PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Tom Eli (ranked 2548 p4p, 2336 weight class) and Hideki Nakamura (ranked 335 p4p, 309 weight class). Both fighters look pumped up here. Let's hope this is a good fight!

Eli
vs
Nakamura

176 cm
24
178
7 - 3 - 0

178 cm
24
170
6 - 2 - 0

Good wrestling
Excellent boxer
Cardio machine

Good wrestler
Excellent boxer
Granite chin

The Dirty Needle Project

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 7 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Tom Eli!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 6 - 2 - 0, fighting out of London, Hideki Nakamura!
The judges for this bout are Daniel Blasius, Patrick Alders and Radbod Blank.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Nakamura ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
Tom Eli seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Eli throws a wild body kick that Nakamura sees coming a mile off.
Eli keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Eli lifts his leg as if looking to counter with a high kick.
Eli throws a head kick that half lands.
Eli lands a jab to Nakamura's midsection.
Eli throws a head kick that misses.
And Nakamura responds with a good body kick, but Eli manages to step out the way in time.
Nakamura avoids the head kick by Eli.
Nakamura replies with a solid counter kick to the body but Eli blocks it well.
A thudding body kick lands there by Nakamura!
Eli lands a powerful looking uppercut that connected with his opponent's jaw.
Eli connects with a slap. Keep your fist closed son.

Nakamura fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Eli, pushing him back against the cage.
Eli misses with a hook to the ribs.

Eli breaks the clinch.
Eli looks to have improved his striking defense since last time we saw him fight.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Nakamura slips a straight right by Eli.
Eli scores with a crisp jab that stopped Nakamura in his tracks.
Nakamura takes a hook to the side of the head. I wonder if that's got his ears ringing.
Nakamura avoids the head kick by Eli.
Nakamura lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Eli circles away quickly and effectively.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Eli connects nicely with a jab. Noted by the judges no doubt.
Nakamura connects with a body shot that sends Eli's belly button to the back.
Eli gets cracked there but stands up to it.
Eli plants his feet and lands a nice head kick!
Eli connects with the punch.
Eli tries to check a leg kick but that clearly hurt him.
Nakamura avoids the head kick by Eli.
Nakamura slips a straight right by Eli.
Nakamura doesn't fully commit to the body shot counter.
Nakamura swings for the body but Eli moves out of range.
Nakamura tries a low kick but Eli avoids it.
Eli avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Nice defenses there by Nakamura.
Eli throws a hook but Nakamura avoids it easily.
Nakamura blocks a head kick by Eli.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Eli looks to land a left hand but Nakamura moved out of range nicely.
Eli changes levels and scores with a jab to the body.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Nakamura throws a body shot but no joy.
Eli is looking for a counter combo.
A big left from Eli misses.
And Nakamura responds with a good body kick, but Eli manages to step out the way in time.
Nakamura is on the wrong end of a nice combination from Eli.
Eli misses with a straight right.
Nakamura shakes his hands off, looking to compose himself, but takes a jab to the jaw whilst he does it.
Nakamura throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
It looked like Eli wanted to counter with a hook but didn't fully commit.
Eli moves out of range of the body kick.
Eli is looking for a counter combo.
Eli throws a hook but Nakamura blocks it.
Eli is looking to slow Nakamura down with leg kicks.
Eli is really head hunting here, hardly looking to strike to the body at all.
A jab lands there for Eli.
Eli misses with a double jab.
Eli scores with a jab to the jaw.
Nakamura connects with a lovely jab that went straight through the gap between Eli's hands.

It looks like Tom Eli has been cut.
Eli keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
A telegraphed right hand from Eli misses the target.
Eli misses with an uppercut
and Eli takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Nakamura misses with a kick to the body.
Eli slips under a jab from Nakamura.
Nakamura wants to land a leg kick but Eli is out of range.
It looked like Eli wanted to counter with a hook but didn't fully commit.
Nakamura throws an overhand right that lands on Eli's shoulder, as Eli tries to avoid the shot.
Eli keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Nakamura.
A shot to the liver by Nakamura. Beautiful body shot.
Eli misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Eli takes a shot right to the liver - Bas would have been proud of that punch.
Eli throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
Eli jabbing away but nothing is landing.
Nakamura throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Eli plants his feet and lands a nice head kick!
Nakamura is throwing a lot of body shots here, looking to wear down Eli rather than just go for the knockout.
Nakamura drops his hands momentarily and Eli takes advantage with a crisp shot to the head.
Eli misses with a straight right.
Eli uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Nakamura.
Decent striking displayed by Eli there.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The fans in attendance giving it up for the two fighters, who have really let it all hang out in the last minute or so!
Eli wants to land a leg kick but Nakamura is out of range.
Eli is really peppering his opponent's head with punches.
Nakamura goes for a spinning back kick but it misses.
Danga de danga de dang - Eli scores with a four punch combination!
Nakamura takes a swing at Eli's ribcage but misses.
Eli scores with a head kick.
Nakamura digs a good hook to Eli's body.
Eli throws a hook but Nakamura blocks it.
Eli misses with a right hand
and Eli takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.

