PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Theodore Nouveau (ranked 1363 p4p, 1528 weight class) and Age Sixteen (ranked 186 p4p, 209 weight class). Theodore Nouveau could well score a knockout today. He has the power to get to Age Sixteen's chin.

Nouveau
vs
Sixteen

168 cm
42
158
25 - 38 - 0

170 cm
22
159
10 - 6 - 1

Good wrestling
Solid boxing
Very strong

Excellent grappler
Dangerous knees
Good gas tank

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 25 - 38 - 0, fighting out of London, Theodore Nouveau!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 10 - 6 - 1, fighting out of New York, Age Sixteen!
The judges for this bout are Steven Brown, Donald Grub and James Ackerman.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Sixteen rushes Nouveau and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.
Nouveau takes a knee to the side of the body.
Nouveau avoids the elbow strike from Sixteen, against the cage.
Sixteen struggles to land a body shot inside as Nouveau controls his hands.
Sixteen throws a hook to the body. More of an arm punch but it's all scoring with the judges.
Sixteen landing knees to the body. They look like they could hurt.
Sixteen lands a body punch in the clinch.
Sixteen tries to land a knee to the head but Nouveau blocks with his arms.
Sixteen with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.
Sixteen looks more muscular than last time we saw him. He must have been on the weights.
Nouveau lands a knee to the body.
Nouveau tries to circle away but Sixteen has him pinned against the cage.
Nouveau has dropped down and is looking to force the takedown but it's defended by Sixteen after a bit of a struggle.
Nouveau misses with the head strike.
Sixteen landing some nice looking knees to the body.
Sixteen leaning his opponent against the cage.
Nouveau scores with a hook to the body.
Sixteen keeps control of Nouveau as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.

Nouveau manages to break the clinch.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Sixteen throws a hook but Nouveau avoids it easily.
Age Sixteen is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.

Nouveau gets tackled into the cage by Sixteen. Sixteen maintains the clinch.
Sixteen connects with a knee to the head.
Nouveau wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.
Sixteen lands a body shot.
Sixteen lands a body punch - he's looking to wear down Nouveau.
Sixteen stays in close to his opponent and throws a right hand to the body.

Nouveau breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.

Sixteen clinches up against the cage.
Nouveau tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Sixteen avoids it.
Sixteen doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Sixteen tries a knee to the head but he's missed.
Sixteen lands a nice looking hook to the body, against the cage.
Nouveau wants to break free but Sixteen has control.
Nouveau tries to land a knee to the head but misses.
Sixteen has Nouveau pushed against the cage.
Nouveau is trying to push Sixteen away but Sixteen has him pressed against the cage, so he's going nowhere.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Sixteen is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Nouveau is defending well for now.
Sixteen displaying some good clinch control by pressing Nouveau up against the cage.
Sixteen tries to land a knee to the head but Nouveau blocks with his arms.
Sixteen prevents a body shot from Nouveau.
Sixteen with the Thai clinch, lands a knee to the head.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Nouveau jumps guard but Sixteen turns him against the cage and keeps the fight standing.
Sixteen cracks Nouveau with a nice body shot.

Nouveau breaks from the clinch.

Nouveau shoots in looking for a single leg takedown. Sixteen is trying to defend but Nouveau finishes it well and ends up in half guard. Let's see if he can advance position further.

Sixteen looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.
Nouveau thows a huge punch but Sixteen dodges it nicely.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Sixteen tries to roll over but Nouveau keeps him under control.
Sixteen preventing any damage for now, controlling his opponent's head.

Nouveau seems to be working for a kimura but Sixteen defends the submission attempt.

The fighters are going at a pretty good pace and they're both starting to sweat now.
Sixteen looking for submissions off his back.

Sixteen looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.

Sixteen actively working from the bottom here.

Sixteen looking for submissions off his back.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

Sixteen looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.
Sixteen wants to improve his position but Nouveau is controlling well.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Age Sixteen dominated that round.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

Sixteen darts in and clinches Nouveau up against the cage.
A right hand to the body from Sixteen.
Sixteen misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Nouveau.
Sixteen lands a knee to the head.

It looks like Theodore Nouveau has been cut.
Age Sixteen seems to be working more effectively in the clinch in the fight so far.
Sixteen throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Nouveau blocks it with crossed arms.
Nouveau tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. Sixteen just stands there and leans against the cage.
Nouveau blocks an elbow strike.

Nouveau jumps guard.
Sixteen trying to control but Nouveau is working from the bottom.
Nouveau is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Nouveau wants to stand and escape but Sixteen is having none of it.
Sixteen slips nicely into half guard, despite the strikes coming from Nouveau.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Sixteen is keen to just control but Nouveau is a slippery customer.
Nouveau is controlling Sixteen's trapped leg to prevent Sixteen from advancing to side control.
Nouveau wants to improve his position but Sixteen is controlling well.

