PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Kenneth Smith (ranked 827 p4p, 332 weight class) and Chip Nickel (ranked 123 p4p, 49 weight class). Smith's entrance music is Creep. A fine choice. Nickel has chosen TISM - Greg the Stop Sign as his entrance music, which hasn't gone down very well with the crowd. Both these guys have really solid chins. Will we see a standup war or will they both decide that a knockout is unlikely and try to win the fight elsewhere?

Smith
vs
Nickel

180 cm
24
188
8 - 1 - 0

189 cm
26
186
12 - 6 - 0

Abu Dhabi Champ
World class boxer
Insanely flexible

Good wrestler
World class MT
Granite chin

Voodoo Nutrition
Conviction

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 8 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Kenneth Smith!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 12 - 6 - 0, fighting out of New York, Chip Nickel!
The judges for this bout are Jorge Garcia, David Schapiro and Joseph Jones.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Nickel takes a thudding leg kick, right into the meat of the thigh.
Nickel connects nicely with a jab. Noted by the judges no doubt.
That kick from Smith tenderised Nickel's leg. Nickel is trying to keep his angry face on.
Nickel with a nice cross.

It looks like Kenneth Smith has been cut.
Nickel uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Smith.
Smith throws a push kick but Nickel slaps the foot to one side.
Smith dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
Nickel keeping at a good range here, avoiding a leg kick.
Nickel misses with an uppercut.
A counter left hand to the body from Smith misses its target.
Smith seems to be moving with more speed, compared to his last bout. He must have been working on that in the gym.
Good work by Nickel as he checks the leg kick.
Nickel has been spending a lot of time sparring his boxing in the run up to the fight, trying to sharpen up those hands and look for a knockout.
Nickel misses with a looping right.
Nickel misses with an uppercut. Smith saw that one coming.
Smith uses good footwork to get in and out, landing a nice hook.
Smith fakes low and throws an overhand right that catches Nickel on the side of the head.
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!
Smith throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Smith throws a low kick but Nickel avoids it.
Smith lands a leg kick and bounces back out of range.
Smith throws a couple of head shots and lands with the final one - a decent hook, which struck Nickel on the side of the head.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Smith throws a hook but Nickel blocks it.
Smith throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
Nickel swings away with a counter right hand but no contact made.
Smith misses with a straight right.
Nickel scores with a head kick.
Smith lands a leg kick. The shin dug right into the meat of the thigh.
Nickel throws a left and a right that both miss
and Smith connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Nickel fakes and then throws a beautiful body shot. Smith looks a bit winded and takes a step backwards to take a breath.
Smith lands a really nice looking cross but Nickel seems unphased.
Nickel on the wrong end of a vicious looking body shot.
Smith scores with a slapping inside leg kick.

Smith darts in and clinches Nickel up against the cage.
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!
Smith misses with the head strike.

Nickel breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Smith works the jab nicely.
Nickel scores with a jab to the body.
Smith throws an off balance right hand
and Nickel counters with a shot to the ribs. That looked like it hurt.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Smith walks forward and throws out a flicking leg kick. Nickel checks it nicely though, as he moves to the side.
Nickel thinks about the counter body kick.
Smith throws an ugly left hook that misses
and Nickel counters with a stiff right hand.
Nickel lands with a kick to the ribs.
Smith is breathing heavily.
Smith misses with a right hand
and Nickel counters with a lovely shot to the body.
Nickel throws a hook but Smith avoids it easily.
Nickel fakes a jab and then connects with a hook.
Smith throws a looping overhand right but Nickel ducks down to avoid it.
Kenneth Smith seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Nickel swings for the body but Smith moves out of range.
Nickel tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Smith moves out of range as Nickel throws a body kick.
Nickel moves his head to the side to avoid a jab but walks straight into a cross.
Smith swings widly with a right hand
and Smith takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.

Smith rushes Nickel and presses him up against the cage.
Smith fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Nickel blocks a body shot from Smith.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
A short uppercut from Nickel.
Smith is working hard here but doesn't seem to be able to control effectively, up against the cage.
Smith misses with some punches.

Nickel breaks the clinch.
Smith throws a poor cross that misses
and Smith takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
A punch lands to the side of Smith 's head but he takes it in his stride.
Nickel swinging wildly here.
Smith throws an ugly left hook that misses
and Nickel counters with a straight right hand.

Smith gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.

Smith breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
A good leg kick by Smith.
Nickel throws a half hearted mid kick.
A good leg kick by Smith.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Nice uppercut there from Smith.
Nickel throws a right high kick that is partially blocked by Smith.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Smith thows a left - swing and a miss!
Nickel misses with a hook.
Smith throws a body kick but he was well out of range there.
Nickel checks a leg kick.
Smith keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Nickel.
Nickel misses with a body shot.
Smith rushes in with a sloppy looking punch
and Nickel counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
Smith paws at his opponent with the jab and then lunges in with a straight, right on the button.
Smith takes a shot to the nose. Hopefully that hasn't broken it.
Smith lunges at Nickel with a hook that half lands and is half blocked by Nickel's hand.
Nickel lands with an uppercut that bounces Smith off the cage and back into range.

