahl fails with a takedown attempt.
Dahl shoots and misses
and Nicu counters with a nice jab to the body that keeps Dahl thinking.
Dahl looks to have improved his striking defense since last time we saw him fight.
Dahl dives in and grabs Nicu's left leg, looking for a takedown. Nicu pushes down on Dahl's head and hops out.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Gabriel Dahl. That's going to take a lot out of him.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Nicu misses with a body shot.
Dahl looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
Nicu takes a body punch that cleary hurt but he's trying not to show any weakness.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Nicu throws a leg kick that is checked

and Dahl decides to take the opportunity to score a takedown. He's landed in Nicu's guard.

Nicu has butterfly guard. He's looking to stand up here. He pushes Dahl off him and springs to his feet nicely. The crowd applauds.
Nicu is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Dahl.
Dahl waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Nicu.
Nicu connects with a jab.
Nicu's coach down at Darkness (B613) was telling us pre-fight that they have been working on Nicu's balance. Obviously they view that as a key factor in the outcome of this fight.
Nicu lands a nice leg kick that just misses Dahl's sensitive parts.
Nicu throws a body punch but Dahl moves out of range.
The sound of bone on bone echoes around the arena as Dahl checks a leg kick.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Nicu throws a leg kick that misses.
Nicu keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Nicu connects with a leg kick. Dahl looked like he was expecting something else and didn't defend it.
Nicu connects with a leg kick. He turned his hip over nicely there.
Nicu fakes with a right hand and throws a good leg kick, right into the thigh. That had to hurt Dahl.
Dahl defending well as Nicu loads up on a big left hand.
It looked like Dahl was looking amped, ready to throw a big counter but didn't commit.
Nicu throws a body kick that sends a sickening thudding noise reverberating around the arena.
Nicu scores with a jab to the body.
Dahl shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Nicu sprawls well. Nicu wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Dahl gets slowly back to his feet.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Dahl avoids the body shot from Nicu.
Nicu stuffs the takedown attempt from Dahl. Dahl gets slowly back to his feet.
Nicu with a jab.
Dahl takes a nice looking leg kick right on the meat of his thigh there.
Dahl takes a kick to the side of the head.
Nicu takes a nasty kick to the mid section... That should keep him thinking. Does he try and block and risk a head kick landing?
Dahl shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Nicu as he jumps to the side.
Nicu thinks about the counter body kick.
Nicu scores with a kick to the midsection.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Nicu comes forward and lands a shot to the body, then darts back out of range.
Nicu scoring well with a low kick there.
Iosue Nicu seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Nicu lands with a nice low kick. That'll leave a bruise.
Dahl is hobbling a little on that front leg after taking quite a few leg kicks so far in this fight.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Horrible takedown attempt by Dahl or perhaps it was just good defense by Nicu, which made it look bad.
Nicu looks to score with a jab to the body but Dahl is just out of range.
Dahl takes a step back and watches a body kick go sailing past his mid section.
Dahl half commits to a counter takedown before pushing away, out of range.
Nicu just misses with a punch to the body.
Dahl is trying to close the distance and clinch up, after that failed offence from Nicu.
Nicu misses with a low kick as Dahl jumps back.
Dahl fires out a quick counter leg kick but Nicu just manages to avoid it.
A jab lands there for Nicu.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Iosue Nicu dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Iosue Nicu's cut.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

Nicu throws a leg kick but Dahl sees it coming and moves out of range.
Nicu looking to take his opponent's legs away with the low kicks.
Gabriel Dahl is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Nicu looking to take his opponent's legs away with the low kicks.
Nicu misses with a shot to the body

and Dahl counters with a single leg into guard. Nicu didn't expect that.
Nicu keeping moving, preventing Dahl from controlling successfully.
Nicu pulls Dahl in close to prevent any damage.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Nicu tries to land a sweep but no joy.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Dahl is fighting to break Nicu's control of his arms but Nicu is doing a good job of controlling the position at the moment.
Nicu is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Nicu sitting and controlling from the half guard.
Nicu's corner are shouting for him to control the position and he seems happy to oblige.
Dahl controlling the position well.
Nicu perhaps working for something from half guard, or maybe not. It looks like he's just sitting there.
Nicu tries to stand but his hand is stuck under Dahl.
Nicu controlling the action here.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.
Dahl tries to get to full guard but Nicu has control of the leg.

Dahl actively working from the bottom here.

