PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Gurizuri Nakamura (ranked 872 p4p, 1004 weight class) and Thor White (ranked 122 p4p, 143 weight class). Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Nakamura
vs
White

168 cm
34
186
22 - 18 - 1

189 cm
30
195
17 - 9 - 0

Abu Dhabi Champ
World class boxer
Very quick

Olympic wrestler
World class boxer
Good gas tank

Fantasy Threads

Gatoroids
Shadow Realm Apparel

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the middleweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 22 - 18 - 1, fighting out of Los Angeles, Gurizuri Nakamura!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 17 - 9 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Thor White!
The judges for this bout are Shigeki Sano, Yukihiro Yamamoto and Yasuomi Hirokawa.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
White lands a jab.
White cracks Nakamura with a nice right hand that draws applause from the crowd.
White moves away from the strike by Nakamura.
White throws a lazy right hand but Nakamura sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Nakamura throws a poor cross that misses
and Nakamura takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
White takes a shot right to the bread basket.
Nakamura throws an off balance right hand
and White counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
Nakamura on the wrong end of an overhand right that came out of nowhere.
White throws a good cross that connects.
A swing and a miss from Nakamura.
Nakamura misses with a wild body shot.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
White drops his hands and takes a jab to the jaw for his troubles.
White has used his reach advantage pretty well so far tonight.
White throws a hook but Nakamura avoids it easily.
White throws a jab when Nakamura was well out of range.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Nakamura is moving around nicely and scores here with a single head shot.
White misses with an uppercut.
Nakamura changes levels looking for a counter takedown but doesn't commit.
Gurizuri Nakamura seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
White throws a body punch but Nakamura moves out of range.
Nakamura feinted with a counter takedown.
White takes one to the side of the head.
White throws out a loose jab but Nakamura uses good head movement to avoid it.
White lands a nice looking body shot.
A telegraphed right hand from White misses the target.
Nakamura half commits to a counter takedown before pushing away, out of range.
Nakamura throws a hook to the side of White's head but White sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
Nakamura misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from White.
We can't be sure of the tactics at this early stage but we have heard that White has been working on his takedowns a lot in the buildup to the fight and we can only assume he's going to look to take this to the mat.
White scores with a shot to the body.
Nakamura misses with a body shot.
Nakamura just misses with a punch to the body.
Nakamura throws a left and a right that both miss
and White counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
White scores with a sloppy punch to the body. Not much technique there but it did the business.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

White gets caught flat footed, as Nakamura shoots in with a quick takedown into guard.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Nakamura working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Nakamura postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
White controlling the position.
Nakamura cracks White with a solid left hand.
Nakamura throws a big right hand that misses.
Nakamura might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.

White has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Nakamura can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.

White looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Nakamura accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

White has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Nakamura can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
Both fighters have adopted an aggressive gameplan on the ground!
Nakamura passes easily into side control. Nice work.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
White tries to buck Nakamura off but Nakamura is having none of it.
White is trying to control Nakamura's posture but Nakamura avoids it.
Nakamura looks up at the clock and then as White takes his cue and looks up at the clock too, Nakamura smacks him right in the chops with a big elbow! How rude!
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Nakamura landing a few strikes.
Nakamura in side control lands a decent elbow.
White tries to get back to half guard but can't.
Nakamura lands some shots froms side control.
White tries to work a leg under to get back to half guard but Nakamura wriggles his own leg back out and remains in side control.
Nakamura cracks White with an elbow. That is naaassty.
White managing to avoid any damage from the strikes thrown by Nakamura.
Nakamura works a knee to the body and follows up with a nice elbow to the head.
The fighters are starting to get a bit slippery now, which will make submissions a bit more difficult.
White tries to improve position but can't.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Nakamura cracks White with an elbow. That is naaassty.
Nakamura working the body and head with strikes.
Nakamura lands a knee to the body and follows it up with some ground and pound to the head. That will wear White down.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Nakamura scoring with punches and elbows.
White is looking for a sweep.
White keeps trying to improve his position.
Nakamura scoring with punches from side control.
Nakamura wants to lay and pray for a moment but White keeps working.
Nakamura lands a knee to the body and follows it up with some ground and pound to the head. That will wear White down.
White struggling a bit here.
Check out the look on Nakamura's face as he threw that strike - that's one determined fighter!
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Gurizuri Nakamura dominated that round.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

Nakamura misses with a body shot.
Nakamura doesn't manage to clinch there - White circles away.
White throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Nakamura.
A telegraphed right hand from Nakamura misses the target.
Nakamura throws a looping overhand right but White ducks down to avoid it.
Thor White seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Nakamura shoots in for a double leg but White sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
Nakamura misses the shot to the body.
A looping hook to the body misses from White. Nakamura does a little dance to reset his feet.
Nakamura misses with an uppercut.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
White looks to throw the jab but Nakamura is out of range.
Nakamura takes a swing at White's ribcage but misses.
White is moving around nicely and scores here with a single head shot.
A combination from Nakamura does no damage.
Nakamura looks to have improved his striking defense since last time we saw him fight.
Nakamura moves away from the strike by White.

