PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Lee Kazama (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Mark Nienow (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Kazama
vs
Nienow

187 cm
18
175 lbs
2 - 0 - 0

173 cm
22
170 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter striker
KO power

BJJ White Belt
Counter striker
Tends to cut

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the welterweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 2 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Lee Kazama!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Mark Nienow!
The judges for this bout are Shigeki Sano, Yuuki Gou and Yasuomi Hirokawa.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Nienow throws a head kick that misses.
Kazama shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Nienow as he jumps to the side.
Nienow throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
A solid leg kick lands there for Nienow.
Kazama fails with a takedown attempt.
A lazy body kick from Nienow

and Kazama counters with a driving takedown into guard. Nice work there by Kazama.
Kazama trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Kazama with a flurry of punches that miss.
Nienow is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.

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

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kazama can't do much from the bottom here.
Kazama is looking for a sweep.

Nienow stands up.
Nienow throws a series of punches but Kazama moves out of range.
Kazama doesn't succeed with the takedown
letting Nienow counter with a right hand.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Lee Kazama. That's going to take a lot out of him.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Kazama fails with the takedown
and Nienow counters with a straight right hand.
Sloppy strikes from Nienow. Those never looked like landing.
Kazama fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
Nienow stooping low to avoid any incoming strikes and then lunges in with an uppercut come cross that lands flush.
Kazama doesn't succeed with the takedown
and Nienow makes him pay by landing a thudding low kick.
Kazama is breathing heavily.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
A right-left combo lands from Nienow.

Nienow closes the distance and scores a nice trip takedown into half guard. Kazama did well to prevent Nienow getting side control.
Nienow is trying to get back to his feet now but his leg is trapped.
Kazama has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Nienow is working away from the top position though.
Nienow wants to stand up but Kazama has a hold of him and won't allow it.
Kazama trying to hold on to Nienow's head to control him but Nienow postures up.

Nienow stands up out of the half guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A solid leg kick lands there for Nienow.
Nienow shuffles to his left behind two crisp jabs. Kazama eats them both and turns towards Nienow to reposition himself and eats a stinging right hand-left hook combo.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Kazama on the wrong end of a decent looking cross there.
Kazama slips a jab and a cross from Nienow.

Nienow moves into range and clinches up with Kazama.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Kazama tries to pull guard but Nienow won't allow it.
Kazama tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. Nienow just stands there and leans against the cage.
The fighters are pressed against the cage, as the pace of the fight slows.

Nienow breaks from the clinch.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Mark Nienow dominated that round.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

Kazama has his front leg slapped to the side - a nice low kick landing there from Nienow.
Nienow scores with a punch to the head.

Nienow takes the fight into the clinch.
Kazama looking for a takedown.
Kazama tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.

Nienow manages to break the clinch.

Nienow pushes Kazama up against the cage in a clinch.
Kazama is looking for a takedown up against the cage. Nienow gets underhooks though and prevents the takedown attempt.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Lee Kazama. That's going to take a lot out of him.

Nienow breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Kazama showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Nienow.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Nienow connects with a solid leg kick.
Kazama tries for a takedown but Nienow circles away easily

and Nienow counters by clinching up.

Nienow pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.

Kazama gets caught flat footed, as Nienow shoots in with a quick takedown into guard.
Nienow wanted to stand there but Kazama had control of the position.
Kazama looking for a sweep. Not yet Kazama, not yet.
Nienow has decided he wants to stand but the closed guard of Kazama is proving hard to escape from.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Nienow decides he's had enough of playing guard and decides to stand. Come on Kazama, up you get!
Nienow throws a series of punches but Kazama moves out of range.
Sloppy strikes from Nienow. Those never looked like landing.
Nienow fails with an attempt to clinch.

Kazama drives through with a takedown into guard.

Kazama drops back looking for a heel hook - he quickly realises he's not going to get it but Nienow manages to dive on top of him before he can escape and now Kazama has Nienow in his guard.

Nienow gets to his feet - Kazama follows without any prompting.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Nienow jabs Kazama to the body, keeping him at a distance.
Nienow misses with a jab, cross combination.
Nienow looks to land a combination but Kazama avoids it well.
Kazama closes the distance and clinches up with Nienow, looking for a takedown. Kazama pushes Nienow against the cage but Nienow circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
Kazama blocks a head kick by Nienow.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Well. There's a bit of a lull in the action here and the crowd are starting to get restless.
Nienow throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Kazama sees it coming and avoids it easily.
Nienow shuffles to his left behind two crisp jabs. Kazama eats them both and turns towards Nienow to reposition himself and eats a stinging right hand-left hook combo.
Nienow with a nice looking leg kick. You could hear that one land in a back row.
Nienow misses with a kick to the body

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

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

Kazama working away from the bottom but not quite defensive enough there because Nienow has passed into half guard!
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Mark Nienow showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
That's time! Kazama's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight. This is the final round!

Nienow fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Kazama, pushing him back against the cage.
Nienow has Kazama pressed against the cage.
Kazama trying to stall but Nienow improves his position.
Kazama goes for a takedown in the clinch but Nienow prevents it.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Nienow escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.

Kazama shoots in from a long way out. He's driving through with the takedown attempt and he eventually gets it, landing in Nienow's guard.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Nienow wants to stand and escape but Kazama is having none of it.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kazama passes Nienow's right leg, so he's now in half guard.
Kazama prevents Nienow from standing back up.

Kazama is trying to work for a kimura but Nienow is defending well.
Nienow is looking to escape.

Kazama is sneakily working for an arm triangle but Nienow sees it coming and defends easily.

Kazama is looking for a kimura. It's going to be difficult to finish that from half guard though and Nienow defends it well.

Nienow manages to escape and get back to his feet!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Kazama gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily
and Nienow counters with a stiff right hand.

Nienow shoots in and gets a takedown into half guard. Nienow showed some decent athleticism there.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Nienow is thwarting Kazama's attempts to control the position.

Nienow gets to his feet - back to striking we go!

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Nienow gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.
Kazama tries for a takedown. No joy.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Lee Kazama. That's going to take a lot out of him.

Nienow's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.

Nienow closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.

Nienow pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Nienow fails with an attempt to clinch.

Nienow looks for a takedown. He's got it. We're now in half guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Kazama trying to hold on to Nienow's head to control him but Nienow postures up.

Nienow stands up and beckons Kazama to join him on the feet.
Nienow tries to grapple but his opponent circles

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

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

And that's the end of the fight!
Mark Nienow comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Nienow has outworked and out performed his opponent in all aspects of the game today. He was simply too good and the decision should be no more than a formality. 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 Shigeki Sano scores the fight 27:30
Judge Yuuki Gou scores the fight 27:30
Judge Yasuomi Hirokawa scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Mark Nienow!