PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Iosue Nicu (ranked 28 p4p, 4 weight class) and Rudi Dassler (ranked 56 p4p, 7 weight class). Chooooooooon! I think Nicu might be my favorite fighter, now he's come out to It's Dark and Hell Is Hot. Iosue Nicu has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Nicu
vs
Dassler

190 cm
36
216 lbs
32 - 11 - 1

200 cm
36
215 lbs
31 - 24 - 0

Good wrestling
World class boxer
Insanely flexible

Olympic wrestler
Excellent MT
Good gas tank

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OLIMPO

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 5 rounds, for the light heavyweight championship of the world!
Introducing the champion to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 32 - 11 - 1, fighting out of Las Vegas, Iosue Nicu!
And introducing the challenger to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 31 - 24 - 0, fighting out of London, Rudi Dassler!
The judges for this bout are Timothy Bukovac, Jack Bonds and Don Winkell.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Nicu buckles his opponent's knee momentarily with a nice leg kick.
Nicu has been working on his boxing with his coaches at Smash and Twist in the buildup to the fight.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Dassler.
Dassler misses with a takedown attempt

and Nicu moves into the clinch.
Dassler is working for a takedown up against the cage. He can't get it on this occasion though.
Iosue Nicu has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Rudi Dassler.

Dassler jumps guard and drags Nicu to the mat. He's obviously going to be looking for submissions off his back.

Dassler has his foot on Nicu's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Nicu works his way back into a safe position though.
Nicu is stalling in the full guard.

Dassler had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Nicu defends it easily.
Nicu has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.
Nicu not doing a lot at the moment. He'll have to show some more aggression or the fight will get stood up.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Nicu stands up from guard. Let's bang!
Nicu displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Dassler.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Horrible takedown attempt by Dassler or perhaps it was just good defense by Nicu, which made it look bad.
Nicu throws an overhand right that lands on Dassler's shoulder, as Dassler tries to avoid the shot.
Dassler wants to counter the offense by Nicu and move into the clinch position.
Nicu throws a hook but Dassler avoids it easily.
Dassler tries a counter takedown but it's more of a dummy move, and he uses it to push himself away.
Jab, jab by Nicu - just one landing.

It looks like Rudi Dassler has been cut.
The fighters circling - Nicu throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
Nicu stooping low to avoid any incoming strikes and then lunges in with an uppercut come cross that lands flush.
Dassler slips a jab from Nicu.
Dassler is trying to avoid his opponent's strikes and get into the clinch.

Dassler fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Nicu, pushing him back against the cage.
Dassler has dropped down and is looking to force the takedown but it's defended by Nicu after a bit of a struggle.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Nicu.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Dassler changes levels and goes for a takedown here. Nicu fights it off and pushes away nicely.
Dassler dives in and grabs Nicu's left leg, looking for a takedown. Nicu pushes down on Dassler's head and hops out.
Nicu cracks Dassler with a right hand to the side of the head.
Dassler is trying hard to land a takedown here. Nicu sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.
Dassler shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Nicu was looking to counter that move with a punch but didn't quite pull the trigger.
Dassler on the wrong end of a nice low kick. He's acting like it's no big deal but he doesn't want to take many more of those.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Nicu throws the kick towards the body but Dassler avoids it.

Dassler manages to get an easy takedown there - catching Nicu on his heels. He'll look to pass Nicu's guard now, I'm sure.
Nicu preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Nicu trying to control the position here.

Dassler 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.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Nicu wants to stand up but Dassler is controlling him.
Nicu pulls Dassler in close to prevent any damage.
Dassler throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Dassler postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Nicu keeping full guard, as Dassler tries to pass.
Dassler prevents Nicu from getting back to his feet.

Dassler drops back for a leg! It's a sloppy attempt though and Dassler jumps back into guard quickly, to retain the dominant position.
Dassler wants to pass the guard but Nicu is keeping the position.
Nicu manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Dassler manages to get himself to full guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Nicu won't allow Dassler to sweep him here.

Dassler is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Nicu defends well.
Nicu trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.

Nicu avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
Nicu sitting in guard here, content to control.

Nicu gets to his feet - Dassler follows without any prompting.
Nicu swings for the body but Dassler moves out of range.
Nicu lands a jab to the head.
Dassler has a takedown stuffed.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Iosue Nicu dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Rudi Dassler's cut.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

Dassler closes the distance and after a bit of a stuggle, scores a takedown into Nicu's guard.
Dassler pushes down on Nicu's leg and manages to get into half guard.
Nicu is trying to control but can't.
Nicu makes his way to full guard. A much better position for Nicu.

Dassler drops back for a leg! It's a sloppy attempt though and Dassler jumps back into guard quickly, to retain the dominant position.
Nicu looking for a sweep. Not yet Nicu, not yet.
Dassler trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Nicu trying to keep a closed guard but Dassler is proving a slippery customer.
Dassler trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Dassler won't allow Nicu to sweep him here.
Hammerfist, elbow! yells Dassler's corner. There ya go! There ya go!

That's one minute gone in the round.
Dassler loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Dassler loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Dassler working in close now, lands a nice elbow to the side of Nicu's head.

Dassler drops back looking for a leg! Nicu is in trouble here! The fighters roll with the hold and Nicu manages to kick Dassler off! Dassler jumps back into Nicu's guard.

Nicu uses the cage to get back to his feet.
Nicu jabs Dassler right on the nose. Dassler blinks but takes it well.
Iosue Nicu seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Nicu fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Dassler manages to avoid it.
Nicu lands a big head kick that sends Dassler to the canvas! Nicu follows up with strikes from the mount that forces the ref to step in and stop the fight!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 1:53 of round 2, we have a winner by way of TKO (Strikes). Iosue Nicu!
Iosue Nicu retains his light heavyweight title!
A victorious Iosue Nicu thanked his army of followers in his post fight interview, telling people to make sure they follow him on Twitter.