PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Shinji Nishimura (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Steve Rogers (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Steve Rogers has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Nishimura
vs
Rogers

168 cm
22
177 lbs
9 - 7 - 0

190 cm
25
189 lbs
7 - 6 - 0

BJJ Brown Belt
Counter striker
Experienced

BJJ Brown Belt
Counter striker
Granite chin

Amber Swan*$15 Rec Supp*
Amber Swan*$15 Rec Supp*

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 9 - 7 - 0, fighting out of London, Shinji Nishimura!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 7 - 6 - 0, fighting out of London, Steve Rogers!
The judges for this bout are James Glass, Daniel Bishop and Paul Tew.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Nishimura circles away from the clinch attempt.
Nishimura is looking to slow Rogers down with leg kicks.

Nishimura scores a takedown into full mount!
Rogers is desperately trying to get back to half guard.
Rogers regains half guard.
Nishimura passes the guard and advances to mount!
Rogers wants to control but Nishimura is having none of it.
Rogers throwing punches from his back but nothing is landing.

Nishimura wants to finish this one by submission but Rogers is holding onto his waist, trying to prevent any attacks from Nishimura.
Rogers is squirming around, avoiding Nishimura's attempts to control the action.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Nishimura looks like he's working for a submission but he's not found anything just yet.
Nishimura thowing strikes but they're hitting the gloves, not doing any damage.
Rogers tries to lock up and control but Nishimura gives him a forearm to the face and pushes him away.
Nishimura thowing strikes but they're hitting the gloves, not doing any damage.
Rogers tries to hold on but Nishimura postures up.

Nishimura moves into side control, trying to work for a kimura. That looks painful! Will he finish!!?? No, Rogers has worked his arm free - good work by Rogers!
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Rogers is looking to work his way out of this bad position but Nishimura is controlling him well.
Rogers gets back to half guard.

Rogers looking for submissions off his back.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A few boos can be heard. I'm sure they will multiply if the fighters don't pick up the pace.
Rogers avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Nishimura.

Nishimura is looking for a kimura here.
Nishimura throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
Rogers slips a foot under and gets full guard. Nice work.
Nishimura missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.

Rogers is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Nishimura is aware though and is defending well.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Rogers is on top in guard.

Nishimura kicks Rogers off and gets to his feet.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Rogers showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Nishimura.
Both fighters are looking to counter, which isn't making for the most exciting fight in the world.
Nishimura fails with the takedown.
Rogers is looking to clinch but Nishimura is avoiding it.
Rogers doesn't succeed with the takedown

and Nishimura counters with a nice shoot takedown that brings the fighters to the ground.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Nishimura 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.

Rogers has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Nishimura can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
Nishimura looking to pass the guard.
Rogers keeping moving, preventing Nishimura from controlling successfully.

Rogers escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Nishimura gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
Rogers has his hands on Nishimura's head, controlling the position.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Shinji Nishimura dominated that round.
That's time! Nishimura's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight.

Nishimura closes the distance but Rogers moves to the side

and Rogers counters with a nice double leg into guard.
Nishimura keeping moving, preventing Rogers from controlling successfully.
Nishimura might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.

Rogers is holding a leg here, probably looking for an ankle lock - he drops back and goes for it! Nishimura is in trouble! Is it all over??? No! Nishimura has escaped and now he's on top!

Nishimura drops back for a leg! It's a sloppy attempt though and Nishimura jumps back into guard quickly, to retain the dominant position.

Nishimura avoids a guillotine attempt easily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Nishimura controls the pace of the fight for a moment.
Nishimura slips effortlessly into side control - very nice.

Nishimura tries for a kimura but Rogers is defending well.

Nishimura is looking for a kimura. He might have it! No, Rogers has escaped the position, nice work there.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Rogers is looking to regain half guard here but Nishimura keeps moving and retains side control.

Nishimura is looking to finish here, going for an Americana. Rogers knows the correct defense though, so he's OK.
Rogers manages to work his way to half guard, despite Nishimura's best efforts.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Rogers is trying to get back to full guard.
Shinji Nishimura overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.

