PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Shadow Island One (ranked 3661 p4p, 3705 weight class) and Hajime Nakamura (ranked 308 p4p, 311 weight class). Nakamura has chosen Soldier of Fortune - Loudness as his entrance music. Hajime Nakamura has the power to score a knockout today if he connects clean with Shadow Island One's chin.

One
vs
Nakamura

173 cm
25
155
2 - 1 - 1

174 cm
25
145
1 - 1 - 0

BJJ Brown Belt
Basic striking
Big heart

Powerful takedowns
Basic striking
Powerful

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 2 - 1 - 1, fighting out of The Island, Shadow Island One!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 1 - 0, fighting out of The Island, Hajime Nakamura!
The judges for this bout are Winston Alpacca, Michael Johnstone and Daniel Franklin.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
One tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.

One darts in and clinches Nakamura up against the cage.
One jumps guard but his hands slip and he falls flat on his back. Well, he's made himself look a right mug there, as Nakamura walks away with a smile on his face. One gets slowly back to his feet and shakes his head.

Nakamura rushes One and presses him up against the cage.

Nakamura is trying to trip One. He has hold of a leg but One is hopping around, keeping his balance for the moment. Nakamura persists though and gets the takedown into guard.
Nakamura controlling from the top position.
Nakamura throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Nakamura trying to control but One is working from the bottom.
Nakamura looks more muscular than last time we saw him. He must have been on the weights.
Nakamura throws a big right hand that misses.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

One looking for a guillotine here but Nakamura defends easily.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Nakamura accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Nakamura missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.

One looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
Nakamura trying to control the position from guard on top but One is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Nakamura slows down the pace of the fight for a moment. He'll need to remain active if he doesn't want to see the fight stood back up.
One has a closed guard, preventing anything of note from happening. Perhaps he's looking to stall.
One keeping moving, preventing Nakamura from controlling successfully.
Nakamura working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A few boos can be heard. I'm sure they will multiply if the fighters don't pick up the pace.

Nakamura avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
One keeping full guard, as Nakamura tries to pass.

One throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.

One looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
Nakamura looking to sit in guard and control but One gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.

Nakamura trying to control the position here.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Nakamura trying to keep a closed guard but One is proving a slippery customer.

Nakamura is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
One preventing the sweep.

Nakamura is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
One trying to control the position from guard on top but Nakamura is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Well. There's a bit of a lull in the action here and the crowd are starting to get restless.
Nakamura is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Nakamura has One pulled in close to control his posture.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.
One fails in his attempt to clinch.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
One is looking to clinch but Nakamura is avoiding it.
One tries to clinch there but Nakamura circles away.
Shadow Island One seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

One moves into the clinch.
One tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.

Nakamura has One pressed up against the cage. He's trying to work for a single leg takedown. Nakamura pulls back from the cage and twists to the side, sending One tumbling to the mat - Nakamura dives into One's guard.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

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

One tries to clinch but Nakamura is having none of it.

One closes the distance and pushes Nakamura back into the cage.

Nakamura has hold of one of One's legs. One is fighting the takedown attempt but Nakamura gets the trip and lands the takedown into guard.
One keeping moving, preventing Nakamura from controlling successfully.
One keeping full guard, as Nakamura tries to pass.
Nakamura in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Nakamura won't allow One to sweep him here.

One looks to be working for a triangle here. Oh, it looks like he might have it! Nakamura has picked One up and slammed him! One can't keep hold of the triangle and Nakamura manages to pass to side control!
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Nakamura advances to mount.
One is wriggling around trying to escape.
Nakamura throws some wild stikes that One manages to avoid easily.
Nakamura fails to take his opponent's back.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Nakamura wants to control the pace but One is squirming around nicely.
One tries to lock up and control but Nakamura gives him a forearm to the face and pushes him away.
Nakamura throwing sloppy strikes here. Perhaps if he tightened up his striking from such a dominant position, he'd be able to finish easier.
One tries to reverse the position but Nakamura maintains control.
One is controlling an arm, preventing Nakamura from taking his back. Although keeping him in mount is no better to be honest.
Hajime Nakamura has got the better of the ground game so far.

Nakamura goes for an armbar but he's fallen flat on his backside there and now One is on top in guard.
One stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Nakamura swivels though and keeps the full guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
One's corner is telling him to maintain position.
One postures up.
Nakamura bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in One's guard.

Nakamura avoids a guillotine attempt easily.

One looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
Nakamura with a flurry of punches that miss.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
One is trying to keep Nakamura in close.
Nakamura trying to control the position from guard on top but One is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Nakamura passes into half guard.

Nakamura is working for a submission of some sort.

One looking for submissions from an awkward position here.
Nakamura trying to control the action but One is working from the bottom.

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

One actively working from the bottom here.
Nakamura content to control rather than advance.

Nakamura wants to work for an arm triangle but One is really keeping half guard well and defending the submission attempt.
Nakamura wants to take a breather but One is having none of it.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
One avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Nakamura.
One is in trouble now - Nakamura has advanced to mount!
Nakamura seems to be looking to move to his opponent's back but One is holding on tight.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Hajime Nakamura showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare each other down, ready to get back to the action. This is the final round!

Nakamura has taken the fight to the clinch.
One is trying to pull guard but Nakamura has him pressed against the cage.

Nakamura has clasped his hands together around One's back... aaand, he's got a takedown into side control. Nicely done.
Nakamura wants to control but One is keeping him busy.

Nakamura is looking to finish here, going for an Americana. One knows the correct defense though, so he's OK.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
One tries to buck Nakamura off but Nakamura is having none of it.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Nakamura tries for a kimura. Not really close to a finish though.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Nakamura thinks about going for a far side armbar but bails out and retains the dominant position instead.
One is looking for a sweep.
One gets back to half guard.
One wants to control but Nakamura is keeping busy and won't allow it.
One is looking for a sweep. Nakamura is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.

Nakamura is looking for a kimura but he's never going to get it from there.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
One keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.
Nakamura seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but One does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.

One looking for submissions from an awkward position here.
One is staying active underneath Nakamura, who seems content to just control the action from this position.
Nakamura performing his best blanket impression for a moment.
We must be close to a standup if these guys don't pick up the pace.

One looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.
One wants to improve his position but Nakamura is controlling well.

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Nakamura throws the overhand right but ducks down into a quick takedown attempt. One was covering up waiting for the punch and Nakamura finishes the takedown easily into guard.
Nakamura throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as One works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Hajime Nakamura is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
Nakamura won't allow One to sweep him here.
Nakamura showing good wrestling skills to control the position.
Nakamura tries to free his leg and advance position but One is retaining full guard.
One controls Nakamura momentarily but Nakamura frees himself.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Nakamura engaging in some classic timewasting tactics.
Nakamura's corner are shouting for him to control the position and he seems happy to oblige.
The referee looks like he's ready to step in and stand the fighters back up.
More stalling from Nakamura.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up.

Nakamura looks for a takedown. He's got it. We're now in half guard.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
One is looking for a sweep. Nakamura is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Shadow Island One has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

One actively working from the bottom here.
Nakamura is looking to pass the guard... He's managed it - he's now in full mount!

And that's the end of the fight!
Hajime Nakamura comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Nakamura 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 Winston Alpacca scores the fight 27:30
Judge Michael Johnstone scores the fight 27:30
Judge Daniel Franklin scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Hajime Nakamura!
After winning the bout, Hajime Nakamura thanked all his fans and promised he'd do even better in his next fight. The crowd seemed to love his humility.