PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Ward Rand (ranked 23023 p4p, 813 weight class) and Shinsuke Nakamura (ranked 24542 p4p, 792 weight class). Nakamura has chosen Rising Sun as his entrance music. Shinsuke Nakamura has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Rand
vs
Nakamura

186 cm
20
225 lbs
1 - 8 - 0

188 cm
26
229 lbs
1 - 3 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Experienced

BJJ Blue Belt
Decent knees
Granite chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 1 - 8 - 0, fighting out of New York, Ward Rand!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Shinsuke Nakamura!
The judges for this bout are Alyssa Summers, Steve Montenegro and John Kavanagh.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Nakamura closes this distance looking for a takedown but Rand circles away.
Rand lands a jab-cross combination.
Rand shoots in looking for a takedown but Nakamura manages to keep the fight standing, pushing Rand's face into the canvas for good measure before circling away.
Rand looks to have improved his striking defense since last time we saw him fight.

Rand darts in and clinches Nakamura up against the cage.
Rand wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.
Rand wants to break free but Nakamura has control.
Nakamura pressing his opponent against the cage.

Rand breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Rand fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Nakamura, pushing him back against the cage.

Nakamura escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Rand tries to clinch but Nakamura is having none of it.
Nakamura lets it all go there with a big combo counter but none of the punches connected.
Rand with a lazy takedown attempt

and Nakamura counters with a crisp one two that drops Rand! Nakamura thinks about following him to the mat for a moment but instead steps back and waves Rand to his feet! Rand is in big trouble!

Rand is rocked!

That's one minute gone in the round.
Nakamura is looking to slow Rand down with leg kicks.
The fight stays on the outside here - Rand looks like he's thinking about clinching though.

Nakamura decides to change it up a bit and drives through with a nice takedown into half guard.
Nakamura slows the pace down in half guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
It looks like Nakamura might be adopting somewhat of a lay and pray gameplan here, which I'm sure won't go down too well with the paying fans in attendance... Or the ring announcers come to think of it.
Nakamura's corner are shouting for him to control the position and he seems happy to oblige.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Nakamura drops an elbow to the side of Rand's head.
Rand tries to roll over but Nakamura keeps him under control.
The referee calls for the fighters to work.
Rand is refusing to be controlled, as Nakamura sits in half guard.
Nakamura with a momentary lay and pray from half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Nakamura is scoring with some nice ground and pound from the dominant position.
Nakamura content to sit in half guard and control for a moment.
Nakamura prevents Rand from improving his position.

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.

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

Nakamura changes levels and drives through with a really nice takedown into side control. Rand looks really pissed at himself for not defending that better.

Rand throws Nakamura to one side and escapes!
Rand shoots in but no luck this time.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Ward Rand. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Rand is breathing heavily.
Nakamura connects with a solid leg kick.
Rand could do with losing a few pounds - he looks very soft around the mid section, to put it politely.
Rand stuffs the takedown.
Nakamura rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Rand moves out of range and avoids them all easily.

Nakamura closes the distance and gets a double leg, slamming Rand to the mat! Rand manages to get full guard.
Rand looking to control.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Nakamura passes Rand's left leg - he's now in half guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Shinsuke Nakamura dominated that round.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

Rand misses with a body kick.
Nakamura dives in for a single leg takedown but Rand sprawls and the fighters end up clinched against the cage.
Nakamura shoots in but Rand avoids the takedown attempt easily.
Ward Rand is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.

Rand shoots in looking for a single leg takedown. Nakamura is trying to defend but Rand finishes it well and ends up in half guard. Let's see if he can advance position further.

Nakamura has managed to escape just enough to sneak back to his feet but Rand is on him like a limpet, forcing Nakamura back against the cage.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Rand goes for a takedown in the clinch but Nakamura prevents it.
Nakamura drops down for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Ward Rand has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Shinsuke Nakamura.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rand tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. Nakamura smiles and moves away.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Nakamura tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Rand paws at him with a jab and circles away.
As Nakamura tries to get set, Rand tries to push him back and clinch up but Nakamura manages to avoid the attempt.
Nakamura stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Nakamura wants it to stay on the feet.
Nakamura pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Nakamura tries to close the distance and clinch but Rand swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
A solid body kick from Nakamura.
Nakamura has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Rand throws an ugly left hook that misses

and Nakamura counters with a takedown into side control! That could mean trouble for Rand!
Rand seems a little lost for a moment, as Nakamura dominates the positioning.
Shinsuke Nakamura has got the better of the ground game so far.

