PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Mark Gomez (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Thien Nakuratata (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Thien Nakuratata is the more experienced fighter, so let's see if that makes a difference tonight.

Gomez
vs
Nakuratata

185 cm
18
161 lbs
2 - 1 - 0

172 cm
22
160 lbs
2 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter striker
Prefers ground

BJJ White Belt
Excellent MT
Intelligent

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the lightweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 2 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, Mark Gomez!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, Thien Nakuratata!
The judges for this bout are , and .

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Nakuratata throws a right and a left that both miss.
Gomez takes a jab on the nose. He smiles like he loves it and keeps coming.
Gomez takes an uppercut right on the jaw but it doesn't phase him.
Gomez takes a jab on the nose. He smiles like he loves it and keeps coming.
Nakuratata lands a nice shot to the body.
Nakuratata cracks the inside of Gomez's front leg.
A left lands for Nakuratata.
Nakuratata tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Gomez paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Gomez tries to grapple but his opponent circles

and Nakuratata counters by clinching up.
Gomez avoiding damage as Nakuratata throws knees to the body.
Gomez avoiding damage as Nakuratata throws knees to the body.

Nakuratata breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Nakuratata lands a nice looking body shot.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Nakuratata stuns Gomez with a nice body shot, before stepping back out of range.
Nakuratata misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Gomez.
Gomez closes the distance and takes a jab right on the nose as he does so.
Nakuratata bobs and weaves and unloads with a good uppercut.
Nakuratata is moving around nicely and scores here with a single head shot.

Gomez gets the takedown into side control.

Gomez is looking to finish here, going for an Americana. Nakuratata knows the correct defense though, so he's OK.
Nakuratata tries to improve position but can't.
Nakuratata really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Gomez. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Gomez tries for an arm triangle. That looks pretty tight to me. Is this one over!?! Possibly, maybe, no Gomez has let go of the choke. Obviously it wasn't as tight as we thought!
Gomez wants to control but Nakuratata is keeping him busy.
You can see the frustration on Nakuratata's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.
Gomez has knee on belly momentarily but Nakuratata bucks him off and regains half guard.
Gomez sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Nakuratata defending well though.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Gomez is looking for an arm triangle, whilst trying to pass to side control. Nakuratata doesn't seem that keen to cooperate though. No luck this time Gomez.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.

Nakuratata clinches with his opponent.

Nakuratata breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Nakuratata smiles there as he lands a nice right hand right on the button.
Nakuratata looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are hurling abuse towards the fighters... You can hardly blame them though because there isn't a lot going on in the fight.
Nakuratata tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
A lazy left from Nakuratata finds it's target.
Gomez tries to clinch
and Nakuratata counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
Gomez is pinned up against the cage taking some big shots here. The referee is looking closely deciding whether he should stop the fight.
Gomez wants to clinch.
Nakuratata thuds his right hand into Gomez's forehead from close range. That could be painful for both fighters.
Nakuratata just misses with a punch to the body.

Nakuratata gets in close and instigates a clinch.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Nakuratata lands an elbow that stopped Gomez in his tracks for a moment.
Gomez looking to slow down the pace here.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Thien Nakuratata dominated that round.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

Nakuratata fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Gomez, pushing him back against the cage.
Nakuratata misses with a knee strike.
Nakuratata lands a glancing elbow in the clinch.

Nakuratata breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Gomez looks to clinch
and Nakuratata counters with a stiff right hand.
Nakuratata has used his reach advantage pretty well so far tonight.
Gomez moves out of range of the body kick.
Gomez closes the distance looking to clinch
and Nakuratata counters with a nice body shot.
Nakuratata lands a lovely overhand right.
Gomez tries to clinch but fails miserably
and Nakuratata counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.

