PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Marco Natta (ranked 3201 p4p, 3129 weight class) and Hajime Nakamura (ranked 290 p4p, 282 weight class). Nakamura is bouncing up and down as he enters the arena, backed by Soldier of Fortune - Loudness. Fingers crossed for an exciting fight - I'm sure both fighters are looking for a nice under the table bonus!

Natta
vs
Nakamura

170 cm
25
145
1 - 0 - 0

174 cm
25
145
1 - 0 - 0

BJJ Brown Belt
Basic striking
Very strong

Powerful takedowns
Basic striking
Powerful

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, for the featherweight championship of the world!
Introducing the champion to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of The Island, Marco Natta!
And introducing the challenger to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of The Island, Hajime Nakamura!
The judges for this bout are Peter Branson, Dirk Anderson and David Hoff.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Natta swings for the body but Nakamura moves out of range.
Nakamura misses the jab.
Natta was looking to counter that last move with a shot to the body but he didn't commit.

Natta gets caught napping as Nakamura dives in and scores a takedown. Natta manages to retain guard.
Natta is doing well to control the posture of his opponent and prevent any damage.
Nakamura is frustrating his opponent with some stalling tactics from top position.
Natta is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Nakamura pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Natta is keeping the position for now.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Natta controls Nakamura momentarily but Nakamura frees himself.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

That's one minute gone in the round.
If this pace continues, the referee will definitely step in and force a standup.
Nakamura trying to control the position from guard on top but Natta is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Natta misses with a wild body shot.
Natta throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Natta loads up on a big right hand but Nakamura slips the punch.
Natta throws the left hand but Nakamura avoids the punch easily.

Nakamura scores a trip takedown into side control. Nice.
Nakamura is moving around in side control but his primary objective seems to be to maintain the position.
Nakamura has knee on belly and now moves to full mount! Trouble for Natta!
Natta really trying hard to get back to half guard here.

Nakamura jumps to the side looking to secure the arm triangle…. Ooooh, that looks tight… Natta is gargling but he's managed to escape! Nice work there by Natta and Nakamura has given up the dominant position trying to land that submission.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
You can see the frustration on Natta's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.
Natta is positioning himself to get back to half guard.
Natta manages to get back to half guard.

Nakamura looking for a kimura but he'll have to free his other leg if he wants to finish that. Perhaps he's just using it as a distraction technique.
Natta wants to control but Nakamura is keeping busy and won't allow it.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Natta blocking the ground and pound attempt from Nakamura.
Nakamura thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.
Nakamura thows a huge punch but Natta dodges it nicely.

Nakamura is trying for a guillotine from the top but the pressure isn't in the right place so Natta is just riding it out for now. Nakamura eventually gives up the hold.
Nakamura is trying to control. Natta wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.

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.
The fighters are battling for position here. Natta manages to regain full guard. Nice work.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Nakamura's corner is telling him to maintain position.
Nakamura wants to control from the top but Natta keeps moving.

Natta working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Nakamura doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Nakamura manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.
Nakamura postures up.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Nakamura trying to control but Natta is working from the bottom.

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.
Natta throws a jab when Nakamura was well out of range.
Marco Natta seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Natta misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Nakamura.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Hajime Nakamura dominated that round.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

Natta throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Nakamura sees it coming and avoids it easily.
Natta throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Natta throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
Natta keeps the fight on the outside.
Natta misses the shot to the body.
Nakamura tries to clinch up.
Natta just misses with a punch to the body.
Nakamura has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Natta throws out a loose jab but Nakamura uses good head movement to avoid it.
The fighters circling - Natta throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
Nakamura tries a counter takedown but it's more of a dummy move, and he uses it to push himself away.
Wow, both these guys are really going for it!
Nakamura fails with a takedown attempt.
Nakamura looks more muscular than last time we saw him. He must have been on the weights.
Natta throws a jab when Nakamura was well out of range.
Nakamura throws a hook but Natta avoids it easily.
A counter left hand to the body from Natta misses its target.
Nakamura is looking to clinch but Natta is avoiding it.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Natta takes a swing at Nakamura's ribcage but misses.
Natta takes a swing at Nakamura's ribcage but misses.
Nakamura throws a body punch but Natta moves out of range.
Nakamura fails with an attempt to clinch.
A big left from Natta misses.
Natta tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Nakamura was well out of range. Poor timing from Natta.
Natta swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.

That's one minute gone in the round.
A telegraphed right hand from Nakamura misses the target.
Natta fails with an attempt to clinch.
Nakamura moves in looking to clinch but Natta pushes him off.
Nakamura moves out of range of the strikes.
Natta misses with a wild body shot.
A looping hook to the body misses from Natta. Nakamura does a little dance to reset his feet.
Nakamura throws a big shot that misses.
A big right from Natta misses.
Natta ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Nakamura moves away.
Nakamura fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Natta pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
Natta fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Nakamura manages to avoid it.
Natta moves in looking to clinch but Nakamura pushes him off.
Natta takes a swing at Nakamura's ribcage but misses.
Nakamura tries to clinch there but Natta circles away.
Natta throws a jab when Nakamura was well out of range.
Nakamura slips under a jab.
A jab from Nakamura misses.
Natta is looking to wear down Nakamura with body shots, infact he's throwing more body shots than head shots at the moment.

Natta moves into the clinch.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Nakamura trying to stall but Natta improves his position.
Nakamura looks like he'd prefer to be striking at range right now.

