PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Yeshua Immanuel (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Neil NaLeans (ranked 0 p4p, 0 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.

Immanuel
vs
NaLeans

177 cm
29
184 lbs
3 - 1 - 0

177 cm
35
185 lbs
22 - 16 - 0

Good wrestling
World class MT
Insanely flexible

Good wrestler
Dangerous knees
Granite chin

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 3 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Yeshua Immanuel!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 22 - 16 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Neil NaLeans!
The judges for this bout are Stewart Dunkirk, George Francis and Wesley Smith.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
NaLeans shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Immanuel pinned against the cage. Immanuel gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
NaLeans checks the leg kick.
NaLeans blocks a low kick nicely.
Immanuel displaying good standup as he scores with a three punch combination.
Immanuel throws a head kick that misses.
Immanuel keeps NaLeans at a distance using the push kick.
Immanuel pivots, looking for a leg kick but NaLeans is out of range and Immanuel settles back down.
Yeshua Immanuel seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
NaLeans shoots in looking for a takedown but Immanuel manages to keep the fight standing, pushing NaLeans's face into the canvas for good measure before circling away.
NaLeans tries to clinch but Immanuel is having none of it.
NaLeans on the receiving end of a decent leg kick there by Immanuel. Immanuel obviously looking to wear him down.
NaLeans tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Immanuel swivels and escapes.
Yeshua Immanuel has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Neil NaLeans.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Immanuel throws the kick towards the body but NaLeans avoids it.
A combination from Immanuel does no damage.
Immanuel avoids the clinch attempt nicely.

NaLeans drives through with a takedown into guard.
We may be looking at a referee standup if the pace doesn't pick up soon.
NaLeans loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
NaLeans throws a big right hand that misses.
NaLeans wants to control from the top but Immanuel keeps moving.
NaLeans throwing strikes but missing.
Immanuel trying to control the position here.
Immanuel has controlled the position for a good 20 seconds, which will no doubt be starting to frustrate his opponent.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
NaLeans loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Immanuel keeping moving, preventing NaLeans from controlling successfully.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
A big left from Immanuel misses.
Immanuel fakes a couple of low kicks, before throwing one on the third attempt. It connects and NaLeans has to reset his feet before getting ready to engage.
NaLeans slips under a jab from Immanuel.
NaLeans shoots in but no luck this time.
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!
Immanuel takes a step towards his opponent and connects with a left hand, before circling away.
NaLeans dives in and grabs Immanuel's left leg, looking for a takedown. Immanuel pushes down on NaLeans's head and hops out.

NaLeans shoots in and scores a nice double leg takedown into half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Immanuel is trying to control but can't.
NaLeans is trying to control the action in half guard but Immanuel is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.
Immanuel blocking the ground and pound attempt from NaLeans.
Immanuel keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.
Immanuel is looking to control NaLeans's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Immanuel avoid being mounted?
NaLeans throws a strike but Immanuel avoids it easily and moves to full guard.
Immanuel pulls NaLeans in to control the position.
NaLeans throws a big elbow that misses.

Immanuel working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. NaLeans doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. NaLeans manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
NaLeans throwing strikes from guard but Immanuel blocks nicely.
NaLeans is looking to work some ground and pound but Immanuel has wrist control.
NaLeans wants to pass the guard but Immanuel is keeping the position.
NaLeans trying to control but Immanuel is working from the bottom.
NaLeans postures up.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
A real slowdown in the pace of the fight for a moment, as Immanuel holds on and takes a little breather.
NaLeans trying to control but Immanuel is working from the bottom.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close round but I would say that Yeshua Immanuel 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.

NaLeans tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. Immanuel manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
NaLeans moves out of range of the leg kick from Immanuel.
Immanuel thumps NaLeans with a low kick.
NaLeans fails with an attempt to clinch.
Immanuel's jab looks to have found its range, popping NaLeans under the eye.
NaLeans fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
NaLeans avoids the head kick by Immanuel.
A looping hook to the body misses from Immanuel. NaLeans does a little dance to reset his feet.
Immanuel throws a combination but it was largely blocked by NaLeans.
Immanuel finds nothing but air with that leg kick attempt.
Immanuel will need to close the distance a bit before he attacks - that leg kick was thrown from too far away.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Immanuel throws a leg kick that is checked
and NaLeans counters with a head kick. That will keep Immanuel thinking before he tries any more sloppy attacks!
Immanuel throws a nice outside leg kick.
Immanuel turns his hip over beautifully as he lands a nice leg kick.
NaLeans misses with a head kick.
Immanuel throws a head kick that NaLeans semi-blocks.
NaLeans tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Immanuel paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Horrible takedown by NaLeans or perhaps it was just good defense by Immanuel which made him look bad.
NaLeans tries a head kick but it misses.
Immanuel attempts a low kick but it misses it's target.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Immanuel displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from NaLeans.
Yeshua Immanuel has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Neil NaLeans.
Immanuel throws a head kick that misses.
NaLeans darts in trying to clinch

