PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Luke Montini (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Kova Naama (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Montini comes to the cage accompanied by The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly. Naama has chosen The Undivine - Satellite Monarchy as his entrance music. Both fighters will be looking to make this an exciting fight for the fans, I'm sure!

Montini
vs
Naama

185 cm
25
185 lbs
2 - 0 - 0

187 cm
20
201 lbs
3 - 4 - 0

Decent wrestler
Basic striking
Big heart

BJJ Blue Belt
Good kicks
Granite chin

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 2 - 0 - 0, fighting out of New York, Luke Montini!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 3 - 4 - 0, fighting out of New York, Kova Naama!
The judges for this bout are Reed Andrews, Columbo Gatti and John Kavanagh.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Montini drives through with a takedown into guard.
We may be looking at a referee standup if the pace doesn't pick up soon.
Montini showing good wrestling skills to control the position.
Montini pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Naama is keeping the position for now.
Montini slows down the pace of the fight for a moment. He'll need to remain active if he doesn't want to see the fight stood back up.
Montini's ground tactics aren't going to win him many fans. Let's hope he's got fireworks for us if he gets back to his feet because he's not doing much on the ground.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up, due to lack of activity on the part of Luke Montini.

Naama gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.
Montini is looking to take this one to the mat.
Naama lands a hook to the side of the head.
Naama gets double underhooks to prevent a takedown attempt from Montini.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Montini is looking for a takedown.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Luke Montini. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Naama throws a punch but it's blocked by Montini.
Naama stops a takedown attempt from Montini.

Montini turns his hips and lands a very nice judo throw into side control!
Montini tries to advance to mount but Naama denies him.
Montini trying to control the action but Naama is working from the bottom.
Naama struggling a bit here.
Naama prevents Montini from moving into mount.
Montini passes to full mount! That's big trouble for Naama!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Montini sitting in mount, just looking to control for the moment.
Naama is writhing around trying to get back to his feet.
Montini content just to control the position here.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Naama wants to hold on but Montini pushes him away.
Naama is trying to avoid being dragged into an even worse position than he's already in but Montini is staying active.
Montini fails to take his opponent's back.
Montini sitting in mount, just looking to control for the moment.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Naama prevents Montini from taking his back.
The fighters are starting to get a bit slippery now, which will make submissions a bit more difficult.
Naama manages to regain half guard. Good work.

Montini seems to be looking for submissions.
Montini tries to pass to full mount but Naama defends it.

Montini is looking for a kimura but he's never going to get it from there.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Montini has freed up his trapped foot and advances to mount.
Montini takes a little breather and maintains the position. The referee will be looking for him to stay active from such a dominant position though.
Montini tries to control but Naama wriggling away.
Montini wants to take Naama's back here but Naama is holding on to an arm, himself looking to escape.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.

Montini swings around for an armbar but it's a sloppy attempt and Naama is now in Montini's guard. A big mistake from Montini there, giving up the dominant position!

Montini working for a triangle but Naama defends it easily.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Luke Montini dominated that round.
That's the end of the interval. I'm sure that seemed a lot quicker than a minute for our two fighters! Back to the action.

Naama moves into the clinch.
Montini's head jolts backwards as he takes an uppercut right on the button!
Montini fails to pull the fight into his guard.
Montini is looking for a takedown.
Naama softening up his opponent with strikes, against the cage.
Naama lands on the inside with an uppercut.
Naama stops a takedown attempt from Montini.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Luke Montini. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Montini looking for a takedown.
Naama lands with a short head shot on the inside.

Montini is working on a single leg takedown against the cage. Naama can't fight it off and eventually Montini manages to take the fight to the floor. Naama looks annoyed but at least he's managed to land in guard.
Montini forces his way into half guard.
Naama is trying to stand back up but Montini is controlling him
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Montini is looking to take a break and control but Naama is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Montini keeping composed on the top, looking to control the action.
Montini is working hard to pass the guard. He's done it - he's now in full mount! Trouble for Naama!
Montini content just to control the position here.
Montini trying to control but Naama is having none of it.
Montini is landing with some decent strikes but Naama is trying to advance his position so the referee is letting the fight continue.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Naama is trying to get to the cage to help him get back to his feet.

Montini goes for an armbar but Naama turns quickly into his guard - lovely anticipation from Naama.
Naama looking to pass the guard.
Naama must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.
Naama with a flurry of punches that miss.
Montini pulls Naama in to control the position.
Naama would like to get this fight back to the feet but can't get free from the closed guard.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
The referee is asking the fighters to pick up the pace.
Naama preventing the sweep.
Montini preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Naama throws a big elbow that misses.
Both fighters really going for it on the ground here!
Naama would like to get this fight back to the feet but can't get free from the closed guard.
A real slowdown in the pace of the fight for a moment, as Montini holds on and takes a little breather.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Luke Montini has forced the referee to step in and bring the fight back to the feet.
No luck for Montini with that takedown attempt.

