PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Shelby Nichols (ranked 24130 p4p, 0 weight class) and Kai Proctor (ranked 5227 p4p, 0 weight class). Shelby Nichols has the edge in experience - let's see if he can make that count tonight.

Nichols
vs
Proctor

151 cm
18
193 lbs
2 - 4 - 0

180 cm
25
185 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Experienced

BJJ Blue Belt
Good kicks
Heavy handed

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the middleweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 2 - 4 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Shelby Nichols!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Kai Proctor!
The judges for this bout are Matti Vanhoillinen, Tarja Halkonen and Ben Zyskovitsi.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Proctor closes the distance and scores a nice trip takedown into half guard. Nichols did well to prevent Proctor getting side control.
Proctor with the ground and pound but Nichols uses the opportunity to regain guard.
Nichols keeping full guard, as Proctor tries to pass.
Proctor stands and throws Nichols's legs to the side, diving into side control.
Nichols manages to get one leg in to regain half guard.
Proctor frees up his trapped foot and advances to mount.
Nichols is wriggling around here but as he tries to escape, Proctor has taken his back.
Proctor is not going to allow Nichols to sit and survive in this position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
A lull in the action here.

Proctor has got his arm under Nichols's chin working for the choke… has he got it? It looks pretty tight! Oh! Nichols has spun round into Proctor's guard beautifully! Well done that man!
Proctor controls Nichols momentarily but Nichols frees himself.
Proctor wants to hit a switch here but Nichols passes into full mount! Oh no, disaster for Proctor there!
Nichols looking to control but Proctor is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Proctor tries to hold on but Nichols postures up.
Nichols takes a little breather and maintains the position. The referee will be looking for him to stay active from such a dominant position though.
Proctor tries to reverse the position but Nichols maintains control.
Nichols thuds his fist into the canvas! Oooouch!
Nichols tucks in and makes sure he doesn't lose the dominant position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Proctor is working to get back to half guard.
Nichols controlling the pace for now.
Nichols looking to control but Proctor is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.
The referee warns Proctor that he has to improve his position here as he takes two more clean shots to the head.
Proctor tries to buck Nichols off but he can't manage it.
Nichols postures up and cracks his opponent a couple of times before moving back into close ground control. Proctor looks a forlorn figure.
Proctor tries to hold on but Nichols postures up.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Proctor in a bad spot here, taking shots to the head.
Nichols dominating with strikes here.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Proctor wants to hold on but Nichols pushes him away.
Nichols landing punches.
Nichols avoids the attempt from Proctor to control.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Nichols lands a couple of nice shots there from mount.
Nichols working Proctor over with strikes here.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Shelby Nichols dominated that round.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

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

Nichols looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.

Nichols looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
Proctor looking to sit in guard and control but Nichols gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.

A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Nichols accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Nichols stopping the sweep attempt from Proctor.

Nichols is trying to work a guillotine from the top, or something like that? Don't know how he thinks he's going to get a finish from there.
Proctor looking to sweep here. No luck so far.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Proctor is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Nichols wants to get up but he can't break Proctor's closed guard. He needs to be careful trying to break the legs open, as he's open to submissions here.
Proctor being controlled here, momentarily.
Proctor not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Nichols controlling from the top position.
Nichols has been looking to land a fair amount of strikes on the ground. He might be looking to soften his opponent up in order to work for a submission.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.

Proctor looking for submissions from the bottom but instead Nichols passes into half guard.
Nichols not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
Nichols missing with the ground and pound from half guard.
Proctor trying to control here.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up. He just wasn't happy with the level of activity.
Proctor scores with a head kick. Nichols tried to block it but didn't get his arm up in time.

It looks like Shelby Nichols has been cut.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Proctor pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Nichols takes a jab right on the nose. That must have hurt but he shrugs his shoulders and looks to return the favor.
Proctor looks to throw a body kick

and Nichols counters with a driving takedown into guard. Nice work there by Nichols.
Shelby Nichols overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Proctor trying to control the position.
Nichols wants to control from the top but Proctor keeps moving.
Nichols wants to stand but Proctor is controlling his posture from full guard.
Nichols cracks Proctor with a solid left hand.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Nichols won't allow Proctor to sweep him here.
Nichols trying to control the position from guard on top but Proctor is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

Proctor is looking for a triangle here but Nichols uses the submission attempt to pass into side control.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Proctor can't do much from the bottom here.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Proctor trying to remain calm as Nichols controls from the top position.
Nichols is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Proctor can do to turn this around?
Proctor is positioning himself to get back to half guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Shelby Nichols dominated that second round.
The cut man is working on Shelby Nichols's cut.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action. This is the final round!

Proctor closes the distance and scores a nice trip takedown into half guard. Nichols did well to prevent Proctor getting side control.
Proctor takes a deep breath and rests his weight momentarily on top of his opponent, to control the position.
It looks like Proctor is going to stand back up.
Proctor is figuring out what he wants to do next.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Proctor frees up his trapped foot and advances to mount.
Nichols holding onto his opponent's waist for dear life, as Proctor tries to land some strikes to get him to release his grip.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Nichols wants to improve position but instead he's given up his back.
Proctor just keeping the dominant position. He can't wait too long though, otherwise the referee will stand them back up.

That's two 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.
Nichols rolls and manages to get back to half guard. Nicely done.
Well, if Proctor is going to just lie there, perhaps we should talk about what we're having for dinner tonight… I'm having a ham and pineapple pizza… Yum. Can't wait.
Nichols won't allow Proctor to pass to mount.
Proctor is looking to take a break and control but Nichols is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Nichols might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.

Proctor is looking for a kimura here.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Nichols misses with some strikes from the bottom.
Proctor is thwarting Nichols's attempts to control the position.
Proctor trying to control from half guard but Nichols is working away.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.

Proctor darts in and lands a nice takedown into half guard.

Nichols actively working from the bottom here.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Proctor controlling the action here.
Nichols tries to get to full guard but Proctor has control of the leg.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!

Proctor is sneakily working for an arm triangle but Nichols sees it coming and defends easily.

And that's the end of the fight!
Kai Proctor comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
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 Matti Vanhoillinen scores the fight 29:28
Judge Tarja Halkonen scores the fight 29:28
Judge Ben Zyskovitsi scores the fight 29:28

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