PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Aslak Maitonaama (ranked 1053 p4p, 1058 weight class) and Hideki Nakamura (ranked 143 p4p, 144 weight class). Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

Maitonaama
vs
Nakamura

185 cm
27
175
10 - 5 - 0

178 cm
26
170
10 - 3 - 0

Abu Dhabi Champ
Dangerous knees
Very quick

Good wrestler
Excellent MT
Granite chin

Voodoo Nutrition
Ma Balls Is Hot Clothing

Furnace Performance 🔥
Silverguard Outfitters 🛡

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the welterweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 10 - 5 - 0, fighting out of London, Aslak Maitonaama!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 10 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Hideki Nakamura!
The judges for this bout are Jack Bonds, Timothy Bukovac and Don Winkell.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Nakamura misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
A chopping leg kick lands by Nakamura.
Nakamura lands a body shot.
Nakamura throws a leg kick but Maitonaama checks it.
Maitonaama half commits to a counter takedown before pushing away, out of range.
Maitonaama takes one to the side of the head.
Hideki Nakamura seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

Maitonaama closes the distance and scores a nice trip takedown into half guard. Nakamura did well to prevent Maitonaama getting side control.
Nakamura is looking for a sweep. Maitonaama is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Nakamura is trying to control but can't.

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

Maitonaama is looking for a kimura but he's never going to get it from there.
Nakamura won't allow Maitonaama to pass to mount.
Maitonaama prevents Nakamura from improving his position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Nakamura won't allow Maitonaama to pass to mount.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Maitonaama is working hard here to advance position.
Maitonaama working over Nakamura with some ground and pound. Nakamura looks like he wants out of this position, which is understandable.

Maitonaama wants to work for an arm triangle but Nakamura is really keeping half guard well and defending the submission attempt.
Nakamura is looking to improve his position.
Nakamura is refusing to be controlled, as Maitonaama sits in half guard.

Maitonaama is looking for a kimura but he's never going to get it from there.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Neither fighter has done anything of merit for a good minute or two here and the crowd are not happy about it.
Nakamura slips a foot under and gets full guard. Nice work.
Nakamura looking for a sweep. Not yet Nakamura, not yet.
Maitonaama trying to control but Nakamura is working from the bottom.
Maitonaama is in a tricky position. We've heard reports from his gym mates at London Elite Gym that he's been drilling escapes, so let's see if he can get back to his feet.
Maitonaama controls the pace of the fight for a moment.
Nakamura keeping moving, preventing Maitonaama from controlling successfully.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Nakamura feints and then cracks Maitonaama's leading leg with a nice low kick. He's obviously looking to slow Maitonaama down.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Nakamura keeps his opponent at a distance with a nice jab.
Nakamura throws the left hand but Maitonaama avoids the punch easily.
The sound of bone on bone echoes around the arena as Maitonaama checks a leg kick.
Nakamura slips under a jab.

Maitonaama feints and then dives in with a takedown. That was a long way out but the feint bought him enough time to close the distance and complete the takedown. Now we'll play guard for a bit and see who can get the better of that position.
Nakamura looking to control.
The fighters are starting to get a bit slippery now, which will make submissions a bit more difficult.
Maitonaama throws a big elbow that misses.
Nakamura keeping moving, preventing Maitonaama from controlling successfully.
Nakamura pulls Maitonaama in close to prevent any damage.
Maitonaama trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Maitonaama throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Nakamura works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Maitonaama stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Nakamura swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Maitonaama stands and throws Nakamura's legs to the side, diving into side control.

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

Maitonaama tries for an arm triangle. That looks pretty tight to me. Is this one over!?! Possibly, maybe, no Maitonaama has let go of the choke. Obviously it wasn't as tight as we thought!
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Nakamura regains half guard.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close round but I would say that Aslak Maitonaama will probably get the nod.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

Nakamura connects with a solid leg kick.
Nakamura lands a nice looking kick to the body. Maitonaama takes a step back to recover.
Maitonaama shoots for a double leg takedown but Nakamura sprawls well. He's pushed Maitonaama's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
Maitonaama ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
Maitonaama tries to counter with a takedown but Nakamura is quick to defend against it.
Nakamura bobbing and weaving, closes the distance and lands a hook to the side of Maitonaama's head.
Nakamura missing with a left hand there. Maitonaama was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
Nakamura lands with a shot to the body.
Maitonaama will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
Nakamura connects with a leg kick.
Maitonaama shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Nakamura sprawls well. Nakamura wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Maitonaama gets slowly back to his feet.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Aslak Maitonaama. That's going to take a lot out of him.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Nakamura displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Maitonaama.
Nakamura throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Maitonaama attempts a counter takedown but Nakamura avoids it well and moves away.
Nakamura throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Nakamura wings a very wild body shot but it does the job and lands to the midsection.
Nakamura thows a left - swing and a miss!
Maitonaama attempts a counter takedown but Nakamura avoids it well and moves away.
Nakamura misses with a low kick.
An attempted straight right counter from Maitonaama misses the target.
Good shot there by Nakamura.
Nakamura misses with a looping right.
Maitonaama blocks the body kick.
Nakamura stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Nakamura wants it to stay on the feet.
Nakamura fakes a couple of low kicks, before throwing one on the third attempt. It connects and Maitonaama has to reset his feet before getting ready to engage.
Nakamura throws a nice outside leg kick.
Aslak Maitonaama is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Maitonaama misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.

