PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Irving Nicholson (ranked 22782 p4p, 0 weight class) and Red Karaage (ranked 4714 p4p, 0 weight class). These two fighters really are very evenly matched on the feet - it will be fascinating to see who can assert themselves in that aspect of the fight.

Nicholson
vs
Karaage

169 cm
24
151 lbs
1 - 1 - 0

180 cm
25
155 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Cuts easily

BJJ Blue Belt
Basic striking
Determined

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 1 - 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 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Red Karaage!
The judges for this bout are Shigeki Fujiwara, Yukihiro Shimada and Hirohito Nitta.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Nicholson throws a head kick but Karaage moves out of range.

Karaage gets tackled into the cage by Nicholson. Nicholson maintains the clinch.
Nicholson throws a nice elbow but it doesn't land.
Karaage blocks a body shot from Nicholson.
A left hand lands to the body for Nicholson.
Nicholson fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Karaage takes a knee to the side of the body.
Karaage avoiding damage as Nicholson throws knees to the body.
Nicholson misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Karaage.
Karaage is working hard here but doesn't seem to be able to control effectively, up against the cage.
Knees in the clinch landing for Nicholson.

Nicholson has picked Karaage up - he's going for a ride! Nicholson dumps his opponent to the mat with a thud and settles into half guard.

Karaage manages to escape and get back to his feet!
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!

Karaage darts in and clinches Nicholson up against the cage.

Karaage breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.

Nicholson decides to change it up a bit and drives through with a nice takedown into half guard.
Karaage keeping control of the leg, stopping his opponent passing to mount.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Nicholson sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Karaage defending well though.
Karaage controlling the position for now.
Karaage is trying to stand up here but Nicholson is controlling him well.
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 throwing shots but Karaage is blocking nicely.
Karaage controlling the position well.
Karaage throws a strike from the bottom that misses.

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

That's two minutes gone in the round.
My god... these two guys really need to pick up the pace or everyone will leave to go get a beer.
Nicholson moves in looking to clinch but Karaage pushes him off.

Karaage drives through and clinches with Nicholson against the cage.
Nicholson tries for a takedown but Karaage manages to get underhooks.
Nicholson looks to throw an elbow but misses.

Karaage breaks the clinch.
Nicholson swats away the attempt to clinch by Karaage.
A right-left combo lands from Karaage.

It looks like Irving Nicholson has been cut.

Karaage gets in close and instigates a clinch.
Karaage takes an elbow to the forehead.
Karaage lands a body punch in the clinch.

Karaage escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Karaage lands with a two punch combination before moving back out of range.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Karaage tries to clinch up.
Nicholson looked to counter with a high kick but didn't commit.
Red Karaage seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

Karaage moves into range and clinches up with Nicholson.
Nicholson is working on a leg, looking for a takedown but Karaage is defending well.
Karaage takes a knee to the side of the body.
Nicholson has Karaage pressed up against the cage and is working for takedown. Karaage manages to improve position though and keeps the fight standing.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Irving Nicholson. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Karaage blocks a couple of punches on the inside.

Karaage escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Nicholson throws a sloppy head kick and Karaage moves out of range easily.

Karaage has taken the fight to the clinch.

Karaage's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.

Nicholson clinches.
Nicholson tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Karaage's elbow.
Karaage gets double underhooks to prevent a takedown attempt from Nicholson.
Nicholson is breathing heavily.
Karaage connects with a nasty looking knee right to Nicholson's face.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A nice left hand lands by Karaage.

Karaage breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.

Karaage drives through and clinches with Nicholson against the cage.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!

Karaage's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Karaage rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Nicholson moves out of range and avoids them all easily.

Karaage throws the overhand right but ducks down into a quick takedown attempt. Nicholson was covering up waiting for the punch and Karaage finishes the takedown easily into guard.

The fighters are starting to get a bit slippery now, which will make submissions a bit more difficult.
Nicholson looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
Nicholson is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Karaage is controlling him.
Karaage lands a couple of decent looking shots.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Red Karaage dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Irving Nicholson's cut.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business.

Nicholson tries to keep at a distance but Karaage has taken the fight into the clinch.
Karaage prevents a body shot from Nicholson.
Nicholson is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Karaage is defending well for now.
Karaage blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Nicholson drops down for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Nicholson tries for a takedown. No joy.
Nicholson is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.
Karaage putting his Muay Thai to good use. He has Nicholson in a tight clinch and is doing some damage with knees to the body.
Nicholson can't get the takedown.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Irving Nicholson. That's going to take a lot out of him.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Karaage escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.

Karaage has Nicholson up against the cage in a clinch.
Nicholson throws a punch but it's blocked by Karaage.

Karaage escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.

Nicholson gets tackled into the cage by Karaage. Karaage maintains the clinch.

That's one minute gone in the round.
A right hook to the body lands for Karaage.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

Karaage manages to break the clinch.

Karaage fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Nicholson, pushing him back against the cage.
Nicholson wants a takedown but no success here.
Karaage scores with a shot to the side of Nicholson's head.
Karaage unloads a knee to the mid-section.
Nicholson has Karaage pressed up against the cage and is working for takedown. Karaage manages to improve position though and keeps the fight standing.
A bit of stalling here from Karaage.

