PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Bo Nickal (ranked 3244 p4p, 329 weight class) and Robin Williams (ranked 2134 p4p, 249 weight class). Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Nickal
vs
Williams

178 cm
20
178 lbs
4 - 1 - 0

170 cm
20
172 lbs
4 - 0 - 0

Good wrestling
Basic striking
Cardio machine

BJJ Purple Belt
Good kicks
Granite chin

Conviction

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 5 rounds, for the welterweight championship of the world!
Introducing the champion to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 4 - 1 - 0, fighting out of New York, Bo Nickal!
And introducing the challenger to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 4 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, Robin Williams!
The judges for this bout are Arvi Lind, Roosa Järviläinen and Ben Zyskovitsi.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Nickal shoots in and gets a takedown into half guard. Nickal showed some decent athleticism there.
Nickal wants to take a breather but Williams is having none of it.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Nickal perhaps working for something from half guard, or maybe not. It looks like he's just sitting there.
Nickal trying to mount his opponent but Williams defends it.
Williams tries to roll over but Nickal keeps him under control.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Nickal sitting and controlling from the half guard.
Williams wants to get back to full guard.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Williams moves his hips nicely and gets into full guard.
Nickal trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Nickal is frustrating his opponent with some stalling tactics from top position.
Nickal won't allow Williams to sweep him here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Williams preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Nickal trying to control but Williams is working from the bottom.
Nickal throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Nickal is taking a break and basically stalling. The referee will not allow him to do that for long.
We get told so often about how wrestlers don't like to be on their backs. Let's see if Williams can do anything to dispel that myth.
Williams not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Nickal is intent on slowing down the pace of the fight, simply looking to control.
Nickal pushes down on Williams's leg and manages to get into half guard.
Williams is trying to get back to full guard.
Nickal tries to pass the half guard into mount. Williams knows what he's doing though and prevents the attempt.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Williams is trying to get back to full guard.
Neither fighter is being very active at the moment, with Nickal in particular looking to stall.
Williams is looking for a sweep. Nickal is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Williams taking some punishment here, with Nickal in his half guard.
Nickal missing with the ground and pound from half guard.
Nickal thows a huge punch but Williams dodges it nicely.
Williams is not content to let Nickal control the position.
Williams is trying to maintain the position but Nickal is very close to passing his half guard.
Nickal seems to be taking a bit of a break to think of his next move. He lands a short punch in the meantime.
Williams blocking the ground and pound attempt from Nickal.
Nickal uses his free foot to push down on Williams's thigh. Eventually he works his other foot free and he's advanced to mount - this is trouble for Williams.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Williams is looking to get to half guard.
Williams is squirming around, avoiding Nickal's attempts to control the action.
Nickal tucks in and makes sure he doesn't lose the dominant position.
Williams slips a leg in and gets back to half guard.
Nickal is looking to advance position but Williams won't allow it.
Williams is looking to improve his position.
Nickal is keeping good posture, landing some ground and pound.
Williams is refusing to be controlled, as Nickal sits in half guard.
Nickal content to control rather than advance.
Williams is looking to improve his position.
Williams trying to control here.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Williams is refusing to be controlled, as Nickal sits in half guard.
Nickal 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.
Nickal is thwarting Williams's attempts to control the position.
The two fighters exchange a few words. I couldn't hear what they were saying but maybe it's more fun if you make it up yourself. Nickal connects with a nice short shot to Williams's temple.
Williams is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Williams is staying active underneath Nickal, who seems content to just control the action from this position.
Williams really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Nickal. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.
Nickal not landing any meaningful shots this time.
Nickal controlling the action here.
Nickal lands strikes from half guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Bo Nickal dominated that round.
That's the end of the interval. I'm sure that seemed a lot quicker than a minute for our two fighters! Back to the action.

Nickal looks to land a right hand but Williams moved out of range.
Nickal fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
Williams scores with a crisp jab that stopped Nickal in his tracks.
Nickal looks to have improved his striking defense since last time we saw him fight.

