PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a super heavyweight MMA rules bout between Jimmy Nickels (ranked 1500 p4p, 24 weight class) and Carl Sands (ranked 3702 p4p, 53 weight class). The crowd seem to be enjoying Sands's choice of entrance music: Ante Up (Remix) - By: M.O.P. ft. Busta Rhymes, Teflon, Remy Martin. Jimmy Nickels has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Nickels
vs
Sands

190 cm
32
245 lbs
6 - 3 - 0

191 cm
32
260 lbs
14 - 12 - 1

Good wrestling
World class MT
Granite chin

Good wrestler
Great elbows
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 6 - 3 - 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 14 - 12 - 1, fighting out of Las Vegas, Carl Sands!
The judges for this bout are Tiny Johnson, George Francis and Cecil Peabody.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Nickels misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Sands ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Nickels moves away.
Sands looks to land a left hand but Nickels moved out of range nicely.
Nickels is looking to counter punch.
Sloppy strikes from Sands. Those never looked like landing.
Nickels sizes up Sands with a pawing jab and scores with a straight right down the middle.
A punch combination from Nickels misses.
Sands with the counter takedown but Nickels avoids it easily.
Sands throws a jab when Nickels was well out of range.
Nice jab there from Nickels.
Sands lands with a cross.
We've been hearing reports that Nickels has been drilling takedowns in recent sessions so let's see if that has an impact on the result of this fight.
Sands shoots in but Nickels avoids the takedown attempt easily.
Nickels misses with a straight left.
Sands scores with a nice right hand.
Sands throws a body punch but Nickels moves out of range.
Nickels bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
Sands loads up on a big right hand but Nickels slips the punch.
Sands lands a beauty of a right hand that gets the crowd cheering.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Sands throws a sloppy head kick and Nickels moves out of range easily.
Sands scores with a nice strike.
Sands lands a leg kick and bounces back out of range.
Sands attempts a leg kick but it's missed by a good margin.
Wow, both these guys are really going for it!
Nickels fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.

That's one minute gone in the round.
A telegraphed right hand from Sands misses the target.
Sands getting the better of the striking in that exchange.
Sands takes a nice looking leg kick right on the meat of his thigh there.
Nickels throws a body shot but no joy.
Nickels slips a straight right by Sands.
Nickels keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Sands.
Nickels throws a jab when Sands was well out of range.
Sands misses with a straight right.
Nice shot lands for Sands.
Sands throws a shot from downtown. Nickels moves away and avoids it.
Sands dodges the punch combination from Nickels.
Nickels swats away the attempt to clinch by Sands.
Nickels lands a front kick.
Nickels slips under a jab from Sands.
Nickels looked to counter that last move with a leg kick but didn't pull the trigger.
Sands with a jab.
Nickels slips under a jab.
Nickels swung with a counter punch to the body but it didn't connect.
A telegraphed right hand from Sands misses the target.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Nickels misses the shot to the body.
Sands is trying to avoid his opponent's strikes and get into the clinch.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Nickels throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Sands throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
That's a knee to de groin and it's over and out! Sands crumples to the ground after an illegal strike from Nickels - the referee stops the clock and Sands gets 5 minutes to recover from that one. "I'm sorry" says Nickels. Sands manages to get back to his feet and the fight resumes.
Nickels connects with a body shot that sends Sands's belly button to the back.
Nickels lands a jab. Then a cross. Then finally a nice hook to the body. Good work there by Nickels.
Sands throws a hook to the side of Nickels's head but Nickels sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
Sands feints with a shoulder and throws a nice leg kick to Nickels's calf.
Nickels scores with a nice body kick.
Nickels keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Sands.
Sands throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
Sands misses with a hook. Nickels ducked under it nicely.
Nickels scores with a leg kick.
Nickels ducks under a wild hook from Sands.
It looked like Nickels was looking amped, ready to throw a big counter but didn't commit.
A head kick misses from Nickels.
Nickels moves out of range of the strikes.
Sands motions for Nickels to come forward. Sands throws a leg kick but it misses it's target.
A jab from Sands misses.
Sands closes the distance and lands a one-two.
Nice defenses there by Nickels.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Sands lunges at Nickels with a hook that half lands and is half blocked by Nickels's hand.
Nickels throws a right hand that Sands ducks under and follows up with a left that Sands also avoids with ease.
Nickels misses with a series of wild punches.
A big right from Sands misses.
Nickels chopping away at his opponent's legs.
Sands avoids a low kick by using good footwork.

