PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Karl Denke (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Nova Uniao (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Denke comes into the arena with Runnin With The Devil blaring out of the sound system. 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.

Denke
vs
Uniao

186 cm
24
192 lbs
12 - 0 - 0

180 cm
25
188 lbs
9 - 3 - 0

Good wrestling
World class boxer
Granite chin

BJJ Red Belt
Decent boxing
Good gas tank

Malicious Intent Fight Gear

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 5 rounds, for the middleweight championship of the world!
Introducing the champion to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 12 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Karl Denke!
And introducing the challenger to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 9 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Nova Uniao!
The judges for this bout are Wesley Smith, Tiny Johnson and Alan Glass.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Denke rushes Uniao and presses him up against the cage.
Denke blocks a body shot from Uniao.
Denke misses with some punches.
Uniao misses with a punch to the body.
Uniao blocks an uppercut.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Denke.
A nice right hand lands inside from Denke.
Denke lands punches inside but they're not really causing much damage.
Denke tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Denke lands a left hand that snaps the head of Uniao backwards.
Denke trying to land knees to the body.
Uniao has hold of a leg and is looking for a trip takedown. Denke avoids it nicely though and we remain in the clinch.
Denke blocks a body shot from Uniao.
Denke lands an uppercut.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Uniao struggles to land a body shot inside as Denke controls his hands.
Uniao throws a punch but it's blocked by Denke.
Uniao has a couple of punches blocked by Denke.
Uniao misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Denke throws a punch but it's blocked by Uniao.
Uniao blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
Denke lands a right hand.
Uniao drops down looking for an ankle pick but Denke pulls his leg out and moves away.
Denke thows a body shot but no joy.
Uniao tries to check the leg kick but that clearly hurt him.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Denke tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
A jab from Denke misses.
Uniao takes one to the chin there.
Uniao swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
Denke connects with a lovely jab that went straight through the gap between Uniao's hands.
Denke connects with a lovely right hand, straight down the pipe.
Uniao takes a shot right to the bread basket.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Uniao steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Denke.
Uniao slips under a jab.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Denke moves out of range as Uniao strikes.
Uniao blocks a head kick by Denke.
Denke jabbing away but nothing is landing.
Denke throws a solid leg kick but Uniao takes the impact on his shin and smiles at Denke.
An inside leg kick lands from Denke.
Karl Denke is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Uniao showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Denke.
Denke lands with a straight right. Uniao didn't see that one coming.
Uniao avoids the body shot from Denke.
Karl Denke seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Denke misses with a body shot.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Denke takes a swing at Uniao's ribcage but misses.
Denke misses with a straight right.
Uniao slips a straight right by Denke.
Denke misses with a right hand
and Uniao counters with a left to the body.
Denke throws a leg kick but Uniao moved away.
Denke throws a lazy right hand but Uniao sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Denke wings a very wild body shot but it does the job and lands to the midsection.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Uniao shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Denke sprawls well. Denke wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Uniao gets slowly back to his feet.
Karl Denke has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Nova Uniao.
Denke scores with a jab to the jaw.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Denke swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Denke throws a lazy right hand but Uniao sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Denke slips in close and lands a nice hook before moving back out of range.
Denke throws a hook but Uniao blocks it.
Denke misses with an uppercut

and Uniao counters with a nice shoot takedown that brings the fighters to the ground.
The referee is asking the fighters to pick up the pace.
Denke keeping full guard, as Uniao tries to pass.
Uniao postures up in Denke's guard and throws a big left but Denke blocks it.
Uniao postures up.
Denke utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Uniao tries to free his leg and advance position but Denke is retaining full guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Denke looking for a guillotine here but Uniao defends easily.
Uniao passes into half guard.
Denke tries to get to full guard but Uniao has control of the leg.
Uniao throwing shots but Denke is blocking nicely.
Denke is working for an escape here. He's hooked one of Uniao's legs and he's managed to sneak out and take Uniao's back!
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Uniao takes a big shot to the side of the head.

Uniao defending nicely against the rear naked choke attempt.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Uniao is in bad spot here.
Uniao is keeping busy.
Uniao has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
Denke misses with an elbow to the head.
Uniao is defending well here and trying to improve his position.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Uniao finds himself mounted whilst avoiding strikes.
Uniao regains half guard.
Denke lands with a punch from half guard.
Denke working the head and body with strikes.
Denke working Uniao over with strikes.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Denke thows a huge punch but Uniao dodges it nicely.
Denke throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
Denke prevents Uniao from improving his position.
Denke looks to score some points with some ground and pound.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Uniao wants to improve his position but Denke is controlling well.
Denke is scoring with some nice ground and pound from the dominant position.
The fighters are battling for position here. Uniao manages to regain full guard. Nice work.
Uniao working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Denke.
Karl Denke overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.

