PBP Commentary

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

Nawasaki
vs
Nova

210 cm
19
210 lbs
1 - 1 - 0

195 cm
25
216 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Brawler
Good chin

BJJ White Belt
Good kicks
Inexperienced

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 1 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Shin Nawasaki!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Sergio Nova!
The judges for this bout are Yukihiro Shimada, Hirohito Nitta and Sosuke Kotani.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Nawasaki sees a low kick coming and goes to check it, but it's actually a body kick and it thuds into his unprotected ribs.
Nawasaki swats away the attempt to clinch by Nova.

Nova gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.
Nawasaki tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.
Nova is stalling here.
Nawasaki is trying to work for a single leg takedown but Nova pulls him back up using the underhooks.
Nova using the Thai clinch to land knees to the body.
Nova lands a knee to the head.
Nova stalling against the cage.
Kneeeeees! The crowd are calling for knees to the body. Nova obliges.
Nawasaki is breathing heavily.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Nova lands a nice knee to the body.
Nova just leaning against Nawasaki, taking a breather.
Nova landing knees to the body. They look like they could hurt.
Nova working Nawasaki over with knees to the body.

That's one minute gone in the round.
The fighters are pressed against the cage, as the pace of the fight slows.

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

Nova gets a clinch.
Nova is trying to wear down his opponent with knees to the body.
Nawasaki really does look like a pencil wearing a pair of gloves. Let's hope he has a gameplan to suit that ridiculous body shape.
Nova utilising his Muay Thai to score with a knee to the body.
Nova just leaning against Nawasaki, taking a breather.

Nova pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Nawasaki on the receiving end of a decent leg kick there by Nova. Nova obviously looking to wear him down.
Nova is looking to clinch but Nawasaki is avoiding it.
Nova doesn't manage to clinch there - Nawasaki circles away.
Nova fails with an attempt to clinch.
Nova motions for Nawasaki to come forward. Nova throws a leg kick but it misses it's target.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Nova tries to close the distance and clinch up but Nawasaki swats him away and circles back towards the center.

Nova has taken the fight to the clinch.
Nova is clearly stalling here... Pick up the pace son.
A knee to the head by Nova.
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!
Nawasaki being controlled against the cage.
Nawasaki is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.
Nova stalling the fight.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are getting on Nova's back here. They're not happy about his lack of aggression in the clinch.
The ref breaks the fighters up, due to lack of action by Sergio Nova.
Nawasaki avoids the head kick by Nova.

Nawasaki gets a clinch.
Nawasaki fails to pull guard.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Shin Nawasaki. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Nova crunches a lovely knee into Nawasaki's ribcage.
Nova stalling the fight.
Nawasaki jumps guard but his hands slip and he falls flat on his back. Well, he's made himself look a right mug there, as Nova walks away with a smile on his face. Nawasaki gets slowly back to his feet and shakes his head.
Nova is looking to clinch but Nawasaki is avoiding it.
Nova misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Nawasaki shoots in but Nova avoids the takedown attempt easily.

Nova has closed the distance and engaged Nawasaki in a clinch.
The pace really dropping off here, momentarily.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Nova lands a good knee to the midsection. Nawasaki won't want to take too many of those.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Nova is stalling here.
Nova is trying to wear down his opponent with knees to the body.
Nova has Nawasaki pushed against the cage.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
The ref breaks the fighters up, due to lack of action by Sergio Nova.
Nova tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in the close the distance. Nawasaki manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Nova tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Nawasaki paws at him with a jab and circles away.

Nawasaki gets tackled into the cage by Nova. Nova maintains the clinch.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Sergio Nova dominated that round.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

Nova fails with an attempt to clinch.
Nawasaki finds nothing but air with that leg kick attempt.
Nova is looking to clinch.
Nova tries a head kick but it misses.
Nova tries to clinch there but Nawasaki circles away.

