PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Mattia Nicoletti (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Pencil Neck (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). The crowd seem to be enjoying Neck's choice of entrance music: Welcome to the jungle. Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Nicoletti
vs
Neck

175 cm
35
185 lbs
14 - 10 - 1

182 cm
43
178 lbs
27 - 37 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Excellent MT
Insanely flexible

Good wrestler
Great elbows
Heavy handed

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the welterweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 14 - 10 - 1, fighting out of Las Vegas, Mattia Nicoletti!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 27 - 37 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Pencil Neck!
The judges for this bout are Alan Glass, Gwen Towbar and Wesley Smith.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Nicoletti throws a half hearted mid kick.
Nicoletti cracks the inside of Neck's front leg.

The fight moves into the clinch position.
Neck wants to take the fight to the mat but Nicoletti manages to get underhooks and keep the fight in the clinch.

Neck tightens his grip and picks Nicoletti up, before dumping him to the ground. Nicoletti manages to land in guard.
Nicoletti looking to hit a scissor sweep but Neck is one step ahead there.
Nicoletti trying to control the position.
Nicoletti has been talking about how he's improved his wrestling in the run up to the fight so let's see if that's enough to sway the balance.
Neck connects with a couple of short punches.
Neck has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Neck trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Neck throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Nicoletti works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Neck scoring with some ground and pound.
Nicoletti wants to sweep here but Neck controlling him for the moment.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Nicoletti manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Neck manages to get himself to full guard.

Nicoletti stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Neck swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Nicoletti being controlled here momentarily.
Nicoletti wants to pass the guard but Neck is keeping the position.

Neck is looking for a triangle but Nicoletti pushes his legs off easily.
Nicoletti trying to control but Neck is working from the bottom.
Neck trying to control the position.
Neck keeping moving, preventing Nicoletti from controlling successfully.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Nicoletti accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Neck is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.

Neck wants to free his trapped foot but Nicoletti is holding on for dear life with his legs.
Neck landing with strikes to the body and head, softening up his opponent.
Nicoletti gets full guard.
Neck landing some decent shots from guard.
Neck throws a big elbow that misses.
Neck throws a big right hand that misses.
Nicoletti working a defensive guard here.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Neck lands a couple of decent looking shots.
Nicoletti is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Neck's corner is telling him to maintain position.

Neck drops back looking for a leg! Nicoletti is in trouble here! The fighters roll with the hold and Nicoletti manages to kick Neck off! Neck jumps back into Nicoletti's guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Nicoletti looking to control.
Nicoletti utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Neck content to strike from guard, landing some decent shots.
Neck trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Neck trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Nicoletti utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Nicoletti looking to hit a scissor sweep but Neck is one step ahead there.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
There's not a lot going on here and the crowd are letting the fighters know they're not willing to tolerate a lack of action.
Nicoletti is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.

Nicoletti looking to pass the half guard. Not this time.
Neck is refusing to be controlled, as Nicoletti sits in half guard.
Nicoletti works his foot free and advances to mount.
Neck wants to try and get back to his feet.
Neck is in a horrible position here. Nicoletti smacks him with another shot as he tries to escape the position.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Neck regains half guard.
Nicoletti is taking a breather. Neck says something to him but it's hard to make out. Perhaps he's telling him to get on with it and actually do something.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Neck misses with a takedown attempt - Nicoletti sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
Neck looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
As Neck tries to get set, Nicoletti tries to push him back and clinch up but Neck manages to avoid the attempt.

Nicoletti clinches up against the cage.
Neck on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
Nicoletti lands an elbow inside.

It looks like Pencil Neck has been cut.
Nicoletti lands a glancing elbow in the clinch.
Nicoletti looks to throw an elbow but misses.
Neck avoiding damage as Nicoletti throws knees to the body.
Nicoletti tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Neck avoids it.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Neck tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Nicoletti avoids it.
Nicoletti with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.
Neck managing to block the knees to the body from Nicoletti.

Neck has managed to pull guard. Let's see whether he can work an aggressive guard. It will also be interesting to see what tactics Nicoletti uses from the top position.
Neck trying to keep a closed guard but Nicoletti is proving a slippery customer.
Nicoletti tries to free his leg and advance position but Neck is retaining full guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Neck looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
Nicoletti trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Nicoletti is fighting to break Neck's control of his arms but Neck is doing a good job of controlling the position at the moment.

Neck has scooted to the edge of the canvas and used the cage to get back to his feet. Nicoletti has stuck on his opponent and is forcing him back against the cage.
Nicoletti tries to land knees in the clinch but Neck avoids the damage to the body.
Nicoletti throws an elbow but it misses.
Nicoletti tries to throw a body punch but Neck avoids it by throwing Nicoletti back against the cage.
Neck is trying to drag Nicoletti to the mat but Nicoletti just about manages to keep his footing. He used the cage to his advantage there.
Mattia Nicoletti has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Pencil Neck.
Nicoletti missing with knees to the body.
Neck blocks an elbow strike from Nicoletti.
Nicoletti lands an elbow inside that Neck shrugs off.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Nicoletti is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Neck is defending well for now.
Neck on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
Neck tries to stall but Nicoletti uses the opportunity to gain a better position.
Nicoletti is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Neck is defending well for now.
Neck goes for a takedown in the clinch but Nicoletti prevents it.

Neck manages to pull guard. Let's see whether he can land a sub off his back.
Neck looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Neck keeping moving, preventing Nicoletti from controlling successfully.
Nicoletti advances position into side control!
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!
Neck can't do much from the bottom here.
Nicoletti advances to full mount.
Nicoletti wants to control the pace but Neck is squirming around nicely.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Neck is in a horrible position here, under a barrage of strikes, he's managing to avoid any damage.
Poor strikes thrown by Nicoletti there. More accuracy and less frantic strikes would help!
Nicoletti putting on the heat here with some good ground and pound!
Neck is writhing around trying to get back to his feet.
Nicoletti thuds his fist into the canvas! Oooouch!
Neck slips a leg in and gets back to half guard.
Pencil Neck has got the better of the ground game so far.
Neck manages to get to full guard.

