PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Cristi Radu (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Akiyo Nishiura (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Akiyo Nishiura has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Radu
vs
Nishiura

163 cm
25
153 lbs
9 - 2 - 0

172 cm
25
159 lbs
10 - 2 - 0

Powerful takedowns
Solid boxing
Cardio machine

BJJ Purple Belt
Good low kicks
Powerful

Vicious Nutrition (159 Recovery With Proof)

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the featherweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 9 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Cristi Radu !
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 10 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Akiyo Nishiura!
The judges for this bout are Felipe Paraventi, Thiago Cunha and Daniel Cesar.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Nishiura pivots, looking for a leg kick but Radu is out of range and Nishiura settles back down.
Radu misses with a wild body shot.
Nishiura moves out of range as Radu strikes.
Nishiura scores with a push kick.
Nishiura throws a hook to the side of Radu 's head but Radu sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
Radu changes levels and scores with a jab to the body.
Radu looks shocked there as he takes a right hand to the temple.
Radu scores with a reasonable looking shot to the body. Nishiura doesn't seem bothered though.
Nishiura with a nice looking leg kick. You could hear that one land in a back row.
A slapping leg kick lands for Nishiura.
Radu blocks a head kick by Nishiura.

Radu closes the distance and looks for a trip takedown... aaaand he's got it - Radu lands in his opponent's guard.
The fans in attendance giving it up for the two fighters, who have really let it all hang out in the last minute or so!
Radu thows a big elbow that misses.
Nishiura preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Radu accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.

Radu drops back looking for a leg! Nishiura is in trouble here! The fighters roll with the hold and Nishiura manages to kick Radu off! Radu jumps back into Nishiura's guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Radu scoring with punches to the head and body.
Nishiura working a defensive guard here.
Radu postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Nishiura trying to control the position here.
Nishiura looking to hit a scissor sweep but Radu is one step ahead there.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Radu accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Nishiura working a defensive guard here.
Radu with a couple of shots to the head there. Not particularly brutal.
Radu is looking to work some ground and pound but Nishiura has wrist control.
Radu is looking to work some ground and pound but Nishiura has wrist control.
Nishiura is trying to keep Radu in close.
Radu stops Nishiura from standing up.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Radu content to strike from guard, landing some decent shots.
Radu trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Radu 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.
Hammerfist, elbow! yells Radu 's corner. There ya go! There ya go!
Radu postures up in Nishiura's guard and throws a big left but Nishiura blocks it.
Nishiura working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Radu .
Nishiura preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Nishiura pulls Radu in close to prevent any damage.
Nishiura avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Radu working in close now, lands a nice elbow to the side of Nishiura's head.
Radu thows a big elbow that misses.
Nishiura trying to keep a closed guard but Radu is proving a slippery customer.
Nishiura looks gassed!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Radu throws a big right hand that misses.
Hammerfist, elbow! yells Radu 's corner. There ya go! There ya go!
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Radu is in close to Nishiura's body, working some short punches and elbows.
Radu throws a big right hand that misses.
Radu throwing strikes from guard but Nishiura blocks nicely.
Radu landing some decent shots from guard.
Radu missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Radu trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Radu throwing strikes but missing.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Radu throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Radu shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Nishiura defends it nicely.
Nishiura tries to score with an inside leg kick but telegraphs it and Radu is able to avoid easily.
Radu lands with a nice body punch.
Nishiura keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Radu closes the distance and clinches up with Nishiura, looking for a takedown. Radu pushes Nishiura against the cage but Nishiura circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
Radu loads up on a big right hand but Nishiura slips the punch.

Nishiura moves into the clinch.
Nishiura misses with some punches.
Nishiura lands a body punch - he's looking to wear down Radu .
Radu jumps guard but Nishiura stands there with Radu around his waist. Radu gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Cristi Radu . That's going to take a lot out of him.
Radu throws a punch but it's blocked by Nishiura.

Radu manages to pull guard.

Nishiura got a little sloppy there for a moment and Radu has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Nishiura has managed to get both his arms back between Radu 's legs - danger averted.

