PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Joe Spencer (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Hiro Nohara (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

Spencer
vs
Nohara

177 cm
25
170 lbs
12 - 7 - 0

180 cm
27
160 lbs
12 - 6 - 0

Good wrestling
Excellent boxer
Granite chin

Good wrestler
World class boxer
Good gas tank

Milwaukee's Best 160

Kore Fight Nutrition [TG]

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the lightweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 12 - 7 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Joe Spencer!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 12 - 6 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Hiro Nohara!
The judges for this bout are William Peck, Gregory Folan and Elvis Blanc.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Nohara misses with a body shot.
Spencer fails with the takedown.
Nohara connects with a hook to the side of his opponent's head.
Spencer fakes with a right hand and throws a good leg kick, right into the thigh. That had to hurt Nohara.
Spencer connects with a lovely jab that went straight through the gap between Nohara's hands.
The crowd cheers as Spencer lands an impressive looking overhand right. Nohara doesn't seem phased though.
Spencer ducks under a wild hook from Nohara.
Spencer misses with a wild body shot.
Ouch! a nice leg kick from Nohara, right into the meat.
Nohara misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
We've been hearing reports that Spencer has been drilling takedowns in recent sessions so let's see if that has an impact on the result of this fight.
Spencer misses the shot to the body.
Spencer shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Nohara as he avoids it easily.
Spencer misses with a few strikes there.
Nohara scores with a kick to the body.
Nohara throws a body punch but Spencer moves out of range.
Nohara scores with a nice strike.
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!
Nohara stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Nohara wants it to stay on the feet.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Joe Spencer. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Nice uppercut there from Spencer.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Nohara throws a low kick but Spencer avoids it.

Spencer gets the takedown into side control.
Nohara is looking for a sweep.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Nohara gets back to half guard.
Nohara is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Nohara has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Spencer is working away from the top position though.
Spencer is keeping good posture, landing some ground and pound.
Spencer scores with a couple of good hammerfists.
The two fighters exchange a few words. I couldn't hear what they were saying but maybe it's more fun if you make it up yourself. Spencer connects with a nice short shot to Nohara's temple.
The fighters are battling for position here. Nohara manages to regain full guard. Nice work.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Nohara pulls Spencer in close to prevent any damage.
Nohara trying to control the position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Spencer accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Nohara controls Spencer momentarily but Spencer frees himself.
Spencer preventing the sweep.
Spencer trying to control but Nohara is working from the bottom.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Nohara pulls Spencer in close to his closed guard and prevents Spencer from doing any damage or advancing position.

The ref calls for a clean break and stands the fighters back up. Hiro Nohara wasn't active enough on the ground.

Spencer drives through with a takedown into Nohara's guard. Let's see what he can do from the top position.
Nohara avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Nohara looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Spencer throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Nohara works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Spencer preventing the sweep.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Spencer trying to control the position from guard on top but Nohara is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Spencer loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Nohara tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Nohara trying to control the position.
Spencer throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Nohara is on top in guard.
Nohara trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Nohara controls the pace of the fight for a moment.
Nohara stands and throws Spencer's legs to the side, diving into side control.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Spencer is trying to control Nohara's posture but Nohara avoids it.
Spencer tries to get back to half guard but can't.
Nohara trying to control the position but Spencer is working away.
Nohara lands a knee to the body and follows it up with some ground and pound to the head. That will wear Spencer down.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Spencer is trying to get back to half guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Hiro Nohara will probably get the nod.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin!

Nohara feints with a shoulder and throws a nice leg kick to Spencer's calf.
Nohara bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
Nohara scores with a shot to the body.
Nohara throws a low kick but it's checked well by Spencer.
Spencer swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Nohara misses with a wild body shot.
Nohara throws a low kick but it's checked well by Spencer.
A looping hook to the body misses from Spencer. Nohara does a little dance to reset his feet.
Nohara throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Spencer misses with a straight right.
Nohara is throwing a lot of body shots here, looking to wear down Spencer rather than just go for the knockout.
Nohara turns his hip over beautifully as he lands a nice leg kick.
Spencer misses with a body shot.
Nohara moves out of range of the body kick from Spencer.
Spencer uses good footwork to get in and out, landing a nice hook.
Spencer connects with a right hand. Nohara shakes it off.
Spencer takes a big uppercut there. He seems a bit wobbly but no, he's OK.
Nohara misses with an uppercut. Spencer saw that one coming.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Nohara has his takedown stuffed

and Spencer counters with a shoot takedown into half guard.
Nohara gets back to full guard.
Nohara looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Nohara is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Spencer prevents Nohara from getting back to his feet.
Nohara trying to control the position.
Nohara is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.
Nohara is keen to just control but Spencer is a slippery customer.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Spencer is trying to control but can't.
The referee wants the fighters to be more active or he's going to reset them on the feet.
Nohara wants to lay and pray for a moment but Spencer keeps working.

OK we're going to have a standup here. Hiro Nohara hasn't been effective enough on the ground and the referee wants a restart.
Spencer rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Nohara moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Nohara scores with a punch to the head.
Decent striking displayed by Nohara there.
Spencer lands a kick to the ribs of his opponent. Nice work there - in and out in a flash.
Good standup being displayed there by Nohara as he connects with a hook.
Spencer connects with a looping left hand that seems like it dazed Nohara momentarily.
Spencer looks to score with a jab to the body but Nohara is just out of range.
Spencer connects with a body shot that sends Nohara's belly button to the back.