That's one minute gone in the round.
White is moving around nicely and scores here with a single head shot.
Nakamura scores with a punch to the head.
Nakamura scores with a shot to the body.
Nakamura stuns White with a nice body shot, before stepping back out of range.
Nakamura takes a swing at White's ribcage but misses.
White swings away with a counter right hand but no contact made.
Nakamura throws a hook to the side of White's head but White sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
It seemed like White was going to counter with the hook but didn't fully commit to it.
Nakamura scores with a reasonable looking shot to the body. White doesn't seem bothered though.
Nakamura uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by White.
Nakamura is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that White can do to turn this around?
A looping hook to the body misses from Nakamura. White does a little dance to reset his feet.
And an attempted straight right on the counter from White! But no joy.
White keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
A slow jab from Nakamura misses its intended target.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
White ducks under a wild hook from Nakamura.
White looked like he wanted to counter with a punch but didn't throw it.
White connects with a crisp jab.
Nakamura lands with a cross.
This has been an exciting period of action!
White misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Nakamura ducks under a wild hook from White.
White is using his reach advantage to land shots from outside his opponent's range.
White misses with a jab, cross combination.
Nakamura shoots and misses
and Nakamura takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Gurizuri Nakamura. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Nakamura throws a body shot but no joy.
White uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Nakamura.
White connects with a body shot.
White ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Nakamura moves away.
Nakamura misses with the combination.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Nakamura stuns White with a nice body shot, before stepping back out of range.
Nakamura connects with a right hand. White shakes it off.
Nakamura misses with a straight right.
Nakamura tries to bum rush White with a series of wild strikes but White uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Despite the aggression on White's face he doesn't fully commit to the counter.
Sloppy strikes from Nakamura. Those never looked like landing.
White throws out a counter right but Nakamura avoids it with no problem.
Nakamura tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but White was well out of range. Poor timing from Nakamura.
A looping hook to the body misses from Nakamura. White does a little dance to reset his feet.
White slips under a jab.
And an attempted straight right on the counter from White! But no joy.
White throws the left hand but Nakamura avoids the punch easily.
Nakamura throws a shot from downtown. White moves away and avoids it.
Nakamura misses with a straight right.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Nakamura misses with an uppercut. White saw that one coming.
Nakamura throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Nakamura misses with a telegraphed body shot
enabling White to counter with a crisp jab.
Thor White is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
White looks to score with a jab to the body but Nakamura is just out of range.
Nakamura half commits to a counter takedown before pushing away, out of range.
White lands a beauty of a right hand that gets the crowd cheering.
Nakamura throws a sloppy body shot
and White counters with a left and a right that stings Nakamura.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Nakamura tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but White was well out of range. Poor timing from Nakamura.
A big left from White misses.
White slips a straight right by Nakamura.
White fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Nakamura manages to avoid it.
Nakamura appears to be looking for a counter takedown.
Nakamura displaying good standup as he scores with a three punch combination.
White avoids the body shot from Nakamura.
Nakamura throws a body punch but White moves out of range.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close second round but I would say that Gurizuri Nakamura will probably get the nod.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action! Ladies and gentlemen, this is the final round!

White keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Nakamura.
It seemed like White was going to counter with the hook but didn't fully commit to it.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Nakamura.
White throws out a counter right but Nakamura avoids it with no problem.
Nakamura misses with a hook
and White counters with a right hand to the body.
White jabs Nakamura right on the nose. Nakamura blinks but takes it well.
Nakamura throws an off balance right hand
and White counters with a nice jab to the body that keeps Nakamura thinking.
Nakamura misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from White.
White connects with a body shot that sends Nakamura's belly button to the back.
White throws a big shot that misses.
Nakamura tries to counter with a takedown but White is quick to defend against it.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Nakamura throws a shot from downtown. White moves away and avoids it.
White throws out a counter right but Nakamura avoids it with no problem.
White throws a hook to the side of Nakamura's head but Nakamura sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
White moves into range and connects with a jab.
A swing and a miss from Nakamura.

That's one minute gone in the round.
White misses with a hook. Nakamura ducked under it nicely.
White moves into range and throws a lovely three punch combination.
White uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Nakamura.
Nakamura stooping low to avoid any incoming strikes and then lunges in with an uppercut come cross that lands flush.
A jab from White misses.
White throws a body shot but no joy.

White tries to sprawl but Nakamura drives through with a takedown into half guard.
White has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Nakamura is working away from the top position though.
Nakamura seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but White does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.
Nakamura lands strikes from half guard.
The fighters are battling for position here. White manages to regain full guard. Nice work.
Nakamura lands a nice shot whilst sitting in his opponent's guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!

White has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Nakamura can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
Nakamura cracks White with a solid left hand.

White isolates an arm and boxes in a triangle. Nakamura stacks White on his neck as he steps over and passes to the side. He's now in a much more dominant position where he can look to do some serious damage. Nice move by Nakamura!
White is looking to reverse the position.
Nakamura working away.
White is looking for a sweep.
White is not content to let Nakamura control the position.
White can't do much from the bottom here.
White takes an elbow right on the bridge of the nose and winces in pain.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
White is trying to get back to half guard.
Nakamura trying to control the position but White is working away.
White gets back to half guard.
White is trying to maintain the position but Nakamura is very close to passing his half guard.

White actively working from the bottom here.
The referee walks around the fighters to get a better view of the action. Nakamura lands a nice short elbow.
White gets full guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
White wants to control the position but Nakamura says "no thanks buddy" and passes to half guard.
Nakamura trying to pass the guard but White defending well.
Nakamura is scoring with some nice ground and pound from the dominant position.

White actively working from the bottom here.
Nakamura uses his free foot to push down on White's thigh. Eventually he works his other foot free and he's advanced to mount - this is trouble for White.
White tries to get back to half guard but can't.
Gurizuri Nakamura is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Nakamura controlling the pace for now.
Thor White has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
White gets back to half guard.

And that's the end of the fight!
That was a close round. You could make an argument for either fighter but I would give it to Gurizuri Nakamura.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Nakamura, winning every round. Will the judges agree? They are the ones who matter, even if they are often depressingly incompetent. 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 Shigeki Sano scores the fight 29:29
Judge Yukihiro Yamamoto scores the fight 29:29
Judge Yasuomi Hirokawa scores the fight 30:27

The fight is ruled a majority draw!