PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Kazunori Kouya (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Tim Nim (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). We have two fighters making their debuts here, so let's see who comes out of this one with their first professional victory.

Kouya
vs
Nim

183 cm
25
210 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

190 cm
25
218 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Excellent MT
Big heart

BJJ White Belt
Good kicks
Granite chin

Zombie Nutrition - LOD
Tokyo United Fightwear

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 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Kazunori Kouya!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Tim Nim!
The judges for this bout are Gwen Towbar, Daniel Franklin and Frank Dennis.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Nim shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Kouya defends it nicely.
Kouya tries to close the distance and clinch but Nim swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Kouya misses with a takedown attempt - Nim sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
Nim tries to score a power double leg takedown but Kouya sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Nim somewhat.
Nim tries to grapple but his opponent circles
and Kouya counters with a head kick.
Kouya wants to clinch.

Kouya has managed to clinch.
Kouya creates a bit of distance and throws an elbow that only just misses.
Kouya is stalling here. The referee will be looking to step in if he doesn't pick up the pace.

Kouya jumps guard and drags Nim to the mat. He's obviously going to be looking for submissions off his back.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Nim wants to stand but Kouya has a closed guard, so he can't escape.
Nim seems content to control from guard here. He's going to have to remain active though if he doesn't want to get stood back up.
Nim wants to control from the top but Kouya keeps moving.

The fighters are working up against the cage. Kouya manages to wriggle his way back to his feet, so the fighters are now clinched against the cage.
Nim using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Kouya has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
Kouya stops a takedown attempt from Nim.
Kazunori Kouya has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Tim Nim.
Nim is trying to break the clinch but Kouya has him pressed against the cage.
Kouya with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Kouya is trying to stall.

Nim manages to break the clinch.
Nim will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
Kazunori Kouya seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Nim avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Kouya is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Kouya avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Kouya tries to close the distance and clinch up but Nim swats him away and circles back towards the center.

Kouya gets caught flat footed, as Nim shoots in with a quick takedown into guard.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Nim stopping the sweep attempt from Kouya.
Nim throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kouya is trying to keep Nim in close.
Kouya looking for a sweep. Not yet Kouya, not yet.
Nim pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Kouya is keeping the position for now.
Nim sitting in guard, not really doing much.
We must be close to a standup if these guys don't pick up the pace.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.

Kouya moves into range and clinches up with Nim.
Nim is trying to push Kouya away but Kouya has him pressed against the cage, so he's going nowhere.
Kouya is pressed up against the cage. Nim has hold of a leg and is looking to drag Kouya down to the mat. Kouya avoids the attempt though and has circled away. We're back to striking at a distance.
Kouya tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Nim keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Kouya tries to clinch there but Nim circles away.
Nim goes for a double leg but Kouya avoids the attempt and the two fighters end up clinched against the cage as Kouya continues to drive forward.
Kouya lands with a short shot to the head.
Nim has had enough of the clinch and is looking to separate.
Kouya tries to land a knee to the head but misses.

Kouya manages to break the clinch.
Nim shoots in for a takedown but Kouya shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.

Kouya clinches up with Nim and pushes him back against the cage.
Kouya blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
Kouya connects with a knee to the head.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Nim is trying to pull guard but being pressed up against the cage enables Kouya to keep the fight standing.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
The fighters are going at a pretty good pace and they're both starting to sweat now.
Kouya is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.
Nim trying to control the position but instead, Kouya has worked for underhooks and has pushed Nim into the cage.
Nim tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. Kouya just stands there and leans against the cage.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Kazunori Kouya 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.

Kouya tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Horrible takedown by Nim or perhaps it was just good defense by Kouya which made him look bad.
Nim shoots in but Kouya avoids the takedown attempt easily.
Kouya fails with an attempt to clinch.
Kouya tries a head kick but it misses.

Nim gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.
Kouya utilising his Muay Thai to score with a knee to the body.
Kouya throws an elbow but it misses.
Nim working hard to break the clinch.
Nim is breathing heavily.
Kouya misses with an elbow strike.
Kouya misses with a knee to the head.
Kouya throws a knee to the head but misses.
Kouya looks like he'd prefer to be striking at range right now.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kouya controlling the action here for a moment.
Kouya throws a head punch that misses.
Nim tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. Kouya smiles and moves away.
Kazunori Kouya has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Tim Nim.
Kouya tries to clinch there but Nim circles away.
Kouya moves in looking to clinch but Nim pushes him off.
Nim tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Kouya lands a nice looking body kick.
Kouya is looking to clinch but Nim is avoiding it.

Kouya closes the distance and pushes Nim back into the cage.
Nim jumps guard but his hands slip and he falls flat on his back. Well, he's made himself look a right mug there, as Kouya walks away with a smile on his face. Nim gets slowly back to his feet and shakes his head.
Nim keeps the fight on the outside.
Kouya fails with an attempt to clinch.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Kouya looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.

