PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Justin Hall (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Takeshi Naoki (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). The atmosphere really building for this one as we go over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Hall
vs
Naoki

183 cm
29
181 lbs
12 - 7 - 0

182 cm
30
179 lbs
19 - 3 - 0

Abu Dhabi Champ
Lethal high kicks
Insanely flexible

Good wrestler
Lethal high kicks
Good gas tank

MMA Hype Apparel
Voodoo Nutrition

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the welterweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 12 - 7 - 0, fighting out of New York, Justin Hall!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 19 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Takeshi Naoki!
The judges for this bout are Aafke Stam, Wagner Zegers and Saam Ante.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Hall throws a shot from downtown. Naoki moves away and avoids it.
Naoki swings away with a counter right hand but no contact made.
A head kick misses from Hall.
Naoki drops down looking to force a counter takedown but Hall defends it well.
Naoki moves forwards but Hall connects with a nice, crisp jab.
Nice uppercut lands for Hall. That snapped Naoki's head back.
Justin Hall seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Hall misses with a looping left.
Naoki with the counter takedown but Hall avoids it easily.
Hall thows a left - swing and a miss!
Hall takes a jab right on the kisser.
Hall throws a head kick that half lands.

It looks like Takeshi Naoki has been cut.
Naoki lands a nice looking kick to the body. Hall takes a step back to recover.
Hall wings a very wild body shot but it does the job and lands to the midsection.
Hall throws a leg kick that is checked
and Naoki counters with a thumping low kick.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Hall throws a sloppy head kick and Naoki moves out of range easily.
A countering left hand to the body from Naoki misses.
The fighters circling - Hall throws out the jab but it was never going to land.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Sloppy strikes from Hall. Those never looked like landing.
Hall scores with a jab to the jaw.
Hall tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Naoki was well out of range. Poor timing from Hall.
Naoki takes a shot right to the bread basket.
Naoki moves out of range of the body kick from Hall.
Hall misses with the body kick
and Naoki counters with a straight right hand.
Naoki cracks a nice hook into Hall's ribs.
Hall throws a lazy head kick
and Naoki counters with a nice uppercut.
Naoki scores with a shot to the body.
Hall blocks the body kick.
A punch combination from Hall misses.
Naoki feints a counter leg kick.
Hall with a hook.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Hall misses with a hook to the body
and Naoki counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
Naoki avoids a kick to the body.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A punch combination from Hall misses.
Naoki waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Hall.
Naoki throws a series of punches but Hall moves out of range.
A chopping leg kick lands by Naoki.
Hall throws a series of punches but Naoki moves out of range.
Hall swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Hall lands a jab to the head.
Ooooh, nice body kick lands from Hall. Naoki shrugs it off though.
Hall throws a head kick that misses.
Naoki changes levels for a counter takedown but doesn't follow through with his attempt.

Naoki tries to sprawl but Hall drives through with a takedown into half guard.
Naoki is looking to control Hall's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Naoki avoid being mounted?
Naoki might have to switch it up a bit here because his efforts to control Hall haven't been going to plan, at least at the current moment in time.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Naoki is concentrating on defense, preventing Hall from advancing position.

Hall is looking for a kimura here.
Naoki is trying to maintain the position but Hall is very close to passing his half guard.

Hall seems to be looking for submissions.
The referee wants the fighters to be more active or he's going to reset them on the feet.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Neither fighter has done anything of merit for a good minute or two here and the crowd are not happy about it.
Hall is trying to control the action in half guard but Naoki is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.
Naoki ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
Naoki getting the better of the striking in that exchange.
Naoki lands a slapping body shot.
Naoki looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Hall throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Naoki sees it coming and avoids it easily.
Naoki looks to land a right hand but Hall moved out of range.
Hall closes the distance and takes a jab right on the nose as he does so.
Naoki slips a jab from Hall.
It seemed like Naoki was going to counter with the hook but didn't fully commit to it.
Hall bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
Naoki lands with a right hand.
Hall lands with a nice low kick. That'll leave a bruise.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Justin Hall dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Takeshi Naoki's cut.
That's time! Hall's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight.

Hall misses with an uppercut. Naoki saw that one coming.
Justin Hall is winning the standup battle so far.
Naoki misses the jab.
Nice cross by Hall.
Naoki misses with a looping left.
Hall misses with a head kick.
Naoki blocks a head kick by Hall.
Naoki shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Hall but Hall pushes him off and we're back to square one.
Naoki goes for a double leg but Hall avoids the attempt and the two fighters end up clinched against the cage as Hall continues to drive forward.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Hall takes a jab on the nose there. A little bit of blood seems to be coming out. Hopefully that won't affect his breathing.
Hall is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Naoki can do to turn this around?
Hall shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Naoki defends it nicely.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Naoki connects with a slap. Keep your fist closed son.
Naoki stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Naoki wants it to stay on the feet.
A nice side step and Naoki releases a counter shot to the body, but it doesn't find it's home.
Hall walks straight into a jab right on the nose. That one stung - he's blinking and trying to clear his head.
Hall has been working on his balance at THC playhouse, so perhaps that has help him stuff some of the takedown attempts by Naoki.

