PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Rulon Gardner (ranked 3432 p4p, 3438 weight class) and Kyle Nelson (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Well, the cameraman is lingering on a pretty young lady for a bit too long there. Keep your eyes on the prize buddy or you'll miss the fighter intros!

Gardner
vs
Nelson

190 cm
25
250
1 - 0 - 0

193 cm
25
273
1 - 0 - 0

Decent wrestler
Brawler
Big heart

BJJ Blue Belt
Basic striking
Granite chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Rulon Gardner!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, Kyle Nelson!
The judges for this bout are Konstantin Menshow, Igor Prikhodko and Sergei Dronov.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Nelson moves into the clinch successfully.
Nelson tries to pull guard but Gardner holds him up against the cage and eventually Nelson drops back down to his feet.
Gardner wants a takedown.
Nelson stalling here - the referee won't stand for too much of that.
Nelson prevents a body shot from Gardner.
Gardner has hold of a leg and is looking for a trip takedown. Nelson avoids it nicely though and we remain in the clinch.
Nelson stalls.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Nelson wants a takedown.
Gardner goes for a takedown in the clinch but Nelson prevents it.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Rulon Gardner. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Nelson wants to stall.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Gardner gets through Nelson's defenses to land a nice punch to the side of the head.
Nelson is trying to slow down the pace in the clinch, to catch his breath.
Gardner misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Nelson.
Gardner drops down for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Nelson goes for a body shot but it's blocked.

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.

Gardner turns his back and goes for a hip toss. It's a bit messy but it gets the job done and Gardner manages to end up in side control.
Gardner creates some space and throws a big elbow, but Nelson sees it coming and moves his head just enough to avoid the strike.
Nelson is looking for a sweep.
Gardner wants to control but Nelson is keeping him busy.
Gardner working away.
Nelson tries to get back to half guard but can't.
A bit of a lull in the action. I'm sure it will pick up again soon... even if the ref has to physically pick them up and put them back on their feet.
Nelson managing to avoid any damage from the strikes thrown by Gardner.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
You can see the frustration on Nelson's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.
Gardner throwing strikes but Nelson manages to buck up and roll into a nice reversal - now he's on top in side control!
Gardner prevents Nelson from moving into mount.
Gardner is looking for a sweep.
Nelson working away.

Nelson is trying to get an arm triangle but Gardner is defending well.
Nelson tries to advance to mount but Gardner denies him.
Nelson throwing shots but missing, from side control.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A bit of a lull in the action. I'm sure it will pick up again soon... even if the ref has to physically pick them up and put them back on their feet.
Nelson advances to mount.
Nelson controlling the pace for now.
Gardner holding onto his opponent's waist for dear life, as Nelson tries to land some strikes to get him to release his grip.
Nelson looking to control but Gardner is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Gardner tries to lock up and control but Nelson gives him a forearm to the face and pushes him away.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

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

Nelson shoots in and gets a takedown into Gardner's guard.

Gardner has managed to wall walk up one of the corner posts to get back to his feet. Nelson is pushing him up against the cage, looking to control the position.
Gardner is looking for a takedown.

Gardner breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Nelson tries to clinch but Gardner is having none of it.
Nelson throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Gardner's waist but Gardner gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Nelson off to one side.
Nelson is looking to land body kicks.

Gardner gets a double leg takedown into Nelson's guard.
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!
Nelson looking to control.
Nelson is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.
Gardner is frustrating his opponent with some stalling tactics from top position.
Kyle Nelson has got the better of the ground game so far.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Nelson trying to control the position.
Nelson seems keen to control Gardner's posture.
The referee is asking the fighters to pick up the pace.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Gardner postures up.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Well. There's a bit of a lull in the action here and the crowd are starting to get restless.
Gardner has his head slapped from side to side by a 3 punch combination. That must have hurt him.
Nice uppercut lands for Nelson. That snapped Gardner's head back.
Nelson tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Nelson connects with a nice looking jab.

