PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Nikolas Charles (ranked 2725 p4p, 2720 weight class) and Brenden Jordan (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). We have two fighters making their debuts here, so let's see who comes out of this one with their first professional victory.

Charles
vs
Jordan

150 cm
18
135
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Excellent boxer
Big heart

BJJ White Belt
Excellent boxer
Solid chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the bantamweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of London, Nikolas Charles!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of London, Brenden Jordan!
The judges for this bout are Colin Fotheringham, Paul Tew and Sam Margolis.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Charles shoots in for a double leg but Jordan sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
Jordan closes the distance and clinches up with Charles, looking for a takedown. Jordan pushes Charles against the cage but Charles circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
Charles misses with a double jab
and Jordan counters with a three punch combination, finished off with a leg kick. Nice work.

Jordan shoots in for a takedown from distance. He catches Charles napping and manages to drive through into side control!

Jordan decides to stand back up.
Jordan pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Jordan shoots in but Charles avoids the takedown attempt easily.

Charles drives through and clinches with Jordan against the cage.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Charles is trying to pull guard but Jordan has him pressed against the cage.
The referee calls for Charles to work.

Charles successfully pulls guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Charles is trying to keep Jordan in close.

Charles throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
Jordan stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Charles swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Jordan controlling from the top position.
Charles is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.

That's two 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.
Jordan's corner is telling him to maintain position.
Jordan trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Charles is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.
Charles trying to control the position.
It looks like the ref is thinking about a standup.
Charles tries to land a sweep but no joy.

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Jordan shoots in and drives through. Charles sprawls well.
Nikolas Charles has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Brenden Jordan.
Jordan shoots in and drives through. Charles sprawls well.
Jordan misses the shot to the body.
Charles darts in and out, connecting with a jab.
Charles takes a nice looking leg kick right on the meat of his thigh there.
Charles misses with a hook.
Jordan looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Charles is fending him off so far but Jordan persists. Nope, Charles circles away and we're back to standing.

The fight moves into the clinch position.
Jordan missing with knees to the body.
Jordan looks like he'd prefer to be striking at range right now.
Jordan tries to break the clinch but Charles is controlling the position.
Charles tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. Jordan smiles and moves away.
Charles really is a fat lump.

Charles closes the distance and clinches.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Jordan has managed to pull guard. Let's see whether he can work an aggressive guard. It will also be interesting to see what tactics Charles uses from the top position.
Jordan controls Charles momentarily but Charles frees himself.
Jordan seems keen to control rather than go for a submission, at least for now.
Jordan keeping full guard, as Charles tries to pass.
Jordan trying to keep a closed guard but Charles is proving a slippery customer.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Charles wants to control from the top but Jordan keeps moving.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close round but I would say that Nikolas Charles will probably get the nod.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin!

Charles tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Jordan wants to clinch.
Charles is looking to counter the offense by Jordan and move into the clinch.

Charles has closed the distance and engaged Jordan in a clinch.
Stalling in the clinch from Charles.
Jordan wants a takedown.
Charles tries a knee to the head but Jordan blocks it.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Jordan scores with an uppercut up the middle.
Charles goes for a takedown in the clinch but Jordan prevents it.

Charles's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Jordan with a lazy takedown attempt
and Charles counters with a shot to the ribs. That looked like it hurt.
Jordan tries to score a power double leg takedown but Charles sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Jordan somewhat.
Nikolas Charles has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Brenden Jordan.
Jordan shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Charles sprawls well. Charles wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Jordan gets slowly back to his feet.
Jordan with a lazy takedown attempt
and Charles counters with a straight right hand.
Jordan avoids the body shot from Charles.
Jordan closes the distance and clinches up with Charles, looking for a takedown. Jordan pushes Charles against the cage but Charles circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
Charles shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Jordan defends it nicely.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Charles shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Jordan sprawls well. Jordan wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Charles gets slowly back to his feet.
Jordan goes for a double leg but Charles avoids the attempt and the two fighters end up clinched against the cage as Charles continues to drive forward.
Charles throws a counter high kick but Jordan was just alert enough to avoid it.
Charles slips under a jab from Jordan.
Charles went nuts there looking for a big combo counter but none of the flurry connected.
Charles with a poor takedown
enabling Jordan to counter with a crisp jab.
Jordan tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Jordan wants to slow Charles down by chopping away at his legs.

