PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Micah Hawk (ranked 2241 p4p, 2467 weight class) and Neil Nucombe (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Neil Nucombe looks lathargic as he enters the arena. Wake up son, you're about to have a fight!

Hawk
vs
Nucombe

179 cm
33
166
24 - 17 - 0

166 cm
49
166
36 - 21 - 0

Good takedowns
Counter fighter
Experienced

BJJ Purple Belt
Excellent boxer
Powerful

Furnace Performance Products
Silverguard Outfitters

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 24 - 17 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Micah Hawk!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 36 - 21 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Neil Nucombe!
The judges for this bout are Eliza Hachem, Hugh Johnson and Bruno Hogan.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Nucombe jabbing away but nothing is landing.
Neil Nucombe seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Nucombe lands a nice shot to the body.
Hawk ducks under a wild hook from Nucombe.
Hawk displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Nucombe throws out the jab.
A shot to the liver by Nucombe. Beautiful body shot.
Nucombe throws a hook but Hawk blocks it.
Nucombe throws a jab but it's blocked by Hawk.
Nucombe fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Hawk manages to avoid it.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Hawk shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Nucombe but Nucombe pushes him off and we're back to square one.
A jab from Nucombe does it's job there.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Nucombe throws a big shot that misses.
Hawk drops his hands and takes a jab to the jaw for his troubles.
Hawk fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
A shot to the body from Nucombe misses
and Hawk counters with a nice body shot.
Nucombe looks to score with a jab to the body but Hawk is just out of range.
Hawk fails to land the takedown.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Micah Hawk. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Hawk shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Nucombe defends it nicely.
Nucombe missing with a left hand there. Hawk was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Nucombe looks to throw the jab but Hawk is out of range.
Neil Nucombe is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Nucombe displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Hawk.
Nucombe throws out a loose jab but Hawk uses good head movement to avoid it.
Hawk darts in looking for a takedown but Nucombe gets double underhooks and turns Hawk into the cage.
A nice left hand lands by Nucombe.
Hawk fails to pull the fight into his guard.
Nucombe lands a nice uppercut.
Hawk tries to pull guard but Nucombe forces him back to his feet, against the cage.
Hawk fails to pull the fight into his guard.
Nucombe lands a right uppercut that snaps the head of Hawk backwards.
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!
Nucombe lands with a quick shot inside that doesn't really do much damage.
Nucombe lands punches inside but they're not really causing much damage.

Hawk is rocked!

Hawk has Nucombe pressed up against the cage. He's trying to work for a single leg takedown. Hawk pulls back from the cage and twists to the side, sending Nucombe tumbling to the mat - Hawk dives into Nucombe's guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Hawk is holding a leg here, probably looking for an ankle lock - he drops back and goes for it! Nucombe is in trouble! Is it all over??? No! Nucombe has escaped and now he's on top!

The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Nucombe is looking to stand up but Hawk won't let him.

Hawk is active off his back here, looking for submissions.

Hawk looking for a guillotine here but Nucombe defends easily.

Hawk has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Nucombe can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Nucombe stands and steps away. Hawk gets to his feet too and we're back to the striking game.
Hawk slips under a jab.
Hawk was looking to counter that move with a punch but didn't quite pull the trigger.
Nucombe misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Hawk.
Hawk jinks towards his opponent looking like he wants to counter with a mid kick but doesn't commit.

Hawk shoots in and gets a takedown into Nucombe's guard.

Nucombe pushes Hawk off and gets back to his feet.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Nucombe throws a good cross that connects.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Neil Nucombe dominated that round.
That's time! Hawk's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight.

Hawk shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Nucombe as he avoids it easily.
Nucombe jabbing away but nothing is landing.
Nucombe cracks a nice hook into Hawk's ribs.
Nucombe looks more muscular than last time we saw him. He must have been on the weights.
Hawk walks straight into a jab right on the nose. That one stung - he's blinking and trying to clear his head.
Nucombe wings a very wild body shot but it does the job and lands to the midsection.
Nucombe throws a body shot but no joy.
Nucombe is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Hawk.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
A big left from Nucombe misses.
Hawk uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Nucombe.
Nucombe connects with a looping right hand.
Nucombe connects with a good right hand that stumbles Hawk. Hawk circles away out of range and recomposes himself.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Nucombe ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Hawk moves away.
Hawk uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Nucombe.
Nucombe cracks Hawk with a hook to the jaw. Both fighters smile at eachother and high-five before getting back down to business.
Oh Hawk is still all over the place! His legs are completely gone! Will he be able to recover?!!
Hawk looks for a takedown but Nucombe sprawls well.
A jab from Nucombe misses.
Hawk seems to have got his legs back now.
Nucombe lands a right hook to the body.
Hawk tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Nucombe swivels and escapes.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Micah Hawk. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Nucombe misses with a body shot.
Hawk tries to counter with a takedown but Nucombe is quick to defend against it.
Nucombe lunges at Hawk with a hook that half lands and is half blocked by Hawk's hand.
Nucombe throws a body shot but no joy.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Hawk bobs and weaves into range and then changes levels and scores with a nice takedown into side control.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Nucombe dodges the ground and pound from Hawk.