Smith is rocked!
The crowd applaud the fighters' efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Nickel throws a body kick but he was well out of range there.
Oh Smith is still all over the place! His legs are completely gone! Will he be able to recover?!!
Smith misses with a straight right.
Smith seems to have got his legs back now.
Nickel throws the left hand but Smith avoids the punch easily.
Smith ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Nickel moves away.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Chip Nickel will probably get the nod.
The cut man is working on Kenneth Smith's cut.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

Nickel drops his hands and takes a jab to the jaw for his troubles.
Nickel has used his reach advantage pretty well so far tonight.
Nickel misses the jab.
Smith misses with a body kick.
Nickel bobbing and weaving, closes the distance and lands a hook to the side of Smith's head.
Nickel ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Smith moves away.
A bone on bone clash there as Nickel blocks the leg kick.
Smith throws a leg kick

and Nickel counters with a crisp right hand that drops Smith! Nickel lets Smith back up to his feet, looking for a finish!
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Nickel looks to land a body kick but Smith moved away.

Smith has Nickel up against the cage in a clinch.

Nickel breaks from the clinch.

Nickel lands a big head kick that sends Smith tumbling to the mat! Nickel takes a step backwards and waves Smith back to his feet - he wants the finish!

Smith clinches with his opponent.
Nickel working hard to break the clinch.
A short right hand to the side of the head by Smith.
Smith has Nickel pressed against the cage, preventing Nickel from circling away and getting back to striking at range.
Nickel lands a hook that snaps the head of Smith backwards.

That's one minute gone in the round.
A shot in the inside from Smith.
Nickel wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.
Smith lands a shoulder strike.
Smith lands a nice uppercut.
Nickel is trying to push Smith away but Smith has him pressed against the cage, so he's going nowhere.
Nickel misses with a hook to the ribs.
Nickel wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.
A quick uppercut on the inside from Smith.
Smith lands a right hand.

Nickel breaks the clinch.
Nickel tries to land a front kick but Smith steps back. That was a bit too telegraphed.
Smith is looking to counter with a shot to the body.
Nice uppercut there from Nickel.
Smith connects with a leg kick. He turned his hip over nicely there.
Smith swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
Nickel looks to throw the jab but Smith is out of range.
Smith listening to his corner there, landing a nice uppercut.
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!
Smith lands a vicious shot with the stealth of a sniper and the strength of a viper. Are vipers that strong? I can think of lots of things that are stronger than a viper - not many rhyme with sniper though.
Nickel lands a body shot.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A nice leg kick lands there from Smith.
Nickel tries to move into range but Smith moves to the side and lands with a nice right hand.
Nickel bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
Smith is looking to slow Nickel down with leg kicks.
Smith scores with a nice strike.
Smith feints and then cracks Nickel's leading leg with a nice low kick. He's obviously looking to slow Nickel down.
A clash of legs there as Nickel blocks the low kick.
Smith is looking to clinch but Nickel is avoiding it.
Nickel takes one to the chin there.
Smith does a little shimmy and throws a leg kick. The leg kick missed by a considerable margin though, making him look a little bit silly for doing the shimmy.
Smith misses with an uppercut
and Nickel counters with a nice jab to the body that keeps Smith thinking.
Smith with a nice looking leg kick. You could hear that one land in a back row.
Smith avoids the head kick by Nickel.
A little feinted left hand from Smith on the counter but he doesn't commit to it.
Smith lands with a right hand.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Smith misses with a body shot.
Smith works Nickel's body with a nice hook.
Smith showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Nickel.

Smith gets in close and instigates a clinch.
Kenneth Smith has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Nickel's leg has a nasty welt from taking a succession of leg kicks. That must be slowing him down.

Nickel's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Nickel moving in and out of range nicely, whilst landing the scoring shot.
Smith misses with a kick to the body.
Nickel misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Nickel doesn't react quick enough there as he takes a shot to the body.
Nickel has his hands up protecting his head but a hook from Smith finds it's way round the side to connect with Nickel's head.
Nice defenses there by Nickel.
Nickel throws a head kick but Smith moves out of range.
Smith moves out of range as Nickel strikes.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Smith defending well as Nickel loads up on a big left hand.
Smith tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Nickel paws at him with a jab and circles away.

Smith moves into range and clinches up with Nickel.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Nickel misses with a hook to the ribs.
Smith goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Smith working aggressively here.
Smith prevents Nickel from breaking the clinch.
Nickel lands a body shot.

Nickel's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Decent striking displayed by Smith there.
Smith throws a leg kick that is checked
and Nickel counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
Nickel misses with a hook. Smith ducked under it nicely.
Smith swung with a counter punch to the body but it didn't connect.
The crowd applaud the fighters' efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Nickel ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Smith moves away.
Smith stooping low to avoid any incoming strikes and then lunges in with an uppercut come cross that lands flush.
Nickel misses with a looping right.
Smith moves away from the strike by Nickel.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Chip Nickel will probably get the nod - 10:9.
The cut man is working on Kenneth Smith'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!

