PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Shinko Naragami (ranked 4545 p4p, 4530 weight class) and Zigor Azarola (ranked 412 p4p, 0 weight class). We have two fighters making their debuts here, so let's see who comes out of this one with their first professional victory.

Naragami
vs
Azarola

178 cm
24
147
0 - 0 - 0

160 cm
18
144
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Excellent MT
Big right hand

BJJ White Belt
Excellent MT
Solid chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the bantamweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Shinko Naragami!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Zigor Azarola!
The judges for this bout are Kenichi Hosakawa, Shigeki Fujiwara and Taro Takaoka.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Naragami lands a jab to the head.
Naragami scores with a nice right hand.
Azarola tries a head kick but it misses.
Azarola scores with a kick to the midsection.
Azarola gets cracked there but stands up to it.
Shinko Naragami seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Naragami scores with a punch to the head.
Naragami scores to the head and body with a nice combination!
Naragami swings for the body but Azarola moves out of range.
Azarola lands with a nice body kick.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Naragami connects with a crisp jab.
A lazy left from Naragami finds it's target.
Azarola misses the jab.
Nice cross by Naragami.
Azarola throws a low kick but his opponent is out of range.
Naragami is using his height advantage well here, landing a good percentage of his punches.
Naragami lands a jab to the nose.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Naragami lands an overhand left. A wild punch that just about connected.
Azarola lands a leg kick that knocks Naragami off balance momentarily.
Azarola closes the distance and takes a jab right on the nose as he does so.
Azarola throws a lazy head kick
and Naragami connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Azarola takes one on the button.
Naragami tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. Azarola manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Naragami connects with a single shot there.
Naragami lands a nice looking body shot.
Naragami uses good footwork to get in and out, landing a nice hook.
Azarola closes the distance and takes a jab right on the nose as he does so.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Naragami thuds his right hand into Azarola's forehead from close range. That could be painful for both fighters.
Azarola shakes his hands off, looking to compose himself, but takes a jab to the jaw whilst he does it.
Naragami scores with a hook to the body. Azarola takes a step back and tries to catch his breath.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Azarola swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
Azarola throws a hook but Naragami blocks it.
Naragami was looking to counter that move with a punch but didn't quite pull the trigger.
Azarola throws a big shot that misses.
Azarola misses with a hook
and Naragami counters with a nice jab to the body that keeps Azarola thinking.
Naragami lands with a two punch combination before moving back out of range.
Azarola throws a body kick but he was well out of range there.
Azarola misses with a body punch
and Naragami counters nicely by changing levels and landing a hook to the body.
Naragami cracks a nice hook into Azarola's ribs.
Naragami closes the distance and lands a one-two.
Azarola takes one to the chin there.
Naragami bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
As Azarola tries to get set, Naragami tries to push him back and clinch up but Azarola manages to avoid the attempt.
Naragami checks a low kick from Azarola.
Naragami throws a combination. Azarola tries to block but a couple of punches get through.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Naragami connects nicely with a jab. Noted by the judges no doubt.
Azarola avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Azarola misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Naragami fails with an attempt to clinch.
Naragami doesn't manage to clinch there - Azarola circles away.
Naragami dips to his left and cracks Azarola with an uppercut!
Azarola misses with an uppercut. Naragami saw that one coming.
An inside leg kick lands from Azarola.
Naragami dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
Naragami blocks a leg kick.
Naragami lands a nice shot to the body.
Naragami slips in close and lands a nice hook before moving back out of range.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
No joy there for Naragami, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Naragami checks the leg kick.
Azarola throws a leg kick which misses Naragami's front leg but catches the back leg as Naragami tries to avoid it.
Naragami changes levels and scores with a jab to the body.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Naragami bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
Naragami tries to counter by clinching up but Azarola breaks away and moves out of range.
Naragami throws a couple of head shots and lands with the final one - a decent hook, which struck Azarola on the side of the head.
Naragami works the jab nicely.
Naragami clobbers Azarola with an overhand right that has the crowd gasping. That made a horrendous noise.
Azarola misses with a head kick.
Naragami slips a jab from Azarola.
The crowd applaud the fighters' efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Naragami tries to close the distance and clinch up but Azarola swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Azarola follows through with a counter body kick but it doesn't land.
The crowd cheers as Naragami lands an impressive looking overhand right. Azarola doesn't seem phased though.
Naragami lands a body shot.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Shinko Naragami dominated that round.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare each other down, ready to get back to the action.

