PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Harry Hirsch (ranked 1640 p4p, 203 weight class) and Naiki Nekele (ranked 1673 p4p, 205 weight class). Buckle up people - heeeeeeeeeere we go!

Hirsch
vs
Nekele

200 cm
27
250 lbs
11 - 3 - 0

210 cm
28
275 lbs
19 - 13 - 0

Good wrestling
Solid boxing
Granite chin

Good wrestler
World class boxer
Granite chin

Urban Fighter

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 11 - 3 - 0, fighting out of New York, Harry Hirsch!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 19 - 13 - 0, fighting out of London, Naiki Nekele!
The judges for this bout are Jack Bonds, Timothy Bukovac and Don Winkell.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Nekele slaps away a takedown attempt from Hirsch, before circling back to the center of the mat.
Nekele scores with a punch to the head.
Naiki Nekele seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Nekele scores with a nice right hand.
Nekele lands a jab to the nose.
Nekele throws a hook but Hirsch avoids it easily.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Nekele throws a body kick but he was well out of range there.
Hirsch appears to be looking for a counter takedown.
Hirsch tries to clinch but Nekele moves out of range.
Nekele moves into range and lands a nice leg kick.
Nekele is moving around nicely and scores here with a single head shot.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Hirsch keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Nekele scores with a shot to the body.
The fighters circle momentarily. Nekele darts into range and connects with a nice straight punch.

Hirsch closes the distance and pushes Nekele back into the cage.
Hirsch is working on a leg, looking for a takedown but Nekele is defending well.
Nekele wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Hirsch has him pressed against the cage.

Nekele pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Hirsch shoots in but doesn't get the takedown
and Nekele counters with a lovely shot to the body.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Harry Hirsch. That's going to take a lot out of him.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Hirsch fails in his attempt to clinch.
Hirsch tries to clinch up but Nekele circles away and keeps his distance.
Hirsch is looking to clinch.
Nekele's jab looks to have found its range, popping Hirsch under the eye.
Nekele swats away the attempt to clinch by Hirsch.
Hirsch takes one on the chin but keeps coming.
Nekele jabs Hirsch to the body, keeping him at a distance.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Nekele connects with a jab.
Nekele keeping at a good range here, avoiding a leg kick.
Naiki Nekele is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Hirsch wants to clinch up but Nekele keeps it at a distance.
Nekele throws a nice head kick!
Hirsch looks for a takedown but Nekele sprawls well.
Nekele scores with a nice body kick.
Nekele is landing a lot of head punches in this opening round! Hirsch had better start moving his head a bit unless he wants his face to turn into pâté.
Hirsch takes a solid shot to the body. That one hurt him but he's trying not to show it.
Nekele connects with a looping right hand.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Hirsch dives in and grabs Nekele's left leg, looking for a takedown. Nekele pushes down on Hirsch's head and hops out.
Nekele with a body punch. A glancing blow.

Hirsch gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.
Hirsch tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Nekele prevents a takedown attempt there.
Hirsch keeps the fight in the clinch, despite Nekele's efforts to push away.
Hirsch tries for a takedown but Nekele manages to get underhooks.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Naiki Nekele dominated that round.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

Hirsch on the receiving end of a decent leg kick there by Nekele. Nekele obviously looking to wear him down.
Nekele lands a nice shot that snaps Hirsch's head back.
Nekele throws a hard body shot but it just misses.

Hirsch closes the distance and clinches.
Hirsch has Nekele pressed against the cage, preventing Nekele from circling away and getting back to striking at range.
Hirsch drops to a knee looking for a takedown but Nekele gets the underhooks and prevents it.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Nekele wants to break free but Hirsch has control.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Come on Hirsch - let's have some action - none of this stalling nonsense.
Nekele has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Hirsch has dropped down and is looking to force the takedown but it's defended by Nekele after a bit of a struggle.
Hirsch is working for a takedown up against the cage. He can't get it on this occasion though.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Harry Hirsch. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Hirsch is trying to pull guard but Nekele has him pressed against the cage.
Nekele working aggressively here.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Hirsch misses with a knee strike.

