PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Chase Pace (ranked 7892 p4p, 0 weight class) and Fujiro Nakombi (ranked 5280 p4p, 0 weight class). Both fighters really staring each other down here, as Fujiro Nakombi enters the cage!

Pace
vs
Nakombi

171 cm
24
162 lbs
0 - 1 - 0

176 cm
25
160 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Cuts easily

BJJ Blue Belt
Good kicks
Determined

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 0 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Chase Pace!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Fujiro Nakombi!
The judges for this bout are Matheus Silva, Leandro Rodrigues and Alexandre Firmino.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Nakombi fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.

Pace throws a loose over hand right and dives in with a double leg takedown. Nakombi tries to sprawl but it's too late and the fighters hit the mat. Pace is in Nakombi's guard.

Nakombi pushes Pace off for just long enough to get back to his feet. Very athletic spring there.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Nakombi is defended easily by Pace.

Pace drives through and clinches with Nakombi against the cage.
Nakombi is looking to take this one to the mat.
Chase Pace has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Fujiro Nakombi.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Nakombi.
A real battle for position is taking place between these two warriors.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Pace manages to pull guard.
Pace looking to hit a scissor sweep but Nakombi is one step ahead there.
Pace keeping full guard, as Nakombi tries to pass.
Pace keeping moving, preventing Nakombi from controlling successfully.

Pace is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
Pace is pulling down on Nakombi's head. It's preventing any offense from Nakombi, at least for the moment.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are getting on the fighters' backs, as the pace has dropped off in the last minute or so.
Pace is trying to control the position from the bottom.
The referee wants the fighters to be more active or he's going to reset them on the feet.

Nakombi drops back looking for a heel hook - he quickly realises he's not going to get it but Pace manages to dive on top of him before he can escape and now Nakombi has Pace in his guard.

Pace throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Nakombi works some decent striking defense from the bottom.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Pace wants to control from the top but Nakombi keeps moving.
Pace looking to control the position here, rather than advance.
Nakombi wants to sweep here but Pace controlling him for the moment.

Nakombi looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.
Nakombi is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Pace seems content to control from guard here. He's going to have to remain active though if he doesn't want to get stood back up.

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

Nakombi looks for a takedown. He's got it. We're now in half guard.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
The fighters are starting to get a bit slippery now, which will make submissions a bit more difficult.
Pace is refusing to be controlled, as Nakombi sits in half guard.
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 Chase Pace will probably get the nod.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

Pace takes a thudding leg kick, right into the meat of the thigh.

Nakombi shoots in and gets a takedown into Pace's guard.
Pace keeping moving, preventing Nakombi from controlling successfully.
Pace is controlling Nakombi's posture.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Nakombi looking to sit in guard and control but Pace gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.

We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Pace looking to control the position here, rather than advance.
Pace trying to control the position from guard on top but Nakombi is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Nakombi is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
Nakombi trying to control the position.
Pace looking to control the position here, rather than advance.
Nakombi tries to land a sweep but no joy.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
My god... these two guys really need to pick up the pace or everyone will leave to go get a beer.
Pace slows down the pace of the fight for a moment. He'll need to remain active if he doesn't want to see the fight stood back up.
Nakombi keeping moving, preventing Pace from controlling successfully.
Pace postures up.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up. He just wasn't happy with the level of activity.

Nakombi shoots in with a lovely double leg takedown. Pace manages to land in full guard to minimise the damage.

Pace escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Nakombi gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Nakombi trying to control but Pace is working from the bottom.
Nakombi engaging in some classic timewasting tactics.
Nakombi trying to control but Pace is working from the bottom.
Fujiro Nakombi has got the better of the ground game so far.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A few boos can be heard. I'm sure they will multiply if the fighters don't pick up the pace.
Pace trying to keep a closed guard but Nakombi is proving a slippery customer.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.
Nakombi circles away from the clinch attempt.
Nakombi steps in looking to clinch after the strikes miss from Pace.
Pace wants to clinch
and Nakombi counters with a nice leg kick.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Nakombi has a takedown stuffed.
Pace tries to counter by moving into the clinch but Nakombi manages to circle out of the way.
A head kick misses from Nakombi.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Fujiro Nakombi showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
That's time! Back to the action! Ladies and gentlemen, this is the final round!

Nakombi shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Pace pinned against the cage. Pace gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
Pace is trying to close the distance and clinch up, after that failed offence from Nakombi.
Nakombi blocks a head kick by Pace.
Nakombi shoots for a double leg takedown but Pace sprawls well. He's pushed Nakombi's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
Nakombi blocks a head kick by Pace.
Nakombi only half commits to the counter leg kick.

Pace clinches up with Nakombi and pushes him back against the cage.

Pace jumps guard.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Nakombi looking to sit in guard and control but Pace gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.

Pace sitting in guard, not really doing much.

The fighters are working up against the cage. Nakombi manages to wriggle his way back to his feet, so the fighters are now clinched against the cage.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Nakombi manages to break the clinch.

Pace forces Nakombi back against the cage and clinches.

Nakombi manages to break the clinch.
Fujiro Nakombi seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Pace throws a head kick that misses
and he gets countered with a snapping leg kick.

Pace shoots in and gets a takedown into half guard. Pace showed some decent athleticism there.

Nakombi kicks off Pace and gets to his feet.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Pace tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Nakombi paws at him with a jab and circles away.

Nakombi shoots in and gets a takedown into Pace's guard.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Pace throws some sloppy strikes off his back.
Pace keeping moving, preventing Nakombi from controlling successfully.
Pace wants to control here, rather than go for any submissions from the bottom. At least for now.
Nakombi trying to control the position from guard on top but Pace is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Pace looking to control but Nakombi passes into half guard.
Nakombi 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.

Pace looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.
The referee walks around the fighters to get a better view of the action. Nakombi lands a nice short elbow.
Nakombi is figuring out what he wants to do next.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are getting on the fighters' backs, as the pace has dropped off in the last minute or so.

Nakombi is looking for a kimura but Pace is holding onto that half guard position, so it's hard for Nakombi to get the leverage.
Pace is trying to control but Nakombi manages to pass to mount!
Nakombi has been the more effective fighter overall so far.

Nakombi jumps to side control looking for an arm triangle but Pace manages to avoid the submission attempt.
Nakombi wants to control for a moment but Pace uses the opportunity to move back to half guard.
Pace flails away from the bottom but he's not doing any damage.

And that's the end of the fight!
Fujiro Nakombi comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Nakombi has won this one but let's see whether the judges agree with me. 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 Matheus Silva scores the fight 28:29
Judge Leandro Rodrigues scores the fight 28:29
Judge Alexandre Firmino scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Fujiro Nakombi!