PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Okaba Minato (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Nick Hoenich (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). We have two fighters making their debuts here, so let's see who comes out of this one with their first professional victory.

Minato
vs
Hoenich

180 cm
18
180 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

167 cm
18
130 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
KO power

BJJ Blue Belt
Basic striking
Determined

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 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Okaba Minato!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Nick Hoenich!
The judges for this bout are Tiny Johnson, Daniel Franklin and Alan Glass.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Hoenich throws a sloppy head kick

and Minato holds on and brings the fighters into a clinch.
Hoenich tries to circle away but Minato has him pinned against the cage.
Hoenich looks like he'd prefer to be striking at range right now.
Minato has a body lock and is looking for a takedown. Hoenich is bouncing around trying to prevent the takedown and somehow he has indeed managed to stay on his feet.
Hoenich wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.
Hoenich fails to pull the fight into his guard.
Hoenich tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. Minato smiles and moves away.
Minato shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Hoenich sprawls well. Hoenich wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Minato gets slowly back to his feet.

Minato pushes Hoenich up against the cage in a clinch.
Hoenich gets underhooks to prevent Minato's takedown attempt.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Okaba Minato. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Minato is working on a leg, looking for a takedown but Hoenich is defending well.
Hoenich has had enough of the clinch but Minato keeps him there for the moment.
Hoenich prevents a takedown attempt there.
Hoenich wants to break the clinch but can't.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Hoenich manages to pull guard. Let's see whether he can land a sub off his back.
We must be close to a standup if these guys don't pick up the pace.
Minato won't allow Hoenich to get back to his feet.
Minato seems content to control from guard here. He's going to have to remain active though if he doesn't want to get stood back up.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up, due to lack of activity on the part of Okaba Minato.
Minato shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Hoenich as he jumps to the side.
Minato takes a kick to the side of the head.
Minato shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Hoenich but Hoenich pushes him off and we're back to square one.
Minato shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Hoenich sprawls well. Hoenich wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Minato gets slowly back to his feet.
Minato tries a low kick but Hoenich avoids it.
A head kick misses from Hoenich.
A jab lands there for Hoenich.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Hoenich.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Hoenich tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Minato looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Hoenich is fending him off so far but Minato persists. Nope, Hoenich circles away and we're back to standing.
Minato is breathing heavily.
Hoenich moves out of range as Minato throws a body kick.
Minato takes a solid shot to the body. That one hurt him but he's trying not to show it.
Minato takes a kick to the side of the head.
Hoenich misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Minato keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Hoenich.
Hoenich throws a head kick but Minato moves out of range.
Minato slips a jab from Hoenich.
Hoenich tries a head kick but it misses.
Hoenich throws a head kick that misses.
Hoenich throws a head kick but Minato moves out of range.
Hoenich swats away the attempt to clinch by Minato.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Minato is defended easily by Hoenich.
Minato avoids the head kick by Hoenich.
Hoenich throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Nice takedown defense from Hoenich. No joy for Minato on that attempt.
Hoenich tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Hoenich tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
A jab lands there for Hoenich.
Hoenich throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
A head kick from Hoenich lands but Minato takes it in his stride.
Hoenich throws a head kick but Minato moves out of range.

Minato closes the distance and clinches.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Nick Hoenich dominated that round.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

Minato displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Hoenich.
No luck for Minato with that takedown attempt.
Hoenich pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Hoenich throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
A head kick by Hoenich misses
and Minato counters with a nice body kick.
Hoenich cracks Minato with a nice right hand that draws applause from the crowd.
Minato throws a series of punches but Hoenich avoids them all with ease.
Hoenich throws a lazy head kick
and Minato counters with a leg kick.
A head kick misses from Hoenich.
Hoenich throws a sloppy head kick and Minato moves out of range easily.
Nick Hoenich seems to be getting the better of the standup.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Minato.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Minato wants to clinch up but Hoenich keeps it at a distance.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Hoenich misses with a left hand

and Minato moves into the clinch.

Minato jumps into guard, dragging Hoenich to the mat.
Hoenich throws an elbow that misses. Minato uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in Hoenich's guard. Nice move by Minato!
Hoenich is looking to stand up but Minato isn't so interested in that idea.
Minato sitting in guard, not really doing much.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Hoenich wants to stand but Minato is controlling the position.
The referee claps his hands together and tells the fighters to work.
Minato wants to pass the guard but Hoenich is keeping the position.

