PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Sammy Nyla (ranked 1089 p4p, 1278 weight class) and Taromaru Momoji (ranked 118 p4p, 139 weight class). Well, I have no idea who's going to take this one!

Nyla
vs
Momoji

165 cm
30
155
18 - 13 - 0

178 cm
30
165
5 - 2 - 0

Good wrestling
World class boxer
Granite chin

Olympic wrestler
World class boxer
Granite chin

Shadow Realm Apparel

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 18 - 13 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Sammy Nyla!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 5 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Taromaru Momoji!
The judges for this bout are James Atkins, Paul Tew and Daniel Bishop.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Nyla drops his hands momentarily and Momoji takes advantage with a crisp shot to the head.
Momoji throws an overhand right that lands on Nyla's shoulder, as Nyla tries to avoid the shot.
Momoji feints a straight left to the body, then turns around with a flashy move and hits Nylas jaw with a dramatic spinning back fist!
Momoji staying out of range there.
Momoji uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Nyla.
Momoji uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Nyla.
Momoji with the counter takedown but Nyla avoids it easily.
Nyla has been working on his boxing with his coaches at Crapollas Gym in the buildup to the fight.
A telegraphed right hand from Momoji misses the target.
Nyla was looking to counter that move with a punch but didn't quite pull the trigger.
Nyla keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Momoji.
Momoji misses with an uppercut.
Nyla throws a jab when Momoji was well out of range.
Momoji scores with a hook to the body. Nyla takes a step back and tries to catch his breath.
Momoji throws a good cross that connects.
Jab from Momoji.
Good standup being displayed there by Nyla as he connects with a hook.

It looks like Taromaru Momoji has been cut.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Nyla pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
Momoji drops down looking to force a counter takedown but Nyla defends it well.
Momoji throws a shot to the body.
Momoji comes forward and lands a shot to the body, then darts back out of range.
Momoji smiles there as he lands a nice right hand right on the button.
Sammy Nyla is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Momoji lands with a right hand.
Nyla throws a lazy right hand but Momoji sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Momoji ducks right into an uppercut from Nyla.

Momoji closes the distance and gets a trip takedown into side control. Nyla quickly recovers to half guard.
Nyla is trying to stand back up but Momoji is controlling him
Nyla trying to control but Momoji postures up.
Momoji keeping composed on the top, looking to control the action.
Momoji wants to take a breather but Nyla is having none of it.
Momoji passes into side control, despite Nyla's attempt to control the position.
Nyla regains half guard there - taking advantage of Momoji's attempt to lay and pray for a moment.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Momoji is looking to take a break and control but Nyla is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Nyla desperately trying to maintain half guard.
Nyla wants to control but Momoji is keeping busy and won't allow it.
Nyla gets back to full guard.
Nyla might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.
Momoji throwing strikes but missing.
Momoji trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Momoji sneaks a leg through and gets to half guard. That was like a knife through butter how easily he passed Nyla's guard.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Momoji thows a huge punch but Nyla dodges it nicely.
Nyla controlling the position well.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Momoji missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.
Nyla is looking for a sweep. Momoji is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Momoji seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Nyla does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.
Nyla wants to get back to full guard.
Nyla trying to hold on to Momoji's head to control him but Momoji postures up.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up.
Taromaru Momoji seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Nyla loads up on a big right hand but Momoji slips the punch.
Momoji lands with a good body shot.
Nyla misses with an uppercut.
A cross from Momoji lands.
Momoji fakes and then throws a beautiful body shot. Nyla looks a bit winded and takes a step backwards to take a breath.
Momoji waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Nyla.
Momoji is using his reach advantage to land shots from outside his opponent's range.
Momoji slips under a jab from Nyla.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A swing and a miss from Nyla.
Momoji tries a low kick but Nyla avoids it.
Momoji slips under a jab from Nyla.
Nyla throws out a loose jab but Momoji uses good head movement to avoid it.
Nyla pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
Momoji fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Momoji misses with a body shot.
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Nyla throws an overhand right that lands on Momoji's shoulder, as Momoji tries to avoid the shot.
Nyla misses with an uppercut. Momoji saw that one coming.
Nyla waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Momoji.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!

