PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Houston Floyd (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Nishant Dere (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). The crowd seem to be enjoying Dere's choice of entrance music: MaddijaneMusic/Impossible. Nishant Dere is the more experienced fighter, so let's see if that makes a difference tonight.

Floyd
vs
Dere

201 cm
19
140 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

160 cm
20
130 lbs
1 - 2 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Cuts easily

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Solid 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 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Houston Floyd!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Nishant Dere!
The judges for this bout are Roosa Järviläinen, Ben Zyskovitsi and Arvi Lind.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Both fighters are only really looking to counter, so after a good 30 seconds of circling eachother endlessly, the referee has stepped in and told them both to be more aggressive.
Floyd fails to land the takedown.
Floyd tries for a takedown but Dere sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
Floyd really does look like a pencil wearing a pair of gloves. Let's hope he has a gameplan to suit that ridiculous body shape.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Nice sprawl there from Dere as Floyd shoots in.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Houston Floyd. That's going to take a lot out of him.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Dere shoots in for a takedown but Floyd shows good takedown defense.
Floyd gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily

so Dere counters with a double leg into guard. Good agility.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Dere wants to stand but Floyd has a closed guard, so he can't escape.
Dere wants to stand and escape but instead Floyd has hit a sweep and he's now on top in guard.
Dere has a closed guard, preventing Floyd from standing up.

Floyd stands up and waves to Dere to follow him.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Dere fails with the takedown

and Floyd counters with a nice double leg into side control. Dere won't be happy with that.

Floyd decides to stand up, so the ref orders Dere to his feet.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Dere is defended easily by Floyd.
Dere looks winded!

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Floyd looking to shoot here. He's gone for it and he's landed a takedown into side control! Oh, that's bad for Dere!
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Houston Floyd dominated that round.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

Dere shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Floyd has his takedown stuffed

and Dere counters with a nice double leg into guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Floyd is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.

The ref calls for a clean break and stands the fighters back up. Nishant Dere wasn't active enough on the ground.
Floyd has his takedown stuffed

and Dere counters with a nice double leg into half guard.
Nishant Dere has got the better of the ground game so far.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Floyd pushes Dere off looking to stand but Dere dives back in and keeps control.

Floyd kicks Dere off and gets back to his feet.
Floyd shoots in looking for a takedown but Dere manages to keep the fight standing, pushing Floyd's face into the canvas for good measure before circling away.
Dere's coach down at MMA Sanok Training Center was telling us pre-fight that they have been working on Dere's balance. Obviously they view that as a key factor in the outcome of this fight.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Houston Floyd. That's going to take a lot out of him.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Floyd shoots and misses

and Dere counters with a takedown into side control! That could mean trouble for Floyd!
Floyd tries to escape but Dere is in control.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

Dere stands up.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Floyd misses with a takedown

and Dere decides to take the opportunity to score a takedown. He's landed in Floyd's guard.
This has been an exciting period of action!
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Dere prevents Floyd from getting back to his feet.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Nishant Dere showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
That's time! Floyd's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight. This is the final round!

Floyd doesn't succeed with the takedown

and Dere counters with a shoot takedown into half guard.
Floyd wants to get back to his feet.

Dere decides to stand and escape the position.
Both fighters are looking to counter, which isn't making for the most exciting fight in the world.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Dere is trying hard to land a takedown here. Floyd sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.
Dere takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Dere shoots in looking for a takedown but Floyd manages to keep the fight standing, pushing Dere's face into the canvas for good measure before circling away.

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

so Dere counters with a double leg into guard. Good agility.
Floyd wants to stand and escape but Dere is having none of it.
Dere wants to get up but he can't break Floyd's closed guard. He needs to be careful trying to break the legs open, as he's open to submissions here.
Dere prevents Floyd from getting back to his feet.

The ref stands the fighters back up, due to lack of action by Nishant Dere.
Dere misses with a takedown

and Floyd counters with a nice single leg takedown and he's in Dere's guard now.
Houston Floyd has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Nishant Dere.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Floyd is looking to stand up but Dere won't let him.
We could do with one of the fighters taking the initiative a bit more on the ground - they're both waiting to capitalize on a mistake.
Floyd stops Dere from standing up.
The referee is pacing around the two fighters - he looks like he's thinking about a standup.

Houston Floyd has forced the referee to step in and bring the fight back to the feet.
Floyd shoots in and drives through. Dere sprawls well.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A few boos can be heard. I'm sure they will multiply if the fighters don't pick up the pace.

Floyd closes the distance and gets a trip takedown into side control. Dere quickly recovers to half guard.
Floyd tries to stand but his arm is trapped.

Floyd gets to his feet - back to striking we go!
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Floyd misses with a takedown attempt - Dere sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.

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 Houston Floyd.
I think Floyd 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 Roosa Järviläinen scores the fight 28:29
Judge Ben Zyskovitsi scores the fight 28:29
Judge Arvi Lind scores the fight 29:29

In favor of your winner, by majority decision... Nishant Dere!
Nishant Dere got down on his knees post fight and begged the management for a title shot. 'Please, I want that title shot so bad! Give it to me!'