Nickal shoots in and scores a nice double leg takedown into half guard.
Nickal wants to control but Williams is keeping him busy.
Nickal thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Williams's head.
Nickal is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Williams can do to turn this around?
Williams trying to hold on to Nickal's head to control him but Nickal postures up.
Williams is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Nickal is looking to advance position but Williams won't allow it.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Williams is looking for a sweep. Nickal is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Nickal not landing any meaningful shots this time.
Nickal working some ground and pound from close in. He's looking to maintain this position and strike for a while by the looks of things... although he'll probably advance to full mount in a minute now I've said that.
Nickal tries to pass the half guard into mount. Williams knows what he's doing though and prevents the attempt.
Bo Nickal overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Nickal not doing much here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Nickal seems to be taking a bit of a break to think of his next move. He lands a short punch in the meantime.
Williams tries to get to full guard but Nickal has control of the leg.
Nickal frees up his trapped foot and advances to mount.
Nickal breaks from Williams's wrist control and lands an elbow.
Nickal sitting in mount, just looking to control for the moment.
Nickal dominating with strikes here.
Williams regains half guard.
Williams trying to control from the bottom.
Nickal wants to free his trapped foot but Williams is holding on for dear life with his legs.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Williams wants to get back to full guard.
Nickal wants to pass the guard but Williams is defending well.
Ground and pound from Nickal.
Williams has hold of Nickal's hands but Nickal slips his arm to the side and lands an elbow.
Williams gets back to full guard.
Nickal cracks Williams with a solid left hand.
Nickal controlling from the guard. I say controlling but really, he's stalling.
Williams looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Nickal not doing a lot at the moment. He'll have to show some more aggression or the fight will get stood up.
Williams avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Williams wants to sweep but no luck.
Williams not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Williams looking to sweep here. No luck so far.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Nickal stays in close to Williams's body and controls the position.
Nickal lands a nice shot whilst sitting in his opponent's guard.
Nickal is frustrating his opponent with some stalling tactics from top position.
Nickal is in close to Williams's body, working some short punches and elbows.
Williams tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Nickal controlling from the guard. I say controlling but really, he's stalling.
Nickal throws a big right hand that misses.
Nickal sitting in guard here, content to control.
Nickal's ground tactics aren't going to win him many fans. Let's hope he's got fireworks for us if he gets back to his feet because he's not doing much on the ground.
Nickal passes Williams's right leg, so he's now in half guard.
Nickal is trying to control. Williams wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.
Nickal trying to mount his opponent but Williams defends it.
Nickal is trying to control the action in half guard but Williams is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Nickal content to sit in half guard and control for a moment.
Nice strikes from Nickal there.
Williams moves his hips nicely and gets into full guard.
Nickal is just sitting in guard, looking to avoid any submissions.
Nickal has controlled the position for a good 20 seconds, which will no doubt be starting to frustrate his opponent.
This is a sustained period of stalling by Nickal.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Williams keeping full guard, as Nickal tries to pass.
Williams wants to sweep but no luck.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Williams misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Nickal.
Williams slips a jab from Nickal.
Williams lands with a good body shot.
Nickal with a lazy takedown attempt

and Williams counters into the clinch. Nicely done.
Williams tries to throw a body punch but Nickal avoids it by throwing Williams back against the cage.
Williams lands a shoulder strike.
Williams lands a body punch - he's looking to wear down Nickal.
Williams swings wildly with an uppercut but Nickal uses good head movement to avoid it.
Nickal misses with the head strike.
Nickal avoiding damage.
Still in the clinch, Williams scores with a nice short uppercut.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Williams has a couple of punches blocked by Nickal.
Williams lands with a short head shot on the inside.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Nickal.
Williams lands an uppercut.
Nickal wants a takedown.
Nickal swings away with an uppercut that misses.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Williams goes for a body shot but it's blocked.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Nickal throws a head punch that misses.
Nickal has a couple of punches blocked by Williams.
A head punch on the inside from Nickal fails to land.
Williams has been looking to improve his clinch game in recent weeks. Nickal seems to have the measure of him in the clinch so far, so let's see if Williams can turn it around.

