PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Rigel Ko Nachi (ranked 1703 p4p, 1735 weight class) and Ri Zaadha (ranked 231 p4p, 238 weight class). Ko Nachi's ring entrance music is that housewives' favourite, Echoing Thunder. The crowd seem to be enjoying Zaadha's choice of entrance music: HonestKey- When I Wake Up. These two fighters really are very evenly matched on the feet - it will be fascinating to see who can assert themselves in that aspect of the fight.

Ko Nachi
vs
Zaadha

183 cm
35
175
22 - 17 - 2

189 cm
42
177
39 - 31 - 2

Good wrestling
World class boxer
Granite chin

Good wrestler
Excellent MT
Granite chin

Furnace Performance 🔥
Honest Apparel ($30 SPECIAL Hoodie!)

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the welterweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 22 - 17 - 2, fighting out of Las Vegas, Rigel Ko Nachi!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 39 - 31 - 2, fighting out of Montreal, Ri Zaadha!
The judges for this bout are Shigeki Fujiwara, Shirou Masuda and Yukihiro Shimada.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Ko Nachi lands a glancing blow to the side of Zaadha's head.
Zaadha ducks under a wild hook from Ko Nachi.
Zaadha takes a jab on the nose there. A little bit of blood seems to be coming out. Hopefully that won't affect his breathing.
Ko Nachi scores with a jab to the jaw.
Zaadha blocks a head kick by Ko Nachi.
Zaadha wants to counter the offense by Ko Nachi and move into the clinch position.
Zaadha shapes like he's going to throw a leg kick but settles back down.
Ko Nachi takes a step towards his opponent and connects with a left hand, before circling away.
Ko Nachi walks forward, straight into a front kick from Zaadha.
Ko Nachi with a body punch. A glancing blow.
Ko Nachi connects with a body shot.
Ko Nachi throws a leg kick but Zaadha sees it coming and checks it nicely.
Ko Nachi looks to land a left hand but Zaadha moved out of range nicely.
Ko Nachi keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Zaadha looks more muscular than last time we saw him. He must have been on the weights.
Zaadha blocks a leg kick.
Zaadha looks like he wants to counter punch here.
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!
Ko Nachi uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Zaadha.
Ko Nachi scores with the left hand. Zaadha knows he should have avoided that one.
Ko Nachi throws a body kick that misses.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Ko Nachi thuds a mid kick into his opponent's body. That will wear on Zaadha if he has to take too many more of those.
Ko Nachi misses with a body shot.
Ko Nachi throws a head kick but Zaadha moves out of range.
Zaadha tries to clinch but Ko Nachi is having none of it.
Zaadha will need to close the distance a bit before he attacks - that leg kick was thrown from too far away.
A cross from Ko Nachi lands.
Ko Nachi loads up on a big right hand but Zaadha slips the punch.
Zaadha flicks out a counter leg kick but Ko Nachi steps away.
Ko Nachi throws a leg kick but he was too far away and it doesn't land.
Donk. Ko Nachi catches Zaadha right on the button with a cross.
Ko Nachi lands a leg kick that knocks Zaadha off balance momentarily.
Zaadha throws a nice looking combination but Ko Nachi bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Ko Nachi half committed to a counter leg kick.
Zaadha lands a nice looking body shot.
Ko Nachi feints and then cracks Zaadha's leading leg with a nice low kick. He's obviously looking to slow Zaadha down.
Zaadha misses with an attempted mid kick.
Ko Nachi bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A telegraphed right hand from Ko Nachi misses the target.
Zaadha shakes his hands off, looking to compose himself, but takes a jab to the jaw whilst he does it.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Zaadha checks a low kick. Bone on bone - not my idea of a good time.
Ko Nachi with the inside leg kick.
A good leg kick by Zaadha.
Ko Nachi thumps Zaadha with a low kick.
Some bone on bone action there as Ko Nachi checks a low kick. Luckily it wasn't a particularly hard one.
Ko Nachi looks to land a right hand but Zaadha moved out of range.
Ko Nachi scores with a jab to the body.
Zaadha takes a really solid shot there but just smiles back and shrugs his shoulders.
Zaadha avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
Nice uppercut lands for Ko Nachi. That snapped Zaadha's head back.
A low kick lands for Zaadha.
Ko Nachi tries to check a leg kick but that clearly hurt him.
Ko Nachi fakes with the hands and throws a leg kick but Zaadha is out of range.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Zaadha defending well as Ko Nachi loads up on a big left hand.
Zaadha flicks out a counter leg kick but Ko Nachi steps away.
Ko Nachi lands a jab followed by a nice looking cross.
Zaadha fakes a jab and then connects with a hook.
Zaadha fakes a jab and throws a low kick but Ko Nachi checks it well.
The fighters circling - Zaadha throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
Ko Nachi moves out of range of the leg kick from Zaadha.
Zaadha misses with a head kick.
Ko Nachi connects with a looping left hand that seems like it dazed Zaadha momentarily.
Zaadha misses with a low kick.
Ko Nachi throws a nice hook to the body that draws an oooh from the crowd.
Ko Nachi misses the shot to the body.
Zaadha pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Ko Nachi wants to land a leg kick but Zaadha is out of range.
Zaadha tries a quick counter leg kick but Ko Nachi is wise to it.
Some bone on bone action there as Ko Nachi checks a low kick. Luckily it wasn't a particularly hard one.
Ko Nachi uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Zaadha.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Zaadha pushes Ko Nachi away with a front kick.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Zaadha scores with a shot to the body.
Ko Nachi is really peppering his opponent's head with punches.
Zaadha throws a hook but Ko Nachi avoids it easily.
Zaadha shuffles to his left behind two crisp jabs. Ko Nachi eats them both and turns towards Zaadha to reposition himself and eats a stinging right hand-left hook combo.
Ko Nachi cracks Zaadha with a right hand to the side of the head.
Zaadha wants to land a leg kick but Ko Nachi is out of range.
Zaadha throws a looping overhand right but Ko Nachi ducks down to avoid it.
Ko Nachi misses with a looping left.
Some bone on bone action there as Ko Nachi checks a low kick. Luckily it wasn't a particularly hard one.
Ko Nachi keeping at a good range here, avoiding a leg kick.
Ko Nachi misses with a shot to the body

