PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Geordie Nicholson (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Michal Werdum (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Nicholson kept the crowd waiting but all that was forgotten when his ring entrance music started. The incomparable musical genius that is Knock Knock. Michal Werdum has the power to score a knockout today if he connects clean with Geordie Nicholson's chin.

Nicholson
vs
Werdum

178 cm
26
184 lbs
3 - 2 - 0

185 cm
18
193 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Solid Muay Thai
Big heart

BJJ White Belt
Brawler
Granite chin

Shinobi

Namunamu Clothing

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the middleweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 3 - 2 - 0, fighting out of London, Geordie Nicholson!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Michal Werdum!
The judges for this bout are Dmitry Maklakov, Valeri Chadov and Fedor Mirinova.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Werdum shoots in and bounces Nicholson off the cage to secure the takedown into guard.
Nicholson has his hands on Werdum's head, controlling the position.
Werdum engaging in some classic timewasting tactics.
Nicholson has a closed guard, preventing anything of note from happening. Perhaps he's looking to stall.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Werdum wants to control from the top but Nicholson keeps moving.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Werdum wanted to stand there but Nicholson had control of the position.
Werdum 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.
The referee is pacing around the two fighters - he looks like he's thinking about a standup.
Werdum looking to pass the guard.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.

Werdum looks for a takedown. He's got it. We're now in half guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Werdum seems to have lost interest with the ground game and is thinking about standing back up.
Nicholson is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Nicholson is controlling Werdum's trapped leg to prevent Werdum from advancing to side control.
Werdum is stalling here. Nicholson is in no mood to hang around though. He's locked up a kimura from the bottom! Werdum seems to be keeping calm but he's forced to roll out of the hold and Nicholson has ended up in side control on the top. Nice work.
Werdum parries the strikes from Nicholson easily there. Nicholson is wary of posturing up too much because it might enable Werdum to escape.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Nicholson advances to mount.
Nicholson content just to control the position here.
Werdum blocking the ground and pound.
Werdum has given up his back.
Werdum is trying to get back to his feet but he's not managed it yet.
Nicholson thows a huge left but connects with the canvas and not his opponent.
Nicholson biding his time, looking for the opening.
You can see the frustration on Werdum's face… He knows he is in trouble unless he improves his position sooner rather than later.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Nicholson looking for the choke from the back.

Werdum defends a rear naked choke attempt by controlling one of Nicholson's arms.

Werdum fending off the submission attempt from Nicholson.

Nicholson patiently working for the choke. Which fighter will keep their nerve here?
Nicholson punches the canvas rather than the man.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Werdum trying to control the action but Nicholson just sinks the hooks in.
Werdum is trying to get back to his feet but Nicholson has full control of the position and if anything, Werdum has just worked his way into a worse spot.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Geordie Nicholson dominated that round.
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.

Nicholson shoots for a takedown but Werdum saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
Nicholson displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Werdum.
Werdum has a takedown stuffed.
Werdum misses with a combination

and Nicholson counters by clinching up.
Werdum is trying to pull guard but being pressed up against the cage enables Nicholson to keep the fight standing.
Geordie Nicholson has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Michal Werdum.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
A right handed body shot lands from Nicholson.

Nicholson's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Werdum shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Nicholson as he avoids it easily.
Werdum tries for a takedown but Nicholson circles away easily
and Werdum takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
Werdum is breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Nicholson has closed the distance and engaged Werdum in a clinch.

Nicholson pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Nicholson misses with a takedown attempt - Werdum sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.

Werdum tries to keep at a distance but Nicholson has taken the fight into the clinch.
Nicholson missing with knees to the body.
Nicholson has Werdum pressed up against the cage and is working for takedown. Werdum manages to improve position though and keeps the fight standing.
Nicholson lands a body punch - he's looking to wear down Werdum.
Nicholson misses with a body punch.
Nicholson is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Werdum can do to turn this around?

