PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Boyer Nickelsen (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Zaknafein DoUrden (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Both fighter's entrance songs getting the crowd jumping here.

Nickelsen
vs
DoUrden

201 cm
18
170 lbs
0 - 3 - 0

183 cm
18
165 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

Good wrestling
Basic striking
Prefers ground

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Tends to cut

Xotic Fruits

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 0 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Boyer Nickelsen!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Zaknafein DoUrden!
The judges for this bout are Paulo Santos, Mauricio Rocha and Felipe Paraventi.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
DoUrden lunges in with an uppercut that skims his opponent's chin.

Nickelsen shoots in and gets a takedown into half guard. Nickelsen showed some decent athleticism there.
Nickelsen not doing much here.
DoUrden is trying to maintain the position but Nickelsen is very close to passing his half guard.
DoUrden is trying to get back to full guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
DoUrden trying to control but Nickelsen postures up.
Nickelsen knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for DoUrden on the ground.
DoUrden blocking the ground and pound attempt from Nickelsen.

DoUrden is looking to sinch up a gullotine here but Nickelsen pulls his head out easily.
Nickelsen will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.
Nickelsen is taking a breather. DoUrden says something to him but it's hard to make out. Perhaps he's telling him to get on with it and actually do something.
DoUrden looks like he's trying to stand up.
Nickelsen 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 one minute gone in the round.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.
DoUrden connects with a looping left hand that seems like it dazed Nickelsen momentarily.

DoUrden gets caught flat footed, as Nickelsen shoots in with a quick takedown into guard.

Nickelsen avoids a guillotine attempt easily.

DoUrden has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Nickelsen can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
DoUrden looks gassed!
Nickelsen wants to pass the guard but DoUrden is keeping the position.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Nickelsen seems content to control from guard here. He's going to have to remain active though if he doesn't want to get stood back up.
DoUrden wants to get back to his feet but Nickelsen is in a dominant position and won't allow it.
Nickelsen controlling from the guard. I say controlling but really, he's stalling.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Nickelsen throwing strikes but missing.
Nickelsen stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. DoUrden swivels though and keeps the full guard.
DoUrden can't do much from the bottom at the moment, as Nickelsen controls the pace.
Nickelsen preventing the sweep.
Nickelsen throwing strikes from guard but DoUrden blocks nicely.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
DoUrden lands a beautiful switch and he's in full mount! That could spell trouble for Nickelsen!
Nickelsen is in all sorts of trouble here.
DoUrden wants to take Nickelsen's back here but Nickelsen is holding on to an arm, himself looking to escape.
Nickelsen is working to get back to half guard.
Nickelsen prevents DoUrden from taking his back.
Nickelsen wants to control but DoUrden is having none of it.
Nickelsen is desperately trying to get back to half guard.
Nickelsen regains half guard.

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.

DoUrden is working for a kimura but Nickelsen is defending it quite comfortably.
Nickelsen tries to roll over but DoUrden keeps him under control.

DoUrden seems to be working for a kimura but Nickelsen defends the submission attempt.

DoUrden is trying to work for a kimura but Nickelsen is defending well.
Nickelsen wants to control but DoUrden is keeping busy.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Nickelsen.
Zaknafein DoUrden seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
DoUrden has his takedown stuffed

and Nickelsen counters with a takedown into side control.
Nickelsen controls the position from side control.
DoUrden is looking to reverse the position.
Nickelsen misses with an attempted head punch from side control.
DoUrden is positioning himself to get back to half guard.
Nickelsen controlling the position.
Nickelsen's ground tactics aren't going to win him many fans. Let's hope he's got fireworks for us if he gets back to his feet because he's not doing much on the ground.
Nickelsen working the ground and pound but he's contacting the mat, not the fighter.

That's one minute gone in the round.
DoUrden managing to avoid any damage from the strikes thrown by Nickelsen.
Nickelsen tries to move to mount but DoUrden blocks the move with his legs.
DoUrden gets one leg under and gets the fight to half guard.
Nickelsen trying to mount his opponent but DoUrden defends it.
Nickelsen content to control rather than advance.

DoUrden looking for submissions off his back.
DoUrden is breathing heavily.
Nickelsen controlling the pace.

That's two 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.

The referee stands the fighters back up. Boyer Nickelsen just wasn't active enough from the dominant position.
Nickelsen changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. DoUrden tries to avoid it but Nickelsen manages to keep hold of a leg and drag DoUrden to the ground. DoUrden escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
DoUrden fails with the takedown

and Nickelsen counters with a single leg into guard. DoUrden didn't expect that.
Nickelsen seems content to control from guard here. He's going to have to remain active though if he doesn't want to get stood back up.
Nickelsen has controlled the position for a good 20 seconds, which will no doubt be starting to frustrate his opponent.
Nickelsen throwing strikes but missing.
Nickelsen has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.
DoUrden wants to stand up but Nickelsen is controlling him.
Nickelsen controlling from the top position.
Nickelsen in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Nickelsen slows down the pace of the fight, as he sits in guard.
Nickelsen throwing strikes from guard but DoUrden blocks nicely.
Nickelsen is stalling in the full guard.

