PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Ralph Hall (ranked 729 p4p, 754 weight class) and Hideki Nakamura (ranked 95 p4p, 99 weight class). Hall comes to the cage accompanied by Pinball Wizard. Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

Hall
vs
Nakamura

180 cm
37
180
18 - 12 - 0

178 cm
27
170
12 - 4 - 0

Abu Dhabi Champ
World class boxer
Cardio machine

Good wrestler
Excellent MT
Granite chin

Shadow Realm Apparel

Furnace Performance 🔥
Silverguard Outfitters 🛡

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 18 - 12 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Ralph Hall!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 12 - 4 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Hideki Nakamura!
The judges for this bout are Timothy Bukovac, Frank Antenori and Jack Bonds.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
A bone on bone clash there as Hall blocks the leg kick.
Hall tries to counter with a takedown but Nakamura is quick to defend against it.
Nakamura will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Nakamura misses with a straight right.
Nakamura throws a mid kick that lands with a slap.
Nakamura scores with a crisp jab that stopped Hall in his tracks.

It looks like Ralph Hall has been cut.

Nakamura rushes Hall and presses him up against the cage.
Nakamura throws a head punch that misses.
Nakamura can't find room to land a body shot as Hall controls the action.
Hall tries to pull guard but Nakamura won't allow it.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Hall jumps guard.

Hall is active off his back here, looking for submissions.

Hall is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Nakamura defends well.
Nakamura postures up.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Hall looking for subs off his back but Nakamura has passed one foot through into half guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Nakamura trying to control the pace.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

Hall actively working from the bottom here.
Nakamura wants to free his trapped foot but Hall is holding on for dear life with his legs.
Hall is looking for a sweep. Nakamura is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.

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.

Hall looking for submissions off his back.
Nakamura wants to control but Hall is keeping him busy.
Hall trying to hold on to Nakamura's head to control him but Nakamura postures up.

Hall looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.
Nakamura content to sit in half guard and control for a moment.
Let's hope that Nakamura has the urge to step up the pace any second now because for the last 15 or 20 seconds he's just been holding on tight.
Hall is staying active underneath Nakamura, who seems content to just control the action from this position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Hall looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.

Hall looking for submissions off his back.
Nakamura is trying to control. Hall wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.
A punch lands to the side of Nakamura 's head but he takes it in his stride.
Nakamura throws a leg kick

and Hall counters with a nice double leg into half guard.

Nakamura manages to escape and get back to his feet!
Hideki Nakamura is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Hall throws a lazy right hand but Nakamura sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Nakamura looked like he wanted to counter with a punch but didn't throw it.
Nakamura lands a powerful looking uppercut that connected with his opponent's jaw.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Hall shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Nakamura defends it nicely.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Nakamura thuds his shin into the meat of Hall's side.

Nakamura instigates a clinch.
Nakamura pushes off and fires off an elbow that misses, before clinching up again, against the cage.
Hall tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Ralph Hall. That's going to take a lot out of him.
A quick uppercut on the inside from Nakamura.
Hall blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Hall is trying to pull guard but Nakamura has him pressed against the cage.
Nakamura works on Hall's body with a couple of short punches.
Hall tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.
Nakamura is struggling to control the position.
Hall fails to pull guard.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Hideki Nakamura dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Ralph Hall's cut.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

Nakamura darts in and clinches Hall up against the cage.
Hall fails to pull the fight into his guard.
Nakamura scores with an uppercut up the middle.
Nakamura scores with a shoulder strike.
A short left from Nakamura.
Hall fails to pull guard.
Nakamura comes over the top with an elbow. That landed flush.
Hall blocks an elbow strike.
Come on Nakamura - let's have some action - none of this stalling nonsense.
A head punch on the inside from Nakamura fails to land.

Hall jumps guard and drags Nakamura to the mat. He's obviously going to be looking for submissions off his back.

Hall is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
Nakamura advances position into side control!

Nakamura tries for an arm triangle. That looks pretty tight to me. Is this one over!?! Possibly, maybe, no Nakamura has let go of the choke. Obviously it wasn't as tight as we thought!

That's one minute gone in the round.
Hall is positioning himself to get back to half guard.