Uniao is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
Denke throws a strike but Uniao rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Denke looking to hit a scissor sweep but Uniao is one step ahead there.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Uniao pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Denke is keeping the position for now.
Uniao postures up and scores with a shot to the body and a follow up elbow to the head.
Uniao trying to control but Denke is working from the bottom.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Denke wants to hit a switch here but Uniao passes into full mount! Oh no, disaster for Denke there!
Uniao is in the full mount, landing strikes.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close second round but I would say that Karl Denke will probably get the nod.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

Denke throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Uniao shoots in looking for a takedown. Denke tries to sprawl out of it but Uniao keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Denke manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
A nice leg kick lands there from Denke.
Denke misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.

Denke clinches up with Uniao and pushes him back against the cage.
A short left from Denke.
Denke misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Uniao.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Denke.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Denke lands with a short head shot on the inside.
A knee to the head by Denke.
Uniao swings wildly with an uppercut but Denke uses good head movement to avoid it.
Uniao misses with a short punch on the inside.
Denke prevents a body shot from Uniao.
Denke tries to work over Uniao's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Denke.
Denke working on landing some head shots here - that one got through nicely.
Uniao throws a head punch that misses.
Denke digs a right hand underneath Uniao's ribcage. Uniao let out a lung full of air as it connected.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Denke goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Denke swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Uniao fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Denke gets underhooks to prevent Uniao's takedown attempt.
Knees to the body from Denke.
Uniao throws a punch but it's blocked by Denke.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Uniao.
Denke misses with a hook from the clinch.
A shot in the inside from Denke.
Denke gets underhooks to prevent Uniao's takedown attempt.
Karl Denke has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Nova Uniao.
Uniao tries a body shot but Denke blocks it.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Denke looking to throw knees to the head but Uniao is blocking nicely.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Denke swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Uniao wants a takedown but no success here.
Denke misses with a punch on the inside.
Denke blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Denke gets through Uniao's defenses to land a nice punch to the side of the head.
Nice body punch from Denke - that landed with a thud.
Uniao tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Denke's elbow.
Denke swings wildly with an uppercut but Uniao uses good head movement to avoid it.

Uniao has hold of one of Denke's legs. Denke is fighting the takedown attempt but Uniao gets the trip and lands the takedown into guard.
Denke is trying to keep Uniao in close.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Denke is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.
Uniao scoring with punches to the head and body.
Uniao stands and throws Denke's legs to the side, diving into side control.
Uniao looks up at the clock and then as Denke takes his cue and looks up at the clock too, Uniao smacks him right in the chops with a big elbow! How rude!
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Uniao working the head and body with strikes.
Denke takes a couple of big shots there - the referee warns him that he has to defend himself better.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Denke is moving his hips around well on the bottom and has managed to get back to half guard.
Denke is trying to stand back up but Uniao is controlling him
Uniao winds up and cracks Denke with a swinging punch to the side of the head.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close third round but Nova Uniao just about did enough to take it.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

Uniao changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Denke tries to avoid it but Uniao manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Denke to the ground. Denke escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.

Uniao gets tackled into the cage by Denke. Denke maintains the clinch.
Denke misses with a punch on the inside.
Denke misses with a hook from the clinch.
Denke struggles to land a body shot inside as Uniao controls his hands.
Denke lands on the inside with an uppercut.
Denke throws a knee to the head but misses.
Denke tries a knee to the head but Uniao blocks it.
Uniao changes levels and goes for a takedown here. Denke fights it off and pushes away nicely.
Uniao needs to keep his hands up - Denke had a free shot at his head there.

That's one minute gone in the round.
A slow jab from Uniao misses its intended target.
A decent looking cross lands there for Denke.
Uniao uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Denke.
Denke's jab looks to have found its range, popping Uniao under the eye.
Denke throws a right hand that misses

and Uniao counters with a nice single leg takedown and he's in Denke's guard now.

