PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Nic Black (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Tj Storm (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Black
vs
Storm

185 cm
25
166 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

170 cm
24
155 lbs
0 - 1 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Solid Muay Thai
Cuts easily

BJJ Blue Belt
Decent boxing
Solid chin

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, Nic Black!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 1 - 0, fighting out of New York, Tj Storm!
The judges for this bout are Alyssa Summers, Steve Montenegro and Joseph Jones.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Black lets loose with a powerful body kick. Storm will feel that in the morning.
Black lands with a head kick! That's gotta hurt.
Storm is trying hard to land a takedown here. Black sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.
Storm fails miserably with a takedown attempt.

Black has managed to clinch.
Black wants a takedown.
Black has dropped down and is looking to force the takedown but it's defended by Storm after a bit of a struggle.
Black has Storm pushed against the cage.
Storm takes a knee right on the jaw!
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Storm is trying to break the clinch but Black has him pressed against the cage.

Storm pulls guard successfully.
Black slows down the pace of the fight for a moment. He'll need to remain active if he doesn't want to see the fight stood back up.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Storm not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Storm looks winded!
Black showing good wrestling skills to control the position.

Black postures up as if he's going to throw some strikes but drops back for an ankle! Storm is in big trouble! He looks ready to tap! But no, he's escaped and dives on top of Black, into his guard.

Black has his foot on Storm's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Storm works his way back into a safe position though.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
There's not a lot going on here and the crowd are letting the fighters know they're not willing to tolerate a lack of action.
Black keeping moving, preventing Storm from controlling successfully.
Black managing to control the position.
Black trying to control the position.

Black has scooted to the edge of the canvas and used the cage to get back to his feet. Storm has stuck on his opponent and is forcing him back against the cage.
Black has a body lock and is looking for a takedown. Storm is bouncing around trying to prevent the takedown and somehow he has indeed managed to stay on his feet.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Nic Black. That's going to take a lot out of him.

Black drags the fight down to the ground.

Black has butterfly guard. He's looking to stand up here. He pushes Storm off him and springs to his feet nicely. The crowd applauds.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Storm shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Black sprawls well. Black wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Storm gets slowly back to his feet.
Black shoots for a takedown but Storm saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
And Storm tries to counter it with a takedown but Black pushes his down on his head and steps out.
Storm defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Black.
Storm ducks under a wild hook from Black.
Black circles away from the clinch attempt.
Storm shoots for a takedown but Black saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
Black tries to clinch but Storm is having none of it.
Black lands with a slapping head kick.
Black misses with a series of wild punches.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Black shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Storm as he jumps to the side.

Black gets taken down but at least he's managed to land in guard.

Black has managed to wall walk up one of the corner posts to get back to his feet. Storm is pushing him up against the cage, looking to control the position.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Storm goes for a takedown in the clinch but Black prevents it.
Black lands an elbow inside.

Black breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Storm shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Black as he jumps to the side.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Nic Black dominated that round.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business.

Nice takedown defense from Black. No joy for Storm on that attempt.
The fighters are starting to get sweaty, which will make takedowns a bit more tricky.

Black moves into range and clinches up with Storm.

Black manages to pull guard.
Black trying to control the position.

The fighters are working up against the cage. Black manages to wriggle his way back to his feet, so the fighters are now clinched against the cage.

Black pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Storm leaves Black with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
Storm is breathing heavily.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Storm closes the distance and clinches.
Black tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Storm tries to break free but Black pushes him back against the cage.
Black tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Black is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Storm can do to turn this around?

Storm drags the fight down to the ground.
Nic Black overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Black missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.

Black decides he's had enough of playing guard and decides to stand. Come on Storm, up you get!
Black shoots in looking for a takedown but Storm manages to keep the fight standing, pushing Black's face into the canvas for good measure before circling away.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Nic Black. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Black shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Storm as he jumps to the side.
Black misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.

Black closes the distance and clinches.

Storm jumps guard and drags Black to the mat. He's obviously going to be looking for submissions off his back.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Storm avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Black content to stall in guard here.
Storm looking to hit a scissor sweep but Black is one step ahead there.
Black will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.
Storm will have to put a bit more behind his punches if he's going to do any damage from this position.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Black accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
We must be close to a standup if these guys don't pick up the pace.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Storm is striking from the bottom but Black uses the opportunity to pass into half guard.
Black frees up his trapped foot and advances to mount.
Black controlling his opponent.
Storm tries to get back to half guard but can't.
Black trying to control but he's not successful this time.
Black throwing shots from mount but they're not landing.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Black looking to control but Storm is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.
Storm wants to hold on but Black pushes him away.
Storm really trying hard to get back to half guard here.
Black sends his fist crashing into the mat - the crowd let out a collective ooooooh. Let's hope he's not broken it!
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Black wants to control the pace but Storm is squirming around nicely.
Black misses with a series of strikes from mount. He'll no doubt be working on his ground and pound when he gets back to the gym.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Nic Black dominated that second round.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action. This is the final round!

Black falls off balance throwing a combination
and Storm counters with a nice body shot.
Nic Black is winning the standup battle so far.
Storm tries to grapple but his opponent circles
and Black counters with a kick to the head that grazes his opponent. Storm is lucky that one didn't land flush.
Storm tries to clinch but Black is having none of it.

Black clinches with his opponent.
Black tries to pull guard but Storm holds him up against the cage and eventually Black drops back down to his feet.

Black breaks from the clinch.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Storm avoids the head kick by Black.

Storm closes the distance and clinches.

Black jumps into guard, dragging Storm to the mat.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Storm wants to control from the top but Black keeps moving.
Storm takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Black throws a couple of shots from the bottom but they don't land.

Black pushes Storm off and gets back to his feet.
Storm circles away from the clinch attempt.

Black moves into the clinch successfully.
Black taking a break, stalling in the clinch.
Black keeps control of Storm as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.

Black breaks the clinch.
Black shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Storm as he avoids it easily.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Black has closed the distance and engaged Storm in a clinch.
Storm wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.
Storm is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.
Storm is trying to drag Black to the mat but Black just about manages to keep his footing. He used the cage to his advantage there.
Storm wants to get back to striking at distance but Black won't allow it.

Black manages to pull guard.
Black wants to get back to his feet but Storm is in a dominant position and won't allow it.
Black has a butterfly guard looking to sweep but Storm has passed into side control.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Storm stands up.
Storm shoots in looking for a takedown but Black manages to keep the fight standing, pushing Storm's face into the canvas for good measure before circling away.
Black ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Storm moves away.
Storm stuffs the takedown attempt from Black. Black gets slowly back to his feet.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Nic Black. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Storm displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Black.
Black leaves Storm with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
Black shoots in but Storm avoids the takedown attempt easily.
As Black backs off Storm throws a huge counter combo but Black manages to avoid it all.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Horrible takedown attempt by Black or perhaps it was just good defense by Storm, which made it look bad.

Storm takes the fight into the clinch.
Storm jumps guard but his hands slip and he falls flat on his back. Well, he's made himself look a right mug there, as Black walks away with a smile on his face. Storm gets slowly back to his feet and shakes his head.
Storm shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Black tries for a takedown but Storm sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
Black avoids the head kick by Storm.
Tj Storm has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Nic Black is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Black shoots in for a double leg but Storm sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.

And that's the end of the fight!
Nic Black showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Black 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 Alyssa Summers scores the fight 30:27
Judge Steve Montenegro scores the fight 30:27
Judge Joseph Jones scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Nic Black!