Nicu gets to his feet - back to striking we go!
Nicu throws a low kick but it's checked well by Dahl.
Nicu thumps Dahl with a low kick.
Nicu looks to land a body kick but Dahl moved away.
Nicu buckles his opponent's knee momentarily with a nice leg kick.
Dahl goes for a double leg but Nicu avoids the attempt and the two fighters end up clinched against the cage as Nicu continues to drive forward.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Dahl shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Nicu pinned against the cage. Nicu gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
Nicu fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Dahl manages to avoid it.
Nicu thumps Dahl with a low kick.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Dahl is defended easily by Nicu.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Gabriel Dahl. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Dahl tries for a takedown but Nicu circles away easily
and Nicu counters with a nice uppercut.
Iosue Nicu seems to be getting the better of the standup.
A head kick misses from Nicu.
Dahl feinted with a counter takedown.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Nicu lands a nice shot that snaps Dahl's head back.
Dahl is trying hard to land a takedown here. Nicu sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.
Nicu looks for the body kick but Dahl saw that one coming.
Dahl uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Nicu.
Dahl wants to take advantage of his opponent's missed offense by moving into the clinch.
Dahl on the wrong end of a nice jab.
Nicu looking to land some kicks to the body here.
Nicu tries to score with a low kick but Dahl moves his leg out of the way.
An attempted straight right counter from Dahl misses the target.
Nicu lands a right hook to the body.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
That's a knee to de groin and it's over and out! Dahl crumples to the ground after an illegal strike from Nicu - the referee stops the clock and Dahl gets 5 minutes to recover from that one. "I'm sorry" says Nicu. Dahl manages to get back to his feet and the fight resumes.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Nicu with a nice cross.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Iosue Nicu showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The cut man is working on Iosue Nicu's cut.
That's the end of the interval. I'm sure that seemed a lot quicker than a minute for our two fighters! Back to the action. This is the final round!

Nicu lands an overhand left. A wild punch that just about connected.
Nicu misses with a low kick as Dahl jumps back.
Dahl tries to counter with a takedown but Nicu is quick to defend against it.
No luck for Dahl with that takedown attempt.
Dahl takes a nice looking leg kick right on the meat of his thigh there.
A thudding body kick lands there by Nicu!
Dahl misses with a straight left.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Dahl shoots in and gets a takedown into Nicu's guard.
Nicu is controlling Dahl's posture.
Dahl stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Nicu swivels though and keeps the full guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Nicu has Dahl pulled in close to control his posture.
Nicu has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Nicu keeping full guard, as Dahl tries to pass.
Nicu tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Dahl looking to pass the guard.
The referee looks like he's ready to step in and stand the fighters back up.
Nicu 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.
Gabriel Dahl has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's two 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.
Dahl pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Nicu is keeping the position for now.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.
Thud! ouch! good body kick from Nicu - that will leave a mark!
Nicu throws a nice head kick!
Dahl keeping at a good range here, avoiding a leg kick.
Nicu scores with a decent looking hook.
Dahl closes the distance and clinches up with Nicu, looking for a takedown. Dahl pushes Nicu against the cage but Nicu circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
Nicu fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Dahl manages to avoid it.
Dahl looked to counter that last move with a leg kick but didn't pull the trigger.
Nicu chopping away at his opponent's legs.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Nicu misses with an attempted mid kick.
Nicu throws a quick inside leg kick.
Nicu scores with a nice right hand.
Dahl looks for the body kick but Nicu saw that one coming.
Nicu feints a counter leg kick.
Nicu tried to score with a low kick but Dahl checks it.
Nicu lunges in with an uppercut that skims his opponent's chin.
Nicu pivots as if he's going to throw a leg kick but stops half way.
Dahl appeared to be looking to counter that last move with a leg kick.
Dahl shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Gabriel Dahl. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

Nicu lands a big head kick that sends Dahl tumbling to the mat! Nicu takes a step backwards and waves Dahl back to his feet - he wants the finish!

Dahl is rocked!
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Nicu scores with a hook to the body. Dahl takes a step back and tries to catch his breath.
Oh Dahl is still all over the place! His legs are completely gone! Will he be able to recover?!!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Nicu and Dahl are patiently standing in front of each other looking for an opening. Nicu throws a head kick. It's landed, knocking Dahl into next week! Ooooh that was huge! Nicu knows it - he's on the cage flexing is biceps. That's a bit weird considering he won by kick but whatever.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 4:06 of round 3, we have a winner by way of KO (Head Kick). Iosue Nicu!
During a confident post fight interview, Iosue Nicu thanked all his fans. He seemed very genuine when describing how motivated his fans keep him.