Nishimura wants to work for an arm triangle but Rogers is really keeping half guard well and defending the submission attempt.
Rogers makes his way to full guard. A much better position for Rogers.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Rogers is trying to control the position but Nishimura postures up.
Nishimura stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Rogers swivels though and keeps the full guard.

Rogers working for a triangle but Nishimura defends it easily.
Rogers working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Nishimura.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Nishimura drops back looking for a leg! Rogers is in trouble here! The fighters roll with the hold and Rogers manages to kick Nishimura off! Nishimura jumps back into Rogers's guard.
Nishimura trying to control but Rogers is working from the bottom.

Nishimura drops back looking for a heel hook - he quickly realises he's not going to get it but Rogers manages to dive on top of him before he can escape and now Nishimura has Rogers in his guard.
Nishimura keeping full guard, as Rogers tries to pass.

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.
Rogers won't allow Nishimura to sweep him here.
Rogers tries to free his leg and advance position but Nishimura is retaining full guard.
Nishimura is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.

Nishimura is trying for a guillotine from the top but the pressure isn't in the right place so Rogers is just riding it out for now. Nishimura eventually gives up the hold.
Nishimura tries to pass the half guard into mount. Rogers knows what he's doing though and prevents the attempt.
Nishimura thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Rogers's head.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Steve Rogers showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business. This is the final round!

Rogers pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Rogers doesn't succeed with the takedown

and Nishimura counters with a nice single leg takedown and he's in Rogers's guard now.
Both fighters really going for it on the ground here!

Rogers wriggles free and stands up.
Rogers shoots and misses

and Nishimura counters with a shoot takedown into half guard.
This has been an exciting period of action!

Nishimura is working for a submission of some sort.

Rogers actively working from the bottom here.
Rogers tries to strike from the bottom but it doesn't land.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Nishimura is working for a submission of some sort.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

Nishimura is thinking about going for an arm triangle but he can't free his leg.

Nishimura is looking for a kimura. It's going to be difficult to finish that from half guard though and Rogers defends it well.
Rogers trying to hold on to Nishimura's head to control him but Nishimura postures up.
Nishimura frees up his trapped foot and advances to mount.
Rogers is wriggling around trying to escape.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Neither fighter has done anything of merit for a good minute or two here and the crowd are not happy about it.
Rogers regains half guard.
Nishimura thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Rogers's head.

Rogers actively working from the bottom here.

Nishimura seems to be working for a kimura but Rogers defends the submission attempt.
The fighters are battling for position here. Rogers manages to regain full guard. Nice work.

Nishimura 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.
Rogers pulls Nishimura in to control the position.
Nishimura wants to control from the top but Rogers keeps moving.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Rogers utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Rogers looking to control.
Nishimura pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Rogers is keeping the position for now.

Nishimura avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
Nishimura sitting in guard, not really doing much.

Nishimura 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.
Nishimura connects with a couple of short punches.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are getting on the fighters' backs, as the pace has dropped off in the last minute or so.
Nishimura working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Rogers looking to control.
Nishimura thows a big elbow that misses.
Rogers throwing strikes off his back to little effect.
Rogers managing to control the position.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Nishimura shoots and misses

and Rogers counters with a takedown into full mount! That could mean trouble for Nishimura!

Rogers swings around for an armbar but it's a sloppy attempt and Nishimura is now in Rogers's guard. A big mistake from Rogers there, giving up the dominant position!
Rogers keeping full guard, as Nishimura tries to pass.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Rogers is trying to control the position but Nishimura postures up.

And that's the end of the fight!
Shinji Nishimura showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Nishimura has outscored his opponent in every aspect of the fight today. Only a scarily incompetent judge or two will keep him from a well deserved win... 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 Glass scores the fight for Shinji Nishimura!
Judge Daniel Bishop scores the fight for Shinji Nishimura!
Judge Paul Tew scores the fight as a draw!

Shinji Nishimura wins by majority decision!