PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Theo Nickson (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Shawn Roller (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Theo Nickson could well score a knockout today. He has the power to get to Shawn Roller's chin.

Nickson
vs
Roller

183 cm
21
160 lbs
2 - 3 - 0

180 cm
23
159 lbs
1 - 2 - 1

BJJ Blue Belt
Solid boxing
Granite chin

BJJ White Belt
Good kicks
Tends to cut

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 2 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Theo Nickson!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 2 - 1, fighting out of Las Vegas, Shawn Roller!
The judges for this bout are Daniel Franklin, Chris Downing and Alan Glass.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Roller tries to clinch up.
Nickson ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Roller moves away.
Roller ducks under a wild hook from Nickson.
Roller ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
Roller fails with an attempt to clinch.
Roller avoids a punch combination nicely.
Nickson scores with a sloppy right hand. Roller should have avoided that one.

It looks like Shawn Roller has been cut.
Roller keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Roller takes a jab on the nose there. A little bit of blood seems to be coming out. Hopefully that won't affect his breathing.
Nickson avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Nickson throws a leg kick that misses.
Nickson misses the shot to the body.
Roller goes for a high kick. It partially lands.
Well, he's not going to score with shots like that. A lazy body kick attempt from Nickson.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Decent striking displayed by Nickson there.
Nickson looks for the body kick but Roller saw that one coming.
Nickson will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Nickson throws a chopping leg kick but Roller manages to avoid taking any serious damage.

Roller moves into the clinch.
Nickson is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.
Nickson wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Roller has him pressed against the cage.
Roller works on Nickson's body with a couple of short punches.
Roller keeps control of Nickson as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.
Knees in the clinch landing for Roller.
Roller lands a nice knee to the body.
Roller tries to land a knee to the head but misses.

Roller breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Roller dodges the punch combination from Nickson.
Nickson misses the shot to the body.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Roller turns his hip over beautifully as he lands a nice leg kick.
Roller misses with a series of wild punches.
Roller tests Nickson's chin there with a solid looking shot.
Nickson throws a push kick but Roller slaps the foot to one side.
Nickson cracks Roller with a good jab.
Nickson throws a left and a right that both miss
and Roller counters with a nice jab to the body that keeps Nickson thinking.
Nickson is breathing heavily.
This has been an exciting period of action!
A low kick from Nickson misses

and Roller counters into the clinch. Nicely done.
A knee to the head by Roller.

Roller has dropped down and is working for a takedown. Nickson is trying to keep an underhook but Roller manages to get the takedown into half guard.

Roller escapes and gets back to his feet.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Nickson misses with a body shot
and Roller counters with a nice leg kick.

Roller gets in close and instigates a clinch.
Roller scores a nice knee to the body.
Nickson can't break the clinch.

Roller has double underhooks and is working for a body lock takedown. He's got it. The fighters land in half guard but Nickson regains guard immediately.

Nickson is working an open guard so Roller takes the opportunity to get back to his feet.
Roller throws a quick inside leg kick.

Roller gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.
Roller scores with a knee to the head.
Roller unloads a knee to the mid-section. Nickson lets out a prehistoric sounding urrrrgh.
Roller lands a nice knee to the body.
Roller lands an elbow just above Nickson 's eye.
Roller landing knees to the body.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Nickson wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.
Roller lands a knee to the head there! That was nasty!
Nickson wants to break the clinch but can't.
Nickson prevents the takedown attempt.
Roller drops down looking for an ankle pick but Nickson pulls his leg out and moves away.
Theo Nickson seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Nickson misses with a leg kick
and Roller counters nicely by changing levels and landing a hook to the body.
Nickson misses with a hook.
Roller moves in looking to clinch but Nickson pushes him off.
Nickson loads up on a big right hand but Roller slips the punch.
Nickson looks to land a left hand but Roller moved out of range nicely.
Nickson stumbles momentarily as he takes a strong leg kick from Roller.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Nickson looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Nickson misses with a double jab
and Roller counters with a nice body kick.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Shawn Roller dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Shawn Roller's cut.
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.

