PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Naiki Nekele (ranked 1203 p4p, 1375 weight class) and Charlie Hall (ranked 155 p4p, 177 weight class). Buckle up people - heeeeeeeeeere we go!

Nekele
vs
Hall

210 cm
36
275
30 - 20 - 0

186 cm
28
273
10 - 13 - 0

Good wrestling
World class boxer
Granite chin

Good wrestler
World class boxer
Good gas tank

Altitude Clothing

Voodoo Nutrition

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 30 - 20 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Naiki Nekele!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 10 - 13 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Charlie Hall!
The judges for this bout are Patrick Alders, Radbod Blank and Paulsen Ambrosius.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Nekele lands a jab.
Nekele throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Nekele misses with a wild body shot.
Nekele ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Hall moves away.
Nekele takes a shot to the body in his stride.

Hall moves into the clinch successfully.
Hall is looking to break free of the clinch but Nekele has double underhooks.
Nekele has Hall pressed against the cage, preventing Hall from circling away and getting back to striking at range.

Nekele breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Nekele works his jab well there, keeping his opponent at a distance.
Nekele misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Hall.
Hall is looking to clinch.
Hall throws a low kick but it's checked well by Nekele.
Nekele tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Hall was well out of range. Poor timing from Nekele.
Nekele checks the leg kick.
Hall swings for the body but Nekele moves out of range.
Nekele looked to counter that last move with a leg kick but didn't pull the trigger.
Hall keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Hall misses with a hook. Nekele ducked under it nicely.
Hall takes a shot to the nose. Hopefully that hasn't broken it.
Nekele is using his reach advantage well here, landing the more effective single shots from range.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Jab from Hall.
Hall misses with a straight right.
Nekele misses with a straight left.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Hall uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Nekele.
Nekele throws a wild body kick that Hall sees coming a mile off.
Nekele throws a body punch but Hall moves out of range.
Nekele misses the shot to the body.
Hall takes a jab right on the kisser.

It looks like Charlie Hall has been cut.
Nekele misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Hall.
Nekele avoids the head kick by Hall.
Hall ducks under a wild hook from Nekele.
Hall takes a swing at Nekele's ribcage but misses.
Nekele is looking to wear down Hall with body shots, infact he's throwing more body shots than head shots at the moment.
Nekele takes a shot to the body in his stride.
Nekele throws a wild body kick that Hall sees coming a mile off.
Hall walks into a straight right hand from Nekele.
Hall is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Nekele.
A big right from Nekele misses.
A slapping leg kick lands for Hall.
Hall ducks under a wild hook from Nekele.
Nekele bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
Hall looks for the body kick but Nekele saw that one coming.
Nekele just misses with a punch to the body.
Hall takes a swing at Nekele's ribcage but misses.
Nekele is using his height advantage well here, landing a good percentage of his punches.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Nekele pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Hall blocks a jab.
Hall swings away with a counter right hand but no contact made.
Nekele looks to have improved his striking defense since last time we saw him fight.
A cross from Nekele lands.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Jab from Hall.
Nekele throws a body shot but no joy.
We've been informed that Hall has been sparring a lot of Muay Thai in the buildup to this fight so let's see if that has an impact on the result.
Hall will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Nekele's corner calls for a 1-2. Nekele obliges with the 1 part as he scores the single shot and moves back out of range.
Nekele throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
A slapping leg kick lands for Hall.
Nekele misses with a wild body shot.
Hall swings away with a counter right hand but no contact made.
Hall throws a body punch but Nekele moves out of range.
Nekele swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Hall misses with a hook.
A quick step to the side and Nekele tries to counter with a shot to the body but it doesn't connect.
Hall tries a low kick but Nekele avoids it.
Hall throws a hard body shot but it just misses.

Hall drives through and clinches with Nekele against the cage.
Hall tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Nekele avoids it.
Hall is trying to break the clinch but Nekele is controlling him.
Nekele scores with a shot to the side of Hall's head.

