PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Kazushi Nakamura (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Blade Kongo (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Nakamura
vs
Kongo

165 cm
22
135 lbs
3 - 2 - 0

180 cm
19
135 lbs
4 - 2 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Counter striker
Good chin

BJJ Purple Belt
Counter striker
Solid chin

► *159+ for $200 * Total Destruction Pharmac

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the bantamweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 3 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, Kazushi Nakamura!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 4 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, Blade Kongo!
The judges for this bout are , and .

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Kongo looking to shoot here. He's gone for it and he's landed a takedown into mount! Oh, that's bad for Nakamura!
Nakamura is looking to improve his position but Kongo isn't that keen on the idea.
Nakamura avoids a series of strikes thrown by Kongo.
Nakamura is writhing around trying to get back to his feet.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Nakamura is working to get back to half guard.

Kongo looking for a guillotine from mount but Nakamura is having none of it.
Nakamura is desperately trying to get back to half guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Nakamura swinging wildly from the bottom but he's not landing.
Nakamura tries to get back to half guard but can't.
Kongo blocks Nakamura's feeble attempts to strike from the bottom.
Nakamura working to try and regain half guard.
Kongo connects with a couple of good shots from mount.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Nakamura flailing away with punches but nothing is landing.
Kongo scores with a couple of good head shots there.

It looks like Kazushi Nakamura has been cut.
Kongo lands with some vicious ground and pound - can Nakamura hang on?
Nakamura is in a horrible position here. Kongo smacks him with another shot as he tries to escape the position.

Kongo is working for a guillotine from mount but Nakamura frees his head quite easily.
Nakamura tries to get back to half guard but can't.
Kongo is a painfully thin specimen of a man. You do wonder whether a good body kick would snap him clean in two.
Nakamura is working hard here to advance position.
Nakamura wants to hold on but Kongo pushes him away.
Kongo is landing with some decent strikes but Nakamura is trying to advance his position so the referee is letting the fight continue.
Kongo takes his opponent's back. Perhaps a chance to lock up a rear naked choke here.
Kongo is throwing strikes from the back here. Oh that last one was to the back of the head. Kongo gets a warning from the referee. He throws another strike to the back of the head straight away though and the referee has seen enough. He breaks up the two fighters and stands them back up. Kongo gets a real talking to here and is lucky not to get a point deducted. Kongo apologises and we restart here on the feet.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Kongo displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Nakamura.
A jab from Nakamura finds it's way through Kongo's defenses.
Nakamura gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily
and Kongo counters with an outside leg kick.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kongo misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Nakamura misses with a double jab
and Kongo counters with a slapping leg kick.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Nakamura falls off balance throwing a combination
and Kongo counters with an outside leg kick.
Nakamura shoots and misses
and Kongo counters with a one-two to the body.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Kazushi Nakamura. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Nakamura tries for a takedown but Kongo circles away easily

and Kongo decides to take the opportunity to score a takedown. He's landed in Nakamura's guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Blade Kongo dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Kazushi Nakamura's cut.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business.

Nakamura shoots and misses

so Kongo counters with a double leg into guard. Good agility.
Kongo wants to pass the guard but Nakamura is keeping the position.
Nakamura has been looking to land a fair amount of strikes on the ground. He might be looking to soften his opponent up in order to work for a submission.
Kongo postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Nakamura might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.
Kongo trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Nakamura trying to control the position.
Nakamura lands a beautiful switch and he's in full mount! That could spell trouble for Kongo!
Nakamura working the ground and pound effectively.
Nakamura working away from the top, dropping strikes.
Kongo working to try and regain half guard.
Both fighters really going for it on the ground here!

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kongo is persisting with the attempt to improve his position.
Nakamura with shots to the head and body - Kongo looks very uncomfortable down there.
Nakamura working the ground and pound effectively.
Nakamura prevents Kongo from getting the reversal.
Blade Kongo has got the better of the ground game so far.
Nakamura can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as Kongo is looking to escape.
Nakamura landing punches.
Nakamura landing strikes, looking to finish!
Kongo can't escape the position.
Nakamura landing shots from mount.
The referee warns Kongo that he has to improve his position here as he takes two more clean shots to the head.
Kongo really trying hard to get back to half guard here.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Nakamura landing shots from mount.
Kongo keeping his composure momentarily, calmly looking to get back to half guard.

Nakamura looking to secure an arm triangle but Kongo defends it well.
Kongo in a bad spot here, taking shots to the head.
Nakamura with shots to the head and body - Kongo looks very uncomfortable down there.
Nakamura lands a couple of nice shots there from mount.
Kongo gets back to half guard.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Nakamura looks to score some points with some ground and pound.
Kongo is looking for a sweep. Nakamura is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.

Nakamura seems to be looking for submissions.
Kongo is working for an escape here. He's hooked one of Nakamura's legs and he's managed to sneak out and take Nakamura's back!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kongo is hanging on to Nakamura's back as he tries to escape.

Kongo is persistently looking for the submission but Nakamura is defending it well.
Kongo is looking to finish with some ground and pound!
Nakamura turns into Kongo and is now in his guard.
Nakamura wants to control from the top but Kongo keeps moving.
Kongo looking for a sweep. Not yet Kongo, not yet.
Nakamura trying to control but Kongo is working from the bottom.
Nakamura lands a nice shot whilst sitting in his opponent's guard.
Nakamura scoring with punches to the head and body.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.
Nakamura looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Kongo is fending him off so far but Nakamura persists. Nope, Kongo circles away and we're back to standing.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Nakamura avoids the head kick by Kongo.
Nakamura throws a combination that misses

and Kongo counters with a takedown into full mount! That could mean trouble for Nakamura!
Nakamura is trying desperately to improve position.
Nakamura tries to hold on but Kongo postures up.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Blade Kongo showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The cut man is working on Kazushi Nakamura's cut.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action! This is the final round!

Nakamura tries for a takedown but Kongo circles away easily

and Kongo counters with a driving takedown into guard. Nice work there by Kongo.
Kongo works a leg free and moves into half guard.
Nakamura gets full guard.
Kongo passes Nakamura's left leg - he's now in half guard.
Nakamura missing with punches from the bottom.
Kongo moves nicely into side control.
Kongo tries to cartwheel into mount but he doesn't manage it.
Kongo takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Nakamura manages to work his way to half guard, despite Kongo's best efforts.
Nakamura taking some punishment here, with Kongo in his half guard.
Nakamura is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Nakamura manages to get to full guard.

Nakamura is working for submissions here. He's thrown up his legs looking for a tringle but Kongo frees his head nicely. Oh but Nakamura has switched to an armbar! Kongo is tapping furiously! Lovely submission there!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 1:51 of round 3, we have a winner by way of Submission (Triangle Armbar). Kazushi Nakamura!