Greatest Hits Round 1 PBP Commentary

Undercard bout

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Kurt Angle (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Tommy Nich (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Nich has chosen This Calling as his entrance music. Both these guys are coming into the fight with injuries so let's see if that has a bearing on the fight. Kurt Angle could well score a knockout today. He has the power to get to Tommy Nich's chin.

Angle
vs
Nich

190 cm
22
265 lbs
0 - 1 - 0

195 cm
19
250 lbs
0 - 1 - 0

Good wrestling
Brawler
Very quick

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Determined

Attliction

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Kurt Angle!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Tommy Nich!
The judges for this bout are Seu Braga, Emerson Jorge and Edson Gomes.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Angle scores with a nice takedown into half guard. Let's see what he's got on the ground.
Angle is breathing heavily.
Angle throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
Angle misses with a head shot. Nich uses the momentum to regain guard.
Nich lands a beautiful switch and he's in full mount! That could spell trouble for Angle!
Nich blocks Angle's feeble attempts to strike from the bottom.
Angle working to try and regain half guard.
Angle is squirming around, avoiding Nich's attempts to control the action.
Angle tries to reverse the position but Nich maintains control.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Angle is working hard here to advance position.
Nich trying to control but he's not successful this time.
Angle could do with loosing a few pounds - he looks very soft around the mid section, to put it politely.
Angle really trying hard to get back to half guard here.
Nich trying to control but Angle is having none of it.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Neither fighter has done anything of merit for a good minute or two here and the crowd are not happy about it.
Angle is looking to improve his position but Nich isn't that keen on the idea.
Nich tries to control but Angle wriggling away.
Angle tries to lock up and control but Nich gives him a forearm to the face and pushes him away.
Nich trying to control but Angle is having none of it.
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Angle can't escape the position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Angle bucks up and manages to get a nice reversal! He's in guard on the top - nicely done!
Angle trying to control the position from guard on top but Nich is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Nich controls Angle momentarily but Angle frees himself.
Angle trying to control but Nich is working from the bottom.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Angle accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Angle with a couple of shots to the head there. Not particularly brutal.
Nich working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Angle.

That's four 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.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
Good leg kick by Nich there. It's the ones that make that thud noise that hurt and that was an almighty thud.
Angle closes the distance and clinches up with Nich, looking for a takedown. Angle pushes Nich against the ropes but Nich circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
Nich connects with a single shot there.
Angle takes a jab on the nose. He smiles like he loves it and keeps coming.

Angle 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.
Nich wants to stand and escape but Angle is having none of it.
Angle trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Angle trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Angle trying to control the position from guard on top but Nich is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Angle postures up in Nich's guard and throws a big left but Nich blocks it.
Angle throwing strikes but missing.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Angle accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.
Nice takedown defense from Nich. No joy for Angle on that attempt.
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 Kurt Angle will probably get the nod.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

Nich keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.

Angle drives through with a takedown into guard.
The fighters are tangled up in the ropes here. We might need a restart if the fighters can't break free themselves.
Angle working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Angle in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.

Nich pushes Angle off for just long enough to get back to his feet. Very athletic spring there.

Nich scores a trip takedown into side control. Nice.
Angle tries to buck Nich off but Nich is having none of it.

Nich decides to stand up, so the ref orders Angle to his feet.
Nich throws a series of punches but Angle moves out of range.
Kurt Angle seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

Angle feints and as Nich raises his hands in defense, Angle changes levels and drives through with a takedown into guard.
Angle working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Nich avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Angle content to strike from guard, landing some decent shots.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Angle throws and elbow that misses. Nich uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in Angle's guard. Nice move by Nich!
Angle will have to put a bit more behind his punches if he's going to do any damage from this position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Angle is trying to control the position but Nich postures up.
Nich trying to stand up but can't free himself from Angle's guard.
Angle lands a beautiful switch and he's in full mount! That could spell trouble for Nich!
Nich holding onto his opponent's waist for dear life, as Angle tries to land some strikes to get him to release his grip.
Angle thowing strikes but they're hitting the gloves, not doing any damage.
Nich wriggling around on the bottom manages to avoid the strikes thrown by Angle.
The referee warns Nich that he has to improve his position here as he takes two more clean shots to the head.
Angle thowing strikes but they're hitting the gloves, not doing any damage.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Angle looking to finish Nich with some ground and pound. This is bad for Nich!
Angle is landing with some decent strikes but Nich is trying to advance his position so the referee is letting the fight continue.
Angle scoring with strikes but Nich is staying in there.
Nich regains half guard.
Angle thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.
Angle throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
Angle passes to side control.
Nich manages to work his way to half guard, despite Angle's best efforts.
Angle looking to pass the half guard. Not this time.
The fighters are trapped in the ropes so we're going to have a reposition here. The ref calls for a break and repositions the fighters in the center of the ring.
Nich keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Nich wants to improve his position but Angle is controlling well.
Angle throwing shots but Nich is blocking nicely.
Nich wants to get back to his feet.
Angle slips a nice elbow through Nich's hands, connecting with Nich's forehead.
Angle thows a huge punch but Nich dodges it nicely.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fight is doing enough on the ground.
Nich throws a hook but Angle blocks it.
Angle fails with a takedown attempt from distance.