Nakuratata darts in and clinches Gomez up against the cage.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Nakuratata pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Gomez shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Nakuratata but Nakuratata pushes him off and we're back to square one.
Nakuratata's corner calls for a 1-2. Nakuratata obliges with the 1 part as he scores the single shot and moves back out of range.
Nakuratata scores with a decent looking hook.
Nakuratata looks to land a body kick but Gomez moved away.
Gomez on the wrong end of an overhand right that came out of nowhere.
Danga de danga de dang - Nakuratata scores with a four punch combination!
Nakuratata thuds his right hand into Gomez's forehead from close range. That could be painful for both fighters.
Nakuratata connects with a looping left hand that seems like it dazed Gomez momentarily.
Thien Nakuratata seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Nakuratata throws a head kick that looked like it stung.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Nakuratata keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
Gomez moves in looking to clinch but Nakuratata pushes him off.
Nakuratata lunges at Gomez with a hook that half lands and is half blocked by Gomez's hand.
Nakuratata lands with a nice combination. Gomez backs away looking to recover.
Nakuratata closes the distance but Gomez moves to the side
and Gomez makes him pay by landing a nice hook to the body before moving out of range.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Gomez walks straight into a jab right on the nose. That one stung - he's blinking and trying to clear his head.
Nakuratata ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Gomez moves away.
Nakuratata throws a push kick but Gomez slaps the foot to one side.
Nakuratata tries to close the distance and clinch up but Gomez swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Gomez takes one on the chin but keeps coming.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Gomez tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Nakuratata paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Nakuratata lands three nice shots there - that looked like it hurt!
Mark Gomez is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Gomez gets his head snapped back by a nice shot there.
Nakuratata scores with a nice right hand.
Gomez gets cracked there but stands up to it.

Nakuratata darts in and clinches Gomez up against the cage.
Nakuratata throws a knee to the head but misses.
Nakuratata lands an elbow just above Gomez 's eye.
Nakuratata with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.
Gomez managing to block the knees to the body from Nakuratata.
Knees to the body from Nakuratata.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Nakuratata just leaning against Gomez, taking a breather.
Gomez fails to pull the fight into his guard.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Mark Gomez. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Gomez takes an elbow to the temple.
Nakuratata wants to break the clinch but can't.
Gomez avoids a wild elbow strike from Nakuratata.
Nakuratata dictating the pace here, as the fighters clinch against the cage.
Gomez has Nakuratata pressed up against the cage and is working for takedown. Nakuratata manages to improve position though and keeps the fight standing.
Nakuratata misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Gomez.
Gomez has Nakuratata pushed against the cage.
Gomez avoiding damage as Nakuratata throws knees to the body.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Nice elbow from Nakuratata.
Nakuratata leaning against his opponent.
Nakuratata managing to block the knees to the body from Gomez.
Gomez looks like he's developed a pretty tasty lump over his left eye. He'll need to avoid taking much more damage to that.
Nakuratata landing knees to the body.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Thien Nakuratata showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
That's time! Gomez's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight. This is the final round!

Gomez scores a takedown into full mount!
Nakuratata tries to hold on but Gomez pushes him away.
Nakuratata slips a leg in and gets back to half guard.

Gomez is trying to work for a kimura but Nakuratata is defending well.

Gomez is trying for a guillotine from the top but the pressure isn't in the right place so Nakuratata is just riding it out for now. Gomez eventually gives up the hold.
Nakuratata moves his hips nicely and gets into full guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Gomez tries to free his leg and advance position but Nakuratata is retaining full guard.
Nakuratata tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Gomez trying to control the position from guard on top but Nakuratata is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Gomez will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.

Gomez is holding a leg here, probably looking for an ankle lock - he drops back and goes for it! Nakuratata is in trouble! Is it all over??? No! Nakuratata has escaped and now he's on top!
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

Gomez working away from the bottom but not quite defensive enough there because Nakuratata has passed into half guard!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Nakuratata tries to stand and escape but Gomez is controlling the position.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Gomez has a hand on Nakuratata's thigh, trying to get back to full guard. Nakuratata takes advantage of the position though and mounts him!
Nakuratata takes a little breather and maintains the position. The referee will be looking for him to stay active from such a dominant position though.
Nakuratata can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as Gomez is looking to escape.
Mark Gomez has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Gomez throwing hammer fists to the chest of Nakuratata. What's that going to do exactly?
Gomez can't escape the position.
Gomez is working hard here to advance position.
Nakuratata controlling the pace for now.
Gomez tries to reverse the position but Nakuratata maintains control.
Thien Nakuratata is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are hurling abuse towards the fighters... You can hardly blame them though because there isn't a lot going on in the fight.
Gomez wants to hold on but Nakuratata pushes him away.
Gomez is squirming around, avoiding Nakuratata's attempts to control the action.
Nakuratata looking to control and managing it successfully.
Nakuratata can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as Gomez is looking to escape.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Gomez slips a leg in and gets back to half guard.

And that's the end of the fight!
I would just about give that final round to Thien Nakuratata.
I've got Nakuratata winning every round here. Surely the decision will go his way and he'll pick up a well deserved decision victory. 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 Andi Peters scores the fight 26:30
Judge Gordon Ramsey scores the fight 26:30
Judge Frank Skinner scores the fight 26:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Thien Nakuratata!