PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Victor Sanchez (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Yusuke Nagano (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Man, I cannot wait for this one!

Sanchez
vs
Nagano

183 cm
18
160 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

165 cm
18
145 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Excellent boxer
Granite chin

Good wrestler
Basic striking
Solid chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the lightweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Victor Sanchez!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Yusuke Nagano!
The judges for this bout are Roosa Järviläinen, Matti Vanhoillinen and Johanna Lukiainen.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Nagano looks for a takedown. He's got it. We're now in half guard.
Sanchez has hold of Nagano's hands but Nagano slips his arm to the side and lands an elbow.
The two fighters exchange a few words. I couldn't hear what they were saying but maybe it's more fun if you make it up yourself. Nagano connects with a nice short shot to Sanchez's temple.
Nagano prevents Sanchez from standing back up.
Nagano winds up and cracks Sanchez with a swinging punch to the side of the head.
Nagano working the head and body with strikes.
Nagano stops Sanchez from getting back to his feet.
Nagano has freed up his trapped foot and advances to mount.
Nagano landing strikes, looking to finish!
Nagano working Sanchez over with strikes here.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Nagano scoring with strikes but Sanchez is staying in there.
Sanchez wants to get back to his feet.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Nagano lands a couple of nice shots there from mount.
Sanchez is in a horrible position here. Nagano smacks him with another shot as he tries to escape the position.
Nagano unloading with bombs!
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Nagano with the ground and pound from mount.
Sanchez's corner are shouting for him to stand up but that's bad cornering - how is he meant to stand up when he's mounted? He should be looking to improve his position on the ground before trying to stand back up.
Nagano lands a shot to the body, followed up by a shot to the exposed head of his trapped opponent.
Sanchez is looking to get back to his feet - it's going to be hard from this position.
Nagano takes a little breather and maintains the position. The referee will be looking for him to stay active from such a dominant position though.
Nagano working Sanchez over with strikes here.
Nagano in mount throwing good strikes here, bouncing his opponent's head off the canvas.
Nagano landing strikes from the mount.
The fans in attendance giving it up for the two fighters, who have really let it all hang out in the last minute or so!
Nagano landing strikes from the mount and Sanchez is in trouble!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Nagano punishing his opponent with strikes.
The crowd growing excited in anticipation of a finish here! Right on cue, Nagano cracks his opponent with a massive right hand that draws loud cheers!
Nagano punishing his opponent with strikes.
Nagano unloading with bombs!
Nagano landing strikes from the mount and Sanchez is in trouble!
Sanchez knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Nagano on the ground.
Nagano is landing with some decent strikes but Sanchez is trying to advance his position so the referee is letting the fight continue.
Sanchez takes a big shot to the head but keeps on trying to improve his position.
Nagano punishing his opponent with strikes.
Nagano lands with some strikes.
Sanchez in a bad spot here, taking shots to the head.
Nagano lands a nice shot to the head.
Sanchez is not a happy chappy… he wants out of there.
Nagano lands with some vicious ground and pound - can Sanchez hang on?
Nagano lands a couple of good shots and Sanchez has given up his back, trying to escape the position!
Nagano scores with punches from the back.
Nagano has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Nagano is punishing Sanchez with strikes - can he finish him?!
Nagano landing with strikes.
Nagano is riding his opponent, not letting Sanchez buck him off.
Nagano softening up his opponent with strikes here.
Sanchez covers up after taking a massive shot to the side of the head.
Sanchez covers up after that shot from Nagano.
Nagano connects with a series of strikes and the referee is calling for Sanchez to escape the position.
Nagano punishes Sanchez with strikes from the back mount.
Nagano lands shots from the back.
Nagano is landing with strikes from the back.
What can Sanchez do to escape this position? He's going to have to figure it out pretty quick if he wants to stay in the fight!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Sanchez is trapped and Nagano is scoring with shots to the head and body.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Nagano throwing strikes from the back - he gets a warning from the referee for striking the back of the head but all these shots are hurting Sanchez!
Nagano has good solid back control here.
Nagano lands with a couple of good shots - one to the side of the head and one questionable shot that could be viewed as to the back of the head but the referee lets it go.
Nagano biding his time, looking for the opening.
Nagano scores with strikes from the back.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
The crowd applaud the fighters' efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Sanchez trying to get back to his feet but Nagano is in full control for now.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Yusuke Nagano dominated that round.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

Nagano drives through with a takedown into guard.
Sanchez is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.
Nagano cracks Sanchez with a solid left hand.
Nagano connects with a couple of short punches.
Nagano prevents Sanchez from getting back to his feet.
Nagano chips away with some ground and pound.
Sanchez wants to stand and escape but Nagano is having none of it.
Nagano working from the guard for now, landing some ground and pound.
Nagano chips away with some ground and pound.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Nagano landing with the ground and pound.
Nagano is frustrating his opponent with some stalling tactics from top position.
Nagano lands a couple of elbows.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Sanchez wants to stand but Nagano is controlling the position.
Nagano controlling from the top position.
Nagano stands up over Sanchez, holding his feet. He dives back in and lands a decent shot to the head.
Nagano cracks Sanchez with a solid left hand.
Nagano stops Sanchez from standing up.
Nagano has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Nagano postures up and lands some nice ground and pound.
Sanchez is looking to stand up but Nagano isn't so interested in that idea.
Nagano sitting in guard here, content to control.
Nagano scores with a decent looking elbow strike.