Nekele breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Hirsch has his head snapped back a nice jab. A little nod from Hirsch there as he acknowledges the shot.
Good shot there by Nekele.
Naiki Nekele seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Nekele misses the shot to the body.
Nekele connects with a single shot there.
Hirsch tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Nekele paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Hirsch throws a nice looking combination but Nekele bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Nice shot lands for Nekele.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
A solid leg kick lands there for Nekele.
Hirsch takes a shot to the nose. Hopefully that hasn't broken it.
Nekele explodes with a nice body kick and back out of range. Nice work.
Good exchange - Nekele coming out on top.
Nekele throws a jab to the body, straight down the pipe. Boom. That sent Hirsch stumbling backwards but he manages to regain his composure quickly.
Nekele fakes with a right hand and throws a good leg kick, right into the thigh. That had to hurt Hirsch.
Nekele fakes a jab and scores with a low kick.
Nekele pushes Hirsch away with a front kick.
Hirsch takes one on the button.
Nekele thuds his right hand into Hirsch's forehead from close range. That could be painful for both fighters.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Hirsch walks into a stiff left hand from Nekele.
Hirsch avoids the body shot from Nekele.
Nekele fakes and then throws a beautiful body shot. Hirsch looks a bit winded and takes a step backwards to take a breath.
Hirsch tries to drive through with a takedown attempt but Nekele defends well and Hirsch ends up having to push Nekele into the cage where they will battle it out in the clinch.
Hirsch needs to keep his hands up - Nekele had a free shot at his head there.

Hirsch moves into the clinch successfully.
Hirsch is trying to work for a single leg takedown but Nekele pulls him back up using the underhooks.

Nekele's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Naiki Nekele showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action. This is the final round!

Hirsch misses with a wild body shot.
Nekele tests Hirsch's chin there with a solid looking shot.
Nekele punishes Hirsch's body with a nice straight punch.
Nekele lands with a nice body kick.
Nekele digs a good hook to Hirsch's body.
Hirsch shoots in and drives through. Nekele sprawls well.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Nice cross by Nekele.
Nekele connects nicely with a jab. Noted by the judges no doubt.
Nekele has used his reach advantage pretty well so far tonight.
Hirsch doesn't succeed with the takedown
and Nekele counters with a nice uppercut.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Nekele feints and then cracks Hirsch's leading leg with a nice low kick. He's obviously looking to slow Hirsch down.
Hirsch shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Nekele as he jumps to the side.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Harry Hirsch. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Nekele lands with a thumping leg kick.
Nekele throws a good cross that connects.
Nekele fakes a head punch and goes low to the body. Nicely done.
Nekele fakes a jab and scores with a low kick.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Jab from Nekele.
Hirsch moves in looking to clinch but Nekele pushes him off.
Nekele connects with a solid leg kick.
A lazy left from Nekele finds it's target.
A jab from Nekele does it's job there.
Hirsch has his hands up protecting his head but a hook from Nekele finds it's way round the side to connect with Hirsch'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!
Nekele looking to throw a kick but he's pulled out of it.
Nekele works his jab well there, keeping his opponent at a distance.
Hirsch walks forward, straight into a front kick from Nekele.
Hirsch misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
The fighters circle momentarily. Nekele darts into range and connects with a nice straight punch.
Hirsch with a poor takedown
and Nekele counters with a stiff right hand.
Nekele scores with a straight right hand, right through his opponent's guard.
Hirsch shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Nekele sprawls well. Nekele wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Hirsch gets slowly back to his feet.
Nekele fakes a head punch and goes low to the body. Nicely done.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Hirsch tries to clinch but fails miserably
and Nekele counters with a nice jab to the body that keeps Hirsch thinking.
Nekele looking to land some kicks to the body here.
This is turning into a torrid day at the office for Hirsch. He's trying desperately to land a takedown but he's failing miserably and getting slapped silly on the feet to compound his misery.

Hirsch moves into range and clinches up with Nekele.
Nekele wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Hirsch has him pressed against the cage.
Nekele lands a hook that snaps the head of Hirsch backwards.
Harry Hirsch has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Hirsch tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Nekele's elbow.

And that's the end of the fight!
Naiki Nekele comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Nekele winning every round here. Surely the decision will go his way and he'll pick up a well deserved decision victory. 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 Jack Bonds scores the fight 26:30
Judge Timothy Bukovac scores the fight 25:30
Judge Don Winkell scores the fight 26:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Naiki Nekele!
Naiki Nekele gave a mention to HELLBENT in his post fight interview. That will please them (and hopefully generate some sales).