PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Victor Emenike (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Clinton Hessler (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Victor Emenike has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Emenike
vs
Hessler

182 cm
19
222 lbs
2 - 0 - 0

190 cm
19
225 lbs
3 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Excellent boxer
Granite chin

Good wrestler
Good kicks
Heavy handed

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 5 rounds, for the light heavyweight championship of the world!
Introducing the champion to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 2 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Victor Emenike!
And introducing the challenger to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 3 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Clinton Hessler!
The judges for this bout are Don Winkell, Frank Antenori and Jack Bonds.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Hessler lands the left hand.
Emenike just misses with a punch to the body.
Victor Emenike seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Emenike misses with a double jab

and Hessler counters by clinching up.
Hessler stalling against the cage.
Hessler tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Hessler slows down the pace here.
Hessler lands a shoulder strike.
Hessler tries to work over Emenike's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
Hessler stalls.
Hessler fails to land with a short punch on the inside.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Hessler keeps control of Emenike as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.
Emenike blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Hessler lands a shoulder strike.
Hessler presses Emenike against the cage and delivers a mid-strength body shot.
Emenike is trying to break the clinch but Hessler has him pressed against the cage.
Hessler makes some space for himself and lands an uppercut.
Nice body punch from Hessler - that landed with a thud.

Emenike breaks from the clinch.
Hessler digs a good body shot into Emenike's ribs.
Emenike lands a jab to the nose.
Emenike throws an ugly left hook that misses

and Hessler counters by clinching up.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Hessler struggles to land a body shot inside as Emenike controls his hands.
A short right from Hessler.
Hessler throws a punch but it's blocked by Emenike.
Hessler tries to work over Emenike's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Hessler misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Hessler misses with a hook from the clinch.
Emenike blocks a body shot from Hessler.
Emenike wants to break free but Hessler has control.
A short uppercut from Hessler.
Hessler tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Emenike's elbow.
Emenike has had enough of the clinch but Hessler keeps him there for the moment.
Hessler struggles to land a body shot inside as Emenike controls his hands.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Hessler prevents Emenike from breaking the clinch.
Hessler misses with a body punch.
Hessler content to slow the pace in the clinch.
Hessler tries to work over Emenike's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
Emenike wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.
Emenike stalls.
Emenike wants to break the clinch but can't.
Hessler tries to work over Emenike's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
Stalling in the clinch from Hessler.
Hessler lands on the inside with an uppercut.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Hessler effectively controlling the action here.
Hessler working on landing some head shots here - that one got through nicely.
Emenike is trying to slow down the pace of the fight but Hessler is keeping busy.
Hessler misses with some punches.
Hessler working aggressively here.
Both guys are working to get underhooks.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Hessler's corner are urging him to control the action in the clinch for a moment, rather than mount any serious offense. I'm sure the crowd appreciate those instructions... not.
Hessler misses with a shot to the kidneys.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Clinton Hessler dominated that round.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

Hessler moves into range and connects with a jab.
Emenike takes a step back and watches a body kick go sailing past his mid section.

Hessler moves into the clinch.
Hessler lands a hook that snaps the head of Emenike backwards.
Hessler working some nice short punches in the clinch.
A hook to the body from Hessler.
Hessler tries to work over Emenike's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
A body shot lands from Hessler.
Emenike letting Hessler take a breather here.
Clinton Hessler seems to be working more effectively in the clinch in the fight so far.
Hessler lands a hook that snaps the head of Emenike backwards.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Emenike prevents a body shot from Hessler.
Emenike is trying to break the clinch but Hessler is controlling him.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Hessler lands on the inside with an uppercut.
Hessler working some nice short punches in the clinch.
Hessler misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Hessler tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Emenike tries to circle away but Hessler has him pinned against the cage.
Hessler misses with a body punch.
Emenike working hard to break the clinch.
Emenike is trying to break free.
Emenike swings wildly with an uppercut but Hessler uses good head movement to avoid it.
Emenike wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Hessler has him pressed against the cage.
Nice body punch from Hessler.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Hessler throws a punch but it's blocked by Emenike.
Hessler lands a body shot.
Hessler stalling here - the referee won't stand for too much of that.
A nice right hand lands inside from Hessler.
Hessler lands with a right to the head.
Emenike is trying to force a seperation but Hessler has the dominant position.
Hessler lands a short shot on the inside that snaps the head of Emenike backwards.
A short right hand to the side of the head by Hessler.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Emenike blocking some punches.
Emenike prevents a body shot from Hessler.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
A short right from Hessler on the inside.
A head punch on the inside from Hessler fails to land.
Hessler throws a punch but it's blocked by Emenike.
Hessler working some nice short punches in the clinch.
Hessler has Emenike pressed against the cage, preventing Emenike from circling away and getting back to striking at range.
Emenike takes a shot to the head.
Hessler is stalling here. The referee will be looking to step in if he doesn't pick up the pace.
Hessler working some nice short punches in the clinch.
Hessler lands with a left to the head.
Hessler lands a hook to the side of the head.
Hessler working aggressively here.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Hessler is clearly stalling here... Pick up the pace son.
Hessler tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Emenike's elbow.
Hessler stalling the fight.
Emenike is trying to break the clinch but Hessler has him pressed against the cage.
Hessler misses with a hook from the clinch.
A short left from Hessler.
Hessler struggles to land a body shot inside as Emenike controls his hands.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Emenike blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Hessler will no doubt start fighting again in a minute but for now he's just having a little rest, leaning Emenike up against the cage.
Emenike is looking to break free of the clinch but Hessler has double underhooks.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Clinton Hessler showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

