PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Kyle Durston (ranked 23990 p4p, 3715 weight class) and Neil Nucombe (ranked 728 p4p, 0 weight class). Neil Nucombe looks lathargic as he enters the arena. Wake up son, you're about to have a fight!

Durston
vs
Nucombe

175 cm
26
178
5 - 5 - 0

166 cm
41
166
25 - 14 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Brawler
Good chin

Good wrestler
Excellent MT
Powerful

Core Combat

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 5 - 5 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Kyle Durston!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 25 - 14 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Neil Nucombe!
The judges for this bout are Matti Vanhoillinen, Johanna Lukiainen and Ben Zyskovitsi.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Nucombe swings for the body but Durston moves out of range.
Durston avoids the body shot from Nucombe.
It looked like Durston was looking amped, ready to throw a big counter but didn't commit.
Durston fails with a takedown attempt.
Durston fails with an attempt to clinch.
Nucombe is trying to avoid his opponent's strikes and get into the clinch.
Durston tries to land a front kick but Nucombe steps back. That was a bit too telegraphed.
Durston dives in and grabs Nucombe's left leg, looking for a takedown. Nucombe pushes down on Durston's head and hops out.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Durston tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. Nucombe manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.

Durston closes the distance and clinches.
Durston tries to pull guard but Nucombe won't allow it.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Kyle Durston. That's going to take a lot out of him.
A left hand lands to the body for Nucombe.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Nucombe lands with a good tight uppercut to the head.
Nucombe is working Durston over against the cage.
A short right from Nucombe.
Durston is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Nucombe is defending well for now.
Durston goes for a takedown in the clinch but Nucombe prevents it.
Nucombe lands on the inside with an uppercut.
Nucombe lands with a short punch from the clinch.
Both fighters working to control the clinch.
A nice left hand lands by Nucombe.
Durston has Nucombe pressed up against the cage and is working for takedown. Nucombe manages to improve position though and keeps the fight standing.
Nucombe lands with a short shot to the head.
Nucombe lands a left hand that snaps the head of Durston backwards.
Durston looking to slow down the pace here.
Nucombe lands a body shot.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
An uppercut to the body lands inside from Nucombe.
Durston is breathing heavily.
Nucombe lands with a short head shot on the inside.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Nucombe blocks a body shot from Durston.
Nucombe lands with a good tight uppercut to the head.
Nucombe lands with a short head shot on the inside.
Durston looks like he'd prefer to be striking at range right now.
A nice left hand lands by Nucombe.
A short left from Nucombe.
Durston working hard to break the clinch.
Nucombe lands a right hand.
Durston is trying to break the clinch but Nucombe is controlling him.
Durston jumps guard but his hands slip and he falls flat on his back. Well, he's made himself look a right mug there, as Nucombe walks away with a smile on his face. Durston gets slowly back to his feet and shakes his head.
Nucombe defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Durston.
Durston sets himself, and Nucombe steps forward looking for the clinch! Durston avoids it this time.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Nucombe lands a right hook to the body.
Durston throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Durston misses with a body shot.
Nucombe avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Nucombe slips a jab and a cross from Durston.
Durston is trying hard to land a takedown here. Nucombe sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.
Nucombe is trying to avoid his opponent's strikes and get into the clinch.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Durston is defended easily by Nucombe.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Nucombe scores with a punch to the gut of his opponent.
Nucombe connects with a hook to the side of his opponent's head.
Durston gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily

and Nucombe moves into the clinch.
Still in the clinch, Nucombe scores with a nice short uppercut.
Nucombe lands a shoulder strike.
Nucombe lands a body shot in the clinch.
Nucombe lands on the inside with an uppercut.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Durston tries to break free but Nucombe pushes him back against the cage.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Neil Nucombe dominated that round.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare each other down, ready to get back to the action.

Nucombe avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Durston sets himself, and Nucombe steps forward looking for the clinch! Durston avoids it this time.
Nucombe jabs. That one connects to the head of his opponent.
Nucombe lands a straight punch to the body, keeping Durston at a distance.
Kyle Durston seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Durston pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Durston misses with a double jab