Natta has managed to pull guard. Let's see whether he can work an aggressive guard. It will also be interesting to see what tactics Nakamura uses from the top position.
Natta keeping moving, preventing Nakamura from controlling successfully.
Natta controls Nakamura momentarily but Nakamura frees himself.
Nakamura wants to control from the top but Natta keeps moving.
Natta trying to keep a closed guard but Nakamura is proving a slippery customer.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Nakamura wants to control from the top but Natta keeps moving.
The referee is asking the fighters to pick up the pace.
Natta is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.
Marco Natta is winning the standup battle so far.
Natta throws out a loose jab but Nakamura uses good head movement to avoid it.
Nakamura tries a counter takedown but it's more of a dummy move, and he uses it to push himself away.
Nakamura avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
Nakamura throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
Natta is looking to counter punch.
Nakamura is looking to clinch.
Natta throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Natta throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Natta misses with a straight left.
Nakamura wants to clinch up but Natta keeps it at a distance.
Natta checks a low kick from Nakamura.
Nakamura throws a lazy right hand but Natta sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.

Nakamura feints and as Natta raises his hands in defense, Nakamura changes levels and drives through with a takedown into guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Natta is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Natta is pulling down on Nakamura's head. It's preventing any offense from Nakamura, at least for the moment.
Nakamura sitting in guard, not really doing much.
Nakamura tries to free his leg and advance position but Natta is retaining full guard.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Natta keeping moving, preventing Nakamura from controlling successfully.
The referee claps his hands together and tells the fighters to work.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Marco Natta dominated that second round.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin! This is the final round!

Nakamura tries to clinch up but Natta circles away and keeps his distance.
A swing and a miss from Nakamura.
Natta missing with a left hand there. Nakamura was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
Natta moves in looking to clinch but Nakamura pushes him off.
Natta tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Nakamura was well out of range. Poor timing from Natta.
Nakamura looks to land a right hand but Natta moved out of range.

Nakamura closes the distance and pushes Natta back into the cage.
Natta misses with a punch to the body.
Nakamura goes for a takedown in the clinch but Natta prevents it.
Nakamura changes levels and goes for a takedown here. Natta fights it off and pushes away nicely.
Natta misses with a looping left.

Natta drives through and clinches with Nakamura against the cage.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Nakamura looking for a takedown.
Marco Natta has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Hajime Nakamura.
Natta swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Nakamura tries to score a body lock takedown but Natta shows good agility there to stay on his feet.
Nakamura is trying to break the clinch but Natta is controlling him.
Natta misses with a hook from the clinch.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Natta tries to work over Nakamura's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.

Natta manages to pull guard.
Natta preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Natta is pulling down on Nakamura's head to control his posture.
Nakamura is looking to work some ground and pound but Natta has wrist control.
Nakamura in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.

Natta is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
Nakamura trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Natta avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Natta definitely looks more muscular than last time we saw him fight.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Nakamura engaging in some classic timewasting tactics.
Nakamura throwing strikes from guard but Natta blocks nicely.
Nakamura postures up.

Nakamura is trying to work a guillotine from the top, or something like that? Don't know how he thinks he's going to get a finish from there.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.
A looping hook to the body misses from Natta. Nakamura does a little dance to reset his feet.
Natta throws a jab when Nakamura was well out of range.
Natta throws out a loose jab but Nakamura uses good head movement to avoid it.
Natta avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
Nakamura swings for the body but Natta moves out of range.
The fight stays on the outside here - Nakamura looks like he's thinking about clinching though.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Nakamura swings for the body but Natta moves out of range.
Nakamura is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
The fight stays on the outside here - Nakamura looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Nakamura is looking to clinch but Natta is avoiding it.
Natta throws a body punch but Nakamura moves out of range.
Natta misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Nakamura.
Natta avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Nakamura throws a series of punches but Natta moves out of range.
Natta swings for the body but Nakamura moves out of range.
Nakamura with the counter takedown but Natta avoids it easily.
Nakamura moves out of range of the strikes.
And Nakamura tries to counter it with a takedown but Natta pushes his down on his head and steps out.
Natta avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Natta keeps the fight on the outside.
Nakamura throws a hook but Natta blocks it.
Natta misses with a straight right.
Nakamura tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Natta paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Nakamura has his takedown stuffed

and Natta holds on and brings the fighters into a clinch.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Natta manages to pull guard. Let's see whether he can land a sub off his back.
Nakamura missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Hajime Nakamura has got the better of the ground game so far.
Natta trying to keep a closed guard but Nakamura is proving a slippery customer.

Nakamura drops back looking for a leg! Natta is in trouble here! The fighters roll with the hold and Natta manages to kick Nakamura off! Nakamura jumps back into Natta's guard.
Nakamura is frustrating his opponent with some stalling tactics from top position.

And that's the end of the fight!
Marco Natta showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Natta has won this one but let's see what the judges have to say. 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 Peter Branson scores the fight 29:28
Judge Dirk Anderson scores the fight 29:28
Judge David Hoff scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Marco Natta!
Marco Natta is the new featherweight champion!
Marco Natta thanked the fans post fight for their support.
In defeat, Hajime Nakamura stepped up to the mic, saying 'Thank you to my opponent and all the fans, my coaches and sponsors, yeah you company owners out there, call my manager & make him an offer.'.