Pride S03E04
Nov 4, 2015 23:07:17 GMT -5
Post by FGA Office on Nov 4, 2015 23:07:17 GMT -5
Tony Allen: Ladies and gentlemen, the following contest is schedule for one fall. Introducing first, from Rocky Mount, North Carolina, weighing in at 311 pounds … He is the reigning LDFC Apex Champion … NEST!
The opening to Deftones' "Cherry Waves" plays as a small screen of smoke cover the ground of the stage. As the first rift blasts through the venue, Nest walks through the curtain breathing heavily. Keeping his head down he looks out to the crowd briefly before eyeing the ring ahead, making his way down the ramp with an alarming sense of urgency. Nest stops right before he gets to the apron, holding out both of his arms with pitchfork hand signs along with a scream. He rolls in the ring and starts cracking his knuckles as the music dies down.
Geoff Penzer: Two weeks ago we saw Nest defeat HKW’s Luke Wisia; tonight he faces one of the rising stars here in LDFC, in the form of Keegan Hightower. Love him or hate him, you can’t deny Keegan has been a force to be reckoned with here. Tonight is certainly going to be a challenge for him though.
Tony Allen: And his opponent, from Providence, Rhode Island, weighing in at 216 pounds … KEEGAN HIGHTOWER!
"Let The Bridges Burn" plays and Keegan comes out he has sunglasses on bedazzled of course. He walks down to the ring without looking at the fans he slides into the ring and takes his sunglasses off and hands them to the stage hand and tests the ropes.
The bell sounds to start the match and both competitors emerge from their corners; Keegan Hightower has a swagger in his step as he makes his way towards the center of the ring, whereas Nest has a stoic presence about him. As they square up in the middle of the squared circle, Hightower is busy jaw jacking about how much better he is than his opponent – when Nest socks him with a hard forearm smash! Hightower staggers back a step, holding his cheek, before returning with a stiff knife edge chop to the chest!
Geoff Penzer: Oh, I felt that chop from here.
Next visibly winces, but just fires off another forearm smash. Keegan returns fire with a knife edge chop to the chest before he ducks under the incoming forearm. He spins around and, using his speed, manages to fire off a punch combo that knocks the Apex champion down! Nest scrambles to get up again, as Hightower uses what strength he can muster to slam the three hundred pounder down to the mat. He goes against the ropes for some momentum, coming back with a jumping fist drop – NO! Nest rolls out of the way and both competitors hurry to their vertical bases. This time Nest picks his opponent up and slams him – with authority!
Keegan Hightower arches his back in pain as Nest stomps him a few times, before picking him back up by the head. Hightower is backed against the ropes as Nest delivers a vicious knife edge chop, lighting up the chest of his opponent. And a second one. Nest goes for the Irish whip, but Hightower counters, going under the arm before he takes Nest off his feet with a leg sweep. The big man goes down with a thud, but Keegan keeps hold of the leg as he stomps at the knee.
Geoff Penzer: Keegan looking to go after the legs; if he takes away Nest’s power game, then he stands a real chance against the Apex Champion.
A spinning toe hold follows, which transitions into a knee smash as Keegan drops his entire body weight down across the joint. Nest yells in pain, holding his knee as Hightower stomps away at it. The crowd are booing; Hightower taunts them, yelling out that they’re just jealous they don’t look this good, before he goes back to stomping at the leg. Relenting slightly, Hightower drags his opponent back to his feet, delivering a kneebreaker to the big man.
Nest rolls out of the ring under the bottom rope, standing on the outside as he tries to weight on the leg. But Hightower has a plan; he sets off against the far ropes, coming back with a baseball slide that catches the champion square in the face. He’s sent flying backwards against the guard rail before Hightower slides out after him. Some forearm smashes find their mark; Nest is reeling as Hightower continues the assault, before sending the champion into the ring steps! Nest hits them legs first and tumbles over them.
Geoff Penzer: Credit to Keegan Hightower, he has a plan and he’s sticking to it.
The count out reaches five as Hightower rolls his opponent back into the ring, albeit with his neck and head hanging out over the apron. Keegan jumps up onto the apron in one swift motion and goes for a leg drop – NO! He hits the apron ass first as Nest rolls out of the way! And the crowd are on their feet cheering as Keegan falls off the apron, clutching his coccyx! He crawls away up the aisle slightly as Nest recomposes himself in the ring; the champion sees where his opponent is and, after shaking off his injured leg, Nest sets off against the far ropes, coming back with a suicide dive through the ropes!
Geoff Penzer: Nest goes airborne!
Another cheer from the crowd as Nest picks himself back up, standing over the prone Keegan Hightower on the outside of the ring. But the count out is going again, so the champion rolls his opponent into the ring. He follows him in and Nest makes the cover.
ONE!
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TWO!
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Keegan kicks out!
Undeterred, Nest lifts his opponent back up to his feet and up across his shoulder. He makes his way towards the corner, dropping Hightower face first across the top turnbuckle. Hightower staggers back into the corner, but he doesn’t stay there for long. An Irish whip sends him from pillar to post, and Nest follows him in with a high knee to the face! Again, Keegan staggers out of the corner, right into the path of a bulldog! Another pin attempt from Nest.
