PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Steve River (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Herkules Nowacki (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). River comes to the cage accompanied by Tom Petty - I Won't Back Down . Nowacki has chosen Moby - Flower as his entrance music. The fight MMA fans around the world have waited their entire lives for!

River
vs
Nowacki

168 cm
21
153 lbs
3 - 1 - 0

182 cm
21
155 lbs
5 - 0 - 0

Good wrestling
Excellent boxer
Cardio machine

Good wrestler
Lethal high kicks
Good gas tank

Fury Nutrition Inc.

Fury Nutrition Inc.
Elite Canadian Threads

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the featherweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 3 - 1 - 0, fighting out of New York, Steve River!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 5 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Herkules Nowacki!
The judges for this bout are Robert Douchet, Elvis Blanc and Dillan Fox.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Good leg kick by River there. It's the ones that make that thud noise that hurt and that was an almighty thud.
River throws a half hearted mid kick.
River moves in looking to clinch but Nowacki pushes him off.
River misses with a body shot.
River takes a shot to the nose. Hopefully that hasn't broken it.
River goes for a spinning back kick but it misses.
Nowacki moves out of range of the body kick.
Nowacki ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
River tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Nowacki was well out of range. Poor timing from River.
River tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. Nowacki manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Nowacki throws a shot from downtown. River moves away and avoids it.
River fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Nowacki manages to avoid it.
River jabs Nowacki right on the nose. Nowacki blinks but takes it well.
River misses the shot to the body.
River misses with a wild body shot.
River blocks a head kick by Nowacki.
Nowacki takes a step back and watches a body kick go sailing past his mid section.
Nowacki lands a nice leg kick that just misses River's sensitive parts.

That's one minute gone in the round.
River tries to clinch but Nowacki moves out of range.
River throws a quick inside leg kick.
Nowacki sizes up River with a pawing jab and scores with a straight right down the middle.
River scores with a nice looking left hook and follows it up with an uppercut!
Nowacki scores with a crisp jab that stopped River in his tracks.
Nowacki keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from River.
Nowacki throws a head kick that misses.
Nowacki moves out of range as River strikes.
Nowacki dodges the punch combination from River.
Nowacki uses good footwork to get in and out and land a nice right hand before River has time to react.
Ouch! a nice leg kick from Nowacki, right into the meat.
Nowacki walks into a left hand.
River tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. Nowacki manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Nowacki throws a push kick but River slaps the foot to one side.
Nowacki lands a leg kick and bounces back out of range.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
This has been an exciting period of action!
River throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
Nowacki lands a head kick. River smiles back at him and beckons him forward.
Nowacki throws a shot to the body.
Nowacki with a hook.
Nowacki avoids a low kick by using good footwork.
River keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Nowacki.
River throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
River throws a body punch but Nowacki moves out of range.
Nowacki cracks River with a good jab.
River throws a leg kick
and Nowacki cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Nowacki has used his reach advantage pretty well so far tonight.
Nowacki throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
River shapes like he's going to throw a leg kick but settles back down.
River is looking to wear down Nowacki with body shots, infact he's throwing more body shots than head shots at the moment.
Nowacki throws a leg kick that misses.
River misses with a straight right.
Nowacki uses good footwork to get in and out and land a nice right hand before River has time to react.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Nowacki blocks a leg kick.
Nowacki cracks the inside of River's front leg.
River misses with a body shot.
A lazy left from Nowacki finds it's target.
River takes a nasty kick to the mid section... That should keep him thinking. Does he try and block and risk a head kick landing?
Nowacki takes a shot to the body in his stride.
Nowacki looking to land some kicks to the body here.
Nowacki checks a leg kick.
Nowacki throws a combination but it was largely blocked by River.
Nowacki moves into range and connects with a jab.
River fails in his attempt to clinch.
Nowacki is using his reach advantage to land shots from outside his opponent's range.
Nowacki swings wildly with a hook that is half blocked by River.

