PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Richard Nielsen (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Tommy Rawkus (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Richard Nielsen has a significant reach advantage - let's see if he can make it count.

Nielsen
vs
Rawkus

194 cm
18
169 lbs
1 - 4 - 0

176 cm
21
170 lbs
0 - 2 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter striker
Experienced

BJJ White Belt
Good kicks
Tends to cut

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the welterweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 1 - 4 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Richard Nielsen!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Tommy Rawkus!
The judges for this bout are Wesley Smith, Stewart Dunkirk and Alan Glass.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Nielsen tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Jeez, both these guys look absolutely knackered already, that's not a good sign!
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Rawkus.
Rawkus lands with a slapping head kick.
Rawkus misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
A head kick misses from Rawkus.
A head kick by Nielsen misses

and Rawkus counters with a nice shoot takedown that brings the fighters to the ground.
Nielsen being controlled here, momentarily.
Nielsen is adopting a defensive guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Rawkus avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
Rawkus scores with a decent looking elbow strike.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Nielsen 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.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Nielsen is working hard here to advance position.
Nielsen looking to control.
Rawkus is intent on slowing down the pace of the fight, simply looking to control.
Rawkus trying to control the position from guard on top but Nielsen is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Nielsen is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Rawkus slows down the pace of the fight for a moment. He'll need to remain active if he doesn't want to see the fight stood back up.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.
Rawkus shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Nielsen circles away from the clinch attempt

and Nielsen counters by clinching up.

That's four 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.
Nielsen fails to pull guard.
Rawkus tries to pull guard but Nielsen won't allow it.
Richard Nielsen has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Tommy Rawkus.
Rawkus can't get the takedown.
Rawkus tries for a takedown. No joy.

Nielsen breaks the clinch.
Rawkus tries to clinch but fails miserably

and Nielsen counters with a takedown into side control.

Nielsen is looking to finish here, going for an Americana. Rawkus knows the correct defense though, so he's OK.
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Rawkus is looking to reverse the position.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Richard Nielsen dominated that round.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

Nielsen tries to clinch but Rawkus moves out of range.
Rawkus tries to grapple but his opponent circles
and Nielsen counters with a left and a right that stings Rawkus.
Rawkus lands an overhand right.
Rawkus darts in trying to clinch

and Nielsen counters by clinching up.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Rawkus breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

Rawkus rushes Nielsen and presses him up against the cage.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Rawkus breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Rawkus with a poor takedown

and Nielsen counters into the clinch. Nicely done.

Nielsen gets double underhooks and manages to take the fight to the ground.
Rawkus keeping moving, preventing Nielsen from controlling successfully.
Nielsen trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Nielsen throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.

Nielsen stands up from Rawkus's guard - Nielsen perhaps looking for a knockout.

Nielsen darts in and clinches Rawkus up against the cage.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Rawkus can't get the takedown.

Rawkus escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Nielsen is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Rawkus tries to clinch

and Nielsen counters with a single leg into guard. Rawkus didn't expect that.
Nielsen really does look like a pencil wearing a pair of gloves. Let's hope he has a gameplan to suit that ridiculous body shape.
Nielsen controls from within his opponent's guard.
Nielsen works a leg free and moves into half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Rawkus wants to control but Nielsen is keeping busy and won't allow it.
Nielsen is controlling the pace.
Nielsen is keen to just control but Rawkus is a slippery customer.

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.
Rawkus has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Nielsen is working away from the top position though.
Rawkus won't allow Nielsen to pass to mount.
Nielsen moves into full mount! Rawkus won't be happy about that!
Rawkus is in a horrible position here, under a barrage of strikes, he's managing to avoid any damage.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Richard Nielsen dominated that second round.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action! And we move into the final round!

Nielsen fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Rawkus avoids it really well and circles away.
Rawkus shoots and misses

so Nielsen counters with a double leg into guard. Good agility.
Nielsen trying to control the position from guard on top but Rawkus is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

Nielsen stands up and waves to Rawkus to follow him.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
A head kick by Rawkus misses

and Nielsen counters with a nice double leg into guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Nielsen throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Rawkus works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Nielsen is looking to work some ground and pound but Rawkus has wrist control.
Nielsen thows a big elbow that misses.

Nielsen drops back looking for a leg! Rawkus is in trouble here! The fighters roll with the hold and Rawkus manages to kick Nielsen off! Nielsen jumps back into Rawkus's guard.
Rawkus keeping moving, preventing Nielsen from controlling successfully.
Richard Nielsen overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.

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.

Nielsen drops back for a leg but he's not going to get it - he lets go and Rawkus dives on top into guard.
Rawkus trying to control but Nielsen is working from the bottom.
Rawkus wanted to stand there but Nielsen had control of the position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Nielsen manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Rawkus manages to get himself to full guard.
Nielsen tries to free his leg and advance position but Rawkus is retaining full guard.
Rawkus keeping moving, preventing Nielsen from controlling successfully.
Nielsen postures up and scores with a shot to the body and a follow up elbow to the head.
Nielsen trying to control but Rawkus is working from the bottom.

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.

Rawkus has his feet on Nielsen's hips. He pushes off and gets to his feet. Nice work.
Rawkus with a poor takedown

and Nielsen counters by moving into the clinch. Good anticipation by Nielsen.

Nielsen works for the underhooks and manages to get a trip takedown into guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Nielsen looking to pass the guard.
Rawkus is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.

And that's the end of the fight!
Richard Nielsen showed his dominance in that final round.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Nielsen, winning every round. Will the judges agree? They are the ones who matter, even if they are often depressingly incompetent. 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 Wesley Smith scores the fight 30:27
Judge Stewart Dunkirk scores the fight 30:27
Judge Alan Glass scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Richard Nielsen!