PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Neil Nucombe (ranked 5440 p4p, 23939 weight class) and Yawa Kiang (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Yawa Kiang will no doubt be looking to use his reach advantage to good effect.

Nucombe
vs
Kiang

166 cm
53
166
38 - 26 - 0

182 cm
25
160
31 - 56 - 1

BJJ Blue Belt
Solid boxing
Experienced

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Knockout power

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 38 - 26 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Neil Nucombe!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 31 - 56 - 1, fighting out of Las Vegas, Yawa Kiang!
The judges for this bout are Arvi Lind, Roosa Järviläinen and Marco Blurström.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Nucombe cracks Kiang with a good shot that sees him stumbling back into the cage.
Nucombe misses with a left hand
and Kiang counters with a solid body kick.
Nucombe scores with a jab.
Nucombe misses with a lunging right hand
and Kiang counters with a good low kick that Nucombe was not able to check.
Neil Nucombe seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Some wild striking there from Nucombe.
Good exchange - Nucombe coming out on top.
Nucombe throws a jab, cross combination which is slipped
and Kiang counters with a nice body kick.
Nucombe swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
Kiang follows through with a counter body kick but it doesn't land.
Kiang avoids a punch combination nicely.
Kiang replies with a solid counter kick to the body but Nucombe blocks it well.
Nucombe misses with a lunging right hand
and Kiang counters with a kick to the head that grazes his opponent. Nucombe is lucky that one didn't land flush.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kiang tries to move into range but Nucombe moves to the side and lands with a nice right hand.

Kiang is rocked!
Nucombe throws the left hand but Kiang avoids the punch easily.
Kiang is looking for the big counter here.
Kiang is still on wobbly legs! Can Nucombe finish him?
Nucombe throws the left hand but Kiang avoids the punch easily.
Kiang seems to have recovered his senses.
Nucombe rushes in with a sloppy looking punch
and Kiang counters with a nice body kick.
Kiang blocks a jab.
Nucombe throws a combination that misses
and Kiang counters with a three punch combination, finished off with a leg kick. Nice work.
Nucombe misses with a lunging right hand
and Kiang counters with a good, hard body kick but Nucombe shrugs it off.
Good exchange - Nucombe coming out on top.
Nucombe is really head hunting here, hardly looking to strike to the body at all.
Kiang uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Nucombe.
Kiang doesn't react quick enough there as he takes a shot to the body.
Neil Nucombe is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Nucombe misses the shot to the body.
Kiang appears to be waiting to throw a counter punch to the body.
Kiang shoots in for a takedown but Nucombe shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
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 darts in and out, connecting with a jab.
Nucombe misses with a combination
and Kiang counters with a body kick that stops Nucombe in his tracks momentarily.
Nucombe swings widly with a right hand

and Kiang counters with a nice double leg into half guard.
Nucombe keeping control of the position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Nucombe has controlled the position for a good 20 seconds, which will no doubt be starting to frustrate his opponent.
Nucombe definitely looks more muscular than last time we saw him fight.
Kiang trying to control the action but Nucombe is working from the bottom.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
There's not a lot going on here and the crowd are letting the fighters know they're not willing to tolerate a lack of action.
Nucombe controlling the position for now.
Nucombe blocking the ground and pound attempt from Kiang.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.
Nucombe throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Kiang.
Nucombe throws a hook but Kiang blocks it.
Kiang is clearly looking to counter with head kicks.
Nucombe swings widly with a right hand
and Kiang makes the exchange count by landing a cracking kick to the body. Nucombe really felt that one!
Nucombe misses with a left hand
and Kiang counters with a good, hard body kick but Nucombe shrugs it off.
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 Neil Nucombe will probably get the nod.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business.

Nucombe throws a lazy uppercut
and Kiang counters with a left to the body.
Kiang uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Nucombe.
Kiang counters with a body kick.
Neil Nucombe is winning the standup battle so far.
Nucombe rushes in with a sloppy looking punch
and Kiang finishes the little exchange by landing a big kick to the body.
Nucombe missing with a left hand there. Kiang was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
Nucombe swings widly with a right hand
and Kiang counters with a good, hard body kick but Nucombe shrugs it off.
Kiang slips under a jab from Nucombe.
Kiang unleashes a big counter combination but Nucombe bobs and weaves and avoids any damage.
Nucombe throws a lazy right hand but Kiang sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
As Nucombe backs off Kiang throws a huge counter combo but Nucombe manages to avoid it all.
Kiang gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily
and Nucombe counters with a straight right hand.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Nucombe scores with a jab to the head.
Nucombe uses good footwork to get in and out, landing a nice hook.

That's one minute gone in the round.
A telegraphed right hand from Nucombe misses the target.
Kiang counters with a body kick.
Nucombe misses with a lunging right hand
and Kiang counters with a solid body kick.
Neil Nucombe is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
A big left from Nucombe misses.
Despite the aggression on Kiang's face he doesn't fully commit to the counter.
Nucombe will be looking to protect his midsection after taking some solid kicks to the body.
Nucombe throws a lazy uppercut
and Kiang counters with a nice body kick.