Okaba Minato has forced the referee to step in and bring the fight back to the feet.
Hoenich is trying hard to land a takedown here. Minato sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.
Minato fails with a takedown attempt.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Okaba Minato. That's going to take a lot out of him.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Hoenich avoids a kick to the body.
Hoenich throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Minato misses with a takedown attempt - Hoenich sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
A head kick misses from Hoenich.
Hoenich stalks Minato and leaps in with a furious combination of punches. Uppercuts and crosses smash into Minato's face. Minato staggers backwards, shaken.
Minato wants to clinch.
Hoenich misses with a hook

and Minato counters by moving into the clinch.
Hoenich has had enough of the clinch and is looking to separate.
Hoenich can't break the clinch.
Hoenich is trying to force a seperation but Minato has the dominant position.
Minato prevents a takedown attempt there.
Minato tries for a takedown. No joy.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Minato pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Minato shoots in but no luck this time.
Minato avoids a punch combination nicely.
Hoenich connects with a hook to the side of his opponent's head.
Hoenich takes a head kick and keeps coming.
Nice takedown defense from Minato. No joy for Hoenich on that attempt.
Minato lands a high kick!
Hoenich defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Minato.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Hoenich misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Minato throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Minato throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Hoenich's waist but Hoenich gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Minato off to one side.
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 Okaba Minato will probably get the nod.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action. Let's hear some noise people - this is the final round!

Minato moves out of range of the strikes.
Hoenich throws a body kick but he wasn't in range.
Hoenich stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Hoenich wants it to stay on the feet.
Hoenich looks to land a body kick but Minato moved away.
Hoenich explodes with a nice body kick and back out of range. Nice work.
Minato is looking to clinch but Hoenich is avoiding it.
Hoenich throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Minato gets cracked there but stands up to it.
Minato looks for a takedown but Hoenich sprawls well.
Minato avoids the head kick by Hoenich.
Hoenich tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Hoenich lands a head kick!
Oooooooooooh, not good. A low kick from Minato lands where it shouldn't have, right in the... well, you know what he did? He kicked him in the penis. He's injured, injured bad. The referee sends both fighters to their corners and Hoenich has 5 minutes to recover. He's OK now though... a thumbs up from Hoenich and we're back underway with a touch of gloves.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Hoenich works his jab well there, keeping his opponent at a distance.
Minato takes a solid shot to the body. That one hurt him but he's trying not to show it.
Minato takes a body punch but keeps moving.
Hoenich scores with a hook.
Hoenich stuffs the takedown.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Okaba Minato. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Hoenich throws a sloppy head kick and Minato moves out of range easily.
Minato wants to clinch.
Nick Hoenich seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Hoenich throws a head kick but Minato moves out of range.
Minato uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Hoenich.
Okaba Minato is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Hoenich misses with a body punch
and Minato counters with a nice jab to the body that keeps Hoenich thinking.
Hoenich lands with a head kick! That's gotta hurt.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Minato misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
Minato wants to clinch.
Minato takes a jab right on the nose. That must have hurt but he shrugs his shoulders and looks to return the favor.

Hoenich feints and as Minato raises his hands in defense, Hoenich changes levels and drives through with a takedown into guard.
Hoenich is looking to work some ground and pound but Minato has wrist control.
Hoenich is looking to work some ground and pound but Minato has wrist control.
Minato throwing some rather feeble looking strikes off his back.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.

Hoenich decides to stand up and beckons his opponent to follow.
Hoenich slaps away a takedown attempt from Minato, before circling back to the center of the mat.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Hoenich throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Minato looks for a takedown but Hoenich sprawls well.
Hoenich tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Hoenich avoids the head kick by Minato.
Minato lets loose with a powerful body kick. Hoenich will feel that in the morning.
Minato blocks a head kick by Hoenich.
Minato tries to score a power double leg takedown but Hoenich sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Minato somewhat.
Minato fails with a takedown attempt from distance.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Hoenich throws a head kick but Minato moves out of range.
Hoenich looking to land some kicks to the body here.
Hoenich will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.

Minato closes the distance and clinches.
Minato is working for a takedown up against the cage. He can't get it on this occasion though.

Hoenich manages to break the clinch.
Jab from Hoenich.
Minato tries to clinch but Hoenich moves out of range.
Minato looks to land a combination but Hoenich avoids it well.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Hoenich misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Hoenich looks to land a left hand but Minato moved out of range nicely.
Minato tries to clinch but Hoenich moves out of range.

And that's the end of the fight!
Nick Hoenich comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Hoenich 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 Tiny Johnson scores the fight for Nick Hoenich!
Judge Daniel Franklin scores the fight for Nick Hoenich!
Judge Alan Glass scores the fight for Nick Hoenich!

Nick Hoenich wins by unanimous decision!