PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Aoatea Nuku (ranked 2659 p4p, 5011 weight class) and Brennan Clarke (ranked 328 p4p, 528 weight class). Both these guys have really solid chins. Will we see a standup war or will they both decide that a knockout is unlikely and try to win the fight elsewhere?

Nuku
vs
Clarke

192 cm
17
260
2 - 1 - 0

188 cm
19
222
2 - 1 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Excellent MT
Granite chin

BJJ Blue Belt
Decent boxing
Granite chin

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 2 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Aoatea Nuku!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Brennan Clarke!
The judges for this bout are Jack Bonds, Timothy Bukovac and Frank Antenori.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Nuku works his jab well there, keeping his opponent at a distance.

It looks like Brennan Clarke has been cut.
Nuku fakes with a right hand and throws a good leg kick, right into the thigh. That had to hurt Clarke.
Clarke tries to clinch there but Nuku circles away.
Nuku misses the shot to the body.
Clarke fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Nuku manages to avoid it.
Nuku connects with a hook to the side of his opponent's head.
Clarke walks into a stiff left hand from Nuku.
Nuku pivots, looking for a leg kick but Clarke is out of range and Nuku settles back down.
Clarke cracks a nice hook into Nuku's ribs.
Nuku throws a leg kick which misses Clarke's front leg but catches the back leg as Clarke tries to avoid it.
Clarke throws a body punch but Nuku moves out of range.
Clarke fails in his attempt to clinch.
A shot to the liver by Nuku. Beautiful body shot.
Clarke looks to land a left hand but Nuku moved out of range nicely.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Clarke misses with a hook. Nuku ducked under it nicely.
It looked like Nuku wanted to counter with a hook but didn't fully commit.
Clarke tries to close the distance and clinch but Nuku swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Nuku avoids the body shot from Clarke.
Nuku is looking for a counter combo.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Clarke staying out of range there.
Clarke throws a body punch but Nuku moves out of range.
Nuku feinted there with a counter leg kick.

Clarke has closed the distance and engaged Nuku in a clinch.
Nuku working on landing some head shots here - that one got through nicely.
Nuku tries a body shot but Clarke blocks it.
Clarke blocks an uppercut.
Nuku lands a hook to the side of the head.
Clarke wants to get back to striking at distance but Nuku won't allow it.
Good body shot from Clarke.
Clarke looks more muscular than last time we saw him. He must have been on the weights.
Clarke tries to throw a body punch but Nuku avoids it by throwing Clarke back against the cage.
Nuku tries to throw a body punch but Clarke avoids it by throwing Nuku back against the cage.
Clarke goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Nuku has Clarke pressed against the cage, preventing Clarke from circling away and getting back to striking at range.
Clarke throws a hook to the body. More of an arm punch but it's all scoring with the judges.
Nuku tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Clarke's elbow.
Clarke is trying to break the clinch but Nuku is controlling him.

