PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Manus Murphy (ranked 1034 p4p, 1258 weight class) and Casimiro Nicoletta (ranked 153 p4p, 176 weight class). Nicoletta is bobbing his head along to his entrance song: For Once In My Life. Casimiro Nicoletta is staring across the cage at his opponent, tweaking his nipples.

Murphy
vs
Nicoletta

195 cm
20
207
6 - 1 - 0

190 cm
20
210
6 - 1 - 0

Good wrestling
Counter fighter
Cardio machine

Good wrestler
Lethal high kicks
Good gas tank

Vegan Gains
Ma Balls Is Hot Clothing

Urban Fighter
Shadow Warrior Nutrition

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 5 rounds, for the light heavyweight championship of the world!
Introducing the champion to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 6 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Manus Murphy!
And introducing the challenger to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 6 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Casimiro Nicoletta!
The judges for this bout are Illya Tyunina, Aleksandr Martynov and Valeri Chadov.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Murphy fails with an attempt to clinch.
Nicoletta keeps the fight on the outside.
Nicoletta throws a hook but Murphy avoids it easily.
Murphy tries to close the distance and clinch up but Nicoletta swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Nicoletta throws out a loose jab but Murphy uses good head movement to avoid it.
Nicoletta swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
Murphy wants to clinch up but Nicoletta keeps it at a distance.

Murphy clinches.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

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

Murphy working for a triangle but Nicoletta defends it easily.
Murphy seems to have improved his submission grappling technique since last time we saw him. Let's see if he can pull off a submission.

Murphy had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Nicoletta defends it easily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Nicoletta stopping the sweep attempt from Murphy.
Nicoletta's corner is telling him to maintain position.
Nicoletta's corner are shouting for him to control the position and he seems happy to oblige.
Murphy not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Nicoletta told us pre-fight that he has been working on his escapes in training. Let's see if he can call on some of his new skills to get back to his feet.

Murphy is working an open guard so Nicoletta takes the opportunity to get back to his feet.
Nicoletta circles away from the clinch attempt.

Murphy moves into the clinch.

Nicoletta breaks the clinch.

Murphy pushes Nicoletta up against the cage in a clinch.
Murphy tries to pull guard but Nicoletta won't allow it.
Nicoletta has a couple of punches blocked by Murphy.
Nicoletta lands with a right to the head.

Murphy successfully pulls guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Murphy looking to control.
Murphy managing to control the position.
Nicoletta really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Murphy. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.
Nicoletta wants to control from the top but Murphy keeps moving.
Nicoletta wants to pass the guard but Murphy is keeping the position.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Nicoletta postures up.
Murphy looking to hit a scissor sweep but Nicoletta is one step ahead there.

Nicoletta stands up from Murphy's guard - Nicoletta perhaps looking for a knockout.
Nicoletta misses the shot to the body.
Murphy wants to clinch.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Murphy tries to grapple but his opponent circles
and Nicoletta counters with a shot to the ribs. That looked like it hurt.
Nicoletta circles away from the clinch attempt
enabling Nicoletta to counter with a crisp jab.
Nicoletta lands with a nice low kick. That'll leave a bruise.

Murphy has Nicoletta up against the cage in a clinch.
Murphy tries to pull guard but Nicoletta forces him back to his feet, against the cage.

Murphy has managed to pull guard. Let's see whether he can work an aggressive guard. It will also be interesting to see what tactics Nicoletta uses from the top position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Nicoletta wants to pass the guard but Murphy is keeping the position.
Nicoletta postures up.
Nicoletta 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.

Murphy has his foot on Nicoletta's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Nicoletta works his way back into a safe position though.
Nicoletta must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.
Nicoletta trying to control but Murphy is working from the bottom.
Murphy is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Nicoletta has decided he wants to stand but the closed guard of Murphy is proving hard to escape from.
Nicoletta controlling from the top position.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Murphy working a defensive guard here.
Murphy is really struggling to control Nicoletta but he's trying to hold on to the position.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Casimiro Nicoletta will probably get the nod.
That's time! Murphy's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight.

Murphy tries to clinch
enabling Nicoletta to counter with a crisp jab.
Nice uppercut there from Nicoletta.
Nicoletta lands an uppercut out of nowhere! Murphy falls backwards - clearly groggy! Nicoletta dives in and finishes the fight with more strikes for a TKO finish!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 0:17 of round 2, we have a winner by way of TKO (Strikes). Casimiro Nicoletta!
Casimiro Nicoletta is the new light heavyweight champion!
An out of breath Casimiro Nicoletta thanked his loyal fans in his post fight interview, giving them credit for his success over the course of his career.
Manus Murphy was interviewed post fight and said 'WTF??? How did that happen?'.