PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Kabelo Nyambe (ranked 23905 p4p, 23959 weight class) and Hoshifumi Nagasa (ranked 401 p4p, 408 weight class). Kabelo Nyambe looks tired to me. Hopefully he has got enough gas left in the tank to put in a good performance.

Nyambe
vs
Nagasa

159 cm
28
147
3 - 5 - 0

165 cm
22
145
1 - 8 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Solid boxing
Experienced

BJJ White Belt
Good kicks
Determined

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 3 - 5 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Kabelo Nyambe!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 8 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Hoshifumi Nagasa!
The judges for this bout are Timothy Bukovac, Percy O'Donnell and Frank Antenori.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Nyambe takes a head kick and shrugs it off.
Nyambe looks exhausted already! Oh dear, he should have come in in better shape than this!
Nyambe keeps the fight on the outside.
Nyambe feinted with a counter takedown.
Hoshifumi Nagasa seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Nagasa is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Nagasa throws a head kick but Nyambe moves out of range.
Nyambe half commits to a counter takedown before pushing away, out of range.
That's a knee to de groin and it's over and out! Nyambe crumples to the ground after an illegal strike from Nagasa - the referee stops the clock and Nyambe gets 5 minutes to recover from that one. "I'm sorry" says Nagasa. Nyambe manages to get back to his feet and the fight resumes.
Nagasa misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Nyambe feinted with a counter takedown.
Nagasa misses with a double jab

and Nyambe counters with a takedown into side control! That could mean trouble for Nagasa!
Nagasa takes a couple of big shots there - the referee warns him that he has to defend himself better.
Nagasa struggling a bit here.
Nyambe working the ground and pound but Nagasa is defending the strikes.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
This has been an exciting period of action!

Nyambe is looking to finish here, going for an Americana. Nagasa knows the correct defense though, so he's OK.
Nyambe definitely looks more muscular than last time we saw him fight.
Nagasa is trying to stand back up. He's worked his way up against the cage but Nyambe has just dragged him back down to the mat.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Nagasa regains half guard.
Nyambe has been looking to land a fair amount of strikes on the ground. He might be looking to soften his opponent up in order to work for a submission.
Nyambe not landing any meaningful shots this time.
Nyambe thows a huge punch but Nagasa dodges it nicely.

Nyambe is trying to work for a kimura but Nagasa is defending well.
Nagasa trying to control but Nyambe postures up.
Nagasa blocking the ground and pound attempt from Nyambe.
Nyambe not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
Nyambe missing with the ground and pound from half guard.
Nyambe slips a nice elbow through Nagasa's hands, connecting with Nagasa's forehead.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Nagasa looking for submissions from an awkward position here.
Nagasa is trying to get back to full guard.

Nyambe is trying for a guillotine from the top but the pressure isn't in the right place so Nagasa is just riding it out for now. Nyambe eventually gives up the hold.
Nyambe not landing any meaningful shots this time.

Nyambe wants to work for an arm triangle but Nagasa is really keeping half guard well and defending the submission attempt.

Nyambe seems to be working for a kimura but Nagasa defends the submission attempt.
Nagasa keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Nyambe missing with the ground and pound from half guard.
Nagasa is trying to get back to full guard.
Nyambe throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
Nyambe scores with a couple of good hammerfists.
Nagasa regains full guard, whilst avoiding punches from Nyambe.
Nyambe cracks Nagasa with a solid left hand.

Nyambe drops back looking for a leg! Nagasa is in trouble here! The fighters roll with the hold and Nagasa manages to kick Nyambe off! Nyambe jumps back into Nagasa's guard.
Nyambe works over Nagasa with some ground and pound from guard.

Nagasa is looking for a triangle but Nyambe pushes his legs off easily.
Nagasa really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Nyambe. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Nyambe 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.
Nagasa trying to control the position.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Nyambe is working Nagasa over from the guard. He should look to pass the guard and do a little more damage with these strikes.
Nyambe working from the guard for now, landing some ground and pound.

Nyambe drops back, looking for a kneebar! Nagasa looks panicked! The fighters roll across the mat, one looking to finish, one looking to escape. Nagasa looks to have wriggled free... Yes, he's got his leg free and he's dived into side control! Good work there from Nagasa!

