PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight kickboxing rules bout between Tane Te Rauparaha (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Dirk Nappa (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Te Rauparaha comes to the ring accompanied by Get Ready - Concord Dawn ft Scribe. The crowd giving both fighters a great reception on their way into the arena. That's good to see.

Te Rauparaha
vs
Nappa

190 cm
29
190 lbs
15 - 9 - 0

181 cm
28
189 lbs
15 - 11 - 1

Excellent MT
Granite chin

Excellent boxer
Good gas tank

Revolution Fatigues

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 15 - 9 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Tane Te Rauparaha!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 15 - 11 - 1, fighting out of Sydney, Dirk Nappa!
The judges for this bout are Eliza Hachem, Donatello Bradman and John Mangel.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Nappa misses with a jab, cross combination.
Te Rauparaha slips a jab and a cross from Nappa.
Te Rauparaha tries to clinch up.
Te Rauparaha moves out of range as Nappa strikes.

The fight moves into the clinch position.
Te Rauparaha landing knees to the body.
Te Rauparaha is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Nappa is defending well for now.
Te Rauparaha trying to land knees to the body.
Te Rauparaha misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Nappa.

Nappa breaks the clinch.
Nice shot by Nappa.
Nappa throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Nappa getting the better of the striking in that exchange.
Nappa throws a right hand that misses

and Te Rauparaha moves into the clinch.
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!
Nappa managing to block the knees to the body from Te Rauparaha.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Te Rauparaha is trying to stall.
Te Rauparaha is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Nappa is defending well for now.
Te Rauparaha keeps control of Nappa as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.
Nappa prevents a body shot from Te Rauparaha.
Te Rauparaha lands an elbow inside.

Nappa pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Some wild striking there from Nappa.
Te Rauparaha takes a shot to the body in his stride.
Nappa rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Te Rauparaha moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Te Rauparaha tries to close the distance and clinch up but Nappa swats him away and circles back towards the center.
A cross from Nappa lands.
Te Rauparaha keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Nappa.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Nappa jabs Te Rauparaha to the body, keeping him at a distance.
Nappa throws a big shot that misses.
Nappa misses with a straight left.
Nappa rushes in with a sloppy looking punch

and Te Rauparaha counters into the clinch. Nicely done.
Te Rauparaha using the Thai clinch to land knees to the body.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Te Rauparaha tries to work over Nappa's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
Nappa looks like he'd prefer to be striking at range right now.
Te Rauparaha missing with knees to the body.
Te Rauparaha tries to work over Nappa's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
A knee to the head by Te Rauparaha.

It looks like Dirk Nappa has been cut.
Te Rauparaha is clearly stalling here... Pick up the pace son.
Te Rauparaha misses with an elbow strike.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Nappa prevents a body shot from Te Rauparaha.
Te Rauparaha putting his Muay Thai to good use. He has Nappa in a tight clinch and is doing some damage with knees to the body.
Nappa tries to break the clinch but Te Rauparaha is controlling the position.
Te Rauparaha tries to throw a body punch but Nappa avoids it by throwing Te Rauparaha back against the ropes.
Nappa wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.
A battle for position here, against the ropes.
Te Rauparaha tries to land knees in the clinch but Nappa avoids the damage to the body.
Nappa on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
Nappa prevents a body shot from Te Rauparaha.
Te Rauparaha landing some nice looking knees to the body.
Te Rauparaha tries a body shot but Nappa blocks it.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Te Rauparaha keeps the fight in the clinch, despite Nappa's efforts to push away.
Nappa blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.

Te Rauparaha manages to break the clinch.
The fight stays on the outside here - Te Rauparaha looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Nappa misses with a lunging right hand

and Te Rauparaha counters by moving into the clinch. Good anticipation by Te Rauparaha.
Te Rauparaha lands with a quick shot inside that doesn't really do much damage.
Nappa is trying to break the clinch but Te Rauparaha is controlling him.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Nappa avoiding damage as Te Rauparaha throws knees to the body.
Te Rauparaha is trying to maintain a safe position but Nappa gets an underhook and turns Te Rauparaha into the ropes.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Te Rauparaha scores a nice knee to the body.
Nappa blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.

Nappa breaks the clinch.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Tane Te Rauparaha dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Dirk Nappa's cut.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

Te Rauparaha tries to clinch but Nappa is having none of it.
Te Rauparaha slips under a jab from Nappa.
Te Rauparaha uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Nappa.
Te Rauparaha tries to clinch there but Nappa circles away.
Nappa avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Nappa throws a big shot that misses.
Nappa is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Te Rauparaha.
Te Rauparaha fails with an attempt to clinch.
Nappa looks to land a combination but Te Rauparaha avoids it well.
Nappa misses with an uppercut.
Nappa throws an overhand right that lands on Te Rauparaha's shoulder, as Te Rauparaha tries to avoid the shot.
Nappa swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Nappa missing with a left hand there. Te Rauparaha was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
Dirk Nappa is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Nappa misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Te Rauparaha.
Te Rauparaha is looking to clinch.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Nappa avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Nappa's corner calls for a 1, 2 combination and Nappa duly obliges.
Te Rauparaha fails in his attempt to clinch.
Te Rauparaha tries to clinch but Nappa is having none of it.
Te Rauparaha defending well as Nappa loads up on a big left hand.
Te Rauparaha tries to clinch but Nappa moves out of range.
Nappa feints a straight left to the body, then turns around with a flashy move and hits Te Rauparahas jaw with a dramatic spinning back fist!
Nappa looks to throw the jab but Te Rauparaha is out of range.
Nappa swings wildly with a couple of big hooks
and Te Rauparaha counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.

