PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Abdul Nakambo (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Nickolas Tesla (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.

Nakambo
vs
Tesla

193 cm
18
210 lbs
0 - 1 - 0

190 cm
24
215 lbs
0 - 1 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Solid boxing
Granite chin

BJJ White Belt
Excellent boxer
Granite chin

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 0 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Abdul Nakambo!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Nickolas Tesla!
The judges for this bout are Robert Twigg, Cecil Peabody and George Francis.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Tesla clinches.

Nakambo escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Tesla steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Nakambo.

Tesla closes the distance and clinches.

Nakambo breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.

Tesla moves into the clinch.
Tesla lands a body shot in the clinch.

Nakambo breaks from the clinch.
Tesla ducks under a wild hook from Nakambo.
Tesla is looking for the big counter here.
Tesla moves out of range as Nakambo strikes.
Despite the aggression on Tesla's face he doesn't fully commit to the counter.
Abdul Nakambo seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Nakambo throws a right and a left that Tesla avoids nicely.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Tesla walks into a straight right hand from Nakambo.
Tesla steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Nakambo.
Tesla swings for the body but Nakambo moves out of range.
Nakambo throws an off balance right hand
letting Tesla counter with a right hand.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!

A jab-cross combination lands for Tesla and sends Nakambo crashing to the mat! Tesla follows him down to the mat - Nakambo regains half guard but he's not out of trouble yet!

Nakambo is rocked!

That's one minute gone in the round.

Tesla stands up out of the half guard.
Oh Nakambo is still all over the place! His legs are completely gone! Will he be able to recover?!!

Tesla clinches.
Tesla stays in close to his opponent and throws a right hand to the body.
Nakambo seems to have got his legs back now.
Tesla is pushing Nakambo up against the ropes, for a bit of lean and pray action. Action being used the in the loosest possible sense of the word.
Tesla is clearly stalling here... Pick up the pace son.

Nakambo pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Nakambo scores with a hook to the body. Tesla takes a step back and tries to catch his breath.
Nakambo looks to throw the jab but Tesla is out of range.
Nakambo showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Tesla.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Nakambo connects with the punch.
Nakambo lands a nice hook to Tesla's body. Tesla takes it in his stride and looks to land his own strikes.
Nakambo throws a hook but Tesla avoids it easily.
Tesla steps in looking to clinch after the strikes miss from Nakambo.

Tesla has taken the fight to the clinch.

Nakambo's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.

Tesla gets a clinch.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.

Nakambo breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Nakambo rushes in with a sloppy looking punch
and Tesla connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Tesla uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Nakambo.
A big left from Nakambo misses.
Nakambo throws out a powerful jab.
Nakambo throws a right hand that misses
and Tesla counters with a straight right hand.
Tesla ducks under a wild hook from Nakambo.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Nakambo ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Tesla moves away.

Tesla fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Nakambo, pushing him back against the ropes.

Nakambo breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.

Tesla clinches with his opponent.

Nakambo breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Nakambo looks to throw the jab but Tesla is out of range.
Tesla unleashes a big counter combination but Nakambo bobs and weaves and avoids any damage.
Nakambo just misses with a punch to the body.
Nakambo tries to bum rush Tesla with a series of wild strikes but Tesla uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Tesla misses with a body kick.
Tesla uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Nakambo.

Tesla takes the fight into the clinch.
We've been informed that Tesla has been working hard on his conditioning in the buildup to the fight.
Tesla is struggling to control the position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Nakambo breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.

The fight moves into the clinch position.

Nakambo breaks the clinch.
Tesla slips a jab from Nakambo.
Nakambo throws a hook but Tesla blocks it.

Tesla forces Nakambo back against the ropes and clinches.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!

Tesla pulls guard successfully.
Tesla wants to stand and escape but Nakambo is having none of it.

Nakambo decides he's had enough of playing guard and decides to stand. Come on Tesla, up you get!
Nakambo misses with a double jab.
Despite the aggression on Tesla's face he doesn't fully commit to the counter.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Nickolas Tesla dominated that round.
That's time! Nakambo's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight.

Nakambo takes a swing at Tesla's ribcage but misses.
Nice defenses there by Tesla.
Some wild striking there from Nakambo.
Tesla tries to move into range but Nakambo moves to the side and lands with a nice right hand.
Tesla will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
Tesla misses with a double jab.
Tesla shuffles to his left behind two crisp jabs. Nakambo eats them both and turns towards Tesla to reposition himself and eats a stinging right hand-left hook combo.
Nakambo lands a nice shot to the body.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Tesla tries to clinch there but Nakambo circles away.
Abdul Nakambo is winning the standup battle so far.
Tesla takes one on the chin but keeps coming.
Tesla drops his hands momentarily and Nakambo takes advantage with a crisp shot to the head.
This has been an exciting period of action!

Tesla has Nakambo up against the ropes in a clinch.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Nakambo breaks the clinch.

Tesla fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Nakambo, pushing him back against the ropes.

