PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Abe Nakamura (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Shoju Bayushi (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Nakamura kept the crowd waiting but all that was forgotten when his ring entrance music started. The incomparable musical genius that is Enter the Ninja - Die Antwoord. Bayushi is bouncing up and down as he enters the arena, backed by Masta Killa. Abe Nakamura has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Nakamura
vs
Bayushi

170 cm
21
153 lbs
6 - 1 - 0

170 cm
24
150 lbs
8 - 6 - 0

Powerful takedowns
Basic striking
Very strong

Good takedowns
Counter striker
Knockout power

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 5 rounds, for the featherweight championship of the world!
Introducing the champion to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 6 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Abe Nakamura!
And introducing the challenger to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 8 - 6 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Shoju Bayushi!
The judges for this bout are Tatsuya Matsuyama, Yukihiro Shimada and Yuuki Gou.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Nakamura changes levels and drives through with a really nice takedown into side control. Bayushi looks really pissed at himself for not defending that better.
Nakamura tries to cartwheel into mount but he doesn't manage it.
Nakamura prevents Bayushi from escaping the position.
A control attempt from Bayushi but he's now mounted!

Nakamura is going oldschool here, as he tries to force Bayushi to tap using a forearm choke. This isn't 1993 though, so Bayushi shrugs it off.
Bayushi is looking to get to half guard.
Nakamura with some aggressive grappling here, looking for the finish.
Nakamura looking to control and managing it successfully.
Bayushi throwing punches from his back but nothing is landing.
Bayushi tries to reverse the position but Nakamura maintains control.
Bayushi is persisting with the attempt to improve his position.

Nakamura working for a guillotine from mount but Bayushi is in no mood to give up.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Bayushi is in all sorts of trouble here.
Nakamura can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as Bayushi is looking to escape.
Bayushi is writhing around trying to get back to his feet.

Nakamura working for a guillotine from mount but Bayushi is in no mood to give up.
Bayushi tries to get back to half guard but can't.
Bayushi tries to hold on but Nakamura postures up.
Bayushi keeping his composure momentarily, calmly looking to get back to half guard.

Nakamura is in full mount, looking to secure a guillotine but Bayushi is surviving well by controlling Nakamura's body position as best he can.
Nakamura controlling the pace for now.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Bayushi wants to hold on but Nakamura pushes him away.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

Nakamura looks like he's working for a submission but he's not found anything just yet.

Nakamura looking for a guillotine from mount but Bayushi is having none of it.
Bayushi throwing punches from his back but nothing is landing.
Bayushi tries to hold on but Nakamura postures up.
Bayushi tries to reverse the position but Nakamura maintains control.
Both fighters really going for it on the ground here!

Nakamura is going oldschool here, as he tries to force Bayushi to tap using a forearm choke. This isn't 1993 though, so Bayushi shrugs it off.
Bayushi keeping his composure momentarily, calmly looking to get back to half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Bayushi has given up his back. Will we see Nakamura going for some submissions?

Nakamura is working hard for the rear naked choke here.
Bayushi wants to control his opponent's hands but Nakamura gets his hands free.
Bayushi tries to escape the position - he's now mounted. Is that better or worse? Hard to tell!
Bayushi has given up his back - I don’t know if this is a deliberate ploy to try and escape or if he is just struggling down there.
Bayushi tries to escape the position.

Nakamura looking for the RNC.

Nakamura is remaining active here, looking for the choke. The more discerning members of the crowd will appreciate his efforts.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Bayushi just trying to survive but Nakamura is wriggling into a better position, looking to finish.

Nakamura has his hand under the chin of his opponent looking for the choke. He's nearly got it! This one could be all over! But no, Bayushi has freed his hand and lives to survive another… well, another couple of seconds at least!
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Bayushi tries to roll but Nakamura sticks to his back.

Nakamura is staying calm and holding on to the back position, whilst working on a rear naked choke. Bayushi is defending well though. Nakamura let's go of the attempt for now.
Bayushi tries to escape but Nakamura has the hooks in and won't let him break free.
Nakamura doesn't have the hooks in and Bayushi manages to turn into his guard.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!

Bayushi drops back, looking for a kneebar! Nakamura looks panicked! The fighters roll across the mat, one looking to finish, one looking to escape. Nakamura looks to have wriggled free... Yes, he's got his leg free and he's dived into side control! Good work there from Nakamura!
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Abe Nakamura dominated that round.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin!

Bayushi has his takedown stuffed

and Nakamura counters with a nice double leg into guard.

Nakamura got a little sloppy there for a moment and Bayushi has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Nakamura has managed to get both his arms back between Bayushi's legs - danger averted.

Bayushi working away from the bottom but not quite defensive enough there because Nakamura has passed into half guard!

Nakamura wants to work for an arm triangle but Bayushi is really keeping half guard well and defending the submission attempt.
Nakamura works his way into full mount!
Nakamura tries to control but Bayushi wriggling away.

Nakamura working to secure an arm triangle but it's not happening for him just yet.
Nakamura controlling his opponent.
Abe Nakamura overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Bayushi is desperately trying to get back to half guard.
Nakamura avoids the attempt from Bayushi to control.
Nakamura prevents Bayushi from getting the reversal.
Nakamura forces the positional change into back control.
Nakamura trying desperately to keep hold of the dominant position.

Bayushi defends a rear naked choke attempt by controlling one of Nakamura's arms.
Bayushi rolls and manages to get back to half guard. Nicely done.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Bayushi gets full guard.
Nakamura works a leg free and moves into half guard.

Bayushi looking for submissions from an awkward position here.
Bayushi is breathing heavily.
Nakamura wants to lay and pray for a moment but Bayushi keeps working.
Bayushi throws a strike from the bottom that misses.

Nakamura is working for a kimura but Bayushi is defending it quite comfortably.
Nakamura thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Bayushi's head.
Bayushi is striking from the bottom but he's now found himself mounted! Oh dear - not enough focus on defense there.
Nakamura tucks in and makes sure he doesn't lose the dominant position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Nakamura quickly switches position and commits to an armbar! It's a big risk for Nakamura but it's paid off an Bayushi is forced to tap! Nice work by Nakamura.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 3:22 of round 2, we have a winner by way of Submission (Armbar). Abe Nakamura!
Abe Nakamura retains his featherweight title!