PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Rick Swing (ranked 5019 p4p, 2926 weight class) and Neil Nucombe (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Man, I cannot wait for this one!

Swing
vs
Nucombe

172 cm
25
161
1 - 1 - 0

166 cm
41
166
26 - 14 - 0

Good wrestling
Brawler
Cuts easily

Good wrestler
Excellent MT
Powerful

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the lightweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 1 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Rick Swing!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 26 - 14 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Neil Nucombe!
The judges for this bout are Arvi Lind, Tarja Halkonen and Anni Minnemäki.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Nucombe gets caught napping as Swing dives in and scores a takedown. Nucombe manages to retain guard.
Nucombe looks really tired already! That doesn't bode well for a good, competitive fight!
Nucombe keeping moving, preventing Swing from controlling successfully.
Nucombe utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Swing has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.
Swing slows down the pace of the fight for a moment. He'll need to remain active if he doesn't want to see the fight stood back up.
Swing trying to control but Nucombe is working from the bottom.
Swing is frustrating his opponent with some stalling tactics from top position.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Swing wants to get up but he can't break Nucombe's closed guard. He needs to be careful trying to break the legs open, as he's open to submissions here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Swing is looking to work some ground and pound but Nucombe has wrist control.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.
Swing fails with an attempt to clinch.
Swing fails with an attempt to clinch.

Swing scores a trip takedown into side control. Nice.
Swing tries to get to his feet but he's trapped momentarily.
Swing is pausing for a moment. What's he doing? It looks like he's clearing his nose. Oh dude! He's shot a load of snot all down Nucombe's shoulder. That is not cool.
Swing trying to control the action but Nucombe is working from the bottom.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Swing wants to stand but Nucombe has him controlled and pulls him back into his guard.
A real slowdown in the pace of the fight for a moment, as Nucombe holds on and takes a little breather.
Nucombe is trying to control the position from the bottom.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Swing accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
We've had a lack of effective grappling in the last minute or so, which could well see a referee standup.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Swing passes Nucombe's left leg - he's now in half guard.

Swing is trying a forearm choke… I don't think that's going to do much at this level of the game.
Swing trying to control from Nucombe's half guard. Nucombe has other ideas though and has regained full 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.
Swing trying to control but Nucombe is working from the bottom.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Swing tries for a takedown but Nucombe sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Nucombe slips under a jab.
Swing shoots in for a takedown but Nucombe shows good takedown defense.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Rick Swing dominated that round.
That's time! Back to the action!

Nucombe swats away the attempt to clinch by Swing.
Swing sets himself, and Nucombe steps forward looking for the clinch! Swing avoids it this time.
Swing is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Swing shoots in but Nucombe avoids the takedown attempt easily.
Nucombe wants to counter the offense by Swing and move into the clinch position.
Swing is looking to clinch.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Nucombe clobbers Swing with an overhand right that has the crowd gasping. That made a horrendous noise.
Nucombe ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Swing moves away.
Swing throws a body punch but Nucombe moves out of range.
Nucombe is breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Swing is trying hard to land a takedown here. Nucombe sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.
Neil Nucombe is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Swing tries a head kick but it misses.
Swing tries to clinch there but Nucombe circles away.
Nucombe avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
Nucombe avoids the head kick by Swing.
Nucombe tries to counter with a clinch but Swing shakes him off and moves away.
Nucombe dips to his left and cracks Swing with an uppercut!
Nice takedown defense from Nucombe. No joy for Swing on that attempt.
Swing looks to be in better condition than last time we saw him fight. Obviously he's been working hard on his cardio.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Rick Swing. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Swing misses with a jab, cross combination.
Swing goes for a spinning back kick but it misses.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Swing doesn't react quick enough there as he takes a shot to the body.
Nucombe lands with a shot to the body.
Nucombe connects with a single shot there.
Nucombe fakes a head shot and lands one to the body.
Nucombe slaps away a takedown attempt from Swing, before circling back to the center of the mat.
Swing shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Nucombe wants to counter the offense by Swing and move into the clinch position.
Neil Nucombe seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Swing gets his head snapped back by a nice shot there.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Swing fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
Rick Swing seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Swing doesn't succeed with the takedown

and Nucombe counters by moving into the clinch.
Nucombe scores with a knee to the head.