Sands fakes a strike and closes the distance, dragging Nickels to the ground. Sands is now in Nickels's guard.
Nickels has a closed guard, preventing anything of note from happening. Perhaps he's looking to stall.
Sands trying to control the position from guard on top but Nickels is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Nickels avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Sands working in close now, lands a nice elbow to the side of Nickels's head.
Sands trying to control the position from guard on top but Nickels is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Sands throws a strike but Nickels rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Sands looking to control.
Nickels cracks Sands with a solid left hand.
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!
Nickels's corner is telling him to maintain position.
Nickels working some strikes from top position.
Sands bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Nickels's guard.

Sands looking to sit in guard and control but Nickels gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.

Sands trying to control the position.
Nickels stands up over Sands, holding his feet. He dives back in and lands a decent shot to the head.
The crowd applaud the fighters' efforts here as the round comes to an end.

Sands is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
Sands looking for a sweep. Not yet Sands, not yet.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Carl Sands 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.

Nickels darts in and out, connecting with a jab.
Good leg kick by Nickels there. It's the ones that make that thud noise that hurt and that was an almighty thud.
Sands takes a shot right to the bread basket.
Sands looks to land a left hand but Nickels moved out of range nicely.
Nickels rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Sands moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Sands wants to counter the offense by Nickels and move into the clinch position.
Sands misses with an uppercut.
Well, he's not going to score with shots like that. A lazy body kick attempt from Nickels.
Nickels throws a shot from downtown. Sands moves away and avoids it.
A swing and a miss from Sands.
A big right from Nickels misses.
Nickels scores with a three punch combo!

Nickels closes the distance and scores a nice trip takedown into half guard. Sands did well to prevent Nickels getting side control.
Sands wants to stand back up but Nickels manages to pass into side control.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Sands manages to land a sweep and he's now on top! Lovely Jiu Jitsu!
Sands sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Nickels defending well though.
Nickels keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.
Sands trying to control the action but Nickels is working from the bottom.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Sands thows a huge punch but Nickels dodges it nicely.

Sands is looking for a kimura but he's never going to get it from there.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

Nickels is defending against the submission attempts here by Sands.
Sands scores with a couple of good hammerfists.
Sands not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
Sands thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Nickels's head.
Nickels wants to control but Sands is keeping busy and won't allow it.

Sands is looking for an arm triangle, whilst trying to pass to side control. Nickels doesn't seem that keen to cooperate though. No luck this time Sands.

Sands is working for a kimura but Nickels is defending it quite comfortably.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Nickels moves his hips nicely and gets into full guard.
Sands throws a big elbow that misses.
Sands throws a big elbow that misses.
Sands throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Nickels works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Sands makes a bit of distance and scores with some ground and pound, still in guard.
Sands trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Nickels working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Sands.
Nickels not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Sands working in close now, lands a nice elbow to the side of Nickels's head.
Sands throws an elbow that misses. Nickels uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in Sands's guard. Nice move by Nickels!

Sands looking for a sweep. Not yet Sands, not yet.
Nickels loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Nickels preventing the sweep.
Sands is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.

Nickels avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
Nickels lands a nice shot whilst sitting in his opponent's guard.
Carl Sands has got the better of the ground game so far.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Sands controls Nickels momentarily but Nickels frees himself.

Sands working for a triangle but Nickels defends it easily.
Nickels working some strikes from top position.
Nickels stopping the sweep attempt from Sands.

Sands working away from the bottom but not quite defensive enough there because Nickels has passed into half guard!
Nickels is keen to just control but Sands is a slippery customer.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close second round but I would say that Jimmy Nickels will probably get the nod.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business. Ladies and gentlemen, this is the final round!

