PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Anthony Ferguson (ranked 2978 p4p, 5090 weight class) and Nikica Polen (ranked 0 p4p, 451 weight class). Polen is bouncing up and down as he enters the arena, backed by Can't be touched - Roy Jones Jr. We have two fighters making their debuts here, so let's see who comes out of this one with their first professional victory.

Ferguson
vs
Polen

185 cm
20
170
0 - 0 - 0

177 cm
24
162
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Intelligent

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Tends to cut

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the middleweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Anthony Ferguson!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Nikica Polen!
The judges for this bout are Robert Douchet, Yves DeLean and Dillan Fox.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Ferguson looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Polen is fending him off so far but Ferguson persists. Nope, Polen circles away and we're back to standing.
Ferguson tries to clinch up but Polen circles away and keeps his distance.
Ferguson tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. Polen manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Ferguson shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Polen fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
A head kick misses from Ferguson.
Ferguson shoots in for a double leg but Polen sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
Polen shapes to counter with a head kick.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Anthony Ferguson. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Ferguson throws a looping overhand right but Polen ducks down to avoid it.
Polen is trying hard to land a takedown here. Ferguson sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.

Polen drives through and clinches with Ferguson against the cage.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Ferguson manages to pull guard. Let's see whether he can land a sub off his back.
Ferguson is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Polen with a flurry of punches that miss.
Polen has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Polen controlling from the guard. I say controlling but really, he's stalling.
Ferguson can't keep his opponent in guard - Polen advances to half guard, no doubt looking to mount.
Polen seems to be taking a bit of a break to think of his next move. He lands a short punch in the meantime.
Polen wants to pass to mount but Ferguson is defending the position.
Polen is figuring out what he wants to do next.

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.
Let's hope that Polen 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.
Polen prevents Ferguson from standing back up.
Ferguson tries to roll over but Polen keeps him under control.
Still in half guard, Polen seems content to control.
It looks like Polen might be adopting somewhat of a lay and pray gameplan here, which I'm sure won't go down too well with the paying fans in attendance... Or the ring announcers come to think of it.
We may be looking at a referee standup if the pace doesn't pick up soon.
Ferguson wants to improve his position but Polen is controlling well.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Ferguson clinches up against the cage.
Ferguson struggles to land a body shot inside as Polen controls his hands.
Ferguson gets through Polen's defenses to land a nice punch to the side of the head.
Polen is trying to pull guard but Ferguson turns him against the cage and we stay in the clinch.

Ferguson is fighting off a takedown attempt but Polen is just too persistent for him and manages to trip Ferguson to the mat. Ferguson regains guard as soon as the fighters hit the mat.
Polen distracts Ferguson with his right hand and drops a big elbow with his other arm.
Ferguson not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Polen engaging in some classic timewasting tactics.
Ferguson knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Polen on the ground.
Polen won't allow Ferguson to get back to his feet.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Polen slows down the pace of the fight, as he sits in guard.
Ferguson not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Ferguson wants to sweep but no luck.
Polen seems content to control from guard here. He's going to have to remain active though if he doesn't want to get stood back up.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!

Ferguson closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Nikica Polen will probably get the nod.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business.

Ferguson shoots for a double leg takedown but Polen sprawls well. He's pushed Ferguson's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
Ferguson shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Polen but Polen pushes him off and we're back to square one.
Polen steps in looking to clinch after the strikes miss from Ferguson.
Anthony Ferguson is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.

Ferguson gets caught flat footed, as Polen shoots in with a quick takedown into guard.
Polen preventing the sweep.
Polen engaging in some classic timewasting tactics.
Polen postures up and scores with a shot to the body and a follow up elbow to the head.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Polen engaging in some classic timewasting tactics.
Ferguson trying to control the position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Polen advances to half guard.

Polen postures up and decides to stand up, from the half guard. The ref calls for Ferguson to stand up.

Ferguson closes the distance and pushes Polen back into the cage.
Ferguson is trying to pull guard but being pressed up against the cage enables Polen to keep the fight standing.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Anthony Ferguson. That's going to take a lot out of him.