Nagasa looking to punish the body of his opponent here but Nyambe is avoiding damage well.
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 Kabelo Nyambe will probably get the nod.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

Nagasa scores with a kick to the midsection.
Nagasa tries a head kick but it misses.
Kabelo Nyambe is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Nagasa lands a leg kick and bounces back out of range.
Nagasa chopping away at his opponent's legs.
Nagasa fakes with a right hand and throws a good leg kick, right into the thigh. That had to hurt Nyambe.
Nagasa tries to clinch there but Nyambe circles away.
Nyambe attempts a counter takedown but Nagasa avoids it well and moves away.
Nagasa misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Nagasa throws a sloppy head kick and Nyambe moves out of range easily.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Nagasa throws a sloppy head kick and Nyambe moves out of range easily.
Nyambe tries to counter with a takedown but Nagasa is quick to defend against it.
Nagasa chopping away at his opponent's legs.
Nyambe on the wrong end of a kick to the body.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Nagasa throws a head kick that connects with a bit of head and a bit of hand.
Nagasa throws a right high kick that is partially blocked by Nyambe.
Nagasa fails with an attempt to clinch.
Nagasa tries a head kick but it misses.
Nagasa swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Nyambe appears to be looking for a counter takedown.
Nagasa throws a series of punches but Nyambe moves out of range.
Nagasa is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Nagasa throws a head kick that misses.
Nyambe feinted with a counter takedown.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A head kick misses from Nagasa.
Nyambe half commits to a counter takedown before pushing away, out of range.
Nagasa goes for a spinning back kick but it misses.
Hoshifumi Nagasa is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
A head kick by Nagasa misses

and Nyambe counters by clinching up.
Nyambe is pressed up against the cage. Nagasa has hold of a leg and is looking to drag Nyambe down to the mat. Nyambe avoids the attempt though and has circled away. We're back to striking at a distance.
A head kick by Nagasa misses

and Nyambe holds on and brings the fighters into a clinch.
Nyambe avoiding damage as Nagasa throws knees to the body.
Nyambe is working on a leg, looking for a takedown but Nagasa is defending well.
Nagasa is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Nyambe is defending well for now.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Nagasa has Nyambe pressed up against the cage and is working for takedown. Nyambe manages to improve position though and keeps the fight standing.

Nyambe drags the fight down to the ground.
Nagasa trying to control the position from guard on top but Nyambe is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Nyambe pulls Nagasa in close to his closed guard and prevents Nagasa from doing any damage or advancing position.
Nyambe trying to control the position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Neither fighter has done anything of merit for a good minute or two here and the crowd are not happy about it.
Kabelo Nyambe overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Nagasa trying to control the position from guard on top but Nyambe is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Nagasa sitting in guard here, content to control.
We must be close to a standup if these guys don't pick up the pace.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Nagasa wants to stand but Nyambe is controlling his posture from full guard.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Hoshifumi Nagasa showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action. This is the final round!

Nagasa is looking to clinch but Nyambe is avoiding it.
Nyambe tries to counter with a takedown but Nagasa is quick to defend against it.
Nagasa throws a leg kick which misses Nyambe's front leg but catches the back leg as Nyambe tries to avoid it.
Nagasa lands a leg kick and bounces back out of range.
Nagasa wants to clinch.
Nyambe appears to be looking for a counter takedown.
That kick from Nagasa tenderised Nyambe's leg. Nyambe is trying to keep his angry face on.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Nagasa misses with a head kick.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Some bone on bone action there as Nyambe checks a low kick. Luckily it wasn't a particularly hard one.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Nagasa connects with a high kick.
Nagasa rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Nyambe moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
A head kick by Nagasa misses

and Nyambe counters with a shoot takedown. Nagasa fights it but they end up in guard.
Nyambe postures up in Nagasa's guard and throws a big left but Nagasa blocks it.
Nyambe postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.

Nagasa looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
Nyambe chips away with some ground and pound.
Nagasa trying to control the position.
Nyambe lands a nice shot whilst sitting in his opponent's guard.

Nyambe drops back for a leg! It's a sloppy attempt though and Nyambe jumps back into guard quickly, to retain the dominant position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Nagasa has his foot on Nyambe's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Nyambe works his way back into a safe position though.
Nyambe connects with a couple of short punches.

Nyambe manages to work his way to half guard, despite Nagasa's best efforts.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Nyambe is pressing down on Nagasa's left leg trying to get back to full guard. He's managed it.
Nagasa trying to control the position from guard on top but Nyambe is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Nyambe escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Nagasa gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
Nagasa stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Nyambe swivels though and keeps the full guard.

Nyambe is working for submissions here. He's thrown up his legs looking for a triangle but Nagasa frees his head nicely. Oh but Nyambe has switched to an armbar! Nagasa is tapping furiously! Lovely submission there!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 4:56 of round 3, we have a winner by way of Submission (Triangle Armbar). Kabelo Nyambe!
After the fight, Kabelo Nyambe was humble in paying tribute to his opponent but made it clear he wants to go on to bigger and better things. It seemed to go down well with the crowd who cheered him loudly.