Nickels lands with a head kick! That's gotta hurt.
Sands throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Nickels sees it coming and avoids it easily.
Nickels walks into a left hand.
Sands shoots in and drives through. Nickels sprawls well.
Nickels slips under a jab.
Nickels uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Sands.
A little feinted left hand from Nickels on the counter but he doesn't commit to it.
Sands throws a looping overhand right but Nickels ducks down to avoid it.
Sands uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Nickels.
Nickels looks shocked there as he takes a right hand to the temple.
Sands slips a jab from Nickels.
Nice shot by Sands.
A combination from Nickels does no damage.
Nickels throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Nickels will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
Sands wants to counter the offense by Nickels and move into the clinch position.
Nickels misses with a straight right.
Sands misses with a low kick.
Nickels feinted there with a counter leg kick.

Sands pushes Nickels up against the cage in a clinch.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Sands tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Nickels avoids it.
Nickels lands an elbow inside that Sands shrugs off.
Sands tries a knee to the head but he's missed.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Sands blocks an elbow strike from Nickels.
With the fighters up against the cage, Sands throws an elbow but misses.

Sands escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Nickels slips under a jab from Sands.
Sands dodges the punch combination from Nickels.
Jimmy Nickels is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Nickels slips in close and lands a nice hook before moving back out of range.
Sands ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
Sands throws the left hand but Nickels avoids the punch easily.
A jab from Sands misses.
Sands misses with a hook. Nickels ducked under it nicely.
Sands lands with a kick to the temple. Nickels shrugs as if to say "is that all you've got?"
Nice defenses there by Nickels.
Nickels scores with a hook to the body. Sands takes a step back and tries to catch his breath.
A jab from Nickels does it's job there.
Nickels on the wrong end of an overhand right that came out of nowhere.
Nickels thumps Sands with a low kick.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Nickels misses with a head kick.
Nickels steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Sands.
Sloppy strikes from Nickels. Those never looked like landing.
Sands clobbers Nickels with an overhand right that has the crowd gasping. That made a horrendous noise.
Sands wants to land a leg kick but Nickels is out of range.
Ouch! a nice leg kick from Nickels, right into the meat.
Ooooh, nice body kick lands from Nickels. Sands shrugs it off though.
Jimmy Nickels is winning the standup battle so far.
Nickels moves away from the strike by Sands.
Nickels throws a body kick but he wasn't in range.
Nickels swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Nickels throws a shot from downtown. Sands moves away and avoids it.
Sands throws out a loose jab but Nickels uses good head movement to avoid it.
Nickels blocks a jab.
Nickels rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Sands moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Sands moves out of range of the body kick.
Sands scores with a punch to the head.
Nickels blocks a jab.
Nickels fires out a quick counter leg kick but Sands just manages to avoid it.
Nice defenses there by Nickels.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Nickels uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Sands.
Nickels misses the shot to the body.

Sands clinches.
Nickels drops down looking for an ankle pick but Sands pulls his leg out and moves away.
Sands misses with a looping right.

Sands scores with a takedown into Nickels's guard.
Sands pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Nickels is keeping the position for now.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Sands with a flurry of punches that miss.
Sands trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Sands postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Sands in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Sands is looking to work some ground and pound but Nickels has wrist control.
Sands landing with the ground and pound.
Nickels keeping full guard, as Sands tries to pass.
Sands takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Nickels looking to control the pace of the fight rather than finish it.
Sands loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Sands throws an elbow that misses. Nickels uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in Sands's guard. Nice move by Nickels!

Sands is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
Sands looking to hit a scissor sweep but Nickels is one step ahead there.

And that's the end of the fight!
I would just about give that final round to Carl Sands.
I think Sands has won this one but let's see whether the judges agree with me. 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 Tiny Johnson scores the fight 28:29
Judge George Francis scores the fight 28:29
Judge Cecil Peabody scores the fight 28:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Carl Sands!
After the fight, Carl Sands was humble in paying tribute to his opponent but made it clear he wants to go on to bigger and better things. It seemed to go down well with the crowd who cheered him loudly.