PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Wiremu Huia (ranked 2039 p4p, 312 weight class) and El Misterioso Damballah (ranked 3473 p4p, 469 weight class). Huia comes into the arena with Poi E - Patea Maori Club blaring out of the sound system. El Misterioso Damballah acknowledges the crowd's support as he enters the cage.

Huia
vs
Misterioso Damballah

180 cm
25
175 lbs
9 - 8 - 0

179 cm
26
180 lbs
11 - 15 - 0

Abu Dhabi Champ
Solid boxing
Insanely flexible

Good takedowns
World class boxer
Good gas tank

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 9 - 8 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Wiremu Huia!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 11 - 15 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, El Misterioso Damballah!
The judges for this bout are Trevor Gratis, Steve Smith and William Peck.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Damballah misses with a few strikes there.
Huia delivers a nice body kick.
No joy there for Damballah, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Huia just misses with a punch to the body.
A looping hook to the body misses from Huia. Damballah does a little dance to reset his feet.
Huia missing with a left hand there. Damballah was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
Damballah lands a jab-cross combination.
Damballah scores with a reasonable looking shot to the body. Huia doesn't seem bothered though.
Damballah throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Huia.
Huia uses good footwork to get in and out and land a nice right hand before Damballah has time to react.
Horrible takedown attempt by Huia or perhaps it was just good defense by Damballah, which made it look bad.
Damballah has been spending a lot of time sparring his boxing in the run up to the fight, trying to sharpen up those hands and look for a knockout.
Huia misses with a head kick.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Huia has his head slapped from side to side by a 3 punch combination. That must have hurt him.
Damballah lands a two punch combo.
Damballah lands with a shot to the body.
Huia digs a good hook to Damballah's body.
Damballah will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Damballah goes to the watering hole and comes back with a big thumbs up from the judges as he scores a three punch combo.
Huia moves in looking to clinch but Damballah pushes him off.
Damballah takes a solid shot to the body. That one hurt him but he's trying not to show it.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Huia throws a mid kick that lands with a slap.
Huia scores with a punch to the gut of his opponent.
Damballah looks winded!
Huia uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Damballah.
A looping hook to the body misses from Huia. Damballah does a little dance to reset his feet.
Damballah throws a nice looking combination but Huia bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.

Huia darts in and clinches Damballah up against the cage.
Damballah has a couple of punches blocked by Huia.
Damballah lands with a good tight uppercut to the head.
Damballah misses with the head strike.
Huia avoiding damage.
An uppercut to the body lands inside from Damballah.
Damballah throws a head punch that misses.
Damballah has a couple of punches blocked by Huia.
Huia's head jolts backwards as he takes an uppercut right on the button!
Huia slowing the pace effectively.
Damballah misses with the head strike.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Huia blocks a body shot from Damballah.
Damballah misses with a punch on the inside.
Huia tries to land knees in the clinch but Damballah avoids the damage to the body.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Huia wants a takedown but no success here.
Huia lands a hook to the body. It's hard to tell if that hurt Damballah or not.
Damballah throws a head punch that misses.
Huia blocks a body shot from Damballah.
Huia missing with knees to the body.
Damballah misses with a punch to the body.
Damballah can't find room to land a body shot as Huia controls the action.
Damballah gets through Huia's defenses to land a nice punch to the side of the head.
Huia looking to slow down the pace here.
Damballah working aggressively here.
Huia prevents a body shot from Damballah.
Damballah misses with a punch on the inside.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Damballah swings wildly with an uppercut but Huia uses good head movement to avoid it.
Damballah cracks Huia with a nice body shot.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Huia.
Huia missing with knees to the body.
Damballah misses with a short punch on the inside.
Damballah misses with a punch on the inside.
Damballah tries a body shot but Huia blocks it.
Damballah tries to throw a body punch but Huia avoids it by throwing Damballah back against the cage.
Good anti-grappling being displayed by Damballah as Huia tries to tie him up.
Damballah misses with a body punch.
Huia is trying to maintain a safe position but Damballah gets an underhook and turns Huia into the cage.
Damballah pushes Huia back against the cage and unloads with a body punch.
Huia lands with a right to the head.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Damballah tries a body shot but Huia blocks it.
Huia prevents a body shot from Damballah.
Damballah lands a shot to the body.
Damballah lands a right hand that snaps the head of Huia backwards.
A shot in the inside from Damballah.
A quick uppercut on the inside from Damballah.
Huia throws a punch but it's blocked by Damballah.
Damballah tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Huia's elbow.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Damballah.
Damballah misses with a punch to the body.
Huia prevents a body shot from Damballah.
Damballah tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Huia's elbow.
Damballah scores with a shot to the side of Huia's head.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Damballah avoiding damage as Huia throws knees to the body.
Damballah's head jolts backwards as he takes an uppercut right on the button!
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

