PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Dominick Nicholson (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and John Jones (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). These two fighters really are very evenly matched on the feet - it will be fascinating to see who can assert themselves in that aspect of the fight.

Nicholson
vs
Jones

221 cm
18
193 lbs
1 - 6 - 1

225 cm
18
185 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Experienced

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Determined

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 1 - 6 - 1, fighting out of Helsinki, Dominick Nicholson!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, John Jones!
The judges for this bout are Matti Vanhoillinen, Anni Minnemäki and Arvi Lind.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Jones fails with a takedown attempt.
Jones tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Nicholson swivels and escapes.
Nicholson is looking to counter the offense by Jones and move into the clinch.
Jones tries a head kick but it misses.
Nicholson is looking for a counter combo.
Jones dives in for a single leg takedown but Nicholson sprawls and the fighters end up clinched against the cage.
It looked like Nicholson was looking amped, ready to throw a big counter but didn't commit.
Dominick Nicholson has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of John Jones.
Jones misses with a takedown attempt - Nicholson sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Jones looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.

Jones rushes Nicholson and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Jones jumps guard but Nicholson stands there with Jones around his waist. Jones gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.

Nicholson breaks the clinch.

The fight moves into the clinch position.
Jones prevents Nicholson from breaking the clinch.
Nicholson prevents a takedown attempt there.
Jones takes a knee right on the jaw!
Nicholson is working for takedown but Jones is calmly controlling the position for now.
Jones is pressed up against the cage. Nicholson has hold of a leg and is looking to drag Jones down to the mat. Jones avoids the attempt though and has circled away. We're back to striking at a distance.
Nice sprawl there from Nicholson as Jones shoots in.
Nicholson stuffs the takedown attempt from Jones. Jones gets slowly back to his feet.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Jones fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
Jones looks winded!
Jones shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Nicholson pinned against the cage. Nicholson gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.

Jones takes the fight into the clinch.
Nicholson leaning against his opponent.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Nicholson is trying to pull guard but being pressed up against the cage enables Jones to keep the fight standing.
Jones is looking for a takedown up against the cage. Nicholson gets underhooks though and prevents the takedown attempt.
Jones has had enough of the clinch but Nicholson keeps him there for the moment.
Nicholson is trying to break the clinch but Jones is controlling him.
Jones has had enough of the clinch and is looking to separate.
Jones prevents a takedown attempt there.
Nicholson has a body lock and is looking for a takedown. Jones is bouncing around trying to prevent the takedown and somehow he has indeed managed to stay on his feet.
Nicholson stalling in the clinch but Jones improves position.
A shot in the inside from Jones.
Jones stops a takedown attempt from Nicholson.
Jones is trying to force a seperation but Nicholson has the dominant position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.

Jones jumps guard.
Nicholson has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.

Jones has butterfly guard. He's looking to stand up here. He pushes Nicholson off him and springs to his feet nicely. The crowd applauds.
Nicholson throws a head kick that misses.
Jones scores with a jab.
Jones throws a right and a left that both miss.
Nicholson throws the kick towards the body but Jones avoids it.
Jones throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Jones shoots in looking for a takedown. Nicholson tries to sprawl out of it but Jones keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Nicholson manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

John Jones dominated that round.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

Jones dives in and grabs Nicholson's left leg, looking for a takedown. Nicholson pushes down on Jones's head and hops out.

Jones closes the distance and pushes Nicholson back into the cage.
Nicholson just leaning against Jones, taking a breather.
Nicholson has Jones pressed up against the cage and is working for takedown. Jones manages to improve position though and keeps the fight standing.
Nicholson is pressed up against the cage. Jones has hold of a leg and is looking to drag Nicholson down to the mat. Nicholson avoids the attempt though and has circled away. We're back to striking at a distance.
Jones shoots in but no luck this time.
Dominick Nicholson has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of John Jones.
Jones fails with a takedown attempt.
Jones is breathing heavily.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Nicholson throws a quick head kick that skims the top of Jones's head.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Jones gets a clinch.
Nicholson goes for a takedown attempt but Jones pushes him away and we're back to fighting at a distance.
Jones takes a head kick and shrugs it off.
A head kick misses from Jones.
Jones shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Nicholson pinned against the cage. Nicholson gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Jones comes forward and lands a shot to the body, then darts back out of range.
John Jones seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

Jones tries to keep at a distance but Nicholson has taken the fight into the clinch.
Nicholson drops down looking for an ankle pick but Jones pulls his leg out and moves away.
Jones throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.

