PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a super heavyweight MMA rules bout between Artemis Rhodes (ranked 4762 p4p, 4678 weight class) and Haki Ngata (ranked 208 p4p, 199 weight class). We have two fighters making their debuts here, so let's see who comes out of this one with their first professional victory.

Rhodes
vs
Ngata

199 cm
18
285
0 - 0 - 0

193 cm
18
285
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Excellent boxer
Good chin

BJJ White Belt
Decent boxing
Determined

Silverguard Outfitters 🛡
Furnace Performance 🔥

Furnace Performance 🔥
Silverguard Outfitters 🛡

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the super heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Artemis Rhodes!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of New York, Haki Ngata!
The judges for this bout are Elvis Blanc, Dillan Fox and Yves DeLean.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Ngata slips a straight right by Rhodes.
Rhodes throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
Ngata slips under a jab.
As Rhodes backs off Ngata throws a huge counter combo but Rhodes manages to avoid it all.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Ngata is defended easily by Rhodes.
A swing and a miss from Rhodes.
Ngata fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
A looping hook to the body misses from Rhodes. Ngata does a little dance to reset his feet.
Artemis Rhodes seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Rhodes connects with a nice looking jab.

It looks like Haki Ngata has been cut.
Ngata takes a shot to the nose. Hopefully that hasn't broken it.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Rhodes throws a body punch but Ngata moves out of range.
And Ngata responds with a good body kick, but Rhodes manages to step out the way in time.
Rhodes lands with a right hand.
Ngata shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Rhodes defends it nicely.
Artemis Rhodes has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Haki Ngata.
Rhodes looks to land a right hand but Ngata moved out of range.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Ngata ducks under a wild hook from Rhodes.
A slow jab from Rhodes misses its intended target.
Rhodes with a jab.
Rhodes lands a jab. Then a cross. Then finally a nice hook to the body. Good work there by Rhodes.
Rhodes throws a hook but Ngata blocks it.

Ngata clinches up against the cage.
Ngata keeps control of Rhodes as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.

Ngata manages to break the clinch.
Ngata doesn't react quick enough there as he takes a shot to the body.
Rhodes throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Ngata sees it coming and avoids it easily.
Rhodes lunges in with an uppercut that skims his opponent's chin.

That has opened up Haki Ngata's cut even more.
Ngata slips under a jab.
Rhodes sets himself, and Ngata steps forward looking for the clinch! Rhodes avoids it this time.
A looping hook to the body misses from Rhodes. Ngata does a little dance to reset his feet.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Rhodes misses with a straight right.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Ngata darts in and out, connecting with a jab.
Ngata ducks under a wild hook from Rhodes.
Ngata throws a counter combo.
Artemis Rhodes is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Ngata misses with a takedown attempt - Rhodes sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
Rhodes misses with a straight left.
Rhodes connects with a body shot that sends Ngata's belly button to the back.
Rhodes could do with losing a few pounds - he looks very soft around the mid section, to put it politely.
A swing and a miss from Rhodes.
A slow jab from Rhodes misses its intended target.
Ngata is looking for the big counter here.
Ngata blocks a jab.
Rhodes is really head hunting here, hardly looking to strike to the body at all.
Ngata tries a low kick but Rhodes avoids it.

Ngata forces Rhodes back against the cage and clinches.

Ngata pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Rhodes misses the shot to the body.

Ngata rushes Rhodes and presses him up against the cage.

Ngata breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Rhodes throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Ngata sees it coming and avoids it easily.
Rhodes loads up on a big right hand but Ngata slips the punch.
Ngata has his takedown stuffed
and Rhodes counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
Ngata shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Rhodes sprawls well. Rhodes wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Ngata gets slowly back to his feet.
Nice shot by Rhodes.
Ngata looks shocked there as he takes a right hand to the temple.
Ngata takes a jab on the nose there. A little bit of blood seems to be coming out. Hopefully that won't affect his breathing.

The cut above Haki Ngata's eye is starting to cause him problems now.
Rhodes misses with an uppercut.
Ngata ducks under a wild hook from Rhodes.
Nice defenses there by Ngata.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Rhodes lands with a cross to side of his opponent's head.
Rhodes takes one on the button.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Rhodes misses with an uppercut. Ngata saw that one coming.
Ngata moves out of range of the strikes.

Ngata rushes Rhodes and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.
Rhodes is trying to break free.
Rhodes is trying to push Ngata away but Ngata has him pressed against the cage, so he's going nowhere.
Ngata taking a breather.
Rhodes has had enough of the clinch but Ngata keeps him there for the moment.
Rhodes gets double underhooks to prevent a takedown attempt from Ngata.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Artemis Rhodes dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Haki Ngata's cut.
That's time! Back to the action!

Rhodes misses with a hook

and Ngata counters by clinching up.
Ngata fails to pull guard.

Ngata pulls Rhodes into guard.

