PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Irving Nicholson (ranked 6487 p4p, 0 weight class) and Jin Kazama (ranked 4105 p4p, 0 weight class). Kazama has chosen https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=MMuAqR_MjS8 as his entrance music. I don't know about you partner, but I'm pumped for this one!

Nicholson
vs
Kazama

169 cm
24
151 lbs
0 - 1 - 0

221 cm
25
150 lbs
3 - 1 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Cuts easily

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Very confident

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 0 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Irving Nicholson!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 3 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Jin Kazama!
The judges for this bout are Yuuki Gou, Taro Takaoka and Tatsuya Matsuyama.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Nicholson pushes Kazama up against the cage in a clinch.

Kazama ties up his opponent against the cage and manages to drag the fight down to the ground. Kazama no doubt will be looking to work submissions from his guard.

Kazama has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Nicholson can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.

Kazama had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Nicholson defends it easily.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Nicholson accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Nicholson might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Kazama escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Nicholson gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
Kazama lands some strikes from the bottom.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Nicholson throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Kazama is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Nicholson trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Kazama wants to sweep here but Nicholson controlling him for the moment.
Nicholson throwing strikes from guard but Kazama blocks nicely.

Kazama looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
Kazama is controlling Nicholson's posture.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
There's not a lot going on here and the crowd are letting the fighters know they're not willing to tolerate a lack of action.
Nicholson loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Nicholson throwing strikes from guard but Kazama blocks nicely.
Nicholson stopping the sweep attempt from Kazama.
Kazama is trying to control the position from the bottom.

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.

Kazama gets tackled into the cage by Nicholson. Nicholson maintains the clinch.
Nicholson is working for a takedown up against the cage. He can't get it on this occasion though.

Nicholson gets a nice trip takedown into half guard.

Kazama has one foot on Nicholson's thigh - he pushes off and manages to get back to his feet.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Irving Nicholson seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

Nicholson tries to sprawl but Kazama drives through with a takedown into half guard.

Nicholson manages to escape and get back to his feet!

Nicholson closes the distance and clinches.

Nicholson has Kazama pressed up against the cage. He's trying to work for a single leg takedown. Nicholson pulls back from the cage and twists to the side, sending Kazama tumbling to the mat - Nicholson dives into Kazama's guard.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Kazama looking to hit a scissor sweep but Nicholson is one step ahead there.
Kazama is still trying to improve position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Nicholson postures up and lands a big shot to Kazama's brow.
Nicholson is looking to work some ground and pound but Kazama has wrist control.
Nicholson scoring with some ground and pound.
Kazama throwing some rather feeble looking strikes off his back.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Kazama is on top in guard.

Nicholson throwing strikes off his back to little effect.
Kazama keeps in close for a moment and lands a decent shot to the side of Nicholson's head.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close round but I would say that Irving Nicholson will probably get the nod.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action.

Kazama gets a takedown into half guard.
Kazama is keen to just control but Nicholson is a slippery customer.
Nicholson trying to control here.
Nicholson is trying to stand up here but Kazama is controlling him well.
Nicholson avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Kazama.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Kazama throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
Kazama tries to pass the half guard into mount. Nicholson knows what he's doing though and prevents the attempt.
Kazama keeps trying to improve his position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Nicholson is trying to maintain the position but Kazama is very close to passing his half guard.
Nicholson keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.
Kazama is thwarting Nicholson's attempts to control the position.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up. He just wasn't happy with the level of activity.

Nicholson closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.

Nicholson gets the body lock takedown. After a quick scramble, Kazama regains guard.

Kazama manages to escape and get back to his feet.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The fight stays on the outside here - Kazama looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Nicholson pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Kazama wants to counter the offense by Nicholson and move into the clinch position.
Kazama throws a right and a left that both miss.
Nicholson has his head slapped from side to side by a 3 punch combination. That must have hurt him.
The fans in attendance giving it up for the two fighters, who have really let it all hang out in the last minute or so!
A combination from Kazama does no damage.
Kazama avoids a kick to the body.

