PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Matt Serra (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Tyler Nelson (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Tyler Nelson has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Serra
vs
Nelson

180 cm
22
145 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

163 cm
20
130 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Excellent boxer
Self confident

BJJ Brown Belt
Counter striker
Granite 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 New York, Matt Serra!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of New York, Tyler Nelson!
The judges for this bout are Dean Styles, Bruno Lombardi and Reed Andrews.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Nelson throws the overhand right but ducks down into a quick takedown attempt. Serra was covering up waiting for the punch and Nelson finishes the takedown easily into guard.

Nelson is holding a leg here, probably looking for an ankle lock - he drops back and goes for it! Serra is in trouble! Is it all over??? No! Serra has escaped and now he's on top!
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Serra would like to get this fight back to the feet but can't get free from the closed guard.

Nelson had isolated an arm as going for an omaplata. Serra is defending the submission well but is in a very vulnerable position. Nelson Is leaning forward trying to finish the omaplata but decides to abandon it, and take Serra's back instead.
Serra knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Nelson on the ground.

Nelson working for a choke but Serra is defending well.
Well, with Nelson on his back, surely it's only a matter of time before Serra is tapping out... Can he escape the position?

Nelson looking for the RNC.
Serra just trying to survive but Nelson is wriggling into a better position, looking to finish.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Nelson is hanging on to Serra's back as he tries to escape.

Serra fending off the submission attempt from Nelson.

Serra showing good submission defense here.
Nelson looks gassed!

Serra fending off the submission attempt from Nelson.
The fighters are going at a pretty good pace and they're both starting to sweat now.
Serra turns into Nelson and is now in his guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Serra postures up in Nelson's guard and throws a big left but Nelson blocks it.
Serra tries to stand but Nelson is controlling from the bottom.

Nelson is active off his back here, looking for submissions.

Nelson looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
Nelson keeping moving, preventing Serra from controlling successfully.

Serra thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.
Serra trying to control but Nelson is working from the bottom.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.
Serra is looking to clinch.
Serra tries for a takedown but Nelson circles away easily

and Nelson counters with a single leg into guard. Serra didn't expect that.

Nelson is holding a leg here, probably looking for an ankle lock - he drops back and goes for it! Serra is in trouble! Is it all over??? No! Serra has escaped and now he's on top!
Serra lands a couple of digs.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Serra wants to stand but Nelson has a closed guard, so he can't escape.

Nelson looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.

Nelson pushes Serra off and gets back to his feet.
Serra wants to clinch

and Nelson counters with a takedown into full mount! That could mean trouble for Serra!
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.

Nelson goes for an armbar but he's not got it… Serra turns into him and now he's in Nelson's guard.

Serra avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Tyler Nelson dominated that round.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin!

Serra has his takedown stuffed

and Nelson counters with a nice double leg into half guard.

Nelson is looking for a kimura. It's going to be difficult to finish that from half guard though and Serra defends it well.

Nelson is trying a forearm choke… I don't think that's going to do much at this level of the game.

Nelson looking for a kimura but he'll have to free his other leg if he wants to finish that. Perhaps he's just using it as a distraction technique.

Nelson looking for a kimura but he'll have to free his other leg if he wants to finish that. Perhaps he's just using it as a distraction technique.
Tyler Nelson has got the better of the ground game so far.
Nelson is breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Serra looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.
Serra is trying to stand back up but Nelson is controlling him

Nelson is working for submissions here but there's nothing on.
Serra makes his way to full guard. A much better position for Serra.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.

Nelson drops back for a leg! It's a sloppy attempt though and Nelson jumps back into guard quickly, to retain the dominant position.

Nelson is holding a leg here, probably looking for an ankle lock - he drops back and goes for it! Serra is in trouble! Is it all over??? No! Serra has escaped and now he's on top!
Serra trying to control but Nelson is working from the bottom.

Nelson is looking for a triangle but Serra pushes his legs off easily.
Nelson keeping moving, preventing Serra from controlling successfully.
Serra really does look like a pencil wearing a pair of gloves. Let's hope he has a gameplan to suit that ridiculous body shape.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Nelson looking for a guillotine here but Serra defends easily.

Nelson looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
Nelson tries to land a sweep but no joy.

Nelson looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
Serra trying to control the position from guard on top but Nelson is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Nelson keeping full guard, as Serra tries to pass.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A few boos can be heard. I'm sure they will multiply if the fighters don't pick up the pace.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.
Nelson showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Serra.
Serra misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.

Nelson shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Oh and he's advanced to full mount straight away.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.

Nelson goes for an armbar but he's fallen flat on his backside there and now Serra is on top in guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Tyler Nelson showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action. This is the final round!

Serra throws a body kick that misses.
Serra with a poor takedown

and Nelson counters with a nice double leg into guard.

Nelson thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.
Nelson slips nicely into half guard.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

Nelson is working for a kimura but Serra is defending it quite comfortably.
Nelson trying to mount his opponent but Serra defends it.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Nelson is working for an americana but Serra has been sneaky and has managed to get back to half guard, whilst Nelson was thinking about the submission.
Serra controls Nelson momentarily but Nelson frees himself.

Nelson drops back looking for a leg! Serra is in trouble here! The fighters roll with the hold and Serra manages to kick Nelson off! Nelson jumps back into Serra's guard.
Serra wants to stand and escape but Nelson is having none of it.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

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.

Nelson thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.
Nelson trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
Serra tries to clinch

and Nelson counters with a nice double leg into half guard.

Nelson is looking for a kimura. It's going to be difficult to finish that from half guard though and Serra defends it well.
Serra regains full guard. Nicely done.

Nelson drops back for a leg! It's a sloppy attempt though and Nelson jumps back into guard quickly, to retain the dominant position.

Nelson has gone for a leg lock! Serra slips out almost immediately though and dives into Nelson's guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Serra trying to control but Nelson is working from the bottom.

Serra got a little sloppy there for a moment and Nelson has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Serra has managed to get both his arms back between Nelson's legs - danger averted.

Nelson has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Serra can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.

Nelson throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
Serra will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.
Serra postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Nelson is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Serra defends well.
Serra trying to control but Nelson is working from the bottom.
Serra is going to have to think about doing something other than just controlling because Nelson is managing to avoid having the position dictated to him.

Nelson manages to escape and get back to his feet.

Nelson looking to shoot here. He's gone for it and he's landed a takedown into mount! Oh, that's bad for Serra!
Matt Serra has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Tyler Nelson is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.

Nelson looking for an armbar but decides to keep the dominant position instead.

And that's the end of the fight!
Tyler Nelson comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Nelson has outworked and out performed his opponent in all aspects of the game today. He was simply too good and the decision should be no more than a formality. 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 Dean Styles scores the fight 27:30
Judge Bruno Lombardi scores the fight 27:30
Judge Reed Andrews scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Tyler Nelson!