Momoji shoots in from a long way out. He's driving through with the takedown attempt and he eventually gets it, landing in Nyla's guard.
Momoji trying to control but Nyla is working from the bottom.
Momoji preventing the sweep.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Taromaru Momoji dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Taromaru Momoji's cut.
That's the end of the interval. I'm sure that seemed a lot quicker than a minute for our two fighters! Back to the action.

Momoji throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
Nyla throws a lazy right hand but Momoji sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
No luck with that takedown attempt from Momoji.
Nyla loads up on a big right hand but Momoji slips the punch.
Momoji has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Momoji listening to his corner there, landing a nice uppercut.
Momoji swings for the body but Nyla moves out of range.
Momoji lands a vicious shot with the stealth of a sniper and the strength of a viper. Are vipers that strong? I can think of lots of things that are stronger than a viper - not many rhyme with sniper though.
Momoji keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Nyla dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
Nyla thows a left - swing and a miss!
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Nyla misses with a wild body shot.
Nyla throws a jab but it's blocked by Momoji.
Momoji fakes a head punch and goes low to the body. Nicely done.
Momoji scores with a crisp jab that stopped Nyla in his tracks.
Momoji rushes in with a sloppy looking punch
and Nyla counters with a stiff right hand.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Momoji throws a head kick but Nyla moves out of range.
The fighters circle momentarily. Momoji darts into range and connects with a nice straight punch.
Nyla walks into a stiff left hand from Momoji.
Nyla takes an uppercut right on the jaw but it doesn't phase him.
Nice takedown defense from Nyla. No joy for Momoji on that attempt.
Momoji is breathing heavily.
Momoji misses with a looping left.
Momoji keeps the fight on the outside.
Momoji staying out of range there.
Momoji uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Nyla.
Nyla slips under a jab from Momoji.
Momoji slips under a jab.
Momoji looks to score with a jab to the body but Nyla is just out of range.
Nyla loads up on a big right hand but Momoji slips the punch.
Nyla misses with a straight right.
Taromaru Momoji seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Momoji wings a very wild body shot but it does the job and lands to the midsection.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
An inside leg kick lands from Momoji.
Momoji darts in looking for a takedown but Nyla gets double underhooks and turns Momoji into the cage.
Sammy Nyla has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Taromaru Momoji.
Momoji lands with a shot to the body.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!

Nyla drives through and clinches with Momoji against the cage.
Nyla blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Nyla tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Momoji's elbow.
Momoji scores with a shoulder strike.
Momoji lands a right hand.
Nyla fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Nyla makes some space for himself and lands an uppercut.

Momoji successfully pulls guard.
Nyla is frustrating his opponent with some stalling tactics from top position.
Momoji looking for a sweep. Not yet Momoji, not yet.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Momoji is still trying to improve position.
Nyla stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Momoji swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Momoji not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Nyla controls from within his opponent's guard.
Nyla wants to control from the top but Momoji keeps moving.
If this pace continues, the referee will definitely step in and force a standup.
Momoji is trying to control the position from the bottom.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.
Momoji misses with a body shot.
Nyla stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Nyla wants it to stay on the feet.
Nyla scores with a hook.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Nyla closes the distance and clinches.
Momoji tries to throw a body punch but Nyla avoids it by throwing Momoji back against the cage.
Nyla lands with a left to the head.
Momoji tries to pull guard but Nyla forces him back to his feet, against the cage.
Nyla scores with a hook to the body.
Nyla blocks an uppercut.
Nyla throws a head punch that misses.
Nyla lands a short shot on the inside that snaps the head of Momoji backwards.
A nice left hand lands by Momoji.
Nyla has a couple of punches blocked by Momoji.
Nyla swings wildly with an uppercut but Momoji uses good head movement to avoid it.
Momoji lands a right uppercut that snaps the head of Nyla backwards.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Momoji is leaning against Nyla and scores with a nice uppercut to the body.
Nyla misses with a hook to the ribs.
Sammy Nyla has scored more points in the clinch so far.
Nyla lands a right hand that snaps the head of Momoji backwards.
Momoji working aggressively here.
Nyla is really struggling to find his range with his punches. Momoji's reach advantage is clearly causing him problems.
Momoji softening up his opponent with strikes, against the cage.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Taromaru Momoji will probably get the nod - 10:9.
The cut man is working on Taromaru Momoji's cut.
That's the end of the interval. I'm sure that seemed a lot quicker than a minute for our two fighters! Back to the action. This is the final round!