Nawasaki shoots in and bounces Nova off the cage to secure the takedown into guard.
Nawasaki wants to get up but he can't break Nova's closed guard. He needs to be careful trying to break the legs open, as he's open to submissions here.
Nawasaki trying to control the position from guard on top but Nova is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Nova really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Nawasaki. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.
Nova is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Nawasaki slows down the pace of the fight for a moment. He'll need to remain active if he doesn't want to see the fight stood back up.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Nova is trying to control the position but Nawasaki postures up.

The ref stands the fighters back up. Shin Nawasaki wasn't doing enough on the ground.
Nawasaki misses with a hook.

Nawasaki gets in close and instigates a clinch.
The pace slowing considerably in the clinch, as Nova takes a break from that fighting nonsense to think about the finer things in life.
Nova with the Thai clinch, lands a knee to the head.
Nova's corner are urging him to control the action in the clinch for a moment, rather than mount any serious offense. I'm sure the crowd appreciate those instructions... not.
Nawasaki has had enough of the clinch but Nova keeps him there for the moment.
Nova stalling here - the referee won't stand for too much of that.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Nova is trying to wear down his opponent with knees to the body.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Nova lands a good knee to the midsection. Nawasaki won't want to take too many of those.
Nova using the Thai clinch to land knees to the body.
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!

Nova breaks the clinch.
Nova tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.

Nova clinches up with Nawasaki and pushes him back against the cage.
The pace slowing considerably in the clinch, as Nova takes a break from that fighting nonsense to think about the finer things in life.
Nova unloads a knee to the mid-section.
Nova has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Nawasaki takes a knee to the side of the body.
Nova crunches a lovely knee into Nawasaki's ribcage.
Nova utilising his Muay Thai to score with a knee to the body.
Knees to the body from Nova.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
The pace really dropping off here, momentarily.
Nova landing knees to the body.
Nova stalling against the cage.
Nawasaki takes a knee right on the jaw!

Nova breaks from the clinch.

Nova has Nawasaki up against the cage in a clinch.
Nova just leaning against Nawasaki, taking a breather.
Nova lands a knee to the head there! That was nasty!
Nova controlling the action here for a moment.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The ref breaks the fighters up, due to lack of action by Sergio Nova.
Nova wants to clinch.
Nawasaki tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Nova swivels and escapes.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Nova throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Nova doesn't manage to clinch there - Nawasaki circles away.

Nawasaki gets tackled into the cage by Nova. Nova maintains the clinch.
Nova is struggling to control the position.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Sergio Nova 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. Ladies and gentlemen, this is the final round!

Nova has Nawasaki up against the cage in a clinch.

Nova breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Nova pulls out of a head kick attempt.
A nice leg kick lands there from Nova.
Nawasaki circles away from the clinch attempt.
Nawasaki circles away from the clinch attempt.
Nova tries to clinch up.
Shin Nawasaki is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Nawasaki tries to score a power double leg takedown but Nova sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Nawasaki somewhat.
Nova lands with a slapping head kick.
Nawasaki blocks a head kick by Nova.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Nawasaki moves into the clinch.

Nawasaki jumps guard and drags Nova to the mat. He's obviously going to be looking for submissions off his back.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Nawasaki is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Nova is controlling him.
Nova trying to control but Nawasaki is working from the bottom.

Nawasaki pushes Nova off for just long enough to get back to his feet. Very athletic spring there.
Nova misses with a head kick.
Nawasaki tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Nova was well out of range. Poor timing from Nawasaki.
Sergio Nova seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Nova tries a head kick but it misses.
Nova throws a leg kick but Nawasaki checks it.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Nawasaki changes levels and drives through with a really nice takedown into side control. Nova looks really pissed at himself for not defending that better.
Nova tries to bench press Nawasaki off him but Nawasaki keeps the position.
Nova struggling a bit here.
Nawasaki will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.

Nawasaki has hold of Nova's arm. He's looking for a kimura. Nova seems comfortable defending it but Nawasaki has shifted his position slighty and is cranking on the arm! Nova is real pain and he's forced to tap out! Nova is disgusted with himself for not defending it better but Nawasaki couldn't care less - he's delighted!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 2:22 of round 3, we have a winner by way of Submission (Kimura). Shin Nawasaki!