PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Nathan Nickles (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Dong Uk (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Uk has chosen Emancipator - Lionheart as his entrance music. Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

Nickles
vs
Uk

180 cm
24
190 lbs
7 - 5 - 0

183 cm
24
195 lbs
9 - 5 - 0

Good wrestling
Solid boxing
Cardio machine

BJJ Brown Belt
Excellent boxer
Solid chin

Arcticus University: London

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the middleweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 7 - 5 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, Nathan Nickles!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 9 - 5 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Dong Uk!
The judges for this bout are Roger Salmon, Colin Fray and Paul Gruel.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Uk lands a jab to Nickles's midsection.
Uk throws a lazy uppercut
and Nickles counters with a stiff right hand.
Nickles keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Nickles tries to counter by clinching up but Uk breaks away and moves out of range.
Nickles looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Nickles jabs Uk right on the nose. Uk blinks but takes it well.
Uk throws a body punch but Nickles moves out of range.
Nickles slips a jab from Uk.
Nickles was looking to counter that move with a punch but didn't quite pull the trigger.
Nickles scores with a straight right hand, right through his opponent's guard.
Uk takes one to the side of the head.
Uk throws a right hand that misses
letting Nickles counter with a right hand.
Nickles scores with a nice looking left hook and follows it up with an uppercut!
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Nice straight punches there by Nickles. You know Roy Jones Jr respects the hands of Nickles.
Uk rushes in with a sloppy looking punch
and Nickles counters with a lovely shot to the body.
Nickles slips a jab from Uk.
Uk throws a hook but Nickles avoids it easily.
Uk misses with a few strikes there.
Nickles misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Nickles fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Uk manages to avoid it.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Uk fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Nickles manages to avoid it.
A punch combination from Uk misses.
Dong Uk is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Uk with a nice cross.
Good exchange - Uk coming out on top.

Nickles shoots in with a lovely double leg takedown. Uk manages to land in full guard to minimise the damage.
Nickles won't allow Uk to sweep him here.
Nickles wants to control from the top but Uk keeps moving.

Nickles postures up as if he's going to throw some strikes but drops back for an ankle! Uk is in big trouble! He looks ready to tap! But no, he's escaped and dives on top of Nickles, into his guard.

Nickles is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Uk is controlling him.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Nickles keeping full guard, as Uk tries to pass.
Uk preventing the sweep.
Uk trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Nickles 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.
Nickles keeping moving, preventing Uk from controlling successfully.
Nickles pulls Uk in close to his closed guard and prevents Uk from doing any damage or advancing position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Nickles keeping moving, preventing Uk from controlling successfully.
Nickles has a closed guard, preventing anything of note from happening. Perhaps he's looking to stall.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
A swing and a miss from Uk.
Nickles jinks towards his opponent looking like he wants to counter with a mid kick but doesn't commit.
Uk has tried to improve his agility in the runup to this fight.
Uk swings widly with a right hand
and Nickles counters with a stiff right hand.
Nickles throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
And an attempted straight right on the counter from Uk! But no joy.
Nickles uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Uk.
Uk connects with a lovely right hand, straight down the pipe.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Nickles defending well as Uk loads up on a big left hand.
An attempted straight right counter from Nickles misses the target.
Uk rushes in with a sloppy looking punch
and Nickles counters with a one-two to the body.
Uk catches Nickles with a nice straight right. He seems pissed - ooooh, it's on now! On like donkey kong!
Uk jabbing away but nothing is landing.
A jab from Uk does it's job there.
Nickles throws a body punch but Uk moves out of range.
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!
Nickles uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Uk.
Nickles throws a jab to the body, straight down the pipe. Boom. That sent Uk stumbling backwards but he manages to regain his composure quickly.
Nickles scores with a jab to the jaw.
Uk looks to score with a jab to the body but Nickles is just out of range.
Nickles uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Uk.
Nickles is really peppering his opponent's head with punches.
Uk throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Nickles will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Nickles blocks a jab.
Nickles moves out of range of the strikes.
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 Nathan Nickles will probably get the nod.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

Uk jabs Nickles to the body, keeping him at a distance.
A head kick misses from Nickles.
Uk throws a lazy right hand but Nickles sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
A little feinted left hand from Nickles on the counter but he doesn't commit to it.
The fighters are starting to get sweaty, which will make takedowns a bit more tricky.
Uk fakes a head shot and lands one to the body.
Uk misses with an uppercut.
Uk looks to throw the jab but Nickles is out of range.
Nickles pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Nice body punch from Uk.
Nickles darts in and out, connecting with a jab.
Nickles missing with a left hand there. Uk was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
Nickles scores with a nice right hand.
Nickles clobbers Uk with an overhand right that has the crowd gasping. That made a horrendous noise.
Nickles missing with a left hand there. Uk was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
Uk throws a hook to the side of Nickles's head but Nickles sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
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!
Uk throws a hook but Nickles blocks it.
An attempted straight right counter from Nickles misses the target.
Uk scores with a crisp jab that stopped Nickles in his tracks.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Uk tries to bum rush Nickles with a series of wild strikes but Nickles uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Nickles uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Uk.
Uk lands with an overhand left.
Uk fakes and then throws a beautiful body shot. Nickles looks a bit winded and takes a step backwards to take a breath.
Nickles connects with a jab.
Uk misses with a body shot.
Nickles looked to counter with a high kick but didn't commit.
Nickles misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Nickles moves out of range of the strikes.
Nickles jabbing away but nothing is landing.
Uk misses with a looping right.
A looping hook to the body misses from Nickles. Uk does a little dance to reset his feet.
Uk lands with a good body shot.
Uk darts in and out, connecting with a jab.
Uk takes a big uppercut there. He seems a bit wobbly but no, he's OK.
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!
Uk misses with a body shot.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Nickles walks into a left hand.
Nickles on the wrong end of a nice jab.
Uk misses with a straight right.
Nickles throws a head kick that Uk semi-blocks.
Nickles thows a left - swing and a miss!
Nickles misses with a body kick.
Uk throws a jab but it's blocked by Nickles.
Uk throws an overhand right that lands on Nickles's shoulder, as Nickles tries to avoid the shot.
A combination from Uk does no damage.
Uk misses with a lunging right hand
and Nickles counters with a low kick, right behind Uk 's knee.
Uk lands with a right hand.
It looks like Nickles has been trying to sharpen up his punching technique, as it looks crisper than last time we saw him.
Nickles throws a head kick but Uk moves out of range.
Uk scores with a jab to the body.
Nickles throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Uk misses with an uppercut.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
A big left from Uk misses.
Uk swings for the body but Nickles moves out of range.
Dong Uk seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

