PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Nate Kronic (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Rachid Hadji (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Hadji comes into a darkened arena with his song building. From Here to Eternity kicks in, the lights come on and the crowd goes wild! What a showman! 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.

Kronic
vs
Hadji

174 cm
26
156 lbs
16 - 12 - 0

165 cm
29
150 lbs
8 - 7 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
World class MT
KO power

BJJ Purple Belt
Good elbows
Granite chin

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 16 - 12 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, Nate Kronic!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 8 - 7 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, Rachid Hadji!
The judges for this bout are Roger Salmon, Jeff Smith and Micheangelo Fripello.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Kronic throws the kick towards the body but Hadji avoids it.
Nice shot by Hadji.

It looks like Nate Kronic has been cut.
Hadji doesn't manage to clinch there - Kronic circles away.
Kronic jabs at Hadji's body.
Hadji sees a low kick coming and goes to check it, but it's actually a body kick and it thuds into his unprotected ribs.
Hadji blocks a head kick by Kronic.
Kronic throws a right and a left that Hadji avoids nicely.
The fighters circling - Hadji throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
Kronic pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Kronic digs a good body shot into Hadji's ribs.
Kronic misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Hadji misses with a right hand
and Kronic counters with a one-two to the body.
Hadji tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Kronic was well out of range. Poor timing from Hadji.
Hadji takes a swing at Kronic's ribcage but misses.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Hadji looks shocked there as he takes a right hand to the temple.
Hadji avoids the head kick by Kronic.
Kronic motions for Hadji to come forward. Kronic throws a leg kick but it misses it's target.
Hadji misses with the body kick
and Kronic counters with a big head kick but Hadji shrugs it off.
Hadji tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in the close the distance. Kronic manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kronic misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Kronic scores with a hook.
Kronic throws a one two combo.
Good leg kick by Kronic there. It's the ones that make that thud noise that hurt and that was an almighty thud.
Hadji throws a series of strikes that have Kronic backpedaling.

Kronic is rocked!
Hadji throws a poor cross that misses
and Kronic counters with a thumping low kick.
Hadji throws a hook to the side of Kronic's head but Kronic sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
A big right from Hadji misses.
Hadji swings for the body but Kronic moves out of range.
Kronic throws a solid leg kick but Hadji takes the impact on his shin and smiles at Kronic.

Kronic closes the distance and clinches.
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!
Kronic takes an elbow to the temple.
Hadji looking to slow down the pace here.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Kronic.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Hadji stalling in the clinch but Kronic improves position.
Hadji working hard to break the clinch.
Hadji lands a nice uppercut.

Kronic escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Hadji avoids the body shot from Kronic.
Kronic lands a right hook to the body.
Hadji throws a jab when Kronic was well out of range.
Hadji throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Hadji misses with a hook. Kronic ducked under it nicely.
Hadji tries a low kick but Kronic avoids it.
Kronic moves into range and throws a combination. A nice jab followed by a hook to the body.
Hadji throws a jab when Kronic was well out of range.
Hadji tries to work over Kronic's front leg with a kick but Kronic checks it.
Hadji takes a kick to the side of the head.

It looks like Rachid Hadji has been cut.
Rachid Hadji seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

Kronic moves into the clinch successfully.
Kronic lands with a quick shot inside that doesn't really do much damage.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kronic blocks an elbow strike.
Hadji throws an elbow that misses.
Kronic lands a nice elbow from the clinch.
Hadji tries to land knees in the clinch but Kronic avoids the damage to the body.
Kronic slows down the pace here.
Kronic dodges an elbow strike from Hadji.
Hadji misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Kronic.
With the fighters up against the cage, Hadji throws an elbow but misses.
Hadji is working hard here but doesn't seem to be able to control effectively, up against the cage.
Kronic blocks a punch to the side of the head.
A nice right hand lands inside from Kronic.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Kronic on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
Hadji throws an elbow that misses.
Kronic works on Hadji's body with a couple of short punches.
Hadji missing with knees to the body.
Kronic blocks the elbow strike.
Kronic has Hadji pressed against the cage, preventing Hadji from circling away and getting back to striking at range.
Kronic avoids a wild elbow strike from Hadji.
Kronic blocks the elbow strike.
Kronic on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
Hadji tries a knee to the head but he's missed.
Kronic managing to block the knees to the body from Hadji.
Hadji has a couple of punches blocked by Kronic.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Kronic blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
Kronic prevents a body shot from Hadji.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Good anti-grappling being displayed by Kronic as Hadji tries to tie him up.

