PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Gabriel Hart (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Nonfu Lakalaka (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Hart
vs
Lakalaka

186 cm
23
224 lbs
6 - 2 - 0

192 cm
21
275 lbs
3 - 1 - 0

Good wrestling
Brawler
Granite chin

BJJ Blue Belt
Excellent boxer
Granite chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 6 - 2 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Gabriel Hart!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 3 - 1 - 0, fighting out of London, Nonfu Lakalaka!
The judges for this bout are Frank Dennis, Wesley Smith and Daniel Franklin.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Lakalaka tries to close the distance and clinch up but Hart swats him away and circles back towards the center.
The fight stays on the outside here - Hart looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Lakalaka tries to bum rush Hart with a series of wild strikes but Hart uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Lakalaka changes levels and scores with a jab to the body.
The fight stays on the outside here - Hart looks like he's thinking about clinching though.

Hart has closed the distance and engaged Lakalaka in a clinch.
Hart misses with a punch on the inside.
Hart is trying to slow down the pace of the fight but Lakalaka is keeping busy.
The referee is keeping an eye on Lakalaka - much more stalling and he will separate the fighters.
Lakalaka looks like he'd prefer to be striking at range right now.
Hart drops to a knee looking for a takedown but Lakalaka gets the underhooks and prevents it.

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

That's one minute gone in the round.
Lakalaka thows a body shot but no joy.
Hart swats away the attempt to clinch by Lakalaka.
Lakalaka cracks Hart with a nice right hand that draws applause from the crowd.
Hart moves in looking to clinch but Lakalaka pushes him off.
Lakalaka with a nice looking leg kick. You could hear that one land in a back row.
Hart is looking to clinch.
Lakalaka connects with a slap. Keep your fist closed son.
Hart tries to close the distance and clinch up but Lakalaka swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Nonfu Lakalaka is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.

Hart shoots in and gets a takedown into Lakalaka's guard.
The fighters are tangled up in the ropes here. We might need a restart if the fighters can't break free themselves.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Hart trying to control the position from guard on top but Lakalaka is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Hart stops Lakalaka from standing up.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Hart controlling from the top position.
Hart pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Lakalaka is keeping the position for now.
Lakalaka looking to hit a scissor sweep but Hart is one step ahead there.
Hart wants to control from the top but Lakalaka keeps moving.
Hart showing good wrestling skills to control the position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up, due to lack of activity on the part of Gabriel Hart.
Lakalaka displaying good standup as he scores with a three punch combination.

It looks like Gabriel Hart has been cut.
Lakalaka circles away from the clinch attempt.
Lakalaka throws a two punch combo that lands nicely.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Lakalaka stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Lakalaka wants it to stay on the feet.
A thudding body kick lands there by Lakalaka!
Lakalaka lands a jab to the head.

Hart clinches.
Lakalaka tries a knee to the head but Hart blocks it.
Lakalaka misses with a knee strike.
Hart blocks the elbow strike.
Hart tries to score a body lock takedown but Lakalaka shows good agility there to stay on his feet.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Gabriel Hart. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Lakalaka lands a hook that snaps the head of Hart backwards.
Lakalaka has been looking to improve his clinch game in recent weeks. So far he's outscoring his opponent in the clinch so it seems to have been worthwhile.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Hart looking to slow down the pace here.
Hart keeps the fight in the clinch, despite Lakalaka's efforts to push away.
Lakalaka tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Hart avoids it.
Lakalaka tries to break the clinch but Hart is controlling the position.

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

Hart rushes Lakalaka and pushes him back against the ropes in a clinch.
Lakalaka wants to break the clinch but can't.
Lakalaka swings away with an uppercut that misses.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Lakalaka fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
A frustrated look appears on Lakalaka's face as he tries to break the clinch.
Hart drops down looking for an ankle pick but Lakalaka pulls his leg out and moves away.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Nonfu Lakalaka dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Gabriel Hart's cut.
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.

A jab lands there for Lakalaka.
Lakalaka walks forward and throws out a flicking leg kick. Hart checks it nicely though, as he moves to the side.
Hart throws a right hand that Lakalaka ducks under and follows up with a left that Lakalaka also avoids with ease.

Hart rushes Lakalaka and presses him up against the ropes.
Hart is looking for a takedown.
Hart misses with a short punch on the inside.
Hart lands on the inside with an uppercut.
Hart is trying to maintain a safe position but Lakalaka gets an underhook and turns Hart into the ropes.
Lakalaka gets underhooks to prevent Hart's takedown attempt.
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Lakalaka lands punches inside but they're not really causing much damage.
Lakalaka tries to land a knee to the head but Hart blocks with his arms.

Lakalaka breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Hart shoots for a takedown but Lakalaka saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Gabriel Hart. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Ouch! a nice leg kick from Lakalaka, right into the meat.
Lakalaka is looking to clinch but Hart is avoiding it.
Lakalaka dances in quickly and lands a nice inside leg kick on Hart. That did some damage!
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Hart shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Lakalaka sprawls well. Lakalaka wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Hart gets slowly back to his feet.

