PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Chip Nickel (ranked 89 p4p, 331 weight class) and James Yarborough (ranked 13 p4p, 44 weight class). Nickel's entrance music is TISM - Greg the Stop Sign. A fine choice. Yarborough has chosen Derezzed as his entrance music. Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Nickel
vs
Yarborough

189 cm
35
186
34 - 13 - 0

185 cm
30
190
22 - 10 - 0

Good wrestling
World class boxer
Insanely flexible

Olympic wrestler
World class MT
Powerful

Shadow Realm Apparel
Conviction

Brooklyn Apothecary
Bondi MMA 🏝️

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 34 - 13 - 0, fighting out of New York, Chip Nickel!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 22 - 10 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, James Yarborough!
The judges for this bout are Sam Margolis, James Glass and Colin Fotheringham.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Yarborough walks into a straight right hand from Nickel.
Yarborough throws the left hand but Nickel avoids the punch easily.
Nickel uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Yarborough.
Nickel misses with a low kick.
Yarborough throws a lazy right hand but Nickel sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Yarborough tries to work over Nickel's front leg with a kick but Nickel checks it.
Nickel tries to land a leg kick but Yarborough saw it coming and moves away.
It seemed like Yarborough was going to counter with the hook but didn't fully commit to it.
Yarborough looks to throw the jab but Nickel is out of range.
Nickel just misses with a punch to the body.
Yarborough throws a leg kick but Nickel sees it coming and checks it nicely.
Nickel was looking to counter that move with a punch but didn't quite pull the trigger.
A punch combination from Yarborough misses.
A quick step to the side and Nickel tries to counter with a shot to the body but it doesn't connect.
Nickel looks to have improved his striking defense since last time we saw him fight.
Yarborough throws a shot from downtown. Nickel moves away and avoids it.
Yarborough throws a front kick aimed at Nickel's knee but Nickel avoids it well.
Nickel lands a glancing blow to the side of Yarborough's head.
Yarborough gets cracked with a nice right hand there by Nickel.
Nickel takes a swing at Yarborough's ribcage but misses.
Nickel misses with a low kick.
Yarborough swings away with a counter right hand but no contact made.
A chopping leg kick lands by Nickel.
Nickel throws a low kick, looking for Yarborough's leg but Yarborough calmly moves out of range.
Wow, both these guys are really going for it!
The sound of bone on bone echoes around the arena as Nickel checks a leg kick.
Nickel is looking to slow Yarborough down with leg kicks.
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!
Nickel scores with a nice right hand.
Yarborough jabbing away but nothing is landing.
Yarborough misses with a kick to the body
and Nickel counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Yarborough rushes in with a sloppy looking punch
and Nickel counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.

