PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Skyler Nelson (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Bubba Willis (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Nelson's entrance music is One. A fine choice. These two fighters really are very evenly matched on the feet - it will be fascinating to see who can assert themselves in that aspect of the fight.

Nelson
vs
Willis

180 cm
28
145 lbs
7 - 6 - 0

185 cm
23
140 lbs
3 - 8 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Basic striking
Granite chin

BJJ Purple Belt
Basic striking
Knockout power

No Limits

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 7 - 6 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Skyler Nelson!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 3 - 8 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Bubba Willis!
The judges for this bout are Ben Zyskovitsi, Marco Blurström and Arvi Lind.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
A punch combination from Nelson misses.

Nelson drops down and drives through with a powerful takedown into guard.
Nelson trying to control the position from guard on top but Willis is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Willis is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Nelson trying to control the position from guard on top but Willis is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Nelson is going to have to think about doing something other than just controlling because Willis is managing to avoid having the position dictated to him.

We're going to have a standup here because Skyler Nelson wasn't active enough for the referee's liking.

Willis tries to keep at a distance but Nelson has taken the fight into the clinch.

Nelson lands a takedown into guard.
Nelson stopping the sweep attempt from Willis.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Willis has his foot on Nelson's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Nelson works his way back into a safe position though.
Nelson wanted to stand there but Willis had control of the position.
Willis is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Nelson stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Willis swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Nelson wants to control from the top but Willis keeps moving.
Willis bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Nelson's guard.
Willis throwing strikes from guard but Nelson blocks nicely.
Willis working some strikes from top position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Nelson throwing some rather feeble looking strikes off his back.

Nelson working for a triangle but Willis defends it easily.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
The fighters are going at a pretty good pace and they're both starting to sweat now.
Willis lands a couple of digs.
Both fighters really going for it on the ground here!
Nelson keeping moving, preventing Willis from controlling successfully.

Nelson looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Nelson is trying to control the position from the bottom.

Nelson has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Willis can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
Willis missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Willis wants to control from the top but Nelson keeps moving.
Willis lands a couple of decent looking shots.
Willis with a couple of shots to the head there. Not particularly brutal.
Willis throwing strikes from guard but Nelson blocks nicely.
Willis scoring with punches to the head and body.
Nelson can't keep his opponent in guard - Willis advances to half guard, no doubt looking to mount.

Willis is working for a submission of some sort.
Nelson trying to control from the bottom.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Nelson wants to get back to full guard.

Willis is sneakily working for an arm triangle but Nelson sees it coming and defends easily.

Nelson looking for submissions off his back.
Willis is trying to control. Nelson wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.
Willis tries to pass to full mount but Nelson defends it.

Willis is looking for a kimura but he's never going to get it from there.
The fighters are battling for position here. Nelson manages to regain full guard. Nice work.
The fans in attendance giving it up for the two fighters, who have really let it all hang out in the last minute or so!
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.

Nelson has his foot on Willis's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Willis works his way back into a safe position though.
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 Skyler Nelson will probably get the nod.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

Nelson manages to get an easy takedown there - catching Willis on his heels. He'll look to pass Willis's guard now, I'm sure.

Nelson drops back looking for a leg! Willis is in trouble here! The fighters roll with the hold and Willis manages to kick Nelson off! Nelson jumps back into Willis's guard.
Willis lands a beautiful switch and he's in full mount! That could spell trouble for Nelson!
Willis with good strikes from the mount here!
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Nelson really trying hard to get back to half guard here.
Willis trying to control but Nelson is having none of it.
Nelson wants to hold on but Willis pushes him away.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Willis looks like he's working for a submission but he's not found anything just yet.
Nelson really does look like a pencil wearing a pair of gloves. Let's hope he has a gameplan to suit that ridiculous body shape.
Willis misses with a series of strikes from mount. He'll no doubt be working on his ground and pound when he gets back to the gym.
Nelson is looking to get to half guard.
Willis thowing strikes but they're hitting the gloves, not doing any damage.
Nelson keeping his composure momentarily, calmly looking to get back to half guard.
Nelson takes a big shot to the head but keeps on trying to improve his position.
Willis avoids the attempt from Nelson to control.
Willis trying to control but Nelson is having none of it.