Lakalaka forces Hart back against the ropes and clinches.
Lakalaka misses with a short punch on the inside.
Lakalaka working hard to break the clinch.
Hart avoiding damage as Lakalaka throws knees to the body.
Lakalaka stops a takedown attempt from Hart.
A frustrated look appears on Lakalaka's face as he tries to break the clinch.
Lakalaka is trying to maintain a safe position but Hart gets an underhook and turns Lakalaka into the ropes.
Lakalaka throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Hart blocks it with crossed arms.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Lakalaka tries to break free but Hart pushes him back against the ropes.
Lakalaka misses with a punch on the inside.

Hart has Lakalaka pressed up against the ropes. He's trying to work for a single leg takedown. Hart pulls back from the ropes and twists to the side, sending Lakalaka tumbling to the mat - Hart dives into Lakalaka's guard.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Lakalaka is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.
Hart passes easily into side control. Nice work.
Hart is pausing for a moment. What's he doing? It looks like he's clearing his nose. Oh dude! He's shot a load of snot all down Lakalaka's shoulder. That is not cool.
Lakalaka is working hard to escape and get back to his feet. After a battle for position, Hart asserts his dominance and retains side control.
Lakalaka tries to buck Hart off but Hart is having none of it.
Lakalaka really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Hart. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Lakalaka struggling a bit here.
Hart prevents Lakalaka from escaping the position.
Hart happy to just control the position for now.
The fighters are trapped in the ropes so we're going to have a reposition here. The ref calls for a break and repositions the fighters in the center of the ring.
Hart tries to move to mount but Lakalaka blocks the move with his legs.
Hart wants to control but Lakalaka is keeping him busy.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The referee must be thinking about standing these guys back up.
Lakalaka wants to get back to his feet but Hart drags him back down.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Hart tries to advance to mount but can't.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Nonfu Lakalaka will probably get the nod - 10:9.
The cut man is working on Gabriel Hart's cut.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin! This is the final round!

Lakalaka looks to land a combination but Hart avoids it well.
Lakalaka avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
The fight stays on the outside here - Lakalaka looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Lakalaka tries to clinch but Hart moves out of range.
Lakalaka is looking to clinch but Hart is avoiding it.
Sloppy strikes from Lakalaka. Those never looked like landing.
Lakalaka throws a two punch combo that lands nicely.
Lakalaka misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Hart tries to clinch up but Lakalaka circles away and keeps his distance.
Lakalaka wants to clinch.
Lakalaka tries to bum rush Hart with a series of wild strikes but Hart uses good footwork to avoid the assault.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Lakalaka tries to land a leg kick but Hart saw it coming and moves away.
Lakalaka tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Hart throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Lakalaka tries to close the distance and clinch up against the ropes but Hart paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Lakalaka throws a series of punches but Hart moves out of range.
Lakalaka throws a nice looking combination but Hart bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Lakalaka connects with a lovely right hand, straight down the pipe.
Lakalaka wants to land a leg kick but Hart is out of range.
Lakalaka misses with a jab, cross combination.
Lakalaka misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Hart tries to clinch up against the ropes, rushing in to close the distance. Lakalaka manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Hart misses the shot to the body.
Hart dodges the punch combination from Lakalaka.
Hart misses with a wild body shot.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Lakalaka fails with an attempt to clinch.

Hart fakes an overhand right and shoots for a takedown. Lakalaka sprawls well initially but Hart persists and gets the takedown into half guard.
Hart seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Lakalaka does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.
Hart is going to have to think about doing something other than just controlling because Lakalaka is managing to avoid having the position dictated to him.
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!
Lakalaka looks like he's trying to stand up.
Well, if Hart is going to just lie there, perhaps we should talk about what we're having for dinner tonight… I'm having a ham and pineapple pizza… Yum. Can't wait.
The referee wants the fighters to be more active or he's going to reset them on the feet.

We're going to have a standup here because Gabriel Hart wasn't active enough for the referee's liking.
A slapping leg kick lands for Lakalaka.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Hart showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Lakalaka.
Lakalaka moves into range and throws a combination. A nice jab followed by a hook to the body.
Hart fails with an attempt to clinch.
Lakalaka swats away the attempt to clinch by Hart.
Hart shoots for a takedown but Lakalaka saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
Hart is looking to clinch.
Hart takes a solid shot to the body. That one hurt him but he's trying not to show it.

Lakalaka rushes Hart and presses him up against the ropes.
Hart displaying some good clinch control by pressing Lakalaka up against the ropes.

Hart has dropped down and is working for a takedown. Lakalaka is trying to keep an underhook but Hart manages to get the takedown into half guard.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Hart throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.

Hart is trying for a guillotine from the top but the pressure isn't in the right place so Lakalaka is just riding it out for now. Hart eventually gives up the hold.
Nonfu Lakalaka is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
Lakalaka tries to roll over but Hart keeps him under control.
Hart is figuring out what he wants to do next.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Lakalaka is not content to let Hart control the position.

And that's the end of the fight!
Nonfu Lakalaka comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Lakalaka winning every round here. Surely the decision will go his way and he'll pick up a well deserved decision victory. 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 Frank Dennis scores the fight 27:30
Judge Wesley Smith scores the fight 27:30
Judge Daniel Franklin scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Nonfu Lakalaka!