ONE!
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TWO!
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Keegan kicks out again.
Geoff Penzer: You’re going to have to do more than that if you want to put Keegan Hightower away.
The referee is adamant it was only a two count, but Nest isn’t arguing the point. He stands up once again, bringing Keegan with him – but Hightower sticks a thumb in the eye. The official is quick to admonish him, but Keegan fires off some kicks to the body, rocking Nest where he stands, before finishing off with a jumping kick! Nest stays on his feet, however, as Keegan sets off against the ropes for some momentum. He leaps through the air with a cross body block – NO! Nest catches him, countering with a fallaway slam!
Keegan rolls away clutching at his back again as Nest sits up, shaking the cobwebs out of his mind. Both competitors get slowly back to their feet; Hightower is staggering slightly, straight into the waiting arms of the Apex champion and a thrust spinebuster! Keegan is laid out as Nest drops down and hooks the leg.
ONE!
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TWO!
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Keegan gets the shoulder up.
Geoff Penzer: Keegan Hightower showing that fighting spirit we know he has deep down. Somewhere deep down.
A hint of agitation shows on the face of the Apex champion as he whips Hightower towards the corner, putting all his strength behind it. Keegan hits the turnbuckle, almost going over it before falling into a seated position in the corner. Nest charges in with the cannonball senton – and misses! Keegan dives out of the way as Nest hurtles into the bottom and middle turnbuckle before slumping into a heap on the floor. The crowd fall silent as Hightower slowly picks himself back up, with assistance from the ropes. He’s catching his breath still as Nest begins to stir. Finally, the champion reaches a vertical base as Keegan lashes out with some shoot kicks to the legs. The fifth kick causes Nest’s knee to buckle, forcing the champion down to a kneeling position, before Keegan delivers a roundhouse to the head. But the champion is still upright, albeit dazed, so Keegan sets off against the ropes again, this time coming back with a bulldog! And he goes for a cover!
ONE!
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TWO!
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NO! Nest kicks out.
Keegan can’t quite believe it, but he forces himself back to a vertical base. Nest climbs up to all fours, and Keegan goes after that leg again. Lifting it high into the air before driving it down into the mat. And a second time. The champion is down, clutching at that leg as Keegan rolls him over onto his back. A sloppy figure four leglock is applied – Keegan isn’t much for submissions – and suddenly Nest looks to be in trouble. The crowd fall silent as they see the pain on the champion’s face, and they see he’s in the center of the ring with nowhere to go.
Geoff Penzer: This could be it right here! Keegan Hightower has been working that knee all match, and now he has a figure four applied!
The referee checks for a submission, but Nest won’t quit. He’s quite adamant about it as well. He forces himself to sit up and reaches forward, slamming a fist into Keegan’s face! It’s enough to force a break, though, so Nest tries again. This time he doesn’t make as much impact, but the third attempt finds its mark! Nest manages to seize the opening, using his strength to roll over, reversing the figure four – and suddenly it’s Hightower in trouble!
The fans start to cheer as the referee asks Keegan if he gives up, but Hightower won’t submit just yet. He’s crawling towards the ropes, dragging all three hundred plus pounds of the Apex champion with him; the fans are baying for his blood, urging Keegan to submit. But he won’t. Nest tries to stop his opponent, but Keegan is crawling and, finally, he reaches the ropes!
The referee calls for a break, which he gets after three and a half. Hightower is clinging to the ropes, using them to drag himself back up as Nest crawls towards the center of the ring. Both competitors reach their feet after nearly fifteen seconds. Nest looks to be out of it as Hightower lunges towards him – Tree Removal! The spinning chop to the neck catches Hightower by surprise, dropping him to one knee as Nest stumbles backwards, holding that knee in agony.
Geoff Penzer: Can he capitalize here?
Nest staggers back against the ropes, but steadies himself before moving forward – STYLISTIC KICK! Out of nowhere, Keegan Hightower just caught the Apex champion with his patented super kick! And like a redwood, Nest falls to the mat with a thud! The crowd fall silent again as Hightower picks himself up, and looks towards the corner.
Geoff Penzer: What does Keegan have in store here?
Hightower begins his slow ascent to the top turnbuckle, facing out across the crowd as he steadies himself up top. He blows a kiss to the fans before leaping off with The Ending – NO! Nest gets his knees up in time! Hightower lands ribs first across the raised knees, and he rolls away in pain. Slowly, Nest begins to stand back up, followed close behind by Keegan. Nest connects with a knee to the midsection before spinning, connecting with Nest Assured! He falls down on top of Keegan as the referee counts.
ONE!
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TWO!
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THREE!!!
Tony Allen: Ladies and gentlemen, the winner of this match … NEST!
Geoff Penzer: A tremendous effort from both men, but the Apex champion just edges out Keegan Hightower to win tonight. Nest certainly had moments of doubt, but there’s a reason he is the champion.
The referee helps an exhausted and limping Nest get back to his feet, raising his arm in victory as the crowd continue cheering for him.
[ FADE OUT ]
