PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Lyman Kissell (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Lou Nahtic (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Nahtic has chosen Sleeping My Day Away as his entrance music. Fingers crossed for an exciting fight - I'm sure both fighters are looking for a nice under the table bonus!

Kissell
vs
Nahtic

160 cm
25
148 lbs
11 - 9 - 0

180 cm
36
140 lbs
18 - 24 - 0

Abu Dhabi Champ
Excellent boxer
Granite chin

Good wrestler
World class boxer
Good gas tank

Amped Performance

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the bantamweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 11 - 9 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Lyman Kissell!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 18 - 24 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Lou Nahtic!
The judges for this bout are John Roberts, Columbo Gatti and Eddie Farnsworth.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
A solid leg kick lands there for Nahtic.
Nahtic is a painfully thin specimen of a man. You do wonder whether a good body kick would snap him clean in two.
Nahtic has his front leg slapped to the side - a nice low kick landing there from Kissell.
Kissell throws a body kick that misses.
Kissell connects with a leg kick. He turned his hip over nicely there.
Kissell lands a nice shot to the body.

Kissell throws a loose over hand right and dives in with a double leg takedown. Nahtic tries to sprawl but it's too late and the fighters hit the mat. Kissell is in Nahtic's guard.
Nahtic looking to hit a scissor sweep but Kissell is one step ahead there.
Kissell scoring with punches to the head and body.
Kissell trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Kissell might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.
Kissell wants to control from the top but Nahtic keeps moving.
Nahtic lands a beautiful sweep and he's now moved into his opponent's guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Nahtic preventing the sweep.

Kissell is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Nahtic is aware though and is defending well.
Nahtic not doing a lot at the moment. He'll have to show some more aggression or the fight will get stood up.

Kissell is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
Nahtic is in close to Kissell's body, working some short punches and elbows.
Kissell wants to sweep but no luck.
I've been told that Nahtic has been drilling his wrestling of late, which has already helped him take this fight to the mat. Let's see how much of an impact it has on the outcome of the ground game.
Kissell controls Nahtic momentarily but Nahtic frees himself.
Nahtic won't allow Kissell to sweep him here.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.
Nahtic forces his way into half guard.
Kissell is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Nice strikes from Nahtic there.
Nahtic sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Kissell defending well though.
The fighters are going at a pretty good pace and they're both starting to sweat now.
Nahtic wants to get back to his feet.
Kissell works his way to full guard. Good work.

Kissell has his foot on Nahtic's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Nahtic works his way back into a safe position though.
Kissell tries to land a sweep but no joy.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kissell avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Nahtic not doing a lot at the moment. He'll have to show some more aggression or the fight will get stood up.
Nahtic stopping the sweep attempt from Kissell.
Nahtic engaging in some classic timewasting tactics.
Kissell throws a couple of weedy looking strikes off his back.
Kissell has a closed guard, preventing anything of note from happening. Perhaps he's looking to stall.

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.
A slapping body kick lands there for Kissell.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are hurling abuse towards the fighters... You can hardly blame them though because there isn't a lot going on in the fight.
An inside leg kick from Nahtic misses.
Kissell buckles his opponent's knee momentarily with a nice leg kick.
Nahtic keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Nahtic uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Kissell.
Lou Nahtic is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Nahtic uses good footwork to get in and out and land a nice right hand before Kissell has time to react.
Kissell swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Kissell wants to clinch
and Nahtic counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
Kissell fails in his attempt to clinch.
Nahtic takes a step back and watches a body kick go sailing past his mid section.
Kissell comes forward and lands a shot to the body, then darts back out of range.
Kissell tries to clinch but Nahtic moves out of range.
Kissell is looking to wear down Nahtic with body shots, infact he's throwing more body shots than head shots at the moment.
Kissell misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Nahtic.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
A jab from Kissell misses.
Kissell takes a head kick and keeps coming.
Some bone on bone action there as Nahtic checks a low kick. Luckily it wasn't a particularly hard one.
A little jabbing left from Nahtic on the counter but it doesn't find it's target.
Nahtic connects with a lovely jab that went straight through the gap between Kissell's hands.
Good shot there by Nahtic.
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 Lyman Kissell will probably get the nod.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin!

Nahtic scores with a nice strike.
Kissell gets his head snapped back by a nice shot there.
Nahtic tries a head kick but it misses.
Nahtic lands a lovely overhand right.
Kissell scores with a reasonable looking shot to the body. Nahtic doesn't seem bothered though.
Nahtic has used his reach advantage pretty well so far tonight.
Nice straight punches there by Nahtic. You know Roy Jones Jr respects the hands of Nahtic.
Kissell jabs Nahtic to the body, keeping him at a distance.
A punch combination from Kissell misses.
Lou Nahtic seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Nahtic listening to his corner there, landing a nice uppercut.
Kissell tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Kissell looks to land a left hand but Nahtic moved out of range nicely.
It seemed like Nahtic was going to counter with the hook but didn't fully commit to it.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Kissell doesn't manage to clinch there - Nahtic circles away.
Nahtic misses with a low kick.
Kissell scores with a hook to the body. Nahtic takes a step back and tries to catch his breath.
Kissell misses with a shot to the body
and Kissell takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
Kissell doesn't manage to clinch there - Nahtic circles away.
A chopping leg kick lands by Nahtic.
The sound of bone on bone echoes around the arena as Nahtic checks a leg kick.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Nahtic walks forward, straight into a front kick from Kissell.
Nahtic tries a head kick but it misses.
Nahtic throws a leg kick which misses Kissell's front leg but catches the back leg as Kissell tries to avoid it.
Nahtic throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Kissell on the wrong end of an overhand right that came out of nowhere.
Kissell swings away with a leg kick that misses.
Kissell moves his head to the side to avoid a jab but walks straight into a cross.
Kissell will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.

