PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Mason Roth (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Anthony Nickoson (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). These two fighters really are very evenly matched on the feet - it will be fascinating to see who can assert themselves in that aspect of the fight.

Roth
vs
Nickoson

174 cm
25
175 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

185 cm
18
178 lbs
0 - 1 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Solid boxing
Intelligent

BJJ White Belt
Excellent MT
Granite chin

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 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Mason Roth!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Anthony Nickoson!
The judges for this bout are Jeff Smith, Micheangelo Fripello and Chris Saunders.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Nickoson rushes Roth and presses him up against the cage.

Roth gets the body lock takedown. After a quick scramble, Nickoson regains guard.
Roth controls from within his opponent's guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Roth postures up and lands a big shot to Nickoson's brow.
Roth missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Roth showing good wrestling skills to control the position.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Roth is sitting in guard, working some ground and pound.
Roth scoring with some ground and pound.
Roth might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Roth sitting in guard here, content to control.
Roth lands a nice shot whilst sitting in his opponent's guard.
Roth scoring with punches to the head and body.
Roth landing some decent shots from guard.

Roth drops back for a leg! It's a sloppy attempt though and Roth jumps back into guard quickly, to retain the dominant position.
Hammerfist, elbow! yells Roth's corner. There ya go! There ya go!
Roth is just sitting in guard, looking to avoid any submissions.
Roth with a couple of shots to the head there. Not particularly brutal.
Roth sitting in guard, not really doing much.

Roth stands and steps away. Nickoson gets to his feet too and we're back to the striking game.
Anthony Nickoson is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Roth rushes Nickoson and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.
Some stalling of biblical proportions here from Roth.
Nickoson misses with an elbow strike.
Nickoson lands a glancing elbow in the clinch.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Roth.
Roth blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Roth fails to pull the fight into his guard.
Nickoson misses with a hook from the clinch.

Roth has picked Nickoson up - he's going for a ride! Roth dumps his opponent to the mat with a thud and settles into half guard.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Neither fighter is being very active at the moment, with Roth in particular looking to stall.

Roth is working for a kimura but Nickoson is defending it quite comfortably.
The referee calls for the fighters to work.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Roth has controlled the position for a good 20 seconds, which will no doubt be starting to frustrate his opponent.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Roth 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.

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.
Nickoson taking some punishment here, with Roth in his half guard.
The referee walks around the fighters to get a better view of the action. Roth lands a nice short elbow.
Roth slows the pace down in half guard.
This is a sustained period of stalling by Roth.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.

Roth is working for a kimura but Nickoson is defending it quite comfortably.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Mason Roth dominated that round.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

Roth gets tackled into the cage by Nickoson. Nickoson maintains the clinch.
Roth is trying to drag Nickoson to the mat but Nickoson just about manages to keep his footing. He used the cage to his advantage there.
Roth is trying to pull guard but Nickoson has him pressed against the cage.
Nickoson working aggressively here.
Nickoson is pressed up against the cage. Roth has hold of a leg and is looking to drag Nickoson down to the mat. Nickoson avoids the attempt though and has circled away. We're back to striking at a distance.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Mason Roth. That's going to take a lot out of him.

Nickoson moves into the clinch.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Nickoson missing with knees to the body.
Roth working hard to break the clinch.
Nickoson using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Roth has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
Roth jumps guard but Nickoson turns him against the cage and keeps the fight standing.
Roth fails to pull guard.
Roth drops to a knee looking for a takedown but Nickoson gets the underhooks and prevents it.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Nickoson lands a nice knee to the body.
Roth takes an elbow to the temple.

It looks like Mason Roth has been cut.
Both guys are working to get underhooks.
Nickoson lands a nice knee to the body.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Nickoson stops a takedown attempt from Roth.
Nickoson creates a bit of space for himself and sneaks an elbow through Roth's defenses.
Roth tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Nickoson avoids it.
Nickoson tries to stall but Roth uses the opportunity to gain a better position.
Roth is trying to pull guard but Nickoson has him pressed against the cage.
Nickoson landing knees to the head.
Nickoson lands a knee to the head there! That was nasty!
Nickoson crunches a lovely knee into Roth's ribcage.
Nickoson lands a nice knee to the body.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Nickoson lands a knee to the head.
Nickoson looking to slow down the pace here.
Roth tries to pull guard but Nickoson won't allow it.
We've been informed that Nickoson has been working hard on his conditioning in the buildup to the fight.
Nickoson avoiding damage.
Nickoson connects with a knee to the head.
Roth wants a takedown but no success here.
Roth takes an elbow to the forehead.
Nickoson lands an elbow that stopped Roth in his tracks for a moment.
Nickoson with the Thai clinch, lands a knee to the head.

Roth has clasped his hands together around Nickoson's back... aaand, he's got a takedown into side control. Nicely done.
Roth is staying tight to Nickoson's torso, preventing him from escaping.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Roth looking for an arm triangle but it's way too loose to do anything.
Nickoson really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Roth. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.
Roth working the body and head with strikes.
Nickoson is trying to improve his position.
Roth lands a nice forearm strike.
Roth controls the position from side control.
Nickoson takes a big shot right to the temple there but he's taken it well.
Nickoson struggling a bit here.
Roth has knee on belly and moves into mount.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Roth controlling the pace for now.
Roth landing strikes from the mount.
Roth is still in mount, landing shots to his trapped opponent. Nickoson can't stay in a position like this for much longer.
Roth controlling the pace for now.
Roth continues to hold on tight.
Roth avoids the attempt from Nickoson to control.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Anthony Nickoson showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The cut man is working on Mason Roth's cut.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin! Let's hear some noise people - this is the final round!

Roth scores with a hook to the body. Nickoson takes a step back and tries to catch his breath.
Roth stalks Nickoson and leaps in with a furious combination of punches. Uppercuts and crosses smash into Nickoson's face. Nickoson staggers backwards, shaken.

Roth has Nickoson up against the cage in a clinch.
Roth can't get the takedown.
Nickoson is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Roth is defending well for now.
Anthony Nickoson seems to be working more effectively in the clinch in the fight so far.
Roth tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Nickoson tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Nickoson misses with a punch to the body.
Nickoson trying to land knees to the body.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Nickoson trying to land knees to the body.
Nickoson lands a glancing elbow in the clinch.
Nickoson tries to land a knee to the head but Roth blocks with his arms.
Nickoson takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.

Roth has moved round to his opponent's back and is looking for a suplex! Oh snap! He's tossed Nickoson clear over his head and slammed him to the mat!
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!
Roth lands shots from the back.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Nickoson is being controlled on the ground here - he must escape this position otherwise surely the end is near.
Roth is landing with strikes. Nickoson can't take much more of this.
Oooh a big shot gets through from Roth. Many more shots like that and the referee will have to think about stepping in!
Roth loading up with punches from the back mount - how long can Nickoson hold on?
Roth is working the ground and pound. Can Nickoson escape?
Roth is controlling his opponent, waiting for an opportunity to finish.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Roth is cranking Nickoson's head sideways - that looks painful. He's managed to get his other arm under the chin and this looks bad for Nickoson! He's tightened the choke and Nickoson is tapping out!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 2:20 of round 3, we have a winner by way of Submission (RNC). Mason Roth!