PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Lalama Amana (ranked 1141 p4p, 146 weight class) and Neil Nucombe (ranked 1122 p4p, 143 weight class). Lalama Amana has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Amana
vs
Nucombe

162 cm
24
167 lbs
14 - 9 - 0

166 cm
32
166 lbs
18 - 9 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Excellent boxer
Cardio machine

Decent wrestler
Excellent MT
Good gas tank

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 14 - 9 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Lalama Amana!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 18 - 9 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Neil Nucombe!
The judges for this bout are Bruno Lombardi, Reed Andrews and Lou da Vinci.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Amana scores with a jab to the head.
Amana has been working on his boxing with his coaches at Navy Street MMA in the buildup to the fight.
Nucombe steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Amana.
Amana throws out a loose jab but Nucombe uses good head movement to avoid it.
Amana throws a hook but Nucombe avoids it easily.
Lalama Amana seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Amana scores with a punch to the head.
Amana just misses with a punch to the body.
Amana is moving around nicely and scores here with a single head shot.
Amana with a hook.
Amana throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Nucombe uses good footwork to get in and out and land a nice right hand before Amana has time to react.
Amana throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Amana throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Nucombe sees it coming and avoids it easily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Nucombe ducks low and lands a nice hook to the body of his opponent.
Amana ducks under a wild hook from Nucombe.
Amana throwing a counter right hand but Nucombe manages to avoid it.
Amana lands a jab to Nucombe's midsection.
Nucombe throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Amana swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Nucombe wants to counter the offense by Amana and move into the clinch position.
Nucombe blocks a jab.
Nucombe ducks under a wild hook from Amana.
Nucombe wants to counter the offense by Amana and move into the clinch position.
Amana misses with a straight right.
Nucombe steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Amana.
Nucombe throws a right hand that misses
and Amana counters with a stiff right hand.
Nucombe moves out of range as Amana strikes.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Amana swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Nucombe wants to counter with a clinch but Amana pushes him away.
Nucombe moves out of range as Amana strikes.
Nucombe throws a shot from downtown. Amana moves away and avoids it.
A slow jab from Amana misses its intended target.
Nucombe steps in looking to clinch after the strikes miss from Amana.
A slow jab from Amana misses its intended target.
Amana throws a hook but Nucombe blocks it.
Nucombe keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Nucombe avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
Nucombe steps in looking to clinch after the strikes miss from Amana.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Amana ducks down and throws a hook to the body.
Amana swings for the body but Nucombe moves out of range.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Amana lands a pitter patter jab to the forehead of his opponent.
Amana throws a jab but it's blocked by Nucombe.
Nucombe steps in looking to clinch after the strikes miss from Amana.
Nucombe looks more muscular than last time we saw him. He must have been on the weights.
Nucombe moves away from the strike by Amana.
Nucombe thows a left - swing and a miss!
Amana throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Amana sets himself, and Nucombe steps forward looking for the clinch! Amana avoids it this time.
A jab from Amana does it's job there.
Amana swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
Nucombe avoids the body shot from Amana.
Nucombe tries to counter with a clinch but Amana shakes him off and moves away.
The fighters circling - Amana throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
Amana throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Nucombe sees it coming and avoids it easily.
Nucombe tries to counter with a clinch but Amana shakes him off and moves away.
Amana misses the jab.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Amana ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Nucombe moves away.
Nucombe wants to counter the offense by Amana and move into the clinch position.
Nucombe misses the jab.
Amana avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
Amana slips under a jab from Nucombe.
Nucombe throws a right hand that misses
and Amana cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Amana throws a lazy right hand but Nucombe sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Amana ducks under a wild hook from Nucombe.
A counter left hand to the body from Amana misses its target.
Nucombe takes a jab right on the nose. That must have hurt but he shrugs his shoulders and looks to return the favor.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Amana throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Nucombe sees it coming and avoids it easily.
Amana misses with an uppercut.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Lalama Amana dominated that round.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