Nakamura clinches up against the cage.
Nakamura is working Eli over against the cage.
Nakamura lands an elbow just above Eli 's eye.
Eli doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Eli is trying to stall.
The crowd applaud the fighters' efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Nakamura keeps the fight in the clinch, despite Eli's efforts to push away.
A left hand lands to the body for Nakamura.
Nakamura pushes Eli back against the cage and lands a hook to the side of the head.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Tom Eli dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Tom Eli's cut.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

Eli rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Nakamura moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Eli is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Nakamura.
Nakamura throws a low kick, looking for Eli's leg but Eli calmly moves out of range.
Eli misses with a straight left.
Nakamura misses the body punch
and Eli counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
Eli throws a head kick but Nakamura moves out of range.
Eli throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
Eli moves out of range as Nakamura throws a body kick.
Nakamura looks to score with a jab to the body but Eli is just out of range.
Eli throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Nakamura digs a good body shot into Eli's ribs.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Nakamura connects nicely with a jab. Noted by the judges no doubt.
Eli loads up on a big right hand but Nakamura slips the punch.
Nakamura thuds his right hand into Eli's forehead from close range. That could be painful for both fighters.
Nakamura displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Eli throws out the jab.
Nakamura throws a jab to the body, straight down the pipe. Boom. That sent Eli stumbling backwards but he manages to regain his composure quickly.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Eli throws a half hearted mid kick.
A shot to the liver by Nakamura. Beautiful body shot.
Eli staying out of range there.
Eli missing with a left hand there. Nakamura was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.

Nakamura clinches up against the cage.
Nakamura misses with an elbow over the top.
Nakamura lands with a short punch from the clinch.
Nakamura gets an overhook and lands an elbow to the side of the head.
Nakamura is working Eli over against the cage.
A short right from Nakamura.
Eli blocks an elbow strike from Nakamura.
Nakamura lands an elbow that stopped Eli in his tracks for a moment.

Tom Eli's cut is getting worse.
Nakamura lands with a short punch from the clinch.
A hook to the body from Nakamura.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Nakamura lands an uppercut.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Nakamura.
With the fighters clinched against the cage, Nakamura creates a bit of distance for himself and scores with a nice uppercut.
Nakamura lands a body punch - he's looking to wear down Eli.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Nakamura lands with a short head shot on the inside.
Nakamura lands with a short punch from the clinch.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Nakamura scores with a nice hook to the head.
We are yet to see a takedown attempt from Nakamura in the fight. On paper you would think he is the more dominant ground fighter so let's see if these unusual tactics pay off.
Nakamura tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Nakamura lands a left hand.
Eli has had enough of the clinch and is looking to separate.
With the two fighters working up against the cage, Nakamura just misses with a elbow thrown towards Eli's brow.
Eli is looking to break free of the clinch but Nakamura has double underhooks.
Nakamura pushes Eli back against the cage and lands a hook to the side of the head.

Eli breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Nakamura scores with a shot to the body.
Nakamura misses with a hook.
Eli fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Nakamura manages to avoid it.
Eli throws a big shot that misses.

Nakamura has taken the fight to the clinch.
Eli is trying to push Nakamura away but Nakamura has him pressed against the cage, so he's going nowhere.
Eli takes an elbow to the temple.
Nakamura pushes off and fires off an elbow that misses, before clinching up again, against the cage.
Nakamura swings wildly with an uppercut but Eli uses good head movement to avoid it.
Hideki Nakamura seems to be working more effectively in the clinch in the fight so far.
Eli has had enough of the clinch but Nakamura keeps him there for the moment.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Nakamura has Eli pressed against the cage, preventing Eli from circling away and getting back to striking at range.
Nakamura working aggressively here.
Eli takes an elbow to the forehead.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Eli.
Nakamura scores with a nice hook to the head.
Nakamura prevents Eli from breaking the clinch.
Nakamura lands a shot to the body.
Nakamura lands a shoulder strike that jolts his opponent's head backwards.

Tom Eli's cut is bleeding quite badly. He's got to try and protect it.
Nakamura keeps control of Eli as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.
Nakamura lands an uppercut.

Eli breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Eli throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
Eli swings wildly with a couple of big hooks
and Nakamura counters with a lovely shot to the body.
Eli with poor footwork there. He got himself in a bit of a tangle, enabling Nakamura to score with a decent uppercut.
Eli looks to land a left hand but Nakamura moved out of range nicely.
Eli misses with a kick to the body.
Nakamura swings away with a counter right hand but no contact made.
Nakamura misses with a series of wild punches.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Nakamura looks to land a body kick but Eli moved away.
Eli is looking to counter punch.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A looping hook to the body misses from Nakamura. Eli does a little dance to reset his feet.

Nakamura forces Eli back against the cage and clinches.
Eli prevents a body shot from Nakamura.
Nakamura lands with a short head shot on the inside.

