PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Kob Nitaya (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Joe West (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). West has chosen The All-American Rejects - It Ends Tonight as his entrance music. Both these guys have solid standup skills and neither is particularly fantastic on the ground, so let's hope for a nice standup war!

Nitaya
vs
West

190 cm
24
221 lbs
3 - 0 - 0

190 cm
28
210 lbs
12 - 9 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
World class MT
Very strong

BJJ Purple Belt
Good kicks
Powerful

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the light heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 3 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Kob Nitaya!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 12 - 9 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Joe West!
The judges for this bout are Hirohito Nitta, Tatsuya Matsuyama and Yukihiro Yamamoto.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
The fighters circling - West throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
West swings wildly with a hook that is half blocked by Nitaya.

Nitaya rushes West and presses him up against the cage.
West wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Nitaya has him pressed against the cage.

West's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
A telegraphed right hand from West misses the target.
West throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Nitaya sees it coming and avoids it easily.
West keeps the fight on the outside.
West missing with a left hand there. Nitaya was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
West moves out of range of the leg kick from Nitaya.
Nitaya attempts a leg kick but it's missed by a good margin.

West scores a trip takedown into side control. Nice.
Nitaya is not content to let West control the position.
Nitaya is putting a lot of effort into getting back to his feet here.

West goes for an armbar here - this could be all over! But no, Nitaya has escaped beautifully and is now on top in side control! Oh, that's unlucky for West but great work by Nitaya.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Nitaya decides to take the fight back to the feet.
Nitaya on the wrong end of a decent looking cross there.
West throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.

West gets the takedown into side control.
West is looking to take a break and control but Nitaya is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.

West working hard here to secure a kimura but he's not really in the right position for it.
Nitaya knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for West on the ground.
West throwing shots but missing, from side control.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Nitaya parries the strikes from West easily there. West is wary of posturing up too much because it might enable Nitaya to escape.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Nitaya defending against the ground and pound.
Nitaya on his back here. We all know that wrestlers don't like being on their back so let's see if Nitaya tries to get out of the position.
West in side control, trying to ground and pound but not landing this time.
West moving around in side mount but really he's just happy to control for now.
West trying to control the position but Nitaya is working away.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
West taking a breather here.
Nitaya is not in a great position here, taking some shots.
West working the ground and pound from side control.
West has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
West throws a knee to the body but it doesn't do much damage.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
West taking a breather here.
Nitaya is looking for a sweep.
West taking a breather here.
Nitaya is not content to let West control the position.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Nitaya tries to clinch but West moves out of range.
West lands a powerful looking uppercut that connected with his opponent's jaw.
Nitaya tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Nitaya moves out of range as West strikes.
West swats away the attempt to clinch by Nitaya.
West swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Nitaya looks shocked there as he takes a right hand to the temple.
West with a body punch. A glancing blow.
Nitaya on the wrong end of a nice hook.
West lands a nice leg kick that just misses Nitaya's sensitive parts.
West dives in and grabs Nitaya's left leg, looking for a takedown. Nitaya pushes down on West's head and hops out.
West throws a hook but Nitaya avoids it easily.
West closes this distance looking for a takedown but Nitaya circles away.
Nitaya fails in his attempt to clinch.
West throws a low kick but it's checked well by Nitaya.
Nitaya wants to land a leg kick but West is out of range.
West cracks Nitaya with a good shot that sees him stumbling back into the cage.
Nitaya has his head snapped back a nice jab. A little nod from Nitaya there as he acknowledges the shot.
Nitaya throws a head kick but West moves out of range.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Nitaya moves away from the strike by West.
Nitaya tries to close the distance and clinch up but West swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Nitaya blocks a jab.
West shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Nitaya sprawls well. Nitaya wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. West gets slowly back to his feet.
Kob Nitaya has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Joe West.
West plants his feet and lands a nice head kick!
West swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
Nitaya tries to score with a low kick but West moves his leg out of the way.
West has a nice red mark on his side after a thudding body kick by Nitaya.
West throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
Kob Nitaya is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Nitaya throws a leg kick but West sees it coming and checks it nicely.
Nitaya fakes with the hands and throws a leg kick but West is out of range.
West scores with a body shot.
Nitaya on the wrong end of a decent looking cross there.
Nitaya avoids the body shot from West.