That's one minute gone in the round.
A jab from Yarborough misses.
James Yarborough seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Nickel digs a good body shot into Yarborough's ribs.
Nickel misses the shot to the body.
Nickel takes a big uppercut there. He seems a bit wobbly but no, he's OK.
A big left from Nickel misses.
Yarborough jabbing away but nothing is landing.
Yarborough uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Nickel.
Yarborough swings away with a counter right hand but no contact made.
Nickel throws a looping overhand right but Yarborough ducks down to avoid it.
Nickel on the wrong end of a nice low kick. He's acting like it's no big deal but he doesn't want to take many more of those.
Nickel bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
Yarborough throws out a loose jab but Nickel uses good head movement to avoid it.
Yarborough with a nice looking leg kick. You could hear that one land in a back row.
Yarborough throws an off balance right hand
and Nickel counters with a nice low kick that buckles Yarborough's knee momentarily.
Yarborough gets cracked with a nice right hand there by Nickel.
Nickel defending well as Yarborough loads up on a big left hand.
Nickel ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Yarborough moves away.
Nickel uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Yarborough.
Yarborough misses the shot to the body.
Nickel throws a nice hook to the body that draws an oooh from the crowd.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Yarborough tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Nickel was well out of range. Poor timing from Yarborough.
Nickel misses with a body shot.
Yarborough keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Nickel.
Yarborough 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.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Nickel closes the distance and takes a jab right on the nose as he does so.
Nickel scores with a jab. Yarborough acknowledges it with a nod of the head.
Nickel chopping away at his opponent's legs.
Nickel dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
Nickel moves away from the strike by Yarborough.
Nickel displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Yarborough throws out the jab.
Nickel just misses with a punch to the body.
Yarborough has his head snapped back a nice jab. A little nod from Yarborough there as he acknowledges the shot.
Nickel lands a jab.
Yarborough slips in close and lands a nice hook before moving back out of range.
Yarborough misses with a body shot.
Yarborough misses with a body shot.
Nickel goes for a high kick. It partially lands.
Yarborough lands a body shot.
Nickel digs a good body shot into Yarborough's ribs.
An inside leg kick from Nickel misses.
Nickel throws a leg kick which misses Yarborough's front leg but catches the back leg as Yarborough tries to avoid it.
Nickel throws a big shot that misses.
Yarborough follows through with a counter body kick but it doesn't land.
Nickel takes a punch right to his stomach. That took the wind out of him momentarily.
Nickel lunges at Yarborough with a hook that half lands and is half blocked by Yarborough's hand.
Nickel with the inside leg kick.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Yarborough connects with a leg kick.
A slow jab from Yarborough misses its intended target.
Nickel is really peppering his opponent's head with punches.
Yarborough misses with a looping left.
Nickel avoids a punch combination nicely.
Yarborough misses the jab.
Nickel paws at his opponent with the jab and then lunges in with a straight, right on the button.
Yarborough throws a nice hook to the body that draws an oooh from the crowd.
Yarborough checks a low kick. Bone on bone - not my idea of a good time.
Yarborough swings away with a counter right hand but no contact made.
A slow jab from Yarborough misses its intended target.
Yarborough with poor footwork there. He got himself in a bit of a tangle, enabling Nickel to score with a decent uppercut.
Yarborough tests Nickel's chin there with a solid looking shot.
Yarborough lands a kick to the ribs of his opponent. Nice work there - in and out in a flash.
Yarborough walks straight into an uppercut. Luckily it didn't land flush.
Nickel waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Yarborough.
Nickel backing away here, and Yarborough unleashes a leg kick that just misses.
Nickel takes a step back and watches a body kick go sailing past his mid section.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Yarborough takes a swing at Nickel's ribcage but misses.
Nickel moves out of range as Yarborough strikes.
A jab from Yarborough misses.
Nickel lands with a head kick! That's gotta hurt.
Nickel throws a low kick but it's checked well by Yarborough.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Jab, jab by Nickel - just one landing.
Yarborough tried to score with a low kick but Nickel checks it.
A big left from Yarborough misses.
Yarborough tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Nickel was well out of range. Poor timing from Yarborough.
Yarborough misses with a jab, cross combination.
Yarborough looks to score with a jab to the body but Nickel is just out of range.
Yarborough displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Nickel throws out the jab.
Nickel slips under a jab from Yarborough.
Yarborough misses with a low kick.
A looping hook to the body misses from Nickel. Yarborough does a little dance to reset his feet.
Yarborough throws a leg kick but Nickel sees it coming and checks it nicely.
Yarborough throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Nickel sees it coming and avoids it easily.
Yarborough moves out of range of the strikes.
Nickel lands a body shot.
Yarborough throws a shot from downtown. Nickel moves away and avoids it.
Yarborough throws a right hand that misses
and Nickel counters with an outside leg kick.
The crowd applaud the fighters' efforts here as the round comes to an end.
A jab lands there for Nickel.
Yarborough waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Nickel.
Nickel stooping low to avoid any incoming strikes and then lunges in with an uppercut come cross that lands flush.
Yarborough uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Nickel.
Yarborough throws the left hand but Nickel avoids the punch easily.
Nickel looked to counter that last move with a leg kick but didn't pull the trigger.
Yarborough connects with a leg kick. He turned his hip over nicely there.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Chip Nickel dominated that round.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