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

Polen scores with a takedown into Ferguson's guard.
Nikica Polen has got the better of the ground game so far.
Ferguson is trying to control the position but Polen postures up.
Polen trying to control but Ferguson is working from the bottom.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Polen pushes down on Ferguson's leg and manages to get into half guard.
Ferguson is looking to escape.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Ferguson won't allow Polen to pass to mount.
Ferguson keeping control of the leg, stopping his opponent passing to mount.

Polen is thinking about going for an arm triangle but he can't free his leg.
Ferguson tries to strike from the bottom but it doesn't land.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Polen scores with a couple of good hammerfists.
Ferguson wants to improve his position but Polen is controlling well.
Polen trying to control the pace.
Ferguson gets back to full guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.

Polen drops back looking for a leg! Ferguson is in trouble here! The fighters roll with the hold and Ferguson manages to kick Polen off! Polen jumps back into Ferguson's guard.
Ferguson can't do much from the bottom at the moment, as Polen controls the pace.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!

Polen throws a loose over hand right and dives in with a double leg takedown. Ferguson tries to sprawl but it's too late and the fighters hit the mat. Polen is in Ferguson's guard.
Ferguson is controlling Polen's posture.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Nikica Polen 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. This is the final round!

Ferguson fails with the takedown.
Ferguson dives in and grabs Polen's left leg, looking for a takedown. Polen pushes down on Ferguson's head and hops out.

Polen feints and as Ferguson raises his hands in defense, Polen changes levels and drives through with a takedown into guard.

Ferguson has managed to wall walk up one of the corner posts to get back to his feet. Polen is pushing him up against the cage, looking to control the position.

Polen is fighting off a takedown attempt but Ferguson is just too persistent for him and manages to trip Polen to the mat. Polen regains guard as soon as the fighters hit the mat.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Ferguson preventing the sweep.
Polen is controlling Ferguson's posture.
Polen tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Polen has Ferguson pulled in close to control his posture.
Polen thows some rabbit punches from the bottom but they don't do any damage.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Polen seems keen to control Ferguson's posture.

Ferguson got a little sloppy there for a moment and Polen has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Ferguson has managed to get both his arms back between Polen's legs - danger averted.
Polen looking to hit a scissor sweep but Ferguson is one step ahead there.
Ferguson trying to control the position from guard on top but Polen is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Polen is trying to control the position but Ferguson postures up.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up.
Polen lands with a head kick! That's gotta hurt.
Polen throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.

Ferguson clinches up against the cage.

Polen's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Ferguson with a lazy takedown attempt
letting Polen counter with a right hand.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Anthony Ferguson. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Ferguson throws a half hearted mid kick.
Polen shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Ferguson sprawls well. Ferguson wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Polen gets slowly back to his feet.
Polen shoots for a double leg takedown but Ferguson sprawls well. He's pushed Polen's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
Ferguson lifts his leg as if looking to counter with a high kick.
Polen takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Polen tries to clinch up.
Polen avoids the head kick by Ferguson.
Ferguson shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Polen as he jumps to the side.
Ferguson tries to clinch but Polen is having none of it.
Polen fails to land the takedown.
Ferguson fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
A clash of legs there as Polen blocks the low kick.

Ferguson drives through with a takedown into guard.

The fighters are working up against the cage. Polen manages to wriggle his way back to his feet, so the fighters are now clinched against the cage.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Polen looking for a takedown.
Ferguson wants a takedown but no success here.
Come on Polen - let's have some action - none of this stalling nonsense.
The two fighters are working to gain dominance in the clinch.
Polen wants to take the fight to the mat but Ferguson manages to get underhooks and keep the fight in the clinch.
Ferguson misses with a punch to the body.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Ferguson tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. Polen smiles and moves away.
Polen fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Ferguson avoids it really well and circles away.

And that's the end of the fight!
I would just about give that final round to Nikica Polen.
I've got Polen winning every round here. Surely the decision will go his way and he'll pick up a well deserved decision victory. 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 Robert Douchet scores the fight for Nikica Polen!
Judge Yves DeLean scores the fight for Nikica Polen!
Judge Dillan Fox scores the fight for Nikica Polen!

Nikica Polen wins by unanimous decision!
Nikica Polen bigged himself up after the win. The crowd seemed to love it.