PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Dark Fear (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Josh Madhaki (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Madhaki comes into a darkened arena with his song building. Fela Kuti - Let's Start kicks in, the lights come on and the crowd goes wild! What a showman! Rumors backstage are that the fighters have been paid to keep it standing but we know that would never happen in MMA!

Fear
vs
Madhaki

189 cm
25
213 lbs
12 - 6 - 1

189 cm
26
219 lbs
11 - 2 - 0

Good wrestling
Great elbows
Cardio machine

Good wrestler
World class boxer
Good gas tank

Urban Fighter

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 12 - 6 - 1, fighting out of Los Angeles, Dark Fear!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 11 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Josh Madhaki!
The judges for this bout are Chris Downing, George Francis and Gwen Towbar.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Fear wants to clinch but Madhaki slips to the side
and Madhaki counters with a nice kick to the body.
Madhaki swats away the attempt to clinch by Fear.
Fear tries to clinch there but Madhaki circles away.
Fear fails with an attempt to clinch.
Fear takes a hook to the side of the head. I wonder if that's got his ears ringing.
Dark Fear seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

Fear has taken the fight to the clinch.
With the fighters clinched against the cage, Madhaki creates a bit of distance for himself and scores with a nice uppercut.

It looks like Dark Fear has been cut.
Fear lands a nice elbow.
I was talking to Fear's coach per-fight and he was telling me that they'd been working on the clinch in the runup to this fight.
Nice elbow from Fear.
Fear gets an overhook and lands an elbow to the side of the head.

Madhaki's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Fear tries to clinch up.
A nice side step and Madhaki releases a counter shot to the body, but it doesn't find it's home.
Madhaki has been spending a lot of time sparring his boxing in the run up to the fight, trying to sharpen up those hands and look for a knockout.
Fear wants to clinch up but Madhaki keeps it at a distance.
Madhaki lands a lovely overhand right.
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!

Fear instigates a clinch.
Fear misses with a hook to the ribs.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Fear goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Madhaki takes a knee to the side of the body.
Fear pushes off an throws an elbow but Madhaki leans to the side and avoids it. We're back to clinching against the cage.
Fear lands an elbow that stopped Madhaki in his tracks for a moment.
Fear crunches a lovely knee into Madhaki's ribcage.
Madhaki blocking some punches.
Madhaki throws a head punch that misses.
Fear stalls.
Madhaki pushes Fear back against the cage and lands a hook to the side of the head.
Fear tries a body shot but Madhaki blocks it.
Fear lands a knee to the body.
Madhaki looks winded!
Madhaki blocks an elbow strike from Fear.
Madhaki takes an elbow to the temple.
Fear gets through Madhaki's defenses to land a nice punch to the side of the head.
Fear looking to throw knees to the head but Madhaki is blocking nicely.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Fear slows down the pace here.
Fear misses with a punch on the inside.

Madhaki breaks from the clinch.
Fear doesn't manage to clinch there - Madhaki circles away.

Fear drives through and clinches with Madhaki against the cage.
Fear misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Madhaki.
Fear can't find room to land a body shot as Madhaki controls the action.

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

Fear closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.
Fear wants to stall.
Fear lands a damaging elbow.

Fear breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Madhaki misses with a straight left.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Madhaki wants to slow Fear down by chopping away at his legs.
Fear wants to clinch.
Fear is looking to clinch.
Fear wants to clinch.
Fear fails in his attempt to clinch.
Fear darts in trying to clinch
and Madhaki counters with a series of strikes. Fear will be more careful next time no doubt.
Madhaki will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Fear tries to clinch up but Madhaki circles away and keeps his distance.
Madhaki lands a jab, followed by a cross and another cross, as Fear backs up against the cage.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Fear fails in his attempt to clinch.
Madhaki fakes a jab and throws a low kick but Fear checks it well.
Fear tries to close the distance and clinch but Madhaki swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.

Fear gets a clinch.
Madhaki works for underhooks and lands a body shot in the process.
Nice body punch from Fear.
Fear tries to land a knee to the head but misses.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Good body shot from Fear.
An uppercut to the body lands inside from Madhaki.
Madhaki avoids the elbow strike from Fear, against the cage.

Fear's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Fear darts in trying to clinch
letting Madhaki counter with a right hand.

Fear closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.
Fear has Madhaki pushed against the cage.
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 Dark Fear will probably get the nod.
The cut man is working on Dark Fear's cut.
That's time! Back to the action!

Madhaki lands a slapping body shot.

Fear clinches with his opponent.
A nice left hand lands by Madhaki.
Madhaki takes an elbow to the forehead.
A head punch on the inside from Fear fails to land.
Fear throws an elbow but it's blocked.
Madhaki tries a body shot but Fear blocks it.
Come on Fear - let's have some action - none of this stalling nonsense.
Madhaki tries to stall but Fear uses the opportunity to gain a better position.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
The referee calls for Madhaki to work.
Madhaki takes an elbow to the temple.

Madhaki breaks the clinch.
Madhaki punishes Fear's body with a nice straight punch.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Fear tries to clinch there but Madhaki circles away.
Madhaki fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Fear manages to avoid it.
Fear fails with an attempt to clinch.
Fear doesn't react quick enough there as he takes a shot to the body.
Madhaki fakes and then throws a beautiful body shot. Fear looks a bit winded and takes a step backwards to take a breath.
Madhaki throws a leg kick

and Fear counters by moving into the clinch. Good anticipation by Fear.
Madhaki doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Fear being controlled against the cage.
Madhaki misses with a short punch on the inside.
Fear comes over the top with an elbow. That landed flush.
Madhaki misses with a hook from the clinch.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Fear.
Dark Fear has scored more points in the clinch so far.

