PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Jack Daniels (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and adam nichols (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Daniels comes to the cage accompanied by Marinda Lambert - Jack Daniels. We have two fighters making their debuts here, so let's see who comes out of this one with their first professional victory.

Daniels
vs
nichols

188 cm
18
145 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

183 cm
18
146 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Basic striking
Cuts easily

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter striker
Inexperienced

NCC: Nemesis Cage Clothing

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the featherweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Jack Daniels!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, adam nichols!
The judges for this bout are Chris Downing, Frank Dennis and Robert Twigg.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
nichols throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Daniels is looking to clinch but nichols is avoiding it.
nichols throws a head kick that Daniels semi-blocks.

It looks like Jack Daniels has been cut.

Daniels closes the distance and clinches.

nichols jumps guard and drags Daniels to the mat. He's obviously going to be looking for submissions off his back.

Daniels avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
Daniels is looking to work some ground and pound but nichols has wrist control.

nichols looking for a guillotine here but Daniels defends easily.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
nichols is trying to keep Daniels in close.
Daniels passes easily into side control. Nice work.
Daniels postures up a little and throws a couple of hammerfists but they don't connect properly.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Daniels is working nichols over with some ground and pound from side control.
nichols is looking for a sweep.
Daniels is working nichols over with some ground and pound from side control.
Daniels really does look like a pencil wearing a pair of gloves. Let's hope he has a gameplan to suit that ridiculous body shape.
Daniels working the head with strikes.
nichols is trying to get back to half guard. He's pushing on Daniels's leg. He's managed it. Nice work.
nichols taking some punishment here, with Daniels in his half guard.
Daniels lands strikes from half guard.
The referee walks around the fighters to get a better view of the action. Daniels lands a nice short elbow.
Daniels working the head and body with strikes.
Daniels is looking to pass nichols's guard but actually nichols recovers to full guard.
Daniels content to strike from guard, landing some decent shots.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
nichols is looking to stand up but Daniels isn't so interested in that idea.
Daniels looking to pass the guard.
Daniels missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Daniels is breathing heavily.
nichols preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Daniels stops nichols from standing up.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
Daniels misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
Daniels shoots in and drives through. nichols sprawls well.

nichols changes levels and drives through with a really nice takedown into side control. Daniels looks really pissed at himself for not defending that better.
nichols wants to lay and pray for a moment but Daniels keeps working.
nichols working the ground and pound.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
nichols controlling the position from side mount.
Daniels misses with a strike from the bottom.
Daniels is looking for a sweep.
nichols controls the position.
Daniels is positioning himself to get back to half guard.

nichols stands up and beckons Daniels to his feet.
Daniels fails in his attempt to clinch.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are hurling abuse towards the fighters... You can hardly blame them though because there isn't a lot going on in the fight.
nichols tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Daniels swivels and escapes.

Daniels shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Let's see what he's got on the mat.
nichols wants to get back to his feet but Daniels is in a dominant position and won't allow it.
Daniels postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
nichols looking to control.
nichols manages to land a sweep and now he's in mount on top!
Daniels is desperately trying to improve his position but nichols has a good base and remains in mount.
Daniels is working hard here to advance position.

nichols stands up from the dominant position, so we're back on the feet.
Daniels fails with an attempt to clinch.

Daniels gets a clinch.
nichols is pressed up against the cage. Daniels has hold of a leg and is looking to drag nichols down to the mat. nichols avoids the attempt though and has circled away. We're back to striking at a distance.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but adam nichols will probably get the nod.
The cut man is working on Jack Daniels's cut.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

Daniels throws a series of strikes that have nichols backpedaling.

Daniels gets caught flat footed, as nichols shoots in with a quick takedown into guard.
Daniels throwing strikes off his back to little effect.
Daniels is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.
Daniels on his back here. We all know that wrestlers don't like being on their back so let's see if Daniels tries to get out of the position.

nichols stands up and waves to Daniels to follow him.
Daniels fails with an attempt to clinch.
Daniels tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but nichols paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Daniels takes a body kick right on the floating rib. Ouchie.
Daniels fails in his attempt to clinch.
Jack Daniels is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Daniels throws a jab, cross combination which is slipped
and nichols counters with a nice body shot.
nichols moves into range and throws a lovely three punch combination.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Daniels misses with a wild body shot.
nichols closes the distance and clinches up with Daniels, looking for a takedown. nichols pushes Daniels against the cage but Daniels circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.

That's one minute gone in the round.
nichols shoots for a double leg takedown but Daniels sprawls well. He's pushed nichols's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
Daniels tries to clinch but nichols moves away

and nichols counters with a nice double leg into half guard.
Daniels wants to improve his position but nichols is controlling well.
Daniels works his way to full guard. Good work.
nichols working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Daniels trying to punch from his back but it's not doing any damage.
Daniels throwing strikes off his back to little effect.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Daniels throws a couple of weedy looking strikes off his back.
Daniels utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fight is doing enough on the ground.
Daniels scores with a one two! nichols had his feet all tangled up there and couldn't avoid the strikes.

