PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Randell Nicholson (ranked 6526 p4p, 0 weight class) and Chael Paul (ranked 5088 p4p, 0 weight class). Chael Paul has the eye of the tiger tonight.

Nicholson
vs
Paul

205 cm
24
215 lbs
0 - 1 - 0

194 cm
25
210 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Cuts easily

Good wrestler
Brawler
Very confident

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 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Randell Nicholson!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Chael Paul!
The judges for this bout are Tiny Johnson, Stewart Dunkirk and George Francis.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Paul shoots in for a double leg but Nicholson sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.

Paul closes the distance and after a bit of a stuggle, scores a takedown into Nicholson's guard.
Paul in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Nicholson looking to control.
Paul tries to free his leg and advance position but Nicholson is retaining full guard.

Nicholson looking for a guillotine here but Paul defends easily.
Nicholson is trying to control the position but Paul postures up.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Paul tries to free his leg and advance position but Nicholson is retaining full guard.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Paul really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Nicholson. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.
Nicholson trying to keep a closed guard but Paul is proving a slippery customer.
Paul throws a strike but Nicholson rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Nicholson's corner is telling him to maintain position.
Paul bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Nicholson's guard.

Paul stopping the sweep attempt from Nicholson.
Nicholson keeping full guard, as Paul tries to pass.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Paul accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Nicholson is trying to control the position from the bottom.

Nicholson is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Paul defends well.
Paul postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Paul connects with a couple of short punches.
Paul pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Nicholson is keeping the position for now.
Paul throws a big right hand that misses.
Nicholson will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.
Nicholson preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Nicholson really does look like a pencil wearing a pair of gloves. Let's hope he has a gameplan to suit that ridiculous body shape.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Paul wants to pass the guard but Nicholson is keeping the position.
Nicholson looking to control.
Paul pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Nicholson is keeping the position for now.

Nicholson is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Paul is aware though and is defending well.
Paul trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Paul missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Paul looking to pass the guard.
Paul trying to move into half guard but instead Nicholson has managed to sweep!

Paul wants to hit a switch here but Nicholson passes into full mount! Oh no, disaster for Paul there!
Paul is wriggling around trying to escape.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Nicholson dominating with strikes here.
Nicholson prevents Paul from getting the reversal.
Nicholson landing strikes from the mount and Paul is in trouble!
Paul is in a horrible position here. Nicholson smacks him with another shot as he tries to escape the position.
Paul working to try and regain half guard.
Nicholson moves to take his opponent's back.
Nicholson connects with a series of strikes and the referee is calling for Paul to escape the position.
Paul tries to roll but Nicholson sticks to his back.
Nicholson tries to keep control of the position but Paul is staying busy.
You can see the frustration on Paul's face… He knows he is in trouble unless he improves his position sooner rather than later.
Nicholson lands an elbow to the side of the head.
Paul covers up after taking a massive shot to the side of the head.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Nicholson keeps control of the position as Paul tries to break free.
The referee is taking a good look at Paul as he is on the wrong end of some big shots from Nicholson!
Paul rolls and manages to get back to half guard. Nicely done.
Nicholson slips a nice elbow through Paul's hands, connecting with Paul's forehead.
Paul has a hand on Nicholson's thigh, trying to get back to full guard. Nicholson takes advantage of the position though and mounts him!
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Paul can't escape the position.
Nicholson looking to finish Paul with some ground and pound. This is bad for Paul!
Nicholson controlling the position easily from mount.
Paul is desperately trying to get back to half guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Randell Nicholson dominated that round.
That's the end of the interval. I'm sure that seemed a lot quicker than a minute for our two fighters! Back to the action.

Paul keeps the fight on the outside.

Paul shoots in and gets a takedown into Nicholson's guard.
Nicholson utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Paul looking to pass the guard.
Nicholson throwing strikes off his back to little effect.

Nicholson looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
Paul trying to pass the guard. He's being very persistent here but Nicholson manages to land a sweep and now he's on top!

Paul is looking to sweep but instead, Nicholson has passed into half guard.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Paul is looking for a sweep. Nicholson is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Nicholson scoring with strikes to the body and head.
Paul is looking for a sweep. Nicholson is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Paul trying to get back to full guard but Nicholson takes advantage of the position and moves to full mount!

