PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Nick Nova (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and MAX SWAGGER (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Nova
vs
SWAGGER

170 cm
19
155 lbs
2 - 0 - 0

178 cm
20
160 lbs
2 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Prefers ground

BJJ Blue Belt
Basic striking
Solid chin

Attliction

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the lightweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 2 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Nick Nova!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, MAX SWAGGER!
The judges for this bout are Jack Bonds, and Timothy Bukovac.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
A punch combination from SWAGGER misses.
Nova moves in looking to clinch but SWAGGER pushes him off.
Nova closes the distance and clinches up with SWAGGER, looking for a takedown. Nova pushes SWAGGER against the cage but SWAGGER circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.

SWAGGER fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Nova, pushing him back against the cage.

Nova breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Nova closes the distance looking to clinch
and SWAGGER counters with a nice uppercut.

Nova tries to keep at a distance but SWAGGER has taken the fight into the clinch.
Nova tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. SWAGGER just stands there and leans against the cage.

SWAGGER breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Nova wants to clinch but SWAGGER slips to the side
and Nova takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
Nova keeps the fight on the outside.
SWAGGER misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.

SWAGGER darts in and clinches Nova up against the cage.
SWAGGER tries to break the clinch but Nova is controlling the position.
Nova keeps control of SWAGGER as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.
SWAGGER has Nova pressed against the cage.
Nova wants to break the clinch but can't.
Nova wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but SWAGGER has him pressed against the cage.

SWAGGER pulls Nova into guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Nova trying to control the position from guard on top but SWAGGER is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Nova forces his way into half guard.
SWAGGER regains full guard. Nicely done.
Nova working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Nova wants to stand and escape but instead SWAGGER has hit a sweep and he's now on top in guard.
Nova tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Nova keeping moving, preventing SWAGGER from controlling successfully.
SWAGGER is looking to stand up but Nova won't let him.

Nova throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
SWAGGER trying to control but Nova is working from the bottom.

That's two 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.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.
Nova fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Nick Nova. That's going to take a lot out of him.
SWAGGER throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
SWAGGER lands with a slapping head kick.
Nova wants to clinch but SWAGGER slips to the side

and SWAGGER holds on and brings the fighters into a clinch.
Nova pressing his opponent against the cage.
Nova is breathing heavily.
SWAGGER can't break the clinch.
Nova fails to pull the fight into his guard.
Nova with an attempt at a knee that misses.
SWAGGER stops a takedown attempt from Nova.
SWAGGER with a knee to the head.
Nova's head jolts backwards as he takes an uppercut right on the button!
Nova tries to pull guard but SWAGGER won't allow it.
Nova misses with a hook from the clinch.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Nova tries to pull guard but SWAGGER holds him up against the cage and eventually Nova drops back down to his feet.
Nova tries to break the clinch but SWAGGER is controlling the position.
Nova drops to a knee looking for a takedown but SWAGGER gets the underhooks and prevents it.
Nova is looking for a takedown up against the cage. SWAGGER gets underhooks though and prevents the takedown attempt.
Nova tries to pull guard but SWAGGER holds him up against the cage and eventually Nova drops back down to his feet.

SWAGGER breaks from the clinch.

SWAGGER gets in close and instigates a clinch.
SWAGGER tries to land a knee to the head but misses.
Nova prevents SWAGGER from breaking the clinch.
Nova can't break the clinch.
Nova stalling in the clinch but SWAGGER improves position.
Nova avoiding damage as SWAGGER throws knees to the body.
Nova tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.
Nova can't break the clinch.
Nova wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.

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.

SWAGGER breaks the clinch.

SWAGGER pushes Nova up against the cage in a clinch.
Nova throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but SWAGGER blocks it with crossed arms.
Nova drops down for a takedown but doesn't get it.
A short right hand to the side of the head by SWAGGER.
Nova lands a knee to the head there! That was nasty!
Nova tries to land a knee to the head but SWAGGER blocks with his arms.
Nova wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but SWAGGER has him pressed against the cage.
Nova tries to score a body lock takedown but SWAGGER shows good agility there to stay on his feet.
Nova looking for a takedown.
Nova is working for a takedown up against the cage. He can't get it on this occasion though.
Nova wants to break free but SWAGGER has control.

Nova breaks from the clinch.

SWAGGER clinches up against the cage.
Nova jumps guard but SWAGGER stands there with Nova around his waist. Nova gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.
Nova drops to a knee looking for a takedown but SWAGGER gets the underhooks and prevents it.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

MAX SWAGGER dominated that round.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

The fight stays on the outside here - Nova looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
SWAGGER avoids the clinch attempt nicely.

Excellent takedown into side control there by Nova.
SWAGGER is not content to let Nova control the position.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Nova tries to advance to mount but SWAGGER denies him.
SWAGGER is looking to reverse the position.
You can see the frustration on SWAGGER's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.
SWAGGER is trying to improve his position.
SWAGGER is working to avoid the ground and pound but Nova connects with a decent elbow.

That's one minute gone in the round.
SWAGGER is not content to let Nova control the position.
Nova tries to score with some ground and pound. SWAGGER controls his posture well this time though and the shots don't do any damage.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
Nova misses with a takedown attempt
and SWAGGER counters with a series of strikes. Nova will be more careful next time no doubt.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
A combination from SWAGGER does no damage.

