KRIS MCCRAY VS. KYLE NOKE
Nick and Kris share a tender hug before the fight begins.
Round 1: Kris totally avoids the usual feeling-out process, lunging for a leg kick and a jab that barely connect. He moves in for what appears to be a takedown and Kyle catches him with two good punches. He’s resilient, though, and gets the takedown with a slam, moving into half guard. He has Noke pressed up against the fence, making it difficult for Noke to do anything. And of course, right when I type that, Noke shrimps his way out and gets back to his feet with his back pressed against the cage. Kris hits a knee to the inside thigh, and Noke uses that as an opportunity to break free and put some distance between him and McCray. Noke with an overhand right that is partially blocked. Kyle misses a second punch attempt, and Kris capitalizes with a trip into a takedown, falling into half guard again. Kyle shrimps his way out and gets back to his feet again. They exchange some ineffective knees to the midsection. Kris maintains a clinch and tries for another takedown slam, but Kyle is able to stuff it and locks in what appears to be a tight guillotine, but he’s unable to get both legs wrapped around McCray to really secure it. Kris gets back to his feet and Noke tries frantically to switch to a D’Arce choke, but can’t get it. Kris tries a double-leg but Noke’s back is against the cage. Kris switches to a single-leg, but Noke uses his weigh to push him to the ground. He tries a kimura but Kris rolls out, ending up back in the guard. Noke uses elbows from the bottom to prevent Kris from improving his position. Kyle with a big left hand from the bottom, followed by a big right that snaps McCray’s head back. The round ends. Dana says that Noke is doing far more from the bottom than McCray is doing from the top. I’d have to agree. Nick got more takedowns in the round and judges tend to look upon that favorably, but he did nothing with the position once he had it. Noke landed plenty of elbows and punches from the bottom and generally outworked McCray. Heavy.com scores the round 10-9 for Kyle Noke.
Round 2: Kris opens with an overhand right that is partially deflected. He immediately shoots for a takedown, but Kyle sprawls and gets out. Kyle feints a jab and goes for a takedown of his own, but Kris reverses and takes Kyle down to a seated position. It doesn’t last long, however, as Kyle works his way back to his feet…only for Kris to slam him from behind. Kris works into half guard. Kyle attempts to shrimp out for a third time, but Kris has apparently learned his lesson and nullifies it by holding Noke’s left leg. Kris is keeping his head buried in Kyle’s chest to nullify the elbow strikes. Kyle eventually shrimps out and gets up, then drags Kris to the mat and ends up on his back. He tries to get the hooks in but can’t lock it. He wants a rear-naked choke but Kris does a great job of keeping him from sinking the hooks and moving enough to keep Kyle from gaining a solid position from which to execute the choke. Kyle gets one hook in and goes for the choke but can’t get under McCray’s chin. Kris rolls over and ends up in Noke’s guard, using short elbow strikes that don’t do much damage but are probably incredibly annoying. Kyle gets to a seated position but Kris puts him on his back again as the round ends. Heavy.com scores the round 10-9 for Kris McCray.
We’re going to a third round, a fact that baffles Tito.
Round 3: Kris with a kick to the midsection followed by a left jab that lands flush. Kris lunges for a takedown that misses at first, but he puts Noke on his back just seconds later. Kris uses short elbows and punches while keeping Noke pressed against the cage. He does the exact same thing for the next three minutes. Noke is just helpless to get out. He can’t shrimp while he’s against the cage. With roughly 90 seconds remaining, Noke gets a kimura that looks good, but Kris rolls his arm out. Mazagatti stands them up with one minute left. Kyle tries a flying knee that misses and Kris gets a good grip around his midsection. They stay in the same position as the round comes to a close. Heavy.com scores the round 10-9 for Kris McCray.
Official decision: Kris McCray d. Kyle Noke by decision
Dana says that Noke is a good fighter, but you can’t come into the sport and not have takedown defense.