PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a super heavyweight MMA rules bout between Jimmy Nickels (ranked 2077 p4p, 38 weight class) and Mr Joshua (ranked 2342 p4p, 53 weight class). Joshua is bobbing his head along to his entrance song: Problem Child. Mr Joshua is the more experienced fighter, so let's see if that makes a difference tonight.

Nickels
vs
Joshua

190 cm
29
245 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

193 cm
30
255 lbs
16 - 12 - 1

Good wrestling
World class MT
Granite chin

Good wrestler
World class boxer
Good gas tank

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 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Jimmy Nickels!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 16 - 12 - 1, fighting out of Hilo, Mr Joshua!
The judges for this bout are Robert Twigg, Chris Downing and Wesley Smith.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Joshua throws a leg kick
and Nickels counters with a left and a right that stings Joshua.
A bone on bone clash there as Nickels blocks the leg kick.
Joshua lands a lovely overhand right.
Joshua is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Nickels.
Mr Joshua seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Joshua misses with a body kick.
Nickels looks to land a left hand but Joshua moved out of range nicely.
Nickels is looking to chop away at Joshua's legs.
Nickels walks into a stiff left hand from Joshua.
Joshua scores with a body shot.
Joshua jabs Nickels to the body, keeping him at a distance.
Nickels bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
Nickels tries to score with an inside leg kick but telegraphs it and Joshua is able to avoid easily.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Nickels fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Joshua manages to avoid it.
Joshua throws a quick inside leg kick.
Nickels avoids a low kick by using good footwork.
Nickels looks to land a left hand but Joshua moved out of range nicely.
Joshua will need to close the distance a bit before he attacks - that leg kick was thrown from too far away.
Joshua closes the distance but Nickels moves to the side
and Nickels counters with a right hand to the body.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Joshua lands a nice shot to the body.
Joshua connects with a lovely right hand, straight down the pipe.
Nickels has been working on his boxing with his coaches at The Gentleman's Club in the buildup to the fight.
Joshua scores with a slapping inside leg kick.
Mr Joshua is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Joshua throws a low kick, looking for Nickels's leg but Nickels calmly moves out of range.
Joshua looks to score with a jab to the body but Nickels is just out of range.
Joshua slips under a jab.
Joshua changes levels for a counter takedown but doesn't follow through with his attempt.
Joshua connects with a solid leg kick.
Nickels lands an overhand right.
A slow jab from Nickels misses its intended target.
Joshua feints the counter takedown.
A good leg kick by Nickels.
Joshua looking to take his opponent's legs away with the low kicks.
Joshua throws an off balance right hand
and Nickels counters with a nice jab to the body that keeps Joshua thinking.
Nickels walks into a straight right hand from Joshua.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Nickels cracks Joshua with a hook to the jaw. Both fighters smile at eachother and high-five before getting back down to business.
Joshua tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Nickels was well out of range. Poor timing from Joshua.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Nickels fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Joshua manages to avoid it.
Joshua throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Joshua's corner calls for a 1-2. Joshua obliges with the 1 part as he scores the single shot and moves back out of range.
Joshua thuds his right hand into Nickels's forehead from close range. That could be painful for both fighters.

Joshua moves into the clinch successfully.
Joshua is clearly stalling here... Pick up the pace son.

Nickels escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Nickels throws a half hearted mid kick.
Nickels misses with an uppercut.
Nickels misses with a body shot.
Joshua comes forward and lands a shot to the body, then darts back out of range.
Nickels lands a jab-cross combination.
Joshua throws an overhand right that lands on Nickels's shoulder, as Nickels tries to avoid the shot.
Nickels blocks a head kick by Joshua.
As Joshua looks to move away, Nickels throws a big counter combo but Joshua just gets out of the way.
Joshua looks to land a right hand but Nickels moved out of range.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Nickels closes the distance and lands a one-two.
Joshua throws a leg kick which misses Nickels's front leg but catches the back leg as Nickels tries to avoid it.
Joshua cracks a nice hook into Nickels's ribs.

Joshua closes the distance and clinches.
Joshua fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
We've been informed that Joshua has been working hard on his conditioning in the buildup to the fight.
Joshua doesn't land with the attempted body shot.

Nickels breaks from the clinch.
The sound of bone on bone echoes around the arena as Nickels checks a leg kick.
Joshua uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Nickels.
Joshua lands a jab. Then a cross. Then finally a nice hook to the body. Good work there by Joshua.

It looks like Jimmy Nickels has been cut.
Nickels throws a body punch but Joshua moves out of range.
Joshua tries to score with an inside leg kick but telegraphs it and Nickels is able to avoid easily.
This has been an exciting period of action!

Joshua moves into the clinch.

