PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Maurice McDonald (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Mattia Nicoletti (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

McDonald
vs
Nicoletti

180 cm
42
184 lbs
42 - 26 - 1

175 cm
38
185 lbs
17 - 14 - 1

Good wrestling
Lethal high kicks
KO power

BJJ Purple Belt
Excellent MT
Good gas tank

FinnFighter Nutrition (Five 160Q supps!)

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 42 - 26 - 1, fighting out of Helsinki, Maurice McDonald!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 17 - 14 - 1, fighting out of Montreal, Mattia Nicoletti!
The judges for this bout are Dillan Fox, Steve Smith and Elvis Blanc.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Nicoletti lands with a nice low kick. That'll leave a bruise.
McDonald uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Nicoletti.
Nicoletti throws a nice outside leg kick.
Nicoletti tries to clinch there but McDonald circles away.
Nicoletti fails with an attempt to clinch.
Nicoletti shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has McDonald pinned against the cage. McDonald gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
Nicoletti tries to clinch up.
McDonald throws a sloppy head kick and Nicoletti moves out of range easily.
Nicoletti just misses with a punch to the body.
McDonald throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Nicoletti steps to the side to avoid the strikes from McDonald.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Nicoletti avoids the head kick by McDonald.
Nicoletti is looking to slow McDonald down with leg kicks.
McDonald moves out of range of the leg kick from Nicoletti.
McDonald throws a head kick that misses.
A clash of legs there as McDonald blocks the low kick.
McDonald swung with a counter punch to the body but it didn't connect.
McDonald stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and McDonald wants it to stay on the feet.

That's one minute gone in the round.
McDonald throws a front kick aimed at Nicoletti's knee but Nicoletti avoids it well.
McDonald keeping at a good range here, avoiding a leg kick.
Maurice McDonald is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Nicoletti takes a jab right on the kisser.
Nicoletti shapes like he's going to throw a leg kick but settles back down.
A decent looking cross lands there for McDonald.
Nicoletti shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has McDonald pinned against the cage. McDonald gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
Maurice McDonald has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Mattia Nicoletti.
McDonald lands with a nice low kick. That'll leave a bruise.
McDonald throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Nicoletti tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. McDonald manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.

Nicoletti fakes an overhand right and shoots for a takedown. McDonald sprawls well initially but Nicoletti persists and gets the takedown into half guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
McDonald avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Nicoletti.
Nicoletti wants to advance to full mount but McDonald doesn't think that's going to happen and regains full guard instead.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Nicoletti accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Nicoletti throwing strikes but missing.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Nicoletti stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. McDonald swivels though and keeps the full guard.
McDonald keeping moving, preventing Nicoletti from controlling successfully.
Nicoletti throws a strike but McDonald rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.

McDonald stopping the sweep attempt from Nicoletti.

McDonald avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
McDonald is stalling in the full guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Nicoletti has his foot on McDonald's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. McDonald works his way back into a safe position though.
Nicoletti utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
McDonald trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
McDonald trying to control the position from guard on top but Nicoletti is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Nicoletti is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.

Nicoletti sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. McDonald defending well though.
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Ground and pound from Nicoletti.
McDonald wants to improve his position but Nicoletti is controlling well.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Nicoletti not landing any meaningful shots this time.
Nicoletti looking to pass the half guard. Not this time.
Nicoletti with the ground and pound but McDonald uses the opportunity to regain guard.
Nicoletti trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Nicoletti throws a big elbow that misses.
McDonald pulls Nicoletti in to control the position.
Nicoletti preventing the sweep.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Nicoletti accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
McDonald pulls Nicoletti in close to prevent any damage.
Nicoletti works a leg free and moves into half guard.
Nicoletti is looking to stall here but McDonald recovers full guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close round but I would say that Maurice McDonald will probably get the nod.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business.

McDonald uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Nicoletti.
Nicoletti misses with a low kick.
McDonald throws a shot to the body.
McDonald fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Nicoletti manages to avoid it.
Nicoletti throws a head kick that misses.
McDonald tries to score with a leg kick but it misses it's target.
Nicoletti is definitely looking for the counter takedowns here.
Nicoletti tries to score with a low kick but McDonald moves his leg out of the way.
Sloppy strikes from McDonald. Those never looked like landing.
Nicoletti tries to clinch up.
McDonald lands a pitter patter jab to the forehead of his opponent.
Nicoletti throws a chopping leg kick but McDonald manages to avoid taking any serious damage.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Nicoletti scores with a nice body kick.
Nicoletti keeps his opponent at a distance with a nice jab.
Nicoletti tries to clinch up.
Nicoletti keeping at a good range here, avoiding a leg kick.
Nicoletti tries to clinch but McDonald is having none of it.
McDonald swung with a counter punch to the body but it didn't connect.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Nicoletti slips under a jab.
Nicoletti throws a low kick, looking for McDonald's leg but McDonald calmly moves out of range.
McDonald tries a head kick but it misses.
Nicoletti throws a nice inside leg kick.
McDonald throws a head kick but Nicoletti moves out of range.
Nicoletti tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
McDonald wants to take advantage of his opponent's missed offense by moving into the clinch.
Nicoletti misses with a low kick.
McDonald swung with a counter punch to the body but it didn't connect.
Nicoletti takes a jab right on the kisser.