Fear breaks from the clinch.
Fear fails with an attempt to clinch.
Madhaki looked like he wanted to counter with a punch but didn't throw it.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Fear is looking to clinch but Madhaki is avoiding it.
As Fear backs off Madhaki throws a huge counter combo but Fear manages to avoid it all.
Fear tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Madhaki paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Madhaki is throwing a lot of body shots here, looking to wear down Fear rather than just go for the knockout.
Madhaki looks to score with a jab to the body but Fear is just out of range.
Madhaki with a nice cross.
Fear is looking to clinch but Madhaki is avoiding it.
Fear wants to clinch.
Madhaki works over Fear's head and body with a nice combination.
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!
Fear takes a jab on the nose there. A little bit of blood seems to be coming out. Hopefully that won't affect his breathing.
Fear wants to clinch.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Fear tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. Madhaki manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Fear is looking to clinch.

Fear closes the distance and clinches.
Madhaki prevents a body shot from Fear.
Madhaki can't find room to land a body shot as Fear controls the action.
Madhaki has a couple of punches blocked by Fear.
Fear swings wildly with an uppercut but Madhaki uses good head movement to avoid it.
Fear lands a damaging elbow.

Madhaki breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Madhaki stuns Fear with a nice body shot, before stepping back out of range.
Fear tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. Madhaki manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Josh Madhaki seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Madhaki lands with a nice body punch.
Fear tries to clinch but fails miserably
and Madhaki counters with a nice uppercut.
The sound of bone on bone echoes around the arena as Fear checks a leg kick.
Fear is looking to clinch but Madhaki is avoiding it.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Madhaki getting the better of the striking in that exchange.
No joy there for Madhaki, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
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!
Fear tries to clinch but Madhaki moves out of range.

Fear has Madhaki up against the cage in a clinch.
Madhaki dodges an elbow strike from Fear.
Fear swings wildly with an uppercut but Madhaki uses good head movement to avoid it.
Fear prevents a body shot from Madhaki.
Fear lands a good knee to the midsection. Madhaki won't want to take too many of those.
Some stalling of biblical proportions here from Madhaki.
A short right from Fear on the inside.
Fear slows down the pace here.

Madhaki breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Josh Madhaki showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The cut man is working on Dark Fear's cut.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business. This is the final round!

Fear tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. Madhaki manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Fear tries to close the distance and clinch up but Madhaki swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Madhaki misses with a looping right.
Madhaki lands a jab. Then a cross. Then finally a nice hook to the body. Good work there by Madhaki.
Fear tries to clinch there but Madhaki circles away.
Fear checks a leg kick.
Fear tries to clinch but Madhaki is having none of it.
Madhaki lets it all go there with a big combo counter but none of the punches connected.
Fear connects with a hook to the side of his opponent's head.
Fear tries to grapple but his opponent circles
and Madhaki connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Madhaki takes a punch to the jaw and another one to the bread basket.
Madhaki avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Nice body punch from Madhaki.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Madhaki lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Fear circles away quickly and effectively.
Madhaki slips a jab from Fear.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Fear clinches up against the cage.
Fear avoiding damage.

Fear manages to break the clinch.
Fear is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Madhaki throws a right and a left that Fear avoids nicely.
Madhaki digs a good hook to Fear's body.
Madhaki keeps the fight on the outside.
Fear wants to clinch.
Fear tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Madhaki paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Madhaki avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Madhaki avoids the clinch attempt nicely.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Madhaki throws a nice head kick!
Fear closes the distance looking to clinch
and Madhaki counters with a low kick, right behind Fear 's knee.
Madhaki avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Madhaki misses with a lunging right hand
and Fear counters with a straight right hand.
Madhaki throws a body shot but no joy.
Madhaki fakes a head shot and lands one to the body.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Madhaki lands a nice leg kick that just misses Fear's sensitive parts.
Fear tries to close the distance and clinch but Madhaki swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Good shot there by Madhaki.

Dark Fear's cut is getting worse.
Madhaki misses with a body shot.
Madhaki pivots, looking for a leg kick but Fear is out of range and Madhaki settles back down.
Fear tries to close the distance and clinch up but Madhaki swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Fear misses with a double jab
and Madhaki connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Fear moves in looking to clinch but Madhaki pushes him off.
Madhaki missing with a left hand there. Fear was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.

Fear darts in and clinches Madhaki up against the cage.
The pace really dropping off here, momentarily.
Fear stalling in the clinch but Madhaki improves position.

Madhaki breaks the clinch.
Fear darts in trying to clinch
and Madhaki makes the exchange count by landing a cracking kick to the body. Fear really felt that one!
Madhaki moves into range and connects with a jab.

The fight moves into the clinch position.

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

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Madhaki slips under a jab from Fear.
Madhaki misses with a low kick.
Madhaki swats away the attempt to clinch by Fear.
Fear tries to clinch up but Madhaki circles away and keeps his distance.
Madhaki digs a good body shot into Fear's ribs.
Fear tries to clinch up but Madhaki circles away and keeps his distance.
Fear moves in looking to clinch but Madhaki pushes him off.
Fear moves in looking to clinch but Madhaki pushes him off.
Madhaki is trying to counter with his kicks.
Fear walks straight into a jab right on the nose. That one stung - he's blinking and trying to clear his head.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Madhaki connects nicely with a jab. Noted by the judges no doubt.
Fear is looking to take this fight into the clinch.

And that's the end of the fight!
Josh Madhaki comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Madhaki has won this one but let's see whether the judges agree with me. 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 Chris Downing scores the fight 28:29
Judge George Francis scores the fight 28:29
Judge Gwen Towbar scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Josh Madhaki!
An out of breath Josh Madhaki thanked his loyal fans in his post fight interview, giving them credit for his success over the course of his career.