PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Takeshi Naoki (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Harry Slater (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Well, I have no idea who's going to take this one!

Naoki
vs
Slater

182 cm
32
179 lbs
21 - 5 - 0

174 cm
35
176 lbs
22 - 9 - 0

Good wrestling
Lethal high kicks
Cardio machine

Excellent grappler
Excellent MT
Good gas tank

Sun-Tzu

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 21 - 5 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Takeshi Naoki!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 22 - 9 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Harry Slater!
The judges for this bout are Nard Betker, Saam Ante and Aafke Stam.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Sloppy strikes from Naoki. Those never looked like landing.
Naoki sets himself, and Slater steps forward looking for the clinch! Naoki avoids it this time.
Slater takes a head kick and shrugs it off.

It looks like Harry Slater has been cut.
A slow jab from Naoki misses its intended target.
Slater lands three nice shots there - that looked like it hurt!

It looks like Takeshi Naoki has been cut.
Naoki digs a good body shot into Slater's ribs.
Slater misses with a body shot.
Naoki throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Nice shot by Slater.
Naoki connects with the punch.
Naoki misses with a looping left.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Naoki uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Slater.
Naoki throws a sloppy head kick and Slater moves out of range easily.
A head kick misses from Naoki.
Naoki explodes with a nice body kick and back out of range. Nice work.
Naoki looks to score with a jab to the body but Slater is just out of range.
Naoki jabs at Slater's body.
Slater misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Naoki.
Slater stumbles momentarily as he takes a strong leg kick from Naoki.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Slater looks for a takedown but Naoki sprawls well.
Naoki fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Slater manages to avoid it.
Naoki fails with an attempt to clinch.
Naoki looks to have improved his striking defense since last time we saw him fight.
A looping hook to the body misses from Naoki. Slater does a little dance to reset his feet.
Naoki throws a front kick that sends Slater stumbling back into the cage.
Slater just misses with a punch to the body.
Naoki scoring well with a low kick there.
Naoki tries to score with a low kick but Slater moves his leg out of the way.
Slater feints the counter takedown.
Naoki finds nothing but air with that leg kick attempt.
Slater drops down looking to force a counter takedown but Naoki defends it well.
Naoki delivers a nice body kick.
Slater throws an overhand right that lands on Naoki's shoulder, as Naoki tries to avoid the shot.
A leg kick checked by Slater.
Slater looks for a takedown but Naoki sprawls well.

Naoki tries to sprawl but Slater drives through with a takedown into half guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Slater wants to pass to mount but Naoki is defending the position.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Naoki is trying to get back to full guard.
Naoki moves his hips nicely and gets into full guard.
Naoki is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Naoki has momentary wrist control but Slater slips an elbow through the middle.
Slater trying to control but Naoki is working from the bottom.
Naoki is pulling down on Slater's head. It's preventing any offense from Slater, at least for the moment.
Slater wants to control from the top but Naoki keeps moving.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Naoki manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Slater manages to get himself to full guard.

Slater trying to keep a closed guard but Naoki is proving a slippery customer.
Slater has his hands on Naoki's head, controlling the position.
Naoki landing some decent shots from guard.
Naoki throwing strikes but missing.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Slater bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Naoki's guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Slater wants to control from the top but Naoki keeps moving.

Naoki looking for submissions from the bottom but instead Slater passes into side control.
Slater is maintaining the dominant position - no doubt Naoki will start to get frustrated soon if he's not already.
Naoki takes an elbow right on the bridge of the nose and winces in pain.

Slater is trying to get an arm triangle but Naoki is defending well.
Slater controls the position.
Slater working the ground and pound but Naoki is defending the strikes.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Takeshi Naoki dominated that round.
Both fighters have cut men working on them during the interval.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business.