Hall scores with a takedown into Naoki's guard.
Naoki pulls Hall in close to prevent any damage.
Hall wants to control from the top but Naoki keeps moving.
Naoki has a closed guard, preventing anything of note from happening. Perhaps he's looking to stall.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Naoki utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Hall postures up and lands a big shot to Naoki's brow.
Hall chips away with some ground and pound.
Hall postures up.
Hall working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Naoki wants to sweep here but Hall controlling him for the moment.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Naoki escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Hall gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
Hall throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Hall with a flurry of punches that miss.
We've had a lack of effective grappling in the last minute or so, which could well see a referee standup.
Naoki wants to sweep but no luck.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.
Hall gets off balance looking for a body kick
and Naoki counters with a good low kick that Hall was not able to check.
Naoki blocks a head kick by Hall.
Hall blocks a low kick nicely.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Naoki lands with a nice body punch.
The fighters circling - Hall throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
Hall throws a body punch but Naoki moves out of range.
Naoki ducks under a wild hook from Hall.
Naoki tries a counter takedown but it's more of a dummy move, and he uses it to push himself away.
Hall connects with a solid leg kick.
Hall throws a jab, cross combination which is slipped
and Naoki connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Naoki swinging wildly here.
Hall defending well as Naoki loads up on a big left hand.
Naoki lands with a shot to the body.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Naoki throws a nice outside leg kick.
Hall scores with a jab. Naoki acknowledges it with a nod of the head.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Naoki throws a body punch but Hall moves out of range.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close second round but I would say that Justin Hall will probably get the nod.
The cut man is working on Takeshi Naoki's cut.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action! Let's get this one finished - here comes the final round!

Naoki wings a very wild body shot but it does the job and lands to the midsection.
Naoki looks for a takedown but Hall sprawls well.
Naoki misses with a hook.
Naoki lands a nice leg kick that just misses Hall's sensitive parts.
Hall lands with a nice low kick. That'll leave a bruise.
A head kick misses from Hall.
A shot to the liver by Naoki. Beautiful body shot.
Hall cracks Naoki with an open hand slap.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Naoki staying out of range there.
Naoki dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
Naoki just misses with a punch to the body.
Hall feinted with a counter takedown.
Hall buckles his opponent's knee momentarily with a nice leg kick.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Naoki avoids a low kick by using good footwork.
Naoki connects with the punch.
Naoki cracks Hall with a right hand to the side of the head.
Naoki feints with a shoulder and throws a nice leg kick to Hall's calf.
Naoki keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
Hall misses with a straight left.
Naoki changes levels for a counter takedown but doesn't follow through with his attempt.
Hall throws a lazy uppercut
and Hall takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
Naoki takes a hook to the side of the head. I wonder if that's got his ears ringing.
Naoki avoids the body shot from Hall.
Naoki feints the counter takedown.
Ouch! a nice leg kick from Naoki, right into the meat.
Hall bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
Justin Hall is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Hall shoots for a takedown but Naoki saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
Hall jabbing away but nothing is landing.
Hall moves into range and lands a nice body kick.
Naoki connects with a looping right hand.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Hall fakes a head shot and lands one to the body.
Hall throws a looping overhand right but Naoki ducks down to avoid it.
Hall scores with a jab to the jaw of his opponent.
Naoki misses with an attempted mid kick.
Naoki throws a body shot but no joy.
Naoki checks the leg kick.
Naoki drops down looking to force a counter takedown but Hall defends it well.
Hall throws a lazy uppercut
enabling Naoki to counter with a crisp jab.
Hall misses with a looping left.
Hall throws a leg kick that is checked
and Hall takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Naoki tries a low kick but Hall avoids it.
Hall lunges in with an uppercut that skims his opponent's chin.
Naoki throws a solid leg kick but Hall takes the impact on his shin and smiles at Naoki.
Naoki swings away with a leg kick that misses.
Hall is looking to counter with head kicks.
Hall ducks down and throws a hook to the body.
Hall connects with a slap. Keep your fist closed son.
Hall swings for the body but Naoki moves out of range.
Naoki keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
A decent looking cross lands there for Naoki.
Naoki shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Hall was looking to counter that move with a punch but didn't quite pull the trigger.
Hall keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Naoki sizes up Hall with a pawing jab and scores with a straight right down the middle.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
That kick from Naoki tenderised Hall's leg. Hall is trying to keep his angry face on.
Naoki misses the jab.
Hall looks to land a right hand but Naoki moved out of range.
Takeshi Naoki has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Hall looks to throw the jab but Naoki is out of range.
Naoki with the counter takedown but Hall avoids it easily.
A big left from Naoki misses.
Naoki tries to score with a low kick but Hall moves his leg out of the way.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Hall takes a solid shot to the body. That one hurt him but he's trying not to show it.
Jab, jab by Hall - just one landing.
Hall swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Naoki is looking for the big counter here.
Hall wants to slow Naoki down by chopping away at his legs.
Hall drops his hands momentarily and Naoki takes advantage with a crisp shot to the head.
Hall looks to throw the jab but Naoki is out of range.

And that's the end of the fight!
I would just about give that final round to Takeshi Naoki.
I think Hall has won this one but let's see what the judges have to say. 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 Aafke Stam scores the fight 29:28
Judge Wagner Zegers scores the fight 30:27
Judge Saam Ante scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Justin Hall!
A relieved looking Justin Hall thanked the fans for their support and gave the usual line about them being amazing. They seemed to believe that he actually meant it.
Takeshi Naoki was interviewed post fight and said 'The only reason I lost was because someone in the audience kicked me in the dick, so I was a bit winded before this fight.. '.