PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Sam Am (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Yuji Nagata (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Yuji Nagata has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Am
vs
Nagata

190 cm
18
212 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

191 cm
19
218 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

Good wrestling
Basic striking
Big heart

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Powerful

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 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Sam Am!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Yuji Nagata!
The judges for this bout are Skip Squint, Chris Dean and Eliza Hachem.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Am moves into the clinch.
Nagata is looking to control Am's arms but Am gets an underhook and turns him. Now Nagata has his back to the cage.
Am can't find room to land a body shot as Nagata controls the action.
Am lands a right hand that snaps the head of Nagata backwards.
Nagata misses with a punch to the body.
Nagata throws a head punch that misses.
Am has Nagata pressed up against the cage and is working for takedown. Nagata manages to improve position though and keeps the fight standing.
Knees to the body from Am.
Am prevents a body shot from Nagata.
Am can't find room to land a body shot as Nagata controls the action.
Am misses with a punch to the body.

Am tightens his grip and picks Nagata up, before dumping him to the ground. Nagata manages to land in guard.
Am controlling from the top position.
Am wants to control from the top but Nagata keeps moving.

Nagata is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Am got a little sloppy there for a moment and Nagata has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Am has managed to get both his arms back between Nagata's legs - danger averted.

Nagata isolates an arm and boxes in a triangle. Am stacks Nagata on his neck as he steps over and passes to the side. He's now in a much more dominant position where he can look to do some serious damage. Nice move by Am!
Nagata is looking to reverse the position.
Nagata seems a little lost for a moment, as Am dominates the positioning.

That's two 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.
Nagata tries to work a leg under to get back to half guard but Am wriggles his own leg back out and remains in side control.
Am trying to control the action but Nagata is working from the bottom.
We've been hearing that Am has been drilling a lot of ground and pound in training, so let's see if he get the finish.
Nagata is sneaking out the side here. He's bucked Am off and has taken his back!
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Am is in bad spot here.
Am trying to get back to his feet but Nagata is in full control for now.

Nagata is remaining active here, looking for the choke. The more discerning members of the crowd will appreciate his efforts.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
You can see the frustration on Am's face… He knows he is in trouble unless he improves his position sooner rather than later.
Am trying to get back to his feet but Nagata is in full control for now.

Nagata is looking to finish the fight by rear naked choke. Am knows exactly what he's got planned though, so he's defending well. Maybe a few strikes would soften Am for a finish.
Am is trying to get back to his feet but he's not managed it yet.

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

Nagata working for a RNC but it's not happening just yet.

Am preventing the rear naked choke attempt from Nagata.
Nagata controlling well, preventing Am from escaping the position.
Nagata lands a couple of good shots to his opponent's body and a final shot to the head. Good little attack there by Nagata.
Oooh a big shot gets through from Nagata. Many more shots like that and the referee will have to think about stepping in!
Am is trying to get back to his feet but he's not managed it yet.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Nagata scores with a nice shot to the head of his opponent. Am is looking for a way out.
Nagata throwing damaging strikes from the back! Am could be in trouble here!

Am is rocked!
Nagata doesn't have the hooks in and Am manages to turn into his guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Yuji Nagata dominated that 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.

Nagata tried to score with a low kick but Am checks it.
Nagata throws a head kick that misses.

Am forces Nagata back against the cage and clinches.
Nagata throws a hook to the body. More of an arm punch but it's all scoring with the judges.
Am tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Am is looking for a takedown up against the cage. Nagata gets underhooks though and prevents the takedown attempt.
Am goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Nagata lands punches inside but they're not really causing much damage.
Nagata misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Nagata looking to throw knees to the head but Am is blocking nicely.
Nagata throws a head punch that misses.
Am tries to throw a body punch but Nagata avoids it by throwing Am back against the cage.
Am is looking for a takedown.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Am can't find room to land a body shot as Nagata controls the action.
Nagata misses with a short punch on the inside.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Nagata.
Nagata prevents a body shot from Am.
Am doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Nagata blocks a couple of punches on the inside.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Nagata taking a breather.
Nagata tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Am's elbow.
Good anti-grappling being displayed by Nagata as Am tries to tie him up.

Am gets a nice trip takedown into half guard.

Nagata looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.
Am throws a strike but Nagata avoids it easily and moves to full guard.
Am trying to move into half guard but instead Nagata has managed to sweep!

