PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Greg Rapport (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Craig Neilson (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Neilson has chosen Hurt Performed By Johnny Cash as his entrance music. Greg Rapport has the edge in experience - let's see if he can make that count tonight.

Rapport
vs
Neilson

175 cm
19
140 lbs
1 - 5 - 0

167 cm
25
143 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

Good wrestling
Basic striking
Experienced

BJJ White Belt
Excellent MT
Inexperienced

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 - 5 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, Greg Rapport!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, Craig Neilson!
The judges for this bout are Paul Gruel, Jeff Smith and Colin Fray.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Rapport gets the takedown into side control.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
We may be looking at a referee standup if the pace doesn't pick up soon.
Neilson takes a nasty elbow to the side of the head.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
The referee asks Rapport politely if he wouldn't mind getting on with it and actually doing something. Rapport prefers to stall for the moment though.
Rapport working away diligently from side control. Landing strikes effectively there - that will score him some points on the judges scorecards.
Rapport wants to lay and pray for a moment but Neilson keeps working.
Neilson is trying to stand back up. He's worked his way up against the cage but Rapport has just dragged him back down to the mat.
Neilson trying to remain calm as Rapport controls from the top position.
Neilson takes a big shot right to the temple there but he's taken it well.
Neilson struggling a bit here.
Rapport moving around in side mount but really he's just happy to control for now.
Rapport has been looking to land a fair amount of strikes on the ground. He might be looking to soften his opponent up in order to work for a submission.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Neilson on the wrong end of some ground and pound.
Neilson is looking for a sweep.
Rapport working away.
Neilson is trying to get back to his feet.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rapport grinds an elbow into Neilson's temple.
Neilson tries to improve position but can't.
Neilson is trying to escape the position but Rapport is controlling the position.
Neilson really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Rapport. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.
Rapport lands a knee to the body and follows it up with some ground and pound to the head. That will wear Neilson down.
Rapport moving around in side mount but really he's just happy to control for now.
Neilson struggling a bit here.
Rapport connects with a decent looking elbow from side control that caused Neilson some visible discomfort.
Rapport looks up at the clock and then as Neilson takes his cue and looks up at the clock too, Rapport smacks him right in the chops with a big elbow! How rude!
Neilson can't do much from the bottom here.
Rapport controlling the position from side mount.
Rapport working the ground and pound from side control.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
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!
Rapport wants to lay and pray for a moment but Neilson keeps working.
Neilson tries to get back to half guard but can't.
Rapport is putting a hurting on Neilson here, landing some big shots from side control.
Rapport creates a bit of distance and throws down some hard shots.
Rapport lands a few punches from side control.
Rapport trying to control the action but Neilson is working from the bottom.
Rapport tries to advance to mount but can't.
Rapport is working Neilson over with some ground and pound from side control.
Neilson is not content to let Rapport control the position.
Rapport landing with strikes to the head and body from side control.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Rapport landing with strikes to the head and body from side control.
The referee asks Rapport politely if he wouldn't mind getting on with it and actually doing something. Rapport prefers to stall for the moment though.
Rapport connects with a decent looking elbow from side control that caused Neilson some visible discomfort.
Rapport trying to control the action but Neilson is working from the bottom.
Rapport is putting a hurting on Neilson here, landing some big shots from side control.
Rapport working away.
Rapport looks up at the clock and then as Neilson takes his cue and looks up at the clock too, Rapport smacks him right in the chops with a big elbow! How rude!
Rapport lands a nice forearm strike.
Neilson is positioning himself to get back to half guard.
Rapport is pausing for a moment. What's he doing? It looks like he's clearing his nose. Oh dude! He's shot a load of snot all down Neilson's shoulder. That is not cool.
Rapport working the ground and pound.
Neilson is positioning himself to get back to half guard.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Rapport wants to lay and pray for a moment but Neilson keeps working.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Rapport controlling from side mount.
Rapport cracks Neilson with a big elbow.
Rapport is moving around in side control but his primary objective seems to be to maintain the position.
Rapport trying to control the action but Neilson is working from the bottom.
Rapport is working Neilson over with some ground and pound from side control.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Neilson is trying to escape the position but Rapport is controlling the position.
Rapport lands a decent elbow from side control.
We get told so often about how wrestlers don't like to be on their backs. Let's see if Neilson can do anything to dispel that myth.
Rapport works a knee to the body and follows up with a nice elbow to the head.
Rapport lands an elbow.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Greg Rapport dominated that round.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action.

Neilson is looking to clinch.
Rapport shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Neilson as he jumps to the side.
Neilson tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Neilson is looking to clinch.
Neilson wants to clinch up but Rapport keeps it at a distance.
Rapport looks for a takedown but Neilson sprawls well.
Rapport circles away from the clinch attempt.
Neilson tries to clinch up.
Nice sprawl there from Neilson as Rapport shoots in.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Greg Rapport. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Rapport shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Neilson as he avoids it easily.
Neilson jabs away that one connects to the head of his opponent.

