PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Luke Kage (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Noah Spitler (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Kage comes to the cage accompanied by "Warriors" by Kymani Marley. 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.

Kage
vs
Spitler

169 cm
20
168 lbs
3 - 2 - 0

175 cm
24
155 lbs
4 - 3 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Basic striking
Good in bed

BJJ Purple Belt
Decent boxing
Solid chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the lightweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 3 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, Luke Kage!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 4 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, Noah Spitler!
The judges for this bout are , and .

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Nice uppercut there from Spitler.
Kage looks to land a combination but Spitler avoids it well.
Spitler is on the wrong end of a nice combination from Kage.
Kage swinging wildly here.
Spitler throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Spitler slips a jab and a cross from Kage.
Spitler shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Kage pinned against the cage. Kage gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
Kage moves away from the strike by Spitler.
Spitler is looking to clinch.
Spitler fails to land the takedown.
Spitler tries to score a power double leg takedown but Kage sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Spitler somewhat.
Luke Kage has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Noah Spitler.
Spitler works over Kage's head and body with a nice combination.

Spitler instigates a clinch.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Kage.
Spitler lands punches inside but they're not really causing much damage.
With the fighters clinched against the cage, Spitler creates a bit of distance for himself and scores with a nice uppercut.
Spitler swings wildly with an uppercut but Kage uses good head movement to avoid it.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Spitler lands a good knee to the midsection. Kage won't want to take too many of those.
The pace really dropping off here, momentarily.
Kage wants to get back to striking at distance but Spitler won't allow it.

Spitler manages to break the clinch.
Kage throws a left and a right that both miss
and Spitler counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
Spitler closes this distance looking for a takedown but Kage circles away.
Kage throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Spitler.
Kage throws a right hand that Spitler ducks under and follows up with a left that Spitler also avoids with ease.
Kage ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.

Spitler shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Let's see what he's got on the mat.
Spitler pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Kage is keeping the position for now.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

Spitler drops back for a leg! It's a sloppy attempt though and Spitler jumps back into guard quickly, to retain the dominant position.

Kage has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Spitler can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.

Kage is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Spitler is aware though and is defending well.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Spitler passes Kage's right leg, so he's now in half guard.

Spitler is looking for a kimura but he's never going to get it from there.

Spitler is trying to work for a kimura but Kage is defending well.
Spitler looks gassed!
Kage wants to get back to full guard.

Spitler is working for a kimura but Kage is defending it quite comfortably.

Kage looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.
The fighters are battling for position here. Kage manages to regain full guard. Nice work.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Spitler passes Kage's right leg, so he's now in half guard.

Spitler is working for a kimura but Kage is defending it quite comfortably.
The fighters are starting to get a bit slippery now, which will make submissions a bit more difficult.
Kage wants to control but Spitler is keeping busy.
Spitler not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.

Kage looking for submissions from an awkward position here.

Kage is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Spitler pulls his head out easily.
Spitler wants to pass the guard but Kage is defending well.

Kage looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.

Spitler seems to be working for a kimura but Kage defends the submission attempt.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Well. There's a bit of a lull in the action here and the crowd are starting to get restless.

Spitler is trying to work for a kimura but Kage is defending well.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
Kage throws a right hand that Spitler ducks under and follows up with a left that Spitler also avoids with ease.
Kage thows a left - swing and a miss!
Spitler fakes a head shot and lands one to the body.
Kage lands with a two punch combination before moving back out of range.
Kage swings wildly with a couple of big hooks

so Spitler counters with a double leg into guard. Good agility.
Spitler lands a couple of decent looking shots.

Kage is looking for a triangle but Spitler pushes his legs off easily.
Spitler is sitting in guard, working some ground and pound.
Both fighters really going for it on the ground here!

Spitler is trying to work a guillotine from the top, or something like that? Don't know how he thinks he's going to get a finish from there.
Kage keeping moving, preventing Spitler from controlling successfully.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Kage throws a series of punches but Spitler moves out of range.
Kage misses with a few strikes there.
Kage moves his head to the side to avoid a jab but walks straight into a cross.
Kage's corner calls for a 1,2 combination and Kage duly obliges.
Kage misses with a double jab
and Spitler counters with a right hand to the body.
Kage swings wildly with a couple of big hooks
and Spitler counters with a nice body shot.
Spitler getting the better of the striking in that exchange.
Kage fails to land with a series of punches.
Spitler lands a jab. Then a cross. Then finally a nice hook to the body. Good work there by Spitler.

Spitler moves into the clinch.

Spitler manages to break the clinch.
Kage misses with a jab, cross combination.
Kage takes a shot to the eye socket. That's gotta hurt.
Spitler is moving around nicely and scores here with a single head shot.
Kage throws a left and a right that both miss

and Spitler counters with a takedown into side control.
Kage defending against the ground and pound.
Kage tries to get back to half guard but can't.
Spitler cracks Kage with a big elbow.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Spitler tries to score with some ground and pound. Kage controls his posture well this time though and the shots don't do any damage.

Spitler wants to work for a kimura but he's foiled early by Kage, who protects the arm well.