Kiang looking to shoot here. He's gone for it and he's landed a takedown into side control! Oh, that's bad for Nucombe!
Kiang creates a bit of distance and throws down some hard shots.
Nucombe tries to work a leg under to get back to half guard but Kiang wriggles his own leg back out and remains in side control.
Kiang wants to control but Nucombe is keeping him busy.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
You can see the frustration on Nucombe's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.
Nucombe tries to work a leg under to get back to half guard but Kiang wriggles his own leg back out and remains in side control.
Nucombe might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Nucombe throws a poor cross that misses
and Kiang counters with a nice body kick.
Nucombe thuds a left hand into Kiang's body.
Kiang moves out of range of the strikes.
Kiang follows through with a counter body kick but it doesn't land.
Nucombe misses with a straight right.
Nucombe throws a shot from downtown. Kiang moves away and avoids it.
Kiang replies with a solid counter kick to the body but Nucombe blocks it well.
Nucombe throws an off balance right hand

and Kiang counters with a nice double leg into side control. Nucombe won't be happy with that.
Kiang in side control, throwing shots but Nucombe defends.
Kiang tries to get to his feet but he's trapped momentarily.
Nucombe holds on tight, trying to prevent any damage.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Nucombe is looking to reverse the position.
Nucombe can't do much from the bottom here.
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We've had a lack of effective grappling in the last minute or so, which could well see a referee standup.

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Yawa Kiang will probably get the nod - 10:9.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business. This is the final round!

Nucombe throws a poor cross that misses
and Kiang counters with a nice body kick.
A telegraphed right hand from Nucombe misses the target.
Kiang takes one on the button.
Nucombe swings wildly with a couple of big hooks
and Kiang counters with a body kick that stops Nucombe in his tracks momentarily.
Nucombe throws out a loose jab but Kiang uses good head movement to avoid it.
Nucombe loads up on a big right hand but Kiang slips the punch.
And Kiang responds with a good body kick, but Nucombe manages to step out the way in time.
Nucombe rushes in with a sloppy looking punch
and Kiang counters with a body kick that brings a smile to the face of both fighters.
Nucombe misses with a hook.
The fighters are starting to get sweaty, which will make takedowns a bit more tricky.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Nucombe throws a right and a left that both miss.
Kiang replies with a solid counter kick to the body but Nucombe blocks it well.
Jab by Nucombe.
Nucombe throws a jab, cross combination which is slipped
and Kiang counters with a body kick that brings a smile to the face of both fighters.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Nucombe throws a left and a right that both miss
and Kiang counters with a body kick that stops Nucombe in his tracks momentarily.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Nucombe misses with a hook
and Kiang counters with a nice uppercut.
Nucombe misses with a double jab.
Kiang lets it all go there with a big combo counter but none of the punches connected.
Nucombe throws a left and a right that both miss
and Kiang counters with a nice body kick.
Nucombe throws a lazy uppercut
and Kiang counters with a nice low kick that buckles Nucombe's knee momentarily.
Nucombe misses with a straight left.
Kiang replies with a solid counter kick to the body but Nucombe blocks it well.
Nucombe throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
That's a knee to de groin and it's over and out! Nucombe crumples to the ground after an illegal strike from Kiang - the referee stops the clock and Nucombe gets 5 minutes to recover from that one. "I'm sorry" says Kiang. Nucombe manages to get back to his feet and the fight resumes.
Nucombe tries to bum rush Kiang with a series of wild strikes but Kiang uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Nucombe throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
And Kiang responds with a good body kick, but Nucombe manages to step out the way in time.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Nucombe looks to land a right hand but Kiang moved out of range.
Kiang feints the counter takedown.
Kiang will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
Kiang shoots in for a takedown but Nucombe shows good takedown defense.
Nucombe misses with an uppercut. Kiang saw that one coming.
Nucombe looks to land a right hand but Kiang moved out of range.
Nucombe rushes in with a sloppy looking punch
and Kiang counters with a body kick that stops Nucombe in his tracks momentarily.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Nucombe jabs at Kiang's body.
Kiang uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Nucombe.
Nucombe misses with a lunging right hand

and Kiang counters with a single leg into guard. Nucombe didn't expect that.
Nucombe wants to sweep but no luck.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Nucombe is doing well to control the posture of his opponent and prevent any damage.
Kiang is taking a break and basically stalling. The referee will not allow him to do that for long.
Kiang looking to sit in guard and control but Nucombe gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.

Nucombe slows down the pace of the fight, as he sits in guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A few boos can be heard. I'm sure they will multiply if the fighters don't pick up the pace.
Nucombe working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Nucombe wanted to stand there but Kiang had control of the position.
Nucombe sitting in guard here, content to control.
Nucombe continues to stall.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.
Kiang is on the wrong end of a nice combination from Nucombe.

And that's the end of the fight!
That was a close round. You could make an argument for either fighter but I would give it to Neil Nucombe.
I think Nucombe has won this one but let's see what the judges have to say. 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 Arvi Lind scores the fight 29:28
Judge Roosa Järviläinen scores the fight 28:29
Judge Marco Blurström scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by split decision... Neil Nucombe!
A loyal slave to those sponsorship dollars, Neil Nucombe made sure he mentioned Furnace Performance ðŸ”¥, along with how happy he was to win his fight.