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TWGC 36 (205lbs, D1): Finals - Round 1 PBP Commentary |
This TWGC bout is 1 fifteen minute round in the light heavyweight division. Introducing today's competitors. In the red corner, competing out of St Petersburg, with a TWGC record of 7 wins and 9 losses; Eliott Leighton! And in the blue corner, fighting out of Helsinki, with a TWGC record of 8 wins and 1 losses; Bo Nickal!
The judges for this bout are Franklyn Lucas, David Schapiro and Anthony Taglia.
Let's get this grappling contest under way! Who will be victorious?
Nickal scores a trip takedown into side control. Nice. Score +4 for clean takedown past guard: Leighton (0) vs (4) Nickal
Nickal has knee on belly and moves into mount. Score +2 for reaching mount: Leighton (0) vs (6) Nickal
Leighton looking to escape from mount but he's given up his back! Score +3 for taking back: Leighton (0) vs (9) Nickal
Nickal has the hooks in. Leighton is trying to push off one leg but he has to do so cautiously to avoid being submitted.
We've been hearing good reports from Leighton's training camp. Apparently he has been rolling around with some good quality BJJ practitioners and has been sharpening his skills. Let's see if that has an impact on the fight today.
Nickal biding his time, looking for the opening.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Leighton tries to break free.
That's one minute gone in the round.
Leighton is working hard here to advance position.
Leighton manages to reverse the position and now he's in Nickal's guard. Nice work there by Leighton.
Score +2 for sweep to guard / half guard: Leighton (2) vs (9) Nickal
Leighton drops back for a leg but he's not going to get it - he lets go and Nickal dives on top into guard. Score +2 for sweep to guard / half guard: Leighton (2) vs (11) Nickal
Leighton looking for subs off his back but Nickal has passed one foot through into half guard.
Nickal controlling the action here.
That's two minutes gone in the round.
Nickal wants to lay and pray for a moment but Leighton keeps working.
We could do with one of the fighters taking the initiative a bit more on the ground - they're both waiting to capitalize on a mistake.
Nickal looking to pass the half guard. Not this time.
That's three minutes gone in the round.
Leighton is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Nickal pulls his head out easily.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Nickal wants to pass to mount but Leighton is defending the position.
Nickal perhaps working for something from half guard, or maybe not. It looks like he's just sitting there.
That's four minutes gone in the round.
Nickal wants to take a breather but Leighton is having none of it.
Leighton looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.
Nickal is pressing down on Leighton's thigh, looking to free his foot. Leighton is holding on for now.
Leighton actively working from the bottom here.
Leighton looking for subs from the bottom but Nickal mounts him! Score +3 for passing guard: Leighton (2) vs (14) Nickal
That's five minutes gone in the round.
Nickal looking to control but Leighton is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.
Leighton is looking to improve his position but Nickal isn't that keen on the idea.
Nickal takes his opponent's back. Perhaps a chance to lock up a rear naked choke here.
Score +3 for taking back: Leighton (2) vs (17) Nickal
Leighton looking very determined here, making life difficult for Nickal.
That's six minutes gone in the round.
Nickal has the hooks sunk in and you can see the will to fight slowly draining out of Leighton's body.
Let's hope that Nickal 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.
Nickal controlling well, preventing Leighton from escaping the position.
That's seven minutes gone in the round.
Nickal is remaining active here, looking for the choke. The more discerning members of the crowd will appreciate his efforts.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Leighton rolls, trying to escape but Nickal keeps control of the position.
Nickal looking to break Leighton's wrist control so he can sink in the choke. Leighton remaining controlled and patient though - he really has to keep calm otherwise Nickal will wrap this one up with the rear naked choke!
Leighton tries to break free.
Leighton is keeping busy.
Leighton defends a prolonged rear naked choke attempt and turns nicely into his opponent's guard. Score +2 for sweep to guard / half guard: Leighton (4) vs (17) Nickal
That's eight minutes gone in the round.
Leighton is holding a leg here, probably looking for an ankle lock - he drops back and goes for it! Nickal is in trouble! Is it all over??? No! Nickal has escaped and now he's on top! Score +2 for sweep to guard / half guard: Leighton (4) vs (19) Nickal
Leighton has his foot on Nickal's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Nickal works his way back into a safe position though.
Nickal engaging in some classic timewasting tactics.
Leighton will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.
That's nine minutes gone in the round.
Leighton has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Nickal can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
Nickal content to stall in guard here.
It looks like Nickal 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've been informed that Nickal has been working hard on his conditioning in the buildup to the fight.
That's ten minutes gone in the round.
Leighton keeping moving, preventing Nickal from controlling successfully.
Leighton throws his legs up looking to secure a triangle. Oh, that looks pretty tight, I gotta say! Nickal escapes and throws Leighton's legs to the side, diving into side control! Score +3 for passing guard: Leighton (4) vs (22) Nickal
Nickal wants to lay and pray for a moment but Leighton keeps working.
That's eleven minutes gone in the round.
Leighton is being controlled here.
Leighton is not content to let Nickal control the position.
Leighton tries to work a leg under to get back to half guard but Nickal wriggles his own leg back out and remains in side control.
Nickal is looking to take a break and control but Leighton is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
That's twelve minutes gone in the round.
Nickal looking to control but instead Leighton has slipped a leg in, to regain half guard.
Nickal trying to mount his opponent but Leighton defends it.
Leighton is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Nickal pulls his head out easily.
That's thirteen minutes gone in the round.
Nickal tries to pass to full mount but Leighton defends it.
Nickal frees up his trapped foot and advances to mount. Score +3 for passing guard: Leighton (4) vs (25) Nickal
Nickal sitting in mount, just looking to control for the moment.
Nickal wants to take Leighton's back but he can't do it this time.
That's fourteen minutes gone in the round.
Nickal can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as Leighton is looking to escape.
Leighton keeping his composure momentarily, calmly looking to get back to half guard.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Nickal with some aggressive grappling here, looking for the finish.
And that's the end of the fight!
Nickal wins on points by 25 to 4.
A very excited looking Bo Nickal 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. |
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