Spitler goes for an armbar! This could be all over! Wait, no, Kage rolls with the submission and now he's on top in Spitler's guard! Nice work there by Kage!
Spitler has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

Kage drops back looking for a heel hook - he quickly realises he's not going to get it but Spitler manages to dive on top of him before he can escape and now Kage has Spitler in his guard.
Spitler trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.

Spitler drops back looking for a leg! Kage is in trouble here! The fighters roll with the hold and Kage manages to kick Spitler off! Spitler jumps back into Kage's guard.
Spitler wants to control from the top but Kage keeps moving.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Well. There's a bit of a lull in the action here and the crowd are starting to get restless.

Kage had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Spitler defends it easily.
Spitler loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.

Kage had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Spitler defends it easily.

Spitler drops back for a leg! It's a sloppy attempt though and Spitler jumps back into guard quickly, to retain the dominant position.
Kage keeping moving, preventing Spitler from controlling successfully.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Kage not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Spitler throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Kage works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Spitler pushes down on Kage's leg and manages to get into half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kage is refusing to be controlled, as Spitler sits in half guard.
Spitler missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.
Kage wants to get back to full guard.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Kage misses with a wild combination.
Kage bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
Kage throws a combination that misses
and Spitler counters with a two punch combo.
A punch combination from Spitler misses.
A jab from Spitler finds it's way through Kage's defenses.
Spitler pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
Spitler throws a two punch combo that lands nicely.
Kage works over Spitler's head and body with a nice combination.
Kage looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Spitler clobbers Kage with an overhand right that has the crowd gasping. That made a horrendous noise.
Kage throws a combination that misses
and Spitler counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Kage swats away the attempt to clinch by Spitler.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.

Spitler has closed the distance and engaged Kage in a clinch.
Spitler softening up his opponent with strikes, against the cage.
Spitler lands a glancing elbow in the clinch.
Spitler lands a shoulder strike.

Spitler manages to break the clinch.
A nice combination there by Kage.
Spitler throws out a loose jab but Kage uses good head movement to avoid it.
Spitler closes the distance and clinches up with Kage, looking for a takedown. Spitler pushes Kage against the cage but Kage circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
A combination from Kage does no damage.
Kage misses with a double jab
and Spitler counters with a three punch combo that has Kage backing up. Kage nods at Spitler to acknowledge the strikes.

Spitler drops down and drives through with a powerful takedown into guard.
Spitler stands and throws Kage's legs to the side, diving into side control.
Kage is not content to let Spitler control the position.

Spitler is trying to get an arm triangle but Kage is defending well.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Noah Spitler showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action! Ladies and gentlemen, this is the final round!

Spitler clinches with his opponent.
Kage tries to break free but Spitler pushes him back against the cage.

Spitler's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Kage on the wrong end of a nice jab.
Spitler showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Kage.
Spitler looks to score with a jab to the body but Kage is just out of range.
Wow, both these guys are really going for it!
A punch combination from Kage misses.
Spitler tests Kage's chin there with a solid looking shot.
Spitler scores with a jab to the body.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Spitler doesn't manage to clinch there - Kage circles away.

Spitler gets the takedown into side control.

Spitler wants to work for a kimura but he's foiled early by Kage, who protects the arm well.
Spitler takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Kage is trying to buck Spitler off.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kage can't do much from the bottom here.
Kage is looking to reverse the position.
An elbow from Spitler crashes against the mat.
Kage defending against the ground and pound.
Spitler trying to control the position but Kage is working away.
Kage is sneaking out the side here. He's bucked Spitler off and has taken his back!
Noah Spitler has got the better of the ground game so far.
Spitler is trying to get back to his feet but Kage has full control of the position and if anything, Spitler has just worked his way into a worse spot.

Kage is working really hard to secure the rear naked choke. Spitler defends successfully for a significant amount of time. Both fighters are looking very determined.
Spitler breaks Kage's hooks off and manages to turn into his guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Kage is trying to control the position from the bottom.

Kage working for a triangle but Spitler defends it easily.
Kage keeping moving, preventing Spitler from controlling successfully.

Spitler thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.
Spitler keeps in close for a moment and lands a decent shot to the side of Kage's head.

Kage is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Spitler defends well.

Kage working for a triangle but Spitler defends it easily.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kage keeping moving, preventing Spitler from controlling successfully.
Spitler pushes down on Kage's leg and manages to get into half guard.
Spitler not landing any meaningful shots this time.
Noah Spitler is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Spitler with a momentary lay and pray from half guard.
Kage is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.

Kage looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
My god... these two guys really need to pick up the pace or everyone will leave to go get a beer.
Spitler controlling the pace.
Spitler seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Kage does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.
Luke Kage has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

Kage is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Spitler pulls his head out easily.
Spitler looks over to his corner - he wants some instructions but his corner are not responding.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.

And that's the end of the fight!
Noah Spitler comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Spitler has outworked and out performed his opponent in all aspects of the game today. He was simply too good and the decision should be no more than a formality. 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 Andi Peters scores the fight 27:30
Judge Gordon Ramsey scores the fight 27:30
Judge Frank Skinner scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Noah Spitler!