Clarke breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Nuku has been working on his boxing with his coaches at Team Grunt in the buildup to the fight.
Clarke swings away with a body shot that misses
and he gets countered with a snapping leg kick.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Clarke takes a body punch but keeps moving.
Nice uppercut lands for Clarke. That snapped Nuku's head back.
Nuku connects with a leg kick. He turned his hip over nicely there.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Nuku misses with a wild combination.
Clarke falls off balance throwing a combination
and Nuku counters with a left to the body.
Clarke uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Nuku.
Clarke moves out of range as Nuku strikes.
Clarke tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Nuku paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Clarke is throwing a lot of body shots here, looking to wear down Nuku rather than just go for the knockout.
Clarke lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Nuku circles away quickly and effectively.
Clarke misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Nuku.
Clarke scores with a body shot.
Nuku throws a body punch but Clarke moves out of range.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Clarke scores with a shot to the body.
Nuku tried to score with a low kick but Clarke checks it.
Clarke is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Nuku looked to counter that last move with a leg kick but didn't pull the trigger.
Clarke swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
It looked like Nuku wanted to counter with a hook but didn't fully commit.
Clarke tries to clinch up but Nuku circles away and keeps his distance.
Clarke chopped to the floor by a nice leg kick but he springs right back up before Nuku can pounce on him.
Clarke moves into range and throws a combination. A nice jab followed by a hook to the body.
Clarke throws a body punch but Nuku moves out of range.
Nuku looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
A shot to the liver by Nuku. Beautiful body shot.
Clarke walks into a left hand.
Clarke misses the shot to the body.
Nuku was looking to counter that last move with a shot to the body but he didn't commit.
Nuku dodges the punch combination from Clarke.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Nuku keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Nuku throws a hook but Clarke avoids it easily.
Nuku looks to land a right hand but Clarke moved out of range.
Clarke takes a really solid shot there but just smiles back and shrugs his shoulders.
Nuku misses with a straight left.
Clarke avoids the body shot from Nuku.
The fighters circling - Clarke throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
It looked like Nuku was trying to counter with a body shot coming off that last attack from Clarke.
Clarke lands with a cross to side of his opponent's head.
Nuku swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
Clarke walks into a jab.
Nuku misses with a wild body shot.
Clarke fakes a head punch and goes low to the body. Nicely done.

Clarke has closed the distance and engaged Nuku in a clinch.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Aoatea Nuku dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Brennan Clarke's cut.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

Clarke throws a right hand that Nuku ducks under and follows up with a left that Nuku also avoids with ease.
Nuku uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Clarke.
Nuku slips under a jab from Clarke.
Clarke is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Nuku throws the left hand but Clarke avoids the punch easily.
Clarke lands an overhand left. A wild punch that just about connected.
Clarke scores with a nice one two combo and darts back out of range to avoid anything coming in the opposite direction.
Clarke tries to clinch but Nuku is having none of it.
Clarke scores with a body shot.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Clarke tries to close the distance and clinch up but Nuku swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Nice straight punches there by Nuku. You know Roy Jones Jr respects the hands of Nuku.
Nuku throws a big shot that misses.
Nuku will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Clarke tries to clinch but Nuku is having none of it.
Nuku uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Clarke.
Clarke scores with a punch to the gut of his opponent.
Nuku scores with a decent looking hook.
Nuku ducks down and throws a hook to the body.
Clarke tries to clinch
and Nuku counters with a right hand to the body.
Clarke throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
A swing and a miss from Clarke.
Nuku lands with a cross to side of his opponent's head.
A slapping leg kick lands for Nuku.
Brennan Clarke seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Clarke throws a shot to the body.
A looping hook to the body misses from Clarke. Nuku does a little dance to reset his feet.
Nuku throws a hook to the side of Clarke's head but Clarke sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Clarke misses with a wild body shot.
It looked like Nuku wanted to counter with a hook but didn't fully commit.
Clarke just misses with a punch to the body.
Nuku swats away the attempt to clinch by Clarke.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Clarke misses with a double jab.
Clarke misses with a body punch
and Nuku counters with a nice low kick that buckles Clarke's knee momentarily.
Decent striking displayed by Nuku there.

