PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Isaiah Fowler (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Nathan Hakamalu (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Hakamalu has chosen Thunderstruck as his entrance music. Both these guys have really solid chins. Will we see a standup war or will they both decide that a knockout is unlikely and try to win the fight elsewhere?

Fowler
vs
Hakamalu

200 cm
21
260 lbs
6 - 2 - 0

193 cm
21
278 lbs
4 - 1 - 0

Good takedowns
Excellent boxer
Granite chin

Decent wrestler
Excellent boxer
Powerful

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 5 rounds, for the heavyweight championship of the world!
Introducing the champion to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 6 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, Isaiah Fowler!
And introducing the challenger to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 4 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, Nathan Hakamalu!
The judges for this bout are , and .

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Fowler tries to clinch up.

Hakamalu forces Fowler back against the cage and clinches.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Fowler.
Hakamalu is working Fowler over against the cage.
Fowler lands a glancing elbow in the clinch.
Hakamalu looks like he'd prefer to be striking at range right now.
Fowler gets double underhooks to prevent a takedown attempt from Hakamalu.
With the two fighters working up against the cage, Fowler just misses with a elbow thrown towards Hakamalu's brow.
Fowler tries to pull guard but Hakamalu won't allow it.
Hakamalu is trying to slow down the pace in the clinch, to catch his breath.
A quick uppercut on the inside from Hakamalu.
Hakamalu has hold of a leg and is looking for a trip takedown. Fowler avoids it nicely though and we remain in the clinch.

Hakamalu escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Hakamalu is looking to take this fight into the clinch.

Fowler moves into range and clinches up with Hakamalu.
Fowler has a couple of punches blocked by Hakamalu.
Hakamalu lands a body shot.
Fowler looks to throw an elbow but misses.
Hakamalu trying to control the position but instead, Fowler has worked for underhooks and has pushed Hakamalu into the cage.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Fowler.
Fowler lands an elbow just above Hakamalu 's eye.
Fowler looks to throw an elbow but misses.
Fowler lands an elbow that stopped Hakamalu in his tracks for a moment.
Fowler working some nice short punches in the clinch.
Hakamalu can't break the clinch.
Hakamalu is stalling here. The referee will be looking to step in if he doesn't pick up the pace.
Hakamalu pushes Fowler back against the cage and unloads with a body punch.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Hakamalu's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Hakamalu thows a body shot but no joy.
Fowler throws a lazy right hand but Hakamalu sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.

Hakamalu instigates a clinch.
Hakamalu misses with a short punch on the inside.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Fowler.
Fowler lands a nice elbow from the clinch.
Hakamalu drops down looking for an ankle pick but Fowler pulls his leg out and moves away.
Isaiah Fowler has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Nathan Hakamalu.
Fowler misses with a few strikes there.
Fowler swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Hakamalu connects with a lovely jab that went straight through the gap between Fowler's hands.
Fowler looks to land a combination but Hakamalu avoids it well.

Fowler rushes Hakamalu and presses him up against the cage.
Fowler tries to land a knee to the head but misses.
A shot in the inside from Fowler.
Hakamalu gets through Fowler's defenses to land a nice punch to the side of the head.
Hakamalu working some nice short punches in the clinch.
Hakamalu avoids the elbow strike from Fowler, against the cage.
Hakamalu lands a body shot in the clinch.
Fowler is breathing heavily.
Hakamalu lands with a short shot to the head.
Hakamalu will no doubt start fighting again in a minute but for now he's just having a little rest, leaning Fowler up against the cage.
Fowler fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
With the fighters clinched against the cage, Hakamalu creates a bit of distance for himself and scores with a nice uppercut.
Fowler doesn't land with the attempted body shot.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Hakamalu makes some space for himself and lands an uppercut.
Hakamalu is looking for a takedown up against the cage. Fowler gets underhooks though and prevents the takedown attempt.
Hakamalu lands a left hand that snaps the head of Fowler backwards.
Fowler misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Hakamalu.
Hakamalu looking to slow down the pace here.

Hakamalu escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Fowler fails with an attempt to clinch.

Hakamalu takes the fight into the clinch.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Fowler lands a left hand that snaps the head of Hakamalu backwards.
Hakamalu trying to control the position but instead, Fowler has worked for underhooks and has pushed Hakamalu into the cage.
A short right from Hakamalu on the inside.
Hakamalu tries for a takedown. No joy.
Hakamalu misses with a punch on the inside.
Hakamalu stalling here - the referee won't stand for too much of that.
Fowler lands a glancing elbow in the clinch.
Hakamalu is leaning against Fowler and scores with a nice uppercut to the body.
A nice left hand lands by Hakamalu.
Hakamalu lands a shoulder strike.
Fowler blocking some punches.
Hakamalu wants to get back to striking at distance but Fowler won't allow it.
A short right hand to the side of the head by Fowler.
Hakamalu swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Fowler throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Hakamalu blocks it with crossed arms.

