PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a super heavyweight MMA rules bout between Zachariah Nichols (ranked 25037 p4p, 0 weight class) and Derrik Sandakain (ranked 5957 p4p, 0 weight class). Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Nichols
vs
Sandakain

164 cm
22
346 lbs
0 - 2 - 0

213 cm
23
286 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Cuts easily

BJJ White Belt
Decent boxing
Tends to cut

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the super heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 2 - 0, fighting out of New York, Zachariah Nichols!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of New York, Derrik Sandakain!
The judges for this bout are John Roberts, David Schapiro and Franklyn Lucas.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Sandakain closes the distance and pushes Nichols back into the cage.
Nichols fails to pull the fight into his guard.
Nichols is looking for a takedown.
Nichols could do with losing a few pounds - he looks very soft around the mid section, to put it politely.
Nichols controlling the action here for a moment.

Sandakain pulls guard successfully.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

Nichols decides to stand up and beckons his opponent to follow.
Nichols checks a low kick from Sandakain.
Jab, cross, leg kick. Nice combination by Sandakain!

It looks like Zachariah Nichols has been cut.
Sandakain tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.

Sandakain has taken the fight to the clinch.
Nichols jumps guard but Sandakain stands there with Nichols around his waist. Nichols gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Zachariah Nichols. That's going to take a lot out of him.

Sandakain pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Sandakain looks to land a combination. Nichols sees it coming but can only parry a couple of the shots.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Sandakain throws a head kick but Nichols moves out of range.
Nichols went nuts there looking for a big combo counter but none of the flurry connected.
Sandakain tries to clinch up.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Sandakain tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Sandakain throws a nice inside leg kick.
Sandakain throws a right hand that Nichols ducks under and follows up with a left that Nichols also avoids with ease.
Sandakain looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Sandakain throws a nice looking combination but Nichols bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Sandakain tries to clinch but Nichols is having none of it.

Sandakain shoots in and scores a nice double leg takedown into half guard.
Nichols slips a foot under and gets full guard. Nice work.
Nichols is trying to control the position from the bottom.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Sandakain wants to stand but Nichols has a closed guard, so he can't escape.
Sandakain tries to free his leg and advance position but Nichols is retaining full guard.
Sandakain has decided he wants to stand but the closed guard of Nichols is proving hard to escape from.
Nichols trying to keep a closed guard but Sandakain is proving a slippery customer.
Nichols pulls Sandakain in close to prevent any damage.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Sandakain wanted to stand there but Nichols had control of the position.
Nichols is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.
Sandakain looking to control the position here, rather than advance.
Sandakain makes a bit of distance and scores with some ground and pound, still in guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Neither fighter has done anything of merit for a good minute or two here and the crowd are not happy about it.
Sandakain throws an elbow that misses. Nichols uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in Sandakain's guard. Nice move by Nichols!

Sandakain looking to control.
Sandakain is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.

The referee walks around the fighters to get a better view of the action. Sandakain lands a nice short elbow.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Nichols is trying to control but can't.

Sandakain stands up from half guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Derrik Sandakain dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Zachariah Nichols's cut.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

Nichols takes a punch to the jaw and another one to the bread basket.
Derrik Sandakain seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

Sandakain drives through with a takedown into Nichols's guard. Let's see what he can do from the top position.

Sandakain postures up as if he's going to throw some strikes but drops back for an ankle! Nichols is in big trouble! He looks ready to tap! But no, he's escaped and dives on top of Sandakain, into his guard.

A real slowdown in the pace of the fight for a moment, as Sandakain holds on and takes a little breather.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Nichols with a flurry of punches that miss.
Sandakain really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Nichols. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.
Nichols content to strike from guard, landing some decent shots.
Sandakain is doing well to control the posture of his opponent and prevent any damage.
Sandakain has been the more effective fighter overall so far.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Nichols stands up from Sandakain's guard - Nichols perhaps looking for a knockout.
Sandakain tries a head kick but it misses.
Sandakain is breathing heavily.
Sandakain throws a combination. Nichols tries to block but a couple of punches get through.
Nichols avoids the head kick by Sandakain.
As Sandakain looks to move away, Nichols throws a big counter combo but Sandakain just gets out of the way.
Nichols closes this distance looking for a takedown but Sandakain circles away.
Sandakain throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Sloppy strikes from Sandakain. Those never looked like landing.
Nichols throws a sloppy head kick and Sandakain moves out of range easily.
Sandakain throws a push kick but Nichols slaps the foot to one side.
It looked like Nichols wanted to counter with a hook but didn't fully commit.
Sandakain tries to clinch there but Nichols circles away.
Nichols seem to be loading up, looking for a big counter.
Nichols tries a head kick but it misses.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Sandakain defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Nichols.
Sandakain throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Nichols.
Sandakain stalks Nichols and leaps in with a furious combination of punches. Uppercuts and crosses smash into Nichols's face. Nichols staggers backwards, shaken.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Nichols.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Zachariah Nichols. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Sandakain rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Nichols moves out of range and avoids them all easily.

Sandakain closes the distance and gets a double leg, slamming Nichols to the mat! Nichols manages to get full guard.