Neilson clinches.
Rapport is trying to drag Neilson to the mat but Neilson just about manages to keep his footing. He used the cage to his advantage there.
Neilson with an attempt at a knee that misses.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Neilson unloads a knee to the mid-section.
Neilson working Rapport over with knees to the body.
A battle for position here, against the cage.
Neilson stops a takedown attempt from Rapport.
Neilson tries to land a knee to the head but misses.
Neilson tries to land a knee to the head but misses.
Rapport has dropped down and is looking to force the takedown but it's defended by Neilson after a bit of a struggle.
Neilson with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.
A real battle for position is taking place between these two warriors.
Neilson tries to land a knee to the head but misses.
Rapport goes for a takedown in the clinch but Neilson prevents it.
Rapport has a body lock and is looking for a takedown. Neilson is bouncing around trying to prevent the takedown and somehow he has indeed managed to stay on his feet.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Neilson is defending well against a takedown attempt.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Neilson's corner are urging him to control the action in the clinch for a moment, rather than mount any serious offense. I'm sure the crowd appreciate those instructions... not.
Rapport avoids a wild elbow strike from Neilson.
Neilson looking to throw knees to the head but Rapport is blocking nicely.
Rapport drops down for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Kneeeeees! The crowd are calling for knees to the body. Neilson obliges.
Neilson tries a knee to the head but he's missed.
Rapport can't get the takedown.
Rapport has hold of a leg and is looking for a trip takedown. Neilson avoids it nicely though and we remain in the clinch.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Rapport is trying to work for a single leg takedown but Neilson pulls him back up using the underhooks.
Rapport wants a takedown but no success here.
Rapport goes for a takedown in the clinch but Neilson prevents it.
Rapport on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
Neilson with a knee to the head.
A battle for position here, against the cage.
Neilson utilising his Muay Thai to score with a knee to the body.
Rapport being controlled against the cage.
Neilson lands a knee to the head.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Rapport being controlled against the cage.
Neilson gets underhooks to prevent Rapport's takedown attempt.
Rapport is trying to work for a single leg takedown but Neilson pulls him back up using the underhooks.
Neilson with an attempt at a knee that misses.
Neilson is trying to stall.
A bit of stalling here from Neilson.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Neilson tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Rapport avoids it.
Neilson landing knees to the head.
Neilson putting his Muay Thai to good use. He has Rapport in a tight clinch and is doing some damage with knees to the body.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Craig Neilson showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action! So, we enter the final round. Let's see if either fighter can bring us a finish, or whether we're going to the judges scorecards.

Nice takedown defense from Neilson. No joy for Rapport on that attempt.
Rapport swats away the attempt to clinch by Neilson.
Neilson tries to close the distance and clinch up but Rapport swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Greg Rapport seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Neilson tries to clinch but Rapport moves out of range.
No luck for Rapport with that takedown attempt.
Rapport circles away from the clinch attempt.
Neilson is looking to clinch.
Rapport has a takedown stuffed.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Greg Rapport. That's going to take a lot out of him.

Rapport bobs and weaves into range and then changes levels and scores with a nice takedown into side control.
Rapport controls the position.
Sloppy strikes there by Rapport.
Neilson wants to control but Rapport postures up.
Rapport tries to land with some ground and pound but misses.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rapport trying to control the position but Neilson is working away.
A lull in the action here as Rapport stalls from top position.
Neilson is working hard to escape and get back to his feet. After a battle for position, Rapport asserts his dominance and retains side control.
Rapport scoring with punches from side control.
Rapport controls the position.
Neilson is trying to stand back up. He's worked his way up against the cage but Rapport has just dragged him back down to the mat.
Rapport scores with punches from side control.
The referee asks Rapport politely if he wouldn't mind getting on with it and actually doing something. Rapport prefers to stall for the moment though.
Rapport working the head with strikes.
Rapport grinds an elbow into Neilson's temple.
Rapport controls the position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Rapport seems to have a rather negative gameplan on the ground. He seems keen to just score the takedown and hold down Neilson for as long as he can get away with.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Neilson is looking for a sweep.
Neilson is trying to escape and get back to his feet.
Neilson takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Rapport lands a knee to the body and a forearm to the face.
Neilson is pushing Rapport's head away, looking to escape. Rapport manages to hold on to the position though.
Rapport works a knee to the body and follows up with a nice elbow to the head.
Rapport landing strikes.
Neilson taking a bit of punishment here - Rapport scoring with strikes.
Rapport grinds an elbow into Neilson's temple.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Neilson is looking for a sweep.
Rapport controlling from side mount.
Rapport creates a bit of distance and throws down some hard shots.
Rapport cracks Neilson with an elbow. That is naaassty.
Rapport is maintaining the dominant position - no doubt Neilson will start to get frustrated soon if he's not already.
Neilson takes an elbow right on the bridge of the nose and winces in pain.
Neilson is trying to escape the position but Rapport is controlling the position.
Rapport is chipping away with strikes.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Rapport connects with a decent looking elbow from side control that caused Neilson some visible discomfort.
Neilson is sneaking out the side here. He's bucked Rapport off and has taken his back!
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!

Neilson has his opponent's back but Rapport is looking to stand. He manages to get to his feet and shakes off Neilson.
Neilson tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Rapport paws at him with a jab and circles away.

Rapport throws a loose over hand right and dives in with a double leg takedown. Neilson tries to sprawl but it's too late and the fighters hit the mat. Rapport is in Neilson's guard.
Rapport is working the ground and pound from guard. He might want to try advancing position though to get more of an impact.
Rapport stays in close to Neilson's body and controls the position.
Rapport with a flurry of punches that miss.
Neilson trying to control the position.
Rapport passes into half guard.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Neilson is in trouble now - Rapport has advanced to mount!
Neilson is working to get back to half guard.

And that's the end of the fight!
Greg Rapport showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Rapport has won this one but let's see what the judges have to say. 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 Paul Gruel scores the fight 29:28
Judge Jeff Smith scores the fight 29:28
Judge Colin Fray scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Greg Rapport!