Maitonaama bobs and weaves into range and then changes levels and scores with a nice takedown into side control.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!

Maitonaama is looking to finish here, going for an Americana. Nakamura knows the correct defense though, so he's OK.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Maitonaama working away.
Nakamura is trying to improve his position.
Maitonaama working away.
Maitonaama throws an elbow but Nakamura slips to the side and avoids it well.
Nakamura tries to buck Maitonaama off but Maitonaama is having none of it.
An elbow from Maitonaama crashes against the mat.

Maitonaama tries for a kimura. Not really close to a finish though.
Maitonaama is looking to take a break and control but Nakamura is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Aslak Maitonaama overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Maitonaama lands a decent elbow from side control.

Maitonaama tries for a kimura but Nakamura is defending well.
Maitonaama working away.
Nakamura is positioning himself to get back to half guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

Maitonaama is looking to finish here, going for an Americana. Nakamura knows the correct defense though, so he's OK.

That's four 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.
Nakamura can't do much from the bottom here.
Maitonaama looking to punish the body of his opponent here but Nakamura is avoiding damage well.
Nakamura tries to improve position but can't.
Maitonaama scoring with punches from side control.
Maitonaama in side control, throwing shots but Nakamura defends.
Nakamura taking punishment in the form of punches.
Nakamura is not content to let Maitonaama control the position.

Maitonaama thinks about going for a far side armbar but bails out and retains the dominant position instead.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Hideki Nakamura showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action! This is the final round!

Maitonaama throws a body kick that misses.
Maitonaama dives in for a single leg takedown but Nakamura sprawls and the fighters end up clinched against the cage.
Maitonaama is working for a takedown up against the cage. He can't get it on this occasion though.
Nakamura tries to work over Maitonaama's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
Maitonaama blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Nakamura trying to control the position but instead, Maitonaama has worked for underhooks and has pushed Nakamura into the cage.

Nakamura breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Nakamura works over Maitonaama's head and body with a nice combination.
Nakamura misses with an uppercut. Maitonaama saw that one coming.
Nakamura tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Maitonaama was well out of range. Poor timing from Nakamura.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Nakamura scores with a punch to the gut of his opponent.
Nakamura tries to score with a low kick but Maitonaama moves his leg out of the way.
Maitonaama attempts a counter takedown but Nakamura avoids it well and moves away.
Nakamura throws a leg kick that misses.
Maitonaama takes a punch to the jaw and another one to the bread basket.
Nakamura comes forward and lands a shot to the body, then darts back out of range.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Maitonaama looking for a takedown here - he's got it.
Maitonaama is standing up over Nakamura. Nakamura looks to escape but Maitonaama dives into side control.

Maitonaama lands a nice forearm strike.
Nakamura is moving his hips around well on the bottom and has managed to get back to half guard.
Maitonaama slips a nice elbow through Nakamura's hands, connecting with Nakamura's forehead.
Nakamura is trying to get back to full guard.
Nakamura wants to get back to full guard but Maitonaama has passed into side control.
Maitonaama trying to control the action but Nakamura is working from the bottom.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Maitonaama tries to land with some ground and pound but misses.

Maitonaama wants to work for a kimura but he's foiled early by Nakamura, who protects the arm well.
Maitonaama working away.

Maitonaama tries for a kimura but Nakamura is defending well.
Nakamura has one of Maitonaama's arms on lockdown, trying to prevent him from doing any damage.
Nakamura is working to avoid the ground and pound but Maitonaama connects with a decent elbow.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

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

Maitonaama wants to work for a kimura but he's foiled early by Nakamura, who protects the arm well.
I wouldn't like to be where Nakamura is right now.
Nakamura is trying to control Maitonaama's posture but Maitonaama avoids it.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.

Maitonaama is looking for a kimura. He might have it! No, Nakamura has escaped the position, nice work there.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
You can see the frustration on Nakamura's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.
I wouldn't like to be where Nakamura is right now.

And that's the end of the fight!
I would just about give that final round to Hideki Nakamura.
I think Nakamura has won this one but let's see whether the judges agree with me. 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 Jack Bonds scores the fight 28:29
Judge Timothy Bukovac scores the fight 28:29
Judge Don Winkell scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Hideki Nakamura!
Hideki Nakamura took to the microphone after his victory and thanked his sponsors, Furnace Performance 🔥 for their support in the buildup to the fight.