Te Rauparaha moves into the clinch.
Knees in the clinch landing for Te Rauparaha.
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!
Te Rauparaha stalling the fight.
Nappa avoids the elbow strike from Te Rauparaha, against the ropes.
Te Rauparaha prevents Nappa from breaking the clinch.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Te Rauparaha lands an elbow that stopped Nappa in his tracks for a moment.
Te Rauparaha tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Nappa avoids it.
Te Rauparaha can't find room to land a body shot as Nappa controls the action.
Nappa letting Te Rauparaha take a breather here.
Tane Te Rauparaha has scored more points in the clinch so far.
Nappa blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
Nappa is trying to break free.
Nappa tries to circle away but Te Rauparaha has him pinned against the ropes.
Te Rauparaha utilising his Muay Thai to score with a knee to the body.
Nappa on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
Te Rauparaha tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Te Rauparaha unloads a knee to the mid-section.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
A body shot lands from Te Rauparaha.

Te Rauparaha breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Te Rauparaha tries to clinch but Nappa moves out of range.
Nappa avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Te Rauparaha ducks under a wild hook from Nappa.
Nappa swats away the attempt to clinch by Te Rauparaha.
Nappa misses with the combination.
Te Rauparaha tries to clinch there but Nappa circles away.
A slow jab from Nappa misses its intended target.
Te Rauparaha displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Nappa throws out the jab.
Nappa throws a hook but Te Rauparaha blocks it.
Dirk Nappa seems to be getting the better of the standup.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Nappa swinging wildly here.
Te Rauparaha moves out of range as Nappa strikes.
Nappa keeps the fight on the outside.
Nappa throws a jab when Te Rauparaha was well out of range.
Jab by Nappa.
Te Rauparaha tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Nappa lands with a cross.
Te Rauparaha tries to clinch up against the ropes, rushing in the close the distance. Nappa manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Nappa missing with a left hand there. Te Rauparaha was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Te Rauparaha tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Nice body punch from Nappa.
Nappa swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Nappa throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
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 Tane Te Rauparaha will probably get the nod.
The cut man is working on Dirk Nappa's cut.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin! This is the final round!

Te Rauparaha misses with a head kick.
Nappa throws a series of punches but Te Rauparaha avoids them all with ease.
Nappa scores with the left hand. Te Rauparaha knows he should have avoided that one.
A solid body kick from Te Rauparaha.
Nice defenses there by Te Rauparaha.
Nappa swings widly with a right hand

and Te Rauparaha counters by moving into the clinch. Good anticipation by Te Rauparaha.
Te Rauparaha will no doubt start fighting again in a minute but for now he's just having a little rest, leaning Nappa up against the ropes.
Te Rauparaha misses with a hook to the ribs.
Te Rauparaha tries to land knees in the clinch but Nappa avoids the damage to the body.

Te Rauparaha manages to break the clinch.
Nappa smiles there as he lands a nice right hand right on the button.
A telegraphed right hand from Nappa misses the target.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Nappa scores with a decent looking hook.
Good exchange - Nappa coming out on top.
Te Rauparaha tries to clinch but Nappa moves away
and Nappa counters with a three punch combination, finished off with a leg kick. Nice work.
Te Rauparaha is looking to clinch.
Te Rauparaha avoids the body shot from Nappa.
Nappa throws a big shot that misses.
Nappa ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Te Rauparaha moves away.
Te Rauparaha slips under a jab from Nappa.
Te Rauparaha gets his head snapped back by a nice shot there.
Nappa scores with a hook.
Nappa throws a jab, cross combination which is slipped

and Te Rauparaha moves into the clinch.
Te Rauparaha goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!

Te Rauparaha breaks from the clinch.
Dirk Nappa seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Te Rauparaha ducks under a wild hook from Nappa.
A right-left combo lands from Nappa.
Nappa might want to mix his strikes up a bit more. He's just going for head shots at the moment and that can become a bit predictable.
The fight stays on the outside here - Te Rauparaha looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Nappa is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Te Rauparaha.
Nappa showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Te Rauparaha.
Te Rauparaha displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Nappa throws out the jab.
Te Rauparaha fails in his attempt to clinch.
Te Rauparaha fails in his attempt to clinch.
Nappa swats away the attempt to clinch by Te Rauparaha.
Nappa swings widly with a right hand

and Te Rauparaha counters by moving into the clinch.
Te Rauparaha landing knees to the body. They look like they could hurt.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Te Rauparaha misses with a hook to the ribs.
Te Rauparaha misses with a knee to the head.
Te Rauparaha trying to land knees to the body.
Nappa managing to block the knees to the body from Te Rauparaha.
Te Rauparaha tries a body shot but Nappa blocks it.
Nappa avoiding damage as Te Rauparaha throws knees to the body.
Te Rauparaha digs a right hand into Nappa's ribs. Those have got to be taking their toll on Nappa's gas tank.
Tane Te Rauparaha is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Te Rauparaha lands a knee to the body.
Te Rauparaha misses with a punch to the body.
Te Rauparaha keeps the fight in the clinch, despite Nappa's efforts to push away.
Te Rauparaha misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Nappa.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Te Rauparaha tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Nappa avoids it.
Te Rauparaha trying to control the position but instead, Nappa has worked for underhooks and has pushed Te Rauparaha into the ropes.
Nappa is trying to push Te Rauparaha away but Te Rauparaha has him pressed against the ropes, so he's going nowhere.
Knees in the clinch landing for Te Rauparaha.
Te Rauparaha doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Nice body punch from Te Rauparaha - that landed with a thud.
Dirk Nappa has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Te Rauparaha tries to stall but Nappa uses the opportunity to gain a better position.

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 Tane Te Rauparaha.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Te Rauparaha, 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 Eliza Hachem scores the fight 30:27
Judge Donatello Bradman scores the fight 30:27
Judge John Mangel scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Tane Te Rauparaha!