PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Chris Nettles (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Derek The Hulk (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.

Nettles
vs
The Hulk

175 cm
24
170 lbs
5 - 3 - 0

182 cm
24
190 lbs
0 - 4 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Excellent boxer
Granite chin

BJJ White Belt
Excellent boxer
Heavy handed

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the middleweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 5 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Chris Nettles!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 4 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Derek The Hulk!
The judges for this bout are Tarja Halkonen, Matti Vanhoillinen and Roosa Järviläinen.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
No joy there for The Hulk, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
The Hulk leaves Nettles with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
The Hulk fails to land the takedown.
The Hulk swats away the attempt to clinch by Nettles.
The Hulk throws a big shot that misses.
This fight brought to you by 5M nutrition - it's mmmmm tasty. Nice jab by The Hulk.
The Hulk gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily

and Nettles counters with a nice single leg takedown and he's in The Hulk's guard now.
Nettles prevents The Hulk from getting back to his feet.
The fighters are trapped in the ropes so we're going to have a reposition here. The ref calls for a break and repositions the fighters in the center of the ring.

Nettles stands up and waves to The Hulk to follow him.
The fighters circling - Nettles throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
Wow, both these guys are really going for it!

The Hulk shoots in and gets a takedown into half guard. The Hulk showed some decent athleticism there.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Nettles pushes The Hulk off looking to stand but The Hulk dives back in and keeps control.
The Hulk tries to stand but his hand is stuck under Nettles.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Nettles is trying to stand up here but The Hulk is controlling him well.
The Hulk seems to have lost interest with the ground game and is thinking about standing back up.
Nettles tries to kick The Hulk off but The Hulk keeps his base steady and stays in half guard.

Nettles manages to escape and get back to his feet!
The Hulk throws a head kick but Nettles moves out of range.
A head kick misses from Nettles.
The Hulk misses with a wild combination.
The Hulk looks gassed!
The Hulk throws a nice head kick!
Nettles fails with the takedown.
The Hulk throws a right and a left that Nettles avoids nicely.
Nettles missing with a left hand there. The Hulk was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
The Hulk connects with a lovely right hand, straight down the pipe.
The Hulk throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Nettles tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but The Hulk was well out of range. Poor timing from Nettles.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Nettles jabs away that one connects to the head of his opponent.
Nice uppercut lands for Nettles. That snapped The Hulk's head back.
A right-left combo lands from The Hulk.
Some wild striking there from The Hulk.
The Hulk uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Nettles.
The Hulk swings wildly with a hook that is half blocked by Nettles.

The Hulk scores a trip takedown into side control. Nice.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Nettles is working hard to escape and get back to his feet. After a battle for position, The Hulk asserts his dominance and retains side control.
The Hulk scores with a couple of nice shots to the head there. The referee takes a look at Nettles to see if he's OK.

The Hulk stands up and beckons Nettles to his feet.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from The Hulk.
Chris Nettles has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Derek The Hulk.
The Hulk jabs Nettles right on the nose. Nettles blinks but takes it well.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
A cross from Nettles lands.
Nettles throws an uppercut from half a mile away. The Hulk sees it coming and avoids it easily.
The Hulk avoids the body shot from Nettles.

Nettles shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Let's see what he's got on the mat.
The Hulk is looking to stand back up but Nettles counters by passing into half guard. Oops... bit sloppy there by The Hulk.
The Hulk is trying to stand back up but Nettles is controlling him
The Hulk is using up a lot of energy trying to get back to his feet. Perhaps he should improve his position first.

Nettles stands up from half guard.
A head kick by Nettles misses
and The Hulk counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
The Hulk lands with a two punch combination before moving back out of range.
The Hulk takes a punch to the jaw and another one to the bread basket.
The Hulk shoots and misses
enabling Nettles to counter with a crisp jab.

The Hulk closes the distance and clinches up, looking for a takedown. He shifts his weight and gets a nice trip into half guard.
The Hulk slips a nice elbow through Nettles's hands, connecting with Nettles's forehead.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

The Hulk decides to stand and escape the position.
A decent looking cross lands there for The Hulk.

Nettles drives through with a really nice takedown into side control.
This has been an exciting period of action!
The Hulk is trying to get back to his feet.

Nettles stands up and we're back to a striking position.