Nicoletti got a little sloppy there for a moment and Neck has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Nicoletti has managed to get both his arms back between Neck's legs - danger averted.
Neck not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Neck looking to hit a scissor sweep but Nicoletti is one step ahead there.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Neck is still trying to improve position.

Neck had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Nicoletti defends it easily.
Nicoletti trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Neck lands a beautiful sweep and he's now moved into his opponent's guard.

Nicoletti is trying to keep Neck in close.

Nicoletti has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Neck can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Neck accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Mattia Nicoletti dominated that second round.
The cut man is working on Pencil Neck's cut.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action. And we move into the final round!

Neck shoots in but Nicoletti avoids the takedown attempt easily.
Nicoletti stuffs the takedown attempt from Neck. Neck gets slowly back to his feet.

Neck has managed to clinch.
Neck has a body lock and is looking for a takedown. Nicoletti is bouncing around trying to prevent the takedown and somehow he has indeed managed to stay on his feet.
Mattia Nicoletti has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Pencil Neck.
Nicoletti trying to stall but Neck improves his position.
Nicoletti comes over the top with an elbow. That landed flush.
Mattia Nicoletti has scored more points in the clinch so far.
Nicoletti working Neck over with knees to the body.
Nicoletti working Neck over with knees to the body.
Nicoletti looks to throw an elbow but misses.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Nicoletti is stalling here.
Nicoletti trying to land knees to the body.
Neck takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Nicoletti leaning against his opponent.
Nicoletti using the Thai clinch to land knees to the body.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Nicoletti misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Neck.
Neck wants a takedown but no success here.
The pace slowing considerably in the clinch, as Nicoletti takes a break from that fighting nonsense to think about the finer things in life.
Nicoletti pushes off and fires off an elbow that misses, before clinching up again, against the cage.
With the two fighters working up against the cage, Nicoletti just misses with a elbow thrown towards Neck's brow.
Nicoletti tries to work over Neck's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
Nicoletti lands a knee to the body.
Nicoletti lands an elbow just above Neck 's eye.
Neck managing to block the knees to the body from Nicoletti.
Nicoletti unloads a knee to the mid-section. Neck lets out a prehistoric sounding urrrrgh.
A right hand to the body from Nicoletti.
Nice elbow from Nicoletti.
Nicoletti throws a knee to the head but misses.
Nicoletti tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Neck avoids it.
Neck managing to block the knees to the body from Nicoletti.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Nicoletti doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Nicoletti is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Neck is defending well for now.
Nicoletti lands a nice knee to the body.
Nicoletti throws an elbow that misses.
Nicoletti lands an elbow just above Neck 's eye.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Neck blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
Nicoletti lands an elbow that stopped Neck in his tracks for a moment.
Nicoletti lands an elbow just above Neck 's eye.
Nicoletti is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Neck can do to turn this around?
Neck wants a takedown.
Nicoletti using the Thai clinch to land knees to the body.
A nice glancing elbow lands by Nicoletti.
Neck takes a knee to the side of the body.
Nicoletti trying to land knees to the body.
Nicoletti misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Neck.
Nicoletti tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Neck avoids it.
Nicoletti tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Neck avoids it.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
A real battle for position is taking place between these two warriors.
Nicoletti gets an overhook and lands an elbow to the side of the head.
Nicoletti tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Neck avoids it.
Neck managing to block the knees to the body from Nicoletti.
Neck drops down for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Neck looking for a takedown.
Neck managing to block the knees to the body from Nicoletti.
Nicoletti is trying to slow down the pace of the fight but Neck is keeping busy.
A nice glancing elbow lands by Nicoletti.
Nicoletti struggles to land a body shot inside as Neck controls his hands.
Nicoletti is pressed up against the cage. Neck has hold of a leg and is looking to drag Nicoletti down to the mat. Nicoletti avoids the attempt though and has circled away. We're back to striking at a distance.
Neck darts in looking for a takedown but Nicoletti gets double underhooks and turns Neck into the cage.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Nicoletti gets tackled into the cage by Neck. Neck maintains the clinch.

Neck breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Neck throws a head kick that misses.
Neck walks forward and throws out a flicking leg kick. Nicoletti checks it nicely though, as he moves to the side.
Neck takes a nice looking leg kick right on the meat of his thigh there.
Neck shoots in looking for a takedown but Nicoletti manages to keep the fight standing, pushing Neck's face into the canvas for good measure before circling away.
Ooooh, nice body kick lands from Nicoletti. Neck shrugs it off though.
Nicoletti swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Nicoletti swings for the body but Neck moves out of range.
Mattia Nicoletti seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Nicoletti tries to score with an inside leg kick but telegraphs it and Neck is able to avoid easily.
Neck avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Nicoletti throws a leg kick which misses Neck's front leg but catches the back leg as Neck tries to avoid it.
Nicoletti tries to clinch up but Neck circles away and keeps his distance.
Nicoletti buckles his opponent's knee momentarily with a nice leg kick.
Neck is trying hard to land a takedown here. Nicoletti sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.

And that's the end of the fight!
Mattia Nicoletti showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Nicoletti 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 Alan Glass scores the fight 29:28
Judge Gwen Towbar scores the fight 29:28
Judge Wesley Smith scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Mattia Nicoletti!
Pencil Neck spoke after the fight, saying 'Dang, I think I broke my hip.'.