Roller moves in looking to clinch but Nickson pushes him off.
Nickson throws a lazy head kick

and Roller moves into the clinch.
Nickson wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.
Roller is struggling to control the position.

Roller has Nickson pressed up against the cage. He's trying to work for a single leg takedown. Roller pulls back from the cage and twists to the side, sending Nickson tumbling to the mat - Roller dives into Nickson's guard.

Nickson wriggles free and stands up.
Nickson swings wildly with a couple of big hooks
and Roller counters with an inside leg kick.
A slow jab from Nickson misses its intended target.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Nickson throws a lazy head kick

and Roller counters by moving into the clinch.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Nickson is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.

Nickson breaks from the clinch.
Nickson takes a body kick right on the floating rib. Ouchie.

Roller fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Nickson, pushing him back against the cage.
A knee to the head by Roller.

Roller breaks from the clinch.

Roller forces Nickson back against the cage and clinches.
Knees to the body from Roller.
Nickson wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.
Roller prevents Nickson from breaking the clinch.
Nickson takes an elbow to the forehead.
Nickson wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Roller has him pressed against the cage.
Roller scores with a shoulder strike.
Roller unloads a knee to the mid-section. Nickson lets out a prehistoric sounding urrrrgh.
Nickson avoids the elbow strike from Roller, against the cage.
Roller cracks Nickson with a nice body shot.
Roller with a knee to the head.
Nickson tries to break the clinch but Roller is controlling the position.
Nickson wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Roller has him pressed against the cage.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Roller crunches a lovely knee into Nickson's ribcage.
Roller prevents Nickson from breaking the clinch.
Roller keeps control of Nickson as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.

Roller breaks the clinch.
Nickson looks to land a combination. Roller sees it coming but can only parry a couple of the shots.
Nickson throws a leg kick
and Roller counters with a one-two to the body.
Nickson swings wildly with a couple of big hooks
and Roller counters with a leg kick.
Roller slips under a jab from Nickson.
Roller tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Nickson paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Nickson swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Roller ducks under a wild hook from Nickson.
Nickson swings wildly with a couple of big hooks

and Roller counters by moving into the clinch. Good anticipation by Roller.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
A knee to the head by Roller.
Nickson is trying to break free.
Knees in the clinch landing for Roller.
Nickson wants to get back to striking at distance but Roller won't allow it.
Roller using the Thai clinch to land knees to the body.
Roller scores a nice knee to the body.
Nickson wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.
Roller with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.
Nickson wants to break the clinch but can't.
Roller keeps control of Nickson as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.
Nickson is looking to break free of the clinch but Roller has double underhooks.
Roller scores a nice knee to the body.
Nickson is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.
Roller throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Nickson blocks it with crossed arms.
Nickson is trying to break the clinch but Roller has him pressed against the cage.
Roller scores with a knee to the head.
Nickson can't break the clinch.
Nickson has had enough of the clinch but Roller keeps him there for the moment.
Roller pushes off an throws an elbow but Nickson leans to the side and avoids it. We're back to clinching against the cage.

Roller breaks the clinch.
Nickson misses with a body shot
enabling Roller to counter with a crisp jab.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Well. There's a bit of a lull in the action here and the crowd are starting to get restless.
Nickson fails to land with a series of punches.
Roller slips under a jab.
Nickson throws a leg kick that is checked
and he gets countered with a snapping leg kick.
Nickson misses with a combination
and Roller counters with an outside leg kick.
Nickson drops his hands and takes a jab to the jaw for his troubles.
Nickson thows a leg kick but Roller checks it
and Roller counters with a kick to the head that grazes his opponent. Nickson is lucky that one didn't land flush.
Nickson misses with a looping right.
A low kick from Nickson is predictable there
and Roller makes him pay by landing a thudding low kick.
Roller slips under a jab.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Shawn Roller showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The cut man is working on Shawn Roller's cut.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action! Ladies and gentlemen, this is the final round!