Naoki throws a body shot but no joy.
Slater throws a series of punches but Naoki avoids them all with ease.
Naoki scores with a jab to the jaw.
Naoki just misses with a punch to the body.
Slater throws a right and a left that both miss.
It looked like Naoki was trying to counter with a body shot coming off that last attack from Slater.
Naoki displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Slater throws out the jab.
Naoki misses with the combination.
Naoki lands a jab to the head.
Naoki throws a couple of head shots and lands with the final one - a decent hook, which struck Slater on the side of the head.
Slater walks into a left hand.
Slater is moving around nicely and scores here with a single head shot.
Naoki throws a low kick but it's checked well by Slater.
Naoki bobbing and weaving, closes the distance and lands a hook to the side of Slater's head.
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!
Naoki thows a left - swing and a miss!
Slater with the counter takedown but Naoki avoids it easily.
Naoki bobs and weaves and then throws a good body kick.
Naoki is using his height advantage well here, landing a good percentage of his punches.
Naoki with a nice looking leg kick. You could hear that one land in a back row.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Slater gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily
and Naoki counters with a leg kick.
Naoki shapes like he's going to throw a leg kick but settles back down.
Naoki fakes a couple of low kicks, before throwing one on the third attempt. It connects and Slater has to reset his feet before getting ready to engage.
Naoki jabs at Slater's body.
Takeshi Naoki is winning the standup battle so far.
Slater checks a leg kick.
Naoki's corner calls for a 1-2. Naoki obliges with the 1 part as he scores the single shot and moves back out of range.
Naoki avoids a punch combination nicely.
Naoki swings wildly with a hook that is half blocked by Slater.
Slater misses with a series of wild punches.
Naoki swung with a counter punch to the body but it didn't connect.
Takeshi Naoki is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Naoki slaps away a takedown attempt from Slater, before circling back to the center of the mat.
Naoki feints with a shoulder and throws a nice leg kick to Slater's calf.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Naoki scores with a kick to the body.
Naoki connects with a single shot there.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Naoki pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Naoki swings for the body but Slater moves out of range.
Slater fails with a takedown attempt.
Naoki tries to counter by clinching up but Slater breaks away and moves out of range.
Takeshi Naoki has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Harry Slater.
Slater shoots in looking for a takedown. Naoki tries to sprawl out of it but Slater keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Naoki manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
Naoki fakes with a right hand and throws a good leg kick, right into the thigh. That had to hurt Slater.
Slater steps to his left, right into the path of a big body kick from Naoki. That one must have hurt.

Slater scores a trip takedown into side control. Nice.
Naoki tries to work a leg under to get back to half guard but Slater wriggles his own leg back out and remains in side control.
Harry Slater has got the better of the ground game so far.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Slater misses with the ground and pound.
Naoki is trying to control Slater's posture but Slater avoids it.
Slater has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
Slater wants to lay and pray for a moment but Naoki keeps working.
A lull in the action here as Slater stalls from top position.
Slater trying to control the position but Naoki is working away.
Slater tries to move to mount but Naoki blocks the move with his legs.
Naoki is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Slater can do to turn this around?
Naoki tries to buck Slater off but Slater is having none of it.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Naoki is trying to get back to half guard. He's pushing on Slater's leg. He's managed it. Nice work.
Naoki makes his way to full guard. A much better position for Naoki.
Naoki is pulling down on Slater's head to control his posture.

Naoki throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
Naoki working a defensive guard here.
Slater is taking a break and basically stalling. The referee will not allow him to do that for long.
Naoki has his hands on Slater's head, controlling the position.
If this pace continues, the referee will definitely step in and force a standup.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Takeshi Naoki dominated that second round.
Both fighters have cut men working on them during the interval.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin! Let's hear some noise people - this is the final round!

Slater throws a series of punches but Naoki avoids them all with ease.
Naoki looked to counter that last move with a leg kick but didn't pull the trigger.
Slater walks straight into a jab right on the nose. That one stung - he's blinking and trying to clear his head.
Slater throws a series of punches but Naoki moves out of range.