Nim moves into the clinch.
Nim wants to take the fight to the mat but Kouya manages to get underhooks and keep the fight in the clinch.
Kouya creates a bit of distance and throws an elbow that only just misses.
Nim blocks an elbow strike from Kouya.
Kouya is trying to work for a single leg takedown but Nim pulls him back up using the underhooks.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.

Nim pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Nim tries to clinch but Kouya is having none of it.
No luck for Nim with that takedown attempt.
Kouya stuffs the takedown.
Kouya is looking to clinch but Nim is avoiding it.
Kouya rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Nim moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Kouya tries to clinch up.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Nim stuffs the takedown.
Kouya lands a jab followed by a nice looking cross.
Kouya tries to clinch but Nim moves out of range.

Kouya shoots in from a long way out. He's driving through with the takedown attempt and he eventually gets it, landing in Nim's guard.
Kouya wants to control from the top but Nim keeps moving.
Kouya makes a bit of distance and scores with some ground and pound, still in guard.
Kouya makes a bit of distance and scores with some ground and pound, still in guard.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!

Kouya gets to his feet and steps away from his opponent.

Kouya closes the distance and pushes Nim back into the cage.
Kouya misses with a knee to the head.
Kouya jumps guard but Nim turns him against the cage and keeps the fight standing.
Kouya taking a breather.

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

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Kouya defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Nim.

Kouya clinches with his opponent.
Kouya tries a knee to the head but he's missed.
Nim is working hard here but doesn't seem to be able to control effectively, up against the cage.
Kouya scores with a knee to the head.
Kouya utilising his Muay Thai to score with a knee to the body.
Nim dodges an elbow strike from Kouya.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Nim takes an elbow to the forehead.
Kouya wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Nim has him pressed against the cage.
Kouya with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.
Nim tries to pull guard but Kouya forces him back to his feet, against the cage.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Kazunori Kouya dominated that second round.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action! This is the final round!

Kouya is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Kouya pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Nim avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Kouya doesn't manage to clinch there - Nim circles away.
Kouya shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Nim misses with the combination.
Nim keeps the fight on the outside.

Kouya has taken the fight to the clinch.
Kazunori Kouya has scored more points in the clinch so far.

Nim breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Kouya leaves Nim with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
Nim has a takedown stuffed.
Kouya throws a poor cross that misses

and Nim counters by moving into the clinch. Good anticipation by Nim.
Nim takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Nim is trying to pull guard but being pressed up against the cage enables Kouya to keep the fight standing.
Kazunori Kouya has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Tim Nim.
Kouya looking to throw knees to the head but Nim is blocking nicely.
Kouya throws a knee to the head but misses.
Nim tries to pull guard but Kouya holds him up against the cage and eventually Nim drops back down to his feet.
Kouya lands a knee to the head.
Nim tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Kouya avoids it.
Kouya drops down for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Kouya tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. Nim smiles and moves away.
Nim will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
Kouya wants to clinch up but Nim keeps it at a distance.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Nim shoots in but Kouya avoids the takedown attempt easily.
Kouya moves to clinch but Nim breaks away
and Nim counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
Kouya tries to clinch but Nim is having none of it.
Kouya moves in looking to clinch but Nim pushes him off.
Kouya fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Nim avoids it really well and circles away.
Kouya throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Nim's waist but Nim gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Kouya off to one side.

Kouya looking to shoot here. He's gone for it and he's landed a takedown into side control! Oh, that's bad for Nim!
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Kouya lands a nice forearm strike.
Nim is trying to control Kouya's posture but Kouya avoids it.
Nim is looking to regain half guard here but Kouya keeps moving and retains side control.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
You can see the frustration on Nim's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.

Kouya thinks about going for a far side armbar but bails out and retains the dominant position instead.
Kouya is chipping away with strikes.
Nim on the wrong end of some ground and pound.

Kouya stands up and beckons Nim to his feet.
Kouya is looking to take this fight into the clinch.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Nim throws a sloppy head kick and Kouya moves out of range easily.
Kouya tries to clinch

and Nim counters by moving into the clinch. Good anticipation by Nim.
Kouya is trying to break free.
Knees to the body from Kouya.
Kouya taking a breather.
Kouya drops down for a takedown but doesn't get it.

Kouya breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Kouya wants to clinch
and Nim counters with a flying knee. Nice.
Kouya darts in trying to clinch
and Nim counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.

And that's the end of the fight!
Kazunori Kouya showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Kouya has outscored his opponent in every aspect of the fight today. Only a scarily incompetent judge or two will keep him from a well deserved win... 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 Gwen Towbar scores the fight 30:27
Judge Daniel Franklin scores the fight 30:27
Judge Frank Dennis scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Kazunori Kouya!
Post fight, an emotional Kazunori Kouya said 'Proudly Supported by Team Goroshi - Tokyo United Fightwear - Zombie Nutrition'.