Daniels looking for a takedown here - he's got it.
Daniels distracts nichols with his right hand and drops a big elbow with his other arm.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
nichols wants to sweep here but Daniels controlling him for the moment.
Daniels pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. nichols is keeping the position for now.
Daniels being controlled here momentarily.

nichols pushes Daniels off and scrambles back to his feet.
This has been an exciting period of action!

nichols shoots in for a takedown and gets it.
Daniels wants to get back to full guard but nichols has passed into side control.

nichols stands up from the dominant position, so we're back on the feet.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Daniels circles away from the clinch attempt.
The fight stays on the outside here - Daniels looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Daniels fails with the takedown
and nichols makes him pay by landing a nice hook to the body before moving out of range.
nichols tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Daniels swivels and escapes.
Jack Daniels has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of adam nichols.

Daniels drives through and clinches with nichols against the cage.
nichols prevents the takedown attempt.
Daniels prevents nichols from breaking the clinch.
Daniels has hold of a leg and is looking for a trip takedown. nichols avoids it nicely though and we remain in the clinch.
Daniels wants a takedown but no success here.
Daniels can't get the takedown.
Daniels can't get the takedown.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
nichols has Daniels pressed up against the cage and is working for takedown. Daniels manages to improve position though and keeps the fight standing.
nichols tries to score a body lock takedown but Daniels shows good agility there to stay on his feet.

nichols manages to pull guard. Let's see whether he can land a sub off his back.
Daniels passes nichols's left leg - he's now in half guard.
Daniels thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed nichols's head.
nichols trying to control from the bottom.
Ground and pound from Daniels.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Daniels drops an elbow to the side of nichols's head.
nichols wants to control but Daniels is keeping busy.
Daniels winds up and cracks nichols with a swinging punch to the side of the head.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

adam nichols showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The cut man is working on Jack Daniels's cut.
That's time! Back to the action! This is the final round!

Daniels takes the fight into the clinch.
Daniels tries for a takedown. No joy.
Daniels has hold of a leg and is looking for a trip takedown. nichols avoids it nicely though and we remain in the clinch.
Daniels tries to score a body lock takedown but nichols shows good agility there to stay on his feet.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Jack Daniels. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Daniels is trying to work for a single leg takedown but nichols pulls him back up using the underhooks.

nichols escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Daniels throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
nichols avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Daniels lands a jab. Then a cross. Then finally a nice hook to the body. Good work there by Daniels.
Jab, cross, leg kick. Nice combination by nichols!
nichols takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Daniels is looking to clinch.
Daniels will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Daniels throws a combination but it was largely blocked by nichols.
Daniels fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
Daniels gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily
enabling nichols to counter with a crisp jab.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Daniels.
Daniels shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has nichols pinned against the cage. nichols gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
nichols throws a head kick that misses.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Daniels.

Daniels moves into the clinch successfully.
Daniels can't get the takedown.
nichols stops a takedown attempt from Daniels.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
nichols tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.
nichols has a body lock and is looking for a takedown. Daniels is bouncing around trying to prevent the takedown and somehow he has indeed managed to stay on his feet.
Daniels wants a takedown but no success here.
nichols wants to break free but Daniels has control.
Daniels goes for a takedown in the clinch but nichols prevents it.

nichols manages to pull guard.
Daniels connects with a couple of short punches.
Daniels postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
nichols preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Daniels has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Daniels loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Daniels looking to pass the guard.
nichols trying to keep a closed guard but Daniels is proving a slippery customer.
nichols working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Daniels.
nichols trying to keep a closed guard but Daniels is proving a slippery customer.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
nichols fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
Daniels lands a nice hook to nichols's body. nichols takes it in his stride and looks to land his own strikes.
Daniels digs a good body shot into nichols's ribs.
Daniels tries for a takedown but nichols circles away easily

and nichols counters with a nice double leg into side control. Daniels won't be happy with that.
Daniels regains half guard.
Daniels wants to improve his position but nichols is controlling well.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
nichols trying to control from half guard but Daniels is working away.
Daniels wants to get back to full guard but nichols has passed into side control.
nichols trying to control but Daniels is having none of it.
Daniels flailing away with punches but nothing is landing.
Jack Daniels has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Daniels is trying desperately to improve position.
Daniels looking to escape from mount but he's given up his back!
nichols biding his time, looking for the opening.

And that's the end of the fight!
adam nichols comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got nichols 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 Chris Downing scores the fight 27:30
Judge Frank Dennis scores the fight 27:30
Judge Robert Twigg scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... adam nichols!