PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Godefroy Courtial (ranked 1465 p4p, 1275 weight class) and Kaoru Nagashima (ranked 159 p4p, 143 weight class). Both these guys have really solid chins. Will we see a standup war or will they both decide that a knockout is unlikely and try to win the fight elsewhere?

Courtial
vs
Nagashima

169 cm
25
150
14 - 4 - 1

178 cm
26
150
9 - 9 - 0

Good wrestling
World class MT
Insanely flexible

Excellent grappler
Good kicks
Good gas tank

Vegan Gains

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 14 - 4 - 1, fighting out of London, Godefroy Courtial!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 9 - 9 - 0, fighting out of New York, Kaoru Nagashima!
The judges for this bout are Yukihiro Shimada, Yasuomi Hirokawa and Sosuke Kotani.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Nagashima takes a step back and watches a body kick go sailing past his mid section.
Nagashima has done a lot of speed work in the buildup to this fight.
Courtial explodes with a nice body kick and back out of range. Nice work.

Nagashima throws the overhand right but ducks down into a quick takedown attempt. Courtial was covering up waiting for the punch and Nagashima finishes the takedown easily into guard.
Courtial working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Nagashima.
Nagashima loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Nagashima is in close to Courtial's body, working some short punches and elbows.
Nagashima throws a big right hand that misses.
Courtial knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Nagashima on the ground.

Nagashima is trying to work a guillotine from the top, or something like that? Don't know how he thinks he's going to get a finish from there.
Courtial trying to control the position.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Courtial has Nagashima pulled in close to control his posture.
Courtial wants to sweep but no luck.

Nagashima drops back for a leg! It's a sloppy attempt though and Nagashima jumps back into guard quickly, to retain the dominant position.
Nagashima works over Courtial with some ground and pound from guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Nagashima is in close to Courtial's body, working some short punches and elbows.
Nagashima lands a couple of digs.
Nagashima preventing the sweep.
Nagashima postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Nagashima throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Courtial works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Nagashima connects with a couple of short punches.
Nagashima lands a couple of decent looking shots.
Nagashima is working Courtial over from the guard. He should look to pass the guard and do a little more damage with these strikes.
Nagashima has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
Courtial not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Courtial is going to have to think about doing something other than just controlling because Nagashima is managing to avoid having the position dictated to him.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Nagashima throws a big right hand that misses.
Hammerfist, elbow! yells Nagashima's corner. There ya go! There ya go!
Courtial has been talking about how he's improved his wrestling in the run up to the fight so let's see if that's enough to sway the balance.
Nagashima loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Courtial wants to control here, rather than go for any submissions from the bottom. At least for now.
Nagashima postures up in Courtial's guard and throws a big left but Courtial blocks it.
Courtial preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Nagashima cracks Courtial with a solid left hand.
Nagashima connects with a couple of short punches.
Courtial utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Courtial is doing well to control the posture of his opponent and prevent any damage.
Courtial tries to land a sweep but no joy.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Courtial is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Nagashima preventing the sweep.
Nagashima throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Courtial managing to control the position.
Both fighters have adopted an aggressive gameplan on the ground!
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Courtial looking to control.
Courtial managing to control the position.
Nagashima distracts Courtial with his right hand and drops a big elbow with his other arm.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Nagashima scores with a decent looking elbow strike.
Nagashima throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Courtial looking to control.
Nagashima throwing strikes from guard but Courtial blocks nicely.
Courtial keeping full guard, as Nagashima tries to pass.
Courtial wants to sweep here but Nagashima controlling him for the moment.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Nagashima is trying to work a guillotine from the top, or something like that? Don't know how he thinks he's going to get a finish from there.
Courtial is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Nagashima working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.

Nagashima thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.
Nagashima scoring with punches to the head and body.
Courtial looking for a sweep. Not yet Courtial, not yet.
Nagashima with a couple of shots to the head there. Not particularly brutal.
Nagashima postures up and lands some nice ground and pound.
Nagashima throws a big right hand that misses.
Courtial is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.
Nagashima throws a big elbow that misses.
Courtial wants to sweep but no luck.
Courtial is working hard here to advance position.
Nagashima throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Nagashima distracts Courtial with his right hand and drops a big elbow with his other arm.
Nagashima lands a couple of digs.
Courtial looking to control the pace of the fight rather than finish it.
Courtial working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Nagashima.
Nagashima missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.