Denke working for a triangle but Uniao defends it easily.
Uniao trying to control but Denke is working from the bottom.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Uniao postures up and scores with a shot to the body and a follow up elbow to the head.
Denke utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Denke is avoiding any damage by keeping wrist control.
Uniao pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Denke is keeping the position for now.
Uniao forces his way into half guard.
Uniao throws a strike but Denke avoids it easily and moves to full guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Denke working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Uniao doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Uniao manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.
Uniao trying to control the position from guard on top but Denke is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Uniao postures up and lands a big shot to Denke's brow.
Uniao postures up in Denke's guard and throws a big left but Denke blocks it.
Uniao postures up and scores with a shot to the body and a follow up elbow to the head.

Denke looks to be working for a triangle here. Oh, it looks like he might have it! Uniao has picked Denke up and slammed him! Denke can't keep hold of the triangle and Uniao manages to pass to side control!
Uniao tries to advance to mount but can't.
Denke on the wrong end of some ground and pound.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Uniao just content to control the position.
Uniao gets to mount! Denke was on the offensive and wasn't defending properly.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Denke takes a big shot to the head but keeps on trying to improve his position.
Uniao pausing momentarily but resumes with a couple of decent strikes that do a bit of damage.
Denke is looking to get to half guard.

Uniao looking for an armbar but decides to keep the dominant position instead.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Uniao pausing momentarily but resumes with a couple of decent strikes that do a bit of damage.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Nova Uniao dominated that fourth round.
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!

Oooooooooooh, not good. A low kick from Denke lands where it shouldn't have, right in the... well, you know what he did? He kicked him in the penis. He's injured, injured bad. The referee sends both fighters to their corners and Uniao has 5 minutes to recover. He's OK now though... a thumbs up from Uniao and we're back underway with a touch of gloves.

Uniao moves into the clinch.
Denke using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Uniao has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
A short left from Denke.
Denke misses with a short punch on the inside.
Uniao managing to block the knees to the body from Denke.
Denke doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Denke lands with a quick shot inside that doesn't really do much damage.
Denke working aggressively here.
Denke tries to work over Uniao's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
Uniao goes for a body shot but it's blocked.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Denke has a couple of punches blocked by Uniao.
Denke working on landing some head shots here - that one got through nicely.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Denke.
Uniao blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Uniao swings wildly with an uppercut but Denke uses good head movement to avoid it.
Uniao tries to throw a body punch but Denke avoids it by throwing Uniao back against the cage.
Uniao can't get the takedown.
Karl Denke has scored more points in the clinch so far.
Uniao blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Denke lands a hook to the side of the head.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Uniao tries to score a body lock takedown but Denke shows good agility there to stay on his feet.
Denke misses with a body punch.
Denke scores with a shoulder strike.
Knees in the clinch landing for Denke.
Uniao drops to a knee looking for a takedown but Denke gets the underhooks and prevents it.
Karl Denke has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Nova Uniao.
Uniao is wobbling all over the place through exhaustion. Will he make it to the final bell?
Uniao blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Denke lands a right uppercut that snaps the head of Uniao backwards.
Uniao blocks a punch to the side of the head.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Uniao.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Uniao's head jolts backwards as he takes an uppercut right on the button!

Uniao is rocked!
Denke prevents a body shot from Uniao.
Denke tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Uniao has a body lock and is looking for a takedown. Denke is bouncing around trying to prevent the takedown and somehow he has indeed managed to stay on his feet.
Denke is pressed up against the cage. Uniao has hold of a leg and is looking to drag Denke down to the mat. Denke avoids the attempt though and has circled away. We're back to striking at a distance.
Denke misses with a low kick.
Denke stooping low to avoid any incoming strikes and then lunges in with an uppercut come cross that lands flush.
A punch combination from Denke misses.
Good standup being displayed there by Denke as he connects with a hook.
Uniao is still on wobbly legs! Can Denke finish him?

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Uniao blocks a head kick by Denke.
Uniao seems to have recovered his senses.
Denke throws an ugly left hook that misses
and Uniao makes him pay by landing a nice hook to the body before moving out of range.

Denke moves into range and clinches up with Uniao.
Denke throws a knee to the head but misses.
Denke landing some nice looking knees to the body.
Denke with a knee to the head.

It looks like Nova Uniao has been cut.
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!
Denke lands punches inside but they're not really causing much damage.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Denke misses with a hook from the clinch.
Denke misses with the head strike.

And that's the end of the fight!
Karl Denke showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Denke 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 5 rounds of action, we go to the scorecards for a decision.
Judge Wesley Smith scores the fight 48:47
Judge Tiny Johnson scores the fight 49:47
Judge Alan Glass scores the fight 49:46

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Karl Denke!
Karl Denke retains his middleweight title!