Montini drives through and clinches with Naama against the cage.
Naama doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Montini is trying to pull guard but being pressed up against the cage enables Naama to keep the fight standing.
Naama lands a glancing elbow in the clinch.

It looks like Luke Montini has been cut.

Montini wants the takedown. Naama is fighting it off but Montini persists and manages to bring the fight to the ground, ending up in Naama's guard against the cage.
Montini wants to control from the top but Naama keeps moving.
Montini pushing down on Naama's thigh, trying to pass to half guard. He's managed it... Nice work.
Naama controlling the position for now.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Montini stops Naama from getting back to his feet.
Montini is looking to stall here but Naama recovers full guard.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Naama keeping full guard, as Montini tries to pass.
Montini is working hard here to advance position.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Montini is intent on slowing down the pace of the fight, simply looking to control.
Naama keeping moving, preventing Montini from controlling successfully.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Luke Montini dominated that second round.
The cut man is working on Luke Montini's cut.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action! This is the final round!

Naama moves into the clinch.
Naama misses with a hook from the clinch.

Montini has dropped down and is working for a takedown. Naama is trying to keep an underhook but Montini manages to get the takedown into half guard.
Montini is just sitting in half guard, waiting for something to happen.
Naama is refusing to be controlled, as Montini sits in half guard.
Montini trying to pass the guard but Naama defending well.
Luke Montini overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
The referee is asking the fighters to pick up the pace.
Montini perhaps working for something from half guard, or maybe not. It looks like he's just sitting there.

That's one minute gone in the round.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up, due to lack of activity on the part of Luke Montini.

Montini drives through with a takedown into Naama's guard. Let's see what he can do from the top position.
Montini tries to free his leg and advance position but Naama is retaining full guard.
Montini trying to control the position from guard on top but Naama is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Montini pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Naama is keeping the position for now.
Montini postures up.
Naama wants to control here, rather than go for any submissions from the bottom. At least for now.

The ref calls for a clean break and stands the fighters back up. Kova Naama wasn't active enough on the ground.
Montini fails with the takedown.
Kova Naama is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Horrible takedown by Montini or perhaps it was just good defense by Naama which made him look bad.

Naama instigates a clinch.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Naama blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.

Montini lands a takedown into guard.
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!
Montini trying to control the position from guard on top but Naama is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Naama tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Naama keeping full guard, as Montini tries to pass.
Montini wants to control from the top but Naama keeps moving.
We may be looking at a referee standup if the pace doesn't pick up soon.
Naama has his hands on Montini's head, controlling the position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

We're going to have a standup here because Luke Montini wasn't active enough for the referee's liking.

Naama drives through and clinches with Montini against the cage.
A short right hand to the side of the head by Naama.
Naama lands a right hand that snaps the head of Montini backwards.
Naama is pressed up against the cage. Montini has hold of a leg and is looking to drag Naama down to the mat. Naama avoids the attempt though and has circled away. We're back to striking at a distance.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Luke Montini. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Montini dives in and grabs Naama's left leg, looking for a takedown. Naama pushes down on Montini's head and hops out.

Naama closes the distance and clinches.
Naama pushes Montini back against the cage and lands a hook to the side of the head.
Naama lands with a good tight uppercut to the head.
Naama dictating the pace here, as the fighters clinch against the cage.
Naama lands with a left to the head.
Naama lands an elbow inside.
Montini drops down looking for an ankle pick but Naama pulls his leg out and moves away.

Naama clinches up against the cage.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Naama scores with an uppercut up the middle.
Naama lands a body shot.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Naama softening up his opponent with strikes, against the cage.
Nice body punch from Naama.
Naama lands with a quick shot inside that doesn't really do much damage.
Naama tries to stall but Montini uses the opportunity to gain a better position.
Naama working on landing some head shots here - that one got through nicely.
Montini is looking for a takedown.
Luke Montini is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Naama lands a shoulder strike.
Naama stalling.
A shot in the inside from Naama.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Stalling in the clinch from Naama.
Montini is working for takedown but Naama is calmly controlling the position for now.
Kova Naama seems to be working more effectively in the clinch in the fight so far.
Naama scores with a shoulder strike.
Naama works on Montini's body with a couple of short punches.

And that's the end of the fight!
I would just about give that final round to Kova Naama.
I think Montini has won this one but let's see what the judges have to say. 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 Reed Andrews scores the fight 29:28
Judge Columbo Gatti scores the fight 29:28
Judge John Kavanagh scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Luke Montini!
Our winner, Luke Montini, 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.