Emenike misses with a jab, cross combination.
Hessler bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
Hessler thows a left - swing and a miss!
Hessler lands with a nice body punch.
Emenike works Hessler's body with a nice hook.
Emenike ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Hessler moves away.
Hessler misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Emenike.
Emenike throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Hessler slips under a jab from Emenike.
Victor Emenike is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Hessler throws a shot to the body.
Emenike throws a low kick but it's checked well by Hessler.
Emenike throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Emenike misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Hessler.
Hessler cracks a nice hook into Emenike's ribs.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.

Hessler gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Hessler leaning against his opponent.
Hessler misses with a hook to the ribs.
Hessler is stalling here. The referee will be looking to step in if he doesn't pick up the pace.
A short right from Hessler.
Emenike blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Emenike is trying to break the clinch but Hessler is controlling him.
A hook to the body from Hessler.
Emenike is working hard here but doesn't seem to be able to control effectively, up against the cage.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Hessler lands with a short punch from the clinch.
Hessler dictating the pace here, as the fighters clinch against the cage.
Hessler tries to work over Emenike's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
Hessler scores with a shot to the side of Emenike's head.
A short right hand to the side of the head by Hessler.
Hessler lands a nice shot to the body.
Hessler goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Hessler throws a blind hook that connects with the side of Emenikes head.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Emenike wants to get back to striking at distance but Hessler won't allow it.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
An uppercut to the body lands inside from Hessler.
Hessler lands on the inside with an uppercut.
Hessler doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Emenike is trying to force a seperation but Hessler has the dominant position.
Hessler stalling the fight.
Hessler lands a nice looking hook to the body, against the cage.
Hessler misses with a punch to the body.
Hessler pressing his opponent against the cage.
Hessler tries to work over Emenike's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
Hessler lands a short shot on the inside that snaps the head of Emenike backwards.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Hessler tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Emenike's elbow.
A right hand to the body from Hessler.
Emenike looking to stall.
A nice right hand lands inside from Hessler.
Hessler tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Hessler cracks Emenike with a nice body shot.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Hessler can't find room to land a body shot as Emenike controls the action.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Hessler scores with an uppercut up the middle.
Hessler presses Emenike against the cage and delivers a mid-strength body shot.
Still in the clinch, Hessler scores with a nice short uppercut.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Clinton Hessler really dominated that round.
That's time! Emenike's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight.

Emenike misses with a wild combination.
Emenike fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
A punch combination from Emenike misses.
Hessler will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Emenike tries to work over Hessler's front leg with a kick but Hessler checks it.
Emenike tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Hessler was well out of range. Poor timing from Emenike.
Hessler fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Emenike manages to avoid it.
Emenike get stunned by a cross and takes another one on the button. Emenike stumbles backwards and tries to bounce back off the cage but Hessler runs in and jumps on him with a leaping lead hook that puts him out! Wow, that was highlight reel stuff! Awesome finish!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 0:43 of round 4, we have a winner by way of KO (Punch). Clinton Hessler! Clinton Hessler retains his light heavyweight title!