Kissell gets a double leg takedown into Nahtic's guard.

Nahtic has his feet on Kissell's hips. He pushes off and gets to his feet. Nice work.
The fans in attendance giving it up for the two fighters, who have really let it all hang out in the last minute or so!
Kissell smiles there as he lands a nice right hand right on the button.
Kissell on the receiving end of a decent leg kick there by Nahtic. Nahtic obviously looking to wear him down.
Nahtic throws out a powerful jab.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Kissell takes one on the chin but keeps coming.
Kissell checks a leg kick nicely.
Nahtic fakes a jab and then connects with a hook.

Kissell fakes a strike and closes the distance, dragging Nahtic to the ground. Kissell is now in Nahtic's guard.
Nahtic utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Kissell is working the ground and pound from guard. He might want to try advancing position though to get more of an impact.
Kissell is looking to pass into half guard but Nahtic pushes him away with his feet and jumps on top - now Nahtic is in guard.

Nahtic is stalling in the full guard.
Kissell wants to hit a switch here but Nahtic passes into full mount! Oh no, disaster for Kissell there!
Kissell can't escape the position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kissell is working hard here to advance position.
Kissell in a bad spot here, taking shots to the head.
Nahtic has his opponent pinned against the cage, landing some nasty ground and pound that is really making a bit of a mess out of Kissell's face.
Kissell slips a leg in and gets back to half guard.
Nahtic landing with strikes to the body and head, softening up his opponent.
Nahtic performing his best blanket impression for a moment.
Kissell is refusing to be controlled, as Nahtic sits in half guard.
Nahtic is taking a breather. Kissell says something to him but it's hard to make out. Perhaps he's telling him to get on with it and actually do something.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Nahtic prevents Kissell from improving his position.
Nahtic trying to control from half guard but Kissell is working away.
Kissell is looking for a sweep. Nahtic is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Kissell moves his hips nicely and gets into full guard.
Kissell looking for a sweep. Not yet Kissell, not yet.
Kissell seems to have improved his submission grappling technique since last time we saw him. Let's see if he can pull off a submission.

Kissell has his foot on Nahtic's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Nahtic works his way back into a safe position though.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Lou Nahtic showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin! This is the final round!

Nahtic circles away from the clinch attempt
and Nahtic cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Nahtic connects with the punch.
Kissell takes a thudding leg kick, right into the meat of the thigh.
Kissell misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Nahtic.
Nahtic looks to score with a jab to the body but Kissell is just out of range.
The fight stays on the outside here - Kissell looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Nahtic lands with a hook. Kissell tried to avoid it but it clipped the top of his head.
Nahtic pulls out of a head kick attempt.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Kissell tries to clinch up but Nahtic circles away and keeps his distance.
Kissell feints and then cracks Nahtic's leading leg with a nice low kick. He's obviously looking to slow Nahtic down.
Kissell takes a thudding leg kick, right into the meat of the thigh.
Kissell plants his feet and lands a nice head kick!
Nahtic tries to check a leg kick but that clearly hurt him.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Nahtic scores with a leg kick.
Kissell shapes like he's going to throw a leg kick but settles back down.
Nahtic lands a really nice looking cross but Kissell seems unphased.
Nahtic misses with a low kick.
Nahtic circles away from the clinch attempt
and Nahtic makes him pay by landing a nice hook to the body before moving out of range.
Kissell misses with a double jab.
Nahtic scores with a jab to the head.
Nahtic lets the fists fly and connects with a left straight followed by a right hook.
Nahtic misses with a looping right.

A momentary lapse in concentration from Nahtic enables Kissell to shoot in and score with a neat double leg. Nahtic manages to secure a closed guard as the fighters hit the mat.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Kissell wants to control from the top but Nahtic keeps moving.
Kissell working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Kissell throws an elbow that misses. Nahtic uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in Kissell's guard. Nice move by Nahtic!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Kissell looking to sweep using the butterfly guard but Nahtic puts pay to that idea as he passes nicely into half guard.
Nahtic controlling the action here.
Lou Nahtic has got the better of the ground game so far.
Ground and pound from Nahtic.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Kissell is not content to let Nahtic control the position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kissell wants to get back to full guard.
Kissell works his way to full guard. Good work.
Nahtic in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Nahtic controls the pace of the fight for a moment.
Nahtic's corner are shouting for him to control the position and he seems happy to oblige.
Kissell trying to keep a closed guard but Nahtic is proving a slippery customer.
Nahtic throwing strikes but missing.
Nahtic with a flurry of punches that miss.

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Kissell tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. Nahtic manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Kissell swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Lyman Kissell seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Kissell takes a nice looking leg kick right on the meat of his thigh there.
Kissell shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Nahtic defends it nicely.
Kissell cracks Nahtic with a hook to the jaw. Both fighters smile at eachother and high-five before getting back down to business.
Kissell moves in looking to clinch but Nahtic pushes him off.
Kissell on the wrong end of a decent looking cross there.
Kissell throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
Nahtic throws out a leg kick but Kissell moves out of range and Nahtic only half commits.
Kissell swinging wildly here.

And that's the end of the fight!
Lou Nahtic comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Nahtic 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 John Roberts scores the fight 28:29
Judge Columbo Gatti scores the fight 27:30
Judge Eddie Farnsworth scores the fight 28:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Lou Nahtic!
A relieved looking Lou Nahtic thanked the fans for their support and gave the usual line about them being amazing. They seemed to believe that he actually meant it.