PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Shelby Nichols (ranked 23918 p4p, 0 weight class) and Chris Tamburello (ranked 5130 p4p, 504 weight class). Chris Tamburello has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Nichols
vs
Tamburello

151 cm
19
193 lbs
3 - 4 - 0

185 cm
18
193 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Experienced

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Solid chin

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 3 - 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, Chris Tamburello!
The judges for this bout are Marco Blurström, Roosa Järviläinen and Arvi Lind.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Tamburello shoots in for a takedown from distance. He catches Nichols napping and manages to drive through into side control!
Nichols bucks up and tries to throw Tamburello off but instead Tamburello has got his back!

Nichols preventing the rear naked choke attempt from Tamburello.
Nichols turns into Tamburello and is now in his guard.
Tamburello working a defensive guard here.
Nichols landing with the ground and pound.
Hammerfist, elbow! yells Nichols's corner. There ya go! There ya go!
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Tamburello looking for submissions from the bottom but instead Nichols passes into half guard.
Nichols controlling the action here.
Tamburello is trying to control but can't.
Tamburello wants to improve his position but Nichols is controlling well.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Nichols wants to get back to his feet.
Nichols prevents Tamburello from improving his position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Nichols is taking a breather. Tamburello 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.
Tamburello wants to get back to full guard.
Tamburello is trying to control but can't.
Nichols takes a deep breath and rests his weight momentarily on top of his opponent, to control the position.
Tamburello is trying to control but can't.
Nichols working over Tamburello with some ground and pound. Tamburello looks like he wants out of this position, which is understandable.
Tamburello blocking the ground and pound attempt from Nichols.
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 three minutes gone in the round.
Nichols slips a nice elbow through Tamburello's hands, connecting with Tamburello's forehead.

Nichols escapes and gets back to his feet.

Tamburello closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.
Tamburello is trying to break the clinch but Nichols is controlling him.
The pace slowing considerably in the clinch, as Nichols takes a break from that fighting nonsense to think about the finer things in life.
Nichols misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Tamburello.

Nichols breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.

Tamburello shoots in with a lovely double leg takedown. Nichols manages to land in full guard to minimise the damage.
Nichols keeping moving, preventing Tamburello from controlling successfully.
Nichols thows some rabbit punches from the bottom but they don't do any damage.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Nichols escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Tamburello gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
Nichols bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Tamburello's guard.

Tamburello looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
Nichols would like to get this fight back to the feet but can't get free from the closed guard.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.

Tamburello throws his legs up looking to secure a triangle. Oh, that looks pretty tight, I gotta say! Nichols escapes and throws Tamburello's legs to the side, diving into side control!
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Shelby Nichols dominated that round.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

Tamburello stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Tamburello wants it to stay on the feet.
Nichols really is a fat lump.

Tamburello feints and as Nichols raises his hands in defense, Tamburello changes levels and drives through with a takedown into guard.
Tamburello wants to stand but Nichols has a closed guard, so he can't escape.

Nichols is looking for a triangle but Tamburello pushes his legs off easily.
Nichols is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Tamburello can do to turn this around?

Nichols is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Tamburello is aware though and is defending well.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Tamburello trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.

Tamburello is trying to tuck his arms in to keep them safe but Nichols has managed to isolate one of them and has got a loose triangle. Tamburello is looking to defend but Nichols has done well to lock his legs together - this could be big trouble for Tamburello! Nichols pulls down on the head and a little smile comes across his face - he knows he's got it. Yep, Tamburello taps out and this one is all over!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 1:56 of round 2, we have a winner by way of Submission (Triangle). Shelby Nichols!