PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Kazushi Nakamura (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Randall Troman (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Kazushi Nakamura has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Nakamura
vs
Troman

176 cm
19
181 lbs
2 - 2 - 0

181 cm
20
188 lbs
2 - 2 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter striker
Good chin

BJJ White Belt
Counter striker
Tends to cut

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the middleweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 2 - 2 - 0, fighting out of New York, Kazushi Nakamura!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 2 - 0, fighting out of New York, Randall Troman!
The judges for this bout are John Roberts, Anthony Taglia and Jonathan Paton.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Troman rushes Nakamura and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.
Nakamura wants to get back to striking at distance but Troman won't allow it.
Troman gets underhooks to prevent Nakamura's takedown attempt.
Troman throws a knee to the head but misses.
Nakamura avoiding damage as Troman throws knees to the body.
Troman lands an elbow just above Nakamura 's eye.
Troman landing knees to the body. They look like they could hurt.
Nakamura changes levels and goes for a takedown here. Troman fights it off and pushes away nicely.
Troman misses with a head kick.
Nakamura throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Nakamura tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Troman swivels and escapes.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Kazushi Nakamura. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Troman throws a head kick but Nakamura moves out of range.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Troman tries a head kick but it misses.
A head kick by Troman misses

so Nakamura counters with a double leg into guard. Good agility.
Troman keeping full guard, as Nakamura tries to pass.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

Nakamura drops back for a leg! It's a sloppy attempt though and Nakamura jumps back into guard quickly, to retain the dominant position.
Troman is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Nakamura works a leg free and moves into half guard.
Nakamura throwing shots but Troman is blocking nicely.
Nakamura is breathing heavily.
Nakamura trying to mount his opponent but Troman defends it.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.
Troman tries a head kick but it misses.
Nakamura looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Troman is fending him off so far but Nakamura persists. Nope, Troman circles away and we're back to standing.
No luck for Nakamura with that takedown attempt.
Nakamura takes a head kick and keeps coming.

Troman pushes Nakamura up against the cage in a clinch.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Nakamura blocks the elbow strike.
Troman lands a nice elbow from the clinch.
Nakamura has Troman pressed up against the cage and is working for takedown. Troman manages to improve position though and keeps the fight standing.

Troman manages to break the clinch.
A head kick by Nakamura misses
and Troman counters with a leg kick.
Troman doesn't manage to clinch there - Nakamura circles away.
Nakamura fails with the takedown
and Troman makes the exchange count by landing a cracking kick to the body. Nakamura really felt that one!
Crunch! Troman slams his shin into Nakamura's torso.
Troman lands with a kick to the temple. Nakamura shrugs as if to say "is that all you've got?"

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Troman throws a right high kick that is partially blocked by Nakamura.

A head kick lands from Troman that sends Nakamura to the canvas. Nakamura tries to scramble back to his feet but Troman brings him back down into side control.

Nakamura is rocked!

It looks like Kazushi Nakamura has been cut.
Troman passes to full mount! That's big trouble for Nakamura!
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Troman tries to control but Nakamura wriggling away.
Troman misses with a head shot.
Troman really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Nakamura. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.
Nakamura really trying hard to get back to half guard here.
Troman punching from mount but Nakamura doing a good job of avoiding damage.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Nakamura really trying hard to get back to half guard here.
Troman controlling his opponent.
Nakamura is in all sorts of trouble here.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Randall Troman dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Kazushi Nakamura's cut.
That's time! Nakamura's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight.

Nakamura avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Troman darts in trying to clinch

and Nakamura counters with a driving takedown into guard. Nice work there by Nakamura.
Troman striking off his back but it's not causing Nakamura any problems.
Troman wants to sweep here but Nakamura controlling him for the moment.
Troman is persisting with the attempt to improve his position.
Nakamura sneaks a leg through and gets to half guard. That was like a knife through butter how easily he passed Troman's guard.
Troman trying to hold on to Nakamura's head to control him but Nakamura postures up.
The referee walks around the fighters to get a better view of the action. Nakamura lands a nice short elbow.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Nakamura is thwarting Troman's attempts to control the position.
Nakamura wants to free his trapped foot but Troman is holding on for dear life with his legs.
Troman tries to get to full guard but Nakamura has control of the leg.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
We get told so often about how wrestlers don't like to be on their backs. Let's see if Troman can do anything to dispel that myth.