River is rocked!
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Nowacki throws a nice inside leg kick.
Nowacki swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
Nowacki throws the kick towards the body but River avoids it.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
River wants to land a leg kick but Nowacki is out of range.
River loads up on a big right hand but Nowacki slips the punch.
Steve River seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
River throws a leg kick
and Nowacki counters with a nice low kick that buckles River's knee momentarily.
River takes a thudding leg kick, right into the meat of the thigh.
River slips a jab and a cross from Nowacki.
River tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Nowacki was well out of range. Poor timing from River.
River tries to score with a low kick but Nowacki moves his leg out of the way.
River throws a body punch but Nowacki moves out of range.
River looking to take his opponent's legs away with the low kicks.
Nowacki is landing a lot of head punches in this opening round! River had better start moving his head a bit unless he wants his face to turn into pâté.
River throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
A big left from Nowacki misses.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Nowacki misses with an uppercut. River saw that one coming.
Nowacki pivots, looking for a leg kick but River is out of range and Nowacki settles back down.
River misses with an attempted mid kick.
Nowacki looks to score with a jab to the body but River is just out of range.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Herkules Nowacki dominated that round.
That's time! Back to the action!

Nowacki tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Herkules Nowacki seems to be getting the better of the standup.
River pivots as if he's going to throw a leg kick but stops half way.
River takes a thudding leg kick, right into the meat of the thigh.

River gets in close and instigates a clinch.
Nowacki softening up his opponent with strikes, against the cage.
Nowacki creates a bit of distance and throws an elbow that only just misses.
Nowacki misses with a hook to the ribs.
Nowacki throws a head punch that misses.
Nowacki blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Nowacki slowing the pace effectively.
River tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
A hook to the body from Nowacki.
Nowacki lands a nice elbow.
Nowacki is trying to stall.
Nowacki missing with knees to the body.

That's one minute gone in the round.
River misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Nowacki.
Nowacki lands a shoulder strike that jolts his opponent's head backwards.
A real battle for position is taking place between these two warriors.
River tries to land knees in the clinch but Nowacki avoids the damage to the body.
Nowacki trying to stall but River improves his position.
River blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Nowacki has a couple of punches blocked by River.
Some stalling of biblical proportions here from Nowacki.
A body shot lands from River.
Nowacki looking to slow down the pace here.
River swings wildly with an uppercut but Nowacki uses good head movement to avoid it.
River misses with some punches.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
River slows down the pace here.
Nowacki is struggling to control the position.
Nowacki throws a head punch that misses.
Nowacki working on landing some head shots here - that one got through nicely.
River is hobbling a little on that front leg after taking quite a few leg kicks so far in this fight.
River scores with an uppercut up the middle.
Nowacki avoiding damage as River throws knees to the body.
Nowacki taking a breather.
Nowacki taking a break, stalling in the clinch.
Nowacki prevents a body shot from River.
River blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
River struggles to land a body shot inside as Nowacki controls his hands.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
River swings wildly with an uppercut but Nowacki uses good head movement to avoid it.
Nowacki misses with the head strike.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
A bit of stalling here from River.
River lands a hook to the body. It's hard to tell if that hurt Nowacki or not.
Nowacki trying to land knees to the body.
Nowacki lands a left hand that snaps the head of River backwards.
River tries to throw a body punch but Nowacki avoids it by throwing River back against the cage.
A head punch on the inside from River fails to land.
River swings away with an uppercut that misses.
River is pushing Nowacki up against the cage, for a bit of lean and pray action. Action being used the in the loosest possible sense of the word.
River tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Nowacki working aggressively here.
Nowacki lands a short shot on the inside that snaps the head of River backwards.
A real battle for position is taking place between these two warriors.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Nowacki blocks an elbow strike from River.
Nowacki throws an elbow that misses.
River being controlled against the cage.
Nowacki creates a bit of distance and throws an elbow that only just misses.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for River.
Nowacki lands with a light punch inside.
Nowacki digs a right hand underneath River's ribcage. River let out a lung full of air as it connected.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Nowacki with an attempt at a knee that misses.
River misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Nowacki.
Nowacki misses with a shot to the kidneys.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Nowacki tries a body shot but River blocks it.
Herkules Nowacki seems to be working more effectively in the clinch in the fight so far.
Nowacki pressing his opponent against the cage.
River misses with the head strike.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Herkules Nowacki showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action! Ladies and gentlemen, this is the final round!

