PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Kobe Bryant (ranked 730 p4p, 1151 weight class) and Hunter Broderick (ranked 116 p4p, 182 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.

Bryant
vs
Broderick

184 cm
25
195
9 - 8 - 0

188 cm
25
190
13 - 7 - 0

Abu Dhabi Champ
World class boxer
Cardio machine

Good wrestler
World class boxer
Good gas tank

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the middleweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 9 - 8 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Kobe Bryant!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 13 - 7 - 0, fighting out of New York, Hunter Broderick !
The judges for this bout are Aafke Stam, Paulsen Ambrosius and Wagner Zegers.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Broderick moves out of range of the body kick from Bryant.
Bryant rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Broderick moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Bryant scores with a big left there. The judges will like that one.

It looks like Hunter Broderick has been cut.
Broderick showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Bryant.
Broderick looks more muscular than last time we saw him. He must have been on the weights.
Bryant ducks down and throws a hook to the body.
Bryant swings and misses with a hook to the body.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Bryant fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Broderick swings away with a counter right hand but no contact made.
Bryant fails to land the takedown.
Broderick looks like he wants to counter punch here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Broderick throws a head kick that half lands.

Broderick has closed the distance and engaged Bryant in a clinch.
Broderick tries to land a knee to the head but misses.
Bryant wants to break free but Broderick has control.
Broderick trying to land knees to the body.
Bryant is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.
Broderick throws a knee to the head but misses.
A hook to the body from Broderick .
Broderick trying to land knees to the body.
Broderick scores with a shot to the side of Bryant's head.
Bryant is looking to break free of the clinch but Broderick has double underhooks.

Bryant breaks the clinch.
Bryant throws a head kick that misses.
Bryant misses with an uppercut. Broderick saw that one coming.
Broderick thinks about the counter body kick.
Broderick misses with a hook.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Broderick ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Bryant moves away.
Broderick connects nicely with a jab. Noted by the judges no doubt.
Broderick dodges the punch combination from Bryant.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Broderick lands a nice looking kick to the body. Bryant takes a step back to recover.
Broderick ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Bryant moves away.
Bryant misses with a two punch combination.
Bryant swinging wildly here.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Bryant moves out of range of the body kick from Broderick .
A big left from Broderick misses.
Bryant seem to be loading up, looking for a big counter.
Broderick moves his head to the side to avoid a jab but walks straight into a cross.
Bryant avoids the body shot from Broderick .
A punch combination from Bryant misses.

The fight moves into the clinch position.
Broderick leaning against his opponent.
Broderick can't find room to land a body shot as Bryant controls the action.
Broderick lands a knee to the head there! That was nasty!
Broderick with an attempt at a knee that misses.
Bryant is stalling here.
Bryant tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Broderick misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Bryant.
Broderick is looking to control Bryant's arms but Bryant gets an underhook and turns him. Now Broderick has his back to the cage.
Bryant lands with a short head shot on the inside.
Broderick tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Bryant avoids it.
Both guys are working to get underhooks.
Bryant's corner are urging him to control the action in the clinch for a moment, rather than mount any serious offense. I'm sure the crowd appreciate those instructions... not.
Bryant blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
Broderick tries to throw a body punch but Bryant avoids it by throwing Broderick back against the cage.
Broderick misses with a knee to the head.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!

Bryant pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Broderick keeps Bryant at a distance using the push kick.
Broderick moves out of range of the body kick.
Bryant swats away the attempt to clinch by Broderick .
Bryant is looking for a counter combo.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Hunter Broderick will probably get the nod.
The cut man is working on Hunter Broderick 's cut.
That's time! Bryant's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight.

Bryant throws a right and a left that both miss.
Bryant has a nice red mark on his side after a thudding body kick by Broderick .
Broderick misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Bryant.
Broderick stuns Bryant with a nice body shot, before stepping back out of range.
Bryant misses with a left hand
and Broderick counters with a body kick that stops Bryant in his tracks momentarily.
Broderick avoids a kick to the body.
Broderick avoids a low kick by using good footwork.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Broderick is looking to clinch but Bryant is avoiding it.
Bryant is looking to counter punch.
Bryant takes a step back and watches a body kick go sailing past his mid section.
Bryant ducks under a wild hook from Broderick .

That's one minute gone in the round.
A slapping leg kick lands for Bryant.
Broderick tries to bum rush Bryant with a series of wild strikes but Bryant uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Bryant swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Broderick misses with a looping right.
Broderick moves out of range of the body kick.

Bryant clinches.
Some stalling of biblical proportions here from Broderick .
Broderick throws a knee to the head but misses.

