PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Booker Houston (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Shinji Nakamura (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Shinji Nakamura has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Houston
vs
Nakamura

215 cm
18
150 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

176 cm
18
148 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Cuts easily

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Solid 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 Hilo, Booker Houston!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, Shinji Nakamura!
The judges for this bout are Micheangelo Fripello, Josh West and Chris Saunders.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Nakamura tries to drive through with a takedown attempt but Houston defends well and Nakamura ends up having to push Houston into the cage where they will battle it out in the clinch.
Shinji Nakamura seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Nakamura looks for a takedown but Houston sprawls well.
Houston swung with a counter right hand that didn't connect.

Nakamura gets a takedown into half guard.

Houston looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.
Nakamura is looking to take a break and control but Houston is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Houston looking to force a kimura from the bottom here. He's concentrating on that move too much though and Nakamura pushes past his half guard into mount!

That's one minute gone in the round.
Nakamura controlling from mount.
Houston tries to hold on but Nakamura postures up.
Nakamura with the ground and pound from mount.
Nakamura looks more muscular than last time we saw him. He must have been on the weights.

Nakamura is looking to secure an arm. He's managed it! He's pivoting for an armbar - that looks tight! But Houston has managed to get out of it and now he's in a dominant position. Nice work from Houston!
Houston in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Nakamura preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Houston throws an elbow that misses. Nakamura uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in Houston's guard. Nice move by Nakamura!

Houston controls Nakamura momentarily but Nakamura frees himself.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Houston had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Nakamura defends it easily.
Nakamura is sitting in guard, working some ground and pound.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Houston is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Nakamura is looking to stand up but Houston won't let him.

Houston is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
Nakamura is frustrating his opponent with some stalling tactics from top position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
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.

Houston is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
Nakamura working in close now, lands a nice elbow to the side of Houston's head.

Nakamura drops back for a leg! It's a sloppy attempt though and Nakamura jumps back into guard quickly, to retain the dominant position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Nakamura pushing down on Houston's thigh, trying to pass to half guard. He's managed it... Nice work.

Houston is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Nakamura pulls his head out easily.
Houston is breathing heavily.

Nakamura escapes and gets back to his feet.
Nakamura loads up on a big right hand but Houston slips the punch.
Houston really does look like a pencil wearing a pair of gloves. Let's hope he has a gameplan to suit that ridiculous body shape.
Nakamura dives in and grabs Houston's left leg, looking for a takedown. Houston pushes down on Nakamura's head and hops out.
Houston throws a quick counter head kick but Nakamura was just out of range.
Booker Houston has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Shinji Nakamura.
Nakamura shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Houston pinned against the cage. Houston gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Nakamura tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Shinji Nakamura dominated that round.
That's time! Back to the action!

Nakamura misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
Houston throwing a counter right hand but Nakamura manages to avoid it.
Nakamura tries a head kick but it misses.

Nakamura shoots in and bounces Houston off the cage to secure the takedown into guard.

Houston 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.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Nakamura stands up from Houston's guard - Nakamura perhaps looking for a knockout.
Nakamura misses with a takedown attempt
and Nakamura takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
Nakamura is breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Nakamura instigates a clinch.
Nakamura is trying to break free.
Houston prevents a takedown attempt there.
Booker Houston has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Shinji Nakamura.

Houston successfully pulls guard.
Nakamura wants to stand but Houston has a closed guard, so he can't escape.
Houston will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.

Houston looking for submissions from the bottom but instead Nakamura passes into half guard.

Nakamura is looking for a kimura but Houston is holding onto that half guard position, so it's hard for Nakamura to get the leverage.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Nakamura is thwarting Houston's attempts to control the position.

Houston actively working from the bottom here.

Houston looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.

Nakamura is looking for a kimura here.
Shinji Nakamura has got the better of the ground game so far.

Nakamura moves into side control, avoiding a weak kimura attempt from Houston.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Nakamura in side control, working for a kimura. He's got hold of an arm and he's torquing it... Houston is tapping! That's the end of the fight!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 3:40 of round 2, we have a winner by way of Submission (Kimura). Shinji Nakamura!