Jab, jab by Smith - just one landing.
Nickel misses with a right hand
and Nickel takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
Smith throws a low kick but it's checked well by Nickel.
Smith throws an ugly left hook that misses
and Nickel counters with a left to the body.

Smith pushes Nickel up against the cage in a clinch.
Smith throws a hook to the body. More of an arm punch but it's all scoring with the judges.
A shot in the inside from Nickel.

Nickel breaks from the clinch.
Nickel throws a body punch but Smith moves out of range.
Nickel moves forwards but Smith connects with a nice, crisp jab.
Nickel checks a leg kick.
As Smith backs off Nickel throws a huge counter combo but Smith manages to avoid it all.
Nickel buckles his opponent's knee momentarily with a nice leg kick.
Smith throws a leg kick
and Nickel makes him pay by landing a nice hook to the body before moving out of range.
Chip Nickel seems to be getting the better of the standup.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Nickel throws the left hand but Smith avoids the punch easily.
That kick from Smith tenderised Nickel's leg. Nickel is trying to keep his angry face on.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Smith thows a leg kick but Nickel checks it
and Nickel cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Smith moves away from the strike by Nickel.
Nickel throws a push kick but Smith slaps the foot to one side.
It looked like Smith wanted to counter with a hook but didn't fully commit.
Nickel has a pretty nasty looking mouse under his right eye.
Nickel misses with a left hand
and Smith counters nicely by changing levels and landing a hook to the body.
Nickel pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Nickel throws a sloppy head kick and Smith moves out of range easily.
Smith just misses with a punch to the body.
Smith lands a head shot.
Nickel walks into a straight right hand from Smith.
Smith scores with a crisp jab that stopped Nickel in his tracks.
Smith misses with a right hand
and Nickel counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
Smith connects with a lovely right hand, straight down the pipe.
Smith darts in trying to clinch
and Nickel counters with a stiff right hand.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Nickel misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Smith.
Smith lands a vicious shot with the stealth of a sniper and the strength of a viper. Are vipers that strong? I can think of lots of things that are stronger than a viper - not many rhyme with sniper though.

Smith closes the distance and clinches.

Nickel breaks the clinch.
Nickel misses with an uppercut.
Smith misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Nickel.
Smith lands a leg kick. The shin dug right into the meat of the thigh.
Smith connects with an inside leg kick.
Nickel is looking to score with low kicks.
Smith stooping low to avoid any incoming strikes and then lunges in with an uppercut come cross that lands flush.
Nickel throws a head kick that half lands.
Smith throws a shot to the body.
A jab from Smith finds it's way through Nickel's defenses.
Chip Nickel is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Smith throws a jab but it's blocked by Nickel.
Nickel throws a counter combo.
Smith throws a lazy uppercut
and Smith takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
Nickel moves out of range of the body kick from Smith.
Nickel throws a big counter head kick but Smith avoids it with no problem.
Nickel dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
Nickel moves away from the strike by Smith.
Nickel connects with a hook to the side of his opponent's head.
Nickel ducks under a wild hook from Smith.
Nickel moves out of range of the body kick.
Smith takes a punch right to his stomach. That took the wind out of him momentarily.
Smith motions for Nickel to come forward. Smith throws a leg kick but it misses it's target.
Smith cracks Nickel with a good shot that sees him stumbling back into the cage.

Smith closes the distance and clinches.

Nickel breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Smith misses with an uppercut. Nickel saw that one coming.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A good leg kick by Smith.
Nickel throws a two punch combo that lands nicely.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
A telegraphed right hand from Nickel misses the target.
Nickel defending well as Smith loads up on a big left hand.
It seemed like Nickel was going to counter with the hook but didn't fully commit to it.
Smith lands a nice hook to Nickel's body. Nickel takes it in his stride and looks to land his own strikes.
Nickel with a hook.
Smith throws a shot from downtown. Nickel moves away and avoids it.
Nickel steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Smith.
A slow jab from Smith misses its intended target.
Nickel lands with a head kick! That's gotta hurt.
Nickel slips under a jab.
The crowd applaud the fighters' efforts here as the round comes to an end.
A big left from Smith misses.
A little jabbing left from Nickel on the counter but it doesn't find it's target.
Smith throws a leg kick
and Nickel counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.

And that's the end of the fight!
That was a close round. You could make an argument for either fighter but I would give it to Kenneth Smith.
I think Nickel 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 Jorge Garcia scores the fight 28:29
Judge David Schapiro scores the fight 28:29
Judge Joseph Jones scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Chip Nickel!
A very excited looking Chip Nickel made sure he remembered to thank all the fans both in the arena and on the internet. He said all the coolest people spend all day on MMA websites, which got a big reaction.