PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Steve McMichael (ranked 1202 p4p, 406 weight class) and Nagatsuki Hideki (ranked 165 p4p, 51 weight class). These two fighters really are very evenly matched on the feet - it will be fascinating to see who can assert themselves in that aspect of the fight.

McMichael
vs
Hideki

183 cm
24
174
8 - 2 - 0

183 cm
24
174
12 - 5 - 0

Good wrestling
World class boxer
Insanely flexible

Good wrestler
World class MT
Good gas tank

FinnFighter Nutrition (Five 160Q supps!)
30th Century Beer Store

30th Century Beer Store

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 8 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Steve McMichael!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 12 - 5 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Nagatsuki Hideki!
The judges for this bout are Richard Clark, Andrew Berry and James Ackerman.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
McMichael tries to close the distance and clinch but Hideki swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Nice jab there from Hideki.
Hideki scores with a punch to the gut of his opponent.
Hideki thuds a left hand into McMichael's body.
McMichael is pinned up against the cage taking some big shots here. The referee is looking closely deciding whether he should stop the fight.
Hideki throws a hook to the side of McMichael's head but McMichael sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
McMichael connects with a body shot.
Nice shot by McMichael.
McMichael looking to take his opponent's legs away with the low kicks.
McMichael tries to land a body kick
and Hideki counters nicely by changing levels and landing a hook to the body.
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!
McMichael has his front leg slapped to the side - a nice low kick landing there from Hideki.
McMichael scores with a reasonable looking shot to the body. Hideki doesn't seem bothered though.

That's one minute gone in the round.
McMichael throws a low kick but it's checked well by Hideki.
Hideki slips a jab from McMichael.
Hideki looks like he wants to counter punch here.
Hideki takes a shot right to the liver - Bas would have been proud of that punch.
McMichael fails in his attempt to clinch.
McMichael tries to score with a leg kick but it misses it's target.
A little jabbing left from Hideki on the counter but it doesn't find it's target.
McMichael ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Hideki moves away.
Hideki now looks to counter with a shot at the body.
A lazy left from McMichael finds it's target.

McMichael closes the distance and clinches.
McMichael misses with a hook to the ribs.
McMichael tries to break the clinch but Hideki is controlling the position.
Hideki goes for a body shot but it's blocked.

Hideki's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
McMichael scores with a body shot.
Hideki keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
A nice side step and Hideki releases a counter shot to the body, but it doesn't find it's home.
McMichael wants to clinch.
Hideki was about to counter that last move with a leg kick but changes his mind.
McMichael works Hideki's body with a nice hook.
A looping hook to the body misses from McMichael. Hideki does a little dance to reset his feet.
McMichael misses with the combination.
Hideki looks like he wants to counter punch here.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
McMichael takes a shot to the body in his stride.
McMichael tries a head kick but it misses.
A little jabbing left from Hideki on the counter but it doesn't find it's target.
McMichael tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Hideki was well out of range. Poor timing from McMichael.
McMichael with a nice cross.
McMichael works Hideki's body with a nice hook.
McMichael scores with a jab to the jaw.
McMichael fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Hideki manages to avoid it.
Hideki moves out of range of the strikes.
Hideki let fly with a counter punch to the body but it didn't land.
Hideki checks the leg kick.
McMichael doesn't react quick enough there as he takes a shot to the body.
We've been told by McMichael's head coaches at The Barn that he's been working on his takedown defense in preparation for this fight.
McMichael misses with a right hand
and Hideki counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Steve McMichael seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
McMichael swings widly with a right hand
and Hideki cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
McMichael works his jab well there, keeping his opponent at a distance.
McMichael jabbing away but nothing is landing.
Hideki appeared to try and counter that last move with a leg kick.
McMichael tries to clinch up
and Hideki counters with a stiff right hand.
Hideki avoids a low kick by using good footwork.
Hideki throws a body kick, spinning off balance
and McMichael counters with a nice uppercut.

McMichael closes the distance and clinches.

Hideki's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
McMichael misses with an uppercut
and Hideki counters nicely by changing levels and landing a hook to the body.
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 Steve McMichael will probably get the nod.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin!

Hideki misses with a kick to the body.
It looked like McMichael was trying to counter with a body shot coming off that last attack from Hideki.
McMichael slips a straight right by Hideki.
McMichael pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Hideki looks to throw a body kick
and McMichael counters with a straight right hand.
Hideki is throwing a lot of body shots here, looking to wear down McMichael rather than just go for the knockout.
McMichael takes a swing at Hideki's ribcage but misses.
McMichael misses with a series of wild punches.
McMichael lands a lovely overhand right.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Hideki throws a leg kick but he was too far away and it doesn't land.
McMichael with a nice cross.
McMichael lands a nice looking body shot.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Hideki keeps the fight on the outside.
Hideki moves out of range as McMichael strikes.
Hideki misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
A quick step to the side and McMichael tries to counter with a shot to the body but it doesn't connect.
Hideki looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Hideki throws a hook but McMichael blocks it.
It looked like McMichael wanted to counter with a hook but didn't fully commit.
McMichael doesn't react quick enough there as he takes a shot to the body.
McMichael throws a hook to the side of Hideki's head but Hideki sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
Hideki throws a body kick but he was well out of range there.
McMichael loads up on a big right hand but Hideki slips the punch.
Hideki loads up on a big right hand but McMichael slips the punch.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
McMichael misses with a lunging right hand
and Hideki counters with a straight punch to the midsection.
McMichael shapes like he's going to throw a leg kick but settles back down.
A nice leg kick from McMichael, right into the meat of the thigh.
McMichael moves out of range as Hideki strikes.
Hideki swats away the attempt to clinch by McMichael.
Hideki misses with a looping left.
McMichael ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Hideki moves away.
Hideki throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.