Kronic manages to break the clinch.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close round but I would say that Nate Kronic will probably get the nod.
Both fighters have cut men working on them during the interval.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin!

Kronic slips a straight right by Hadji.
Kronic ducks under a wild hook from Hadji.
Hadji lands with an uppercut that bounces Kronic off the cage and back into range.
Hadji connects with a looping left hand that seems like it dazed Kronic momentarily.
Hadji throws a head kick that misses
and Kronic makes him pay by landing a thudding low kick.
Kronic circles away from the clinch attempt.
Kronic uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Hadji.
Kronic uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Hadji.
Kronic stooping low to avoid any incoming strikes and then lunges in with an uppercut come cross that lands flush.
Hadji ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Kronic moves away.
Hadji tries to clinch up.
Hadji doesn't manage to clinch there - Kronic circles away.

Kronic closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.
Hadji is trying to slow down the pace in the clinch, to catch his breath.
Kronic blocks the elbow strike.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Kronic scores with a knee to the head.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Kronic's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.

Kronic pushes Hadji up against the cage in a clinch.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Hadji.
Hadji tries to land knees in the clinch but Kronic avoids the damage to the body.
Kronic holding his opponent close, against the cage.
Hadji pushes off an throws an elbow but Kronic leans to the side and avoids it. We're back to clinching against the cage.
The referee calls for Kronic to work.
Hadji tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Kronic avoids it.
Hadji tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Kronic landing knees to the head.
Kronic blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
Kronic stalls.
The fighters are starting to get sweaty, which will make takedowns a bit more tricky.
Hadji throws an elbow but it's blocked.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Kronic lands a shoulder strike that jolts his opponent's head backwards.
Hadji taking a breather.
Hadji throws an elbow but it misses.
Hadji tries to break the clinch but Kronic is controlling the position.
Hadji throws an elbow but it misses.
Kronic is stalling here.

Kronic breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Kronic scores with a shot to the body.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Hadji attempts a leg kick but it's missed by a good margin.
Kronic lands with an overhand left.
Kronic turns his hip over beautifully as he lands a nice leg kick.
A big right from Hadji misses.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kronic lands a jab to Hadji's midsection.
A good leg kick by Kronic.
Kronic throws a head kick but Hadji moves out of range.
Nate Kronic is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Hadji misses with a left hand
and Kronic counters with a kick to the head that grazes his opponent. Hadji is lucky that one didn't land flush.
Kronic showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Hadji.
Hadji avoids the head kick by Kronic.
Hadji blocks a head kick by Kronic.
Kronic moves out of range of the body kick.
Kronic tries a head kick but it misses.
Kronic lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Hadji circles away quickly and effectively.
Kronic staying out of range there.
Kronic throws a combination. Hadji tries to block but a couple of punches get through.
Hadji lands a jab to Kronic's midsection.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Kronic misses with a double jab.
Nate Kronic is winning the standup battle so far.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Hadji throws a lazy right hand but Kronic sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Hadji misses with a hook
and Kronic counters with a head kick.
Hadji throws an overhand right that lands on Kronic's shoulder, as Kronic tries to avoid the shot.
Hadji is really struggling to land any decent head shots against his taller opponent.
A left lands for Kronic.

Hadji clinches.
With the fighters up against the cage, Hadji throws an elbow but misses.
Stalling in the clinch from Kronic.

Kronic's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Hadji moves in looking to clinch but Kronic pushes him off.
Hadji fails with an attempt to clinch.