West shoots in with a lovely double leg takedown. Nitaya manages to land in full guard to minimise the damage.
West working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
West looking to pass the guard.
Nitaya avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
West looking to control the position here, rather than advance.
West wants to pass the guard but Nitaya is keeping the position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
West seems content to control from guard here. He's going to have to remain active though if he doesn't want to get stood back up.
West working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
West won't allow Nitaya to get back to his feet.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
West fakes and then throws a beautiful body shot. Nitaya looks a bit winded and takes a step backwards to take a breath.
West moves out of range of the leg kick from Nitaya.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
My god... these two guys really need to pick up the pace or everyone will leave to go get a beer.
Nitaya scores with a kick to the body.
West misses with a straight left.
West shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Nitaya as he avoids it easily.
Nitaya throws a low kick, looking for West's leg but West calmly moves out of range.
Thud! ouch! good body kick from West - that will leave a mark!
Joe West seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Nitaya throws a low kick but West avoids it.

West shoots in and bounces Nitaya off the cage to secure the takedown into guard.
West sitting in guard here, content to control.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Joe West showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action! So, we enter the final round. Let's see if either fighter can bring us a finish, or whether we're going to the judges scorecards.

West lunges at Nitaya with a hook that half lands and is half blocked by Nitaya's hand.
West fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
West will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
West throws the left hand but Nitaya avoids the punch easily.
Joe West seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Nitaya throws a nice head kick!

It looks like Joe West has been cut.
West misses with a hook.
West connects with a nice looking jab.
West throws a right high kick that is partially blocked by Nitaya.
Nitaya moves out of range as West strikes.
Nitaya tries to close the distance and clinch up but West swats him away and circles back towards the center.
A big left from Nitaya misses.
Nitaya tries to close the distance and clinch up but West swats him away and circles back towards the center.
West lands a jab-cross combination.
Nitaya tries to close the distance and clinch up but West swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Nitaya tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
West scores with a punch to the head.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Nitaya tries to clinch but West is having none of it.

That's one minute gone in the round.
A good leg kick by West.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
West throws a nice inside leg kick.
West sizes up Nitaya with a pawing jab and scores with a straight right down the middle.
Nitaya is looking to score with low kicks.
Nitaya throws a leg kick but West moved away.
West throws a sloppy head kick

and Nitaya counters by moving into the clinch. Good anticipation by Nitaya.
West tries to break free but Nitaya pushes him back against the cage.

West jumps into guard, dragging Nitaya to the mat.
Nitaya has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.
West is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.
West controlling the action here.
West trying to mount his opponent but Nitaya defends it.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
West looks over to his corner - he wants some instructions but his corner are not responding.
West throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
West looks to score some points with some ground and pound.
West is trying to control the action in half guard but Nitaya is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.
Kob Nitaya has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
West passes the guard and advances to mount!
West takes a little breather and maintains the position. The referee will be looking for him to stay active from such a dominant position though.
West punishing his opponent with strikes.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
West with shots to the head and body - Nitaya looks very uncomfortable down there.
West fakes a shot to the body and cracks his opponent in the head. Nice ground and pound there!
West landing shots from mount.
West lands with some vicious ground and pound - can Nitaya hang on?
A nice elbow there by West.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
West landing strikes from the mount and Nitaya is in trouble!
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
West controlling the position easily from mount.

And that's the end of the fight!
Joe West comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got West winning every round here. Surely the decision will go his way and he'll pick up a well deserved decision victory. 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 Hirohito Nitta scores the fight 27:30
Judge Tatsuya Matsuyama scores the fight 27:30
Judge Yukihiro Yamamoto scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Joe West!