PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Abe Nakamura (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Gary Steel (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Nakamura comes to the cage accompanied by Enter the Ninja - Die Antwoord. I don't know about you partner, but I'm pumped for this one!

Nakamura
vs
Steel

170 cm
22
153 lbs
7 - 1 - 0

165 cm
24
155 lbs
4 - 0 - 0

Powerful takedowns
Basic striking
Very strong

Powerful takedowns
Basic striking
Powerful

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 5 rounds, for the featherweight championship of the world!
Introducing the champion to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 7 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Abe Nakamura!
And introducing the challenger to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 4 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Gary Steel!
The judges for this bout are Shigeki Fujiwara, Taro Takaoka and Kenichi Hosakawa.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Nakamura shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Let's see what he's got on the mat.
Nakamura trying to control the position from guard on top but Steel is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Steel is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.

Nakamura drops back for a leg! It's a sloppy attempt though and Nakamura jumps back into guard quickly, to retain the dominant position.
Nakamura trying to control the position from guard on top but Steel is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Steel looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Steel has a butterfly guard looking to sweep but Nakamura has passed into side control.
Nakamura trying to control the action but Steel is working from the bottom.

Nakamura looking for an arm triangle but it's way too loose to do anything.
Steel tries to work a leg under to get back to half guard but Nakamura wriggles his own leg back out and remains in side control.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Steel managing to avoid any damage from the strikes thrown by Nakamura.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Steel tries to get back to half guard but can't.

Nakamura tries for an arm triangle. That looks pretty tight to me. Is this one over!?! Possibly, maybe, no Nakamura has let go of the choke. Obviously it wasn't as tight as we thought!
Steel tries to improve position but can't.
Steel gets back to half guard.
Nakamura is keen to just control but Steel is a slippery customer.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
There's not a lot going on here and the crowd are letting the fighters know they're not willing to tolerate a lack of action.
Steel manages to get to full guard.
Nakamura is stalling in the full guard.
Steel manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Nakamura manages to get himself to full guard.

Steel postures up as if he's going to throw some strikes but drops back for an ankle! Nakamura is in big trouble! He looks ready to tap! But no, he's escaped and dives on top of Steel, into his guard.
Nakamura preventing the sweep.
Nakamura trying to control the position from guard on top but Steel is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Steel keeping full guard, as Nakamura tries to pass.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Steel looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Steel keeping moving, preventing Nakamura from controlling successfully.
Nakamura slips effortlessly into side control - very nice.
Nakamura wants to lay and pray for a moment but Steel keeps working.
Steel gets back to half guard.
Steel trying to keep hold of his opponent's head but Nakamura manages to pass to mount!

Nakamura is working on an americana here. Ooh, that looks pretty nasty! Nope, Steel has managed to escape the submission attempt.
Steel sneaks a leg back under and regains half guard and is working straight away to try and get back to guard. He hasn't managed just yet though.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Nakamura passes to side control.
Nakamura content to control the pace. The referee will try and keep them active though.

Nakamura tries for an arm triangle. That looks pretty tight to me. Is this one over!?! Possibly, maybe, no Nakamura has let go of the choke. Obviously it wasn't as tight as we thought!
You can see the frustration on Steel's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.
Steel is trying to get back to half guard.
Nakamura wants to control but Steel is keeping him busy.

Nakamura tries for a kimura. Not really close to a finish though.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Abe Nakamura dominated that round.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

Steel closes the distance and scores a nice trip takedown into half guard. Nakamura did well to prevent Steel getting side control.
Steel works his way into side control.

Steel is looking to finish here, going for an Americana. Nakamura knows the correct defense though, so he's OK.

Steel working hard here to secure a kimura but he's not really in the right position for it.
An elbow from Steel crashes against the mat.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Steel tries for a kimura but Nakamura is defending well.
Nakamura gets one leg under and gets the fight to half guard.
Nakamura moves into full guard.
Steel preventing the sweep.

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

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Nakamura won't allow Steel to sweep him here.
Nakamura trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Nakamura trying to control the position from guard on top but Steel is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Steel is trying to control the position but Nakamura postures up.

Nakamura thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.
Nakamura slips effortlessly into side control - very nice.
Steel is looking for a sweep.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Nakamura is trying to land an Americana. He has the arm isolated but Steel is keeping cool and he's avoided the danger for now.
Steel gets back to half guard.
Nakamura uses his free foot to push down on Steel's thigh. Eventually he works his other foot free and he's advanced to mount - this is trouble for Steel.
Steel bucks up and manages to get a nice reversal! He's in guard on the top - nicely done!
Nakamura tries to land a sweep but no joy.

Steel drops back, looking for a kneebar! Nakamura looks panicked! The fighters roll across the mat, one looking to finish, one looking to escape. Nakamura looks to have wriggled free... Yes, he's got his leg free and he's dived into side control! Good work there from Nakamura!

Nakamura has hold of Steel's arm here. He's working for an Americana. It looks like he might have it! Steel tries to escape but he's just digging himself in deeper - Nakamura cranks the arm and Steel screams in pain! The ref makes a decision and ends the fight before the tap - no complains from Steel, who is just happy to have his arm attached to his body.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 4:02 of round 2, we have a winner by way of Submission (Americana). Abe Nakamura!
Abe Nakamura retains his featherweight title!