PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Naruepol Fairtex (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Hyme Belechnyiven (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). I can't wait for this one - let's get the fighter introductions out of the way and get this one started!

Fairtex
vs
Belechnyiven

170 cm
24
145 lbs
3 - 3 - 0

180 cm
24
155 lbs
4 - 0 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Excellent MT
Big heart

BJJ Purple Belt
Counter striker
Determined

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the featherweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 3 - 3 - 0, fighting out of New York, Naruepol Fairtex!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 4 - 0 - 0, fighting out of New York, Hyme Belechnyiven!
The judges for this bout are Alyssa Summers, Lou da Vinci and Jonathan Paton.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Belechnyiven is defended easily by Fairtex.
Belechnyiven tries for a takedown but Fairtex sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
Belechnyiven dives in and grabs Fairtex's left leg, looking for a takedown. Fairtex pushes down on Belechnyiven's head and hops out.
Naruepol Fairtex has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Hyme Belechnyiven.
Belechnyiven will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
Belechnyiven shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Fairtex but Fairtex pushes him off and we're back to square one.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Fairtex tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Belechnyiven paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Fairtex is looking to clinch but Belechnyiven is avoiding it.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Belechnyiven fails with the takedown.
Fairtex stuffs the takedown attempt from Belechnyiven. Belechnyiven gets slowly back to his feet.
Belechnyiven misses with a takedown attempt - Fairtex sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
Fairtex tries to close the distance and clinch but Belechnyiven swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Hyme Belechnyiven seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Belechnyiven is trying hard to land a takedown here. Fairtex sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.

That's two 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.
Belechnyiven fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
Belechnyiven avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Belechnyiven shoots in for a takedown but Fairtex shows good takedown defense.

Belechnyiven closes the distance and scores a nice trip takedown into half guard. Fairtex did well to prevent Belechnyiven getting side control.
Belechnyiven looks gassed!
Belechnyiven sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Fairtex defending well though.
Belechnyiven not landing any meaningful shots this time.
Fairtex on his back here. We all know that wrestlers don't like being on their back so let's see if Fairtex tries to get out of the position.
Fairtex is looking to improve his position.

Belechnyiven is looking for a kimura but Fairtex is holding onto that half guard position, so it's hard for Belechnyiven to get the leverage.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Belechnyiven not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
Fairtex is trying to control but Belechnyiven passes into side control!
The strikes coming from Belechnyiven are missing the target in this wave of attacks.
Fairtex looking for a sweep but Belechnyiven has passed into full mount! Oh no!
Belechnyiven throws some wild stikes that Fairtex manages to avoid easily.
Fairtex is desperately trying to get back to half guard.

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.
Belechnyiven misses with a series of strikes from mount. He'll no doubt be working on his ground and pound when he gets back to the gym.
Belechnyiven misses with a head shot.
Belechnyiven misses with a series of strikes from mount. He'll no doubt be working on his ground and pound when he gets back to the gym.
Belechnyiven punching from mount but Fairtex doing a good job of avoiding damage.
Belechnyiven throwing sloppy strikes here. Perhaps if he tightened up his striking from such a dominant position, he'd be able to finish easier.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Fairtex tries to hold on but Belechnyiven postures up.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Hyme Belechnyiven will probably get the nod.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