Hakamalu pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Fowler wants to clinch.
Hakamalu tries to close the distance and clinch up but Fowler swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Hakamalu swats away the attempt to clinch by Fowler.
Hakamalu throws a right and a left that Fowler avoids nicely.
Fowler tries to clinch there but Hakamalu circles away.
Wow, both these guys are really going for it!
Fowler blocks a jab.
Nathan Hakamalu is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Hakamalu ducks under a wild hook from Fowler.
Hakamalu catches Fowler with a nice straight right. He seems pissed - ooooh, it's on now! On like donkey kong!
Fowler slips a jab and a cross from Hakamalu.
Fowler tries to clinch up but Hakamalu circles away and keeps his distance.
Fowler wants to clinch but Hakamalu slips to the side
and Hakamalu cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Hakamalu looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Fowler gets cracked with a nice right hand there by Hakamalu.
Hakamalu wants to clinch.
Hakamalu tries to clinch but Fowler is having none of it.

Hakamalu fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Fowler, pushing him back against the cage.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Fowler connects with a nasty looking knee right to Hakamalu's face.
Fowler being controlled against the cage.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Hakamalu lands a hook to the body. It's hard to tell if that hurt Fowler or not.
Hakamalu lands a right hand.
A nice right hand lands inside from Hakamalu.
Hakamalu has had enough of the clinch and is looking to separate.
Hakamalu is trying to work for a single leg takedown but Fowler pulls him back up using the underhooks.
Fowler throws an elbow that misses.
Fowler throws an elbow but it misses.
Hakamalu blocks the elbow strike.

Hakamalu escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Fowler tries to clinch but Hakamalu is having none of it.

Hakamalu takes the fight into the clinch.
Hakamalu lands a hook that snaps the head of Fowler backwards.
Hakamalu is trying to stall.
Hakamalu lands with a short punch from the clinch.
Hakamalu wants to break free but Fowler has control.
Fowler misses with an elbow over the top.

Hakamalu breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!

Hakamalu forces Fowler back against the cage and clinches.
Fowler looks to throw an elbow but misses.
Fowler is working for a takedown up against the cage. He can't get it on this occasion though.
Hakamalu can't break the clinch.
Both fighters working to control the clinch.

Fowler wants the takedown. Hakamalu is fighting it off but Fowler persists and manages to bring the fight to the ground, ending up in Hakamalu's guard against the cage.
Hakamalu is trying to keep Fowler in close.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Nathan Hakamalu 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.

Hakamalu closes the distance and clinches.
Fowler lands an elbow just above Hakamalu 's eye.
Fowler creates a bit of space for himself and sneaks an elbow through Hakamalu's defenses.
A short left from Hakamalu.
Fowler is looking for a takedown up against the cage. Hakamalu gets underhooks though and prevents the takedown attempt.
A shot in the inside from Hakamalu.
Fowler lands a glancing elbow in the clinch.
Hakamalu lands a hook that snaps the head of Fowler backwards.

Hakamalu escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Hakamalu uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Fowler.
Fowler is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Hakamalu.
Hakamalu scores with a jab to the jaw of his opponent.
Fowler tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in the close the distance. Hakamalu manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.

The fight moves into the clinch position.
Fowler gets underhooks to prevent Hakamalu's takedown attempt.
Fowler doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Hakamalu prevents the takedown attempt.
Fowler throws an elbow but it misses.
A short body shot lands from Hakamalu as the two fighters clinch.
A body shot lands from Hakamalu.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
This has been an exciting period of action!

Hakamalu's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Fowler takes a jab right on the nose. That must have hurt but he shrugs his shoulders and looks to return the favor.
Hakamalu misses with a two punch combination.
Hakamalu lands a glancing blow to the side of Fowler's head.
Hakamalu displaying good standup as he scores with a three punch combination.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Decent striking displayed by Hakamalu there.

Hakamalu has managed to clinch.
Hakamalu lands an uppercut.

Hakamalu breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.

Hakamalu moves into the clinch.
Hakamalu tries to break the clinch but Fowler is controlling the position.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Fowler.
Fowler struggles to land a body shot inside as Hakamalu controls his hands.
Fowler tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. Hakamalu smiles and moves away.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Isaiah Fowler. That's going to take a lot out of him.

