PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Karl Istaz (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Yuki Nakai (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Fingers crossed for an exciting fight - I'm sure both fighters are looking for a nice under the table bonus!

Istaz
vs
Nakai

175 cm
27
153 lbs
8 - 5 - 0

170 cm
26
154 lbs
8 - 4 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Solid Muay Thai
Experienced

Powerful takedowns
Brawler
Good gas tank

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the featherweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 8 - 5 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Karl Istaz!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 8 - 4 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Yuki Nakai!
The judges for this bout are Shigeki Fujiwara, Shigeki Sano and Taro Takaoka.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
The fight stays on the outside here - Nakai looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Nakai shoots in for a takedown but Istaz shows good takedown defense.
Yuki Nakai seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Istaz looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Istaz throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Nakai.
Istaz stalks Nakai and leaps in with a furious combination of punches. Uppercuts and crosses smash into Nakai's face. Nakai staggers backwards, shaken.
Nakai throws a head kick but Istaz moves out of range.
Nakai throws a head kick that misses.
Istaz takes a swing at Nakai's ribcage but misses.
Istaz tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Nakai was well out of range. Poor timing from Istaz.
Nakai will need to close the distance a bit before he attacks - that leg kick was thrown from too far away.
Nakai finds nothing but air with that leg kick attempt.
Istaz throws a push kick but Nakai slaps the foot to one side.
Nakai throws a quick inside leg kick.
Nakai stumbles momentarily as he takes a strong leg kick from Istaz.
Nakai blocks the body kick.
Nakai tries to clinch there but Istaz circles away.
Nakai tries a head kick but it misses.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Istaz punishes Nakai's body with a nice straight punch.
Nakai checks the leg kick.
A solid leg kick lands there for Istaz.
Nakai connects with a high kick.

Nakai fakes an overhand right and shoots for a takedown. Istaz sprawls well initially but Nakai persists and gets the takedown into half guard.
Istaz tries to get to full guard but Nakai has control of the leg.
Istaz preventing any damage for now, controlling his opponent's head.

Nakai is looking for a kimura but Istaz is holding onto that half guard position, so it's hard for Nakai to get the leverage.
Nakai has freed up his trapped foot and advances to mount.
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!
Nakai controlling the pace for now.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Istaz is in all sorts of trouble here.
Istaz trying desperately to get to his feet.
Nakai can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as Istaz is looking to escape.
Istaz is trying desperately to improve position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Nakai avoids the attempt from Istaz to control.
Nakai can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as Istaz is looking to escape.
Istaz is desperately trying to get back to half guard.
Poor strikes thrown by Nakai there. More accuracy and less frantic strikes would help!
Nakai throws some wild stikes that Istaz manages to avoid easily.

Nakai is thinking about an arm triangle here, looking to tighten it up before moving to side control. Istaz can see it coming though and defends well with a couple of strikes to the head and some good arm positioning.
Nakai controlling from the full mount.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Istaz is in all sorts of trouble here.
Nakai tries to control but Istaz wriggling away.
Istaz is in all sorts of trouble here.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Nakai thuds his fist into the canvas! Oooouch!
Istaz wriggling around on the bottom manages to avoid the strikes thrown by Nakai.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Yuki Nakai dominated that round.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin!

Nakai throws a wild body kick that Istaz sees coming a mile off.
Nakai throws a right and a left that Istaz avoids nicely.
A clash of legs there as Istaz blocks the low kick.
Nakai tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
A head kick misses from Istaz.
Nakai tries to bum rush Istaz with a series of wild strikes but Istaz uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Nakai misses with a double jab.
Nakai with a lazy takedown attempt
and Istaz cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Istaz comes forward and lands a shot to the body, then darts back out of range.
Nakai lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Istaz circles away quickly and effectively.
Nakai looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Istaz is fending him off so far but Nakai persists. Nope, Istaz circles away and we're back to standing.
Nakai tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Istaz lands a leg kick. The shin dug right into the meat of the thigh.
Istaz throws a nice inside leg kick.
Nakai tries to close the distance and clinch up but Istaz swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Nakai is breathing heavily.
Istaz swats away the attempt to clinch by Nakai.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Istaz scores with a slapping inside leg kick.
Nakai takes one on the chin but seems OK.
Istaz moves out of range of the leg kick from Nakai.
A nice inside leg kick there by Istaz. That's going to slow Nakai down.
Nakai throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Nakai on the receiving end of a decent leg kick there by Istaz. Istaz obviously looking to wear him down.
Istaz throws a body kick but he wasn't in range.
Nakai is looking to clinch but Istaz is avoiding it.
Nakai wants to clinch up but Istaz keeps it at a distance.
Istaz circles away from the clinch attempt.
Nakai avoids a punch combination nicely.
Nakai throws a head kick that misses.
Istaz throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Istaz throws a head kick but Nakai moves out of range.
Nakai fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Istaz manages to avoid it.
Istaz lands with a nice low kick. That'll leave a bruise.
Istaz throws a right hand that Nakai ducks under and follows up with a left that Nakai also avoids with ease.
Istaz bobs and weaves and unloads with a good uppercut.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Istaz connects with a looping left hand that seems like it dazed Nakai momentarily.
A low kick from Nakai misses
and Istaz counters with a good, hard body kick but Nakai shrugs it off.
No joy there for Istaz, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Istaz lands a high kick!
Istaz misses with the combination.
Istaz swings wildly with a couple of big hooks

