PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Hirohito Nakanawa (ranked 4648 p4p, 0 weight class) and Truls Hanssen (ranked 4335 p4p, 0 weight class). Truls Hanssen acknowledges the crowd's support as he enters the cage.

Nakanawa
vs
Hanssen

185 cm
23
190 lbs
2 - 0 - 0

182 cm
25
200 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Cuts easily

Good wrestler
Brawler
Heavy handed

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the middleweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 2 - 0 - 0, fighting out of The Island, Hirohito Nakanawa!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of The Island, Truls Hanssen!
The judges for this bout are Peter Branson, Michael Johnstone and Bart Greer.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Nakanawa tries to clinch but Hanssen moves out of range.
Nakanawa steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Hanssen.
Nakanawa tries to counter with a takedown but Hanssen is quick to defend against it.
Hanssen misses with a double jab

and Nakanawa counters with a single leg into guard. Hanssen didn't expect that.
Nakanawa 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.
Nakanawa trying to control the position from guard on top but Hanssen is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Nakanawa content to stall in guard here.
Nakanawa's ground tactics aren't going to win him many fans. Let's hope he's got fireworks for us if he gets back to his feet because he's not doing much on the ground.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Nakanawa trying to control the position from guard on top but Hanssen is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Nakanawa 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.
If this pace continues, the referee will definitely step in and force a standup.
Hanssen keeping moving, preventing Nakanawa from controlling successfully.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Hanssen looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Hanssen stuffs the takedown.
Hanssen throws a nice looking combination but Nakanawa bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Nakanawa tries to score a power double leg takedown but Hanssen sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Nakanawa somewhat.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Hanssen goes to the watering hole and comes back with a big thumbs up from the judges as he scores a three punch combo.

It looks like Hirohito Nakanawa has been cut.

Hanssen drops Nakanawa with a big left hand and mounts him. Nakanawa is in big trouble!
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Hanssen throwing shots from mount but they're not landing.
Hanssen has been taking part in the yoga sessions down at Cozad The Island. Presumably he's going to look for a slick submission... Or maybe he's looking to avoid one.
Hanssen content just to control the position here.
Nakanawa is wriggling around trying to escape.
Hanssen lands an elbow that was bordering on illegal but the referee lets it go with a warning.
Nakanawa bucks up and manages to get a nice reversal! He's in guard on the top - nicely done!
Hanssen wants to get back to his feet but Nakanawa is in a dominant position and won't allow it.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Hanssen keeping full guard, as Nakanawa tries to pass.
Hanssen utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Hanssen is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.
Nakanawa trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Nakanawa trying to control but Hanssen is working from the bottom.
Nakanawa won't allow Hanssen to get back to his feet.
Nakanawa works over Hanssen with some ground and pound from guard.
Nakanawa throws a big elbow that misses.

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.
Nakanawa throwing strikes from guard but Hanssen blocks nicely.
Hanssen wants to stand but Nakanawa is controlling the position.
The referee is asking the fighters to pick up the pace.
Nakanawa throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Hanssen works some decent striking defense from the bottom.

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

Hanssen rushes Nakanawa and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.
The referee calls for Hanssen to work.
Hanssen is trying to break free.
Hanssen swings wildly with an uppercut but Nakanawa uses good head movement to avoid it.
Hanssen struggles to land a body shot inside as Nakanawa controls his hands.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Truls Hanssen dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Hirohito Nakanawa'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.

Nakanawa is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Hanssen scores with a jab to the head.
Hanssen throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Nakanawa attempts a counter takedown but Hanssen avoids it well and moves away.
Hanssen is moving around nicely and scores here with a single head shot.

Hirohito Nakanawa's cut is getting worse.
Sloppy strikes from Hanssen. Those never looked like landing.
Hanssen connects with a body shot that sends Nakanawa's belly button to the back.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Hanssen fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
Nakanawa appears to be looking for a counter takedown.
Nakanawa walks straight into an uppercut. Luckily it didn't land flush.

Hanssen moves into the clinch successfully.
Nakanawa is working for a takedown up against the cage. He can't get it on this occasion though.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Nakanawa is working on a leg, looking for a takedown but Hanssen is defending well.
Hanssen controlling the action here for a moment.

Hanssen breaks from the clinch.
The fight stays on the outside here - Hanssen looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Nakanawa takes a solid shot to the body. That one hurt him but he's trying not to show it.
Nice sprawl there from Nakanawa as Hanssen shoots in.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Hanssen closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.

Nakanawa breaks the clinch.
No luck for Hanssen with that takedown attempt.
Nakanawa tries to counter by clinching up but Hanssen breaks away and moves out of range.
Hirohito Nakanawa has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Truls Hanssen.
Hanssen is looking to clinch.
Hanssen uses good footwork to get in and out and land a nice right hand before Nakanawa has time to react.
Nakanawa with a poor takedown
and Hanssen connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.

The fight moves into the clinch position.
Hanssen lands with a quick shot inside that doesn't really do much damage.
A quick uppercut on the inside from Hanssen.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Hanssen lands with a short shot to the head.
Hanssen is pushing Nakanawa up against the cage, for a bit of lean and pray action. Action being used the in the loosest possible sense of the word.
Hanssen misses with the head strike.
Nakanawa goes for a takedown attempt but Hanssen pushes him away and we're back to fighting at a distance.
A shot to the liver by Hanssen. Beautiful body shot.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Nakanawa misses with a takedown attempt - Hanssen sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
Hanssen doesn't fully commit to the body shot counter.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Hanssen closes the distance and lands a crisp combination that knocks Nakanawa out cold! Nakanawa corner are devastated, head in hands behind our commentary position. Poor guys.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 4:09 of round 2, we have a winner by way of KO (Punches). Truls Hanssen!