PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Osiris Maharajah (ranked 504 p4p, 852 weight class) and Shinnosuke Nakagawa (ranked 78 p4p, 139 weight class). Nakagawa has chosen Koto - CloZee as his entrance music. Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

Maharajah
vs
Nakagawa

186 cm
25
190
8 - 2 - 0

190 cm
27
190
12 - 7 - 0

Good wrestling
Excellent boxer
Cardio machine

Excellent grappler
Excellent MT
Good gas tank

HELLBENT

Carnage
Voodoo Nutrition

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 8 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Osiris Maharajah!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 12 - 7 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Shinnosuke Nakagawa!
The judges for this bout are Frank Antenori, Don Winkell and Jack Bonds.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Maharajah throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Nakagawa sees it coming and avoids it easily.
Maharajah definitely looks more muscular than last time we saw him fight.
Maharajah takes a body punch but keeps moving.

Nakagawa shoots in for a takedown from distance. He catches Maharajah napping and manages to drive through into side control!
Maharajah parries the strikes from Nakagawa easily there. Nakagawa is wary of posturing up too much because it might enable Maharajah to escape.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Check out the look on Nakagawa's face as he threw that strike - that's one determined fighter!
Nakagawa working away.
Maharajah is trying to improve his position.
Maharajah is trying to control Nakagawa's posture but Nakagawa avoids it.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Maharajah is looking to regain half guard here but Nakagawa keeps moving and retains side control.
Nakagawa scores with a couple of short elbows.
In the pre-fight buildup videos we saw Nakagawa working his ground and pound in the gym. So far it seems to be working well.

That's one minute gone in the round.

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

Nakagawa is trying to land an Americana. He has the arm isolated but Maharajah is keeping cool and he's avoided the danger for now.
Maharajah manages to work his way to half guard, despite Nakagawa's best efforts.
Maharajah has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Nakagawa is working away from the top position though.

Maharajah actively working from the bottom here.
Nakagawa lands with an elbow from half guard - that looked like it hurt.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Maharajah is trying to get back to full guard.
The referee walks around the fighters to get a better view of the action. Nakagawa lands a nice short elbow.
Maharajah is in trouble now - Nakagawa has advanced to mount!
Nakagawa trying to control but Maharajah is having none of it.
Nakagawa has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
Maharajah takes a big shot to the head but keeps on trying to improve his position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Nakagawa can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as Maharajah is looking to escape.
Maharajah can't escape the position.
Nakagawa avoids the attempt from Maharajah to control.
Maharajah slips a leg in and gets back to half guard.
Maharajah is staying active underneath Nakagawa, who seems content to just control the action from this position.
Maharajah manages to get to full guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Nakagawa throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Maharajah works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Maharajah is trying to keep Nakagawa in close.
Nakagawa throws a big right hand that misses.

Maharajah looking for a guillotine here but Nakagawa defends easily.

Maharajah working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Nakagawa doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Nakagawa manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Nakagawa connects with a couple of short punches.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Shinnosuke Nakagawa dominated that round.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

Maharajah gets caught napping as Nakagawa dives in and scores a takedown. Maharajah manages to retain guard.
Maharajah being controlled here, momentarily.
Maharajah wants to control but Nakagawa passes easily into half guard.
Nakagawa looking to pass the half guard. Not this time.
Maharajah is trying to get back to full guard.
Nakagawa has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Maharajah is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Nakagawa pulls his head out easily.
Maharajah has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Nakagawa is working away from the top position though.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Nakagawa looks to score some points with some ground and pound.
Maharajah has hold of Nakagawa's hands but Nakagawa slips his arm to the side and lands an elbow.
Nakagawa wants to control but Maharajah is keeping him busy.
Maharajah trying to control from the bottom.
Nakagawa 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.
Maharajah is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Nakagawa working over Maharajah with some ground and pound. Maharajah looks like he wants out of this position, which is understandable.
Maharajah is trying to maintain the position but Nakagawa is very close to passing his half guard.
Nakagawa working the head and body with strikes.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Maharajah keeping hold of Nakagawa's head, controlling as best he can.
Nakagawa working over Maharajah with some ground and pound. Maharajah looks like he wants out of this position, which is understandable.
Maharajah trying to hold on to Nakagawa's head to control him but Nakagawa postures up.
Nakagawa tries to pass the half guard into mount. Maharajah knows what he's doing though and prevents the attempt.
Ground and pound from Nakagawa.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Maharajah is staying active underneath Nakagawa, who seems content to just control the action from this position.
Maharajah wants to control but Nakagawa is keeping busy.
Nakagawa landing with strikes to the body and head, softening up his opponent.
Maharajah wants to control but Nakagawa is keeping busy and won't allow it.
Maharajah wants to control but Nakagawa passes into side.
Maharajah struggling a bit here.
Maharajah manages to get one leg in to regain half guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Maharajah gets back to full guard.
Nakagawa tries to free his leg and advance position but Maharajah is retaining full guard.
Maharajah looking to control.
Maharajah can't keep his opponent in guard - Nakagawa advances to half guard, no doubt looking to mount.
Nakagawa trying to mount his opponent but Maharajah defends it.
Maharajah is not content to let Nakagawa control the position.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Neither fighter is being very active at the moment, with Nakagawa in particular looking to stall.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Shinnosuke Nakagawa showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business. This is the final round!