Naragami tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Azarola misses with a head kick.
Naragami scores with a one two! Azarola had his feet all tangled up there and couldn't avoid the strikes.
Azarola takes a jab on the nose there. A little bit of blood seems to be coming out. Hopefully that won't affect his breathing.
Naragami keeps his opponent at a distance with a nice jab.
Azarola with a nice calf kick.
Naragami dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
Naragami jabs at Azarola's body.
Naragami works over Azarola's head and body with a nice combination.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Azarola tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Azarola is really struggling to land any decent head shots against his taller opponent.
Naragami moving in and out of range nicely, whilst landing the scoring shot.
Naragami is using his reach advantage well here, landing the more effective single shots from range.
Naragami jabs Azarola right on the nose. Azarola blinks but takes it well.
Azarola keeps the fight on the outside.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Azarola is looking to slow Naragami down with leg kicks.
Naragami goes to the watering hole and comes back with a big thumbs up from the judges as he scores a three punch combo.
Naragami is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Azarola can do to turn this around?
Azarola on the wrong end of a vicious looking body shot.
Azarola looks to land a right hand but Naragami moved out of range.
An inside leg kick lands from Azarola.
Naragami moves out of range as Azarola strikes.
Azarola has a pretty nasty looking mouse under his right eye.
Azarola looks shocked there as he takes a right hand to the temple.
Azarola with a hook.
Naragami throws a jab to the body, straight down the pipe. Boom. That sent Azarola stumbling backwards but he manages to regain his composure quickly.
Azarola walks into a straight right hand from Naragami.
Naragami scores with a hook to the body. Azarola takes a step back and tries to catch his breath.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Azarola avoids the clinch attempt nicely.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Naragami lands a head shot.
Naragami cracks Azarola with a good shot that sees him stumbling back into the cage.
Azarola throws a jab but it's blocked by Naragami.
Azarola scores with a jab to the head.
Naragami is looking to clinch.
Azarola takes a body punch but keeps moving.
Naragami feints a straight left to the body, then turns around with a flashy move and hits Azarolas jaw with a dramatic spinning back fist!
Azarola ducks right into an uppercut from Naragami.
A telegraphed right hand from Azarola misses the target.
It looked like Naragami wanted to counter with a hook but didn't fully commit.
Azarola drops his hands and takes a jab to the jaw for his troubles.
Azarola throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Sloppy strikes from Naragami. Those never looked like landing.
A little jabbing left from Azarola on the counter but it doesn't find it's target.
Azarola moves forwards but Naragami connects with a nice, crisp jab.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Azarola throws a leg kick
and Naragami counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
Naragami lands a nice shot that snaps Azarola's head back.
Azarola has his hands up protecting his head but a hook from Naragami finds it's way round the side to connect with Azarola's head.
Naragami scores with a hook to the body. Azarola takes a step back and tries to catch his breath.
Azarola is looking to chop away at Naragami's legs.
Azarola walks into a stiff left hand from Naragami.
Naragami sizes up Azarola with a pawing jab and scores with a straight right down the middle.
A jab lands there for Naragami.
A left lands for Naragami.
Azarola takes a jab right on the nose. That must have hurt but he shrugs his shoulders and looks to return the favor.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Azarola throws a half hearted mid kick.
Naragami moves into range and throws a combination. A nice jab followed by a hook to the body.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Azarola closes the distance and takes a jab right on the nose as he does so.
Naragami moves into range and throws a combination. A nice jab followed by a hook to the body.
Azarola looks for the body kick but Naragami saw that one coming.
Naragami works over Azarola's head and body with a nice combination.
Naragami connects with a body shot.
Azarola takes one on the button.
Azarola on the wrong end of a nice hook.
Naragami lands a nice hook to Azarola's body. Azarola takes it in his stride and looks to land his own strikes.
Azarola on the wrong end of an overhand right that came out of nowhere.
The crowd applaud the fighters' efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Naragami lands with a nice body punch.
Azarola swings widly with a right hand
and Naragami cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Azarola moves his head to the side to avoid a jab but walks straight into a cross.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Shinko Naragami dominated that second round.
That's the end of the interval. I'm sure that seemed a lot quicker than a minute for our two fighters! Back to the action. Let's hear some noise people - this is the final round!