Amana scores with a jab.
Amana throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Amana keeps his opponent at a distance with a nice jab.
Amana misses with a hook to the body

and Nucombe counters by moving into the clinch. Good anticipation by Nucombe.
Nucombe lands an uppercut.
Nucombe lands with a right to the head.
Nucombe has a couple of punches blocked by Amana.
Amana tries to circle away but Nucombe has him pinned against the cage.
Amana trying to stall but Nucombe improves his position.
Amana effectively controlling the action here.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Nucombe tries to land knees in the clinch but Amana avoids the damage to the body.
Nucombe swings wildly with an uppercut but Amana uses good head movement to avoid it.
Nucombe lands a hook to the side of the head.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Amana.
Amana is looking to break free of the clinch but Nucombe has double underhooks.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Nucombe misses with a punch on the inside.
Nucombe blocks a body shot from Amana.
Amana wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.
Amana looking to slow down the pace here.
Nucombe blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Amana is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Nucombe can do to turn this around?
Nucombe letting Amana take a breather here.
Amana is trying to break the clinch but Nucombe has him pressed against the cage.
Nucombe throws a punch but it's blocked by Amana.
Nucombe has a couple of punches blocked by Amana.
Amana wants to break free but Nucombe has control.
Nucombe is trying to wear down his opponent with knees to the body.
Nucombe with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.
Nucombe lands with a short punch from the clinch.
A short right from Nucombe.
A short left from Nucombe.
Amana misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Nucombe swings away with an uppercut that misses.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Nucombe lands on the inside with an uppercut.
Nucombe scores a nice knee to the body.
Amana can't find room to land a body shot as Nucombe controls the action.
Nucombe tries a knee to the head but he's missed.
Amana manages to get underhooks and slows down the pace for a moment.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Nucombe working aggressively here.
Amana can't break the clinch.
Nucombe lands punches inside but they're not really causing much damage.
Nucombe lands a shoulder strike.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Amana.

Amana's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Amana connects with a body shot that sends Nucombe's belly button to the back.
Amana tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Nucombe was well out of range. Poor timing from Amana.
Amana moves away from the strike by Nucombe.
Amana walks straight into an uppercut. Luckily it didn't land flush.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Amana swings for the body but Nucombe moves out of range.
Nucombe tries to counter by closing the distance.
Amana throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Nucombe tries to counter by closing the distance.
Nucombe might want to mix his strikes up a bit more. He's just going for head shots at the moment and that can become a bit predictable.
Nucombe takes an uppercut right on the jaw but it doesn't phase him.
Amana lands with a cross to side of his opponent's head.
Nucombe dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
A telegraphed right hand from Amana misses the target.
Nucombe swings wildly with a hook that is half blocked by Amana.
Amana ducks under a wild hook from Nucombe.
Nucombe throws a shot to the body.
Nucombe dips down and scores with a jab to the body.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Amana throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
Nucombe is trying to avoid his opponent's strikes and get into the clinch.
Nucombe lunges at Amana with a hook that half lands and is half blocked by Amana's hand.
Nucombe lands with a nice body punch.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Amana throws a shot from downtown. Nucombe moves away and avoids it.
Nucombe steps in looking to clinch after the strikes miss from Amana.
Nucombe on the wrong end of a nice hook.
Nucombe connects with a lovely right hand, straight down the pipe.
Nucombe lands a body shot.
Amana uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Nucombe.
Amana misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Nucombe.
Amana misses with a looping right.
Nucombe is trying to avoid his opponent's strikes and get into the clinch.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Neil Nucombe showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action. This is the final round!

