PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Ric Tiger (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Shunsuke Nakamura (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.

Tiger
vs
Nakamura

168 cm
18
155 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

167 cm
18
154 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Granite chin

BJJ Purple Belt
Brawler
Inexperienced

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 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Ric Tiger!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Shunsuke Nakamura!
The judges for this bout are Yukihiro Shimada, Taro Takaoka and Yuuki Gou.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Tiger lands with a slapping head kick.

It looks like Shunsuke Nakamura has been cut.
Nakamura fails with an attempt to clinch.
Tiger thows a body kick. Nakamura tries to catch it but that hurt him.

Excellent takedown into side control there by Tiger.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Nakamura regains half guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Tiger tries to stand but his arm is trapped.
Nakamura is holding on to half guard well.
Tiger wants to stand up but Nakamura has a hold of him and won't allow it.
Tiger thows a huge punch but Nakamura dodges it nicely.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Tiger works his foot free and advances to mount.
Nakamura is squirming around, avoiding Tiger's attempts to control the action.
Nakamura is trying to escape the mount.
Nakamura tries to lock up and control but Tiger gives him a forearm to the face and pushes him away.
Tiger wants to control the pace but Nakamura is squirming around nicely.
Tiger scoring with strikes but Nakamura is staying in there.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Nakamura wants to control but Tiger is having none of it.

Tiger swings around for an armbar but it's a sloppy attempt and Nakamura is now in Tiger's guard. A big mistake from Tiger there, giving up the dominant position!
Tiger keeping moving, preventing Nakamura from controlling successfully.
Nakamura stands and throws Tiger's legs to the side, diving into side control.

Nakamura is looking for a kimura. He might have it! No, Tiger has escaped the position, nice work there.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Nakamura looks gassed!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Nakamura prevents Tiger from escaping the position.
Nakamura creates some space and throws a big elbow, but Tiger sees it coming and moves his head just enough to avoid the strike.
Tiger tries to improve position but can't.
Tiger wants to control but Nakamura postures up.
Tiger knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Nakamura on the ground.

Nakamura has had enough of the ground for now and decides to stand.
Nakamura tries to clinch up but Tiger circles away and keeps his distance.
Tiger shoots in for a double leg but Nakamura sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.

Tiger darts in and lands a nice takedown into half guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Nakamura is not content to let Tiger control the position.
Tiger wants to stand up but Nakamura is controlling the position.
Tiger trying to control the action but Nakamura is working from the bottom.
The fighters are battling for position here. Nakamura manages to regain full guard. Nice work.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Ric Tiger dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Shunsuke Nakamura's cut.
That's time! Back to the action!

Nakamura pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Nakamura is looking to clinch but Tiger is avoiding it.
Tiger tries to clinch there but Nakamura circles away.
Nakamura misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
Ric Tiger is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Nakamura looks to throw the jab but Tiger is out of range.

Tiger looking to shoot here. He's gone for it and he's landed a takedown into mount! Oh, that's bad for Nakamura!
Nakamura working to try and regain half guard.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Tiger controlling the pace for now.

Tiger goes for an armbar but he's fallen flat on his backside there and now Nakamura is on top in guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Tiger has his foot on Nakamura's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Nakamura works his way back into a safe position though.
Tiger trying to control the position.
Tiger being controlled here, momentarily.

Tiger is active off his back here, looking for submissions.

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.
Nakamura tries to free his leg and advance position but Tiger is retaining full guard.
Nakamura trying to control the position from guard on top but Tiger is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Nakamura won't allow Tiger to sweep him here.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.
Nakamura tries for a takedown but Tiger circles away easily

and Tiger counters with a nice shoot takedown that brings the fighters to the ground.
Nakamura is pulling down on Tiger's head to control his posture.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Tiger pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Nakamura is keeping the position for now.
Tiger trying to control the position from guard on top but Nakamura is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Nakamura is pulling down on Tiger's head to control his posture.

Nakamura is looking for a triangle but Tiger pushes his legs off easily.
Tiger looking to pass the guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are hurling abuse towards the fighters... You can hardly blame them though because there isn't a lot going on in the fight.
Nakamura wants to sweep here but Tiger controlling him for the moment.

Nakamura has his foot on Tiger's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Tiger works his way back into a safe position though.
Nakamura wants to get back to his feet but Tiger is in a dominant position and won't allow it.
Tiger sitting in guard here, content to control.
Tiger looking to pass the guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Ric Tiger dominated that second round.
The cut man is working on Shunsuke Nakamura's cut.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business. Let's hear some noise people - this is the final round!

Nakamura tries to clinch but Tiger moves out of range.
Tiger misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
Tiger has his takedown stuffed
and Nakamura counters with a left and a right that stings Tiger.
Nakamura has his takedown stuffed
and Tiger counters with a series of strikes. Nakamura will be more careful next time no doubt.
Nakamura throws a nice inside leg kick.
Some wild striking there from Tiger.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Nakamura misses with a takedown

and Tiger counters with a nice single leg takedown and he's in Nakamura's guard now.
Tiger trying to stand up but can't free himself from Nakamura's guard.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Tiger loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Tiger looking to sit in guard and control but Nakamura gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.
Nakamura trying to control but Tiger is working from the bottom.
Tiger not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Ric Tiger overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Nakamura accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Nakamura forces his way into half guard.

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.
Tiger makes his way to full guard. A much better position for Tiger.

Nakamura stands up from Tiger's guard - Nakamura perhaps looking for a knockout.

Tiger clinches up against the cage.

Tiger breaks from the clinch.
Nakamura shoots in and drives through. Tiger sprawls well.
Ric Tiger has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Shunsuke Nakamura.

Tiger clinches up against the cage.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Tiger jumps guard but his hands slip and he falls flat on his back. Well, he's made himself look a right mug there, as Nakamura walks away with a smile on his face. Tiger gets slowly back to his feet and shakes his head.
A swing and a miss from Tiger.
Nakamura shoots in but Tiger avoids the takedown attempt easily.
Nakamura shoots for a double leg takedown but Tiger sprawls well. He's pushed Nakamura's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
Tiger looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.

Nakamura looks for a takedown. He's got it. We're now in half guard.

Tiger actively working from the bottom here.
Tiger is looking to improve his position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Nakamura working some ground and pound from close in. He's looking to maintain this position and strike for a while by the looks of things... although he'll probably advance to full mount in a minute now I've said that.
Tiger is working for an escape here. He's hooked one of Nakamura's legs and he's managed to sneak out and take Nakamura's back!
Tiger wants to control the position but Nakamura frees himself and scrambles - Tiger manages to regain control in side control.
Tiger has control of an arm but Nakamura manages to advance to Tiger's back!
Nakamura manages to reverse the position and now he's in Tiger's guard. Nice work there by Nakamura.
Tiger will have to put a bit more behind his punches if he's going to do any damage from this position.
Shunsuke Nakamura has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Ric Tiger is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Tiger avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.

And that's the end of the fight!
Ric Tiger showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Tiger 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 Yukihiro Shimada scores the fight 30:27
Judge Taro Takaoka scores the fight 30:27
Judge Yuuki Gou scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Ric Tiger!