Eli's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Eli takes a step back and watches a body kick go sailing past his mid section.
Eli takes a solid shot to the body. That one hurt him but he's trying not to show it.
Eli moves out of range of the leg kick from Nakamura.
Eli moves out of range of the body kick from Nakamura.
Eli tries a head kick but it misses.
Nakamura keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Eli.
Tom Eli is winning the standup battle so far.

Nakamura has Eli up against the cage in a clinch.
The crowd applaud the fighters' efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Nakamura scores with an uppercut up the middle.
A head punch on the inside from Nakamura fails to land.

Eli escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Hideki Nakamura showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The cut man is working on Tom Eli's cut.
That's the end of the interval. I'm sure that seemed a lot quicker than a minute for our two fighters! Back to the action. This is the final round!

Eli scores with a punch to the head.
Nakamura scores with a punch to the head.
Nakamura misses with a head kick.
Eli misses with a double jab.
Nakamura throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Nakamura avoids the body shot from Eli.
Eli takes a body punch that cleary hurt but he's trying not to show any weakness.
Nakamura blocks a head kick by Eli.
Nakamura throws a shot to the body.
Eli misses with a hook.

Nakamura has closed the distance and engaged Eli in a clinch.
Nakamura scores with a shoulder strike.
Nakamura struggles to land a body shot inside as Eli controls his hands.
Eli is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.

Eli breaks from the clinch.
Nakamura has been working his punching technique in the buildup to the fight and it appears to be paying off.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Eli misses with a hook
and Nakamura counters nicely by changing levels and landing a hook to the body.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Nakamura looking to throw a kick but he's pulled out of it.
Eli throws a counter high kick but Nakamura was just alert enough to avoid it.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Eli doesn't react quick enough there as he takes a shot to the body.

Nakamura moves into the clinch.
Nakamura blocking some punches.
Eli's head jolts backwards as he takes an uppercut right on the button!
Nakamura misses with a short punch on the inside.
Eli misses with a short punch on the inside.
Still in the clinch, Nakamura scores with a nice short uppercut.
Eli throws a punch but it's blocked by Nakamura.
Nakamura tries to work over Eli's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
Nakamura tries a body shot but Eli blocks it.
Nakamura working some nice short punches in the clinch.
Nakamura working on landing some head shots here - that one got through nicely.

Eli pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Nakamura tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Nakamura throws a push kick but Eli slaps the foot to one side.
Eli misses with a right hand
and Nakamura counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Eli throws a shot from downtown. Nakamura moves away and avoids it.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Both fighters circling a little - Nakamura finishes the exchange with a kick to the body.
Eli moves out of range of the body kick from Nakamura.
Nakamura waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Eli.
The crowd cheers as Eli lands an impressive looking overhand right. Nakamura doesn't seem phased though.
This fight brought to you by 5M nutrition - it's mmmmm tasty. Nice jab by Nakamura.
Eli connects nicely with a jab. Noted by the judges no doubt.
Nakamura tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. Eli manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Nakamura tries to clinch but Eli is having none of it.
Nakamura throws a body kick but he was well out of range there.
Nakamura takes a step back and watches a body kick go sailing past his mid section.
Eli throws a shot from downtown. Nakamura moves away and avoids it.
A little jabbing left from Nakamura on the counter but it doesn't find it's target.
Nakamura fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Nakamura looks to throw the jab but Eli is out of range.
Eli keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.

Nakamura rushes Eli and presses him up against the cage.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Eli breaks from the clinch.
Nakamura takes a shot to the body in his stride.
Eli works his jab well there, keeping his opponent at a distance.
Eli lands a leg kick and bounces back out of range.
Eli misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Nakamura lands a straight punch to the body, keeping Eli at a distance.
Nakamura throws a wild body kick that Eli sees coming a mile off.

Nakamura closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.
Nakamura swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Nakamura can't find room to land a body shot as Eli controls the action.

Eli's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Eli misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Nakamura now looks to counter with a shot at the body.
Eli lands with a right hand.
Eli just misses with a punch to the body.
Eli missing with a left hand there. Nakamura was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
Nakamura dips down and scores with a jab to the body.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Eli moves out of range as Nakamura strikes.
Nakamura moves in looking to clinch but Eli pushes him off.

Nakamura has Eli up against the cage in a clinch.

Eli breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Nakamura has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Nakamura tries to land a front kick but Eli steps back. That was a bit too telegraphed.
Nakamura lets loose with a powerful body kick. Eli will feel that in the morning.
Eli misses with a jab, cross combination.
A countering left hand to the body from Nakamura misses.
Eli misses the jab.
Eli takes a thudding leg kick, right into the meat of the thigh.
Nakamura pushes Eli away with a front kick.
Nakamura misses with a body kick.
Eli throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.

Nakamura has managed to clinch.
The crowd applaud the fighters' efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Eli is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.

And that's the end of the fight!
Hideki Nakamura comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Nakamura 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 Daniel Blasius scores the fight 28:29
Judge Patrick Alders scores the fight 28:29
Judge Radbod Blank scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Hideki Nakamura!
Hideki Nakamura really struggled to get his t-shirt on before his hand was raised. Making sure that The Dirty Needle Project logo gets some air time is pretty tricky when you're all sweaty.