PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Rock Lee (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Skyler Nelson (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Nelson has chosen One as his entrance music. Skyler Nelson acknowledges the crowd's support as he enters the cage.

Lee
vs
Nelson

175 cm
21
144 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

180 cm
23
145 lbs
2 - 1 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Basic striking
Cuts easily

BJJ Purple Belt
Basic striking
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 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Rock Lee!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Skyler Nelson!
The judges for this bout are Matti Vanhoillinen, Marco Blurström and Roosa Järviläinen.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Nelson fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Lee avoids it really well and circles away.
Rock Lee seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Lee misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.

Nelson scores with a nice takedown into half guard. Let's see what he's got on the ground.
Lee is looking to get full guard. It looks like he might be successful but at the last minute Nelson jumps into side control!
Nelson working the ground and pound but Lee is defending the strikes.

Nelson is looking for a kimura. He might have it! No, Lee has escaped the position, nice work there.
Nelson trying to control the position but Lee is working away.
Nelson throwing strikes but missing, from side control.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Nelson is looking to take a break and control but Lee is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Nelson is trying to ground and pound but Lee uses the momentary lack of control by Nelson to regain half guard.
Nelson wants to lay and pray for a moment but Lee keeps working.
Lee is trying to control but can't.

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

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
A chopping leg kick lands by Lee.
Nelson shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Lee pinned against the cage. Lee gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
Lee misses with a takedown attempt

and Nelson counters with a nice double leg into side control. Lee won't be happy with that.
Lee sneaks back into half guard.
Nelson is trying to control. Lee wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.
Nelson thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Lee's head.
Lee holds on for dear life, maintaining half guard for now.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Lee is trying to control but can't.
Lee tries to get to full guard but Nelson has control of the leg.
Lee has his hands clasped together around Nelson's back. He's all about the action.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Nelson gets to his feet - back to striking we go!
Nelson looks gassed!
Lee connects with a leg kick. He turned his hip over nicely there.
A leg kick checked by Nelson.
Lee rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Nelson moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Lee scores with a leg kick.
A nice leg kick lands there from Lee.

Lee closes the distance and gets a double leg, slamming Nelson to the mat! Nelson manages to get full guard.
Nelson working a defensive guard here.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Lee stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Nelson swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Lee wants to control from the top but Nelson keeps moving.
Nelson controls Lee momentarily but Lee frees himself.
Lee looking to pass the guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Skyler Nelson will probably get the nod.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

Nelson circles away from the clinch attempt

and Nelson counters with a takedown into side control.
Nelson is trying to move to mount but Lee reverses beautifully and ends up in Nelson's guard.
Lee trying to control but Nelson is working from the bottom.
Lee has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.
Lee thows a big elbow that misses.
Nelson working a defensive guard here.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Nelson isolates an arm and boxes in a triangle. Lee stacks Nelson on his neck as he steps over and passes to the side. He's now in a much more dominant position where he can look to do some serious damage. Nice move by Lee!
Nelson is breathing heavily.
Nelson takes an elbow right on the bridge of the nose and winces in pain.
Nelson wants to control but Lee postures up.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Lee wants to lay and pray for a moment but Nelson keeps working.
Lee working the strikes but Nelson uses the opportunity to regain half guard.
Lee blocks the strikes from Nelson.
Nelson is trying to maintain the position but Lee is very close to passing his half guard.
Lee throwing shots but Nelson is blocking nicely.
Nelson missing with punches from the bottom.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.
Lee tries to clinch but fails miserably

and Nelson counters with a shoot takedown. Lee fights it but they end up in guard.
Nelson postures up in Lee's guard and throws a big left but Lee blocks it.
Nelson being controlled here momentarily.

Lee working for a triangle but Nelson defends it easily.
Lee tries to land a sweep but no joy.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Lee wants to improve his position but instead Nelson has moved into half guard.
Lee has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Nelson is working away from the top position though.
Still in half guard, Nelson seems content to control.
Nelson throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
Lee trying to control here.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Skyler Nelson showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action. This is the final round!

A slapping leg kick lands for Lee.
Lee tries for a takedown but Nelson circles away easily

and Nelson counters with a nice double leg into guard.
Lee trying to control the position here.
Nelson forces his way into half guard.
Nelson sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Lee defending well though.
Lee keeping hold of Nelson's head, controlling as best he can.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Lee is refusing to be controlled, as Nelson sits in half guard.
Nelson passes to full mount!
Lee is working to get back to half guard.

That's two 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.
Lee is working hard here to advance position.
Nelson trying to control but Lee is having none of it.
Lee tries to hold on but Nelson postures up.

Nelson has control of Lee's right arm, working for a kimura. It's a bit of a token attempt though and Lee regains control of the situation pretty easily.
Nelson takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Nelson throwing shots from mount but they're not landing.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Nelson throwing strikes but Lee uses the opportunity to regain half guard.
Nelson is a painfully thin specimen of a man. You do wonder whether a good body kick would snap him clean in two.
Nelson thows a huge punch but Lee dodges it nicely.
Skyler Nelson has got the better of the ground game so far.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.
Lee gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily

and Nelson decides to take the opportunity to score a takedown. He's landed in Lee's guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Lee is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Lee manages to land a sweep and now he's in mount on top!
Nelson holding onto his opponent's waist for dear life, as Lee tries to land some strikes to get him to release his grip.
Rock Lee has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Skyler Nelson is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Lee looking to control but Nelson is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.

And that's the end of the fight!
Skyler Nelson comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Nelson 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 Matti Vanhoillinen scores the fight 27:30
Judge Marco Blurström scores the fight 27:30
Judge Roosa Järviläinen scores the fight 27:30

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