Kronic darts in and clinches Hadji up against the cage.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Hadji tries to work over Kronic's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
Kronic just leaning against Hadji, taking a breather.
Hadji is looking to control Kronic's arms but Kronic gets an underhook and turns him. Now Hadji has his back to the cage.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Nate Kronic dominated that second round.
Both fighters have cut men working on them during the interval.
That's time! Kronic's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight. This is the final round!

Kronic connects with a lovely right hand, straight down the pipe.
Kronic throws a wild body kick that Hadji sees coming a mile off.
A nice leg kick lands there from Kronic.
Hadji scores with a jab to the body.
Hadji throws a jab, cross combination which is slipped
and Hadji takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
Kronic keeps the fight on the outside.
Kronic ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Hadji moves away.
Hadji throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
Kronic throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Kronic misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Kronic looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Kronic tries a head kick but it misses.
Hadji throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
Kronic fakes a head shot and lands one to the body.
Hadji fails with an attempt to clinch.
Hadji misses with a looping left.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kronic throws a sloppy head kick and Hadji moves out of range easily.
Kronic is looking to wear down Hadji with body shots, infact he's throwing more body shots than head shots at the moment.
Kronic lands a high kick!
Hadji lands a really nice looking cross but Kronic seems unphased.
Kronic misses with a body kick.
Hadji fails to land with a series of punches.
Hadji throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
Hadji tried to score with a low kick but Kronic checks it.
The fight stays on the outside here - Hadji looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Kronic lands with a head kick! That's gotta hurt.

Hadji gets a clinch.
Hadji tries to throw a body punch but Kronic avoids it by throwing Hadji back against the cage.
Hadji stalling in the clinch but Kronic improves position.
Kronic content to slow the pace in the clinch.
Rachid Hadji seems to be working more effectively in the clinch in the fight so far.

Kronic breaks the clinch.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Nice defenses there by Kronic.
Kronic throws a head kick but Hadji moves out of range.
Hadji tries to close the distance and clinch up but Kronic swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Hadji looks to throw the jab but Kronic is out of range.
A chopping leg kick lands by Hadji.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Kronic misses with a head kick.
Hadji pivots, looking for a leg kick but Kronic is out of range and Hadji settles back down.
Hadji throws a front kick aimed at Kronic's knee but Kronic avoids it well.
Kronic throws a decent looking leg kick but it doesn't land clean.

Kronic closes the distance and clinches.
Hadji is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Kronic is defending well for now.
Good anti-grappling being displayed by Kronic as Hadji tries to tie him up.
Kronic avoiding damage as Hadji throws knees to the body.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Hadji missing with knees to the body.
Hadji trying to control the position but instead, Kronic has worked for underhooks and has pushed Hadji into the cage.
With the two fighters working up against the cage, Hadji just misses with a elbow thrown towards Kronic's brow.
Kronic avoids a wild elbow strike from Hadji.
Hadji throws a knee to the head but misses.
Kronic lands a shot to the body.
Hadji tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
A real battle for position is taking place between these two warriors.
Hadji missing with knees to the body.

Kronic escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.

Kronic takes the fight into the clinch.
Kronic lands a nice elbow.
Rachid Hadji has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Kronic is struggling to control the position.
Kronic avoiding damage as Hadji throws knees to the body.
Hadji is trying to stall.
Hadji using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Kronic has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.

Kronic escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Hadji misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Kronic.
Nate Kronic is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Kronic lands with a nice low kick. That'll leave a bruise.
Hadji misses with a combination
and Kronic counters with an outside leg kick.
Hadji takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.

Kronic gets a clinch.

And that's the end of the fight!
That was a close round. You could make an argument for either fighter but I would give it to Nate Kronic.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Kronic, winning every round. Will the judges agree? They are the ones who matter, even if they are often depressingly incompetent. 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 Roger Salmon scores the fight 30:27
Judge Jeff Smith scores the fight 30:27
Judge Micheangelo Fripello scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by split decision... Nate Kronic!