Nohara scores with a nice takedown into half guard. Let's see what he's got on the ground.
Nohara is keen to just control but Spencer is a slippery customer.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Nohara controlling the pace.
The referee claps his hands together and tells the fighters to work.

OK we're going to have a standup here. Hiro Nohara hasn't been effective enough on the ground and the referee wants a restart.
Spencer uses good footwork to get in and out, landing a nice hook.
Spencer looks to score with a jab to the body but Nohara is just out of range.
Nohara fakes a jab and scores with a low kick.
Nohara scores with a leg kick.
Nohara throws a wild body kick that Spencer sees coming a mile off.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Spencer ducks right into an uppercut from Nohara.
Nohara throws a couple of head shots and lands with the final one - a decent hook, which struck Spencer on the side of the head.
Nohara misses with a straight right.
Spencer slips under a jab from Nohara.
Nohara looking to take his opponent's legs away with the low kicks.
Horrible takedown by Spencer or perhaps it was just good defense by Nohara which made him look bad.
Wow, both these guys are really going for it!
Nohara takes a body punch that cleary hurt but he's trying not to show any weakness.
Nohara connects with a lovely jab that went straight through the gap between Spencer's hands.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Nice uppercut lands for Nohara. That snapped Spencer's head back.
Nohara misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Spencer blocks a head kick by Nohara.
Spencer swats away the attempt to clinch by Nohara.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!

Spencer gets caught napping as Nohara dives in and scores a takedown. Spencer manages to retain guard.
Nohara won't allow Spencer to sweep him here.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Hiro Nohara 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! Ladies and gentlemen, this is the final round!

Spencer misses with a hook. Nohara ducked under it nicely.
Nohara scores with a crisp jab that stopped Spencer in his tracks.
Nohara paws at his opponent with the jab and then lunges in with a straight, right on the button.
Nohara throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Nohara throws a leg kick which misses Spencer's front leg but catches the back leg as Spencer tries to avoid it.
Spencer connects nicely with a jab. Noted by the judges no doubt.
Nohara throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Spencer loads up on a big right hand but Nohara slips the punch.
Spencer swings for the body but Nohara moves out of range.
Nohara scores with a body shot.
Nohara is looking to clinch but Spencer is avoiding it.
Spencer tries to score with an inside leg kick but telegraphs it and Nohara is able to avoid easily.
A looping hook to the body misses from Nohara. Spencer does a little dance to reset his feet.
Spencer misses with an uppercut.
Nohara pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
Nohara paws at his opponent with the jab and then lunges in with a straight, right on the button.
Nohara misses with a body kick.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Nohara has Spencer up against the cage in a clinch.
Nohara prevents Spencer from breaking the clinch.
Nohara trying to control the position but instead, Spencer has worked for underhooks and has pushed Nohara into the cage.
Nohara lands with a short shot to the head.
Nice body punch from Nohara.
A battle for position here, against the cage.
Spencer working aggressively here.
Nohara gets double underhooks to prevent a takedown attempt from Spencer.
Spencer tries for a takedown. No joy.
Spencer is defending well against a takedown attempt.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Spencer is pressed up against the cage. Nohara has hold of a leg and is looking to drag Spencer down to the mat. Spencer avoids the attempt though and has circled away. We're back to striking at a distance.
Spencer scores with a jab to the jaw.
Spencer lands a nice looking body shot.
Spencer buckles his opponent's knee momentarily with a nice leg kick.
Nohara leaves Spencer with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Joe Spencer. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Nohara lands with a thumping leg kick.
Spencer throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Nohara looks shocked there as he takes a right hand to the temple.
Nohara misses with a looping right.
Horrible takedown by Spencer or perhaps it was just good defense by Nohara which made him look bad.
Spencer takes a jab right on the nose. That must have hurt but he shrugs his shoulders and looks to return the favor.
Nohara lands a nice leg kick that just misses Spencer's sensitive parts.
Spencer throws a hook but Nohara blocks it.
Spencer shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Nohara but Nohara pushes him off and we're back to square one.
Hiro Nohara seems to be getting the better of the standup.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Spencer ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Nohara moves away.
Nohara feints and then cracks Spencer's leading leg with a nice low kick. He's obviously looking to slow Spencer down.
Spencer leaves Nohara with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
Nohara misses with a series of wild punches.
Joe Spencer has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Nohara connects with a body shot that sends Spencer's belly button to the back.
Nice body punch from Nohara.
Nohara throws a leg kick but Spencer sees it coming and checks it nicely.
Nohara fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
Nohara connects with the punch.
Hiro Nohara is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
Nohara lands three nice shots there - that looked like it hurt!
Nohara wants to slow Spencer down by chopping away at his legs.
Spencer takes a shot to the nose. Hopefully that hasn't broken it.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Nohara tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Spencer paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Nohara tries to clinch there but Spencer circles away.

Spencer throws the overhand right but ducks down into a quick takedown attempt. Nohara was covering up waiting for the punch and Spencer finishes the takedown easily into guard.
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!
Nohara has a closed guard, preventing anything of note from happening. Perhaps he's looking to stall.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.

And that's the end of the fight!
Hiro Nohara comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Nohara has outworked and out performed his opponent in all aspects of the game today. He was simply too good and the decision should be no more than a formality. 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 William Peck scores the fight 27:30
Judge Gregory Folan scores the fight 28:29
Judge Elvis Blanc scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Hiro Nohara!
During a confident post fight interview, Hiro Nohara thanked all his fans. He seemed very genuine when describing how motivated his fans keep him.