PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Takeshi Naoki (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Dave Spiteri (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Takeshi Naoki has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Naoki
vs
Spiteri

182 cm
35
179 lbs
26 - 8 - 0

172 cm
35
183 lbs
24 - 13 - 0

Good wrestling
World class boxer
Cardio machine

Good wrestler
World class boxer
Good gas tank

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 26 - 8 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Takeshi Naoki!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 24 - 13 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Dave Spiteri!
The judges for this bout are William Gold, Sam Margolis and Steven Brown.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Naoki fails with an attempt to clinch.
Spiteri checks a leg kick nicely.

Spiteri shoots in and gets a takedown into Naoki's guard.

Naoki is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Spiteri defends well.
Spiteri trying to control but Naoki is working from the bottom.
Spiteri lands a couple of decent looking shots.
Spiteri wants to control from the top but Naoki keeps moving.
Naoki preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Naoki is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Spiteri tries to free his leg and advance position but Naoki is retaining full guard.
Naoki looking to hit a scissor sweep but Spiteri is one step ahead there.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Naoki seems keen to control rather than go for a submission, at least for now.
Spiteri with a couple of shots to the head there. Not particularly brutal.
Spiteri scoring with some ground and pound.
Spiteri looking to control the position here, rather than advance.
Naoki working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Spiteri.
Spiteri trying to control the position from guard on top but Naoki is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Naoki is avoiding any damage by keeping wrist control.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Spiteri is working Naoki over from the guard. He should look to pass the guard and do a little more damage with these strikes.
Naoki has his hands on Spiteri's head, controlling the position.
Spiteri scoring with punches to the head and body.

Naoki is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
The fighters are going at a pretty good pace and they're both starting to sweat now.
Spiteri throwing strikes but missing.
Spiteri scoring with some ground and pound.
Spiteri stands up over Naoki, holding his feet. He dives back in and lands a decent shot to the head.
Spiteri trying to control but Naoki is working from the bottom.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Naoki is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.

Naoki is looking to take a break and control but Spiteri is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Naoki lands with an elbow from half guard - that looked like it hurt.
Spiteri has found himself in a tricky position here. He's been working his transitions in training so let's see if he can work his way out of it.
Spiteri keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Spiteri is looking for a sweep. Naoki is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Naoki lands a big shot. The thud that echoes around the arena is like music to the fans' ears.
Spiteri is working for an escape here. He's hooked one of Naoki's legs and he's managed to sneak out and take Naoki's back!
Spiteri not allowing Naoki to control his hands.
Naoki turns into Spiteri and is now in his guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Naoki accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Naoki postures up.
Naoki looking to pass the guard.
Spiteri trying to control the position.
Naoki is taking a break and basically stalling. The referee will not allow him to do that for long.
Spiteri is doing well to control the posture of his opponent and prevent any damage.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Naoki accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Naoki stopping the sweep attempt from Spiteri.
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!
Spiteri wants to control here, rather than go for any submissions from the bottom. At least for now.
Spiteri avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Dave Spiteri will probably get the nod.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

Spiteri takes a jab on the nose there. A little bit of blood seems to be coming out. Hopefully that won't affect his breathing.
Naoki throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Naoki thows a leg kick but Spiteri checks it
and Naoki takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
Spiteri connects with a looping right hand.

It looks like Takeshi Naoki has been cut.
Spiteri throws a hook to the side of Naoki's head but Naoki sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
Naoki is looking to counter with head kicks.
A telegraphed right hand from Spiteri misses the target.
Naoki fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Spiteri manages to avoid it.
Ooooh, nice body kick lands from Naoki. Spiteri shrugs it off though.
Naoki doesn't manage to clinch there - Spiteri circles away.
Naoki looks to have improved his striking defense since last time we saw him fight.
Naoki misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Naoki fakes a jab and throws a low kick but Spiteri checks it well.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Spiteri pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
Naoki tries to score with an inside leg kick but telegraphs it and Spiteri is able to avoid easily.
Naoki fakes with the hands and throws a leg kick but Spiteri is out of range.
Good work by Naoki as he checks the leg kick.
A counter left hand to the body from Naoki misses its target.
Spiteri with a body punch. A glancing blow.
Naoki throws a sloppy head kick and Spiteri moves out of range easily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Naoki takes a big uppercut there. He seems a bit wobbly but no, he's OK.

Spiteri is looking for a takedown here. He's shot in and has managed to get it, finishing up in Naoki's half guard.
Naoki has been looking to land a fair amount of strikes on the ground. He might be looking to soften his opponent up in order to work for a submission.
Spiteri not landing any meaningful shots this time.
Naoki is looking to control Spiteri's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Naoki avoid being mounted?
Spiteri is keeping good posture, landing some ground and pound.
Naoki is trying to get back to full guard.
Spiteri seems content to maintain position for now, rather than mounting any offense.
Spiteri tries to pass to full mount but Naoki defends it.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Spiteri thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Naoki's head.
Naoki makes his way to full guard. A much better position for Naoki.
Spiteri throws a strike but Naoki rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.

Spiteri looking to hit a scissor sweep but Naoki is one step ahead there.
Spiteri lands a beautiful sweep and he's now moved into his opponent's 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!
Naoki looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Spiteri looking to sit in guard and control but Naoki gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.

