Moe ‘Monster’ Hussain is the new WKA New Zealand Super Heavyweight K1 Champion, after narrowly defeating Riki ‘the Rock’ Barclay on Saturday night at Impact Fight Night 5 in Morrinsville.

The fight was the second time the two have met in the ring, with the first time being at the last King of Kings show in Christchurch.

Moe Hussain also won their first encounter via split decision, but this time he won the New Zealand super heavyweight title in the process.

Saturday night’s fight was razor-close, with both men having their moments of success. The power of the two men was palpable; when they crashed together sweat spattered from each blow.

Neither man was willing to take a backwards step. Each exchange would start at range before the two titans crashed into the clinch, where a large portion of the fight was contested trading knees and body rips.

The output was extremely high for a heavyweight fight, both men coming in well-conditioned and ready for war. Each of the five rounds was close, but at the end it was Moe Hussain who took the win, being crowned the new WKA New Zealand Super Heavyweight Champion!

Round 1

The two men met in the centre, trading leg kicks. It was Hussain who held the centre early, pressing the action and clinching up when Barclay closed the distance. A clean 1-2 for Hussain was answered by a hard leg kick from Barclay.

Hussain took centre ring again, pushing Barclay back with a hard body jab. Barclay blitzed forth, crashing hands into the guard and ending with a leg kick, and another.

Hussain took the centre again towards the end of the round, pushing Barclay back and landing a couple of chopping low kicks.

Moe Hussain stalks Riki Barclay on Saturday night (photo credit: Wayne Logan Photography / The Friday Edition)

Round 2

They traded kicks, crashing shins into each other’s guard, before Barclay jumped forth with a front scissor kick and pushed Hussain backwards. Moments afterwards, Barclay caught the kick of Hussain and dumped him to the canvas.

Hussain came back with a stepping left knee and a low kick, answered by a scissor knee to the body from Barclay. They clinched again in centre ring, trading blows on the exit. A nice right hand landed for Hussain and they clinched again.

Hussain again threw the stepping left knee to right low kick, with Barclay answering with punches into a right low kick. Barclay landed several knees to the thigh in the clinch.

Barclay landed a nasty right body rip, but his follow-up kick was caught by Hussain, who dumped him into the ropes. Hussain blitzed forth into the clinch again where they traded blows until the round bell.

Round 3

Barclay opened the round with an inside low kick into a two-punch combo ending with another low kick. Hussain answered with his own low kick but ate a hard punch in the process.

Hussain pushed forward again, with a kick leading into punches upstairs, backing Barclay up. As Hussain lunged forward, he was caught by a thunderous left hook which spattered sweat from his head and knocked him sideways.

The clinch ensued and they traded knees to the thigh, before they crashed to the canvas with Barclay on top.

Barclay landed another nasty body rip but again was clinched and forced back by Hussain. They traded wild blows near the red corner, Hussain landing a couple of hard leg kicks in succession.

Riki Barclay lands a hard left hook on Moe Hussain (photo credit: Wayne Logan Photography / The Friday Edition).

Round 4.

Barclay opened by feinting a right low kick into a spinning backfist, crashing into the guard of Hussain. They clinched again and it was Hussain landing knees to the thigh, answered by clubbing body rips from Barclay.

Barclay led with an inside low kick into an overhand right which would fell a horse but was just shrugged off by the impenetrable guard of Hussain.

They traded punches, both men landing upstairs, before they were in the clinch again trading knees to the thigh. Every engagement would start with a wild exchange and shortly thereafter be contested in the clinch.

A slight separation and Barclay landed a hard right low kick. This was anyone’s fight heading into the fifth.

Round 5

They hugged in the centre in a display of mutual respect.

Hussain started strong, blitzing in with a punch combination into the clinch again where he delivered a nasty knee to the thigh. On the break, Barclay landed a low kick, answered by one from Hussain.

A 2-3-chop from Hussain and a two-piece upstairs from Barclay. They clinch again in the centre, trading knees. Hussain stuck Barclay with a stiff front kick, landing a lead leg kick shortly after.

In a clinch exchange, Barclay landed a right hand in close which cracked Moe’s head back. Hussain pushed him back, unloading a couple of straight punches against the fence. Barclay leapt forward attempting a rolling thunder kick at the final bell, after which both men raised their hands to claim the victory.

Result

After five rounds of crazy high-paced action, it was Moe Hussain who took the split decision, becoming the new WKA New Zealand Super Heavyweight Champion!

Classy in defeat, Barclay congratulated Hussain on his victory. Given the close matchup and amount of time spent in the clinch, perhaps we will see the two men meet again under full Thai rules.