Nakagawa takes a body punch that cleary hurt but he's trying not to show any weakness.
Nakagawa throws a left and a right that both miss
and Maharajah counters with a straight punch to the midsection.
Maharajah fakes and then throws a beautiful body shot. Nakagawa looks a bit winded and takes a step backwards to take a breath.
Nakagawa shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Maharajah as he avoids it easily.
Maharajah throws a hook but Nakagawa blocks it.
Nakagawa lands a lovely overhand right.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Nakagawa misses with an uppercut. Maharajah saw that one coming.
Maharajah swats away the attempt to clinch by Nakagawa.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Nakagawa walks into a left hand.
Nakagawa tries to close the distance and clinch but Maharajah swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Maharajah fails with a takedown attempt.
The fighters circling - Nakagawa throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
Maharajah swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
Nakagawa connects with a slap. Keep your fist closed son.
Nakagawa misses with a body shot.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Nakagawa with a hook.
Maharajah throws a body shot but no joy.
Maharajah throws a jab to the body, straight down the pipe. Boom. That sent Nakagawa stumbling backwards but he manages to regain his composure quickly.
Maharajah uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Nakagawa.
Maharajah was looking to counter that move with a punch but didn't quite pull the trigger.
Jab, jab by Nakagawa - just one landing.
Nakagawa misses with a straight left.
Maharajah tries to clinch

and Nakagawa counters with a single leg into guard. Maharajah didn't expect that.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Maharajah is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Maharajah keeping moving, preventing Nakagawa from controlling successfully.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Maharajah is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.

Maharajah seems to be taking a bit of a break to think of his next move. He lands a short punch in the meantime.
Shinnosuke Nakagawa is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Maharajah throwing shots but Nakagawa is blocking nicely.
Nakagawa is looking to control Maharajah's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Nakagawa avoid being mounted?
Maharajah stalling away here and it's allowed Nakagawa to slip out his trapped foot and regain full guard.
Maharajah is looking to work some ground and pound but Nakagawa has wrist control.
Osiris Maharajah has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Maharajah passes Nakagawa's right leg, so he's now in half guard.
Maharajah prevents Nakagawa from improving his position.
Nakagawa moves into full guard.
Maharajah throws an elbow that misses. Nakagawa uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in Maharajah's guard. Nice move by Nakagawa!

Nakagawa showing good wrestling skills to control the position.

Maharajah is looking for a triangle but Nakagawa pushes his legs off easily.

And that's the end of the fight!
I would just about give that final round to Shinnosuke Nakagawa.
I've got Nakagawa winning every round here. Surely the decision will go his way and he'll pick up a well deserved decision victory. 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 Frank Antenori scores the fight for Shinnosuke Nakagawa!
Judge Don Winkell scores the fight for Shinnosuke Nakagawa!
Judge Jack Bonds scores the fight for Shinnosuke Nakagawa!

Shinnosuke Nakagawa wins by unanimous decision!
Shinnosuke Nakagawa decided to thank the fans in attendance for making a great atmosphere. It seemed to go down pretty well.