Nickels breaks from the clinch.
Nickels jabs. That one connects to the head of his opponent.
Nickels takes a jab right on the kisser.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Good standup being displayed there by Nickels as he connects with a hook.
Nickels misses with the combination.
Joshua tries to clinch but Nickels moves out of range.
Nickels went nuts there looking for a big combo counter but none of the flurry connected.
Joshua swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
Nickels dodges the punch combination from Joshua.
Joshua throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
Nickels swung with a counter punch to the body but it didn't connect.
Nickels lands a beauty of a right hand that gets the crowd cheering.
Joshua misses with a low kick.
Joshua swings wildly with a couple of big hooks
and Nickels counters with a straight right hand.
Joshua is looking to slow Nickels down with leg kicks.
The crowd applaud the fighters' efforts here as the round comes to an end.
A jab from Nickels does it's job there.
Nickels throws a series of punches but Joshua moves out of range.
Joshua with the counter takedown but Nickels avoids it easily.
Nickels lands with a two punch combination before moving back out of range.
Joshua fakes with a right hand and throws a good leg kick, right into the thigh. That had to hurt Nickels.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Mr Joshua will probably get the nod.
The cut man is working on Jimmy Nickels's cut.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action.

Joshua throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Nickels appears to be looking for a big counter.
Joshua scores with a shot to the body.
Joshua misses with a straight right.
Nickels throws a quick head kick that skims the top of Joshua's head.
Nickels jabbing away but nothing is landing.
Joshua lands a slapping body shot.
Nickels lands a pitter patter jab to the forehead of his opponent.
Joshua scores with a sloppy punch to the body. Not much technique there but it did the business.
Nickels throws a lazy right hand but Joshua sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Joshua throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Nickels dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
Nickels motions for Joshua to come forward. Nickels throws a leg kick but it misses it's target.
Joshua misses with an uppercut. Nickels saw that one coming.
Joshua connects with a solid leg kick.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Joshua tried to score with a low kick but Nickels checks it.
Mr Joshua seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Joshua ducks under a wild hook from Nickels.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Nickels ducks down and throws a hook to the body.
Nickels keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Joshua.
A combination from Nickels does no damage.
Joshua changes levels for a counter takedown but doesn't follow through with his attempt.
Nickels is hobbling a little on that front leg after taking quite a few leg kicks so far in this fight.
Nickels works the jab nicely.

The fight moves into the clinch position.
Joshua looking to slow down the pace here.

Nickels breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
A right-left combo lands from Nickels.
Nickels steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Joshua.
Joshua stalks Nickels and leaps in with a furious combination of punches. Uppercuts and crosses smash into Nickels's face. Nickels staggers backwards, shaken.
Nickels swats away the attempt to clinch by Joshua.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Joshua thows a leg kick but Nickels checks it
and Nickels counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
Joshua tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Joshua throws a leg kick but Nickels moved away.
Nickels lands a nice looking body shot.
Nickels tries to bum rush Joshua with a series of wild strikes but Joshua uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Nickels moves his head to the side to avoid a jab but walks straight into a cross.
Joshua slips a straight right by Nickels.
Nickels avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
Jimmy Nickels is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Joshua swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
Like a baseball bat into the meat of his leg there - nice leg kick by Joshua.
Joshua throws a looping overhand right but Nickels ducks down to avoid it.
Joshua tries to bum rush Nickels with a series of wild strikes but Nickels uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Nickels misses with an uppercut. Joshua saw that one coming.
Joshua changes levels for a counter takedown but doesn't follow through with his attempt.
Joshua avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
Joshua thuds his shin into the meat of Nickels's side.
Joshua fakes a jab and scores with a low kick.
Nickels drops his hands momentarily and Joshua takes advantage with a crisp shot to the head.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Joshua connects with a leg kick. He turned his hip over nicely there.
Joshua moves out of range as Nickels strikes.
That's a knee to de groin and it's over and out! Nickels crumples to the ground after an illegal strike from Joshua - the referee stops the clock and Nickels gets 5 minutes to recover from that one. "I'm sorry" says Joshua. Nickels manages to get back to his feet and the fight resumes.
Nickels takes a big uppercut there. He seems a bit wobbly but no, he's OK.
Joshua finds nothing but air with that leg kick attempt.
A jab from Joshua finds it's way through Nickels's defenses.
Joshua tries to score with a low kick but Nickels moves his leg out of the way.
Joshua scores with a straight right hand, right through his opponent's guard.
A slow jab from Nickels misses its intended target.
Joshua fakes a jab and throws a low kick but Nickels checks it well.
Joshua gets cracked there but stands up to it.
A cross from Nickels lands.
Joshua lands an overhand left. A wild punch that just about connected.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Joshua lands a nice hook to Nickels's body. Nickels takes it in his stride and looks to land his own strikes.
Nickels looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Joshua looking to take his opponent's legs away with the low kicks.
Joshua moving in and out of range nicely, whilst landing the scoring shot.
Nickels bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.

Joshua cracks Nickels with a big right hand that sends him crashing to the floor. Joshua has the opportunity to follow him to the ground but instead he's beckoning Nickels to stand back up!

Nickels is rocked!
Joshua 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.
Oh Nickels is still all over the place! His legs are completely gone! Will he be able to recover?!!
Joshua lands a right hook to the body.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Joshua moves away from the strike by Nickels.
Joshua closes the distance and lands a brutal uppercut that knocks Nickels out! We're looking at the replay now - he was out before he hit the floor!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 4:28 of round 2, we have a winner by way of KO (Punch). Mr Joshua!
Mr Joshua made sure to mention his sponsor, IniTech Nutrition in his post fight interview.