A big right from Nyla misses.

Momoji shoots in from a long way out. He's driving through with the takedown attempt and he eventually gets it, landing in Nyla's guard.
Momoji trying to control but Nyla is working from the bottom.
Nyla controlling the position.
Momoji stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Nyla swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Momoji landing with the ground and pound.
Nyla is looking to stand up but Momoji isn't so interested in that idea.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Nyla keeping moving, preventing Momoji from controlling successfully.
Nyla trying to control the position here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Momoji preventing the sweep.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Nyla avoids the body shot from Momoji.
Momoji throws a looping overhand right but Nyla ducks down to avoid it.

Momoji shoots in with a lovely double leg takedown. Nyla manages to land in full guard to minimise the damage.
Momoji takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Nyla managing to control the position.
Nyla being controlled here, momentarily.
Nyla is pulling down on Momoji's head. It's preventing any offense from Momoji, at least for the moment.
Sammy Nyla has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Momoji trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Nyla managing to control the position.
Nyla's ground tactics aren't going to win him many fans. Let's hope he's got fireworks for us if he gets back to his feet because he's not doing much on the ground.
We've had a lack of effective grappling in the last minute or so, which could well see a referee standup.
Momoji scoring with some ground and pound.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Momoji trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up.
Momoji slips a jab from Nyla.
Nyla throws a body shot but no joy.
Nyla loads up on a big right hand but Momoji slips the punch.
Nyla swings for the body but Momoji moves out of range.
Momoji lands a jab. Then a cross. Then finally a nice hook to the body. Good work there by Momoji.
Momoji throws a leg kick that is checked
and Nyla counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Momoji blocks a jab.
Nyla avoids the head kick by Momoji.
Nyla moves in looking to clinch but Momoji pushes him off.
Nyla takes an uppercut right on the jaw but it doesn't phase him.
Nyla is really head hunting here, hardly looking to strike to the body at all.
Momoji's hands are dropping dangerously low here and Nyla connects clean with a right hook that sends him down to one knee! Momoji scrambles back to his feet.
Momoji is pinned up against the cage taking some big shots here. The referee is looking closely deciding whether he should stop the fight.

That has opened up Taromaru Momoji's cut even more.
Momoji takes a jab right on the kisser.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Nyla throws a jab when Momoji was well out of range.
Momoji now looks to counter with a shot at the body.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Momoji bobs and weaves and throws out a fast jab that snaps Nyla's head backwards.
Momoji slips under a jab.
Momoji shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Nyla but Nyla pushes him off and we're back to square one.
Nyla misses with a wild body shot.
Momoji ducks under a wild hook from Nyla.
Momoji uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Nyla.
Momoji takes one to the chin there.
Nyla dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
Nyla throws a jab when Momoji was well out of range.
Momoji defending well as Nyla loads up on a big left hand.
Momoji tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Nyla swivels and escapes.
Taromaru Momoji is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
Nyla misses with a hook

and Momoji counters with a nice double leg into 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 Sammy Nyla.
I think Momoji has won this one but let's see whether the judges agree with me. 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 James Atkins scores the fight 28:29
Judge Paul Tew scores the fight 28:29
Judge Daniel Bishop scores the fight 29:29

In favor of your winner, by majority decision... Taromaru Momoji!