and Zaadha holds on and brings the fighters into a clinch.
Ko Nachi throws a blind hook that connects with the side of Zaadhas head.
The crowd applaud the fighters' efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Ko Nachi throws a hook to the body. More of an arm punch but it's all scoring with the judges.
Zaadha tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Ko Nachi blocking some punches.
Ko Nachi struggles to land a body shot inside as Zaadha controls his hands.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Rigel Ko Nachi dominated that round.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare each other down, ready to get back to the action.

Crunch! Ko Nachi slams his shin into Zaadha's torso.
Rigel Ko Nachi seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
The fighters circling - Ko Nachi throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
Ko Nachi lands a jab to Zaadha's midsection.
Zaadha tries a head kick but it misses.
An attempted straight right counter from Ko Nachi misses the target.
Ko Nachi lands a really nice looking cross but Zaadha seems unphased.
Ko Nachi cracks Zaadha with a good shot that sees him stumbling back into the cage.
A leg kick checked by Ko Nachi.
Ko Nachi is moving around nicely and scores here with a single head shot.
Ko Nachi lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Zaadha circles away quickly and effectively.
Ko Nachi on the wrong end of a nice low kick. He's acting like it's no big deal but he doesn't want to take many more of those.
Zaadha 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.
Ko Nachi misses the body punch
and Zaadha counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
Ko Nachi swings for the body but Zaadha moves out of range.
Zaadha misses with a low kick.
Ko Nachi is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Zaadha can do to turn this around?
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!
Zaadha misses with a low kick.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Zaadha misses with a leg kick
and Ko Nachi counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
Ko Nachi fakes a couple of low kicks, before throwing one on the third attempt. It connects and Zaadha has to reset his feet before getting ready to engage.
Zaadha cracks Ko Nachi with a hook to the jaw. Both fighters smile at eachother and high-five before getting back down to business.
Ko Nachi takes a thudding leg kick, right into the meat of the thigh.
Rigel Ko Nachi is winning the standup battle so far.
Ko Nachi lands a lovely overhand right.
An inside leg kick from Ko Nachi misses.
Zaadha takes a nice looking leg kick right on the meat of his thigh there.
Ko Nachi scores with a decent looking hook.
Zaadha avoids a kick to the body.
Zaadha flicks out a counter leg kick but Ko Nachi steps away.
Ko Nachi tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Zaadha was well out of range. Poor timing from Ko Nachi.
Zaadha throws out a counter right but Ko Nachi avoids it with no problem.
Ko Nachi moves into range and connects with a jab.
Ko Nachi throws a nice outside leg kick.
Nice defenses there by Zaadha.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Zaadha with poor footwork there. He got himself in a bit of a tangle, enabling Ko Nachi to score with a decent uppercut.
Ooooh, nice body kick lands from Zaadha. Ko Nachi shrugs it off though.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Ko Nachi lands a really nice looking cross but Zaadha seems unphased.
A left lands for Ko Nachi.
Zaadha throws a leg kick that misses.
Ko Nachi fakes a couple of low kicks, before throwing one on the third attempt. It connects and Zaadha has to reset his feet before getting ready to engage.
Zaadha blocks a low kick nicely.
A little jabbing left from Zaadha on the counter but it doesn't find it's target.
Ko Nachi misses the shot to the body.