Jones gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.
Jones gets underhooks to prevent Nicholson's takedown attempt.
Nicholson taking a breather.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Nicholson content to slow the pace in the clinch.
Nicholson stalling in the clinch but Jones improves position.
Jones will no doubt start fighting again in a minute but for now he's just having a little rest, leaning Nicholson up against the cage.

Jones has managed to pull guard. Let's see whether he can work an aggressive guard. It will also be interesting to see what tactics Nicholson uses from the top position.

Jones uses the cage to get back to his feet.
Jones misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
Nicholson tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. Jones manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Nicholson gets tackled into the cage by Jones. Jones maintains the clinch.
A battle for position here, against the cage.
Nicholson stalling the fight.
Jones has Nicholson pressed against the cage.
Nicholson is looking for a takedown.
Jones scores with a shot to the side of Nicholson's head.
Jones drops to a knee looking for a takedown but Nicholson gets the underhooks and prevents it.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Nicholson is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.
Nicholson is looking to control Jones's arms but Jones gets an underhook and turns him. Now Nicholson has his back to the cage.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

John Jones showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action! 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.

Nicholson looking to land some kicks to the body here.
Jones displaying good standup as he scores with a three punch combination.

Nicholson is rocked!

It looks like Dominick Nicholson has been cut.

Jones takes the fight into the clinch.
Jones stalls.
Jones prevents the takedown attempt.
Jones is trying to break free.
Nicholson has Jones pressed against the cage, preventing Jones from circling away and getting back to striking at range.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Nicholson blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.

Jones ties up his opponent against the cage and manages to drag the fight down to the ground. Jones no doubt will be looking to work submissions from his guard.

Jones had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Nicholson defends it easily.
Jones throws some sloppy strikes off his back.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Jones is doing well to control the posture of his opponent and prevent any damage.
Jones has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
Jones throws some sloppy strikes off his back.
Jones wants to sweep but no luck.

Jones scrambles and gets back to his feet.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Jones avoids a punch combination nicely.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Nicholson stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Nicholson wants it to stay on the feet.
Jones shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Nicholson as he jumps to the side.
Jones goes for a spinning back kick but it misses.

Jones rushes Nicholson and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.
Nicholson has Jones pressed up against the cage and is working for takedown. Jones manages to improve position though and keeps the fight standing.
Jones wants to get back to striking at distance but Nicholson won't allow it.
Nicholson prevents the takedown attempt.
Dominick Nicholson has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of John Jones.
Jones looking for a takedown.
Jones tries to pull guard but Nicholson holds him up against the cage and eventually Jones drops back down to his feet.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Nicholson drops to a knee looking for a takedown but Jones gets the underhooks and prevents it.
Nicholson really does look like a pencil wearing a pair of gloves. Let's hope he has a gameplan to suit that ridiculous body shape.
Nicholson stalling.
Jones misses with a hook to the ribs.
Nicholson taking a break, stalling in the clinch.
Jones is working for a takedown up against the cage. He can't get it on this occasion though.
Nicholson has dropped down and is looking to force the takedown but it's defended by Jones after a bit of a struggle.
Jones goes for a takedown attempt but Nicholson pushes him away and we're back to fighting at a distance.
Nicholson pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Dominick Nicholson is winning the standup battle so far.
Jones shoots in looking for a takedown but Nicholson manages to keep the fight standing, pushing Jones's face into the canvas for good measure before circling away.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

The fight moves into the clinch position.
Nicholson drops to a knee looking for a takedown but Jones gets the underhooks and prevents it.
Jones jumps guard but Nicholson turns him against the cage and keeps the fight standing.
Jones is trying to work for a single leg takedown but Nicholson pulls him back up using the underhooks.

Nicholson gets a trip takedown into half guard.
Jones pushes Nicholson off but Nicholson dives into side control.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Jones tries to buck Nicholson off but Nicholson is having none of it.
Dominick Nicholson has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
John Jones is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
Jones has been the more effective fighter overall so far.

And that's the end of the fight!
John Jones comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Jones winning every round here. Surely the decision will go his way and he'll pick up a well deserved decision victory. 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 Matti Vanhoillinen scores the fight 27:30
Judge Anni Minnemäki scores the fight 27:30
Judge Arvi Lind scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... John Jones!