and Nakai counters with a takedown into full mount! That could mean trouble for Istaz!
Istaz is working to get back to half guard.
Nakai controlling from the full mount.
Yuki Nakai has got the better of the ground game so far.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Istaz is desperately trying to get back to half guard.
Nakai trying to control but Istaz is having none of it.
Istaz is in a horrible position here, under a barrage of strikes, he's managing to avoid any damage.
Nakai throws some wild stikes that Istaz manages to avoid easily.
Istaz is squirming around, avoiding Nakai's attempts to control the action.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Istaz is looking to get to half guard.

Nakai looking for a guillotine from mount but Istaz is having none of it.
Nakai throwing sloppy strikes, which aren't doing any damage.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Istaz is desperately trying to get back to half guard.
Nakai trying to control but he's not successful this time.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close second round but I would say that Karl Istaz will probably get the nod.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action! This is the final round!

A kick lands to the mid section there for Istaz.
Istaz goes for a high kick. It partially lands.
A bone on bone clash there as Istaz blocks the leg kick.
Istaz scores with a head kick. Nakai tried to block it but didn't get his arm up in time.
Nakai fails with the takedown.

Nakai closes the distance and clinches.
Istaz scores with a knee to the head.
Nakai's leg has a nasty welt from taking a succession of leg kicks. That must be slowing him down.

Nakai works for the underhooks and manages to get a trip takedown into guard.
Istaz trying to control the position.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Nakai is just sitting in guard, looking to avoid any submissions.
Istaz working a defensive guard but Nakai manages to pass into side control anyway.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Istaz wants to control but Nakai postures up.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

Nakai is looking to finish here, going for an Americana. Istaz knows the correct defense though, so he's OK.
Istaz tries to buck Nakai off but Nakai is having none of it.
Nakai trying to control the position but Istaz is working away.
Nakai controlling from side mount.
Nakai taking a break here but Istaz is having none of it and regains half guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Nakai is keen to just control but Istaz is a slippery customer.

Nakai is looking for a kimura. It's going to be difficult to finish that from half guard though and Istaz defends it well.
Istaz is not content to let Nakai control the position.
The fighters are battling for position here. Istaz manages to regain full guard. Nice work.

Istaz throws his legs up looking for a submission but Nakai uses it to pass to side control.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Istaz wants to control but Nakai postures up.
Istaz prevents Nakai from improving position.
Istaz tries to work a leg under to get back to half guard but Nakai wriggles his own leg back out and remains in side control.
Nakai controlling from side mount.
You can see the frustration on Istaz's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.

Nakai tries for an arm triangle. That looks pretty tight to me. Is this one over!?! Possibly, maybe, no Nakai has let go of the choke. Obviously it wasn't as tight as we thought!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Nakai wants to control but Istaz is keeping him busy.
Nakai is moving around in side control but his primary objective seems to be to maintain the position.
Nakai has knee on belly and moves into mount.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Nakai thowing shots but they're missing.
Istaz keeping his composure momentarily, calmly looking to get back to half guard.

And that's the end of the fight!
Yuki Nakai comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Nakai 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 Shigeki Fujiwara scores the fight 28:29
Judge Shigeki Sano scores the fight 28:29
Judge Taro Takaoka scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Yuki Nakai!
Yuki Nakai very nearly forgot to thank Valhalla Clothing amongst all the excitement of his win but just as the interview came to a close, he screamed their name. Hopefully he'll get a few nice freebies in the mail as a thank you.