PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Yuji Nagata (ranked 2454 p4p, 275 weight class) and Derek Pappalardo (ranked 5866 p4p, 536 weight class). Both these guys have solid standup skills and neither is particularly fantastic on the ground, so let's hope for a nice standup war!

Nagata
vs
Pappalardo

175 cm
21
169 lbs
4 - 0 - 0

175 cm
31
167 lbs
13 - 12 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Excellent MT
Very quick

Decent wrestler
Excellent boxer
Heavy handed

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the lightweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 4 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Yuji Nagata !
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 13 - 12 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Derek Pappalardo!
The judges for this bout are , Frank Antenori and Timothy Bukovac.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Nagata is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Pappalardo.

Pappalardo has taken the fight to the clinch.
Pappalardo scores with a nice hook to the head.
Pappalardo lands a shot to the body.
Pappalardo working on landing some head shots here - that one got through nicely.

It looks like Yuji Nagata has been cut.
Pappalardo tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Nagata lands an elbow inside.
A short uppercut from Nagata .
A head punch blocked on the inside by Nagata .
A nice right hand lands inside from Nagata .
Nagata misses with a punch on the inside.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Nagata .
A short left from Nagata .
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Nagata lands with a right to the head.
Nagata blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
I was talking to Nagata 's coach per-fight and he was telling me that they'd been working on the clinch in the runup to this fight.
Nagata leaning against his opponent.

Nagata pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.

Pappalardo has taken the fight to the clinch.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Pappalardo has Nagata pressed against the cage, preventing Nagata from circling away and getting back to striking at range.
Nagata blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Pappalardo lands a left hand that snaps the head of Nagata backwards.
Nagata throws an elbow but it misses.
Nagata throws a head punch that misses.
Nagata tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
A head punch on the inside from Pappalardo fails to land.
Nagata stalling against the cage.
Nagata throws a punch but it's blocked by Pappalardo.
Nagata blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Nagata pushes off and fires off an elbow that misses, before clinching up again, against the cage.
Nagata misses with a punch on the inside.
Nagata content to slow the pace in the clinch.
Nagata working aggressively here.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Pappalardo.
Nagata takes a shot to the head.
A shot in the inside from Pappalardo.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Nagata 's head jolts backwards as he takes an uppercut right on the button!
Pappalardo lands a body punch in the clinch.
A right handed body shot lands from Pappalardo.
Nagata lands with a light punch inside.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
A short left from Pappalardo.
Pappalardo lands with a left to the head.
Pappalardo misses with a punch on the inside.
Nagata blocking some punches.
Pappalardo swings wildly with an uppercut but Nagata uses good head movement to avoid it.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Nagata .
Pappalardo has a couple of punches blocked by Nagata .
A head punch blocked on the inside by Pappalardo.
Nagata trying to control the position but instead, Pappalardo has worked for underhooks and has pushed Nagata into the cage.
Nagata tries to land knees in the clinch but Pappalardo avoids the damage to the body.
Pappalardo misses with the head strike.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
A right handed body shot lands from Nagata .
Pappalardo dodges an elbow strike from Nagata .
Nagata stalling the fight.
Pappalardo throws a head punch that misses.
Nagata lands with a quick shot inside that doesn't really do much damage.
Pappalardo is trying to stall.
Nagata lands a left hand.
Nagata misses with a short punch on the inside.
Pappalardo lands with a short head shot on the inside.
Nagata doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Good body shot from Nagata .
Kneeeeees! The crowd are calling for knees to the body. Nagata obliges.
Pappalardo swings wildly with an uppercut but Nagata uses good head movement to avoid it.
Pappalardo tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Nagata 's elbow.
Nagata misses with a short punch on the inside.
A head punch on the inside from Pappalardo fails to land.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Nagata misses with some punches.
Nagata swings wildly with an uppercut but Pappalardo uses good head movement to avoid it.
Pappalardo throws a head punch that misses.
Nagata lands a shoulder strike.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Pappalardo fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Pappalardo blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Nagata lands with a quick shot inside that doesn't really do much damage.
Nagata tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Pappalardo's elbow.
Nagata lands a nice uppercut.
Nagata has a couple of punches blocked by Pappalardo.
With the fighters clinched against the cage, Nagata creates a bit of distance for himself and scores with a nice uppercut.
Pappalardo holding his opponent close, against the cage.

Nagata breaks from the clinch.
Pappalardo tries to clinch up but Nagata circles away and keeps his distance.
Nagata was looking to counter that move with a punch but didn't quite pull the trigger.

Pappalardo moves into the clinch.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close round but I would say that Yuji Nagata will probably get the nod.
The cut man is working on Yuji Nagata 's cut.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

Nagata gets tackled into the cage by Pappalardo. Pappalardo maintains the clinch.
Nagata makes some space for himself and lands an uppercut.
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Nagata scores with a shoulder strike.

Pappalardo is rocked!
A head punch blocked on the inside by Nagata .
Pappalardo is still on wobbly legs! Can Nagata finish him?
Nagata lands with a right to the head.
Nagata tries a body shot but Pappalardo blocks it.
Nagata throws a big uppercut that drops Pappalardo! More strikes from Nagata and the referee jumps in to stop the fight! Pappalardo lies dazed against the cage as Nagata celebrates with his cornermen!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 0:25 of round 2, we have a winner by way of TKO (Strikes). Yuji Nagata !