That's two minutes gone in the round.
With the fighters clinched against the cage, Nicholson creates a bit of distance for himself and scores with a nice uppercut.
Nicholson lands a right uppercut that snaps the head of Werdum backwards.
Our sources have told us that Nicholson has been working on his elbows in the gym.
Nicholson scores with an uppercut up the middle.
Some stalling of biblical proportions here from Nicholson.
Nicholson stalling here - the referee won't stand for too much of that.
Nicholson wants a takedown but no success here.
Nicholson unloads a knee to the mid-section. Werdum lets out a prehistoric sounding urrrrgh.
Nicholson lands a hook to the side of the head.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Nicholson misses with a punch to the body.
Nicholson lands a body punch in the clinch.
Nicholson content to slow the pace in the clinch.
Werdum prevents a body shot from Nicholson.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Nicholson throws a hook to the body. More of an arm punch but it's all scoring with the judges.
Nicholson digs a right hand into Werdum's ribs. Those have got to be taking their toll on Werdum's gas tank.
Nicholson has hold of a leg and is looking for a trip takedown. Werdum avoids it nicely though and we remain in the clinch.
Werdum is trying to force a seperation but Nicholson has the dominant position.
Nicholson tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Nicholson working some nice short punches in the clinch.
Nicholson lands a nice knee to the body.
Nicholson lands with a left to the head.
Nicholson lands a nice knee to the body.
Nicholson misses with a shot to the kidneys.
A short left from Nicholson.
Nicholson misses with a punch to the body.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Nicholson lands a hook to the body. It's hard to tell if that hurt Werdum or not.
Nicholson lands a good knee to the midsection. Werdum won't want to take too many of those.
Nicholson is stalling here.
The two fighters are working to gain dominance in the clinch.
Nicholson misses with a hook to the ribs.

Nicholson breaks from the clinch.
No luck for Werdum with that takedown attempt.

Werdum gets tackled into the cage by Nicholson. Nicholson maintains the clinch.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Geordie Nicholson dominated that second round.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action. And we move into the final round!

Nicholson dives in and grabs Werdum's left leg, looking for a takedown. Werdum pushes down on Nicholson's head and hops out.
Werdum throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Nicholson has his head snapped back a nice jab. A little nod from Nicholson there as he acknowledges the shot.
A left and a right from Werdum both land. Nice combination.
Nicholson has a takedown stuffed.
Werdum dives in for a single leg takedown but Nicholson sprawls and the fighters end up clinched against the cage.
Nicholson wants to take advantage of his opponent's missed offense by moving into the clinch.
Werdum lands three nice shots there - that looked like it hurt!
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Werdum lands a glancing blow to the side of Nicholson's head.
Werdum takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.

Nicholson moves into the clinch.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Nicholson.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Nicholson dictating the pace here, as the fighters clinch against the cage.
A quick uppercut on the inside from Werdum.
Werdum is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.
Werdum wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.
Nicholson lands with a left to the head.
Werdum is trying to force a seperation but Nicholson has the dominant position.

Nicholson pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Werdum misses with a few strikes there.
Nicholson attempts a counter takedown but Werdum avoids it well and moves away.
A punch combination from Werdum misses.

Nicholson closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.
Nicholson scores a nice knee to the body.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Nicholson has Werdum pushed against the cage.
Nicholson lands with a right to the head.

Nicholson pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Michal Werdum seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Werdum throws out a loose jab but Nicholson uses good head movement to avoid it.
Nice defenses there by Nicholson.
Werdum misses with a double jab
and Nicholson counters nicely by changing levels and landing a hook to the body.
Nicholson shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Werdum pinned against the cage. Werdum gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
Werdum is looking for the big counter here.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Geordie Nicholson. That's going to take a lot out of him.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Werdum pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
Nicholson drops down looking for a counter takedown but Werdum sprawls and moves away.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Werdum tries to bum rush Nicholson with a series of wild strikes but Nicholson uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Nicholson half commits to a counter takedown before pushing away, out of range.

Nicholson clinches up with Werdum and pushes him back against the cage.

Nicholson pulls guard effortlessly.
Nicholson is doing well to control the posture of his opponent and prevent any damage.
We could do with one of the fighters taking the initiative a bit more on the ground - they're both waiting to capitalize on a mistake.
Werdum would like to get this fight back to the feet but can't get free from the closed guard.
Geordie Nicholson is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Werdum must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Nicholson pulls Werdum in close to his closed guard and prevents Werdum from doing any damage or advancing position.
Werdum wants to control from the top but Nicholson keeps moving.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Werdum looking to sit in guard and control but Nicholson gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.

And that's the end of the fight!
I would just about give that final round to Michal Werdum.
I think Nicholson 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 Dmitry Maklakov scores the fight 30:26
Judge Valeri Chadov scores the fight 29:27
Judge Fedor Mirinova scores the fight 29:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Geordie Nicholson!
Geordie Nicholson really struggled to get his t-shirt on before his hand was raised. Making sure that Shinobi logo gets some air time is pretty tricky when you're all sweaty.