El Misterioso Damballah dominated that round.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

A punch combination from Damballah misses.
A shot to the liver by Damballah. Beautiful body shot.
Huia misses with a wild body shot.
Damballah just misses with a punch to the body.
Damballah avoids the head kick by Huia.
Damballah swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Damballah lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Huia circles away quickly and effectively.
Huia half committed to a counter leg kick.
Damballah swinging wildly here.
Wow, both these guys are really going for it!
A nice combination there by Damballah.
Damballah displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Huia throws out the jab.
Huia throws a hook to the side of Damballah's head but Damballah sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
Damballah checks a low kick from Huia.
Damballah tests Huia's chin there with a solid looking shot.
Damballah digs a good body shot into Huia's ribs.
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!
Some wild striking there from Damballah.
Huia takes a really solid shot there but just smiles back and shrugs his shoulders.
A head kick misses from Huia.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Huia cracks Damballah with a good jab.
No joy there for Damballah, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Huia throws a body punch but Damballah moves out of range.
Huia ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Damballah moves away.
Huia swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Huia tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Damballah was well out of range. Poor timing from Huia.
Huia just misses with a punch to the body.
Sloppy strikes from Huia. Those never looked like landing.
Huia looks to have improved his striking defense since last time we saw him fight.
Damballah blocks a head kick by Huia.
Huia misses with a body kick.
Huia takes a shot right to the liver - Bas would have been proud of that punch.
A combination from Damballah does no damage.
It looked like Huia was trying to counter with a body shot coming off that last attack from Damballah.
Huia thuds a left hand into Damballah's body.
Damballah throws a series of punches but Huia avoids them all with ease.
Damballah rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Huia moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Damballah throws a right and a left that both miss.
It looked like Huia was trying to counter with a body shot coming off that last attack from Damballah.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Damballah fails to land with a series of punches.
Damballah moves forwards but Huia connects with a nice, crisp jab.
Damballah has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Huia will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
Damballah unleashes a big counter combination but Huia bobs and weaves and avoids any damage.

Huia drives through with a takedown into Damballah's guard. Let's see what he can do from the top position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Damballah is looking to stand up but Huia isn't so interested in that idea.
Huia wants to pass the guard but Damballah is keeping the position.
Huia sitting in guard, not really doing much.
Huia passes Damballah's right leg, so he's now in half guard.
Huia is trying to control. Damballah wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.
Huia sitting and controlling from the half guard.
Huia wants to pass the guard but Damballah is defending well.
Damballah tries to kick Huia off but Huia keeps his base steady and stays in half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Huia controlling the action here.
Damballah tries to kick Huia off but Huia keeps his base steady and stays in half guard.
Huia is looking to take a break and control but Damballah is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Huia passes to side control.
Damballah is trying to get back to his feet.
Huia trying to control the action but Damballah is working from the bottom.
Damballah is trying to buck Huia off.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are hurling abuse towards the fighters... You can hardly blame them though because there isn't a lot going on in the fight.
Huia controls the position.
Damballah bucks up and tries to throw Huia off but instead Huia has got his back!
Damballah wants to get back to his feet.
Huia trying desperately to keep hold of the dominant position.
Damballah wants to get back to his feet.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close second round but I would say that Wiremu Huia 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. This is the final round!

