PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Mike Hawk (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Kazu Nakamura (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Mike Hawk has the edge in experience - let's see if he can make that count tonight.

Hawk
vs
Nakamura

200 cm
19
265 lbs
3 - 2 - 0

191 cm
25
270 lbs
1 - 1 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Good chin

Decent wrestler
Decent boxing
Solid chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 3 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Mike Hawk!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Kazu Nakamura!
The judges for this bout are Kenichi Hosakawa, Yukihiro Yamamoto and Tatsuya Matsuyama.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Hawk tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Nakamura swivels and escapes.
Mike Hawk seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

Nakamura scores with a takedown into Hawk's guard.

Hawk looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.

Hawk has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Nakamura can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
Nakamura preventing the sweep.
Nakamura controlling from the guard. I say controlling but really, he's stalling.
Hawk is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Hawk lands a beautiful switch and he's in full mount! That could spell trouble for Nakamura!

Hawk looking to secure an arm triangle but Nakamura defends it well.
Both fighters really going for it on the ground here!
Hawk looking to ground and pound his opponent to a finish here.
Hawk prevents Nakamura from getting the reversal.
Hawk trying to control but he's not successful this time.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Hawk landing shots from mount.

Hawk wants to finish this one by submission but Nakamura is holding onto his waist, trying to prevent any attacks from Hawk.
Hawk working the ground and pound effectively.
Hawk has his opponent pinned against the cage, landing some nasty ground and pound that is really making a bit of a mess out of Nakamura's face.
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!

Hawk is thinking about an arm triangle here, looking to tighten it up before moving to side control. Nakamura can see it coming though and defends well with a couple of strikes to the head and some good arm positioning.
We get told so often about how wrestlers don't like to be on their backs. Let's see if Nakamura can do anything to dispel that myth.
Nakamura keeping his composure momentarily, calmly looking to get back to half guard.
Nakamura tries to hold on but Hawk postures up.
Hawk blocks Nakamura's feeble attempts to strike from the bottom.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Hawk content just to control the position here.
Nakamura tries to lock up and control but Hawk gives him a forearm to the face and pushes him away.
Hawk trying to control but Nakamura is having none of it.
Nakamura throwing punches from his back but nothing is landing.
Hawk takes a little breather and maintains the position. The referee will be looking for him to stay active from such a dominant position though.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Nakamura flailing away with punches but nothing is landing.

Hawk wants to finish this one by submission but Nakamura is holding onto his waist, trying to prevent any attacks from Hawk.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Nakamura wants to hold on but Hawk pushes him away.
Hawk lands a couple of nice shots there from mount.
Nakamura is looking to get to half guard.
Nakamura is squirming around, avoiding Hawk's attempts to control the action.

Hawk is working for a guillotine from mount but Nakamura frees his head quite easily.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Nakamura wants to hold on but Hawk pushes him away.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Nakamura holds on to Hawk around his waist, trying desperately to prevent any attacks.
Hawk lands a nice shot to the head.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Nakamura shoots in but no luck this time.
Nakamura shoots in for a double leg but Hawk sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
Horrible takedown by Hawk or perhaps it was just good defense by Nakamura which made him look bad.
Nakamura displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Hawk.
Hawk tries for a takedown but Nakamura circles away easily

and Nakamura counters with a shoot takedown into half guard.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Mike Hawk. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Hawk tries to roll over but Nakamura keeps him under control.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

Hawk looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Nakamura escapes and gets back to his feet.
Nakamura will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.

Nakamura shoots in for a takedown from distance. He catches Hawk napping and manages to drive through into side control!
Nakamura tries to stand but Hawk is controlling his head.
Hawk tries to slip a leg under to move to half guard but Nakamura presses down on the leg and jumps into full mount!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Hawk is looking to get to half guard.
Hawk slips a leg in and gets back to half guard.
Nakamura is thwarting Hawk's attempts to control the position.
Hawk is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Nakamura tries to stand but can't do so whilst Hawk controls his leg.
Hawk is looking to improve his position.
Hawk regains full guard. Nicely done.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

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

Hawk had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Nakamura defends it easily.

Nakamura stands up from Hawk's guard - Nakamura perhaps looking for a knockout.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Kazu Nakamura will probably get the nod - 10:9.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action! The crowd applaud as we get ready to start the final round!

Hawk fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
Hawk with a poor takedown

and Nakamura counters with a takedown into side control.
Hawk tries to bench press Nakamura off him but Nakamura keeps the position.
Nakamura gets to mount! Hawk was on the offensive and wasn't defending properly.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Nakamura avoids the attempt from Hawk to control.
Nakamura content just to control the position here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Hawk is looking to get to half guard.
Nakamura really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Hawk. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.
Hawk tries to hold on but Nakamura postures up.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.

Nakamura stands up from mount. Strange move.

Nakamura feints and as Hawk raises his hands in defense, Nakamura changes levels and drives through with a takedown into guard.
Hawk is trying to control the position from the bottom.

Hawk escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Nakamura gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
Nakamura must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.
Nakamura has decided he wants to stand but the closed guard of Hawk is proving hard to escape from.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Hawk wants to sweep here but Nakamura controlling him for the moment.
Mike Hawk overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Hawk wants to get back to his feet but Nakamura is in a dominant position and won't allow it.
Hawk looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Hawk is trying to keep Nakamura in close.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Nakamura advances to half guard.

Nakamura decides to stand and escape the position.
Hawk has his takedown stuffed

and Nakamura decides to take the opportunity to score a takedown. He's landed in Hawk's guard.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Mike Hawk. That's going to take a lot out of him.

Hawk had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Nakamura defends it easily.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Nakamura's corner is telling him to maintain position.

And that's the end of the fight!
Kazu Nakamura comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Nakamura has won this one but let's see whether the judges agree with me. 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 Kenichi Hosakawa scores the fight 28:29
Judge Yukihiro Yamamoto scores the fight 28:29
Judge Tatsuya Matsuyama scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Kazu Nakamura!