and Nucombe counters into the clinch. Nicely done.
Still in the clinch, Nucombe scores with a nice short uppercut.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Durston taking a breather.
Durston takes a shot to the head.
Nucombe scores with a nice hook to the head.
Durston tries to pull guard but Nucombe holds him up against the cage and eventually Durston drops back down to his feet.
Nucombe lands with a quick shot inside that doesn't really do much damage.
Neil Nucombe seems to be working more effectively in the clinch in the fight so far.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Durston has dropped down and is looking to force the takedown but it's defended by Nucombe after a bit of a struggle.
Nucombe is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Durston is defending well for now.
Durston struggles to land a body shot inside as Nucombe controls his hands.
Nucombe avoiding damage as Durston throws knees to the body.
We've been informed that Nucombe has been working hard on his conditioning in the buildup to the fight.
Nucombe lands a hook that snaps the head of Durston backwards.
Durston is looking to break free of the clinch but Nucombe has double underhooks.
Nucombe lands a left hand.
Nucombe lands a nice uppercut.
Nucombe lands a nice uppercut.
An uppercut to the body lands inside from Nucombe.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Nucombe lands a shoulder strike that jolts his opponent's head backwards.
Nucombe scores with an uppercut up the middle.
Nucombe lands a nice uppercut.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Nucombe scores with a hook to the body.
Nucombe scores with a nice hook to the head.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Nucombe lands a body shot in the clinch.
Nucombe scores with a shot to the side of Durston's head.
Nucombe lands an uppercut.
Nucombe lands with a good tight uppercut to the head.
Nucombe has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Nucombe gets through Durston's defenses to land a nice punch to the side of the head.
Durston tries to land a knee to the head but Nucombe blocks with his arms.
A knee to the head by Nucombe.
Nucombe lands a right hand.
Nucombe pushes Durston back against the cage and unloads with a body punch.
Nucombe lands a body punch in the clinch.
Nucombe lands a hook to the body. It's hard to tell if that hurt Durston or not.
Nucombe lands a shoulder strike.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Durston content to slow the pace in the clinch.
A short right from Nucombe on the inside.
Still in the clinch, Nucombe scores with a nice short uppercut.
Nucombe scores with a shot to the side of Durston's head.
Nucombe makes some space for himself and lands an uppercut.
Nucombe lands on the inside with an uppercut.
Nucombe lands a hook to the body. It's hard to tell if that hurt Durston or not.
A knee to the head by Nucombe.
Nucombe lands a shoulder strike that jolts his opponent's head backwards.
Nucombe scores with a knee to the head.
Nucombe lands a knee to the body.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Nucombe putting his Muay Thai to good use. He has Durston in a tight clinch and is doing some damage with knees to the body.
Nucombe landing knees to the head.
Nucombe landing knees to the body. They look like they could hurt.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Nucombe lands on the inside with an uppercut.
Nucombe lands a knee to the body.
A body shot lands from Nucombe.
Nucombe lands with a good tight uppercut to the head.
Nucombe lands a hook to the body. It's hard to tell if that hurt Durston or not.
A short right from Nucombe.
Durston jumps guard but Nucombe turns him against the cage and keeps the fight standing.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Kyle Durston. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Nucombe unloads a knee to the mid-section.
Nucombe lands a hook to the side of the head.
Nucombe lands a short shot on the inside that snaps the head of Durston backwards.
Nucombe lands an uppercut.
The crowd applaud the fighters' efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Nucombe lands a hook that snaps the head of Durston backwards.
Nucombe gets through Durston's defenses to land a nice punch to the side of the head.
With the fighters clinched against the cage, Nucombe creates a bit of distance for himself and scores with a nice uppercut.
And that is 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 referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business. This is the final round!

Nucombe fakes a jab and then connects with a hook.
Nucombe throws out a powerful jab.
Nucombe ducks low and lands a nice hook to the body of his opponent.
Durston tries to clinch but Nucombe is having none of it.
Durston closes this distance looking for a takedown but Nucombe circles away.

Durston closes the distance and scores a nice trip takedown into half guard. Nucombe did well to prevent Durston getting side control.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Nucombe is concentrating on defense, preventing Durston from advancing position.
Durston wants to take a breather but Nucombe is having none of it.
Durston is stalling here. Nucombe is in no mood to hang around though. He's locked up a kimura from the bottom! Durston seems to be keeping calm but he's forced to roll out of the hold and Nucombe has ended up in side control on the top. Nice work.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Durston is trying to control Nucombe's posture but Nucombe avoids it.

Nucombe has had enough of the ground for now and decides to stand.
Durston shoots in looking for a takedown but Nucombe manages to keep the fight standing, pushing Durston's face into the canvas for good measure before circling away.
Nucombe thuds a left hand into Durston's body.
Neil Nucombe seems to be getting the better of the standup.
The fight stays on the outside here - Durston looks like he's thinking about clinching though.

That's two 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.
Durston tries to clinch up but Nucombe circles away and keeps his distance.
Durston shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Nucombe sprawls well. Nucombe wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Durston gets slowly back to his feet.
Nucombe is trying to avoid his opponent's strikes and get into the clinch.
Neil Nucombe is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Kyle Durston. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Nucombe ducks down and throws a hook to the body.
Nucombe is throwing a lot of body shots here, looking to wear down Durston rather than just go for the knockout.
Durston tries to score a power double leg takedown but Nucombe sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Durston somewhat.
Nucombe wants to counter with a clinch but Durston pushes him away.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Nucombe lands a straight punch to the body, keeping Durston at a distance.
Nucombe cracks Durston with an open hand slap.
Durston shoots in looking for a takedown. Nucombe tries to sprawl out of it but Durston keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Nucombe manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
Nucombe stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Nucombe wants it to stay on the feet.
Nucombe tries to counter with a clinch but Durston shakes him off and moves away.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Durston tries to drive through with a takedown attempt but Nucombe defends well and Durston ends up having to push Nucombe into the cage where they will battle it out in the clinch.
Nucombe lands with a short punch from the clinch.
Durston has had enough of the clinch and is looking to separate.
Durston goes for a takedown attempt but Nucombe pushes him away and we're back to fighting at a distance.
Durston shoots in for a takedown but Nucombe shows good takedown defense.
Durston tries to clinch there but Nucombe circles away.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Durston on the wrong end of a nice jab.
Nucombe fakes low and throws an overhand right that catches Durston on the side of the head.

And that's the end of the fight!
Neil Nucombe comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Nucombe 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 Matti Vanhoillinen scores the fight 26:30
Judge Johanna Lukiainen scores the fight 26:30
Judge Ben Zyskovitsi scores the fight 26:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Neil Nucombe!
Neil Nucombe decided to thank the fans in attendance for making a great atmosphere. It seemed to go down pretty well.