Nakamura tries for an arm triangle. That looks pretty tight to me. Is this one over!?! Possibly, maybe, no Nakamura has let go of the choke. Obviously it wasn't as tight as we thought!
Nakamura wants to control but Hall is keeping him busy.
Hall is looking for a sweep.
Hall regains half guard there - taking advantage of Nakamura's attempt to lay and pray for a moment.
Nakamura tries to pass the half guard into mount. Hall knows what he's doing though and prevents the attempt.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are getting on the fighters' backs, as the pace has dropped off in the last minute or so.
Hall is not content to let Nakamura control the position.

Hall actively working from the bottom here.
Nakamura trying to control the action but Hall is working from the bottom.
Nakamura wants to pass to mount but Hall is defending the position.
Hall is pressing down on Nakamura's left leg trying to get back to full guard. He's managed it.
Nakamura trying to control the position from guard on top but Hall is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Hall throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.

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

Hall has an omoplata and is looking to use it perhaps as a submission or perhaps to transition. Nakamura 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 Hall.
Hall wants to control but Nakamura postures up.
Hall is positioning himself to get back to half guard.
Hall is not content to let Nakamura control the position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are getting on the fighters' backs, as the pace has dropped off in the last minute or so.
Nakamura might have to switch it up a bit here because his efforts to control Hall haven't been going to plan, at least at the current moment in time.
Hall tries to bench press Nakamura off him but Nakamura keeps the position.
Hideki Nakamura has got the better of the ground game so far.
Hall sneaks a leg under to get back to half guard.
Hall is staying active underneath Nakamura, who seems content to just control the action from this position.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!

Hall looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.
Nakamura not doing much here.
It looks like the ref is thinking about a standup.
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 Ralph Hall's cut.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business. So, we enter the final round. Let's see if either fighter can bring us a finish, or whether we're going to the judges scorecards.

Nakamura gets a clinch.
Nakamura lands a right uppercut that snaps the head of Hall backwards.
Nakamura scores with a shot to the side of Hall's head.
A short right from Nakamura on the inside.
Hall blocking some punches.
Nakamura cracks Hall with a nice body shot.
Hall tries to pull guard but Nakamura forces him back to his feet, against the cage.
Nakamura lands a nice knee to the body.
Hall fails to pull guard.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Hall manages to pull guard.

Hall is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Nakamura is aware though and is defending well.
Nakamura wants to control from the top but Hall keeps moving.
Nakamura is just sitting in guard, looking to avoid any submissions.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Nakamura has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Nakamura trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Nakamura scores with a decent looking elbow strike.
Nakamura trying to control but Hall is working from the bottom.
Nakamura must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.
Nakamura sitting in guard, not really doing much.
Nakamura pushing down on Hall's thigh, trying to pass to half guard. He's managed it... Nice work.
Hall has a hand on Nakamura's thigh, trying to get back to full guard. Nakamura takes advantage of the position though and mounts him!
Ralph Hall has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Hall wants to hold on but Nakamura pushes him away.
Nakamura tucks in and makes sure he doesn't lose the dominant position.
Nakamura can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as Hall is looking to escape.
Hall is looking to get to half guard.
Nakamura lands a couple of nice shots there from mount.
Nakamura avoids the attempt from Hall to control.
Nakamura fails to move to back control.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Hall is working to get back to half guard.
Nakamura trying to control but he's not successful this time.
Hall is desperately trying to get back to half guard.
Nakamura can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as Hall is looking to escape.
Hall is writhing around trying to get back to his feet.

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 trying to control but Hall is having none of it.
Hall tries to get back to half guard but can't.
Hideki Nakamura is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
Hall swinging wildly from the bottom but he's not landing.
Hall sneaks a leg under to get to half guard.
Hall is in trouble now - Nakamura has advanced to mount!
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Nakamura takes a little breather and maintains the position. The referee will be looking for him to stay active from such a dominant position though.
Hall throwing hammer fists to the chest of Nakamura. What's that going to do exactly?

And that's the end of the fight!
Hideki Nakamura comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Nakamura has outworked and out performed his opponent in all aspects of the game today. He was simply too good and the decision should be no more than a formality. 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 Timothy Bukovac scores the fight 27:30
Judge Frank Antenori scores the fight 27:30
Judge Jack Bonds scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Hideki Nakamura!
A loyal slave to those sponsorship dollars, Hideki Nakamura made sure he mentioned Furnace Performance 🔥, along with how happy he was to win his fight.