Nickles shoots in and scores a nice double leg takedown into half guard.
Nickles throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
Nickles working over Uk with some ground and pound. Uk looks like he wants out of this position, which is understandable.
Uk is concentrating on defense, preventing Nickles from advancing position.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Uk is trying to maintain the position but Nickles is very close to passing his half guard.

Nickles is working for a submission of some sort.
Uk is working for an escape here. He's hooked one of Nickles's legs and he's managed to sneak out and take Nickles's back!

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Uk working for a choke but Nickles is defending well.
Nickles controlling the position well but he knows he's in a bad spot.
Nickles trying to control the hands but Uk breaks the grip.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Dong Uk showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action. Let's hear some noise people - this is the final round!

Uk lands with an uppercut that bounces Nickles off the cage and back into range.
Nickles scores with a head kick. Uk tried to block it but didn't get his arm up in time.
Uk lands a body shot.
Nickles throws a nice hook to the body that draws an oooh from the crowd.
Nickles tries a head kick but it misses.
Uk looks to land a right hand but Nickles moved out of range.
Uk throws a lazy uppercut
and Nickles connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Nickles moves out of range as Uk strikes.
Uk throws out a loose jab but Nickles uses good head movement to avoid it.
Nickles thinks about countering with a body kick.
Uk ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Nickles moves away.
Nickles misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Uk rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Nickles moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Uk misses with a wild body shot.
Nickles defending well as Uk loads up on a big left hand.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Uk swings wildly with a couple of big hooks
and Uk takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Nickles bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
It looked like Nickles wanted to counter with a hook but didn't fully commit.
Nickles bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
Nickles displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Uk throws out the jab.
Uk thows a left - swing and a miss!
Uk fakes and then throws a beautiful body shot. Nickles looks a bit winded and takes a step backwards to take a breath.
Uk throws a lazy uppercut
and Nickles cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Uk thows a left - swing and a miss!
Uk throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
A quick step to the side and Nickles tries to counter with a shot to the body but it doesn't connect.
Uk falls off balance throwing a combination
letting Nickles counter with a right hand.
Uk misses with a left hand
letting Nickles counter with a right hand.
Nickles's hands are dropping dangerously low here and Uk connects clean with a right hook that sends him down to one knee! Nickles scrambles back to his feet.
Uk swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
Nickles swung with a counter right hand that didn't connect.
Uk darts in and out, connecting with a jab.
Nickles steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Uk.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Uk punishes Nickles's body with a nice straight punch.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Uk missing with a left hand there. Nickles was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
Uk misses with a hook to the body
and Nickles counters with a body kick that brings a smile to the face of both fighters.
Uk takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Uk uses good footwork to get in and out and land a nice right hand before Nickles has time to react.
Nickles cracks Uk with a right hand to the side of the head.
Uk fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Nickles tries to counter by moving into the clinch but Uk manages to circle out of the way.
Uk misses with a looping left.
Uk swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
A quick step to the side and Nickles tries to counter with a shot to the body but it doesn't connect.
Uk scores with a jab to the head.
Uk pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
Uk throws a right hand that misses
letting Nickles counter with a right hand.
Uk misses with a straight right.
Uk misses with a left hand
and Nickles cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Nickles staying out of range there.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Uk thows a left - swing and a miss!
Uk throws a good cross that connects.
Donk. Uk catches Nickles right on the button with a cross.

Nickles drives through with a really nice takedown into side control.
Uk manages to get back to half guard.
Nickles is thwarting Uk's attempts to control the position.

Nickles is sneakily working for an arm triangle but Uk sees it coming and defends easily.
Uk has hold of Nickles's hands but Nickles slips his arm to the side and lands an elbow.
Uk is concentrating on defense, preventing Nickles from advancing position.
Nickles trying to control the action but Uk is working from the bottom.
Uk slips a foot under and gets full guard. Nice work.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Uk looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Nickles postures up in Uk's guard and throws a big left but Uk blocks it.
Nickles is sitting in guard, working some ground and pound.

Uk is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Nickles with a nice head shot there.
Nickles lands a couple of digs.
Nickles in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Nickles trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Nickles landing some decent shots from guard.

And that's the end of the fight!
I would just about give that final round to Dong Uk.
I think Uk has won this one but let's see whether the judges agree with me. 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 Roger Salmon scores the fight 28:29
Judge Colin Fray scores the fight 28:29
Judge Paul Gruel scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Dong Uk!
Dong Uk was full of energy after the big win and talked about how he thinks he can do big things in this sport. The crowd were appreciative of his determination to succeed.