Yarborough ducks under a wild hook from Nickel.
Nickel misses the jab.
A looping hook to the body misses from Yarborough. Nickel does a little dance to reset his feet.
Nickel slips a jab and a cross from Yarborough.
Yarborough misses the jab.
Yarborough blocks the body kick.
Good work by Nickel as he checks the leg kick.
Yarborough fails to land with a series of punches.
Yarborough throws a hook but Nickel avoids it easily.
A swing and a miss from Nickel.
Yarborough lands with an uppercut that bounces Nickel off the cage and back into range.
Yarborough staying out of range there.
Nickel throws a jab to the body, straight down the pipe. Boom. That sent Yarborough stumbling backwards but he manages to regain his composure quickly.
Yarborough misses with a hook
letting Nickel counter with a right hand.
Yarborough throws a leg kick but Nickel sees it coming and checks it nicely.
Nickel throws a body punch but Yarborough moves out of range.
Yarborough works the jab nicely.
Good leg kick by Nickel.
Yarborough's leg has a nasty welt from taking a succession of leg kicks. That must be slowing him down.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Nickel avoids the body shot from Yarborough.
Yarborough takes a thudding leg kick, right into the meat of the thigh.
Nickel fakes and then throws a beautiful body shot. Yarborough looks a bit winded and takes a step backwards to take a breath.
Nice shot by Yarborough.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Yarborough fails to land with a series of punches.
Nickel lands a really nice looking cross but Yarborough seems unphased.
Yarborough slips a straight right by Nickel.
Yarborough throws the left hand but Nickel avoids the punch easily.
A slow jab from Nickel misses its intended target.
Nickel moves out of range as Yarborough throws a body kick.
Nickel looking to land some kicks to the body here.
Yarborough swings away with a leg kick that misses.
Yarborough throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Good leg kick by Yarborough.
Yarborough lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Nickel circles away quickly and effectively.
Nickel lands a nice leg kick that just misses Yarborough's sensitive parts.
Nickel swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
Yarborough jabbing away but nothing is landing.
Yarborough gets his head snapped back by a nice shot there.
Nickel just misses with a punch to the body.
Nickel misses the shot to the body.
A telegraphed right hand from Yarborough misses the target.
Yarborough misses with a hook. Nickel ducked under it nicely.
Yarborough blocks a jab.
And an attempted straight right on the counter from Yarborough! But no joy.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Yarborough's jab looks to have found its range, popping Nickel under the eye.
Some bone on bone action there as Yarborough checks a low kick. Luckily it wasn't a particularly hard one.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Nickel looks for the body kick but Yarborough saw that one coming.
Yarborough lands a leg kick. The shin dug right into the meat of the thigh.
Yarborough misses with a looping left.
Yarborough throws a shot from downtown. Nickel moves away and avoids it.
A bone on bone clash there as Nickel blocks the leg kick.
Yarborough misses the jab.
Nickel is looking to counter with a body kick.
Nickel throws a feint and then finishes with a kick to the body.
Nickel lands with a shot to the body.
The fighters circling - Yarborough throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
A big left from Nickel misses.
Nickel lands an overhand left. A wild punch that just about connected.
Nickel throws a shot from downtown. Yarborough moves away and avoids it.
Nickel throws a shot from downtown. Yarborough moves away and avoids it.
Yarborough misses with a body shot.
Nickel throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Yarborough lands a jab.