Nekele breaks from the clinch.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Nekele ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Hall moves away.
Nekele throws a shot from downtown. Hall moves away and avoids it.
Nekele looking to land some kicks to the body here.
Hall takes a body punch that cleary hurt but he's trying not to show any weakness.
Wow, both these guys are really going for it!
Hall smiles there as he lands a nice right hand right on the button.
Nekele looks to land a left hand but Hall moved out of range nicely.
Nekele ducks right into an uppercut from Hall.
Nekele throws a head kick that Hall semi-blocks.
Hall misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Nekele.

Nekele gets tackled into the cage by Hall. Hall maintains the clinch.

Hall breaks from the clinch.
Nekele plants his feet and lands a nice head kick!

That has opened up Charlie Hall's cut even more.
Hall moves out of range of the strikes.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Nekele connects with a high kick.
Nice straight punches there by Hall. You know Roy Jones Jr respects the hands of Hall.
Hall throws a leg kick but Nekele sees it coming and checks it nicely.
Hall blocks a head kick by Nekele.

Hall has taken the fight to the clinch.
Nekele throws a head punch that misses.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Hall breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
A big right from Nekele misses.
Hall chopped to the floor by a nice leg kick but he springs right back up before Nekele can pounce on him.
Nekele misses with an uppercut.
Hall is looking to clinch.

Hall clinches.
Hall wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.
Hall missing with knees to the body.
Hall is trying to break the clinch but Nekele is controlling him.
Nekele managing to block the knees to the body from Hall.
Nekele being controlled against the cage.
Hall wants to break free but Nekele has control.
The crowd applaud the fighters' efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Hall tries to break the clinch but Nekele is controlling the position.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close round but I would say that Naiki Nekele will probably get the nod.
The cut man is working on Charlie Hall's cut.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

Nekele doesn't react quick enough there as he takes a shot to the body.
Nekele lands a nice shot that snaps Hall's head back.
Hall throws a hook to the side of Nekele's head but Nekele sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
Nekele misses the body punch
and Hall counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
Nekele throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Hall throws out a counter right but Nekele avoids it with no problem.
Nekele tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Hall was well out of range. Poor timing from Nekele.
Hall now looks to counter with a shot at the body.
Naiki Nekele is winning the standup battle so far.
Hall fakes and then throws a beautiful body shot. Nekele looks a bit winded and takes a step backwards to take a breath.
Nekele swings for the body but Hall moves out of range.
Hall connects with a looping right hand.
Nekele lands a really nice looking cross but Hall seems unphased.
Nekele throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Nekele backing away here, and Hall unleashes a leg kick that just misses.
A lazy left from Hall finds it's target.
Nekele misses with a head kick.
Hall is clearly trying to counter these attacks from Nekele with a body shot.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Nekele is pinned up against the cage taking some big shots here. The referee is looking closely deciding whether he should stop the fight.
Hall misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Nekele.
Hall scores with a sloppy punch to the body. Not much technique there but it did the business.
Nekele lets loose with a powerful body kick. Hall will feel that in the morning.
Nekele throws a hook to the side of Hall's head but Hall sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
Nekele ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Hall moves away.
Hall uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Nekele.
Hall throws a body kick that misses.
Hall looking to throw a kick but he's pulled out of it.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Nekele throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
Nekele slips in close and lands a nice hook before moving back out of range.
Hall scores with a leg kick.
Hall looks to land a left hand but Nekele moved out of range nicely.
Nekele misses the jab.
Hall misses with an uppercut. Nekele saw that one coming.
Nekele keeps his opponent at a distance with a nice jab.
Nekele scores with a nice right hand.
The fighters circling - Hall throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
A clash of legs there as Hall blocks the low kick.
Good standup being displayed there by Nekele as he connects with a hook.

