PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Jin Sen (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Alex Nguyen (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Chooooooooon! I think Sen might be my favorite fighter, now he's come out to Let It Rock. These two fighters really are very evenly matched on the feet - it will be fascinating to see who can assert themselves in that aspect of the fight.

Sen
vs
Nguyen

194 cm
36
217 lbs
29 - 23 - 0

173 cm
28
205 lbs
2 - 11 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Great low kicks
Granite chin

Good takedowns
Excellent boxer
Determined

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 29 - 23 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Jin Sen!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 11 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Alex Nguyen!
The judges for this bout are Shigeki Sano, Hirohito Nitta and Shirou Masuda.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Nguyen fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Sen avoids it really well and circles away.

Nguyen scores a trip takedown into side control. Nice.
We must be close to a standup if these guys don't pick up the pace.
Sen tries to buck Nguyen off but Nguyen is having none of it.
Nguyen tries to stand but Sen is controlling his head.
Sen is pushing Nguyen's head away, looking to escape. Nguyen manages to hold on to the position though.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Nguyen wants to stand but Sen has his arm trapped.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
A bit of a lull in the action here.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.

Nguyen scores with a takedown into Sen's guard.
Sen is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Sen lands a beautiful switch and he's in full mount! That could spell trouble for Nguyen!
Sen 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 ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Sen will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Sen has controlled the position for a good 20 seconds, which will no doubt be starting to frustrate his opponent.

We're going to have a standup here because Jin Sen wasn't active enough for the referee's liking.
Sen feints and then cracks Nguyen's leading leg with a nice low kick. He's obviously looking to slow Nguyen down.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A big left from Sen misses.
Nguyen is looking to land body kicks.
Jin Sen is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Nguyen is defended easily by Sen.
Nguyen shoots in but no luck this time.
Jin Sen has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Alex Nguyen.
Nguyen throws an ugly left hook that misses
and Sen counters with a three punch combo that has Nguyen backing up. Nguyen nods at Sen to acknowledge the strikes.
Some wild striking there from Nguyen.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Nguyen misses with a series of wild punches.
Jab by Sen.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Jin Sen dominated that round.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action.

Nguyen shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Sen pinned against the cage. Sen gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
Sen connects with the punch.
Nguyen throws a series of punches but Sen moves out of range.
Nguyen misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
Ouch! a nice leg kick from Sen, right into the meat.
Nguyen misses with a two punch combination.
Sen swinging wildly here.
Nguyen swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
Sen turns his hip over beautifully as he lands a nice leg kick.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Nguyen throws a right and a left that Sen avoids nicely.
Sen swings for the body but Nguyen moves out of range.
Nguyen misses with a jab to the body
and Sen counters with a stiff right hand.
Nguyen tries to check the leg kick but that clearly hurt him.
Nguyen takes a nice looking leg kick right on the meat of his thigh there.
Sen connects with a leg kick. He turned his hip over nicely there.
Nguyen takes one to the side of the head.
Sen moves into range and lands a nice leg kick.
Jin Sen is winning the standup battle so far.
Sen tests Nguyen's chin there with a solid looking shot.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Sen staying out of range there.
Nguyen takes a shot to the nose. Hopefully that hasn't broken it.
Sen has not gone for a single takedown so far in this fight, which seems like a very strange tactic when you consider that he has the superior wrestling and BJJ.
Nguyen takes an uppercut right on the jaw but it doesn't phase him.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Nguyen tries to clinch but Sen moves out of range.
Nguyen takes a swing at Sen's ribcage but misses.
Alex Nguyen seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Sen digs a good body shot into Nguyen's ribs.
Sen throws a head kick that Nguyen semi-blocks.
Nguyen walks forward, straight into a front kick from Sen.
Sen is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Nguyen.
Nguyen takes a shot right to the liver - Bas would have been proud of that punch.
Nguyen tries to score a power double leg takedown but Sen sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Nguyen somewhat.
Jin Sen has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Alex Nguyen.
Nguyen is breathing heavily.
Nice sprawl there from Sen as Nguyen shoots in.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Sen uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Nguyen.
Nguyen misses with a low kick.
Nguyen takes a shot to the nose. Hopefully that hasn't broken it.
A punch combination from Sen misses.
Nguyen throws a low kick but Sen moves out of range easily.
Sen throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Sen lands a nice shot that snaps Nguyen's head back.
Sen stuffs the takedown attempt from Nguyen. Nguyen gets slowly back to his feet.
A slapping leg kick lands for Sen.
Sen catches Nguyen with a nice straight right. He seems pissed - ooooh, it's on now! On like donkey kong!
Nguyen throws a nice looking combination but Sen bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Nguyen moves in looking to clinch but Sen pushes him off.
Nguyen tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Nguyen lands a slapping body shot.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Nguyen ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Sen moves away.
Sen stuffs the takedown.
Sen moves into range and connects with a jab.
Nguyen throws a looping overhand right but Sen ducks down to avoid it.
Nguyen's leg has a nasty welt from taking a succession of leg kicks. That must be slowing him down.
Sen lands a nice leg kick that just misses Nguyen's sensitive parts.
Sen is using his height advantage well here, landing a good percentage of his punches.
Nguyen throws a right hand that Sen ducks under and follows up with a left that Sen also avoids with ease.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Sen throws a right high kick that is partially blocked by Nguyen.
Well, he's not going to score with shots like that. A lazy body kick attempt from Nguyen.
Nguyen keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Jin Sen dominated that second round.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business. This is the final round!