SWAGGER bobs and weaves into range and then changes levels and scores with a nice takedown into side control.
Nova gives up the full mount - oops, sloppy defensive grappling there!
SWAGGER in mount throwing good strikes here, bouncing his opponent's head off the canvas.
Nova working to try and regain half guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
SWAGGER looking to control and managing it successfully.
SWAGGER landing strikes, looking to finish!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Nova can't escape the position.
Nova is trying to get back to his feet but can't.
SWAGGER is still in mount, landing shots to his trapped opponent. Nova can't stay in a position like this for much longer.
Nova taking shots to the head.
SWAGGER scoring with strikes but Nova is staying in there.
You get the feeling that Nova really doesn't like being in this position too much.
SWAGGER tucks in and makes sure he doesn't lose the dominant position.
Nova regains half guard.
Nova tries to strike from the bottom but it doesn't land.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
SWAGGER trying to control from half guard but Nova is working away.
SWAGGER lands with an elbow from half guard - that looked like it hurt.
Nova tries to roll over but SWAGGER keeps him under control.
SWAGGER moves nicely into side control.
SWAGGER taking a breather here.
The strikes coming from SWAGGER are missing the target in this wave of attacks.
SWAGGER working the ground and pound but he's contacting the mat, not the fighter.

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.
SWAGGER creates some space and throws a big elbow, but Nova sees it coming and moves his head just enough to avoid the strike.
SWAGGER scores with punches from side control.
Nova tries to escape but SWAGGER is in control.
SWAGGER trying to control the action but Nova is working from the bottom.
SWAGGER working the body and head with strikes.

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

Nova closes the distance and clinches.
A head punch on the inside from Nova fails to land.
Nova changes levels and goes for a takedown here. SWAGGER fights it off and pushes away nicely.
Nice uppercut there from SWAGGER.
SWAGGER scores with a sloppy punch to the body. Not much technique there but it did the business.
SWAGGER looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Nova is fending him off so far but SWAGGER persists. Nope, Nova circles away and we're back to standing.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

MAX SWAGGER showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin! Let's hear some noise people - this is the final round!

Horrible takedown by Nova or perhaps it was just good defense by SWAGGER which made him look bad.
Nova closes the distance and clinches up with SWAGGER, looking for a takedown. Nova pushes SWAGGER against the cage but SWAGGER circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.

SWAGGER rushes Nova and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.
Nova is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.
Nova lands a right hand that snaps the head of SWAGGER backwards.

SWAGGER breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
SWAGGER throws a head kick that looked like it stung.
SWAGGER avoids a low kick by using good footwork.

Nova tries to keep at a distance but SWAGGER has taken the fight into the clinch.

SWAGGER jumps guard.
SWAGGER manages to land a sweep and now he's in mount on top!
Nova is in all sorts of trouble here.
SWAGGER lands a shot to the body, followed up by a shot to the exposed head of his trapped opponent.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Nova is desperately trying to improve his position but SWAGGER has a good base and remains in mount.
Nova is in a horrible position here. SWAGGER smacks him with another shot as he tries to escape the position.
Nova can't escape the position.
The referee warns Nova that he has to improve his position here as he takes two more clean shots to the head.
SWAGGER unloading with bombs!
SWAGGER lands with some vicious ground and pound - can Nova hang on?

Nova is rocked!
SWAGGER lands a heavy elbow.
Oh Nova is still in real trouble! Will he be able to recover?!!
SWAGGER lands a big elbow.
SWAGGER lands with some vicious ground and pound - can Nova hang on?
SWAGGER unloading with bombs!
Nova tries to lock up and control but SWAGGER gives him a forearm to the face and pushes him away.
SWAGGER prevents Nova from getting the reversal.
SWAGGER is still in mount, landing shots to his trapped opponent. Nova can't stay in a position like this for much longer.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Nova is trying to escape the mount.
Nova flailing away with punches but nothing is landing.
Nova is wriggling around trying to escape.
Nova is working hard here to advance position.
Nova seems to have got his legs back now.
Nova gets back to half guard.
Nova tries to roll over but SWAGGER keeps him under control.
Nova throws a strike from the bottom that misses.
SWAGGER is looking to advance position but Nova won't allow it.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Nova is working for an escape here. He's hooked one of SWAGGER's legs and he's managed to sneak out and take SWAGGER's back!
SWAGGER covers up after that shot from Nova.
SWAGGER wants to control his opponent's hands but Nova gets his hands free.
SWAGGER avoids the strikes from Nova.

Nova working for the choke.
Nova missing with strikes from the back.
SWAGGER tries to escape the position - he's now mounted. Is that better or worse? Hard to tell!
Nova controlling the pace for now.
SWAGGER wants to improve position but instead he's given up his back.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
SWAGGER trying to control the position but Nova manages to sink in the hooks.
Nova trying to control.
Nova somehow managing to miss with a strike from the back.
Nova throwing wild punches that miss their target.
Nova has the hooks in. SWAGGER is trying to push off one leg but he has to do so cautiously to avoid being submitted.
Nova tries to keep control of the position but SWAGGER is staying busy.
Nova slows the pace down here. Having a little breather whilst he's in a dominant position, looking to rest and regain some energy, ready to go for the finish.
A lull in the action here.
Nova punches the canvas rather than the man.
Nick Nova has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
SWAGGER avoids the strikes from Nova.

And that's the end of the fight!
MAX SWAGGER comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well SWAGGER 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 Jack Bonds scores the fight 27:30
Judge Percy O'Donnell scores the fight 27:30
Judge Timothy Bukovac scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... MAX SWAGGER!