Belechnyiven is trying hard to land a takedown here. Fairtex sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.
Belechnyiven misses the jab.
Fairtex stuffs the takedown.
Belechnyiven fails with the takedown.
Naruepol Fairtex has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Hyme Belechnyiven.
Fairtex tries to clinch up but Belechnyiven circles away and keeps his distance.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Fairtex tries to clinch up but Belechnyiven circles away and keeps his distance.
Belechnyiven shoots in for a takedown but Fairtex shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Fairtex tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Belechnyiven looks for a takedown but Fairtex sprawls well.
Belechnyiven fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
Belechnyiven is breathing heavily.
Fairtex doesn't manage to clinch there - Belechnyiven circles away.
Belechnyiven shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Belechnyiven fails miserably with a takedown attempt.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.
Belechnyiven avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Horrible takedown by Belechnyiven or perhaps it was just good defense by Fairtex which made him look bad.
Belechnyiven changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Fairtex tries to avoid it but Belechnyiven manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Fairtex to the ground. Fairtex escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
Belechnyiven misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
Belechnyiven throws an overhand right that lands on Fairtex's shoulder, as Fairtex tries to avoid the shot.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Fairtex doesn't manage to clinch there - Belechnyiven circles away.
Fairtex moves in looking to clinch but Belechnyiven pushes him off.
Fairtex doesn't manage to clinch there - Belechnyiven circles away.
Fairtex tries to clinch up but Belechnyiven circles away and keeps his distance.
Belechnyiven throws a hook to the side of Fairtex's head but Fairtex sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
Belechnyiven misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
Naruepol Fairtex is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Fairtex stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Fairtex wants it to stay on the feet.

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.
Fairtex is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Nice takedown defense from Fairtex. No joy for Belechnyiven on that attempt.
Belechnyiven shoots in for a takedown but Fairtex shows good takedown defense.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Belechnyiven shoots for a double leg takedown but Fairtex sprawls well. He's pushed Belechnyiven's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
Belechnyiven tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Fairtex swivels and escapes.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Naruepol Fairtex dominated that second round.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action! This is the final round!

Fairtex moves in looking to clinch but Belechnyiven pushes him off.
Fairtex is looking to clinch.
Naruepol Fairtex is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Fairtex is looking to clinch.
Nice takedown defense from Fairtex. No joy for Belechnyiven on that attempt.
Fairtex tries to close the distance and clinch but Belechnyiven swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Fairtex tries to clinch but Belechnyiven is having none of it.
Fairtex stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Fairtex wants it to stay on the feet.
Fairtex stuffs the takedown attempt from Belechnyiven. Belechnyiven gets slowly back to his feet.
Naruepol Fairtex has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Hyme Belechnyiven.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Belechnyiven swings for the body but Fairtex moves out of range.
Belechnyiven takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Fairtex tries to clinch up.
Fairtex fails in his attempt to clinch.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Belechnyiven is defended easily by Fairtex.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Belechnyiven is defended easily by Fairtex.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Fairtex tries to clinch but Belechnyiven is having none of it.
Belechnyiven changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Fairtex tries to avoid it but Belechnyiven manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Fairtex to the ground. Fairtex escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
Belechnyiven circles away from the clinch attempt.
Belechnyiven throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Fairtex doesn't manage to clinch there - Belechnyiven circles away.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Belechnyiven fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
Belechnyiven shoots in but no luck this time.
Belechnyiven shoots in and drives through. Fairtex sprawls well.

Belechnyiven tries to keep at a distance but Fairtex has taken the fight into the clinch.
Belechnyiven tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. Fairtex just stands there and leans against the cage.
Belechnyiven blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
Belechnyiven tries to break free but Fairtex pushes him back against the cage.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are getting on the fighters' backs, as the pace has dropped off in the last minute or so.
Belechnyiven wants a takedown but no success here.
Belechnyiven managing to block the knees to the body from Fairtex.
Fairtex connects with a nasty looking knee right to Belechnyiven's face.

It looks like Hyme Belechnyiven has been cut.
Fairtex unloads a knee to the mid-section. Belechnyiven lets out a prehistoric sounding urrrrgh.
Belechnyiven jumps guard but Fairtex stands there with Belechnyiven around his waist. Belechnyiven gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.
Fairtex is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Belechnyiven is defending well for now.
Fairtex misses with a knee to the head.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Belechnyiven on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
A real battle for position is taking place between these two warriors.

And that's the end of the fight!
Naruepol Fairtex showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Fairtex 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 Alyssa Summers scores the fight for Naruepol Fairtex!
Judge Lou da Vinci scores the fight for Naruepol Fairtex!
Judge Jonathan Paton scores the fight for Naruepol Fairtex!

Naruepol Fairtex wins by unanimous decision!