Spiteri is trying to keep Naoki in close.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Naoki with a nice head shot there.
Spiteri is pulling down on Naoki's head to control his posture.
Naoki prevents Spiteri from getting back to his feet.
Naoki throwing strikes but missing.
Spiteri has a closed guard, preventing anything of note from happening. Perhaps he's looking to stall.
Dave Spiteri has got the better of the ground game so far.
Naoki distracts Spiteri with his right hand and drops a big elbow with his other arm.
Spiteri wants to sweep but no luck.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
My god... these two guys really need to pick up the pace or everyone will leave to go get a beer.
Naoki passes into half guard.
Naoki working some ground and pound from close in. He's looking to maintain this position and strike for a while by the looks of things... although he'll probably advance to full mount in a minute now I've said that.
Spiteri is looking to improve his position.
Naoki winds up and cracks Spiteri with a swinging punch to the side of the head.
Naoki working the head and body with strikes.
Spiteri controlling the position for now.
Spiteri trying to control here.
Naoki missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.
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 Takeshi Naoki will probably get the nod.
The cut man is working on Takeshi Naoki'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. Ladies and gentlemen, this is the final round!

Spiteri misses with a wild body shot.
Spiteri moves out of range as Naoki throws a body kick.
Naoki on the receiving end of a decent leg kick there by Spiteri. Spiteri obviously looking to wear him down.
Dave Spiteri seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Spiteri avoids the body shot from Naoki.
Well, he's not going to score with shots like that. A lazy body kick attempt from Naoki.
Naoki dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
Naoki is looking to score with low kicks.
Naoki is looking to wear down Spiteri with body shots, infact he's throwing more body shots than head shots at the moment.
Spiteri swings wildly with a hook that is half blocked by Naoki.
Naoki moves out of range of the strikes.
Ooooh, nice body kick lands from Naoki. Spiteri shrugs it off though.
Spiteri avoids a kick to the body.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Naoki tries a low kick but Spiteri avoids it.
Spiteri swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Naoki misses with a body kick.
Naoki lands a head shot.
Naoki dives in for a single leg takedown but Spiteri sprawls and the fighters end up clinched against the cage.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Spiteri scores with a big left there. The judges will like that one.
Spiteri takes one to the chin there.
Spiteri lands with a straight right. Naoki didn't see that one coming.
Naoki throws a head kick but Spiteri moves out of range.
Nice straight punches there by Naoki. You know Roy Jones Jr respects the hands of Naoki.
Spiteri keeps the fight on the outside.
Spiteri throws a low kick but Naoki avoids it.
Spiteri scores with a hook.
Spiteri scores with a three punch combo!
Spiteri misses with a low kick.
Naoki moves out of range of the strikes.
Good leg kick by Naoki there. It's the ones that make that thud noise that hurt and that was an almighty thud.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Naoki throws an overhand right that lands on Spiteri's shoulder, as Spiteri tries to avoid the shot.
A punch combination from Naoki misses.
Naoki throws a right and a left that Spiteri avoids nicely.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Spiteri connects with a jab.
Spiteri darts in looking for a takedown but Naoki gets double underhooks and turns Spiteri into the cage.
Naoki scores with a big left there. The judges will like that one.
Spiteri tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Naoki was well out of range. Poor timing from Spiteri.
Naoki takes a swing at Spiteri's ribcage but misses.
Spiteri swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Naoki appears to be looking for a counter punch to the body.
Spiteri fakes and then throws a beautiful body shot. Naoki looks a bit winded and takes a step backwards to take a breath.
Naoki turns his hip over beautifully as he lands a nice leg kick.
Naoki slips under a jab.
Good leg kick by Spiteri there. It's the ones that make that thud noise that hurt and that was an almighty thud.
Nice sprawl there from Naoki as Spiteri shoots in.
Spiteri throws a hook to the side of Naoki's head but Naoki sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
Spiteri cracks Naoki with a hook to the jaw. Both fighters smile at eachother and high-five before getting back down to business.
Spiteri takes one to the side of the head.
Naoki is using his height advantage well here, landing a good percentage of his punches.
Sloppy strikes from Spiteri. Those never looked like landing.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Naoki shoots in with a lovely double leg takedown. Spiteri manages to land in full guard to minimise the damage.
Spiteri wants to sweep here but Naoki controlling him for the moment.
Naoki is looking to work some ground and pound but Spiteri has wrist control.
Spiteri working a defensive guard here.
Naoki postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Spiteri is trying to keep Naoki in close.
Naoki throws a big right hand that misses.
Spiteri is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Spiteri wants to sweep here but Naoki controlling him for the moment.
Naoki being controlled here momentarily.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Naoki trying to control the position from guard on top but Spiteri is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.
Spiteri throws out a loose jab but Naoki uses good head movement to avoid it.
Spiteri lands with a nice body punch.
Naoki throws a leg kick

and Spiteri counters with a single leg into guard. Naoki didn't expect that.
A real slowdown in the pace of the fight for a moment, as Naoki holds on and takes a little breather.
Spiteri working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Spiteri stopping the sweep attempt from Naoki.
Spiteri landing some decent shots from guard.

And that's the end of the fight!
I would just about give that final round to Dave Spiteri.
Well Spiteri 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 Gold scores the fight 30:27
Judge Sam Margolis scores the fight 27:30
Judge Steven Brown scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by split decision... Dave Spiteri!
A loyal slave to those sponsorship dollars, Dave Spiteri made sure he mentioned Hellbent , along with how happy he was to win his fight.