Nickal gets a trip takedown into half guard.
Nickal prevents Williams from improving his position.
Williams keeps control of the position for the meantime.
Williams trying to control from the bottom.
Williams is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Nickal is looking to take a break and control but Williams is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Nickal drops an elbow to the side of Williams's head.
Williams avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Nickal.
Nickal thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Nickal scoring with strikes to the body and head.
Nickal trying to control the action but Williams is working from the bottom.
Nickal is looking to advance position but Williams won't allow it.
Nickal seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Williams does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.
Williams is looking to improve his position.

Nickal looking for a kimura but he'll have to free his other leg if he wants to finish that. Perhaps he's just using it as a distraction technique.
Williams is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Nickal is pressing down on Williams's thigh, looking to free his foot. Williams is holding on for now.
Nickal lands strikes from half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Williams trying to hold on to Nickal's head to control him but Nickal postures up.
Williams keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.
Nickal content to sit in half guard and control for a moment.
Nickal seems to be taking a bit of a break to think of his next move. He lands a short punch in the meantime.
Nickal stalling.

Nickal is thinking about going for an arm triangle but he can't free his leg.
Williams is staying active underneath Nickal, who seems content to just control the action from this position.

Nickal wants to work for an arm triangle but Williams is really keeping half guard well and defending the submission attempt.
Williams is concentrating on defense, preventing Nickal from advancing position.
Williams is looking for a sweep. Nickal is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Williams trying to control here.
Nickal prevents Williams from improving his position.
Nickal wants to control but Williams is keeping him busy.
Williams trying to control but Nickal postures up.
Nickal is looking to take a break and control but Williams is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Nickal performing his best blanket impression for a moment.
Williams wants to get back to full guard.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Nickal looking to pass the half guard. Not this time.
Williams wants to improve his position but Nickal is controlling well.
Williams is persisting with the attempt to improve his position.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close round but Bo Nickal did the better work so I'd imagine he'll take it.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin!

Williams tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Nickal drops down looking for a counter takedown but Williams sprawls and moves away.
Williams doesn't manage to clinch there - Nickal circles away.
Nickal shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Williams sprawls well. Williams wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Nickal gets slowly back to his feet.
Williams swings for the body but Nickal moves out of range.
A looping hook to the body misses from Williams. Nickal does a little dance to reset his feet.
Bo Nickal seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Williams connects with a leg kick. Nickal looked like he was expecting something else and didn't defend it.
Nickal looks to land a right hand but Williams moved out of range.
Nickal shoots in but no luck this time.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Nickal shoots in and scores a nice double leg takedown into half guard.
The fighters are battling for position here. Williams manages to regain full guard. Nice work.
Williams is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Williams looking for a sweep. Not yet Williams, not yet.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Nickal distracts Williams with his right hand and drops a big elbow with his other arm.
Nickal is in close to Williams's body, working some short punches and elbows.
Williams looking to hit a scissor sweep but Nickal is one step ahead there.
Nickal lands a couple of elbows.
Nickal wants to control from the top but Williams keeps moving.
Nickal is intent on slowing down the pace of the fight, simply looking to control.
Williams managing to control the position.
Nickal is intent on slowing down the pace of the fight, simply looking to control.
Nickal lands a couple of decent looking shots.
Nickal content to stall in guard here.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Williams is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Williams wants to sweep but no luck.
Williams trying to control the position.
Nickal works a leg free and moves into half guard.
Nickal seems content to maintain position for now, rather than mounting any offense.
Nickal scores with a couple of good hammerfists.
The two fighters exchange a few words. I couldn't hear what they were saying but maybe it's more fun if you make it up yourself. Nickal connects with a nice short shot to Williams's temple.
Williams has hold of Nickal's hands but Nickal slips his arm to the side and lands an elbow.