Bryant breaks from the clinch.
Some wild striking there from Bryant.
Bryant avoids the body shot from Broderick .
Bryant throws a big counter combination but Broderick scrambles out of danger and avoids any damage.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Broderick lands a really nice looking cross but Bryant seems unphased.
Broderick swings for the body but Bryant moves out of range.
Bryant moves forwards but Broderick connects with a nice, crisp jab.
Broderick tries to clinch but Bryant moves away
and Bryant counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Bryant tries to bum rush Broderick with a series of wild strikes but Broderick uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Bryant lands with a nice body punch.
Broderick throws a sloppy head kick
and Bryant counters with a two punch combo.
A solid leg kick lands there for Broderick .
Bryant looks to score with a jab to the body but Broderick is just out of range.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Broderick throws out a loose jab but Bryant uses good head movement to avoid it.
Bryant appears to be looking for a counter punch to the body.
Broderick misses with a hook to the body
and Bryant counters with a left and a right that stings Broderick .
Bryant digs a good body shot into Broderick 's ribs.
Broderick takes a body punch that cleary hurt but he's trying not to show any weakness.
A combination from Bryant does no damage.
Broderick misses with a straight left.
Bryant doesn't react quick enough there as he takes a shot to the body.
Bryant lands a jab followed by a nice looking cross.
Bryant tries to clinch but Broderick is having none of it.
Broderick let fly with a counter punch to the body but it didn't land.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Bryant throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Broderick .
It seemed like Broderick was going to counter with the hook but didn't fully commit to it.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Broderick fakes with the hands and throws a leg kick but Bryant is out of range.
As Broderick looks to move away, Bryant throws a big counter combo but Broderick just gets out of the way.
Kobe Bryant seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Broderick throws a wild body kick that Bryant sees coming a mile off.
Broderick looks to land a body kick but Bryant moved away.
Bryant uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Broderick .
Bryant is looking to counter with a shot to the body.
Bryant ducks under a wild hook from Broderick .
It looked like Bryant was looking amped, ready to throw a big counter but didn't commit.
Broderick misses with a body shot
and Bryant counters with a solid body kick.
Broderick swings away with a body shot that misses
and Bryant makes the exchange count by landing a cracking kick to the body. Broderick really felt that one!
Bryant throws a leg kick which misses Broderick 's front leg but catches the back leg as Broderick tries to avoid it.
Broderick slips a jab and a cross from Bryant.
Bryant backing away here, and Broderick unleashes a leg kick that just misses.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Kobe Bryant dominated that second round.
The cut man is working on Hunter Broderick 's cut.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare each other down, ready to get back to the action. The crowd applaud as we get ready to start the final round!

Broderick throws a low kick but Bryant moves out of range easily.
Kobe Bryant is winning the standup battle so far.
A right-left combo lands from Bryant.
A looping hook to the body misses from Broderick . Bryant does a little dance to reset his feet.
Broderick throws a sloppy head kick
and Bryant counters with a two punch combo.
Bryant throws an ugly left hook that misses
and Broderick counters with an inside leg kick.
Broderick throws out a loose jab but Bryant uses good head movement to avoid it.
Broderick wants to clinch.
Bryant appears to be looking for a big counter.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Nice straight punches there by Broderick . You know Roy Jones Jr respects the hands of Broderick .

That's one minute gone in the round.
Broderick lands a pitter patter jab to the forehead of his opponent.
Broderick throws a jab but it's blocked by Bryant.
Jab from Broderick .

It looks like Kobe Bryant has been cut.
Broderick lands with a head kick! That's gotta hurt.
Bryant thows a left - swing and a miss!

Bryant scores with a takedown into Broderick 's guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

Bryant gets to his feet and steps away from his opponent.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Bryant tries to clinch but Broderick moves out of range.
Bryant fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
Bryant rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Broderick moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Broderick tries to grapple but his opponent circles
enabling Bryant to counter with a crisp jab.
Kobe Bryant is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Bryant takes a push kick to the midsection and stumbles backwards.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Broderick lets loose with a powerful body kick. Bryant will feel that in the morning.
Broderick slips a jab and a cross from Bryant.
Sloppy strikes from Broderick . Those never looked like landing.
Bryant comes forward and lands a shot to the body, then darts back out of range.
Bryant takes a body punch that cleary hurt but he's trying not to show any weakness.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Bryant throws a head kick that misses.
Broderick keeping at a good range here, avoiding a leg kick.
Bryant will be looking to protect his midsection after taking some solid kicks to the body.
Broderick 's corner calls for a 1-2. Broderick obliges with the 1 part as he scores the single shot and moves back out of range.

Broderick pushes Bryant up against the cage in a clinch.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Broderick lands a right uppercut that snaps the head of Bryant backwards.
Bryant lands a hook that snaps the head of Broderick backwards.
Broderick looking to throw knees to the head but Bryant is blocking nicely.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Bryant has had enough of the clinch but Broderick keeps him there for the moment.
Broderick is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Bryant is defending well for now.
A nice glancing elbow lands by Bryant.

That has opened up Hunter Broderick 's cut even more.
Hunter Broderick seems to be working more effectively in the clinch in the fight so far.
Broderick lands a body shot.
Bryant avoiding damage as Broderick throws knees to the body.
Broderick looking to stall.
Broderick is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Bryant is defending well for now.

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

Broderick has managed to clinch.
Our sources have told us that Bryant has been working on his elbows in the gym.
Bryant misses with a punch on the inside.
Broderick prevents Bryant from breaking the clinch.
Bryant on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
Broderick can't find room to land a body shot as Bryant controls the action.

And that's the end of the fight!
I would just about give that final round to Hunter Broderick .
I think Broderick 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 Aafke Stam scores the fight for Hunter Broderick !
Judge Paulsen Ambrosius scores the fight for Kobe Bryant!
Judge Wagner Zegers scores the fight for Kobe Bryant!

Kobe Bryant wins by split decision!
Our winner, Kobe Bryant, 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.