PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Rile Nokea (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Mark Dai (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Mark Dai told me before the fight that he's been watching a lot of DVDs so let's see if that helps him in this one! I can't wait to find out!

Nokea
vs
Dai

190 cm
28
208 lbs
13 - 7 - 1

165 cm
27
205 lbs
14 - 11 - 0

Good wrestling
Excellent boxer
Granite chin

ADCC Champion
Counter striker
Powerful

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the light heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 13 - 7 - 1, fighting out of Hilo, Rile Nokea!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 14 - 11 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, Mark Dai!
The judges for this bout are Colin Fray, Jeff Smith and Ryoma Takatsuka.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Dai is trying hard to land a takedown here. Nokea sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.

Dai changes levels and drives through with a really nice takedown into side control. Nokea looks really pissed at himself for not defending that better.
We could do with one of the fighters taking the initiative a bit more on the ground - they're both waiting to capitalize on a mistake.
Dai trying to control the action but Nokea is working from the bottom.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Nokea pushes Dai away and creates a bit of space to escape. He's almost out here... but no, Dai gets a good hold of his legs and remains firmly in side control.
Dai is looking to take a break and control but Nokea is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.

Dai working hard here to secure a kimura but he's not really in the right position for it.
Nokea wants to escape from the position here - easier said than done!
Nokea is trying to get back to half guard.

Dai tries for a kimura but Nokea is defending well.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Nokea is trying to get back to his feet.
Dai is looking to take a break and control but Nokea is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Nokea struggling a bit here.

Dai goes for an armbar here - this could be all over! But no, Nokea has escaped beautifully and is now on top in side control! Oh, that's unlucky for Dai but great work by Nokea.
Nokea tries to get to his feet but he's trapped momentarily.

Nokea stands up and beckons Dai to his feet.
Dai fails with the takedown
and Nokea counters with a left to the body.
Both fighters are looking to counter, which isn't making for the most exciting fight in the world.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Dai fails with the takedown
and Nokea counters with a stiff right hand.
Rile Nokea has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Mark Dai.
Dai misses with a takedown
and Nokea counters with a lovely shot to the body.
Rile Nokea is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Dai ducks right into an uppercut from Nokea.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Dai moves away from the strike by Nokea.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Dai with a poor takedown
and Nokea counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Nokea fakes a jab and then connects with a hook.
Nokea fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Dai manages to avoid it.
Dai has his takedown stuffed
and Nokea counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
Dai misses with a takedown
and Nokea counters with a nice uppercut.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Dai misses with a takedown
and Nokea cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Dai needs to keep his hands up - Nokea had a free shot at his head there.
Nokea scores with a shot to the body.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Dai with a poor takedown
enabling Nokea to counter with a crisp jab.
Dai gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily
and Nokea counters nicely by changing levels and landing a hook to the body.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Rile Nokea dominated that round.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business.

Nokea connects with a single shot there.
Nokea is using his reach advantage well here, landing the more effective single shots from range.
Dai tries for a takedown but Nokea circles away easily
enabling Nokea to counter with a crisp jab.
Dai slips a straight right by Nokea.

Dai shoots in and gets a takedown into Nokea's guard.
Dai stops Nokea from standing up.
Dai tries to free his leg and advance position but Nokea is retaining full guard.

Nokea escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Dai gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.

Dai avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Nokea is looking for a triangle but Dai pushes his legs off easily.
Nokea wants to stand and escape but Dai is having none of it.
Nokea is doing well to control the posture of his opponent and prevent any damage.

Nokea has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Dai can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
Nokea can't keep his opponent in guard - Dai advances to half guard, no doubt looking to mount.

Nokea kicks Dai off and gets back to his feet.
Nokea looks to land a right hand but Dai moved out of range.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Dai fails with the takedown
and Nokea counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
Dai misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
Rile Nokea has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Mark Dai.
Dai dives in and grabs Nokea's left leg, looking for a takedown. Nokea pushes down on Dai's head and hops out.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Dai tries for a takedown but Nokea circles away easily
and Nokea counters with a three punch combo that has Dai backing up. Dai nods at Nokea to acknowledge the strikes.
Nokea misses with a looping left.
Nokea lands a body shot.
Dai shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Nokea defends it nicely.
Dai misses with a takedown attempt
and Nokea connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Dai with a poor takedown
and Nokea counters with a three punch combination, finished off with a leg kick. Nice work.
Dai is breathing heavily.
Dai gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily
and Nokea counters with a nice body shot.
Some wild striking there from Nokea.
Mark Dai is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Dai walks into a straight right hand from Nokea.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Rile Nokea dominated that second round.
That's time! Nokea's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight. This is the final round!

Dai shoots and misses
and Nokea counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
Dai takes a shot to the nose. Hopefully that hasn't broken it.
Nokea tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Dai was well out of range. Poor timing from Nokea.
Dai doesn't succeed with the takedown
and Nokea counters with a nice jab to the body that keeps Dai thinking.
Dai fails with the takedown
and Nokea counters with a nice jab to the body that keeps Dai thinking.
Rile Nokea has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Mark Dai.
Dai takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Nokea misses the shot to the body.
Dai fails with the takedown
and Nokea counters with a shot to the ribs. That looked like it hurt.
Dai misses with a takedown
and Nokea counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
Nokea lets the fists fly and connects with a left straight followed by a right hook.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Nokea smiles there as he lands a nice right hand right on the button.
Dai gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily
and Nokea counters with a nice uppercut.
Nokea misses with an uppercut. Dai saw that one coming.
Dai shoots in but doesn't get the takedown
and Nokea connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Dai with a lazy takedown attempt
and Nokea counters with a straight right hand.
Dai with a poor takedown
and Nokea connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Dai keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Dai has a pretty nasty looking mouse under his right eye.
Dai with a poor takedown
and Nokea counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
Dai tries for a takedown but Nokea circles away easily
and Nokea counters nicely by changing levels and landing a hook to the body.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A jab from Nokea finds it's way through Dai's defenses.
Dai shoots in but doesn't get the takedown
and Nokea cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Dai avoids the body shot from Nokea.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Nokea wings a very wild body shot but it does the job and lands to the midsection.
Mark Dai has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Nokea scores with a jab to the jaw of his opponent.

And that's the end of the fight!
Rile Nokea showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Nokea has outscored his opponent in every aspect of the fight today. Only a scarily incompetent judge or two will keep him from a well deserved win... 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 Colin Fray scores the fight 30:27
Judge Jeff Smith scores the fight 30:27
Judge Ryoma Takatsuka scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Rile Nokea!