PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Brandon Rose (ranked 1646 p4p, 1670 weight class) and Hajime Nakamura (ranked 153 p4p, 156 weight class). Nakamura is bobbing his head along to his entrance song: Soldier of Fortune - Loudness. Rumors backstage are that the fighters have been paid to keep it standing but we know that would never happen in MMA!

Rose
vs
Nakamura

169 cm
27
150
5 - 4 - 0

174 cm
27
145
6 - 4 - 0

Good wrestling
Basic striking
Very strong

Powerful takedowns
Counter fighter
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 5 - 4 - 0, fighting out of The Island, Brandon Rose!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 6 - 4 - 0, fighting out of The Island, Hajime Nakamura!
The judges for this bout are Peter Branson, Winston Alpacca and David Hoff.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Rose changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Nakamura tries to avoid it but Rose manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Nakamura to the ground. Nakamura escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.

Nakamura gets tackled into the cage by Rose. Rose maintains the clinch.
Rose tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Nakamura blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Nakamura lands with a short punch from the clinch.

Rose pulls guard successfully.
Rose trying to control the position.
Rose is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.
Nakamura wants to control from the top but Rose keeps moving.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Nakamura is working Rose over from the guard. He should look to pass the guard and do a little more damage with these strikes.
Nakamura trying to control but Rose is working from the bottom.

Rose looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Nakamura is working the ground and pound from guard. He might want to try advancing position though to get more of an impact.
We've been hearing good reports from Rose's training camp. Apparently he has been rolling around with some good quality BJJ practitioners and has been sharpening his skills. Let's see if that has an impact on the fight today.
Rose utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Rose tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Nakamura looks more muscular than last time we saw him. He must have been on the weights.

Rose is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Nakamura is aware though and is defending well.
Nakamura has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
Nakamura trying to control but Rose is working from the bottom.
Nakamura throwing strikes from guard but Rose blocks nicely.
Rose keeping moving, preventing Nakamura from controlling successfully.
Rose bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Nakamura's guard.

Nakamura working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Rose.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Rose stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Nakamura swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Nakamura is trying to control the position but Rose postures up.
Rose wants to control from the top but Nakamura keeps moving.
Nakamura not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Rose throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Rose looking to pass the guard.
Nakamura is trying to keep Rose in close.

Nakamura is looking for a triangle but Rose pushes his legs off easily.
Rose trying to control but Nakamura is working from the bottom.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Nakamura looking for a triangle here. Rose is fighting it but it looks tight! Nakamura pulls the arm across and this one won't last much longer! Nope, Rose is tapping out - this one is all over!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 3:20 of round 1, we have a winner by way of Submission (Triangle Choke). Hajime Nakamura!
A victorious Hajime Nakamura thanked his army of followers in his post fight interview, telling people to make sure they follow him on Twitter.