Nicoletti scores with a nice takedown into half guard. Let's see what he's got on the ground.
Nicoletti thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.
Nicoletti thows a huge punch but McDonald dodges it nicely.
McDonald is refusing to be controlled, as Nicoletti sits in half guard.
Nicoletti seems content to maintain position for now, rather than mounting any offense.
Nicoletti with the ground and pound but McDonald uses the opportunity to regain guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Nicoletti trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Nicoletti wants to pass the guard but McDonald is keeping the position.
Nicoletti being controlled here momentarily.
Nicoletti throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as McDonald works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Nicoletti has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
Nicoletti connects with a couple of short punches.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Nicoletti prevents McDonald from getting back to his feet.
Nicoletti passes McDonald's right leg, so he's now in half guard.
Nicoletti thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed McDonald's head.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Nicoletti throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
Nicoletti working some ground and pound from close in. He's looking to maintain this position and strike for a while by the looks of things... although he'll probably advance to full mount in a minute now I've said that.
Nicoletti missing with the ground and pound from half guard.
McDonald regains full guard, whilst avoiding punches from Nicoletti.
Nicoletti throws a big right hand that misses.
Nicoletti trying to control but McDonald is working from the bottom.
Nicoletti throwing strikes from guard but McDonald blocks nicely.
Nicoletti stands and throws McDonald's legs to the side, diving into side control.
Nicoletti trying to control the position but McDonald is working away.
Mattia Nicoletti has got the better of the ground game so far.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
McDonald dodges the ground and pound from Nicoletti.
McDonald managing to avoid any damage from the strikes thrown by Nicoletti.
Nicoletti working away.
Nicoletti postures up a little and throws a couple of hammerfists but they don't connect properly.
McDonald avoids any damage from the ground and pound of Nicoletti.
Nicoletti misses with a strike but at least he's keeping busy, looking to cause some damage - that will still help him when it comes to the judges scorecards.
Nicoletti working the body and head with strikes.

It looks like Maurice McDonald has been cut.
McDonald regains half guard, as Nicoletti was trying to land strikes.
Nicoletti is looking to pass McDonald's guard but actually McDonald recovers to full guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Mattia Nicoletti showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The cut man is working on Maurice McDonald's cut.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action! This is the final round!

An inside leg kick lands from McDonald.
McDonald pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
Nicoletti fails with a takedown attempt.
Nicoletti throws a head kick but McDonald moves out of range.
McDonald wants to land a leg kick but Nicoletti is out of range.
McDonald fakes low and throws an overhand right that catches Nicoletti on the side of the head.
Nicoletti looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
McDonald sizes up Nicoletti with a pawing jab and scores with a straight right down the middle.
Nicoletti is looking to land body kicks.
Nicoletti throws a low kick but McDonald moves out of range easily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
McDonald blocks the body kick.
Nicoletti throws a sloppy head kick and McDonald moves out of range easily.
It looked like McDonald was trying to counter with a body shot coming off that last attack from Nicoletti.
McDonald throws an ugly left hook that misses

and Nicoletti counters with a takedown into side control! That could mean trouble for McDonald!
McDonald dodges the ground and pound from Nicoletti.
Nicoletti tries to advance to mount but McDonald denies him.
McDonald struggling a bit here.
Nicoletti tries to advance to mount but can't.
Nicoletti throwing strikes but McDonald manages to buck up and roll into a nice reversal - now he's on top in side control!
Nicoletti is looking to reverse the position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Nicoletti manages to work his way to half guard, despite McDonald's best efforts.
Nicoletti manages to get to full guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Nicoletti manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. McDonald manages to get himself to full guard.

Nicoletti is looking to work some ground and pound but McDonald has wrist control.
McDonald preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Nicoletti makes a bit of distance and scores with some ground and pound, still in guard.
McDonald keeping full guard, as Nicoletti tries to pass.
Nicoletti looking to sit in guard and control but McDonald gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
McDonald is working Nicoletti over from the guard. He should look to pass the guard and do a little more damage with these strikes.
McDonald is working the ground and pound from guard. He might want to try advancing position though to get more of an impact.
McDonald won't allow Nicoletti to sweep him here.
Nicoletti keeps trying to improve his position.
Nicoletti looking to sweep using the butterfly guard but McDonald puts pay to that idea as he passes nicely into half guard.
McDonald stalling.
McDonald prevents Nicoletti from improving his position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Neither fighter has done anything of merit for a good minute or two here and the crowd are not happy about it.
McDonald controlling the pace.
Nicoletti is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Nicoletti trying to control here.

Nicoletti looking for a kimura from the bottom but McDonald passes into side control!
Nicoletti takes an elbow right on the bridge of the nose and winces in pain.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Nicoletti tries to work a leg under to get back to half guard but McDonald wriggles his own leg back out and remains in side control.

And that's the end of the fight!
Maurice McDonald showed his dominance in that final round.
I think McDonald has won this one but let's see what the judges have to say. 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 Dillan Fox scores the fight 29:28
Judge Steve Smith scores the fight 29:28
Judge Elvis Blanc scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Maurice McDonald!