Charles clinches up with Jordan and pushes him back against the cage.
Charles is trying to pull guard but being pressed up against the cage enables Jordan to keep the fight standing.
Charles tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.
Jordan wants a takedown but no success here.
Charles is working for a takedown up against the cage. He can't get it on this occasion though.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Charles tries to throw a body punch but Jordan avoids it by throwing Charles back against the cage.
Charles tries to throw a body punch but Jordan avoids it by throwing Charles back against the cage.

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

Jordan has Charles up against the cage in a clinch.

Charles breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Jordan throws a head kick that misses.
Charles misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
Charles keeps the fight on the outside.
Charles shoots for a takedown but Jordan saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Charles is defended easily by Jordan.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Charles with a lazy takedown attempt
and Jordan counters with a straight right hand.
Charles shoots in but doesn't get the takedown

and Jordan holds on and brings the fighters into a clinch.

Jordan breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Jordan closes the distance and clinches up with Charles, looking for a takedown. Jordan pushes Charles against the cage but Charles circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
Charles defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Jordan.
Nikolas Charles is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Jordan wants to clinch up but Charles keeps it at a distance.
Horrible takedown attempt by Charles or perhaps it was just good defense by Jordan, which made it look bad.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Charles misses with a takedown attempt - Jordan sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Brenden Jordan will probably get the nod - 10:9.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action! Ladies and gentlemen, this is the final round!

Jordan blocks a head kick by Charles.
Jordan is loading up here, looking for a big counter of his own.
Jordan will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
Charles misses with a jab, cross combination.
Jordan lets it all go there with a big combo counter but none of the punches connected.
Jordan throws a half hearted mid kick.

Charles has closed the distance and engaged Jordan in a clinch.
Charles tries to pull guard but Jordan forces him back to his feet, against the cage.
Jordan is trying to work for a single leg takedown but Charles pulls him back up using the underhooks.

Jordan breaks from the clinch.
Nikolas Charles is winning the standup battle so far.
Jordan throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Jordan tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. Charles manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Charles tries to counter with a takedown but Jordan is quick to defend against it.
Charles throws a right and a left that Jordan avoids nicely.
Charles lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Jordan circles away quickly and effectively.
Charles lands a nice looking body shot.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Charles scores a trip takedown into side control. Nice.

Jordan throws his opponent off and manages to get back to his feet! Nicely done!

The fight moves into the clinch position.
Charles tries for a takedown but Jordan manages to get underhooks.

Charles jumps into guard, dragging Jordan to the mat.
Jordan throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Charles works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Jordan missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Jordan has decided he wants to stand but the closed guard of Charles is proving hard to escape from.
Charles trying to keep a closed guard but Jordan is proving a slippery customer.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Jordan accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Jordan wants to control from the top but Charles keeps moving.
Jordan postures up in Charles's guard and throws a big left but Charles blocks it.
Charles seems keen to control Jordan's posture.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Jordan dives in for a single leg takedown but Charles sprawls and the fighters end up clinched against the cage.
Nikolas Charles has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Brenden Jordan.
Jordan fails to land the takedown.
Charles seemed to be looking to counter by closing the distance.
Charles scores with a kick to the midsection.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Jordan gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily
and Charles counters with a nice low kick that buckles Jordan's knee momentarily.
Jordan changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Charles tries to avoid it but Jordan manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Charles to the ground. Charles escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
Jordan throws a head kick that misses.
Jordan takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Charles misses with a jab, cross combination.
Charles misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
Jordan slaps away a takedown attempt from Charles, before circling back to the center of the mat.
Jordan unleashes a big counter combination but Charles bobs and weaves and avoids any damage.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Charles.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Charles fails in his attempt to clinch.
Jordan lands a nice looking body kick.
Crunch! Charles slams his shin into Jordan's torso.
Charles shoots in but no luck this time.
Jordan changes levels for a counter takedown but doesn't follow through with his attempt.
Charles pivots as if he's going to throw a leg kick but stops half way.
Jordan goes for a double leg but Charles avoids the attempt and the two fighters end up clinched against the cage as Charles continues to drive forward.
Charles shoots for a takedown but Jordan saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
Charles stuffs the takedown attempt from Jordan. Jordan gets slowly back to his feet.
Charles keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.

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 Nikolas Charles.
I think Charles has won this one but let's see what the judges have to say. 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 Colin Fotheringham scores the fight for Nikolas Charles!
Judge Paul Tew scores the fight for Nikolas Charles!
Judge Sam Margolis scores the fight for Nikolas Charles!

Nikolas Charles wins by unanimous decision!