Hawk is trying to land an Americana. He has the arm isolated but Nucombe is keeping cool and he's avoided the danger for now.

Hawk tries for an arm triangle. That looks pretty tight to me. Is this one over!?! Possibly, maybe, no Hawk has let go of the choke. Obviously it wasn't as tight as we thought!

Hawk tries for a kimura. Not really close to a finish though.
Hawk taking a breather here.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Hawk wants to work for a kimura but he's foiled early by Nucombe, who protects the arm well.
Hawk looking to punish the body of his opponent here but Nucombe is avoiding damage well.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are getting on the fighters' backs, as the pace has dropped off in the last minute or so.

Hawk looking for an arm triangle but it's way too loose to do anything.
Nucombe is not content to let Hawk control the position.
Nucombe struggling a bit here.
Micah Hawk overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.

Hawk is looking for a kimura. He might have it! No, Nucombe has escaped the position, nice work there.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Hawk advances to full mount.
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 corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare each other down, ready to get back to the action. 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.

Hawk moves out of range as Nucombe strikes.
Hawk takes a punch right to his stomach. That took the wind out of him momentarily.

Hawk feints and as Nucombe raises his hands in defense, Hawk changes levels and drives through with a takedown into guard.
Nucombe has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Hawk sneaks a leg through and gets to half guard. That was like a knife through butter how easily he passed Nucombe's guard.
Hawk throwing shots but Nucombe is blocking nicely.
Nucombe is concentrating on defense, preventing Hawk from advancing position.

Hawk looking for a kimura but he'll have to free his other leg if he wants to finish that. Perhaps he's just using it as a distraction technique.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

Hawk is looking for a kimura but he's never going to get it from there.

That's one minute gone in the round.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Nucombe is staying active underneath Hawk, who seems content to just control the action from this position.
Hawk thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Nucombe's head.
Hawk throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.

Hawk wants to work for an arm triangle but Nucombe is really keeping half guard well and defending the submission attempt.
Hawk trying to control the action but Nucombe is working from the bottom.

Hawk seems to be working for a kimura but Nucombe defends the submission attempt.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Well. There's a bit of a lull in the action here and the crowd are starting to get restless.
Hawk tries to pass to full mount but Nucombe defends it.
Nucombe trying to control but Hawk postures up.
Neil Nucombe is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
Hawk is trying to control the action in half guard but Nucombe is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.

Hawk seems to be looking for submissions.
Hawk is keen to just control but Nucombe is a slippery customer.
The referee wants the fighters to be more active or he's going to reset them on the feet.
Nucombe is looking to control Hawk's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Nucombe avoid being mounted?

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
A left lands for Nucombe.
Hawk closes the distance and takes a jab right on the nose as he does so.
Nucombe throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Hawk fails to land the takedown.
Nucombe wants to counter with a clinch but Hawk pushes him away.
Nucombe throws an overhand right that lands on Hawk's shoulder, as Hawk tries to avoid the shot.

Hawk shoots in and scores a nice double leg takedown into half guard.
Hawk throwing shots but Nucombe is blocking nicely.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Hawk is thinking about going for an arm triangle but he can't free his leg.

Hawk seems to be working for a kimura but Nucombe defends the submission attempt.

Hawk is trying for a guillotine from the top but the pressure isn't in the right place so Nucombe is just riding it out for now. Hawk eventually gives up the hold.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Nucombe trying to hold on to Hawk's head to control him but Hawk postures up.

And that's the end of the fight!
Micah Hawk showed his dominance in that final round.
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 Eliza Hachem scores the fight 28:29
Judge Hugh Johnson scores the fight 28:29
Judge Bruno Hogan scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Neil Nucombe!
Neil Nucombe gave a mention to Furnace Performance Products in his post fight interview. That will please them (and hopefully generate some sales).