Naragami getting the better of the striking in that exchange.
Azarola has his head snapped back a nice jab. A little nod from Azarola there as he acknowledges the shot.
Azarola walks straight into an uppercut. Luckily it didn't land flush.
Naragami cracks Azarola with a nice right hand that draws applause from the crowd.
Naragami doesn't manage to clinch there - Azarola circles away.
Azarola walks forward and throws out a flicking leg kick. Naragami checks it nicely though, as he moves to the side.
Naragami moves into range and throws a lovely three punch combination.
Naragami uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Azarola.
Naragami connects with a looping left hand that seems like it dazed Azarola momentarily.
A punch lands to the side of Azarola 's head but he takes it in his stride.
Naragami tries to clinch there but Azarola circles away.
Naragami lands a two punch combo.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Naragami connects nicely with a jab. Noted by the judges no doubt.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Naragami scores with a decent looking hook.
Azarola throws a leg kick but Naragami checks it.
Naragami scores to the head and body with a nice combination!
Shinko Naragami is winning the standup battle so far.
Azarola throws a poor cross that misses
and Naragami counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
Naragami tries to clinch up but Azarola circles away and keeps his distance.
Azarola connects with a leg kick. He turned his hip over nicely there.
Naragami lands a really nice looking cross but Azarola seems unphased.
Naragami checks a low kick from Azarola.
Azarola avoids the body shot from Naragami.
Azarola looked like he wanted to counter with a punch but didn't throw it.
A right-left combo lands from Naragami.
Azarola throws a body kick but he was well out of range there.
Naragami scores with a nice head shot.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Azarola jabbing away but nothing is landing.
A jab lands there for Naragami.
Naragami throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Azarola throws out a counter right but Naragami avoids it with no problem.
Naragami with a jab.
Naragami digs a good body shot into Azarola's ribs.
Naragami displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Azarola throws out the jab.
Naragami cracks Azarola with a nice right hand that draws applause from the crowd.
Naragami lands a lovely overhand right.
Azarola avoids the body shot from Naragami.
Azarola replies with a solid counter kick to the body but Naragami blocks it well.
Azarola bobbing and weaving, closes the distance and lands a hook to the side of Naragami's head.
Naragami digs a good hook to Azarola's body.
Azarola swings for the body but Naragami moves out of range.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Azarola gets off balance looking for a body kick
and Naragami counters with a right hand to the body.
Naragami connects with a nice looking jab.
Naragami scores with a nice right hand.
Naragami scores with a nice looking left hook and follows it up with an uppercut!
Azarola throws a jab when Naragami was well out of range.
Naragami scores with a jab.
Naragami moves into range and throws a combination. A nice jab followed by a hook to the body.
Azarola gets cracked with a nice right hand there by Naragami.
Naragami paws at his opponent with the jab and then lunges in with a straight, right on the button.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Azarola avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Naragami is working the combinations to good effect here.
Azarola takes a punch to the jaw and another one to the bread basket.
A clash of legs there as Naragami blocks the low kick.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Naragami slips a straight right by Azarola.
Naragami moves away from the strike by Azarola.
Good exchange - Naragami coming out on top.
Naragami lands a lovely overhand right.
Azarola has his head snapped back a nice jab. A little nod from Azarola there as he acknowledges the shot.
Azarola slips a jab from Naragami.
Naragami cracks Azarola with an open hand slap.
Azarola's hands are dropping dangerously low here and Naragami connects clean with a right hook that sends him down to one knee! Azarola scrambles back to his feet.
Azarola moves his head to the side to avoid a jab but walks straight into a cross.
The crowd applaud the fighters' efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Naragami with a hook.
Naragami loads up on a big right hand but Azarola slips the punch.
Zigor Azarola has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Shinko Naragami is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Naragami dips down and scores with a jab to the body.

And that's the end of the fight!
Shinko Naragami showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Naragami has outscored his opponent in every aspect of the fight today. Only a scarily incompetent judge or two will keep him from a well deserved win... 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 Kenichi Hosakawa scores the fight 30:27
Judge Shigeki Fujiwara scores the fight 30:27
Judge Taro Takaoka scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Shinko Naragami!