Nowacki misses with a hook. River ducked under it nicely.
Nowacki throws a low kick, looking for River's leg but River calmly moves out of range.
Nowacki throws a sloppy body shot

and River counters by clinching up.
Nowacki wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.
Nowacki doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
The pace really dropping off here, momentarily.
Nowacki throws a punch but it's blocked by River.
River struggles to land a body shot inside as Nowacki controls his hands.
Come on River - let's have some action - none of this stalling nonsense.
Nowacki wants to stall.
Nowacki can't find room to land a body shot as River controls the action.
River misses with a knee to the head.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Nowacki holding his opponent close, against the cage.
River working on landing some head shots here - that one got through nicely.
Nowacki is trying to slow down the pace of the fight but River is keeping busy.
River unloads a knee to the mid-section. Nowacki lets out a prehistoric sounding urrrrgh.
River lands a nice looking hook to the body, against the cage.
River creates a bit of distance and throws an elbow that only just misses.
River blocks an elbow strike.
Nowacki managing to block the knees to the body from River.
Nowacki lands with a quick shot inside that doesn't really do much damage.
River lands a short shot on the inside that snaps the head of Nowacki backwards.
River throws a head punch that misses.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Nowacki.
Nowacki avoids the elbow strike from River, against the cage.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
River gets through Nowacki's defenses to land a nice punch to the side of the head.
Nowacki lands a body punch.
Stalling in the clinch from Nowacki.
River working aggressively here.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
River prevents a body shot from Nowacki.
River blocks an uppercut.
River blocking some punches.
River is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Nowacki is defending well for now.
River lands a body punch in the clinch.

Nowacki breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Nice defenses there by Nowacki.
River misses with a body kick.
Nowacki misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
A chopping leg kick lands by River.
River tries to clinch but Nowacki moves out of range.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
A big left from River misses.
River throws a body kick that misses.
River checks the leg kick nicely there.
River with a hook.
River fakes a couple of low kicks, before throwing one on the third attempt. It connects and Nowacki has to reset his feet before getting ready to engage.
Nowacki lands a leg kick and bounces back out of range.
Nowacki lands a head kick. River smiles back at him and beckons him forward.
Steve River has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Well, he's not going to score with shots like that. A lazy body kick attempt from Nowacki.
Nowacki moves out of range as River throws a body kick.
River tries to land a body kick
and Nowacki counters with a nice leg kick.
Nowacki connects with an inside leg kick.
River waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Nowacki.
Nowacki with a nice looking leg kick. You could hear that one land in a back row.
Nowacki cracks a nice hook into River's ribs.
Herkules Nowacki is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Nowacki avoids a kick to the body.
A chopping leg kick lands by Nowacki.
Nowacki lands a leg kick that knocks River off balance momentarily.
Nowacki ducks under a wild hook from River.
Nowacki throws a series of punches but River moves out of range.
River pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
River digs a good hook to Nowacki's body.
Nowacki avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
River misses with an uppercut. Nowacki saw that one coming.
River tries to score with a low kick but Nowacki moves his leg out of the way.
River takes a hook to the side of the head. I wonder if that's got his ears ringing.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Nowacki connects with the punch.
River is looking to score with low kicks.
Oooooooooooh, not good. A low kick from River 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 Nowacki has 5 minutes to recover. He's OK now though... a thumbs up from Nowacki and we're back underway with a touch of gloves.

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 Steve River.
Well Nowacki has outworked and out performed his opponent in all aspects of the game today. He was simply too good and the decision should be no more than a formality. 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 Robert Douchet scores the fight 28:29
Judge Elvis Blanc scores the fight 28:29
Judge Dillan Fox scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Herkules Nowacki!
Herkules Nowacki gave a mention to Fury Nutrition Inc. in his post fight interview. That will please them (and hopefully generate some sales).