It looks like Rick Swing has been cut.
A short right hand to the side of the head by Nucombe.
Nucombe putting his Muay Thai to good use. He has Swing in a tight clinch and is doing some damage with knees to the body.
Knees to the body from Nucombe.
Nucombe makes some space for himself and lands an uppercut.
A nice left hand lands by Nucombe.
Nucombe lands punches inside but they're not really causing much damage.
Nucombe pushes Swing back against the cage and lands a hook to the side of the head.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Nucombe scores with a knee to the head.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Swing is trying to break free.
Swing is trying to pull guard but Nucombe has him pressed against the cage.
Swing takes a shot to the head.
Nucombe lands a right hand that snaps the head of Swing backwards.
Nice body punch from Nucombe - that landed with a thud.
Nucombe lands a short shot on the inside that snaps the head of Swing backwards.
Nucombe scores with a knee to the head.
Swing fails to pull guard.
Swing takes a knee to the side of the body.
Nucombe lands a right hand.
Nucombe lands a knee to the head there! That was nasty!
Nucombe misses with a punch on the inside.
Swing blocking some punches.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Neil Nucombe showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The cut man is working on Rick Swing's cut.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action. This is the final round!

The fighters circling - Nucombe throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
Nucombe keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
Swing fails with a takedown attempt.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Swing tries a head kick but it misses.
Nucombe cracks Swing with an open hand slap.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Swing walks into a straight right hand from Nucombe.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Nucombe digs a good body shot into Swing's ribs.
Nucombe scores with a jab to the body.
Nucombe checks a low kick from Swing.
Swing throws a hook but Nucombe blocks it.
Nucombe tries to counter with a clinch but Swing shakes him off and moves away.
Nucombe defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Swing.
Nucombe tries to counter with a clinch but Swing shakes him off and moves away.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Rick Swing. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Nucombe connects with the punch.
Swing throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Nucombe.
Nucombe has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Nucombe with a body punch. A glancing blow.
Swing throws a lazy head kick

and Nucombe counters by moving into the clinch.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Nucombe softening up his opponent with strikes, against the cage.
Swing's head jolts backwards as he takes an uppercut right on the button!
Nucombe has Swing pressed against the cage, preventing Swing from circling away and getting back to striking at range.
Nucombe lands a left hand that snaps the head of Swing backwards.
Nucombe lands with a quick shot inside that doesn't really do much damage.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Nucombe softening up his opponent with strikes, against the cage.
Nucombe works for underhooks and lands a body shot in the process.
Nucombe throws a hook to the body. More of an arm punch but it's all scoring with the judges.
Swing takes a knee right on the jaw!
A quick uppercut on the inside from Nucombe.
Nucombe makes some space for himself and lands an uppercut.
Swing is trying to pull guard but being pressed up against the cage enables Nucombe to keep the fight standing.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Swing takes a shot to the head.
Nucombe lands a hook to the body. It's hard to tell if that hurt Swing or not.
Nucombe lands a body punch.
Nucombe lands a knee to the body.
Nucombe lands a nice knee to the body.
Nucombe lands a left hand.
Nucombe has a couple of punches blocked by Swing.
Swing trying to land knees to the body.
A shot in the inside from Nucombe.
Swing blocks an uppercut.
Nucombe lands a right uppercut that snaps the head of Swing backwards.
Swing goes for a takedown attempt but Nucombe pushes him away and we're back to fighting at a distance.
Swing looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Nucombe is fending him off so far but Swing persists. Nope, Nucombe circles away and we're back to standing.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Swing walks into a left hand.
Swing closes this distance looking for a takedown but Nucombe circles away.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Nucombe with a hook.
Swing closes the distance and clinches up with Nucombe, looking for a takedown. Swing pushes Nucombe against the cage but Nucombe circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
Nucombe has been working his punching technique in the buildup to the fight and it appears to be paying off.
Nucombe dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
Swing takes a jab right on the kisser.
Swing tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Nucombe paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Nucombe lands a nice shot that snaps Swing's head back.

And that's the end of the fight!
Neil Nucombe comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Nucombe 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 Arvi Lind scores the fight 26:29
Judge Tarja Halkonen scores the fight 26:29
Judge Anni Minnemäki scores the fight 26:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Neil Nucombe!
A relieved looking Neil Nucombe thanked the fans for their support and gave the usual line about them being amazing. They seemed to believe that he actually meant it.