Sixteen is working for a submission of some sort.
Nouveau tries to get to full guard but Sixteen has control of the leg.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.

Sixteen is looking for a kimura. It's pretty deep but Nouveau still has the half guard so he's probably OK. Oh, Nouveau has exploded into a beautiful escape there and after a quick scramble, he's ended up in side control on top! Nice work!
Sixteen is sneaking out the side here. He's bucked Nouveau off and has taken his back!
Sixteen tries to get the hooks in deep but Nouveau pushed the leg off.
Sixteen punches Nouveau on the ear.
Sixteen not allowing Nouveau to control his hands.
Nouveau staying busy and making it hard for Sixteen to control.
Sixteen is trying to control but Nouveau is trying to escape here - he's now mounted.
Sixteen wants to control the pace but Nouveau is squirming around nicely.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Sixteen with some aggressive grappling here. He's looking for submissions here, rather than waiting for the opportunity to counter.
Nouveau wants to hold on but Sixteen pushes him away.

Sixteen is in full mount, looking to secure a guillotine but Nouveau is surviving well by controlling Sixteen's body position as best he can.

Sixteen wants to finish this one by submission but Nouveau is holding onto his waist, trying to prevent any attacks from Sixteen.
Nouveau can't escape the position.
Sixteen misses with a head shot.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Sixteen has control of Nouveau's right arm, working for a kimura. It's a bit of a token attempt though and Nouveau regains control of the situation pretty easily.
Sixteen tries to control but Nouveau wriggling away.
Nouveau wants to control but Sixteen is having none of it.
Sixteen controlling his opponent.
Sixteen has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Sixteen tries to control but Nouveau wriggling away.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Age Sixteen showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The cut man is working on Theodore Nouveau's cut.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, 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.

Sixteen tries to bum rush Nouveau with a series of wild strikes but Nouveau uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Nouveau throws a head kick that looked like it stung.

Sixteen gets in close and instigates a clinch.
Sixteen stalling against the cage.
Nouveau comes over the top with an elbow. That landed flush.

Nouveau jumps guard and drags Sixteen to the mat. He's obviously going to be looking for submissions off his back.
Sixteen in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Sixteen tries to free his leg and advance position but Nouveau is retaining full guard.

Sixteen is holding a leg here, probably looking for an ankle lock - he drops back and goes for it! Nouveau is in trouble! Is it all over??? No! Nouveau has escaped and now he's on top!

We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Sixteen is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.

Sixteen seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Nouveau does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Sixteen throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
Nouveau flails away from the bottom but he's not doing any damage.

Nouveau pushes Sixteen off and gets back to his feet.

Sixteen moves into the clinch.
Sixteen tries to land a knee to the head but misses.
Nouveau is trying to pull guard but being pressed up against the cage enables Sixteen to keep the fight standing.
Sixteen gets underhooks to prevent Nouveau's takedown attempt.
Sixteen misses with a knee to the head.
Sixteen tries a knee to the head but Nouveau blocks it.
Nouveau takes a knee right on the jaw!
Sixteen struggles to land a body shot inside as Nouveau controls his hands.
Sixteen doesn't land with the attempted body shot.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Nouveau wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.
The referee calls for Sixteen to work.
Some stalling of biblical proportions here from Sixteen.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Nouveau.
Sixteen landing knees to the head.
Sixteen looking to stall.

Nouveau wants the takedown. Sixteen is fighting it off but Nouveau persists and manages to bring the fight to the ground, ending up in Sixteen's guard against the cage.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.

Nouveau is trying to work a guillotine from the top, or something like that? Don't know how he thinks he's going to get a finish from there.
Sixteen keeping moving, preventing Nouveau from controlling successfully.
Sixteen will have to put a bit more behind his punches if he's going to do any damage from this position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Nouveau wants to control from the top but Sixteen keeps moving.

Sixteen looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.

Sixteen looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
Nouveau wants to control from the top but Sixteen keeps moving.
Sixteen 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.
Nouveau trying to control the position from guard on top but Sixteen is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Sixteen looking to control.
Nouveau scoring with punches to the head and body.

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.

Sixteen escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Nouveau gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.

Sixteen is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Nouveau defends well.

Sixteen had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Nouveau defends it easily.
Theodore Nouveau has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

Sixteen working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Nouveau doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Nouveau manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.
Nouveau trying to control but Sixteen is working from the bottom.

And that's the end of the fight!
I would just about give that final round to Age Sixteen.
I've got Sixteen 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 Steven Brown scores the fight 27:30
Judge Donald Grub scores the fight 27:30
Judge James Ackerman scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Age Sixteen!
After winning the bout, Age Sixteen thanked all his fans and promised he'd do even better in his next fight. The crowd seemed to love his humility.
Theodore Nouveau was interviewed post fight and said 'what a mess...'.