PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between John Croak (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Riku Noitalahti (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Croak kept the crowd waiting but all that was forgotten when his ring entrance music started. The incomparable musical genius that is Be my light. Riku Noitalahti has the eye of the tiger tonight.

Croak
vs
Noitalahti

188 cm
26
240 lbs
2 - 1 - 0

192 cm
34
269 lbs
24 - 17 - 0

Good wrestling
Great elbows
Cardio machine

BJJ Purple Belt
Lethal high kicks
Heavy handed

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 Los Angeles, John Croak!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 24 - 17 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Riku Noitalahti!
The judges for this bout are Jack Bonds, Don Winkell and Frank Antenori.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Croak fails with an attempt to clinch.

Croak clinches up with Noitalahti and pushes him back against the cage.

Croak breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Croak tries to clinch up but Noitalahti circles away and keeps his distance.
We've been told by Croak's head coaches at Main Event Gym that he's been working on his takedown defense in preparation for this fight.
Croak tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. Noitalahti manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Croak fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Noitalahti manages to avoid it.

Croak has Noitalahti up against the cage in a clinch.
Croak is trying to break free.

Croak breaks the clinch.
Croak looks to clinch
and Noitalahti counters with a head kick.
Croak tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Noitalahti paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Noitalahti uses good footwork to get in and out, landing a nice hook.

It looks like John Croak has been cut.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Croak tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Noitalahti paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Croak fails in his attempt to clinch.

Croak closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Croak breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Noitalahti throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Noitalahti misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Noitalahti throws a shot from downtown. Croak moves away and avoids it.
Croak wants to clinch.
Noitalahti keeps the fight on the outside.
Croak swings for the body but Noitalahti moves out of range.
Noitalahti throws a body kick that misses.
Croak blocks a head kick by Noitalahti.
A jab from Croak does it's job there.
Croak tries to clinch up but Noitalahti circles away and keeps his distance.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Croak slips under a jab from Noitalahti.
Noitalahti circles away from the clinch attempt.

Croak forces Noitalahti back against the cage and clinches.
Noitalahti wants to break free but Croak has control.

Croak breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Croak falls off balance throwing a combination
and Noitalahti counters with a kick to the head that grazes his opponent. Croak is lucky that one didn't land flush.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Croak throws a combination that misses
and Noitalahti counters with a straight punch to the midsection.
Croak will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.

Croak has managed to clinch.

Croak escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Noitalahti throws a hook to the side of Croak's head but Croak sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
Croak shuffles to his left behind two crisp jabs. Noitalahti eats them both and turns towards Croak to reposition himself and eats a stinging right hand-left hook combo.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Noitalahti keeps the fight on the outside.
Noitalahti throws a series of punches but Croak avoids them all with ease.
Croak doesn't manage to clinch there - Noitalahti circles away.
Noitalahti throws a jab when Croak was well out of range.
Croak ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
Croak throws a combination that misses
and Noitalahti makes the exchange count by landing a cracking kick to the body. Croak really felt that one!
Noitalahti looks to land a left hand but Croak moved out of range nicely.
Noitalahti avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Croak tries to clinch but Noitalahti moves out of range.
Noitalahti throws a jab but it's blocked by Croak.
Noitalahti misses with a few strikes there.
The fight stays on the outside here - Croak looks like he's thinking about clinching though.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Noitalahti tries to bum rush Croak with a series of wild strikes but Croak uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Noitalahti buckles his opponent's knee momentarily with a nice leg kick.
Noitalahti lands with a cross.
Croak takes a nasty kick to the mid section... That should keep him thinking. Does he try and block and risk a head kick landing?
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Noitalahti throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.

Croak closes the distance and pushes Noitalahti back into the cage.

Noitalahti breaks from the clinch.
Noitalahti lands a jab to Croak's midsection.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Croak is looking to clinch but Noitalahti is avoiding it.
Noitalahti does a little shimmy and throws a leg kick. The leg kick missed by a considerable margin though, making him look a little bit silly for doing the shimmy.
Noitalahti scores with a punch to the head.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Riku Noitalahti will probably get the nod.
The cut man is working on John Croak's cut.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

A swing and a miss from Noitalahti.
Noitalahti throws a right and a left that Croak avoids nicely.
Croak is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
John Croak is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Noitalahti walks forward and throws out a flicking leg kick. Croak checks it nicely though, as he moves to the side.
Croak thows a body shot but no joy.

Croak has taken the fight to the clinch.

Croak breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
A looping hook to the body misses from Noitalahti. Croak does a little dance to reset his feet.
Croak pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Croak avoids a kick to the body.
Noitalahti misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Croak pulls out of a head kick attempt.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Croak moves into the clinch.
Croak wants to break free but Noitalahti has control.
Noitalahti unloads a knee to the mid-section.

Noitalahti pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Noitalahti tests Croak's chin there with a solid looking shot.
Noitalahti connects with a nice looking jab.
Noitalahti throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Noitalahti circles away from the clinch attempt
and Croak takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Croak tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Noitalahti paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Noitalahti throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Croak doesn't manage to clinch there - Noitalahti circles away.
Croak moving in and out of range nicely, whilst landing the scoring shot.

