PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Shinnosuke Nakagawa (ranked 3108 p4p, 4231 weight class) and Rammaru Nokkau (ranked 447 p4p, 574 weight class). Nakagawa's ring entrance music is that housewives' favourite, Koto - CloZee. Nokkau has chosen When We Ride On Our Enemies as his entrance music. The key to victory for Shinnosuke Nakagawa has got to be keeping the fight on the feet.

Nakagawa
vs
Nokkau

190 cm
21
198
2 - 2 - 0

190 cm
22
190
5 - 6 - 0

Abu Dhabi Champ
Solid boxing
Cardio machine

Good wrestler
Brawler
Good gas tank

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the middleweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 2 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Shinnosuke Nakagawa!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 5 - 6 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Rammaru Nokkau!
The judges for this bout are John Kavanagh, Jonathan Paton and Bruno Lombardi.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Nakagawa goes for a double leg but Nokkau avoids the attempt and the two fighters end up clinched against the cage as Nokkau continues to drive forward.
Nakagawa avoiding damage as Nokkau throws knees to the body.
Nokkau misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Nokkau throws a punch but it's blocked by Nakagawa.

Nakagawa breaks from the clinch.
Nakagawa connects with a right hand. Nokkau shakes it off.
Nokkau swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.

Nakagawa looking for a takedown here - he's got it.

Nokkau scrambles and gets back to his feet.
Nakagawa cracks Nokkau with a good shot that sees him stumbling back into the cage.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Nokkau misses with a low kick as Nakagawa jumps back.
Nokkau misses with a few strikes there.
Nakagawa changes levels looking for a counter takedown but doesn't commit.
Nakagawa lands a lovely overhand right.
Nokkau misses with an uppercut. Nakagawa saw that one coming.
Nokkau throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Nokkau misses with a series of wild punches.
Nokkau on the wrong end of an overhand right that came out of nowhere.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Nakagawa will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
A punch combination from Nokkau misses.
Nakagawa lands a slapping body shot.
Nakagawa has a takedown stuffed.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Shinnosuke Nakagawa. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Nakagawa showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Nokkau.
Nakagawa steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Nokkau.
Nakagawa dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
Nakagawa moves away from the strike by Nokkau.
Nakagawa shoots in but Nokkau avoids the takedown attempt easily.
Nokkau connects with a jab.
Nakagawa scores with a decent looking hook.
Nokkau takes a hook to the side of the head. I wonder if that's got his ears ringing.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Nokkau dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
Nakagawa fakes a head punch and goes low to the body. Nicely done.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Nokkau fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Nakagawa manages to avoid it.
Nakagawa attempts a counter takedown but Nokkau avoids it well and moves away.
Nakagawa dodges the punch combination from Nokkau.
Nakagawa avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Nokkau takes one to the chin there.
Nakagawa dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
Nokkau with poor footwork there. He got himself in a bit of a tangle, enabling Nakagawa to score with a decent uppercut.
Nakagawa dodges the punch combination from Nokkau.
Nakagawa drops down looking for a counter takedown but Nokkau sprawls and moves away.

Nakagawa tries to sprawl but Nokkau drives through with a takedown into half guard.
Nakagawa is trying to maintain the position but Nokkau is very close to passing his half guard.
Nokkau tries to pass to full mount but Nakagawa defends it.
Nakagawa has improved his flexibility recently so we will have to see if he can use that to his advantage.
Nakagawa is looking to escape.
Nakagawa is looking to improve his position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Nakagawa is trying to maintain the position but Nokkau is very close to passing his half guard.
Nakagawa is trying to stand up here but Nokkau is controlling him well.
Nokkau is nestled in close to Nakagawa, controlling him well. He's worked in a nice elbow to the side of the head as well, for good measure.
Nakagawa works his way to full guard. Good work.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

Nakagawa looking for a triangle here. Nokkau is fighting it but it looks tight! Nakagawa pulls the arm across and this one won't last much longer! Nope, Nokkau is tapping out - this one is all over!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 3:42 of round 1, we have a winner by way of Submission (Triangle Choke). Shinnosuke Nakagawa!
Shinnosuke Nakagawa decided to go for the less than humble approach in his post fight interview, telling everyone how he is going to conquer the world. The crowd seemed to like it when really that sort of approach could have gone either way.