Hakamalu closes the distance and clinches.
Fowler throws a blind hook that connects with the side of Hakamalus head.
Hakamalu lands with a short head shot on the inside.
Hakamalu lands a hook that snaps the head of Fowler backwards.
Hakamalu working some nice short punches in the clinch.
Hakamalu gets through Fowler's defenses to land a nice punch to the side of the head.
Fowler lands a nice elbow from the clinch.
Fowler tries a body shot but Hakamalu blocks it.

Hakamalu has double underhooks and is working for a body lock takedown. He's got it. The fighters land in half guard but Fowler regains guard immediately.
This has been an exciting period of action!

Fowler has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Hakamalu can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
Hakamalu working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Fowler keeping full guard, as Hakamalu tries to pass.

Fowler has his foot on Hakamalu's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Hakamalu works his way back into a safe position though.
Hakamalu postures up and scores with a shot to the body and a follow up elbow to the head.
Hakamalu stands up over Fowler, holding his feet. He dives back in and lands a decent shot to the head.
Hakamalu in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Hakamalu content to stall in guard here.
Hakamalu has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Hakamalu is looking to work some ground and pound but Fowler has wrist control.
Fowler working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Hakamalu.
Fowler is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.
Hakamalu looking to pass the guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Fowler has an omoplata and is looking to use it perhaps as a submission or perhaps to transition. Hakamalu is in a bit of discomfort here, but he's managed to free himself and has dived into side control! That didn't work out too well for Fowler.
Hakamalu throws a knee to the body but it doesn't do much damage.
Hakamalu scoring with punches and elbows.
Hakamalu trying to control the position but Fowler is working away.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Fowler is positioning himself to get back to half guard.
Hakamalu scoring with punches and elbows.
Hakamalu trying to control the action but Fowler is working from the bottom.
Fowler can't do much from the bottom here.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Hakamalu working the ground and pound.
Fowler defending against the ground and pound.
Fowler regains half guard.

Fowler looking for submissions off his back.
Ground and pound from Hakamalu.
Hakamalu not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
Fowler taking some punishment here, with Hakamalu in his half guard.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!

Fowler pushes Hakamalu off and gets back to his feet.

Hakamalu clinches up with Fowler and pushes him back against the cage.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Fowler throws a knee to the head but misses.
Hakamalu working on landing some head shots here - that one got through nicely.
Fowler tries to work over Hakamalu's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Nathan Hakamalu 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!

Hakamalu clinches.
Hakamalu on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
A left hand lands to the body for Fowler.
Hakamalu has a body lock and is looking for a takedown. Fowler is bouncing around trying to prevent the takedown and somehow he has indeed managed to stay on his feet.
Fowler using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Hakamalu has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
Nathan Hakamalu seems to be working more effectively in the clinch in the fight so far.
Fowler pushes off an throws an elbow but Hakamalu leans to the side and avoids it. We're back to clinching against the cage.
Hakamalu working some nice short punches in the clinch.
Fowler throws an elbow but it misses.
Fowler with an attempt at a knee that misses.
Hakamalu lands a body punch - he's looking to wear down Fowler.
Fowler looking to throw knees to the head but Hakamalu is blocking nicely.
Hakamalu avoiding damage.

Hakamalu breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Hakamalu lands a head shot.

Hakamalu moves into the clinch.
A left hand lands to the body for Hakamalu.
Hakamalu lands with a light punch inside.

Hakamalu breaks from the clinch.
Fowler walks into a jab.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!

Fowler gets tackled into the cage by Hakamalu. Hakamalu maintains the clinch.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
A body shot lands from Hakamalu.
Hakamalu lands with a short head shot on the inside.
Hakamalu avoiding damage.
Hakamalu blocking some punches.
Hakamalu lands a left hand.

That's one minute gone in the round.
A short right from Hakamalu.
Hakamalu taking a breather.

Hakamalu breaks from the clinch.
Fowler looks shocked there as he takes a right hand to the temple.
Hakamalu listening to his corner there, landing a nice uppercut.
Hakamalu shuffles to his left behind two crisp jabs. Fowler eats them both and turns towards Hakamalu to reposition himself and eats a stinging right hand-left hook combo.
Fowler tries to close the distance and clinch up but Hakamalu swats him away and circles back towards the center.

Fowler closes the distance and scores a nice trip takedown into half guard. Hakamalu did well to prevent Fowler getting side control.
Fowler throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.

Fowler is trying to work for a kimura but Hakamalu is defending well.
Hakamalu keeping control of the leg, stopping his opponent passing to mount.

Fowler maintaining the dominant position here and is working for a kimura. He's locked it up! Hakamalu could be in real trouble here! He's trying to wriggle out but Fowler has cracked it and Hakamalu is screaming in pain - he's tapped out! Great finish by Fowler!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 2:04 of round 3, we have a winner by way of Submission (Kimura). Isaiah Fowler!
Isaiah Fowler retains his heavyweight title!