Gardner gets caught on his heels momentarily as he allows Nelson to score an easy takedown into full guard.
Gardner is avoiding any damage by keeping wrist control.
Nelson trying to control but Gardner is working from the bottom.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Gardner is controlling Nelson's posture.

Gardner working for a triangle but Nelson defends it easily.
Gardner keeping full guard, as Nelson tries to pass.
Gardner knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Nelson on the ground.
Nelson sneaks a leg through and gets to half guard. That was like a knife through butter how easily he passed Gardner's guard.

That's four 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.
Nelson works his way into full mount!
Nelson has been the more effective fighter overall so far.

Nelson is standing up out of mount! Strange tactic there - he must really want this one on the feet!
Gardner takes an uppercut right on the jaw but it doesn't phase him.
Gardner misses with a takedown
and Nelson counters with a low kick, right behind Gardner 's knee.
Kyle Nelson seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

Gardner clinches up with Nelson and pushes him back against the cage.
Nelson taking a breather.
Gardner holding his opponent close, against the cage.
Gardner changes levels and goes for a takedown here. Nelson fights it off and pushes away nicely.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Kyle Nelson showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
That's the end of the interval. I'm sure that seemed a lot quicker than a minute for our two fighters! Back to the action. So, we enter the final round. Let's see if either fighter can bring us a finish, or whether we're going to the judges scorecards.

Gardner on the wrong end of a nice jab.
Nelson tries to close the distance and clinch up but Gardner swats him away and circles back towards the center.

Gardner gets a clinch.
Nelson swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Gardner tries a body shot but Nelson blocks it.
Gardner wants to take the fight to the mat but Nelson manages to get underhooks and keep the fight in the clinch.
A short body shot lands from Gardner as the two fighters clinch.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Gardner is struggling to control the position.
Nelson doesn't land with the attempted body shot.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Nelson prevents the takedown attempt.

Gardner manages to break the clinch.
A punch combination from Nelson misses.
Nelson misses with a series of wild punches.
Gardner tries to counter with a takedown but Nelson is quick to defend against it.

Nelson gets tackled into the cage by Gardner. Gardner maintains the clinch.

Nelson manages to pull guard.
Gardner preventing the sweep.
Nelson is persisting with the attempt to improve his position.
Nelson not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Kyle Nelson is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Gardner showing good wrestling skills to control the position.
Gardner wants to control from the top but Nelson keeps moving.
Nelson trying to keep a closed guard but Gardner is proving a slippery customer.

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.
Rulon Gardner is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Gardner doesn't succeed with the takedown
and Nelson counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Rulon Gardner. That's going to take a lot out of him.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Gardner moves into the clinch.
Gardner will no doubt start fighting again in a minute but for now he's just having a little rest, leaning Nelson up against the cage.
Gardner is working for a takedown up against the cage. He can't get it on this occasion though.
Nelson taking a break, stalling in the clinch.
Nelson tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. Gardner just stands there and leans against the cage.
Gardner is trying to work for a single leg takedown but Nelson pulls him back up using the underhooks.

That's four 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.
Gardner wants a takedown.
Gardner drops down looking for an ankle pick but Nelson pulls his leg out and moves away.
Nelson tries to clinch up.
Nelson throws a combination. Gardner tries to block but a couple of punches get through.
Gardner takes a body punch but keeps moving.
No luck with that takedown attempt from Gardner.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Gardner fails in his attempt to clinch.
Gardner takes one on the chin but seems OK.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!

Nelson closes the distance and looks for a trip takedown... aaaand he's got it - Nelson lands in his opponent's guard.
Nelson looking to control the position here, rather than advance.

And that's the end of the fight!
Kyle Nelson comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Nelson winning every round here. Surely the decision will go his way and he'll pick up a well deserved decision victory. 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 Konstantin Menshow scores the fight 27:30
Judge Igor Prikhodko scores the fight 27:30
Judge Sergei Dronov scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Kyle Nelson!
Rulon Gardner spoke after the fight, saying 'Keith Peterson was at some dive bar with a $5 floozy right before this fight. I call kangaroo court.'.