Zaadha moves into the clinch successfully.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Zaadha.

Ko Nachi breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Donk. Ko Nachi catches Zaadha right on the button with a cross.
Zaadha looks shocked there as he takes a right hand to the temple.
Zaadha with a body punch. A glancing blow.
Zaadha takes one on the button.
Zaadha takes a jab right on the kisser.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
A chopping leg kick lands by Ko Nachi.
Zaadha turns his hip over beautifully as he lands a nice leg kick.
Zaadha thows a left - swing and a miss!
A counter left hand to the body from Ko Nachi misses its target.
Some bone on bone action there as Zaadha checks a low kick. Luckily it wasn't a particularly hard one.
A clash of legs there as Zaadha blocks the low kick.
Ko Nachi throws a low kick, looking for Zaadha's leg but Zaadha calmly moves out of range.
Zaadha follows through with a counter body kick but it doesn't land.
Ko Nachi swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Zaadha takes a step towards his opponent and connects with a left hand, before circling away.
Ko Nachi pivots, looking for a leg kick but Zaadha is out of range and Ko Nachi settles back down.
Zaadha has a pretty nasty looking mouse under his right eye.
Zaadha takes a hook to the side of the head. I wonder if that's got his ears ringing.
Ko Nachi connects with a leg kick. He turned his hip over nicely there.
Zaadha throws a chopping leg kick but Ko Nachi manages to avoid taking any serious damage.
Ko Nachi takes a really solid shot there but just smiles back and shrugs his shoulders.
Zaadha swinging wildly here.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Ko Nachi throws a lazy right hand but Zaadha sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Zaadha feints a counter leg kick.
A jab from Ko Nachi misses.
Zaadha appeared to try and counter that last move with a leg kick.
Well, he's not going to score with shots like that. A lazy body kick attempt from Zaadha.
Ko Nachi feints and then cracks Zaadha's leading leg with a nice low kick. He's obviously looking to slow Zaadha down.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Ko Nachi throws a leg kick that is checked
and Zaadha counters with a leg kick that reverborates around the arena.
Ko Nachi moving in and out of range nicely, whilst landing the scoring shot.
Zaadha throws a hook but Ko Nachi blocks it.
Ko Nachi is looking to counter with a shot to the body.
Ko Nachi throws a shot to the body.
Zaadha checks a leg kick nicely.
Ko Nachi misses with a hook. Zaadha ducked under it nicely.
Zaadha jabs Ko Nachi right on the nose. Ko Nachi blinks but takes it well.

Zaadha closes the distance and pushes Ko Nachi back into the cage.
Ko Nachi lands a shoulder strike.
The crowd applaud the fighters' efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Ko Nachi misses with the head strike.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Rigel Ko Nachi dominated that second round.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action! This is the final round!

Zaadha fakes with the hands and throws a leg kick but Ko Nachi is out of range.
Ko Nachi throws a right hand that Zaadha ducks under and follows up with a left that Zaadha also avoids with ease.
Ko Nachi connects with a lovely jab that went straight through the gap between Zaadha's hands.
Ko Nachi connects with a body shot that sends Zaadha's belly button to the back.
Zaadha misses the shot to the body.
Zaadha's leg has a nasty welt from taking a succession of leg kicks. That must be slowing him down.
Ko Nachi checks a leg kick.
Ko Nachi moves into range and lands a nice body kick.
Zaadha takes a solid shot to the body. That one hurt him but he's trying not to show it.
Nice uppercut there from Ko Nachi.
Ko Nachi connects with a looping left hand that seems like it dazed Zaadha momentarily.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
A low kick lands for Ko Nachi.
Zaadha swings wildly with a hook that is half blocked by Ko Nachi.
Ko Nachi lands with a thumping leg kick.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Zaadha takes one on the button.
Ko Nachi avoids the body shot from Zaadha.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Ko Nachi scores with a punch to the gut of his opponent.