Yarborough throws a looping overhand right but Nickel ducks down to avoid it.
Nickel tries to check a leg kick but that clearly hurt him.
Yarborough loads up on a big right hand but Nickel slips the punch.
The fighters circling - Yarborough throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
Chip Nickel is winning the standup battle so far.
Yarborough checks a low kick. Bone on bone - not my idea of a good time.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Yarborough moves into range and lands a nice leg kick.
Yarborough displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Nickel throws out the jab.
Nickel lands with a nice body punch.
Yarborough tries to score with an inside leg kick but telegraphs it and Nickel is able to avoid easily.
Yarborough checks the leg kick.
Nickel misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Yarborough.
Yarborough pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
Yarborough connects with a right hand. Nickel shakes it off.
Nickel fakes a head punch and goes low to the body. Nicely done.
Nickel tries to score with a low kick but Yarborough moves his leg out of the way.
A swing and a miss from Yarborough.
Nickel blocks a leg kick.
Nickel was looking to counter that last move with a shot to the body but he didn't commit.
Donk. Nickel catches Yarborough right on the button with a cross.
Nickel misses with a wild body shot.
Nickel blocks a jab.
Yarborough pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
Yarborough has a pretty nasty looking mouse under his right eye.
Yarborough uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Nickel.
Nice body punch from Nickel.
Nickel takes a solid shot to the body. That one hurt him but he's trying not to show it.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Nickel ducks under a wild hook from Yarborough.
Nickel checks a low kick from Yarborough.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Yarborough dances in quickly and lands a nice inside leg kick on Nickel. That did some damage!
Nickel doesn't react quick enough there as he takes a shot to the body.
Nickel throws a looping overhand right but Yarborough ducks down to avoid it.
Yarborough throws a couple of head shots and lands with the final one - a decent hook, which struck Nickel on the side of the head.
Nickel closes the distance and takes a jab right on the nose as he does so.
Nickel misses with a hook. Yarborough ducked under it nicely.
It seemed like Yarborough was going to counter with the hook but didn't fully commit to it.
Yarborough looking to take his opponent's legs away with the low kicks.
Nickel gets his head snapped back by a nice shot there.
Yarborough throws a leg kick but he was too far away and it doesn't land.
Yarborough pivots, looking for a leg kick but Nickel is out of range and Yarborough settles back down.
A good leg kick by Yarborough.
Yarborough will need to close the distance a bit before he attacks - that leg kick was thrown from too far away.
Yarborough with a nice looking leg kick. You could hear that one land in a back row.
A punch combination from Yarborough misses.
Nickel thinks about countering with a body kick.
Nickel tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Yarborough was well out of range. Poor timing from Nickel.
Yarborough swings away with a leg kick that misses.
The crowd applaud the fighters' efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Nickel looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Yarborough throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
Nickel was looking to counter that move with a punch but didn't quite pull the trigger.
Nice uppercut there from Yarborough.
Yarborough misses with a looping right.
Nickel thuds a left hand into Yarborough's body.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but James Yarborough will probably get the nod - 10:9.
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. This is the final round!

