PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Rubens Charles Maciel (ranked 4437 p4p, 355 weight class) and Trymore Nkomo (ranked 6385 p4p, 394 weight class). Nkomo has chosen On the Floor as his entrance music, which hasn't gone down very well with the crowd. Rubens Charles Maciel has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Charles Maciel
vs
Nkomo

161 cm
23
155 lbs
2 - 0 - 0

170 cm
20
144 lbs
1 - 1 - 0

Good takedowns
Basic striking
KO power

Powerful takedowns
Counter fighter
Good gas tank

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the featherweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 2 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Rubens Charles Maciel!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Trymore Nkomo!
The judges for this bout are Ben Watson, Skip Squint and Topper Green.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Nkomo tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Charles Maciel was well out of range. Poor timing from Nkomo.
Charles Maciel swings wildly with a couple of big hooks

and Nkomo counters with a takedown into side control! That could mean trouble for Charles Maciel!
Nkomo takes a little break here. Charles Maciel wants to take advantage but he is being controlled well.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Nkomo lands a knee to the body and follows it up with some ground and pound to the head. That will wear Charles Maciel down.
Charles Maciel is trying to improve his position.
Nkomo tries to advance to mount but can't.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Charles Maciel is being controlled here.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Charles Maciel is trying to get back to half guard. He's pushing on Nkomo's leg. He's managed it. Nice work.
Well, if Nkomo 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.
Nkomo is pressing down on Charles Maciel's thigh, looking to free his foot. Charles Maciel is holding on for now.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Charles Maciel is trying to maintain the position but Nkomo is very close to passing his half guard.
Charles Maciel is trying to get back to full guard.
Nkomo is pressing down on Charles Maciel's thigh, looking to free his foot. Charles Maciel is holding on for now.
Nkomo is taking a breather. Charles Maciel 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.
Charles Maciel wants to improve his position but Nkomo is controlling well.
Charles Maciel manages to get to full guard.
Charles Maciel is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Nkomo has been taking part in the yoga sessions down at Navy Street MMA. Presumably he's going to look for a slick submission... Or maybe he's looking to avoid one.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are getting on the fighters' backs, as the pace has dropped off in the last minute or so.
Nkomo passes Charles Maciel's left leg - he's now in half guard.

Nkomo is trying a forearm choke… I don't think that's going to do much at this level of the game.

Nkomo seems to be looking for submissions.
Charles Maciel trying to hold on to Nkomo's head to control him but Nkomo postures up.
Charles Maciel wants to get back to full guard.
Charles Maciel is looking to control Nkomo's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Charles Maciel avoid being mounted?
Charles Maciel wants to improve his position but Nkomo is controlling well.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Charles Maciel is working hard here to advance position.
Charles Maciel trying to control here.
Well, if Nkomo 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.
Charles Maciel is looking to control Nkomo's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Charles Maciel avoid being mounted?
Charles Maciel tries to roll over but Nkomo keeps him under control.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are getting on the fighters' backs, as the pace has dropped off in the last minute or so.
The referee calls for the fighters to work.
Nkomo prevents Charles Maciel from improving his position.
Nkomo looks over to his corner - he wants some instructions but his corner are not responding.
The referee is pacing around the two fighters - he looks like he's thinking about a standup.
Charles Maciel tries to get to full guard but Nkomo has control of the leg.
Charles Maciel trying to keep hold of his opponent's head but Nkomo manages to pass to mount!
Charles Maciel tries to hold on but Nkomo pushes him away.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Nkomo looking to control and managing it successfully.
Nkomo misses with a series of strikes from mount. He'll no doubt be working on his ground and pound when he gets back to the gym.
Nkomo controlling from mount.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Trymore Nkomo dominated that 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.

Charles Maciel scores with a takedown into Nkomo's guard.
Charles Maciel scores with a decent looking elbow strike.
Charles Maciel has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.
Nkomo manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Charles Maciel manages to get himself to full guard.

Charles Maciel wants to sweep here but Nkomo controlling him for the moment.