Nakamura is trying to work for a kimura. He's got his hands clasped together - this could be trouble! No, Troman has managed to free his arm - good work.
Nakamura passes the half guard and he's now in mount! Big trouble for Troman!

Nakamura has hold of Troman's left arm, perhaps looking for a submission. The two fighters tussle over control of the isolated limb and Troman manages to get his arm back to his side and away from danger.
Troman gets back to half guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Troman makes his way to full guard. A much better position for Troman.

Troman looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.

Nakamura drops back for a leg! It's a sloppy attempt though and Nakamura jumps back into guard quickly, to retain the dominant position.
Troman is trying to control the position but Nakamura postures up.

Nakamura thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.

Nakamura drops back for a leg! It's a sloppy attempt though and Nakamura jumps back into guard quickly, to retain the dominant position.
Troman throwing some rather feeble looking strikes off his back.

Nakamura thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
Troman throws a jab, cross combination which is slipped

and Nakamura counters with a nice double leg into guard.

Nakamura thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Nakamura wants to pass the guard but Troman is keeping the position.
Troman managing to control the position.
Nakamura forces his way into half guard.
Troman wants to get back to full guard.
Troman flails away from the bottom but he's not doing any damage.
Troman trying to control here.

Nakamura is looking for a kimura but he's never going to get it from there.
Troman is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
There's not a lot going on here and the crowd are letting the fighters know they're not willing to tolerate a lack of action.

Nakamura is trying to work for a kimura. He's got his hands clasped together - this could be trouble! No, Troman has managed to free his arm - good work.
Troman is looking for a sweep. Nakamura is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Troman throws a strike from the bottom that misses.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.
Troman connects with a good right hand that stumbles Nakamura. Nakamura circles away out of range and recomposes himself.
Nakamura shoots and misses
and Troman counters with a two punch combo.
Troman tries to clinch there but Nakamura circles away.
Nakamura avoids a punch combination nicely.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Kazushi Nakamura dominated that second round.
The cut man is working on Kazushi Nakamura's cut.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action! So, we enter the final round. Let's see if either fighter can bring us a finish, or whether we're going to the judges scorecards.

Nakamura looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Troman is fending him off so far but Nakamura persists. Nope, Troman circles away and we're back to standing.
Troman throws a sloppy head kick and Nakamura moves out of range easily.
Nakamura gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily
and Troman counters with a straight right hand.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Troman moves into the clinch.
Troman lands a glancing elbow in the clinch.

Troman breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Nakamura shoots in but Troman avoids the takedown attempt easily.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Kazushi Nakamura. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Troman goes for a high kick. It partially lands.
Troman tries a head kick but it misses.
Nakamura shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Troman but Troman pushes him off and we're back to square one.
Troman wants to clinch.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are getting on the fighters' backs, as the pace has dropped off in the last minute or so.
Horrible takedown by Nakamura or perhaps it was just good defense by Troman which made him look bad.
Troman scores to the head and body with a nice combination!
A head kick misses from Troman.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Troman doesn't manage to clinch there - Nakamura circles away.
Troman throws a sloppy head kick and Nakamura moves out of range easily.
A head kick misses from Troman.
Nakamura gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily
and Troman counters with a flying knee. Nice.

Troman closes the distance and clinches.
Troman lands a nice elbow from the clinch.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.

Troman breaks from the clinch.
Randall Troman is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Troman tries a head kick but it misses.
Troman tries a head kick but it misses.
Troman is looking to clinch but Nakamura is avoiding it.
Nakamura fails with the takedown

and Troman counters into the clinch. Nicely done.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.

Troman breaks from the clinch.
Nakamura misses with a takedown
and Troman counters with a good, hard body kick but Nakamura shrugs it off.

And that's the end of the fight!
Randall Troman comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Troman 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 John Roberts scores the fight 28:29
Judge Anthony Taglia scores the fight 28:29
Judge Jonathan Paton scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Randall Troman!