DoUrden is looking for a triangle but Nickelsen pushes his legs off easily.
Nickelsen not doing a lot at the moment. He'll have to show some more aggression or the fight will get stood up.

DoUrden is looking for a triangle but Nickelsen pushes his legs off easily.
DoUrden lands a beautiful switch and he's in full mount! That could spell trouble for Nickelsen!

DoUrden looking to secure an arm triangle but Nickelsen defends it well.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
DoUrden avoids the attempt from Nickelsen to control.
Nickelsen is controlling an arm, preventing DoUrden from taking his back. Although keeping him in mount is no better to be honest.
Nickelsen tries to hold on but DoUrden postures up.

The referee stands the fighters back up. Boyer Nickelsen just wasn't active enough from the dominant position.
DoUrden misses with a double jab.
DoUrden shoots and misses

and Nickelsen counters with a shoot takedown into half guard.
Boyer Nickelsen has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Zaknafein DoUrden.
Nickelsen drops an elbow to the side of DoUrden's head.
DoUrden tries to get to full guard but Nickelsen has control of the leg.
Nickelsen sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. DoUrden defending well though.
Nickelsen passes the guard and advances to mount!
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Boyer Nickelsen dominated that second round.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action! This is the final round!

Nickelsen closes the distance and clinches up, looking for a takedown. He shifts his weight and gets a nice trip into half guard.
DoUrden is looking to control Nickelsen's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can DoUrden avoid being mounted?
DoUrden wants to get back to his feet.
Nickelsen trying to control the action but DoUrden is working from the bottom.
Nickelsen controlling the pace.
DoUrden wants to get back to full guard.
Nickelsen controlling the action here.
DoUrden flails away from the bottom but he's not doing any damage.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Nickelsen shoots in looking for a takedown. DoUrden tries to sprawl out of it but Nickelsen keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. DoUrden manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
DoUrden swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.

That's one minute gone in the round.
DoUrden moving in and out of range nicely, whilst landing the scoring shot.

Nickelsen scores a takedown into full mount!
DoUrden is really trying hard to get back to his feet.
DoUrden takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
DoUrden tries to reverse the position but Nickelsen maintains control.
Nickelsen raining down shots from the mount!
DoUrden is desperately trying to improve his position but Nickelsen has a good base and remains in mount.
DoUrden tries to hold on but Nickelsen pushes him away.
DoUrden keeping his composure momentarily, calmly looking to get back to half guard.
Nickelsen unloading with bombs!
DoUrden is looking to get to half guard.
Nickelsen controlling the position easily from mount.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
DoUrden is looking to improve his position but Nickelsen isn't that keen on the idea.
DoUrden is squirming around, avoiding Nickelsen's attempts to control the action.
DoUrden is trying to get to the cage to help him get back to his feet.
Nickelsen thowing strikes but they're hitting the gloves, not doing any damage.
Nickelsen prevents DoUrden from getting the reversal.
Boyer Nickelsen overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
DoUrden takes a big shot to the head but keeps on trying to improve his position.
Nickelsen controlling the pace for now.
DoUrden is bucking up trying to escape but Nickelsen cracks him with another couple of good strikes.
DoUrden can't escape the position.
Nickelsen takes a little breather and maintains the position. The referee will be looking for him to stay active from such a dominant position though.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Nickelsen looking to finish DoUrden with some ground and pound. This is bad for DoUrden!
DoUrden is trying to escape the mount.
Nickelsen controlling his opponent.
Nickelsen trying to control but DoUrden is having none of it.

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.
DoUrden bucks up and manages to get a nice reversal! He's in guard on the top - nicely done!

DoUrden drops back for a leg! It's a sloppy attempt though and DoUrden jumps back into guard quickly, to retain the dominant position.
DoUrden being controlled here momentarily.
DoUrden trying to pass the guard. He's being very persistent here but Nickelsen manages to land a sweep and now he's on top!

DoUrden looking for a guillotine here but Nickelsen defends easily.
Zaknafein DoUrden has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
DoUrden being controlled here, momentarily.

And that's the end of the fight!
Boyer Nickelsen showed his dominance in that final round.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Nickelsen, 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 Paulo Santos scores the fight 30:27
Judge Mauricio Rocha scores the fight 30:27
Judge Felipe Paraventi scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Boyer Nickelsen!