Radu working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Nishiura doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Nishiura manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Radu is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Nishiura defends well.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

Radu looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
Radu being controlled here, momentarily.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.

Radu working away from the bottom but not quite defensive enough there because Nishiura has passed into half guard!
Nishiura takes a deep breath and rests his weight momentarily on top of his opponent, to control the position.
Nishiura's corner are shouting for him to control the position and he seems happy to oblige.
Radu gets full guard.

Radu is looking for a triangle here but Nishiura uses the submission attempt to pass into side control.
Nishiura wants to stand but Radu is controlling his arm.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Radu is trying to get back to half guard.
Radu sneaks back into half guard.
Radu tries to get to full guard but Nishiura has control of the leg.
Radu moves into full guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.

Radu looking for subs off his back but Nishiura has passed one foot through into half guard.
Nishiura wants to free his trapped foot but Radu is holding on for dear life with his legs.
Neither fighter is being very active at the moment, with Nishiura in particular looking to stall.
Radu tries to roll over but Nishiura keeps him under control.

Radu actively working from the bottom here.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close second round but I would say that Cristi Radu will probably get the nod.
That's time! Radu 's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight. This is the final round!

Radu throws a shot from downtown. Nishiura moves away and avoids it.
Nishiura is looking to clinch but Radu is avoiding it.
Radu lands with a shot to the body.
Radu shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.

Radu closes the distance and gets a double leg, slamming Nishiura to the mat! Nishiura manages to get full guard.
Radu tries to free his leg and advance position but Nishiura is retaining full guard.
Radu throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Radu postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Nishiura working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Radu .
Nishiura preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Radu postures up in Nishiura's guard and throws a big left but Nishiura blocks it.

Nishiura kicks Radu off and gets to his feet.
Radu throws a nice hook to the body that draws an oooh from the crowd.
Radu throws a hook but Nishiura avoids it easily.
Nishiura takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Nishiura throws a head kick that misses.
Radu will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
Nishiura attempts a leg kick but it's missed by a good margin.
Radu throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Radu jabbing away but nothing is landing.

Excellent takedown into side control there by Radu .
Nishiura tries to improve position but can't.
Radu tries to land with some ground and pound but misses.
Radu scoring with punches from side control.
Nishiura taking punishment in the form of punches.

Radu working hard here to secure a kimura but he's not really in the right position for it.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Radu throws a strike aimed at the side of Nishiura's head but Nishiura avoids it well.
Radu throws a knee to the body but it doesn't do much damage.
Radu creates a bit of distance and throws down some hard shots.
Radu scoring with punches from side control.
Radu fails to land a wild elbow strike.
Radu is putting a hurting on Nishiura here, landing some big shots from side control.
Radu throwing shots but missing, from side control.
Nishiura parries the strikes from Radu easily there. Radu is wary of posturing up too much because it might enable Nishiura to escape.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Radu working the ground and pound but Nishiura is defending the strikes.
Radu looking to punish the body of his opponent here but Nishiura is avoiding damage well.
Radu tries to score with some ground and pound. Nishiura controls his posture well this time though and the shots don't do any damage.

Radu working hard here to secure a kimura but he's not really in the right position for it.
Nishiura is looking to regain half guard here but Radu keeps moving and retains side control.
Akiyo Nishiura has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Radu is putting a hurting on Nishiura here, landing some big shots from side control.
Radu working the body and head with strikes.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Nishiura tries to get back to half guard but can't.
Radu landing with strikes to the head and body from side control.
Radu cracks Nishiura with a big elbow.
Radu scores with punches from side control.
Cristi Radu overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Radu scores with punches from side control.
Radu working the ground and pound from side control.
Radu scores with a couple of nice shots to the head there. The referee takes a look at Nishiura to see if he's OK.
Check out the look on Radu 's face as he threw that strike - that's one determined fighter!
Cristi Radu is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Radu cracks Nishiura with an elbow. That is naaassty.
Nishiura taking punishment in the form of punches.

And that's the end of the fight!
Cristi Radu showed his dominance in that final round.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Radu , 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 Felipe Paraventi scores the fight 30:28
Judge Thiago Cunha scores the fight 29:28
Judge Daniel Cesar scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Cristi Radu !