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.
Nagano scoring with some ground and pound.
Sanchez has momentary wrist control but Nagano slips an elbow through the middle.
Sanchez wants to get back to his feet but he's too absorbed in his own little project and Nagano manages to pass to side control.
Nagano is scoring with some nice ground and pound from the dominant position.
Sanchez pushes Nagano off looking to stand but Nagano dives back in and keeps control.
Nagano is keeping good posture, landing some ground and pound.
Nagano looks to score some points with some ground and pound.
Still in half guard, Nagano seems content to control.
Nice strikes from Nagano there.
Nagano lands with an elbow from half guard - that looked like it hurt.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Nagano working over Sanchez with some ground and pound. Sanchez looks like he wants out of this position, which is understandable.
Nagano working over Sanchez with some ground and pound. Sanchez looks like he wants out of this position, which is understandable.
The referee walks around the fighters to get a better view of the action. Nagano lands a nice short elbow.
Sanchez is trying to stand up here but Nagano is controlling him well.
Nagano scoring with strikes to the body and head.
Nagano is scoring with some nice ground and pound from the dominant position.
Sanchez is looking to escape.
Nagano looks to score some points with some ground and pound.
Nagano is keeping good posture, landing some ground and pound.
Nagano is keeping good posture, landing some ground and pound.
Nagano lands strikes from half guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Nice strikes from Nagano there.
Nagano is taking a breather. Sanchez says something to him but it's hard to make out. Perhaps he's telling him to get on with it and actually do something.
Sanchez tries to kick Nagano off but Nagano keeps his base steady and stays in half guard.
Yusuke Nagano has got the better of the ground game so far.
Nagano lands a big shot. The thud that echoes around the arena is like music to the fans' ears.
Nagano takes advantage of the dominant position to land a couple of big hammer fists.
Nagano looks to score some points with some ground and pound.
Nagano is scoring with some nice ground and pound from the dominant position.
Sanchez is trying to stand back up but Nagano is controlling him
Nagano content to control rather than advance.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Nagano landing with strikes to the body and head, softening up his opponent.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Yusuke Nagano showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
That's time! Sanchez's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight. This is the final round!

Nagano darts in and lands a nice takedown into half guard.
Nagano lands with a punch from half guard.
Nagano stops Sanchez from getting back to his feet.
Nagano takes advantage of the dominant position to land a couple of big hammer fists.
Nagano scoring with strikes to the body and head.
Nagano is looking to pass the guard... He's managed it - he's now in full mount!
Nagano with shots to the head and body - Sanchez looks very uncomfortable down there.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Nagano controlling from mount.
Nagano won't let Sanchez get back to his feet... He wants to keep the fight where it is for now.
Nagano raining down hammerfists from mount.
Nagano lands a couple of good shots and Sanchez has given up his back, trying to escape the position!

That's one minute gone in the round.
What can Sanchez do to escape this position? He's going to have to figure it out pretty quick if he wants to stay in the fight!
Nagano lands a punch to the side of the head from the back.
Sanchez takes a big shot to the side of the head.
Sanchez is trying to get back to his feet but he's not managed it yet.
Sanchez is trying to remain composed but Nagano is hammering down strikes to the side of his head.
Sanchez is very frustrated here, being controlled quite effectively by Nagano.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Nagano is throwing punches to the body, looking to soften Sanchez up.
Nagano just keeping the dominant position. He can't wait too long though, otherwise the referee will stand them back up.
Nagano landing with strikes.
Nagano lands a punch that was close to the back of the head but the ref thinks it's OK.
Nagano scores with a nice shot to the head of his opponent. Sanchez is looking for a way out.
Nagano is looking to finish with some ground and pound!
Nagano lands a punch to the side of the head from the back.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Sanchez is trying to get back to his feet but he's not managed it yet.
Nagano lands with a big left hand that may well have hurt his opponent. Can Sanchez hold on?!
Nagano is looking to finish with some ground and pound!
Nagano throwing strikes from the back - he gets a warning from the referee for striking the back of the head but all these shots are hurting Sanchez!
Sanchez wants to get back to his feet.
Nagano is landing with strikes from the back.
Nagano lands a shot to the body.
Nagano throwing damaging strikes from the back! Sanchez could be in trouble here!
Nagano scores with punches to the body.
Nagano throwing damaging strikes from the back! Sanchez could be in trouble here!
Nagano controlling the position well here. Sanchez rolled but Nagano kept the hooks locked in and stayed in the dominant position.
Nagano is throwing strikes from the back here. Oh that last one was to the back of the head. Nagano gets a warning from the referee. He throws another strike to the back of the head straight away though and the referee has seen enough. He breaks up the two fighters and stands them back up. Nagano gets a real talking to here and is lucky not to get a point deducted. Nagano apologises and we restart here on the feet.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Sanchez throws a right hand that Nagano ducks under and follows up with a left that Nagano also avoids with ease.

A momentary lapse in concentration from Sanchez enables Nagano to shoot in and score with a neat double leg. Sanchez manages to secure a closed guard as the fighters hit the mat.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Nagano is intent on slowing down the pace of the fight, simply looking to control.
Nagano postures up and lands some nice ground and pound.
Nagano stands up over Sanchez, holding his feet. He dives back in and lands a decent shot to the head.
Nagano works a leg free and moves into half guard.
Nagano seems to be taking a bit of a break to think of his next move. He lands a short punch in the meantime.
Nagano perhaps working for something from half guard, or maybe not. It looks like he's just sitting there.
Nagano is continuing to stall.
Nagano scores with a couple of good hammerfists.

And that's the end of the fight!
Yusuke Nagano comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Nagano winning every round here. Surely the decision will go his way and he'll pick up a well deserved decision victory. 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 Roosa Järviläinen scores the fight for Yusuke Nagano!
Judge Matti Vanhoillinen scores the fight for Yusuke Nagano!
Judge Johanna Lukiainen scores the fight for Yusuke Nagano!

Yusuke Nagano wins by unanimous decision!
In his post fight interview, Yusuke Nagano started talking himself up. Luckily his charisma kept the crowd on side and gave him a good reception.