Nicholson moves into the clinch.
Nicholson is trying to push Kazama away but Kazama has him pressed against the cage, so he's going nowhere.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Kazama turns his back and goes for a hip toss. It's a bit messy but it gets the job done and Kazama manages to end up in side control.
Jin Kazama has got the better of the ground game so far.
Kazama working away.
Nicholson striking from the bottom but nothing landed.
Nicholson is trying to control Kazama's posture but Kazama avoids it.
Nicholson is looking to reverse the position.
You can see the frustration on Nicholson's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.
Kazama slows the pace down.

Kazama is looking to finish here, going for an Americana. Nicholson knows the correct defense though, so he's OK.
Kazama is breathing heavily.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Kazama is trying to get an arm triangle but Nicholson is defending well.
Kazama lands some shots froms side control.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Nicholson avoids any damage from the ground and pound of Kazama.
Nicholson is trying to control Kazama's posture but Kazama avoids it.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Jin Kazama showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action. Ladies and gentlemen, this is the final round!

Nicholson pulls out of a head kick attempt.

The fight moves into the clinch position.
Nicholson scores a nice knee to the body.
Kazama is trying to force a seperation but Nicholson has the dominant position.
Nicholson throws an elbow that misses.
Nicholson lands a nice elbow.
Nicholson drops down looking for an ankle pick but Kazama pulls his leg out and moves away.
Kazama is a painfully thin specimen of a man. You do wonder whether a good body kick would snap him clean in two.

A momentary lapse in concentration from Nicholson enables Kazama to shoot in and score with a neat double leg. Nicholson manages to secure a closed guard as the fighters hit the mat.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Nicholson is trying to control the position from the bottom.

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

Kazama not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.

Kazama has butterfly guard. He's looking to stand up here. He pushes Nicholson off him and springs to his feet nicely. The crowd applauds.
The fight stays on the outside here - Kazama looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Nicholson went nuts there looking for a big combo counter but none of the flurry connected.
Nicholson doesn't succeed with the takedown
and Kazama counters with a left and a right that stings Nicholson.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Kazama tries to close the distance and clinch but Nicholson swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Nicholson darts in looking for a takedown but Kazama gets double underhooks and turns Nicholson into the cage.
Kazama wants to counter with a clinch but Nicholson pushes him away.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Irving Nicholson. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Nicholson misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Kazama tries to counter by closing the distance.

Nicholson has Kazama up against the cage in a clinch.
Nicholson is trying to wear down his opponent with knees to the body.
Knees in the clinch landing for Nicholson.
The fans in attendance giving it up for the two fighters, who have really let it all hang out in the last minute or so!

Kazama has managed to pull guard. Let's see whether he can work an aggressive guard. It will also be interesting to see what tactics Nicholson uses from the top position.
Kazama is trying to keep Nicholson in close.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kazama wants to control but instead he gets his guard passed and Nicholson is now in half guard.
Kazama gets back to full guard.
Kazama working a defensive guard here.

Kazama looks to be working for a triangle here. Oh, it looks like he might have it! Nicholson has picked Kazama up and slammed him! Kazama can't keep hold of the triangle and Nicholson manages to pass to side control!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Well. There's a bit of a lull in the action here and the crowd are starting to get restless.
Nicholson with the ground and pound but Kazama regains half guard under the barage of strikes.
Kazama gets full guard.
Kazama is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Nicholson is working Kazama over from the guard. He should look to pass the guard and do a little more damage with these strikes.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Kazama looking for a sweep. Not yet Kazama, not yet.

Nicholson avoids a guillotine attempt easily.

And that's the end of the fight!
That was a close round. You could make an argument for either fighter but I would give it to Irving Nicholson.
I think Nicholson has won this one but let's see what the judges have to say. 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 Yuuki Gou scores the fight 29:28
Judge Taro Takaoka scores the fight 29:28
Judge Tatsuya Matsuyama scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Irving Nicholson!
Jin Kazama spoke after the fight, saying 'I will comeback with more power soon!'.