PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Daichi Kishimoto (ranked 858 p4p, 46 weight class) and Pinched Nerve (ranked 1864 p4p, 96 weight class). Both fighters really staring each other down here, as Pinched Nerve enters the cage!

Kishimoto
vs
Nerve

170 cm
20
145 lbs
6 - 1 - 0

176 cm
20
137 lbs
5 - 0 - 0

Abu Dhabi Champ
Counter fighter
Cardio machine

BJJ Purple Belt
Basic striking
Powerful

Freebok (85% Laundry)
Zenith Nutrition (160q/$200)

Sully's Bar & Grill
Forge Clothing Co.

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 5 rounds, for the bantamweight 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 Los Angeles, Daichi Kishimoto!
And introducing the challenger to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 5 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Pinched Nerve!
The judges for this bout are Ben Hemmingworth, Francis DeMontford and Donatello Bradman.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Kishimoto shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Nerve sprawls well. Nerve wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Kishimoto gets slowly back to his feet.

Kishimoto shoots in looking for a single leg takedown. Nerve is trying to defend but Kishimoto finishes it well and ends up in half guard. Let's see if he can advance position further.

Kishimoto is looking for a kimura but Nerve is holding onto that half guard position, so it's hard for Kishimoto to get the leverage.
Nerve controlling the position for now.
Nerve really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Kishimoto. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.
Kishimoto trying to control the pace.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Kishimoto not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.

Nerve is defending against the submission attempts here by Kishimoto.
Nerve trying to control but Kishimoto postures up.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Kishimoto is trying to work for a kimura but Nerve is defending well.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

Kishimoto looking for a kimura but he'll have to free his other leg if he wants to finish that. Perhaps he's just using it as a distraction technique.

Kishimoto is trying to work for a kimura but Nerve is defending well.

Kishimoto wants to work for an arm triangle but Nerve is really keeping half guard well and defending the submission attempt.

Kishimoto seems to be working for a kimura but Nerve defends the submission attempt.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
The referee walks around the fighters to get a better view of the action. Kishimoto lands a nice short elbow.
Kishimoto is pressing down on Nerve's thigh, looking to free his foot. Nerve is holding on for now.
Nerve has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Kishimoto is working away from the top position though.

Nerve is defending against the submission attempts here by Kishimoto.

Kishimoto seems to be looking for submissions.
Nerve felt the need to train up his defensive grappling in the buildup to the fight. Presumably he was expecting to be in a difficult position like this, so let's see if he can get out of it.
Nerve controlling the leg, holding on to half guard.
Kishimoto is keen to just control but Nerve is a slippery customer.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Kishimoto is working for a kimura but Nerve is defending it quite comfortably.
Nerve keeping control of the position.
Kishimoto is thwarting Nerve's attempts to control the position.
Kishimoto is keen to just control but Nerve is a slippery customer.

Kishimoto is trying for a guillotine from the top but the pressure isn't in the right place so Nerve is just riding it out for now. Kishimoto eventually gives up the hold.
Nerve keeping control of the leg, stopping his opponent passing to mount.
Nerve trying to control but Kishimoto postures up.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are getting on the fighters' backs, as the pace has dropped off in the last minute or so.
Kishimoto is keen to just control but Nerve is a slippery customer.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

Kishimoto seems to be working for a kimura but Nerve defends the submission attempt.

Kishimoto is looking for a kimura. It's going to be difficult to finish that from half guard though and Nerve defends it well.
Nerve trying to control but Kishimoto postures up.

Kishimoto seems to be working for a kimura but Nerve defends the submission attempt.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Nerve is trying to maintain the position but Kishimoto is very close to passing his half guard.
Nerve blocking the ground and pound attempt from Kishimoto.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Daichi Kishimoto dominated that round.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

Nerve misses the shot to the body.
Kishimoto attempts a counter takedown but Nerve avoids it well and moves away.
Kishimoto shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Nerve as he jumps to the side.
Kishimoto gets cracked there but stands up to it.
Nerve throws a poor cross that misses

and Kishimoto counters with a takedown into side control.
Nerve can't do much from the bottom here.
Nerve is trying to avoid being dragged into an even worse position than he's already in but Kishimoto is staying active.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Nerve prevents Kishimoto from moving into mount.

Kishimoto is looking for a kimura. He might have it! No, Nerve has escaped the position, nice work there.

Kishimoto tries for an arm triangle. That looks pretty tight to me. Is this one over!?! Possibly, maybe, no Kishimoto has let go of the choke. Obviously it wasn't as tight as we thought!

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kishimoto trying to control the position but Nerve is working away.
Nerve tries to get back to half guard but can't.
Kishimoto working away.

Kishimoto working hard here to secure a kimura but he's not really in the right position for it.
Nerve struggling a bit here.

Kishimoto tries for a kimura. Not really close to a finish though.

Kishimoto working hard here to secure a kimura but he's not really in the right position for it.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
There's not a lot going on here and the crowd are letting the fighters know they're not willing to tolerate a lack of action.
An elbow from Kishimoto crashes against the mat.
Nerve has one of Kishimoto's arms on lockdown, trying to prevent him from doing any damage.
Kishimoto in side control, throwing shots but Nerve defends.

Kishimoto tries for a kimura but Nerve is defending well.
Nerve wants to control but Kishimoto postures up.
Kishimoto throwing shots but missing, from side control.

Kishimoto swings around for an armbar but Nerve sees it coming a mile off and turns beautifully into Kishimoto's guard.
Kishimoto not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Nerve is a painfully thin specimen of a man. You do wonder whether a good body kick would snap him clean in two.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Nerve wants to control from the top but Kishimoto keeps moving.
Nerve stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Kishimoto swivels though and keeps the full guard.

Kishimoto looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
Nerve trying to control but Kishimoto is working from the bottom.
Nerve must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.

Kishimoto working for a triangle but Nerve defends it easily.

Kishimoto is looking for a triangle but Nerve pushes his legs off easily.

Kishimoto throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.

Kishimoto is active off his back here, looking for submissions.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Nerve wants to control from the top but Kishimoto keeps moving.
Nerve is stalling in the full guard.

Nerve is posturing up here but Kishimoto has hold of an arm and he's gone for an armbar! Nerve tries to roll out but it's too tight and Nerve has to tap! Slick submission there by Kishimoto!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 4:40 of round 2, we have a winner by way of Submission (Armbar). Daichi Kishimoto!
Daichi Kishimoto retains his bantamweight title!
During a confident post fight interview, Daichi Kishimoto thanked all his fans. He seemed very genuine when describing how motivated his fans keep him.