Zaadha moves into the clinch.
Ko Nachi is working Zaadha over against the cage.
Zaadha lands a hook to the side of the head.
A nice left hand lands by Ko Nachi.
Ko Nachi working aggressively here.
Zaadha throws a blind hook that connects with the side of Ko Nachis head.
Zaadha blocks an uppercut.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Ko Nachi.
Ko Nachi misses with a body punch.
Ko Nachi lands a body shot in the clinch.

Ko Nachi's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Zaadha blocks a jab.

Zaadha takes the fight into the clinch.
Zaadha struggles to land a body shot inside as Ko Nachi controls his hands.
Ko Nachi blocks a punch to the side of the head.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Zaadha blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Zaadha misses with a hook from the clinch.
Ko Nachi misses with a body punch.
Zaadha misses with a hook to the ribs.
Zaadha takes a shot to the head.
Zaadha throws a nice elbow but it doesn't land.
Zaadha misses with the head strike.
Ko Nachi blocks an uppercut.
A shot in the inside from Zaadha.
Zaadha lands a shot to the body.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Ko Nachi.
Ko Nachi blocks an uppercut.
Zaadha tries to throw a body punch but Ko Nachi avoids it by throwing Zaadha back against the cage.

Ko Nachi breaks from the clinch.
Ko Nachi missing with a left hand there. Zaadha was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
Ko Nachi uses good footwork to get in and out, landing a nice hook.
Ko Nachi with a hook.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Ko Nachi throws a wild body kick that Zaadha sees coming a mile off.
Zaadha only half commits to the counter leg kick.
Nice uppercut there from Ko Nachi.
Ko Nachi fakes with a right hand and throws a good leg kick, right into the thigh. That had to hurt Zaadha.
Ko Nachi throws a leg kick but Zaadha sees it coming and moves out of range.
Zaadha lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Ko Nachi circles away quickly and effectively.
Ko Nachi pivots as if he's going to throw a leg kick but stops half way.
As Ko Nachi backs off Zaadha throws a huge counter combo but Ko Nachi manages to avoid it all.
Ko Nachi lands three nice shots there - that looked like it hurt!
Zaadha moves into range and throws a combination. A nice jab followed by a hook to the body.
Ko Nachi wings a very wild body shot but it does the job and lands to the midsection.
Zaadha takes a jab right on the kisser.
Ko Nachi throws a sloppy head kick and Zaadha moves out of range easily.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Thud! ouch! good body kick from Zaadha - that will leave a mark!
Zaadha wants to slow Ko Nachi down by chopping away at his legs.
Zaadha misses with an uppercut.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A big left from Ko Nachi misses.
Zaadha steps in looking to counter with the mid kick but it doesn't connect.
Ko Nachi jabs Zaadha right on the nose. Zaadha blinks but takes it well.
Ko Nachi scoring well with a low kick there.
A slapping leg kick lands for Ko Nachi.
Zaadha with a nice looking leg kick. You could hear that one land in a back row.

Zaadha forces Ko Nachi back against the cage and clinches.
Ri Zaadha has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Zaadha working aggressively here.
Zaadha swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Ko Nachi working some nice short punches in the clinch.
Zaadha lands a right uppercut that snaps the head of Ko Nachi backwards.

Ko Nachi pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Zaadha pulls out of a head kick attempt.
The crowd applaud the fighters' efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Ko Nachi jabs at Zaadha's body.
Zaadha on the wrong end of a nice hook.
Rigel Ko Nachi is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.

Zaadha closes the distance and clinches.

And that's the end of the fight!
Rigel Ko Nachi showed his dominance in that final round.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Ko Nachi, 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 Shigeki Fujiwara scores the fight 30:27
Judge Shirou Masuda scores the fight 30:27
Judge Yukihiro Shimada scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Rigel Ko Nachi!
After winning the bout, Rigel Ko Nachi thanked all his fans and promised he'd do even better in his next fight. The crowd seemed to love his humility.