Nich looking for a takedown here - he's got it.
Angle trying to punch from his back but it's not doing any damage.
Nich trying to control but Angle is working from the bottom.
Angle is looking to sweep but instead, Nich has passed into half guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Angle avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Nich.
Nich wants to take a breather but Angle is having none of it.
Nich thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Angle's head.
Nich looking to pass the half guard. Not this time.
Angle trying to control but Nich postures up.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.
Nich misses with a wild body shot.
Nich fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Angle fails to land the takedown.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Kurt Angle. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Nich shoots in and drives through. Angle sprawls well.
Horrible takedown by Angle or perhaps it was just good defense by Nich which made him look bad.

Nich instigates a clinch.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.

Nich turns his hips and lands a very nice judo throw into side control!
Angle tries to slip a leg under to move to half guard but Nich presses down on the leg and jumps into full mount!
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Tommy Nich 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! This is the final round!

Angle looks for a takedown. He's got it. We're now in half guard.
Nich wants to control but Angle is keeping busy and won't allow it.
Angle is pressing down on Nich's thigh, looking to free his foot. Nich is holding on for now.
Angle is looking to take a break and control but Nich is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Nich has hold of Angle's hands but Angle slips his arm to the side and lands an elbow.
Angle not landing any meaningful shots this time.
Nich is trying to stand.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Angle lands with an elbow from half guard - that looked like it hurt.
Angle misses with a head shot. Nich uses the momentum to regain guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Angle tries to free his leg and advance position but Nich is retaining full guard.
Angle throws and elbow that misses. Nich uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in Angle's guard. Nice move by Nich!
Angle looking for a sweep. Not yet Angle, not yet.
Nich trying to control but Angle is working from the bottom.
Angle wants to sweep but no luck.
Nich trying to stand up but can't free himself from Angle's guard.
Angle working a defensive guard here.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.
Nich shoots in but doesn't get the takedown

so Angle counters with a double leg into guard. Good agility.
Nich wants to get back to his feet but Angle is in a dominant position and won't allow it.
Kurt Angle overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Angle throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Nich works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Angle trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Angle working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Angle looking to sit in guard and control but Nich gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.
Angle trying to strike from the bottom but really, it's not the best position to be doing that from!
Angle is looking to sweep but instead, Nich has passed into half guard.
Angle wants to get back to full guard but Nich has mounted him!
Angle is working to get back to half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Nich trying to control but he's not successful this time.
Angle slips a leg in and gets back to half guard.
Nich blocks the strikes from Angle.
Angle throws a strike from the bottom that misses.
Angle is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Angle is refusing to be controlled, as Nich sits in half guard.

That's four 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.
Angle slips a foot under and gets full guard. Nice work.
Angle tries to land a sweep but no joy.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.
Nich tries to clinch but Angle moves out of range.

Angle scores a trip takedown into side control. Nice.
Nich tries to escape but Angle is in control.
Angle scores with a couple of nice shots to the head there. The referee takes a look at Nich to see if he's OK.
Angle misses with an attempted head punch from side control.
Angle with the ground and pound but Nich regains half guard under the barage of strikes.
Nich missing with punches from the bottom.
Angle prevents Nich from standing back up.

And that's the end of the fight!
Kurt Angle showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Angle 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 Seu Braga scores the fight 29:28
Judge Emerson Jorge scores the fight 29:28
Judge Edson Gomes scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by split decision... Kurt Angle!