Nucombe connects with a body shot.
Nucombe scores with a crisp jab that stopped Amana in his tracks.
Nucombe is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Amana.
Nucombe throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Nucombe fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Amana manages to avoid it.
Nice straight punches there by Amana. You know Roy Jones Jr respects the hands of Amana.
Decent striking displayed by Amana there.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Nucombe looks to throw the jab but Amana is out of range.
Boom, another hit is landed. "You're gunna get knocked out" taunts Amana, as that shot connected.
A jab from Amana misses.
Nucombe steps in looking to clinch after the strikes miss from Amana.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Amana misses with a hook

and Nucombe moves into the clinch.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Amana.
A head punch on the inside from Nucombe fails to land.
Nucombe blocks an uppercut.
Nucombe struggles to land a body shot inside as Amana controls his hands.
Nucombe can't find room to land a body shot as Amana controls the action.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Nucombe.
A short right from Nucombe.
Nucombe keeps control of Amana as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.
Amana tries to circle away but Nucombe has him pinned against the cage.
A right hook to the body lands for Nucombe.
Nucombe landing some nice looking knees to the body.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Nucombe unloads a knee to the mid-section.
A head punch on the inside from Nucombe fails to land.
A short uppercut from Nucombe.
Nucombe lands a knee to the body.
Nucombe lands with a short shot to the head.
Nucombe scores with a shoulder strike.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Knees to the body from Nucombe.
Nucombe pushes Amana back against the cage and lands a hook to the side of the head.
Nucombe tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Amana tries to circle away but Nucombe has him pinned against the cage.
Neil Nucombe seems to be working more effectively in the clinch in the fight so far.
Nucombe lands a hook to the side of the head.
Nucombe works for underhooks and lands a body shot in the process.
Nucombe misses with some punches.
Nucombe lands with a short punch from the clinch.
Nucombe has a couple of punches blocked by Amana.
Nucombe lands a right uppercut that snaps the head of Amana backwards.
Still in the clinch, Nucombe scores with a nice short uppercut.
Amana blocks an uppercut.
Nucombe lands with a good tight uppercut to the head.
Nucombe tries a body shot but Amana blocks it.
A short right from Nucombe on the inside.
Nucombe lands a knee to the head there! That was nasty!
Nucombe lands with a short punch from the clinch.
Nucombe misses with a hook from the clinch.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Nucombe swings wildly with an uppercut but Amana uses good head movement to avoid it.
Nucombe swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Amana blocks an uppercut.
Amana working hard to break the clinch.
Nucombe misses with a short punch on the inside.
Nucombe misses with some punches.
Amana can't break the clinch.
Amana is trying to push Nucombe away but Nucombe has him pressed against the cage, so he's going nowhere.
A right handed body shot lands from Nucombe.
Nucombe lands on the inside with an uppercut.
Nucombe has Amana pressed against the cage, preventing Amana from circling away and getting back to striking at range.
Amana wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.
Still in the clinch, Nucombe scores with a nice short uppercut.
Nucombe throws a punch but it's blocked by Amana.
Nucombe lands with a short shot to the head.
Nucombe crunches a lovely knee into Amana's ribcage.
Nucombe scores with a hook to the body.
Nucombe goes for a body shot but it's blocked.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A frustrated look appears on Amana's face as he tries to break the clinch.
Nucombe lands a nice knee to the body.
A short right from Nucombe.
Nucombe lands a hook to the side of the head.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Nucombe misses with some punches.
A knee to the head by Nucombe.
Nucombe misses with the head strike.
A shot in the inside from Nucombe.
Nucombe misses with some punches.
A short right from Nucombe on the inside.

Amana is rocked!
A short left from Nucombe.
Oh Amana is still all over the place! His legs are completely gone! Will he be able to recover?!!
Nucombe fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Amana.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Nucombe.
Amana trying to control the position but instead, Nucombe has worked for underhooks and has pushed Amana into the cage.
Nucombe swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Nucombe misses with some punches.
Nucombe misses with a short punch on the inside.
Amana blocks an uppercut.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Amana.
Amana seems to have got his legs back now.
The crowd applaud the fighters' efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Amana wants to stall.
Nucombe throws a blind hook that connects with the side of Amanas head.

And that's the end of the fight!
Neil Nucombe comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Nucombe 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 Bruno Lombardi scores the fight 28:29
Judge Reed Andrews scores the fight 27:29
Judge Lou da Vinci scores the fight 27:29

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