and Immanuel counters by moving into the clinch. Good anticipation by Immanuel.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Immanuel lands with a short punch from the clinch.
Immanuel has a couple of punches blocked by NaLeans.
Immanuel lands an elbow inside that NaLeans shrugs off.
NaLeans misses with a knee to the head.
NaLeans looking for a takedown.
NaLeans lands a left hand that snaps the head of Immanuel backwards.
Immanuel lands on the inside with an uppercut.
Immanuel lands a right hand that snaps the head of NaLeans backwards.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Immanuel lands a glancing elbow in the clinch.
NaLeans works on Immanuel's body with a couple of short punches.
A knee to the head by NaLeans.
NaLeans goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
NaLeans blocks an elbow strike from Immanuel.
NaLeans using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Immanuel has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
Immanuel lands with a light punch inside.
NaLeans avoiding damage as Immanuel throws knees to the body.
Immanuel throws an elbow but it misses.
NaLeans looking to throw knees to the head but Immanuel is blocking nicely.
A short right hand to the side of the head by Immanuel.

Immanuel breaks from the clinch.
Immanuel throws a leg kick but he was too far away and it doesn't land.
Immanuel circles away from the clinch attempt
and NaLeans takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
NaLeans takes an uppercut right on the jaw but it doesn't phase him.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Immanuel lands a glancing blow to the side of NaLeans's head.
NaLeans misses with a head kick.
NaLeans fails with an attempt to clinch.
Immanuel fakes with the hands and throws a leg kick but NaLeans is out of range.
Immanuel circles away from the clinch attempt.
Immanuel tries to bum rush NaLeans with a series of wild strikes but NaLeans uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
NaLeans changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Immanuel tries to avoid it but NaLeans manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Immanuel to the ground. Immanuel escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
Yeshua Immanuel is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Sloppy strikes from Immanuel. Those never looked like landing.
Immanuel rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but NaLeans moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
NaLeans blocks a head kick by Immanuel.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

NaLeans moves out of range of the strikes.
Immanuel throws a big shot that misses.

Immanuel closes the distance and clinches.
Immanuel pushes NaLeans back against the cage and lands a hook to the side of the head.
NaLeans is working for a takedown up against the cage. He can't get it on this occasion though.
NaLeans misses with a knee strike.
NaLeans changes levels and goes for a takedown here. Immanuel fights it off and pushes away nicely.
Immanuel scores with the left hand. NaLeans knows he should have avoided that one.
Immanuel fakes with a right hand and throws a good leg kick, right into the thigh. That had to hurt NaLeans.
NaLeans shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Immanuel as he jumps to the side.
Yeshua Immanuel has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Neil NaLeans.
Immanuel throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.

That's one minute gone in the round.
NaLeans avoids the head kick by Immanuel.
NaLeans tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Nice sprawl there from Immanuel as NaLeans shoots in.
NaLeans shoots in for a takedown but Immanuel shows good takedown defense.
NaLeans throws a head kick that misses.
NaLeans throws a head kick that misses.
NaLeans takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Immanuel catches NaLeans with a nice straight right. He seems pissed - ooooh, it's on now! On like donkey kong!
Immanuel lands an overhand left. A wild punch that just about connected.
Immanuel bobs and weaves and throws out a fast jab that snaps NaLeans's head backwards.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
NaLeans fails with the takedown.
Immanuel pivots as if he's going to throw a leg kick but stops half way.
Whack! Immanuel lands a heavy head kick that drops NaLeans. The ref tackles Immanuel to stop the fight - a great save by the referee because NaLeans was done.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 2:24 of round 3, we have a winner by way of TKO (Head Kick). Yeshua Immanuel!