PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between The Blade (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Yoshihiro Nakayama (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). These two fighters really are very evenly matched on the feet - it will be fascinating to see who can assert themselves in that aspect of the fight.

Blade
vs
Nakayama

176 cm
19
155 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

175 cm
23
155 lbs
1 - 4 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Brawler
KO power

BJJ Blue Belt
Dangerous knees
Granite chin

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 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, The Blade!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 4 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Yoshihiro Nakayama!
The judges for this bout are Cecil Peabody, George Francis and Frank Dennis.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
No luck for Blade with that takedown attempt.

Blade gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.
Blade prevents Nakayama from breaking the clinch.
Blade tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. Nakayama just stands there and leans against the cage.
Blade is pressed up against the cage. Nakayama has hold of a leg and is looking to drag Blade down to the mat. Blade avoids the attempt though and has circled away. We're back to striking at a distance.
Blade takes a swing at Nakayama's ribcage but misses.
Blade is looking to clinch but Nakayama is avoiding it.
Blade shoots for a takedown but Nakayama saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for The Blade. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Blade fails with the takedown.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
The fight stays on the outside here - Blade looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Nakayama tries to clinch but Blade is having none of it.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Nakayama closes the distance and gets a double leg, slamming Blade to the mat! Blade manages to get full guard.
Nakayama is fighting to break Blade's control of his arms but Blade is doing a good job of controlling the position at the moment.
Nakayama wants to control from the top but Blade keeps moving.

Blade is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
Nakayama works over Blade with some ground and pound from guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Blade bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Nakayama's guard.
Nakayama pulls Blade in close to prevent any damage.
Nakayama throws some sloppy strikes off his back.
Nakayama keeping moving, preventing Blade from controlling successfully.
Nakayama bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Blade's guard.
Nakayama loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Blade is pulling down on Nakayama's head to control his posture.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Nakayama 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.
Blade looking to control.
Nakayama not doing a lot at the moment. He'll have to show some more aggression or the fight will get stood up.
Nakayama tries to free his leg and advance position but Blade is retaining full guard.
Nakayama sitting in guard, not really doing much.
Nakayama trying to control the position from guard on top but Blade is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

That's four 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.
Blade utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Nakayama trying to control the position from guard on top but Blade is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Blade wants to stand up but Nakayama is controlling him.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.
Blade shoots in but doesn't get the takedown

and Nakayama counters with a shoot takedown. Blade fights it but they end up in guard.
Blade is breathing heavily.
Nakayama wants to control from the top but Blade keeps moving.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Yoshihiro Nakayama dominated that round.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business.

Blade shoots in but doesn't get the takedown

and Nakayama decides to take the opportunity to score a takedown. He's landed in Blade's guard.
Blade trying to keep a closed guard but Nakayama is proving a slippery customer.
Nakayama sitting in guard here, content to control.
Blade is looking to stand up but Nakayama isn't so interested in that idea.
Nakayama trying to control but Blade is working from the bottom.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Blade is trying to keep Nakayama in close.
Blade looking for a sweep. Not yet Blade, not yet.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Nakayama trying to control but Blade is working from the bottom.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Blade tries to clinch

and Nakayama holds on and brings the fighters into a clinch.

Nakayama escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Nakayama shoots in for a takedown but Blade shows good takedown defense.
Blade misses with a takedown

so Nakayama counters with a double leg into guard. Good agility.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Blade looking to control.
Nakayama controls from within his opponent's guard.
Nakayama's corner are shouting for him to control the position and he seems happy to oblige.
Nakayama prevents Blade from getting back to his feet.
Nakayama slows down the pace of the fight, as he sits in guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Blade trying to punch from his back but it's not doing any damage.
Nakayama wants to control from the top but Blade keeps moving.
Blade looking to control.
Blade can't do much from the bottom at the moment, as Nakayama controls the pace.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
My god... these two guys really need to pick up the pace or everyone will leave to go get a beer.
Blade trying to keep a closed guard but Nakayama is proving a slippery customer.
Blade keeping moving, preventing Nakayama from controlling successfully.
Blade working a defensive guard here.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.
Nakayama misses with a takedown attempt - Blade sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
The Blade seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Blade is looking to clinch but Nakayama is avoiding it.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Yoshihiro Nakayama showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
That's time! Back to the action! The crowd applaud as we get ready to start the final round!

No luck for Blade with that takedown attempt.
Blade looks to throw a body kick

and Nakayama counters with a nice double leg into half guard.
Nakayama tries to pass to full mount but Blade defends it.
Blade tries to get to full guard but Nakayama has control of the leg.
Nakayama looks over to his corner - he wants some instructions but his corner are not responding.
Blade won't allow Nakayama to pass to mount.
Blade is looking to improve his position.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Blade trying to control here.
Blade tries to regain full guard. Instead though, Nakayama has advanced to mount. Uh oh.
Nakayama won't let Blade get back to his feet... He wants to keep the fight where it is for now.
Blade regains half guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
My god... these two guys really need to pick up the pace or everyone will leave to go get a beer.
Blade is trying to defend against the ground and pound but Nakayama scores with a couple of nice shots.
Nakayama wants to lay and pray for a moment but Blade keeps working.
Nakayama wants to free his trapped foot but Blade is holding on for dear life with his legs.
Nakayama controlling the pace.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Nakayama is tying to control. Blade wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.
The fighters are battling for position here. Blade manages to regain full guard. Nice work.
Nakayama trying to control but Blade is working from the bottom.
Blade is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Nakayama content to stall in guard here.
Blade is trying to keep Nakayama in close.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Blade is looking to stand back up but Nakayama counters by passing into half guard. Oops... bit sloppy there by Blade.
Blade slips a foot under and gets full guard. Nice work.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Nakayama sitting in guard, not really doing much.

And that's the end of the fight!
Yoshihiro Nakayama comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Nakayama 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 Cecil Peabody scores the fight 27:30
Judge George Francis scores the fight 27:30
Judge Frank Dennis scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Yoshihiro Nakayama!