PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Nico DiAngelo (ranked 1713 p4p, 1601 weight class) and Kyle Seehaver (ranked 208 p4p, 200 weight class). Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

DiAngelo
vs
Seehaver

179 cm
24
165
6 - 3 - 0

183 cm
43
163
17 - 24 - 1

BJJ Brown Belt
Counter fighter
Experienced

Good wrestler
Counter fighter
Knockout power

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 6 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Nico DiAngelo!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 17 - 24 - 1, fighting out of London, Kyle Seehaver!
The judges for this bout are Radbod Blank, Paul Aken and Saam Ante.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
DiAngelo fails with a takedown attempt.
Seehaver's coach down at JAG Battle Gym was telling us pre-fight that they have been working on Seehaver's balance. Obviously they view that as a key factor in the outcome of this fight.
DiAngelo throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Seehaver's waist but Seehaver gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing DiAngelo off to one side.
DiAngelo misses with a takedown attempt

and Seehaver counters with a nice double leg into guard.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Nico DiAngelo. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Seehaver stays in close to DiAngelo's body and controls the position.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

DiAngelo working for a triangle but Seehaver defends it easily.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
DiAngelo looking to sweep here. No luck so far.

DiAngelo has his foot on Seehaver's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Seehaver works his way back into a safe position though.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Seehaver stays in close to DiAngelo's body and controls the position.

DiAngelo had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Seehaver defends it easily.

DiAngelo throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
Seehaver is intent on slowing down the pace of the fight, simply looking to control.
Seehaver landing with the ground and pound.
Seehaver showing good wrestling skills to control the position.
DiAngelo looking to sweep here. No luck so far.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are getting on the fighters' backs, as the pace has dropped off in the last minute or so.

DiAngelo working for a triangle but Seehaver defends it easily.
Seehaver engaging in some classic timewasting tactics.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
DiAngelo looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
The fighters are starting to get a bit slippery now, which will make submissions a bit more difficult.
Seehaver is frustrating his opponent with some stalling tactics from top position.
The referee is asking the fighters to pick up the pace.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
DiAngelo looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.

Seehaver shoots in and gets a takedown into DiAngelo's guard.

DiAngelo working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Seehaver doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Seehaver manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.
DiAngelo looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Seehaver wants to get up but he can't break DiAngelo's closed guard. He needs to be careful trying to break the legs open, as he's open to submissions here.

DiAngelo working for a triangle but Seehaver defends it easily.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Seehaver avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
Seehaver sitting in guard, not really doing much.

Seehaver avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
Seehaver controls from within his opponent's guard.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Seehaver stopping the sweep attempt from DiAngelo.
DiAngelo can't do much from the bottom at the moment, as Seehaver controls the pace.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Kyle Seehaver dominated that round.
That's time! Back to the action!

DiAngelo fails to land the takedown.
Seehaver closes this distance looking for a takedown but DiAngelo circles away.
Seehaver throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around DiAngelo's waist but DiAngelo gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Seehaver off to one side.
Seehaver with a lazy takedown attempt
and DiAngelo counters with a left to the body.
Nico DiAngelo has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Kyle Seehaver.
DiAngelo closes the distance and clinches up with Seehaver, looking for a takedown. DiAngelo pushes Seehaver against the cage but Seehaver circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
And Seehaver tries to counter it with a takedown but DiAngelo pushes his down on his head and steps out.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Seehaver is defended easily by DiAngelo.
DiAngelo was looking to counter that last move with a shot to the body but he didn't commit.

That's one minute gone in the round.
DiAngelo misses with a takedown attempt - Seehaver sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
DiAngelo shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Seehaver but Seehaver pushes him off and we're back to square one.
DiAngelo fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
No luck for Seehaver with that takedown attempt.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Neither fighter has done anything of merit for a good minute or two here and the crowd are not happy about it.

DiAngelo is looking for a takedown here. He's shot in and has managed to get it, finishing up in Seehaver's half guard.

DiAngelo is trying to work for a kimura. This could be trouble! No, Seehaver has managed to free his arm - good work.

DiAngelo is looking for an arm triangle, whilst trying to pass to side control. Seehaver doesn't seem that keen to cooperate though. No luck this time DiAngelo.
DiAngelo sitting and controlling from the half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

DiAngelo is actively looking for submissions here but good counter grappling here from Seehaver as he works his way to full guard.
Seehaver keeping moving, preventing DiAngelo from controlling successfully.
DiAngelo content to strike from guard, landing some decent shots.
Seehaver wants to control here, rather than go for any submissions from the bottom. At least for now.
DiAngelo postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
DiAngelo missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
DiAngelo is looking to advance position but Seehaver has hit a scissor sweep - now he's on top in mount!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
DiAngelo is desperately trying to improve his position but Seehaver has a good base and remains in mount.
DiAngelo gets back to half guard.
Seehaver controlling the action here.
DiAngelo is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
DiAngelo is working hard here to advance position.
Kyle Seehaver has got the better of the ground game so far.
Seehaver wants to pass the guard but DiAngelo is defending well.
DiAngelo is looking for a sweep. Seehaver is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!

Seehaver looking for a kimura but he'll have to free his other leg if he wants to finish that. Perhaps he's just using it as a distraction technique.

Seehaver is looking for a kimura. It's going to be difficult to finish that from half guard though and DiAngelo defends it well.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Nico DiAngelo dominated that second round.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action! This is the final round!

Seehaver shoots in for a takedown but DiAngelo shows good takedown defense.
Seehaver with a poor takedown
and DiAngelo counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Seehaver.
Nico DiAngelo has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Kyle Seehaver.
DiAngelo tries for a takedown but Seehaver sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.

Seehaver shoots in looking for a single leg takedown. DiAngelo is trying to defend but Seehaver finishes it well and ends up in half guard. Let's see if he can advance position further.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
DiAngelo slips a foot under and gets full guard. Nice work.

Seehaver avoids a guillotine attempt easily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Seehaver is intent on slowing down the pace of the fight, simply looking to control.
DiAngelo looking to sweep here. No luck so far.

DiAngelo has his foot on Seehaver's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Seehaver works his way back into a safe position though.

DiAngelo looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Seehaver controlling from the guard. I say controlling but really, he's stalling.

DiAngelo is looking for a triangle here but Seehaver uses the submission attempt to pass into side control.

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.
DiAngelo is trying to improve his position.

Seehaver tries for an arm triangle. That looks pretty tight to me. Is this one over!?! Possibly, maybe, no Seehaver has let go of the choke. Obviously it wasn't as tight as we thought!
DiAngelo is being controlled here.
DiAngelo tries to buck Seehaver off but Seehaver is having none of it.
Seehaver is moving around in side control but his primary objective seems to be to maintain the position.
DiAngelo is trying to get back to half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Seehaver is staying tight to DiAngelo's torso, preventing him from escaping.
Seehaver's corner are shouting for him to control the position and he seems happy to oblige.
DiAngelo is trying to get back to half guard.
Seehaver controlling the position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
There's not a lot going on here and the crowd are letting the fighters know they're not willing to tolerate a lack of action.
DiAngelo is trying to get back to half guard.
Seehaver slows the pace down.
DiAngelo tries to get back to half guard but can't.
Seehaver controls the position from side control.
DiAngelo prevents Seehaver from improving position.
DiAngelo tries to improve position but can't.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Seehaver is looking to take a break and control but DiAngelo is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
DiAngelo regains half guard.

And that's the end of the fight!
Kyle Seehaver comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Seehaver 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 Radbod Blank scores the fight 28:29
Judge Paul Aken scores the fight 28:29
Judge Saam Ante scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Kyle Seehaver!