PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Jimmie Nichols (ranked 25651 p4p, 0 weight class) and Ryan Shawcross (ranked 25658 p4p, 0 weight class). Jimmie Nichols has a significant reach advantage - let's see if he can make it count.

Nichols
vs
Shawcross

211 cm
24
215 lbs
0 - 3 - 0

190 cm
24
200 lbs
0 - 3 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Cuts easily

BJJ Blue Belt
Decent boxing
Intelligent

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 - 3 - 0, fighting out of London, Jimmie Nichols!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 3 - 0, fighting out of London, Ryan Shawcross!
The judges for this bout are Steven Brown, Paul Tew and Sam Margolis.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Nichols feints and as Shawcross raises his hands in defense, Nichols changes levels and drives through with a takedown into guard.
Nichols is just sitting in guard, looking to avoid any submissions.
Nichols trying to control but Shawcross is working from the bottom.
Nichols controls from within his opponent's guard.
Nichols seems to have a rather negative gameplan on the ground. He seems keen to just score the takedown and hold down Shawcross for as long as he can get away with.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Nichols lands a couple of elbows.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Nichols controlling from the top position.
Shawcross trying to control the position.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.

Shawcross bobs and weaves into range and then changes levels and scores with a nice takedown into side control.
Nichols wants to control but Shawcross postures up.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Nichols is trying to get back to half guard.
Shawcross working the ground and pound but he's contacting the mat, not the fighter.
Nichols prevents Shawcross from moving into mount.

Shawcross stands up.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Nichols manages to get an easy takedown there - catching Shawcross on his heels. He'll look to pass Shawcross's guard now, I'm sure.
Nichols trying to control but Shawcross is working from the bottom.
Nichols is stalling in the full guard.
Shawcross wants to stand but Nichols is controlling the position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Nichols seems content to control from guard here. He's going to have to remain active though if he doesn't want to get stood back up.
Nichols won't allow Shawcross to sweep him here.
Nichols slips nicely into half guard.
Nichols will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.
Nichols trying to control the pace.
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
It looks like the ref is thinking about a standup.

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.
Shawcross holds on for dear life, maintaining half guard for now.

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

Nichols instigates a clinch.

Shawcross manages to pull guard.
Nichols is taking a break and basically stalling. The referee will not allow him to do that for long.
Nichols continues to stall.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!

Shawcross is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Shawcross slaps away a takedown attempt from Nichols, before circling back to the center of the mat.

Shawcross forces Nichols back against the cage and clinches.

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

Shawcross shoots in and gets a takedown into Nichols's guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Nichols trying to control the position.
Nichols wants to sweep here but Shawcross controlling him for the moment.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Nichols utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Nichols looking to control but Shawcross passes into half guard.
Nichols is trying to maintain the position but Shawcross is very close to passing his half guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Nichols missing with punches from the bottom.
Nichols is trying to get back to full guard.
Nichols trying to control here.
Shawcross with a momentary lay and pray from half guard.
Nichols has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Shawcross is working away from the top position though.
Nichols is staying active underneath Shawcross, who seems content to just control the action from this position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Nichols avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Shawcross.
Nichols is trying to maintain the position but Shawcross is very close to passing his half guard.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Nichols shoots for a double leg takedown but Shawcross sprawls well. He's pushed Nichols's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
Shawcross lets it all go there with a big combo counter but none of the punches connected.
Nichols will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Jimmie Nichols. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Nichols shoots in but no luck this time.

Shawcross gets caught flat footed, as Nichols shoots in with a quick takedown into guard.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Shawcross keeping moving, preventing Nichols from controlling successfully.
Shawcross not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Nichols throwing strikes from guard but Shawcross blocks nicely.
Shawcross keeping moving, preventing Nichols from controlling successfully.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Nichols stopping the sweep attempt from Shawcross.
Shawcross trying to keep a closed guard but Nichols is proving a slippery customer.
Shawcross is striking off his back. Nichols thinks nothing of it though and passes easily into half guard.
Nichols really does look like a pencil wearing a pair of gloves. Let's hope he has a gameplan to suit that ridiculous body shape.
Nichols is looking to take a break and control but Shawcross is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Nichols working Shawcross over with strikes.
Nichols with a momentary lay and pray from half guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.
Nichols is stalling here. Shawcross is in no mood to hang around though. He's locked up a kimura from the bottom! Nichols seems to be keeping calm but he's forced to roll out of the hold and Shawcross has ended up in side control on the top. Nice work.

Nichols explodes and escapes back to his feet! Nice escape there!

Nichols looks for a takedown. He's got it. We're now in half guard.
Shawcross is staying active underneath Nichols, who seems content to just control the action from this position.
Shawcross wants to control the action here but instead Nichols manages to pass to full mount!
Shawcross wants to control but Nichols is having none of it.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Ryan Shawcross will probably get the nod - 10:9.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action! This is the final round!

Nichols with a lazy takedown attempt
and Shawcross counters with a nice body shot.

Shawcross scores with a nice takedown into half guard. Let's see what he's got on the ground.
Nichols is doing well to control the position and prevent Shawcross from advancing to side control.
Nichols tries to strike from the bottom but it doesn't land.
Nichols keeping control of the leg, stopping his opponent passing to mount.
Shawcross wants to pass the guard but Nichols is defending well.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Nichols flails away from the bottom but he's not doing any damage.
Shawcross is keen to just control but Nichols is a slippery customer.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Nichols is working for an escape here. He's hooked one of Shawcross's legs and he's managed to sneak out and take Shawcross's back!
Shawcross trying to get back to his feet but Nichols is in full control for now.
Shawcross controlling his opponent's hands, preventing the submission attempt.

Nichols is remaining active here, looking for the choke. The more discerning members of the crowd will appreciate his efforts.
Shawcross tries to escape the position.
Nichols throwing wild punches that miss their target.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Shawcross is keeping busy.
A bit of a pause in the action here. Nichols controlling the positon.
Shawcross rolls and manages to get back to half guard. Nicely done.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
The referee calls for the fighters to work.
Nichols lands strikes from half guard.
Nichols is taking a breather. Shawcross 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.
Nichols is trying to control the action in half guard but Shawcross is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.
Shawcross taking some punishment here, with Nichols in his half guard.
Nichols wants to lay and pray for a moment but Shawcross keeps working.
Nichols looks over to his corner - he wants some instructions but his corner are not responding.
The referee wants the fighters to be more active or he's going to reset them on the feet.
More hug and hope from Nichols.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Ryan Shawcross seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are getting on the fighters' backs, as the pace has dropped off in the last minute or so.

Shawcross shoots in looking for a single leg takedown. Nichols is trying to defend but Shawcross finishes it well and ends up in half guard. Let's see if he can advance position further.
Shawcross tries to stand but can't do so whilst Nichols controls his leg.
Nichols is pressing down on Shawcross's left leg trying to get back to full guard. He's managed it.
Shawcross must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.
Shawcross stopping the sweep attempt from Nichols.
Jimmie Nichols overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Shawcross prevents Nichols from getting back to his feet.
Nichols controlling Shawcross's posture.
Nichols's ground tactics aren't going to win him many fans. Let's hope he's got fireworks for us if he gets back to his feet because he's not doing much on the ground.

And that's the end of the fight!
Jimmie Nichols showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Nichols 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 Steven Brown scores the fight 30:27
Judge Paul Tew scores the fight 29:28
Judge Sam Margolis scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Jimmie Nichols!