McMichael closes the distance and clinches.

Hideki pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
McMichael connects with a leg kick. He turned his hip over nicely there.
McMichael looks to score with a jab to the body but Hideki is just out of range.
Hideki takes a thudding leg kick, right into the meat of the thigh.
A good leg kick by McMichael.
McMichael scores with a sloppy punch to the body. Not much technique there but it did the business.
McMichael lands a leg kick and bounces back out of range.
McMichael misses the jab.
Hideki appears to be waiting to throw a counter punch to the body.
McMichael fails in his attempt to clinch.
McMichael connects with a leg kick.
Steve McMichael is winning the standup battle so far.
McMichael changes levels and scores with a jab to the body.
Hideki looks to throw the jab but McMichael is out of range.
A counter left hand to the body from McMichael misses its target.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Nice straight punches there by McMichael. You know Roy Jones Jr respects the hands of McMichael.
Hideki goes for a high kick. It partially lands.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.

McMichael closes the distance and pushes Hideki back into the cage.
McMichael throws a punch but it's blocked by Hideki.
McMichael misses with a short punch on the inside.
McMichael stalling against the cage.
Hideki lands a left hand.

Hideki breaks the clinch.
McMichael avoids the body shot from Hideki.
Hideki misses with a wild body shot.
An attempted straight right counter from McMichael misses the target.
McMichael wants to clinch.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Steve McMichael dominated that second round.
That's time! Back to the action! This is the final round!

McMichael throws a leg kick which misses Hideki's front leg but catches the back leg as Hideki tries to avoid it.
Hideki takes a really solid shot there but just smiles back and shrugs his shoulders.
McMichael ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Hideki moves away.
Hideki's leg has a nasty welt from taking a succession of leg kicks. That must be slowing him down.
McMichael digs a good body shot into Hideki's ribs.
McMichael moving in and out of range nicely, whilst landing the scoring shot.
Hideki keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from McMichael.
A little jabbing left from Hideki on the counter but it doesn't find it's target.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
McMichael takes a nice looking leg kick right on the meat of his thigh there.
Hideki pivots as if he's going to throw a leg kick but stops half way.
Hideki ducks down and throws a hook to the body but McMichael moves away.

That's one minute gone in the round.
A left lands for McMichael.
McMichael throws a good cross that connects.
Hideki keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Hideki was about to counter that last move with a leg kick but changes his mind.
McMichael tests Hideki's chin there with a solid looking shot.
McMichael digs a good body shot into Hideki's ribs.
A punch combination from McMichael misses.
McMichael throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
McMichael pushing out the jab but it's not landing.

McMichael closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.

McMichael breaks the clinch.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
McMichael swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
McMichael slips under a jab.
McMichael swings away with a body shot that misses
and Hideki connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
McMichael looks to throw the jab but Hideki is out of range.
A jab from McMichael finds it's way through Hideki's defenses.
A jab from McMichael misses.
Hideki swats away the attempt to clinch by McMichael.
Hideki throws out a counter right but McMichael avoids it with no problem.
McMichael darts in and out, connecting with a jab.
McMichael staying out of range there.
McMichael is looking to counter with a shot to the body.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
That kick from McMichael tenderised Hideki's leg. Hideki is trying to keep his angry face on.
McMichael tests Hideki's chin there with a solid looking shot.
The fight stays on the outside here - McMichael looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Hideki appears to be waiting to throw a counter punch to the body.
McMichael throws the left hand but Hideki avoids the punch easily.
Nagatsuki Hideki has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
McMichael is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Hideki can do to turn this around?
McMichael lands with a straight right. Hideki didn't see that one coming.
McMichael looks to score with a jab to the body but Hideki is just out of range.
Hideki scores with a big left there. The judges will like that one.
McMichael misses with a right hand
and Hideki counters with a nice jab to the body that keeps McMichael thinking.
McMichael throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A looping hook to the body misses from Hideki. McMichael does a little dance to reset his feet.
Good work by McMichael as he checks the leg kick.
A swing and a miss from Hideki.
Hideki throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
McMichael moves to clinch but Hideki breaks away
and Hideki counters with a stiff right hand.
McMichael's corner calls for a 1, 2 combination and McMichael duly obliges.
This has been an exciting period of action!
McMichael tries to clinch up.
McMichael moves in looking to clinch but Hideki pushes him off.
McMichael tries to close the distance and clinch up but Hideki swats him away and circles back towards the center.

And that's the end of the fight!
Steve McMichael showed his dominance in that final round.
Well McMichael has outscored his opponent in every aspect of the fight today. Only a scarily incompetent judge or two will keep him from a well deserved win... 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 Richard Clark scores the fight 30:27
Judge Andrew Berry scores the fight 30:27
Judge James Ackerman scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Steve McMichael!
Our winner, Steve McMichael, made sure he spent some time buttering up the crowd during his post fight interview, which will no doubt bring him a few more fans.