The fighters are working up against the cage. Nichols manages to wriggle his way back to his feet, so the fighters are now clinched against the cage.
Nichols with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.
Nichols lands with a short head shot on the inside.

Nichols pulls Sandakain into guard.
Nichols working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Sandakain.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Sandakain stands up from Nichols's guard - Sandakain perhaps looking for a knockout.
Sandakain misses with a wild combination.
Sandakain defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Nichols.
Sandakain fails to land with a series of punches.
A quick step to the side and Nichols tries to counter with a shot to the body but it doesn't connect.
The fight stays on the outside here - Sandakain looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Nichols appears to be looking for a big counter.
Sandakain throws a body kick that misses.
No luck for Nichols with that takedown attempt.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Sandakain tries to clinch but Nichols is having none of it.
Sandakain works over Nichols's head and body with a nice combination.
Sandakain tries to land a front kick but Nichols steps back. That was a bit too telegraphed.
Nichols quickly followed up with a counter body kick but doesn't connect.

Nichols pushes Sandakain up against the cage in a clinch.

Sandakain has managed to pull guard. Let's see whether he can work an aggressive guard. It will also be interesting to see what tactics Nichols uses from the top position.
Nichols works over Sandakain with some ground and pound from guard.
Sandakain looking to control.
Sandakain wants to control but instead he gets his guard passed and Nichols is now in half guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Derrik Sandakain showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The cut man is working on Zachariah Nichols's cut.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin! This is the final round!

Nichols shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Sandakain as he avoids it easily.
Sandakain is definitely looking for the counter takedowns here.
Sandakain misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Sandakain looks to land a combination but Nichols avoids it well.
Nichols throws a big counter combination but Sandakain scrambles out of danger and avoids any damage.
A right-left combo lands from Sandakain.

Nichols clinches with his opponent.
Nichols misses with an elbow strike.
Nichols fails to pull guard.

Sandakain has managed to pull guard. Let's see whether he can work an aggressive guard. It will also be interesting to see what tactics Nichols uses from the top position.
Sandakain looking for a sweep. Not yet Sandakain, not yet.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Nichols lands a couple of elbows.

Sandakain pushes Nichols off for just long enough to get back to his feet. Very athletic spring there.
Sandakain throws a series of punches but Nichols avoids them all with ease.
It appears Nichols was looking to counter with a kick there.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Sandakain looks to land a combination but Nichols avoids it well.
Nichols throws a right and a left that both miss.
Sandakain throws a combination that misses
and Nichols counters with a low kick, right behind Sandakain 's knee.
Sandakain leaves Nichols with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Zachariah Nichols. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Sandakain scores to the head and body with a nice combination!

Nichols moves into range and clinches up with Sandakain.
Nichols creates a bit of distance and throws an elbow that only just misses.
Nichols throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Sandakain blocks it with crossed arms.
Nichols keeps the fight in the clinch, despite Sandakain's efforts to push away.
Nichols is trying to pull guard but Sandakain turns him against the cage and we stay in the clinch.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Nichols keeps the fight in the clinch, despite Sandakain's efforts to push away.
Nichols using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Sandakain has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
Sandakain is trying to break the clinch but Nichols has him pressed against the cage.
Nichols tries to pull guard but Sandakain forces him back to his feet, against the cage.
The step up in weight doesn't seem to be a problem for Sandakain. He's performing admirably here against the bigger man.
Sandakain wants to break free but Nichols has control.
Sandakain can't break the clinch.
Sandakain tries to break the clinch but Nichols is controlling the position.

Sandakain jumps guard.
Nichols is working Sandakain over from the guard. He should look to pass the guard and do a little more damage with these strikes.

Nichols stands and steps away. Sandakain gets to his feet too and we're back to the striking game.
Sandakain misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Nichols blocks a leg kick.
Nichols appears to be looking for a counter punch to the body.
Sandakain stuffs the takedown attempt from Nichols. Nichols gets slowly back to his feet.
Sandakain stalks Nichols and leaps in with a furious combination of punches. Uppercuts and crosses smash into Nichols's face. Nichols staggers backwards, shaken.
Nichols avoids the clinch attempt nicely.

Nichols drops down and drives through with a powerful takedown into guard.

Sandakain wriggles free and stands up.
Nichols has his head slapped from side to side by a 3 punch combination. That must have hurt him.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Sandakain will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Sandakain gets the takedown into side control.

Sandakain stands up and we're back to a striking position.
Sandakain misses with a kick to the body.
Nichols swung with a counter punch to the body but it didn't connect.
Sandakain moves forwards but Nichols connects with a nice, crisp jab.
Sandakain throws a body kick but he wasn't in range.
Nichols throws a quick counter kick to the body but Sandakain avoids it.
Sandakain is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
As Sandakain looks to move away, Nichols throws a big counter combo but Sandakain just gets out of the way.
Sandakain misses with a jab, cross combination.

And that's the end of the fight!
Derrik Sandakain comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Sandakain 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 John Roberts scores the fight 27:30
Judge David Schapiro scores the fight 27:30
Judge Franklyn Lucas scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Derrik Sandakain!