Charles Maciel is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
Trymore Nkomo has got the better of the ground game so far.
Nkomo forces his way into half guard.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Nkomo trying to control the pace.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Charles Maciel won't allow Nkomo to pass to mount.
Charles Maciel wants to improve his position but Nkomo is controlling well.
Charles Maciel manages to get to full guard.
Nkomo is frustrating his opponent with some stalling tactics from top position.

Charles Maciel working away from the bottom but not quite defensive enough there because Nkomo has passed into half guard!
Nkomo looks over to his corner - he wants some instructions but his corner are not responding.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.
Let's hope that Nkomo has the urge to step up the pace any second now because for the last 15 or 20 seconds he's just been holding on tight.
Nkomo thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.

Nkomo is trying to work for a kimura but Charles Maciel is defending well.
Charles Maciel wants to get back to full guard.
Nkomo has been the more effective fighter overall so far.

Charles Maciel is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Nkomo pulls his head out easily.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Nkomo keeping composed on the top, looking to control the action.
Charles Maciel is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Nkomo passes to full mount!
Nkomo fails to advance to Charles Maciel's back.
Nkomo controlling the position easily from mount.
We're seeing a lot of stalling here from Nkomo.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Charles Maciel tries to hold on but Nkomo postures up.
Nkomo sitting in mount, just looking to control for the moment.
Charles Maciel is working to get back to half guard.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Nkomo can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as Charles Maciel is looking to escape.
Nkomo looking to control and managing it successfully.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Trymore Nkomo showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action! So, we enter the final round. Let's see if either fighter can bring us a finish, or whether we're going to the judges scorecards.

Nkomo misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.

Charles Maciel feints and then dives in with a takedown. That was a long way out but the feint bought him enough time to close the distance and complete the takedown. Now we'll play guard for a bit and see who can get the better of that position.
Nkomo is pulling down on Charles Maciel's head to control his posture.
Nkomo utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Charles Maciel preventing the sweep.
Charles Maciel working in close now, lands a nice elbow to the side of Nkomo's head.
Charles Maciel stopping the sweep attempt from Nkomo.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Charles Maciel accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Charles Maciel trying to control the position from guard on top but Nkomo is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Nkomo is trying to keep Charles Maciel in close.
Nkomo is doing well to control the posture of his opponent and prevent any damage.
Charles Maciel scoring with punches to the head and body.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Charles Maciel wants to control from the top but Nkomo keeps moving.
Charles Maciel won't allow Nkomo to sweep him here.
Charles Maciel being controlled here momentarily.
Charles Maciel lands a couple of digs.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Nkomo is on top in guard.

Charles Maciel is striking from the bottom but Nkomo uses the opportunity to pass into half guard.
Nkomo controlling the pace.
Nkomo is thwarting Charles Maciel's attempts to control the position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Nkomo moves nicely into side control.
Charles Maciel is looking to regain half guard here but Nkomo keeps moving and retains side control.
Nkomo wants to control but Charles Maciel is keeping him busy.
Charles Maciel is looking for a sweep.
Charles Maciel is trying to escape the position but Nkomo is controlling the position.
Charles Maciel tries to slip a leg under to move to half guard but Nkomo presses down on the leg and jumps into full mount!
Nkomo controlling his opponent.
Nkomo avoids the attempt from Charles Maciel to control.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Nkomo misses with a head shot.
Nkomo sitting in mount, just looking to control for the moment.
Nkomo's corner are shouting for him to control the position and he seems happy to oblige.
Charles Maciel is trying to escape the mount.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Nkomo controlling from mount.
Charles Maciel wants to control but Nkomo is having none of it.
Trymore Nkomo is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
Nkomo looking to control and managing it successfully.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Nkomo is continuing to stall.
Rubens Charles Maciel has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
More stalling from Nkomo.

And that's the end of the fight!
Trymore Nkomo comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Nkomo has outworked and out performed his opponent in all aspects of the game today. He was simply too good and the decision should be no more than a formality. 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 Ben Watson scores the fight 27:30
Judge Skip Squint scores the fight 27:30
Judge Topper Green scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Trymore Nkomo!
Trymore Nkomo spent the whole post fight interview bigging himself up. It didn't go down that well with the fans after a while as they thought it was a bit arrogant.