PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Andrea Hermias (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Yuki Nakai (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Yuki Nakai has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Hermias
vs
Nakai

170 cm
31
159 lbs
16 - 14 - 0

170 cm
34
154 lbs
27 - 16 - 0

Abu Dhabi Champ
Excellent boxer
Insanely flexible

Excellent grappler
Basic striking
Good gas tank

Namunamu Clothing
Milwaukee's Best 160

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 16 - 14 - 0, fighting out of New York, Andrea Hermias!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 27 - 16 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Yuki Nakai!
The judges for this bout are Franklyn Lucas, Alyssa Summers and John Kavanagh.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Hermias throws a body punch but Nakai moves out of range.
A slow jab from Hermias misses its intended target.
Andrea Hermias seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Hermias keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Hermias defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Nakai.
Hermias throws a nice hook to the body that draws an oooh from the crowd.
Hermias stuffs the takedown attempt from Nakai. Nakai gets slowly back to his feet.

Nakai shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Let's see what he's got on the mat.
The referee looks like he's ready to step in and stand the fighters back up.
Hermias trying to keep a closed guard but Nakai is proving a slippery customer.
Hermias has been talking about how he's improved his wrestling in the run up to the fight so let's see if that's enough to sway the balance.
Nakai won't allow Hermias to sweep him here.
Nakai throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Hermias works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Nakai preventing the sweep.
Hermias keeping moving, preventing Nakai from controlling successfully.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Hermias is controlling Nakai's posture.
Nakai preventing the sweep.

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

The ref stands the fighters back up because Andrea Hermias just wasn't active enough.
Hermias stuffs the takedown attempt from Nakai. Nakai gets slowly back to his feet.
Andrea Hermias has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Yuki Nakai.
Hermias throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Nakai sees it coming and avoids it easily.

Hermias feints and as Nakai raises his hands in defense, Hermias changes levels and drives through with a takedown into guard.
Nakai trying to keep a closed guard but Hermias is proving a slippery customer.
Hermias working from the guard for now, landing some ground and pound.
Nakai trying to keep a closed guard but Hermias is proving a slippery customer.
Hermias stopping the sweep attempt from Nakai.
Nakai is avoiding any damage by keeping wrist control.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Nakai trying to punch from his back but it's not doing any damage.
Hermias stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Nakai swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Hermias wants to control from the top but Nakai keeps moving.
Nakai trying to control the position.
The referee claps his hands together and tells the fighters to work.
Hermias works over Nakai with some ground and pound from guard.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Hermias wants to control from the top but Nakai keeps moving.
Hermias postures up and lands some nice ground and pound.
Hermias throws a big elbow that misses.
Hermias is working the ground and pound from guard. He might want to try advancing position though to get more of an impact.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Nakai manages to land a sweep and now he's in mount on top!
Hermias working to try and regain half guard.
Hermias has been looking to land a fair amount of strikes on the ground. He might be looking to soften his opponent up in order to work for a submission.
Nakai pausing momentarily but resumes with a couple of decent strikes that do a bit of damage.
Hermias bucks up and manages to get a nice reversal! He's in guard on the top - nicely done!
Hermias is fighting to break Nakai's control of his arms but Nakai is doing a good job of controlling the position at the moment.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Hermias accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Nakai controls Hermias momentarily but Hermias frees himself.
Hermias cracks Nakai with a solid left hand.
Nakai seems keen to control rather than go for a submission, at least for now.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Hermias throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.

Nakai escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Hermias gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
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!
Hermias trying to control but Nakai is working from the bottom.
Nakai tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Hermias loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Hermias trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Hermias wants to control from the top but Nakai keeps moving.
Hermias stopping the sweep attempt from Nakai.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Hermias lands a couple of decent looking shots.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Andrea Hermias dominated that round.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

Nakai with a poor takedown
and Hermias counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Nakai shoots in for a takedown but Hermias shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
Hermias scores with a jab to the jaw.

Nakai gets taken down but at least he's managed to land in guard.
Nakai being controlled here, momentarily.
Nakai controls Hermias momentarily but Hermias frees himself.
Hermias trying to control the position from guard on top but Nakai is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Hermias scoring with some ground and pound.
Nakai tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Hermias working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Nakai trying to control the position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Nakai manages to land a sweep and now he's in mount on top!
Hermias manages to regain half guard. Good work.
Nakai is thwarting Hermias's attempts to control the position.
Hermias regains full guard, whilst avoiding punches from Nakai.
Nakai postures up.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Hermias bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Nakai's guard.
Hermias distracts Nakai with his right hand and drops a big elbow with his other arm.
Nakai controls Hermias momentarily but Hermias frees himself.
Hermias postures up and scores with a shot to the body and a follow up elbow to the head.
Hermias throws an elbow that misses. Nakai uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in Hermias's guard. Nice move by Nakai!
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!
Hermias is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Nakai trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Nakai accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Hermias wants to sweep here but Nakai controlling him for the moment.

Hermias working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Nakai doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Nakai manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Hermias is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Nakai defends well.

Nakai stands over his opponent and dives in with a flying punch! Hermias throws up his legs and catches Nakai in a triangle! Oh this looks tight! Nakai tries to escape but he's forced to tap! Wow, fantastic work there by Hermias! That came out of nowhere!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 3:33 of round 2, we have a winner by way of Submission (Triangle Choke). Andrea Hermias!
During a confident post fight interview, Andrea Hermias thanked all his fans. He seemed very genuine when describing how motivated his fans keep him.