Sen avoids the body shot from Nguyen.

Nguyen is looking for a takedown here. He's shot in and has managed to get it, finishing up in Sen's half guard.
Sen tries to kick Nguyen off but Nguyen keeps his base steady and stays in half guard.
Nguyen wants to stand up but Sen has a hold of him and won't allow it.
Sen looks like he's trying to stand up.
Sen keeps control of the position for the meantime.

That's one minute gone in the round.

The ref stands the fighters back up. Jin Sen wasn't doing enough on the ground.
Sen avoids the body shot from Nguyen.
Nguyen tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Sen paws at him with a jab and circles away.
The fight stays on the outside here - Nguyen looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Sen is using his reach advantage well here, landing the more effective single shots from range.
Nguyen is looking to clinch but Sen is avoiding it.
A solid leg kick lands there for Sen.
Sen moving in and out of range nicely, whilst landing the scoring shot.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A punch lands to the side of Nguyen 's head but he takes it in his stride.
Nguyen falls off balance throwing a combination
and Sen connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Sen misses with a straight left.
Nguyen throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
A jab from Nguyen misses.
Nguyen tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Sen paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Nguyen misses the shot to the body.
Nice body kick there by Sen.
Nguyen takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Some wild striking there from Nguyen.
Nguyen wants to clinch but Sen slips to the side
and Sen counters with a leg kick.
Sen cracks the inside of Nguyen's front leg.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Sen moves into range and lands a nice leg kick.
Nguyen takes a punch to the jaw and another one to the bread basket.
Sen scores with a leg kick.
Sen dips to his left and cracks Nguyen with an uppercut!
Sen throws a leg kick which misses Nguyen's front leg but catches the back leg as Nguyen tries to avoid it.
Nguyen is throwing a lot of body shots here, looking to wear down Sen rather than just go for the knockout.
Sen misses with a double jab.
Sen moving in and out of range nicely, whilst landing the scoring shot.

Nguyen is rocked!
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
A jab from Nguyen misses.
Nguyen is still on wobbly legs! Can Sen finish him?
Sen scores with a spinning back kick!
Nguyen seems to have recovered his senses.
Sen throws a nice looking combination but Nguyen bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Nguyen will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Sen slips a straight right by Nguyen.
Nguyen tries to close the distance and clinch but Sen swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Nguyen walks straight into a jab right on the nose. That one stung - he's blinking and trying to clear his head.
Sen thows a body shot but no joy.
Nguyen throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
A solid leg kick lands there for Sen.
Nguyen shoots in for a takedown but Sen shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
Sen dances in quickly and lands a nice inside leg kick on Nguyen. That did some damage!
Sen is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Nguyen can do to turn this around?
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Sen ducks down and throws a hook to the body.
Sen digs a good hook to Nguyen's body.
Alex Nguyen has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Nguyen on the receiving end of a decent leg kick there by Sen. Sen obviously looking to wear him down.

And that's the end of the fight!
Jin Sen showed his dominance in that final round.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Sen, winning every round. Will the judges agree? They are the ones who matter, even if they are often depressingly incompetent. 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 30:27
Judge Hirohito Nitta scores the fight 30:27
Judge Shirou Masuda scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Jin Sen!