Slater clinches.
Slater wants to break the clinch but can't.
Naoki gets double underhooks to prevent a takedown attempt from Slater.

Naoki pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Naoki misses with a double jab.
Slater takes an uppercut right on the button but keeps his composure.
Slater takes a swing at Naoki's ribcage but misses.
Takeshi Naoki seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Slater lands with a cross.
Slater lands a jab to the nose.
Slater throws a right and a left that both miss.
Slater throws a jab when Naoki was well out of range.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Slater drops his hands and takes a jab to the jaw for his troubles.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Slater's hands are dropping dangerously low here and Naoki connects clean with a right hook that sends him down to one knee! Slater scrambles back to his feet.

Slater is looking for a takedown here. He's shot in and has managed to get it, finishing up in Naoki's half guard.
Naoki is staying active underneath Slater, who seems content to just control the action from this position.
Naoki makes his way to full guard. A much better position for Naoki.
Slater trying to control but Naoki is working from the bottom.

Slater got a little sloppy there for a moment and Naoki has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Slater has managed to get both his arms back between Naoki's legs - danger averted.
Slater wants to control from the top but Naoki keeps moving.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Naoki is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.
Slater keeps in close for a moment and lands a decent shot to the side of Naoki's head.
Naoki wants to sweep but no luck.
Slater pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Naoki is keeping the position for now.
Naoki looking to sweep using the butterfly guard but Slater puts pay to that idea as he passes nicely into half guard.
Slater prevents Naoki from improving his position.
Slater wants to take a breather but Naoki is having none of it.
Naoki wants to get back to full guard.
Slater is figuring out what he wants to do next.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Slater thows a huge punch but Naoki dodges it nicely.
Naoki is trying to control but can't.

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.
Naoki fakes a jab and then connects with a hook.
Naoki throws a nice outside leg kick.
Naoki attempts a low kick but it misses it's target.
Slater shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Harry Slater is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Slater with poor footwork there. He got himself in a bit of a tangle, enabling Naoki to score with a decent uppercut.
Slater misses with an uppercut. Naoki saw that one coming.
Slater's leg has a nasty welt from taking a succession of leg kicks. That must be slowing him down.
A punch combination from Slater misses.
A little feinted left hand from Naoki on the counter but he doesn't commit to it.
Slater on the wrong end of a nice low kick. He's acting like it's no big deal but he doesn't want to take many more of those.
Naoki fakes a jab and then connects with a hook.
Naoki misses with a left hand
and Slater counters with a three punch combo that has Naoki backing up. Naoki nods at Slater to acknowledge the strikes.
Naoki is looking to land body kicks.
Slater throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Naoki's waist but Naoki gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Slater off to one side.
Takeshi Naoki has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Harry Slater.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Naoki lands a kick to the ribs of his opponent. Nice work there - in and out in a flash.
Naoki tries a head kick but it misses.
Naoki pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
Slater swings away with a counter right hand but no contact made.
Naoki swings for the body but Slater moves out of range.
Naoki lands a nice looking body shot.
Naoki scores with a straight right hand, right through his opponent's guard.
Slater throws a two punch combo that lands nicely.
Slater misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Takeshi Naoki is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Naoki tries a head kick but it misses.
Slater shoots in for a takedown but Naoki shows good takedown defense.
Slater takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Naoki throws out a powerful jab.
Harry Slater has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Naoki is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Slater ducks under a wild hook from Naoki.
Slater closes the distance looking to clinch
and Naoki counters with a straight right hand.

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 Takeshi Naoki.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Naoki, winning every round. Will the judges agree? They are the ones who matter, even if they are often depressingly incompetent. 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 Nard Betker scores the fight 30:28
Judge Saam Ante scores the fight 30:27
Judge Aafke Stam scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Takeshi Naoki!
Takeshi Naoki decided to go for the less than humble approach in his post fight interview, telling everyone how he is going to conquer the world. The crowd seemed to like it when really that sort of approach could have gone either way.