The cut above Charlie Hall's eye is starting to cause him problems now.
Hall tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Hall slips in close and lands a nice hook before moving back out of range.
Hall moves out of range of the leg kick from Nekele.
Hall lands with a nice body kick.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Hall misses with a wild body shot.
A quick step to the side and Nekele tries to counter with a shot to the body but it doesn't connect.
Nekele blocks a head kick by Hall.
Nekele looked to counter with a high kick but didn't commit.
Nekele throws a shot to the body.
Nekele dips to his left and cracks Hall with an uppercut!
Hall throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
Hall misses with a body shot.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Hall jabs Nekele right on the nose. Nekele blinks but takes it well.
Hall throws a shot from downtown. Nekele moves away and avoids it.
Hall throws a right hand that Nekele ducks under and follows up with a left that Nekele also avoids with ease.
Nekele tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Hall takes a swing at Nekele's ribcage but misses.
Hall swings wildly with a hook that is half blocked by Nekele.
The fighters circling - Hall throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
Hall lands with a thumping leg kick.
Nekele misses with a body shot.
Nekele feints and then cracks Hall's leading leg with a nice low kick. He's obviously looking to slow Hall down.
Nekele takes a solid shot to the body. That one hurt him but he's trying not to show it.
A swing and a miss from Hall.
Hall tries to clinch but Nekele is having none of it.
Hall just misses with a punch to the body.
Hall moves out of range of the strikes.
Nekele looks to score with a jab to the body but Hall is just out of range.
A leg kick checked by Hall.
Nekele fakes with the hands and throws a leg kick but Hall is out of range.
Hall misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Hall lands a slapping body shot.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Hall ducks under a wild hook from Nekele.
Nekele misses the shot to the body.
Nekele throws a body shot but no joy.
Nekele moves out of range as Hall strikes.
Nekele takes a swing at Hall's ribcage but misses.

Hall gets a clinch.
Nekele lands with a quick shot inside that doesn't really do much damage.

Nekele escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Hall is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Nekele.
Nekele throws a low kick but his opponent is out of range.
Hall throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
Some wild striking there from Hall.
Nekele swings for the body but Hall moves out of range.
Hall misses with a straight left.
Nekele throws a looping overhand right but Hall ducks down to avoid it.
Hall looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Nekele swings for the body but Hall moves out of range.
Hall throws out a counter right but Nekele avoids it with no problem.
Hall on the wrong end of a nice jab.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Nekele has his head slapped from side to side by a 3 punch combination. That must have hurt him.
This has been an exciting period of action!
A clash of legs there as Hall blocks the low kick.
Hall cracks Nekele with an open hand slap.
Hall throws a couple of head shots and lands with the final one - a decent hook, which struck Nekele on the side of the head.
Nekele keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Hall moves out of range of the strikes.
Hall uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Nekele.
Hall throws a body shot but no joy.
Hall connects nicely with a jab. Noted by the judges no doubt.
Nekele lands a jab to the head.
A shot to the liver by Nekele. Beautiful body shot.
Nekele swings for the body but Hall moves out of range.
Some bone on bone action there as Nekele checks a low kick. Luckily it wasn't a particularly hard one.
Hall swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Hall avoids a kick to the body.
The crowd applaud the fighters' efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Hall blocks a head kick by Nekele.
Nekele scores with a reasonable looking shot to the body. Hall doesn't seem bothered though.
Nekele dips to his left and cracks Hall with an uppercut!

Charlie Hall's cut is absolute horrible now. This looks like something out of a horror film with blood covering both fighters.
Nekele catches Hall with a nice straight right. He seems pissed - ooooh, it's on now! On like donkey kong!
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Charlie Hall will probably get the nod - 10:9.
The cut man is working on Charlie Hall'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. So, we enter the final round. Let's see if either fighter can bring us a finish, or whether we're going to the judges scorecards.