Nakamura decides to stand back up. Nakamura steps back and let's Rand get back to his feet.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Nakamura dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
Nakamura connects with a body shot that sends Rand's belly button to the back.
Rand takes a head kick and keeps coming.
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!

Nakamura shoots in and gets a takedown into half guard. Nakamura showed some decent athleticism there.
Well, if Nakamura is going to just lie there, perhaps we should talk about what we're having for dinner tonight… I'm having a ham and pineapple pizza… Yum. Can't wait.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Nakamura stands up and beckons Rand to join him on the feet.

Nakamura shoots in for a takedown and gets it.
Rand scrambles, trying to get to his feet, but Nakamura manages to mount him!
The crowd growing excited in anticipation of a finish here! Right on cue, Nakamura cracks his opponent with a massive right hand that draws loud cheers!
Nakamura looking to control and managing it successfully.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Nakamura working for a guillotine from mount but Rand is in no mood to give up.

Nakamura stands up from the dominant position, so we're back on the feet.

Nakamura shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Let's see what he's got on the mat.

Rand has scooted to the edge of the canvas and used the cage to get back to his feet. Nakamura has stuck on his opponent and is forcing him back against the cage.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Nakamura is working on a leg, looking for a takedown but Rand is defending well.

Nakamura breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Rand stuffs the takedown attempt from Nakamura. Nakamura gets slowly back to his feet.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Shinsuke Nakamura showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin! And we move into the final round!

Rand shoots for a double leg takedown but Nakamura sprawls well. He's pushed Rand's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
Rand doesn't manage to clinch there - Nakamura circles away.
Rand with a poor takedown
and Rand takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.

Nakamura moves into the clinch successfully.
A battle for position here, against the cage.

Nakamura pulls Rand into guard.
Nakamura wants to control here, rather than go for any submissions from the bottom. At least for now.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Nakamura is scooting his butt against the cage and has managed to get back to his feet. Rand presses him back against the cage, presumably looking to take the fight back to the mat.
Rand trying to stall but Nakamura improves his position.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Both fighters working to control the clinch.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rand takes a knee to the side of the body.

Nakamura manages to break the clinch.

Nakamura shoots in and gets a takedown into Rand's guard.
Nakamura is frustrating his opponent with some stalling tactics from top position.

Nakamura stands up from guard. Let's bang!

Nakamura drives through with a takedown into guard.
Rand is wriggling around but Nakamura manages to pass to half guard.

Nakamura looks to score some points with some ground and pound.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Nakamura controlling the action here.
Nakamura is looking to advance position but Rand won't allow it.
Nakamura passes to side control.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Nakamura controlling the position from side mount.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Rand wants to get back to his feet.
Nakamura tries to cartwheel into mount but he doesn't manage it.
Nakamura takes a little break here. Rand wants to take advantage but he is being controlled well.
Nakamura connects with a decent looking elbow from side control that caused Rand some visible discomfort.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Well. There's a bit of a lull in the action here and the crowd are starting to get restless.
Nakamura controls the position.
Check out the look on Nakamura's face as he threw that strike - that's one determined fighter!
Nakamura tries to cartwheel into mount but he doesn't manage it.

Nakamura stands up.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.

Nakamura shoots in for a takedown and gets it.

And that's the end of the fight!
Shinsuke Nakamura comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Nakamura has outworked and out performed his opponent in all aspects of the game today. He was simply too good and the decision should be no more than a formality. 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 Alyssa Summers scores the fight 27:30
Judge Steve Montenegro scores the fight 27:30
Judge John Kavanagh scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Shinsuke Nakamura!
Our winner, Shinsuke Nakamura, made sure he spent some time buttering up the crowd during his post fight interview, which will no doubt bring him a few more fans.