Nickson lands a jab to the head.
Nickson throws a body kick that misses.
Nickson throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Shawn Roller seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Nickson throws a right hand that Roller ducks under and follows up with a left that Roller also avoids with ease.
Nickson throws a looping overhand right but Roller ducks down to avoid it.
Roller ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
Roller ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Nickson moves away.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Nickson swings and misses with a shot to the body

and Roller counters by moving into the clinch. Good anticipation by Roller.
Nice body punch from Roller.
Roller lands a glancing elbow in the clinch.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Nickson is trying to break free.
Roller lands an elbow inside.
Roller tries to land a knee to the head but Nickson blocks with his arms.
Nickson wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Nickson wants to break the clinch but can't.
Roller digs a right hand underneath Nickson's ribcage. Nickson let out a lung full of air as it connected.
Roller lands a nice knee to the body.
Roller connects with a nasty looking knee right to Nickson's face.
Roller gets through Nickson's defenses to land a nice punch to the side of the head.
Roller with the Thai clinch, lands a knee to the head.
Nickson wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.
Roller lands a knee to the body.
Nickson tries to break the clinch but Roller is controlling the position.
Roller keeps control of Nickson as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.
Roller connects with a knee to the head.

Roller breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Nickson thows a body shot but no joy.
Roller tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Nickson moves into range and throws a lovely three punch combination.
Nickson misses with a looping right.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Well. There's a bit of a lull in the action here and the crowd are starting to get restless.
Nickson throws a looping overhand right but Roller ducks down to avoid it.
Nickson throws a jab, cross combination which is slipped

and Roller holds on and brings the fighters into a clinch.
Knees to the body from Roller.
Knees to the body from Roller.
Roller prevents Nickson from breaking the clinch.
A knee to the head by Roller.
Nickson wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.
Nickson has had enough of the clinch but Roller keeps him there for the moment.
Roller leaning against his opponent.
Nickson is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.
Nickson wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Roller has him pressed against the cage.
Nickson takes a knee right on the jaw!
Nickson can't break the clinch.
Roller landing some nice looking knees to the body.

Nickson breaks the clinch.
Nickson misses with a double jab
and Roller counters with a head kick.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Nickson is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Roller.
Nickson misses with a two punch combination.
Nickson looks to score with a jab to the body but Roller is just out of range.
Nickson misses the shot to the body.

Roller clinches up with Nickson and pushes him back against the cage.
Roller landing some nice looking knees to the body.
Nickson wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Roller has him pressed against the cage.
Knees in the clinch landing for Roller.
Roller throws an elbow but it's blocked.
Roller makes some space for himself and lands an uppercut.
Roller can't get the takedown.
Roller keeps control of Nickson as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.
Nickson wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Roller has him pressed against the cage.
Nickson tries to break the clinch but Roller is controlling the position.

Roller pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A few boos can be heard. I'm sure they will multiply if the fighters don't pick up the pace.
Nickson swinging wilding here.
Roller throws a quick inside leg kick.
Shawn Roller is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Nickson throws a looping overhand right but Roller ducks down to avoid it.
Nickson swings wildly with a couple of big hooks
and Roller counters with a kick to the head that grazes his opponent. Nickson is lucky that one didn't land flush.
Nickson looks to throw a body kick

and Roller counters into the clinch. Nicely done.
Roller with the Thai clinch, lands a knee to the head.
Theo Nickson has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Nickson wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Roller has him pressed against the cage.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Nickson wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Roller has him pressed against the cage.
Roller lands a knee to the body.
Nickson tries to break the clinch but Roller is controlling the position.
Nickson pushes off an throws an elbow but Roller leans to the side and avoids it. We're back to clinching against the cage.
Roller lands a nice knee to the body.

And that's the end of the fight!
Shawn Roller comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Roller has outworked and out performed his opponent in all aspects of the game today. He was simply too good and the decision should be no more than a formality. 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 Daniel Franklin scores the fight 27:30
Judge Chris Downing scores the fight 27:30
Judge Alan Glass scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Shawn Roller!