PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Nakagome Kakuzo (ranked 6066 p4p, 4815 weight class) and Leonidas Dominguez (ranked 575 p4p, 522 weight class). Dominguez has chosen Vaso de Cristal as his entrance music. Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

Kakuzo
vs
Dominguez

185 cm
20
180
4 - 1 - 0

190 cm
21
185
3 - 0 - 0

Good takedowns
Counter fighter
Cuts easily

Powerful takedowns
Basic striking
Good gas tank

Seventh Circle Clothing
Bondi MMA 🏝️

Brooklyn Threads
Brooklyn Apothecary

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the welterweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 4 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Nakagome Kakuzo!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 3 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Leonidas Dominguez!
The judges for this bout are Jonathan Paton, Chad Campbell and David Schapiro.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Kakuzo throws a lazy right hand but Dominguez sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Kakuzo circles away from the clinch attempt.

Dominguez darts in and clinches Kakuzo up against the cage.
Dominguez is trying to pull guard but Kakuzo has him pressed against the cage.
Dominguez is trying to pull guard but being pressed up against the cage enables Kakuzo to keep the fight standing.

Kakuzo works for the underhooks and manages to get a trip takedown into guard.
Dominguez looking to control the pace of the fight rather than finish it.

Dominguez is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Kakuzo defends well.

Dominguez looking for a guillotine here but Kakuzo defends easily.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Kakuzo looking to pass the guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kakuzo throwing strikes but missing.
Dominguez keeping full guard, as Kakuzo tries to pass.
Kakuzo is working hard here to advance position.

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

Dominguez throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.

Dominguez had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Kakuzo defends it easily.

Dominguez looking for a guillotine here but Kakuzo defends easily.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Kakuzo tries to free his leg and advance position but Dominguez is retaining full guard.

Dominguez has an omoplata and is looking to use it perhaps as a submission or perhaps to transition. Kakuzo is in a bit of discomfort here, but he's managed to free himself and has dived into side control! That didn't work out too well for Dominguez.
Dominguez is not content to let Kakuzo control the position.

Kakuzo thinks about going for a far side armbar but bails out and retains the dominant position instead.
Dominguez tries to buck Kakuzo off but Kakuzo is having none of it.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kakuzo works to advance to full mount. Dominguez defends for a few seconds but eventually he succumbs.
Dominguez wants to control but Kakuzo is having none of it.
Kakuzo throws some wild stikes that Dominguez manages to avoid easily.
Dominguez is looking to improve his position but Kakuzo isn't that keen on the idea.
Dominguez is persisting with the attempt to improve his position.
Kakuzo fails to move to back control.
Dominguez gets back to half guard.
Kakuzo frees up his trapped foot and advances to mount.
Dominguez tries to lock up and control but Kakuzo gives him a forearm to the face and pushes him away.

Kakuzo working for a guillotine from mount but Dominguez is in no mood to give up.
Dominguez felt the need to train up his defensive grappling in the buildup to the fight. Presumably he was expecting to be in a difficult position like this, so let's see if he can get out of it.
Kakuzo can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as Dominguez is looking to escape.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Kakuzo throwing sloppy strikes, which aren't doing any damage.
Dominguez bucks up and manages to get a nice reversal! He's in guard on the top - nicely done!
Kakuzo tries to strike from the bottom.
Dominguez pushes down on Kakuzo's leg and manages to get into half guard.
Dominguez prevents Kakuzo from improving his position.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.

Dominguez is working for a submission of some sort.
Kakuzo is looking to control Dominguez's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Kakuzo avoid being mounted?
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close round but I would say that Nakagome Kakuzo will probably get the nod.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

Dominguez takes the fight into the clinch.

Dominguez pulls guard successfully.

Dominguez looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
Kakuzo forces his way into half guard.

Kakuzo is working for a submission of some sort.
Dominguez wants to get back to full guard.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Kakuzo is looking for a kimura. It's going to be difficult to finish that from half guard though and Dominguez defends it well.
Dominguez controlling the leg, holding on to half guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Dominguez gets back to full guard.
Dominguez keeping moving, preventing Kakuzo from controlling successfully.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Dominguez is controlling Kakuzo's posture.
Dominguez controls Kakuzo momentarily but Kakuzo frees himself.

Kakuzo wants to work for a kimura but he's foiled early by Dominguez, who protects the arm well.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.

Kakuzo tries for a kimura. Not really close to a finish though.
Dominguez is looking for a sweep.
Kakuzo tries to move to mount but Dominguez blocks the move with his legs.
Dominguez is positioning himself to get back to half guard.
Dominguez gets back to half guard.
Dominguez is concentrating on defense, preventing Kakuzo from advancing position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Dominguez trying to control but Kakuzo postures up.
Kakuzo sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Dominguez defending well though.
Kakuzo is trying to control. Dominguez wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.

Kakuzo maintaining the dominant position here and is working for a kimura. He's locked it up! Dominguez could be in real trouble here! He's trying to wriggle out but Kakuzo has cracked it and Dominguez is screaming in pain - he's tapped out! Great finish by Kakuzo!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 3:40 of round 2, we have a winner by way of Submission (Kimura). Nakagome Kakuzo!
In defeat, Leonidas Dominguez stepped up to the mic, saying 'I trained hard but it didn’t work out. He’s a great opponent and today just wasn’t my day. '.