Rhodes gets to his feet - Ngata follows without any prompting.
Haki Ngata is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Ngata shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Rhodes pinned against the cage. Rhodes gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
Rhodes is looking to counter punch.
Ngata moves away from the strike by Rhodes.
Rhodes looks to throw the jab but Ngata is out of range.
Ngata keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Rhodes.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Ngata fails with a takedown attempt.
Artemis Rhodes has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Haki Ngata.
Ngata uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Rhodes.
Rhodes misses with a straight left.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rhodes scores with a jab to the jaw of his opponent.
Rhodes connects with a single shot there.
Ngata misses with a kick to the body.

Ngata moves into the clinch.
Some stalling of biblical proportions here from Ngata.

Ngata jumps into guard, dragging Rhodes to the mat.
Rhodes wants to stand but Ngata is controlling his posture from full guard.
Ngata not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The fighters are going at a pretty good pace and they're both starting to sweat now.
Rhodes tries to stand but Ngata is controlling from the bottom.
We get told so often about how wrestlers don't like to be on their backs. Let's see if Ngata can do anything to dispel that myth.
Ngata doesn't do any damage with a couple of strikes from the bottom.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Rhodes would like to get this fight back to the feet but can't get free from the closed guard.

Ngata is working an open guard so Rhodes takes the opportunity to get back to his feet.
Ngata shoots in and drives through. Rhodes sprawls well.
Good standup being displayed there by Rhodes as he connects with a hook.

Ngata clinches up against the cage.
Rhodes is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.
Ngata has Rhodes pressed up against the cage and is working for takedown. Rhodes manages to improve position though and keeps the fight standing.
Ngata content to slow the pace in the clinch.

Ngata breaks from the clinch.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Rhodes missing with a left hand there. Ngata was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
Ngata tries a counter takedown but it's more of a dummy move, and he uses it to push himself away.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Ngata fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Rhodes, pushing him back against the cage.

Ngata pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Rhodes looks to land a right hand but Ngata moved out of range.
Ngata digs a good body shot into Rhodes's ribs.
Rhodes misses with a hook.
Ngata tries to counter with a clinch but Rhodes shakes him off and moves away.
A lazy left from Rhodes finds it's target.

Haki Ngata's cut is absolute horrible now. This looks like something out of a horror film with blood covering both fighters.

Ngata instigates a clinch.
Rhodes blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
Ngata is trying to pull guard but Rhodes turns him against the cage and we stay in the clinch.

Ngata pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Ngata dodges the punch combination from Rhodes.
Ngata looks like he wanted to counter with a high kick but didn't throw it.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Ngata fails to land the takedown.
Rhodes misses with a hook.
A big left from Rhodes misses.

Ngata gets in close and instigates a clinch.
Ngata jumps guard but Rhodes turns him against the cage and keeps the fight standing.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Rhodes is trying to break free.
Ngata fails to pull the fight into his guard.
Ngata has dropped down and is looking to force the takedown but it's defended by Rhodes after a bit of a struggle.

Ngata jumps guard.
Rhodes trying to stand up but can't free himself from Ngata's guard.

Rhodes gets to his feet. Ngata looking to butt scoot but the ref puts an end to that. On your feet son!
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close second round but I would say that Artemis Rhodes will probably get the nod.
The cut man is working on Haki Ngata's cut.
That's time! Rhodes's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight. This is the final round!

Ngata will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
Ngata keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Ngata slips under a jab.
Rhodes misses with an uppercut. Ngata saw that one coming.
Rhodes is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Ngata.
Rhodes lands a vicious shot with the stealth of a sniper and the strength of a viper. Are vipers that strong? I can think of lots of things that are stronger than a viper - not many rhyme with sniper though.
Rhodes pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
Rhodes throws a jab but it's blocked by Ngata.
Ngata shoots in and drives through. Rhodes sprawls well.
Rhodes swung with a counter right hand that didn't connect.
Ngata uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Rhodes.
Ngata bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Ngata ducks under a wild hook from Rhodes.
Ngata slips a jab from Rhodes.
Ngata fails with the takedown.
A little feinted left hand from Rhodes on the counter but he doesn't commit to it.
Artemis Rhodes has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Haki Ngata.
Rhodes throws a hook to the side of Ngata's head but Ngata sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rhodes paws at his opponent with the jab and then lunges in with a straight, right on the button.
Rhodes punishes Ngata's body with a nice straight punch.

Ngata has closed the distance and engaged Rhodes in a clinch.
Ngata tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. Rhodes just stands there and leans against the cage.
Rhodes is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.
Rhodes is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Ngata can do to turn this around?

Ngata breaks the clinch.
Ngata uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Rhodes.
Ngata goes for a spinning back kick but it misses.

Ngata takes the fight into the clinch.
Ngata has Rhodes pressed up against the cage and is working for takedown. Rhodes manages to improve position though and keeps the fight standing.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Ngata keeps control of Rhodes as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.

Ngata breaks from the clinch.
Horrible takedown attempt by Ngata or perhaps it was just good defense by Rhodes, which made it look bad.
Ngata throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Rhodes connects with the punch.

The referee calls the doctor in to look at Haki Ngata's cut. Oh no, the doctor has called an end to the bout!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 2:35 of round 3, we have a winner by way of TKO (Cut). Artemis Rhodes!