That has opened up Brennan Clarke's cut even more.
Clarke tries to close the distance and clinch but Nuku swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Clarke throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Clarke takes a swing at Nuku's ribcage but misses.
Clarke defending well as Nuku loads up on a big left hand.
Nuku lands with a thumping leg kick.
Clarke tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Nuku paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Nuku blocks a jab.
Nuku swung with a counter right hand that didn't connect.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Clarke throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Nuku is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Clarke.
Clarke scores with a shot to the body.
Nice defenses there by Clarke.
Nuku looking to take his opponent's legs away with the low kicks.
Aoatea Nuku is winning the standup battle so far.
Clarke throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Nuku cracks Clarke with a good shot that sees him stumbling back into the cage.
Clarke uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Nuku.
Clarke throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Nuku scores with a jab to the body.
Nuku connects with a single shot there.
Clarke avoids the body shot from Nuku.
Nuku lands a nice shot to the body.
Clarke is breathing heavily.
A nice inside leg kick there by Nuku. That's going to slow Clarke down.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
This fight brought to you by 5M nutrition - it's mmmmm tasty. Nice jab by Nuku.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Nuku looks to land a right hand but Clarke moved out of range.
A countering left hand to the body from Clarke misses.
Clarke swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
As Clarke looks to move away, Nuku throws a big counter combo but Clarke just gets out of the way.
Clarke's leg has a nasty welt from taking a succession of leg kicks. That must be slowing him down.
Nuku uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Clarke.
Clarke throws a right hand that Nuku ducks under and follows up with a left that Nuku also avoids with ease.
Clarke throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Nuku avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Nuku misses with a hook. Clarke ducked under it nicely.
Clarke changes levels and scores with a jab to the body.
Clarke throws a right and a left that both miss.
Nuku closes the distance and takes a jab right on the nose as he does so.
Clarke fails with an attempt to clinch.
A chopping leg kick lands by Nuku.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Aoatea Nuku dominated that second round.
The cut man is working on Brennan Clarke's cut.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin! This is the final round!

Nuku slips under a jab.
Clarke misses with a body shot.
Clarke throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Nice shot lands for Nuku.
Nuku keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Nuku avoids the body shot from Clarke.
Nuku swings away with a leg kick that misses.
Nuku tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Clarke was well out of range. Poor timing from Nuku.
Nuku lands with a nice body punch.
Nuku lands a nice shot to the body.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Nuku throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Nuku connects with a jab.
Nuku scores with a hook to the body. Clarke takes a step back and tries to catch his breath.
Clarke throws a body punch but Nuku moves out of range.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Clarke takes a really solid shot there but just smiles back and shrugs his shoulders.

The cut above Brennan Clarke's eye is starting to cause him problems now.
Clarke takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Nuku swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Clarke misses the shot to the body.
Clarke wants to clinch
letting Nuku counter with a right hand.
Nuku with a nice looking leg kick. You could hear that one land in a back row.
Nuku misses with a few strikes there.
Clarke moves to clinch but Nuku breaks away
and Nuku counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
Clarke throws a nice looking combination but Nuku bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Nuku fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Clarke on the wrong end of a vicious looking body shot.
Nuku scores with a body shot.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Clarke throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Nuku lands with a good body shot.
Nuku is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Clarke can do to turn this around?
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Clarke on the wrong end of a decent looking cross there.
Nuku lands a jab to Clarke's midsection.
Nuku misses with a few strikes there.
Nuku throws a hook to the side of Clarke's head but Clarke sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
Nuku connects with a right hand. Clarke shakes it off.

Brennan Clarke's cut is absolute horrible now. This looks like something out of a horror film with blood covering both fighters.
Nuku buckles his opponent's knee momentarily with a nice leg kick.
Nuku misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Nuku takes a shot right to the liver - Bas would have been proud of that punch.
Nuku lands a nice shot to the body.
Clarke wants to clinch up but Nuku keeps it at a distance.
Nuku fakes and then throws a beautiful body shot. Clarke looks a bit winded and takes a step backwards to take a breath.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Nuku with a nice calf kick.
Clarke takes a punch right to his stomach. That took the wind out of him momentarily.
Nuku lands with a nice low kick. That'll leave a bruise.
Clarke will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Nuku turns his hip over beautifully as he lands a nice leg kick.
Nuku lets the fists fly and connects with a left straight followed by a right hook.
Nuku slips under a jab from Clarke.
Clarke on the wrong end of a decent looking cross there.

The referee calls the doctor in to look at Brennan Clarke's cut. Oh no, the doctor has called an end to the bout!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 3:54 of round 3, we have a winner by way of TKO (Cut). Aoatea Nuku!
After winning the bout, Aoatea Nuku thanked all his fans and promised he'd do even better in his next fight. The crowd seemed to love his humility.