Karaage escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Karaage throws a shot to the body.

Karaage drives through and clinches with Nicholson against the cage.

Karaage breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Nicholson misses with a double jab.

Nicholson tries to keep at a distance but Karaage has taken the fight into the clinch.

Karaage breaks the clinch.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.

Karaage forces Nicholson back against the cage and clinches.

Nicholson is fighting off a takedown attempt but Karaage is just too persistent for him and manages to trip Nicholson to the mat. Nicholson regains guard as soon as the fighters hit the mat.
Karaage landing with the ground and pound.
Karaage is frustrating his opponent with some stalling tactics from top position.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Karaage is continuing to stall.
Karaage working from the guard for now, landing some ground and pound.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Karaage stands and steps away. Nicholson gets to his feet too and we're back to the striking game.

Karaage clinches up with Nicholson and pushes him back against the cage.
Red Karaage seems to be working more effectively in the clinch in the fight so far.

Karaage breaks from the clinch.
Karaage tries to close the distance and clinch up but Nicholson swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Nicholson throws a half hearted mid kick.

Karaage moves into the clinch.

Karaage manages to break the clinch.
Nicholson wants to clinch up but Karaage keeps it at a distance.

Karaage gets a clinch.
Nicholson wants to take the fight to the mat but Karaage manages to get underhooks and keep the fight in the clinch.
Nicholson lands a knee to the body.
Karaage lands a shoulder strike.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A bit of stalling here from Karaage.
Karaage with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.
Karaage lands a body punch in the clinch.
Nicholson misses with the head strike.
Nice body punch from Karaage - that landed with a thud.

Karaage wants the takedown. Nicholson is fighting it off but Karaage persists and manages to bring the fight to the ground, ending up in Nicholson's guard against the cage.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Karaage is in close to Nicholson's body, working some short punches and elbows.

Karaage stands and steps away. Nicholson gets to his feet too and we're back to the striking game.

Karaage rushes Nicholson and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.
Karaage lands a nice shot to the body.
Karaage scores with a hook to the body.

Karaage breaks from the clinch.

Karaage clinches with his opponent.
Karaage digs a right hand underneath Nicholson's ribcage. Nicholson let out a lung full of air as it connected.
Karaage lands with a quick shot inside that doesn't really do much damage.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Red Karaage showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The cut man is working on Irving Nicholson's cut.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action! Ladies and gentlemen, this is the final round!

Karaage fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Nicholson, pushing him back against the cage.
Nicholson changes levels and goes for a takedown here. Karaage fights it off and pushes away nicely.
Karaage misses with a head kick.
Nicholson fails with a takedown attempt.
Irving Nicholson is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Karaage wants to clinch.
Nicholson looked to counter with a high kick but didn't commit.

Karaage gets in close and instigates a clinch.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Karaage gets control of Nicholson's arms and successfully pulls guard. Karaage will no doubt be looking for submissions off his back.

Karaage is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Nicholson is aware though and is defending well.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Karaage 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.
Nicholson postures up in Karaage's guard and throws a big left but Karaage blocks it.
Karaage looking to control.

Karaage looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.

Karaage pushes Nicholson off and scrambles back to his feet.
Nicholson avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Nicholson appears to be looking for a big counter.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Karaage displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Nicholson.
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.

Karaage has Nicholson up against the cage in a clinch.
Karaage makes some space for himself and lands an uppercut.
Nicholson drops down looking for an ankle pick but Karaage pulls his leg out and moves away.

Karaage clinches up with Nicholson and pushes him back against the cage.
Nicholson tries to score a body lock takedown but Karaage shows good agility there to stay on his feet.
Nicholson throws a head punch that misses.

Karaage pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Nicholson swats away the attempt to clinch by Karaage.
Nicholson thinks about countering with a head kick.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Nicholson keeps the fight on the outside.
Nicholson tries to clinch but Karaage is having none of it.
Karaage drops down looking to force a counter takedown but Nicholson defends it well.
Karaage tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. Nicholson manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.

Karaage clinches up with Nicholson and pushes him back against the cage.
Nicholson blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
Nicholson throws an elbow but it misses.

Karaage manages to pull guard.
Karaage thows some rabbit punches from the bottom but they don't do any damage.
Karaage has control of Nicholson's left arm, preventing Nicholson from doing any damage.
Karaage is looking to sweep but instead, Nicholson has passed into half guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The fighters are battling for position here. Karaage manages to regain full guard. Nice work.
Nicholson throwing strikes but missing.
Nicholson is looking to work some ground and pound but Karaage has wrist control.
Karaage controlling the position.
Karaage bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Nicholson's guard.

The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Nicholson trying to punch from his back but it's not doing any damage.
Irving Nicholson has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Red Karaage is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.

Nicholson looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.

And that's the end of the fight!
Red Karaage comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Karaage 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 Shigeki Fujiwara scores the fight 27:30
Judge Yukihiro Shimada scores the fight 27:30
Judge Hirohito Nitta scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Red Karaage!