The Hulk looking to shoot here. He's gone for it and he's landed a takedown into mount! Oh, that's bad for Nettles!
The Hulk won't let Nettles get back to his feet... He wants to keep the fight where it is for now.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
The Hulk tries to control but Nettles wriggling away.

The Hulk is standing up out of mount! Strange tactic there - he must really want this one on the feet!
A jab from The Hulk misses.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Derek The Hulk will probably get the nod.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the ring so we can get back down to business.

Nettles tries to clinch up.
The Hulk throws a combination that misses
and Nettles counters with a lovely shot to the body.
Nettles throws a head kick but The Hulk moves out of range.
The Hulk blocks a jab.
The Hulk leaves Nettles with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
Nettles jabbing away but nothing is landing.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from The Hulk is defended easily by Nettles.
The Hulk looks to land a combination. Nettles sees it coming but can only parry a couple of the shots.
Nettles throws a shot from downtown. The Hulk moves away and avoids it.
Nettles is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by The Hulk.
The Hulk throws a series of strikes that have Nettles backpedaling.
The Hulk misses with a jab, cross combination.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
A head kick misses from Nettles.
The Hulk cracks Nettles with an open hand slap.
Nettles keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Nettles staying out of range there.
Derek The Hulk is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
The Hulk shoots for a double leg takedown but Nettles sprawls well. He's pushed The Hulk's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
Chris Nettles has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Derek The Hulk.
Nettles connects with a looping right hand.

Nettles closes the distance and clinches.

The Hulk manages to break the clinch.
Nettles swings wildly with a couple of big hooks

and The Hulk counters with a driving takedown into guard. Nice work there by The Hulk.
Nettles wants to stand but The Hulk is controlling the position.

The Hulk decides to stand up and beckons his opponent to follow.
The Hulk slips under a jab from Nettles.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Nettles showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from The Hulk.
The Hulk lands an overhand right.
The Hulk with a poor takedown
and Nettles cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Nettles throws the left hand but The Hulk avoids the punch easily.
Nettles is looking to clinch.
Nettles doesn't succeed with the takedown
letting The Hulk counter with a right hand.
The Hulk lands a jab.

The Hulk closes the distance and clinches up, looking for a takedown. He shifts his weight and gets a nice trip into half guard.
This has been an exciting period of action!
It looks like The Hulk is going to stand back up.

Nettles kicks off The Hulk and gets to his feet.
The Hulk slips a straight right by Nettles.
A head kick misses from Nettles.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
The Hulk cracks Nettles with a nice right hand that draws applause from the crowd.
The Hulk has used his reach advantage pretty well so far tonight.
Like a baseball bat into the meat of his leg there - nice leg kick by The Hulk.
The Hulk tries a head kick but it misses.
Nettles throws a one two combo.
The Hulk connects with a single shot there.
Nettles looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
Nettles changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. The Hulk tries to avoid it but Nettles manages to keep hold of a leg and drag The Hulk to the ground. The Hulk escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
A head kick from The Hulk lands but Nettles takes it in his stride.
Nettles looking to take his opponent's legs away with the low kicks.
The Hulk lands a lovely overhand right.
Nettles slaps away a takedown attempt from The Hulk, before circling back to the center of the mat.
The Hulk on the wrong end of an overhand right that came out of nowhere.
Derek The Hulk seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Nettles walks into a jab.
Nettles misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
The Hulk lands with a cross.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
No joy there for The Hulk, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
The Hulk walks into a stiff left hand from Nettles.
Nice body kick there by The Hulk.

The Hulk drives through with a takedown into guard.

Nettles is working an open guard so The Hulk takes the opportunity to get back to his feet.
Nettles takes a really solid shot there but just smiles back and shrugs his shoulders.

Nettles shoots in looking for a single leg takedown. The Hulk is trying to defend but Nettles finishes it well and ends up in half guard. Let's see if he can advance position further.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!

Nettles decides to return to a standing position.
The Hulk moving in and out of range nicely, whilst landing the scoring shot.
Nice defenses there by The Hulk.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
The Hulk connects with a single shot there.

The Hulk scores with a takedown into Nettles's guard.

Nettles pushes The Hulk off and gets back to his feet.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Derek The Hulk showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the ring so we can get back down to business. This is the final round!