Nickal looking for a kimura but he'll have to free his other leg if he wants to finish that. Perhaps he's just using it as a distraction technique.
Williams has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Nickal is working away from the top position though.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Nickal is controlling the pace.
Nickal prevents Williams from improving his position.
Nickal not landing any meaningful shots this time.
Williams has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Nickal is working away from the top position though.
Nickal seems to be taking a bit of a break to think of his next move. He lands a short punch in the meantime.
Nickal prevents Williams from improving his position.
Williams is trying to control but can't.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.
Nickal is keeping good posture, landing some ground and pound.
Nickal stalling.
Williams taking some punishment here, with Nickal in his half guard.
Nickal stalling.
Williams is looking for a sweep. Nickal is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Nickal controlling the action here.
Williams is trying to get back to full guard.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!

Nickal looking for a kimura but he'll have to free his other leg if he wants to finish that. Perhaps he's just using it as a distraction technique.
Williams wants to control but Nickal is keeping busy.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Bo Nickal had his way with Robin Williams in that round.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business. And we move into the final round!

The fighters circling - Williams throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
Williams lands a nice shot that snaps Nickal's head back.

Nickal shoots in and gets a takedown into half guard. Nickal showed some decent athleticism there.

Nickal is sneakily working for an arm triangle but Williams sees it coming and defends easily.
Nickal lands with an elbow from half guard - that looked like it hurt.
Williams keeps control of the position for the meantime.
Nickal drops an elbow to the side of Williams's head.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Nickal thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.
Nickal is controlling the pace.
Williams taking some punishment here, with Nickal in his half guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Williams tries to get to full guard but Nickal has control of the leg.

Nickal looking for a kimura but he'll have to free his other leg if he wants to finish that. Perhaps he's just using it as a distraction technique.
Williams is looking to get full guard. It looks like he might be successful but at the last minute Nickal jumps into side control!

Nickal tries for a kimura but Williams is defending well.
Williams is looking to reverse the position.
Nickal scoring with punches from side control.
Williams wants to control but Nickal postures up.
Nickal wants to control but Williams is keeping him busy.
Robin Williams has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Nickal advances to full mount.
Williams taking shots to the head.
Nickal looking to control but Williams is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.
Williams holds on to Nickal around his waist, trying desperately to prevent any attacks.
Nickal breaks from Williams's wrist control and lands an elbow.
Nickal takes a little breather and maintains the position. The referee will be looking for him to stay active from such a dominant position though.
Williams is trying desperately to improve position.

Nickal jumps to side control looking for an arm triangle but Williams manages to avoid the submission attempt.
Williams is trying to improve his position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Nickal lands a decent elbow from side control.
Williams can't do much from the bottom here.
Nickal working the head with strikes.
Nickal is looking to take a break and control but Williams is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Williams is positioning himself to get back to half guard.
Who's going to make the next move?
Williams tries to buck Nickal off but Nickal is having none of it.
Williams seems a little lost for a moment, as Nickal dominates the positioning.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Williams is positioning himself to get back to half guard.
Nickal trying to control the action but Williams is working from the bottom.
Nickal cracks Williams with a big right hand but Williams just smiles back at him and invites him to have another go.
Nickal is looking to take a break and control but Williams is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Nickal moving around in side mount but really he's just happy to control for now.
Nickal in side control lands a nice looking series of punches and elbows.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Williams manages to work his way to half guard, despite Nickal's best efforts.
Nickal passes to full mount!
Nickal connects with a couple of good shots from mount.

And that's the end of the fight!
Bo Nickal showed his dominance in that final round.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Nickal, winning every round. Will the judges agree? They are the ones who matter, even if they are often depressingly incompetent. Over to the ring announcer for the scorecards.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 5 rounds of action, we go to the scorecards for a decision.
Judge Arvi Lind scores the fight 50:45
Judge Roosa Järviläinen scores the fight 50:45
Judge Ben Zyskovitsi scores the fight 50:45

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Bo Nickal!
Bo Nickal is the new welterweight champion!
An out of breath Bo Nickal thanked his loyal fans in his post fight interview, giving them credit for his success over the course of his career.