Nagata cracks Am with a solid left hand.
Nagata prevents Am from getting back to his feet.
Nagata postures up and lands a big shot to Am's brow.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Nagata throws a big right hand that misses.
Am wants to stand up but Nagata is controlling him.
Nagata trying to control but Am is working from the bottom.
Nagata sitting in guard, not really doing much.
Nagata trying to control the position from guard on top but Am is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Am on his back here. We all know that wrestlers don't like being on their back so let's see if Am tries to get out of the position.
Nagata prevents Am from getting back to his feet.
Nagata trying to control the position from guard on top but Am is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
We must be close to a standup if these guys don't pick up the pace.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Am is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.

The fight moves into the clinch position.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Am.
Am dictating the pace here, as the fighters clinch against the cage.
Nagata has a couple of punches blocked by Am.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Am.
Am tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Nagata misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Am managing to block the knees to the body from Nagata.
Nagata has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Am misses with the head strike.
Am is trying to slow down the pace in the clinch, to catch his breath.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Am tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Am misses with a punch on the inside.
Am lands with a short head shot on the inside.
Am struggles to land a body shot inside as Nagata controls his hands.
Am lands with a light punch inside.
Nagata tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Am throws a head punch that misses.
Nagata tries to throw a body punch but Am avoids it by throwing Nagata back against the cage.
Nagata has a couple of punches blocked by Am.
Am throws a blind hook that connects with the side of Nagatas head.
Nagata blocks an uppercut.

Am gets a trip takedown into half guard.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Nagata has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Am is working away from the top position though.

Nagata actively working from the bottom here.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Sam Am 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!

Nagata swings for the body but Am moves out of range.

Nagata tries to keep at a distance but Am has taken the fight into the clinch.
Am tries a body shot but Nagata blocks it.
Am misses with a hook to the ribs.
Am tries to work over Nagata's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
A real battle for position is taking place between these two warriors.
Am prevents a body shot from Nagata.
Am scores with a hook to the body.
Am tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Nagata goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Nagata is trying to push Am away but Am has him pressed against the cage, so he's going nowhere.
Nagata prevents a body shot from Am.
Am controlling the action here for a moment.
Nagata looking to throw knees to the head but Am is blocking nicely.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Nagata is trying to break the clinch but Am is controlling him.
Am lands a body shot in the clinch.
A head punch on the inside from Nagata fails to land.
Am misses with a shot to the kidneys.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Am.
Nagata using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Am has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
Sam Am has scored more points in the clinch so far.
Nagata looking to stall.
Nagata blocks a punch to the side of the head.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Nagata.

Am turns his hips and lands a very nice judo throw into side control!
Nagata tries to get back to half guard but can't.
Am wants to lay and pray for a moment but Nagata keeps working.
Yuji Nagata has got the better of the ground game so far.
Nagata struggling a bit here.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Nagata tries to buck Am off but Am is having none of it.
Am throwing strikes but missing, from side control.
Am happy to just control the position for now.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up. He just wasn't happy with the level of activity.
Nice shot by Nagata.
Nagata throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Am clinches with his opponent.
Am fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Am blocks a body shot from Nagata.
Nagata swings wildly with an uppercut but Am uses good head movement to avoid it.
Am misses with a hook to the ribs.
Nagata taking a breather.
Nagata doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Am lands a shoulder strike that jolts his opponent's head backwards.
Am tries to throw a body punch but Nagata avoids it by throwing Am back against the cage.
With the fighters clinched against the cage, Am creates a bit of distance for himself and scores with a nice uppercut.
Nagata is trying to maintain a safe position but Am gets an underhook and turns Nagata into the cage.
Am tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Am trying to land knees to the body.
Am looking for a takedown.
Nagata using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Am has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
Am can't find room to land a body shot as Nagata controls the action.
Am working some nice short punches in the clinch.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Am lands a left hand that snaps the head of Nagata backwards.
Am misses with a hook to the ribs.
Nagata wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Am has him pressed against the cage.
Am tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Am lands punches inside but they're not really causing much damage.
Nagata tries to throw a body punch but Am avoids it by throwing Nagata back against the cage.
Am has Nagata pressed up against the cage and is working for takedown. Nagata manages to improve position though and keeps the fight standing.
Nagata misses with a punch to the body.
Am tries to throw a body punch but Nagata avoids it by throwing Am back against the cage.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Am lands a right hand.
Nagata misses with a body punch.
Am tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
A bit of stalling here from Am.
Nagata misses with a punch to the body.
Nagata tries a body shot but Am blocks it.
Am misses with the head strike.
Nagata with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.

And that's the end of the fight!
Sam Am showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Am has won this one but let's see what the judges have to say. 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 Skip Squint scores the fight 29:28
Judge Chris Dean scores the fight 29:28
Judge Eliza Hachem scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Sam Am!