That's one minute gone in the round.
Nicholson with shots to the head and body - Paul looks very uncomfortable down there.
Paul is wriggling around trying to escape.
Nicholson with shots to the head and body - Paul looks very uncomfortable down there.
Paul is desperately trying to get back to half guard.
Nicholson with shots to the head and body - Paul looks very uncomfortable down there.
Nicholson 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.
Nicholson raining down hammerfists from mount.
Paul is working to get back to half guard.
Nicholson is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Paul can do to turn this around?
Nicholson is in the full mount, landing strikes.
Paul is working to get back to half guard.
Nicholson breaks from Paul's wrist control and lands an elbow.
Paul working to try and regain half guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Paul is persisting with the attempt to improve his position.
Nicholson scoring with strikes but Paul is staying in there.
Paul tries to reverse the position but Nicholson maintains control.
Nicholson scoring with strikes but Paul is staying in there.
Nicholson looking to control and managing it successfully.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Paul keeping his composure momentarily, calmly looking to get back to half guard.
Randell Nicholson overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Nicholson raining down shots from the mount!
We get told so often about how wrestlers don't like to be on their backs. Let's see if Paul can do anything to dispel that myth.
Paul is trying desperately to improve position.
BOOM! Nicholson connects with a massive shot to the dome!
Nicholson tucks in and makes sure he doesn't lose the dominant position.
Paul tries to get back to half guard but can't.
Nicholson is landing with some decent strikes but Paul is trying to advance his position so the referee is letting the fight continue.
Paul tries to get back to half guard but can't.
Nicholson landing shots from mount.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Paul is wriggling around trying to escape.
Paul keeps trying to improve his position.
Paul is breathing heavily.
Nicholson lands an elbow that was bordering on illegal but the referee lets it go with a warning.
Nicholson punishing his opponent with strikes.
Paul tries to get back to half guard but can't.
Nicholson lands a big elbow.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Nicholson working away from the top, dropping strikes.
Paul is trying to escape the mount.
Nicholson with the ground and pound from mount.
Nicholson pausing momentarily but resumes with a couple of decent strikes that do a bit of damage.
Paul is wriggling around trying to escape.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Randell Nicholson dominated that second round.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business. This is the final round!

Paul has his takedown stuffed
and Nicholson counters with a head kick. That will keep Paul thinking before he tries any more sloppy attacks!
Nicholson misses with a takedown attempt

and Paul moves into the clinch.
Paul has a body lock and is looking for a takedown. Nicholson is bouncing around trying to prevent the takedown and somehow he has indeed managed to stay on his feet.
Paul has dropped down and is looking to force the takedown but it's defended by Nicholson after a bit of a struggle.
Randell Nicholson has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Chael Paul.
Paul is working for a takedown up against the cage. He can't get it on this occasion though.
Nicholson wants to break the clinch but can't.

Paul has double underhooks and is working for a body lock takedown. He's got it. The fighters land in half guard but Nicholson regains guard immediately.
Paul looking to pass the guard.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Paul trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Paul takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Nicholson keeping full guard, as Paul tries to pass.
Paul trying to move into half guard but instead Nicholson has managed to sweep!

That's one minute gone in the round.
Nicholson chips away with some ground and pound.
Nicholson scoring with punches to the head and body.
Paul is looking to sweep but instead, Nicholson has passed into half guard.
Nicholson working the head and body with strikes.
Paul is looking for a sweep. Nicholson is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Nicholson takes advantage of the dominant position to land a couple of big hammer fists.
The referee walks around the fighters to get a better view of the action. Nicholson lands a nice short elbow.
Nicholson lands with an elbow from half guard - that looked like it hurt.
Nicholson is nestled in close to Paul, controlling him well. He's worked in a nice elbow to the side of the head as well, for good measure.
Nicholson wants to lay and pray for a moment but Paul keeps working.
Paul has hold of Nicholson's hands but Nicholson slips his arm to the side and lands an elbow.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Neither fighter is being very active at the moment, with Nicholson in particular looking to stall.
Nicholson seems to be taking a bit of a break to think of his next move. He lands a short punch in the meantime.
Paul trying to get back to full guard but Nicholson takes advantage of the position and moves to full mount!
Paul really trying hard to get back to half guard here.
Nicholson working Paul over with strikes here.
Paul is wriggling around here but as he tries to escape, Nicholson has taken his back.
Paul is in bad spot here.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Nicholson throwing damaging strikes from the back! Paul could be in trouble here!
A lull in the action here.
Good control from Nicholson.
Nicholson lands with a nice looking elbow that stuns Paul.
Nicholson controlling well, preventing Paul from escaping the position.
Paul is covering up but some of the strikes from Nicholson are getting through and doing damage.
You can see the frustration on Paul's face… He knows he is in trouble unless he improves his position sooner rather than later.
Nicholson lands a punch that was close to the back of the head but the ref thinks it's OK.
Paul tries to escape but Nicholson has the hooks in and won't let him break free.
Nicholson lands a punch to the side of the head from the back.
Nicholson lands shots from the back.
Paul tries to escape the position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Nicholson lands an elbow to the side of the head.
Paul is in bad spot here.
Paul covers up after taking a massive shot to the side of the head.
Nicholson is looking to finish with some ground and pound!
A lull in the action here.
Nicholson scores with punches to the body.
Nicholson is looking to finish with some ground and pound!
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Paul covers up after taking a massive shot to the side of the head.
Paul is in bad spot here.
Chael Paul has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Randell Nicholson is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.

And that's the end of the fight!
Randell Nicholson showed his dominance in that final round.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Nicholson, winning every round. Will the judges agree? They are the ones who matter, even if they are often depressingly incompetent. 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 Tiny Johnson scores the fight 30:27
Judge Stewart Dunkirk scores the fight 30:27
Judge George Francis scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Randell Nicholson!