Willis goes for an armbar but Nelson turns quickly into his guard - lovely anticipation from Nelson.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Nelson pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Willis is keeping the position for now.

Willis looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
Bubba Willis has got the better of the ground game so far.
Willis trying to control the position.
Nelson working in close now, lands a nice elbow to the side of Willis's head.
Willis wants to sweep but no luck.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Nelson stands and throws Willis's legs to the side, diving into side control.
Willis struggling a bit here.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Nelson is looking for a kimura. He might have it! No, Willis has escaped the position, nice work there.
Willis is moving his hips around well on the bottom and has managed to get back to half guard.
Willis controlling the position for now.

Nelson postures up and decides to stand up, from the half guard. The ref calls for Willis to stand up.
Skyler Nelson seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

Nelson pushes Willis up against the cage in a clinch.
Willis is working on a leg, looking for a takedown but Nelson is defending well.

Nelson gets double underhooks and manages to take the fight to the ground.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Willis has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Nelson can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
Willis working a defensive guard but Nelson passes into half guard.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Well, if Nelson is going to just lie there, perhaps we should talk about what we're having for dinner tonight… I'm having a ham and pineapple pizza… Yum. Can't wait.
Willis slips a foot under and gets full guard. Nice work.
Nelson controlling from the top position.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Nelson stopping the sweep attempt from Willis.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close second round but I would say that Skyler Nelson will probably get the nod.
That's the end of the interval. I'm sure that seemed a lot quicker than a minute for our two fighters! Back to the action. Let's hear some noise people - this is the final round!

Nelson drops down and drives through with a powerful takedown into guard.

Willis is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Nelson defends well.
Willis not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Nelson tries to free his leg and advance position but Willis is retaining full guard.
Willis lands a beautiful switch and he's in full mount! That could spell trouble for Nelson!
Willis landing shots from mount.
Willis throws an elbow from mount that misses. Lucky escape for Nelson because Willis loaded up on that one.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Willis throws an elbow from mount that misses. Lucky escape for Nelson because Willis loaded up on that one.
Willis punching from mount but Nelson doing a good job of avoiding damage.
Nelson tries to hold on but Willis pushes him away.
Nelson is desperately trying to improve his position but Willis has a good base and remains in mount.
Nelson flailing away with punches but nothing is landing.
Nelson bucks up and manages to get a nice reversal! He's in guard on the top - nicely done!
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Willis has his hands on Nelson's head, controlling the position.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Nelson accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.

Willis has his foot on Nelson's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Nelson works his way back into a safe position though.
Nelson trying to control the position from guard on top but Willis is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Nelson accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Nelson pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Willis is keeping the position for now.
Nelson wants to control from the top but Willis keeps moving.
Nelson is working the ground and pound from guard. He might want to try advancing position though to get more of an impact.
Nelson wants to control from the top but Willis keeps moving.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!

Willis is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
Nelson tries to stand but Willis is controlling from the bottom.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Willis trying to keep a closed guard but Nelson is proving a slippery customer.
Nelson wants to control from the top but Willis keeps moving.
We've had a lack of effective grappling in the last minute or so, which could well see a referee standup.
Willis has a butterfly guard looking to sweep but Nelson has passed into side control.
Nelson throws a knee to the body but it doesn't do much damage.
Bubba Willis has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

Nelson is trying to get an arm triangle but Willis is defending well.
Nelson trying to control the position but Willis is working away.
Willis sneaks back into half guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Nelson content to sit in half guard and control for a moment.

Nelson seems to be looking for submissions.
Nelson is trying to control the action in half guard but Willis is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.
Skyler Nelson is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Willis is trying to control but can't.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Willis is pressing down on Nelson's left leg trying to get back to full guard. He's managed it.
Nelson stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Willis swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Nelson 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.

And that's the end of the fight!
That was a close round. You could make an argument for either fighter but I would give it to Skyler Nelson.
Well Nelson has outscored his opponent in every aspect of the fight today. Only a scarily incompetent judge or two will keep him from a well deserved win... 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 Ben Zyskovitsi scores the fight 30:27
Judge Marco Blurström scores the fight 30:27
Judge Arvi Lind scores the fight 30:27

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