PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Kendrik Down (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Nicholas Noriega (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Nicholas Noriega has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Down
vs
Noriega

183 cm
19
155 lbs
2 - 0 - 0

177 cm
19
153 lbs
1 - 1 - 0

Good wrestling
Counter fighter
Cuts easily

BJJ Blue Belt
Excellent MT
Powerful

Damnfield clothing

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 2 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Kendrik Down!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Nicholas Noriega!
The judges for this bout are Skip Squint, Winston Howard and John Mangel.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Noriega misses with a low kick.
Down looks to have improved his striking defense since last time we saw him fight.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Down is defended easily by Noriega.
Noriega looks to land a body kick but Down moved away.
Noriega fails with an attempt to clinch.
Horrible takedown by Down or perhaps it was just good defense by Noriega which made him look bad.
Noriega walks straight into an uppercut. Luckily it didn't land flush.
Noriega throws a low kick but it's checked well by Down.
Noriega's coach down at Build Up Crossfit was telling us pre-fight that they have been working on Noriega's balance. Obviously they view that as a key factor in the outcome of this fight.
Noriega cracks the inside of Down's front leg.
Noriega fakes a jab and then connects with a hook.
Noriega throws a decent looking leg kick but it doesn't land clean.
Noriega throws a leg kick but Down sees it coming and moves out of range.
No luck for Down with that takedown attempt.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Kendrik Down. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Noriega throws out a leg kick but Down moves out of range and Noriega only half commits.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Noriega lands with a thumping leg kick.
Down looks to land a right hand but Noriega moved out of range.
Noriega misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Noriega connects with a solid leg kick.
Noriega fakes a couple of low kicks, before throwing one on the third attempt. It connects and Down has to reset his feet before getting ready to engage.
Down circles away from the clinch attempt.
Noriega looks to throw the jab but Down is out of range.
Down avoids the body shot from Noriega.
Noriega is looking to clinch but Down is avoiding it.
Noriega tries to clinch there but Down circles away.
Noriega tries a low kick but Down avoids it.
Noriega misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Down shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Noriega but Noriega pushes him off and we're back to square one.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Down closes the distance and after a bit of a stuggle, scores a takedown into Noriega's guard.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
The referee claps his hands together and tells the fighters to work.
Down is working the ground and pound from guard. He might want to try advancing position though to get more of an impact.
Down throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Noriega works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Down throwing strikes but missing.
Down throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Noriega trying to control the position.
Down has been looking to land a fair amount of strikes on the ground. He might be looking to soften his opponent up in order to work for a submission.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Down is just sitting in guard, looking to avoid any submissions.

The ref stands the fighters back up, due to lack of action by Nicholas Noriega.
Down thows a body shot but no joy.
Noriega throws the kick towards the body but Down avoids it.
Down blocks a leg kick.
Noriega swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Noriega tries to clinch but Down is having none of it.
Noriega tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Down is moving around nicely and scores here with a single head shot.
Noriega dances in quickly and lands a nice inside leg kick on Down. That did some damage!
Noriega throws a leg kick that misses.
Noriega throws a leg kick that is checked

and Down counters with a nice double leg into guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Noriega wants to sweep here but Down controlling him for the moment.
Noriega really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Down. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.
Down slips effortlessly into side control - very nice.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Down working the ground and pound.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close round but I would say that Kendrik Down will probably get the nod.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

Noriega stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Noriega wants it to stay on the feet.
Down swats away the attempt to clinch by Noriega.

Down looks for a takedown. He's got it. We're now in half guard.
Down landing with strikes to the body and head, softening up his opponent.
Down scores with a couple of good hammerfists.
Noriega is trying to control but can't.
Down missing with the ground and pound from half guard.
Down throwing shots but Noriega is blocking nicely.
Down sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Noriega defending well though.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Noriega has hold of Down's hands but Down slips his arm to the side and lands an elbow.
Kendrik Down overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Down content to control rather than advance.
Noriega blocking the ground and pound attempt from Down.
Down throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
Noriega taking some punishment here, with Down in his half guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Down sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Noriega defending well though.
Down lands strikes from half guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Down winds up and cracks Noriega with a swinging punch to the side of the head.
Noriega tries to get to full guard but Down has control of the leg.
Down perhaps working for something from half guard, or maybe not. It looks like he's just sitting there.
Noriega on the receiving end of some nice ground and pound.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Noriega on the receiving end of some nice ground and pound.
The referee walks around the fighters to get a better view of the action. Down lands a nice short elbow.
Down content to sit in half guard and control for a moment.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Down thows a huge punch but Noriega dodges it nicely.
Down throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
Noriega makes his way to full guard. A much better position for Noriega.
Down is intent on slowing down the pace of the fight, simply looking to control.
Noriega is trying to hold Down in close to prevent damage but Down has managed to pass into half guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Noriega is trying to maintain the position but Down is very close to passing his half guard.
Down not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
Down throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
Down content to control rather than advance.
Down working the head and body with strikes.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Kendrik Down dominated that second 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. And we move into the final round!

Noriega throws a low kick, looking for Down's leg but Down calmly moves out of range.
Down changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Noriega tries to avoid it but Down manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Noriega to the ground. Noriega escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
Down fails with a takedown attempt.
Nicholas Noriega seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Noriega tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. Down manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Down jabbing away but nothing is landing.
Noriega motions for Down to come forward. Noriega throws a leg kick but it misses it's target.
Down misses with a takedown attempt - Noriega sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Kendrik Down. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Like a baseball bat into the meat of his leg there - nice leg kick by Noriega.
Noriega scores with a slapping inside leg kick.
An inside leg kick from Noriega misses.
Noriega with a nice looking leg kick. You could hear that one land in a back row.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Noriega wants to land a leg kick but Down is out of range.
Down checks a low kick from Noriega.

Down fakes an overhand right and shoots for a takedown. Noriega sprawls well initially but Down persists and gets the takedown into half guard.
Noriega is trying to stand up here but Down is controlling him well.
Down scores with a couple of good hammerfists.
Nice strikes from Down there.
Noriega trying to hold on to Down's head to control him but Down postures up.
Down sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Noriega defending well though.
Nicholas Noriega has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The referee walks around the fighters to get a better view of the action. Down lands a nice short elbow.
Down is looking to pass the guard... He's managed it - he's now in full mount!
Down is in the full mount, landing strikes.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Down is still in mount, landing shots to his trapped opponent. Noriega can't stay in a position like this for much longer.
Down breaks from Noriega's wrist control and lands an elbow.
Down trying to control but he's not successful this time.
Down breaks from Noriega's wrist control and lands an elbow.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Down scoring with some good ground and pound from mount here. Will he manage to finish Noriega?
Down can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as Noriega is looking to escape.
Down with the ground and pound from mount.
Noriega takes a big shot to the head but keeps on trying to improve his position.
Noriega taking shots to the head.
Noriega is looking to improve his position but Down isn't that keen on the idea.
Down with a couple of short strikes.

Noriega is rocked!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Down landing punches.
Noriega is still in real trouble! Can Down finish him?
This has been an exciting period of action!
Down controlling from the full mount.
Down cracks Noriega with a big head shot that has him covering up instantly! He's rolled onto his side and the referee has seen enough - this one is aaaaaaaaaaall over!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 4:36 of round 3, we have a winner by way of TKO (Strikes). Kendrik Down!