Hall takes a shot to the eye socket. That's gotta hurt.
Nekele pulls out of a head kick attempt.
A big right from Nekele misses.
Nekele takes a shot to the body in his stride.
Hall throws a body punch but Nekele moves out of range.
Nekele avoids the body shot from Hall.
Hall misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Nekele.
Hall works Nekele's body with a nice hook.
Some wild striking there from Hall.
Nekele lands with a nice body punch.
Hall fakes a head punch and goes low to the body. Nicely done.
Nekele moves away from the strike by Hall.
Hall throws a low kick, looking for Nekele's leg but Nekele calmly moves out of range.
Nekele ducks down and throws a hook to the body.
Hall misses with an attempted mid kick.
Nekele swats away the attempt to clinch by Hall.
Nekele takes a jab on the nose. He smiles like he loves it and keeps coming.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Nekele scores with a reasonable looking shot to the body. Hall doesn't seem bothered though.
Hall tries to close the distance and clinch but Nekele swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
A punch lands to the side of Hall 's head but he takes it in his stride.
Hall throws a hook to the side of Nekele's head but Nekele sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
Nekele uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Hall.
Nekele takes one on the button.
Hall will need to close the distance a bit before he attacks - that leg kick was thrown from too far away.
Nekele misses the shot to the body.
Nice cross by Nekele.
Hall throws a right and a left that Nekele avoids nicely.
Nekele throws a body punch but Hall moves out of range.
Hall finds nothing but air with that leg kick attempt.
Hall tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Nekele was well out of range. Poor timing from Hall.
Nekele throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Nekele misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Hall.
A telegraphed right hand from Nekele misses the target.
Nekele swings for the body but Hall moves out of range.
Nekele misses with a looping left.
Hall throws a jab when Nekele was well out of range.
A counter left hand to the body from Nekele misses its target.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Nekele throws a body punch but Hall moves out of range.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Hall swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
Hall avoids a low kick by using good footwork.
Hall misses with a looping left.
Nekele uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Hall.
Hall tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Nekele fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Hall manages to avoid it.
Nekele keeping at a good range here, avoiding a leg kick.
Hall doesn't manage to clinch there - Nekele circles away.
Nekele uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Hall.
It looked like Nekele wanted to counter with a hook but didn't fully commit.
Nekele works Hall's body with a nice hook.
Nekele ducks down and throws a hook to the body.
Hall takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Hall misses with an attempted mid kick.
A nice leg kick from Nekele, right into the meat of the thigh.

Nekele gets tackled into the cage by Hall. Hall maintains the clinch.
Hall has a pretty nasty looking mouse under his right eye.
Hall takes a shot to the head.

Nekele's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
A head kick misses from Hall.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Hall is looking to clinch but Nekele is avoiding it.
Nekele jabbing away but nothing is landing.
Nekele avoids the head kick by Hall.
Nekele ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Hall moves away.
Nekele just misses with a punch to the body.
Nekele's jab looks to have found its range, popping Hall under the eye.
Nekele takes one to the side of the head.
Nekele bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
Nekele lands a straight punch to the body, keeping Hall at a distance.
Hall uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Nekele.
A jab from Hall misses.
Nekele lands with a hook. Hall tried to avoid it but it clipped the top of his head.
Nekele showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Hall.
Nekele takes a big uppercut there. He seems a bit wobbly but no, he's OK.
Hall listening to his corner there, landing a nice uppercut.
Nekele fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Hall manages to avoid it.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Hall just misses with a punch to the body.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A looping hook to the body misses from Nekele. Hall does a little dance to reset his feet.
Hall tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Hall misses with a straight left.
Nekele throws out a loose jab but Hall uses good head movement to avoid it.
Nekele swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Hall scores with a reasonable looking shot to the body. Nekele doesn't seem bothered though.
Nekele fakes a jab and scores with a low kick.
Hall misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Nekele throws a head kick that misses
and Hall cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Nekele swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Nekele misses with a telegraphed body shot
and Hall counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Nekele moves away from the strike by Hall.
Hall misses with a head kick.
Nekele throws a quick counter head kick but Hall was just out of range.
Nekele throws a body kick that misses.
Hall was about to counter that last move with a leg kick but changes his mind.
Hall lands a straight punch to the body, keeping Nekele at a distance.
Hall fakes with a right hand and throws a good leg kick, right into the thigh. That had to hurt Nekele.
A good leg kick by Nekele.
Hall tries to close the distance and clinch up but Nekele swats him away and circles back towards the center.
The crowd applaud the fighters' efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Hall pushing out the jab but it's not landing.

And that's the end of the fight!
I would just about give that final round to Charlie Hall.
I think Hall 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 Patrick Alders scores the fight 28:29
Judge Radbod Blank scores the fight 28:29
Judge Paulsen Ambrosius scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by split decision... Charlie Hall!
A victorious Charlie Hall thanked his army of followers in his post fight interview, telling people to make sure they follow him on Twitter.