Nakambo's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Tesla changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Nakambo tries to avoid it but Tesla manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Nakambo to the ground. Nakambo escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
A jab from Nakambo misses.
Tesla slips under a jab.
Tesla throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
A little feinted left hand from Nakambo on the counter but he doesn't commit to it.
Tesla lands with a right hand.
Nickolas Tesla is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Tesla shoots in for a takedown but Nakambo shows good takedown defense.
Abdul Nakambo has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Nickolas Tesla.
Nakambo throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Tesla moves away from the strike by Nakambo.
Nakambo swings and misses with a hook to the body.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Tesla pushes Nakambo up against the ropes in a clinch.

Nakambo breaks from the clinch.
Tesla slips a jab and a cross from Nakambo.
A jab lands there for Nakambo.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Tesla is looking to clinch.

Tesla drives through and clinches with Nakambo against the ropes.

Nakambo breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.

Tesla moves into the clinch successfully.

Nakambo's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Nakambo looks to throw the jab but Tesla is out of range.

Tesla gets a clinch.

Nakambo breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Tesla moves into the clinch successfully.

Nakambo breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Nakambo throws a lazy uppercut

and Tesla counters with a series of strikes that sends Nakambo to the canvas! Tesla follows down into guard, looking to finish the fight!

It looks like Abdul Nakambo has been cut.
Tesla won't allow Nakambo to get back to his feet.
Tesla controls the pace of the fight for a moment.
Nakambo wants to stand up but Tesla is controlling him.
Tesla engaging in some classic timewasting tactics.
Nakambo wants to stand but Tesla is controlling the position.
Tesla controls from within his opponent's guard.
Tesla has been the more effective fighter overall so far.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Tesla is continuing to stall.
Nakambo has improved his flexibility recently so we will have to see if he can use that to his advantage.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.
Tesla misses with a body shot.

Tesla clinches up with Nakambo and pushes him back against the ropes.
A battle for position here, against the ropes.
Tesla pushes Nakambo back against the ropes and unloads with a body punch.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Nickolas Tesla will probably get the nod - 10:9.
The cut man is working on Abdul Nakambo's cut.
That's time! Nakambo's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight. This is the final round!

Decent striking displayed by Nakambo there.
Tesla ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.

Tesla clinches.
Tesla's corner are urging him to control the action in the clinch for a moment, rather than mount any serious offense. I'm sure the crowd appreciate those instructions... not.

Nakambo breaks the clinch.
Nakambo with a nice cross.
Tesla avoids a punch combination nicely.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Nakambo lands with a cross to side of his opponent's head.
Some wild striking there from Tesla.
Abdul Nakambo is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Nakambo cracks Tesla with a good jab.
Nakambo slips in close and lands a nice hook before moving back out of range.

Tesla darts in and clinches Nakambo up against the ropes.
Tesla lands a body punch.

Nakambo breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Nakambo takes a swing at Tesla's ribcage but misses.
Tesla is looking for the big counter here.
Nakambo throws out a loose jab but Tesla uses good head movement to avoid it.
Nakambo throws a hook to the side of Tesla's head but Tesla sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
Nakambo looks to land a right hand but Tesla moved out of range.
Tesla misses the shot to the body.

Tesla closes the distance and clinches.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Tesla lands a nice uppercut.

Nakambo escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Nakambo misses with a hook.
Tesla takes one to the side of the head.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
The fighters circling - Nakambo throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
Tesla moves out of range as Nakambo strikes.
Tesla uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Nakambo.

Tesla rushes Nakambo and presses him up against the ropes.

Nakambo pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Tesla tries a head kick but it misses.
Nakambo looks to score with a jab to the body but Tesla is just out of range.
Nakambo looks to land a right hand but Tesla moved out of range.
Tesla is loading up here, looking for a big counter of his own.
Tesla lands a body shot.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Nakambo misses with a jab, cross combination.
Some wild striking there from Nakambo.
Despite the aggression on Tesla's face he doesn't fully commit to the counter.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Nakambo misses with a looping left.

Tesla closes the distance and clinches.

Nakambo's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
No joy there for Nakambo, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Nakambo throws a hook to the side of Tesla's head but Tesla sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
Despite the aggression on Tesla's face he doesn't fully commit to the counter.
A looping hook to the body misses from Nakambo. Tesla does a little dance to reset his feet.
Nakambo is really head hunting here, hardly looking to strike to the body at all.
Nakambo throws out a loose jab but Tesla uses good head movement to avoid it.

Tesla gets in close and instigates a clinch.

Nakambo breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Nakambo feints a jab promting Tesla to slip. Nakambo then demonstrates his capabilities by jabbing again. Tesla slips again and ducks right into an uppercut.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Tesla clinches.

Nakambo escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Tesla blocks a jab.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Nakambo throws a nice looking combination but Tesla bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Nakambo lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Tesla circles away quickly and effectively.
Nakambo swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Nakambo misses with a hook.
Tesla blocks a jab.
Despite the aggression on Tesla's face he doesn't fully commit to the counter.

Tesla moves into the clinch.

Nakambo breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Nakambo on the wrong end of a vicious looking body shot.
Abdul Nakambo has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Tesla punishes Nakambo's body with a nice straight punch.

And that's the end of the fight!
Abdul Nakambo showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Tesla has won this one but let's see whether the judges agree with me. 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 Robert Twigg scores the fight 28:29
Judge Cecil Peabody scores the fight 28:29
Judge George Francis scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Nickolas Tesla!