Nickel lands a pitter patter jab to the forehead of his opponent.
Nickel avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
Yarborough has a nice red mark on his side after a thudding body kick by Nickel.
A slow jab from Yarborough misses its intended target.
Yarborough fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Nickel manages to avoid it.
Yarborough throws an overhand right that lands on Nickel's shoulder, as Nickel tries to avoid the shot.
Yarborough misses with a body kick.
A nice leg kick from Yarborough, right into the meat of the thigh.
Yarborough throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Nickel sees it coming and avoids it easily.
Nickel throws a lazy right hand but Yarborough sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Yarborough throws a hook to the side of Nickel's head but Nickel sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
Nickel throws a hook but Yarborough avoids it easily.
Yarborough blocks a jab.
Nickel throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Yarborough sees it coming and avoids it easily.
Nickel has his front leg slapped to the side - a nice low kick landing there from Yarborough.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Nickel throws a hook but Yarborough blocks it.
The sound of bone on bone echoes around the arena as Yarborough checks a leg kick.
Nickel with poor footwork there. He got himself in a bit of a tangle, enabling Yarborough to score with a decent uppercut.
Nickel fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Yarborough manages to avoid it.
Yarborough tries a quick counter leg kick but Nickel is wise to it.
Yarborough slips a straight right by Nickel.
Nickel swings for the body but Yarborough moves out of range.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Yarborough will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Nickel misses with an uppercut.
Nickel takes a thudding leg kick, right into the meat of the thigh.
Yarborough fakes with the hands and throws a leg kick but Nickel is out of range.
Nickel misses with a low kick.
Nickel tries to check a leg kick but that clearly hurt him.
Yarborough lands a straight punch to the body, keeping Nickel at a distance.
Nickel with poor footwork there. He got himself in a bit of a tangle, enabling Yarborough to score with a decent uppercut.
Yarborough cracks Nickel with a good jab.
Yarborough misses with a hook.
Yarborough works Nickel's body with a nice hook.
Yarborough has his hands up protecting his head but a hook from Nickel finds it's way round the side to connect with Yarborough's head.
Nickel scores with a jab to the head.
Yarborough throws a jab when Nickel was well out of range.
Nickel fakes a head shot and lands one to the body.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Nickel moves into range and lands a nice leg kick.
Yarborough looks to land a left hand but Nickel moved out of range nicely.
Nickel is looking to counter punch.
Yarborough tries a low kick but Nickel avoids it.
The fighters circle momentarily. Yarborough darts into range and connects with a nice straight punch.
Nickel jabs Yarborough right on the nose. Yarborough blinks but takes it well.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Nickel avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
This fight brought to you by 5M nutrition - it's mmmmm tasty. Nice jab by Yarborough.
Nickel slips a jab from Yarborough.
Yarborough throws a quick inside leg kick.
Yarborough slips a straight right by Nickel.
Yarborough misses the jab.
Nickel bobs and weaves and unloads with a good uppercut.
Yarborough throws a solid leg kick but Nickel takes the impact on his shin and smiles at Yarborough.
Nickel with a hook.
A lazy left from Nickel finds it's target.
Nickel wings a very wild body shot but it does the job and lands to the midsection.
Yarborough moves out of range as Nickel strikes.
Yarborough takes a shot to the nose. Hopefully that hasn't broken it.
Nickel lands with a shot to the body.
Nickel lands a jab to Yarborough's midsection.
Yarborough swings wildly with a hook that is half blocked by Nickel.
Yarborough pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
Nickel will need to close the distance a bit before he attacks - that leg kick was thrown from too far away.
Yarborough throws a quick inside leg kick.
Yarborough misses with a looping right.
Yarborough loads up on a big right hand but Nickel slips the punch.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Nickel misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Yarborough.
A solid leg kick lands there for Nickel.
Nickel has his front leg slapped to the side - a nice low kick landing there from Yarborough.
Yarborough pulls out of a head kick attempt.
A low kick lands for Nickel.
Nickel misses the jab.
Yarborough keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Nickel.
Yarborough throws a big shot that misses.
Nickel takes one on the chin but keeps coming.
Yarborough jabbing away but nothing is landing.
Nickel slips a jab from Yarborough.
Yarborough on the wrong end of a vicious looking body shot.
Yarborough connects with a body shot.
Nickel with a nice cross.
Yarborough misses with a lunging right hand
enabling Nickel to counter with a crisp jab.
Nickel missing with a left hand there. Yarborough was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Nickel jabs Yarborough right on the nose. Yarborough blinks but takes it well.
Nickel moves out of range of the strikes.
Yarborough checks the leg kick.
Yarborough throws a good cross that connects.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Nickel throws a jab when Yarborough was well out of range.
Yarborough throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Nickel sees it coming and avoids it easily.
Yarborough throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Nickel was looking to counter that move with a punch but didn't quite pull the trigger.
Nickel throws a couple of head shots and lands with the final one - a decent hook, which struck Yarborough on the side of the head.
Jab from Yarborough.
Nickel on the wrong end of a decent looking cross there.
Nickel scores with a slapping inside leg kick.
Yarborough is looking to land body kicks.
Yarborough pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
Yarborough walks into a stiff left hand from Nickel.
Nickel slips under a jab from Yarborough.
A jab from Yarborough misses.
Yarborough ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
Nickel moves away from the strike by Yarborough.
Yarborough misses with a low kick.
The crowd applaud the fighters' efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Yarborough looks to land a left hand but Nickel moved out of range nicely.
Nickel connects with a good right hand that stumbles Yarborough. Yarborough circles away out of range and recomposes himself.
Yarborough misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Nickel avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
A big right from Yarborough misses.
Yarborough uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Nickel.

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 Chip Nickel.
Well Nickel has outscored his opponent in every aspect of the fight today. Only a scarily incompetent judge or two will keep him from a well deserved win... 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 Sam Margolis scores the fight 28:29
Judge James Glass scores the fight 29:28
Judge Colin Fotheringham scores the fight 29:29

The fight is ruled a draw!