Nagashima is trying to work a guillotine from the top, or something like that? Don't know how he thinks he's going to get a finish from there.
Courtial has his hands on Nagashima's head, controlling the position.
Nagashima distracts Courtial with his right hand and drops a big elbow with his other arm.
Nagashima chips away with some ground and pound.
Nagashima being controlled here momentarily.
Nagashima working in close now, lands a nice elbow to the side of Courtial's head.
Nagashima throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Kaoru Nagashima dominated that round.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

Courtial swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Nagashima drops down looking to force a counter takedown but Courtial defends it well.
Nagashima blocks a head kick by Courtial.
Nagashima feints the counter takedown.
Courtial ducks low and lands a nice hook to the body of his opponent.
Nagashima shoots in for a double leg but Courtial sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
Nagashima dives in and grabs Courtial's left leg, looking for a takedown. Courtial pushes down on Nagashima's head and hops out.
Nagashima looks shocked there as he takes a right hand to the temple.
Courtial throws a head kick that looked like it stung.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Courtial looking to throw a kick but he's pulled out of it.
Nagashima takes a really solid shot there but just smiles back and shrugs his shoulders.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Nagashima is defended easily by Courtial.
Godefroy Courtial has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Kaoru Nagashima.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Courtial moves into range and connects with a jab.
Courtial throws a right hand that Nagashima ducks under and follows up with a left that Nagashima also avoids with ease.
Courtial moves into range and lands a nice body kick.
Nagashima has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Courtial throws a sloppy head kick and Nagashima moves out of range easily.
Nagashima shoots for a takedown but Courtial saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
A head kick misses from Courtial.
Nagashima feints the counter takedown.
Courtial pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Nagashima steps in looking to clinch after the strikes miss from Courtial.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Courtial lunges in with an uppercut that skims his opponent's chin.
Courtial throws a sloppy body shot

and Nagashima counters with a nice double leg into half guard.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Nagashima winds up and cracks Courtial with a swinging punch to the side of the head.
Courtial is doing well to control the position and prevent Nagashima from advancing to side control.
Courtial on the receiving end of some nice ground and pound.
Nagashima is nestled in close to Courtial, controlling him well. He's worked in a nice elbow to the side of the head as well, for good measure.
Courtial tries to roll over but Nagashima keeps him under control.
Courtial is concentrating on defense, preventing Nagashima from advancing position.
Courtial slips a foot under and gets full guard. Nice work.
Nagashima cracks Courtial with a solid left hand.
Nagashima is working Courtial over from the guard. He should look to pass the guard and do a little more damage with these strikes.
Courtial tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Nagashima works over Courtial with some ground and pound from guard.
Nagashima throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Kaoru Nagashima has got the better of the ground game so far.
Courtial pulls Nagashima in close to his closed guard and prevents Nagashima from doing any damage or advancing position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Courtial continues to stall.
Courtial'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.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Nagashima accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Nagashima lands a couple of digs.
Nagashima pushes down on Courtial's leg and manages to get into half guard.
Nagashima drops an elbow to the side of Courtial's head.
Courtial is trying to maintain the position but Nagashima is very close to passing his half guard.
The two fighters exchange a few words. I couldn't hear what they were saying but maybe it's more fun if you make it up yourself. Nagashima connects with a nice short shot to Courtial's temple.
The referee walks around the fighters to get a better view of the action. Nagashima lands a nice short elbow.

Courtial is rocked!
Nagashima drops an elbow to the side of Courtial's head.
Oh Courtial is still in real trouble! Will he be able to recover?!!
Nagashima is sitting in half guard. He's postured up and lands a nice elbow. Oh, Courtial is hurt! He's hurt bad - Nagashima fires away with more strikes and the referee jumps in to save Courtial from any more punishment! Congratulations to Nagashima! Great finish!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 4:58 of round 2, we have a winner by way of TKO (Strikes). Kaoru Nagashima!
Kaoru Nagashima looked relieved post fight as he said the following; 'Going into this fight I knew I could not let Donkey Dan down, his elusive Donkey Kick is the one tool missing from my arsenal, Donkey Dan! TEACH ME YOUR WAYS!'.