The Hulk throws a two punch combo that lands nicely.
The Hulk moves into range and throws a lovely three punch combination.
The Hulk uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Nettles.
A combination from The Hulk does no damage.
The Hulk tries to bum rush Nettles with a series of wild strikes but Nettles uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
The Hulk slips a straight right by Nettles.
Nettles throws an uppercut from half a mile away. The Hulk sees it coming and avoids it easily.
Nettles throws a combination that misses
and Nettles takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
The Hulk tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
The Hulk fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
Nettles tries to bum rush The Hulk with a series of wild strikes but The Hulk uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Nettles is really head hunting here, hardly looking to strike to the body at all.

The Hulk gets caught on his heels momentarily as he allows Nettles to score an easy takedown into full guard.
The Hulk wants to stand and escape but Nettles is having none of it.
The fighters are tangled up in the ropes here. We might need a restart if the fighters can't break free themselves.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Nettles decides he's had enough of playing guard and decides to stand. Come on The Hulk, up you get!

Nettles gets caught flat footed, as The Hulk shoots in with a quick takedown into guard.

Nettles is working an open guard so The Hulk takes the opportunity to get back to his feet.
The Hulk swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Nettles throws a hook but The Hulk avoids it easily.
The Hulk misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Nettles throws a right and a left that both miss.
The Hulk misses with a jab, cross combination.
The Hulk dives in and grabs Nettles's left leg, looking for a takedown. Nettles pushes down on The Hulk's head and hops out.
The Hulk waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Nettles.
Nettles pulls out of a head kick attempt.
The Hulk misses with the combination.
A nice leg kick lands there from Nettles.
Chris Nettles has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Derek The Hulk is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Nettles takes a punch to the jaw and another one to the bread basket.
The Hulk pulls out of a head kick attempt.
The Hulk lands with a nice body kick.
Nettles throws a head kick but The Hulk moves out of range.
Nettles throws a sloppy head kick and The Hulk moves out of range easily.
The Hulk shoots for a double leg takedown but Nettles sprawls well. He's pushed The Hulk's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
Chris Nettles has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Derek The Hulk.
The Hulk swats away the attempt to clinch by Nettles.

Excellent takedown into side control there by The Hulk.

The Hulk stands up.
The Hulk displaying good standup as he scores with a three punch combination.
The Hulk blocks a head kick by Nettles.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
The Hulk lands a jab.
Nettles stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Nettles wants it to stay on the feet.
Nettles misses with an uppercut.
The Hulk dips to his left and cracks Nettles with an uppercut!
Nettles looks like he's developed a pretty tasty lump over his left eye. He'll need to avoid taking much more damage to that.
Nettles looks shocked there as he takes a right hand to the temple.
The Hulk connects with a looping left hand that seems like it dazed Nettles momentarily.

The Hulk gets a takedown into half guard.
Both fighters really going for it on the ground here!
Nettles is looking to escape.

Nettles makes some distance and scrambles quickly back to his feet. Nice work!
The Hulk scores with a punch to the head.

The Hulk fakes an overhand right and shoots for a takedown. Nettles sprawls well initially but The Hulk persists and gets the takedown into half guard.
The Hulk is trying to get back to his feet now but his leg is trapped.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

The Hulk decides to stand up.
The Hulk cracks Nettles with an open hand slap.
Nettles has his hands up protecting his head but a hook from The Hulk finds it's way round the side to connect with Nettles's head.
A cross from Nettles lands.
A head kick misses from Nettles.
Nettles looks shocked there as he takes a right hand to the temple.
The Hulk lands a straight punch to the body, keeping Nettles at a distance.
The Hulk cracks Nettles with an open hand slap.
A right-left combo lands from The Hulk.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
The Hulk fails with a takedown attempt.
Nettles misses with a shot to the body

and The Hulk counters with a shoot takedown into half guard.
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!
The Hulk stops Nettles from getting back to his feet.

The Hulk decides to return to a standing position.

And that's the end of the fight!
Derek The Hulk comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got The Hulk winning every round here. Surely the decision will go his way and he'll pick up a well deserved decision victory. 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 Tarja Halkonen scores the fight 27:30
Judge Matti Vanhoillinen scores the fight 28:29
Judge Roosa Järviläinen scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Derek The Hulk!