Noitalahti drops Croak with a beautiful combination! Croak stares up at his opponent, who ushers him back to his feet - Noitalahti is looking for the KO!
Croak avoids the head kick by Noitalahti.
Croak fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Croak tries to clinch up but Noitalahti circles away and keeps his distance.
Noitalahti keeps the fight on the outside.
Croak fails in his attempt to clinch.
Croak slips under a jab.
Croak pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Croak displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Noitalahti throws out the jab.
Croak rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Noitalahti moves out of range and avoids them all easily.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Croak moves in looking to clinch but Noitalahti pushes him off.
Croak swings wildly with a couple of big hooks
and Noitalahti counters with a stiff right hand.
Croak moves out of range as Noitalahti throws a body kick.
Noitalahti lands a powerful looking uppercut that connected with his opponent's jaw.
Croak misses with a hook. Noitalahti ducked under it nicely.
Noitalahti works over Croak's head and body with a nice combination.

John Croak's cut is getting worse.
Noitalahti pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
A left lands for Croak.
Croak throws a hook but Noitalahti avoids it easily.
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!
Noitalahti jabs away that one connects to the head of his opponent.
Noitalahti throws a looping overhand right but Croak ducks down to avoid it.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Noitalahti circles away from the clinch attempt.
A punch combination from Noitalahti misses.
A head kick misses from Noitalahti.
Croak wants to slow Noitalahti down by chopping away at his legs.
Noitalahti throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Croak sees it coming and avoids it easily.
Croak lands a glancing blow to the side of Noitalahti's head.
Croak lands a jab to the head.
Noitalahti misses with an uppercut
and Croak counters with a straight right hand.
Noitalahti lunges at Croak with a hook that half lands and is half blocked by Croak's hand.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!

Croak has closed the distance and engaged Noitalahti in a clinch.

Noitalahti manages to break the clinch.
Croak keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Noitalahti.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Riku Noitalahti showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The cut man is working on John Croak's cut.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action! Let's get this one finished - here comes the final round!

Croak misses with a hook. Noitalahti ducked under it nicely.
Croak uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Noitalahti.
Croak fails with an attempt to clinch.
Croak moves to clinch but Noitalahti breaks away
and Noitalahti cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Ouch! a nice leg kick from Noitalahti, right into the meat.
Croak wants to clinch.
A left and a right from Noitalahti both land. Nice combination.
Croak takes a really solid shot there but just smiles back and shrugs his shoulders.
Croak tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Noitalahti paws at him with a jab and circles away.

That's one minute gone in the round.
The crowd cheers as Croak lands an impressive looking overhand right. Noitalahti doesn't seem phased though.
Croak waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Noitalahti.
Noitalahti misses with a kick to the body.
Noitalahti throws a hook but Croak avoids it easily.

Noitalahti drops Croak with a beautiful combination! Croak stares up at his opponent, who ushers him back to his feet - Noitalahti is looking for the KO!

Croak is rocked!
John Croak seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Sloppy strikes from Noitalahti. Those never looked like landing.
Oh Croak is still all over the place! His legs are completely gone! Will he be able to recover?!!
Croak doesn't manage to clinch there - Noitalahti circles away.
Noitalahti pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Croak seems to have got his legs back now.
Croak moves in looking to clinch but Noitalahti pushes him off.
Croak fails in his attempt to clinch.
Croak throws a good cross that connects.
Croak tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Noitalahti throws a combination. Croak tries to block but a couple of punches get through.

John Croak's cut is bleeding quite badly. He's got to try and protect it.
Noitalahti throws a body kick that misses.
Noitalahti pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Noitalahti throws a hook but Croak blocks it.
Noitalahti connects with a jab.
Noitalahti tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Croak was well out of range. Poor timing from Noitalahti.

Croak fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Noitalahti, pushing him back against the cage.

Croak breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Croak wants to clinch
and Noitalahti makes the exchange count by landing a cracking kick to the body. Croak really felt that one!
Croak walks into a jab.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Croak wants to clinch.
Noitalahti throws a head kick but Croak moves out of range.
Riku Noitalahti seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Noitalahti throws a head kick but Croak moves out of range.
Croak takes a shot to the eye socket. That's gotta hurt.
Croak lands with a cross to side of his opponent's head.
Noitalahti cracks Croak with an open hand slap.
Croak tries to clinch but Noitalahti moves out of range.
Croak looks to throw the jab but Noitalahti is out of range.
A jab from Noitalahti finds it's way through Croak's defenses.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Croak scores with a nice one two combo and darts back out of range to avoid anything coming in the opposite direction.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Croak wants to clinch.
A swing and a miss from Noitalahti.

Croak has Noitalahti up against the cage in a clinch.

Croak breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Croak looks to clinch

and Noitalahti counters with a head kick that drops Croak to the mat! Croak scrambles across the canvas and gets back to his feet, still wobbly!
Croak closes the distance looking to clinch
and Noitalahti scores with a counter punch that sends Croak to the canvas! Noitalahti smells blood - he's punishing Croak with more strikes and the ref has stopped it! Croak has no idea where he is - he's tackled the ref... oh dear, poor guy, the crowd is in hysterics!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 4:50 of round 3, we have a winner by way of TKO (Strikes). Riku Noitalahti!