Damballah misses with a two punch combination.
Damballah waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Huia.
Huia connects with a leg kick. Damballah looked like he was expecting something else and didn't defend it.
El Misterioso Damballah seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Damballah lands a jab-cross combination.
Damballah throws a body shot but no joy.
Damballah jabs at Huia's body.
Huia dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
Huia bobs and weaves and unloads with a good uppercut.
Decent striking displayed by Damballah there.
Huia is looking to wear down Damballah with body shots, infact he's throwing more body shots than head shots at the moment.
Huia throws a sloppy head kick and Damballah moves out of range easily.
Damballah works over Huia's head and body with a nice combination.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Damballah moves out of range as Huia strikes.
Huia bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
Huia scores with a head kick.
Damballah drops his hands and takes a jab to the jaw for his troubles.
A cross from Damballah lands.
Damballah throws a body shot but no joy.
Huia tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Damballah was well out of range. Poor timing from Huia.
Damballah misses with a series of wild punches.
Huia throws a good cross that connects.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Damballah misses with a series of wild punches.

Huia manages to get an easy takedown there - catching Damballah on his heels. He'll look to pass Damballah's guard now, I'm sure.
Huia trying to control the position from guard on top but Damballah is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Damballah wants to get back to his feet but Huia is in a dominant position and won't allow it.
Huia trying to control the position from guard on top but Damballah is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

Damballah is edging up against the cage. He's using the cage to get back to his feet. Nice work there - the fighters are clinched.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A body shot lands from Damballah.
Damballah can't find room to land a body shot as Huia controls the action.
Huia is looking to take this one to the mat.
Damballah misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Damballah doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Damballah goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Damballah tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Huia's elbow.
Nice body punch from Damballah.
El Misterioso Damballah seems to be working more effectively in the clinch in the fight so far.
Damballah works on Huia's body with a couple of short punches.
Damballah tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Huia's elbow.
Huia takes a shot to the head.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Huia fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Damballah lands a left hand that snaps the head of Huia backwards.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Damballah can't find room to land a body shot as Huia controls the action.
Damballah lands a body punch in the clinch.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Nice body punch from Damballah.
Damballah digs a right hand into Huia's ribs. Those have got to be taking their toll on Huia's gas tank.
Damballah misses with a hook to the ribs.
Nice body punch from Damballah.
Huia looking to stall.
Damballah tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Huia's elbow.
Damballah lands a short shot on the inside that snaps the head of Huia backwards.
Damballah can't find room to land a body shot as Huia controls the action.
Huia blocking some punches.
Damballah tries a body shot but Huia blocks it.
Damballah tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Damballah digs a right hand into Huia's ribs. Those have got to be taking their toll on Huia's gas tank.
Damballah lands a right uppercut that snaps the head of Huia backwards.
Huia tries to stall but Damballah uses the opportunity to gain a better position.
Damballah tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Damballah misses with a hook from the clinch.
Damballah lands a hook to the body. It's hard to tell if that hurt Huia or not.
Damballah misses with a punch on the inside.
Huia prevents a body shot from Damballah.
Damballah throws a hook to the body. More of an arm punch but it's all scoring with the judges.
A hook to the body from Damballah.
Damballah tries to throw a body punch but Huia avoids it by throwing Damballah back against the cage.
Damballah cracks Huia with a nice body shot.
Huia prevents a body shot from Damballah.

And that's the end of the fight!
El Misterioso Damballah comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Damballah has won this one but let's see whether the judges agree with me. 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 Trevor Gratis scores the fight 28:29
Judge Steve Smith scores the fight 28:30
Judge William Peck scores the fight 28:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... El Misterioso Damballah!
El Misterioso Damballah decided to hype himself up post fight. It was going well but he went on about it a bit too long and the crowd turned on him a little.