PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Shinnosuke Nakagawa (ranked 22 p4p, 58 weight class) and Sonny Giovanni (ranked 2 p4p, 6 weight class). Nakagawa comes to the cage accompanied by Koto - CloZee. Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

Nakagawa
vs
Giovanni

190 cm
31
190
23 - 9 - 0

189 cm
32
188
15 - 4 - 0

Abu Dhabi Champ
World class MT
Insanely flexible

Good wrestler
World class MT
Good gas tank

NARCOS
New Standard

Conquer
Conviction

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 5 rounds, for the middleweight championship of the world!
Introducing the champion to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 23 - 9 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Shinnosuke Nakagawa!
And introducing the challenger to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 15 - 4 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Sonny Giovanni!
The judges for this bout are Timothy Bukovac, Percy O'Donnell and Don Winkell.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Giovanni rushes Nakagawa and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.
Nakagawa misses with a punch to the body.
Giovanni struggles to land a body shot inside as Nakagawa controls his hands.
Giovanni lands on the inside with an uppercut.
Giovanni lands a right hand.
A shot in the inside from Nakagawa.

Nakagawa has clasped his hands together around Giovanni's back... aaand, he's got a takedown into side control. Nicely done.
Giovanni avoids any damage from the ground and pound of Nakagawa.
Nakagawa lands a decent elbow from side control.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Nakagawa lands a knee to the body and follows it up with some ground and pound to the head. That will wear Giovanni down.
Nakagawa working the ground and pound.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

Nakagawa working hard here to secure a kimura but he's not really in the right position for it.
Nakagawa trying to control the position but Giovanni is working away.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Giovanni struggling a bit here.
Nakagawa wants to control but Giovanni is keeping him busy.

Nakagawa tries for a kimura but Giovanni is defending well.
Nakagawa works a knee to the body and follows up with a nice elbow to the head.

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.
Giovanni is trying to get back to half guard.
Nakagawa wants to control but Giovanni is keeping him busy.
Nakagawa has been looking to land a fair amount of strikes on the ground. He might be looking to soften his opponent up in order to work for a submission.
Nakagawa sitting in side control, looking to soften his opponent up with elbows and hammerfists but Giovanni is avoiding damage well and looking to escape the position.
Nakagawa in side control lands a nice looking series of punches and elbows.
I wouldn't like to be where Giovanni is right now.
Nakagawa is chipping away with strikes.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Nakagawa wants to lay and pray for a moment but Giovanni keeps working.
Nakagawa working the ground and pound but Giovanni is defending the strikes.
Nakagawa wants to control but Giovanni is keeping him busy.
Giovanni is looking to regain half guard here but Nakagawa keeps moving and retains side control.
Nakagawa working away diligently from side control. Landing strikes effectively there - that will score him some points on the judges scorecards.
The fighters are starting to get a bit slippery now, which will make submissions a bit more difficult.
Nakagawa tries to land with some ground and pound but misses.

Giovanni throws his opponent off and manages to get back to his feet! Nicely done!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Nakagawa shakes his hands off, looking to compose himself, but takes a jab to the jaw whilst he does it.
Nakagawa tries for a takedown but Giovanni circles away easily
and Giovanni cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Giovanni pivots, looking for a leg kick but Nakagawa is out of range and Giovanni settles back down.
Nakagawa half commits to a counter takedown before pushing away, out of range.
An inside leg kick lands from Giovanni.
Giovanni swings away with a leg kick that misses.
Nakagawa attempts a counter takedown but Giovanni avoids it well and moves away.
Nakagawa shoots for a double leg takedown but Giovanni sprawls well. He's pushed Nakagawa's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
Nakagawa fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Giovanni avoids it really well and circles away.
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 Shinnosuke Nakagawa will probably get the nod.
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.

Ooooh, nice body kick lands from Giovanni. Nakagawa shrugs it off though.
Giovanni misses with a looping left.

Nakagawa feints and as Giovanni raises his hands in defense, Nakagawa changes levels and drives through with a takedown into guard.
Giovanni wants to stand up but Nakagawa is controlling him.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Giovanni is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Nakagawa throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Nakagawa throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Giovanni works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Nakagawa accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Giovanni keeping moving, preventing Nakagawa from controlling successfully.
The referee is pacing around the two fighters, thinking about a standup.
Nakagawa wants to pass the guard but Giovanni is keeping the position.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up.
Nakagawa shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Giovanni as he jumps to the side.
Nakagawa wants to clinch
and Giovanni counters with a nice uppercut.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Nakagawa takes a swing at Giovanni's ribcage but misses.
Giovanni looks to score with a jab to the body but Nakagawa is just out of range.
Nakagawa is trying to close the distance and clinch up, after that failed offence from Giovanni.
Nakagawa ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Giovanni moves away.
Giovanni was about to counter that last move with a leg kick but changes his mind.
Nakagawa shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Giovanni defends it nicely.
Nakagawa shoots for a double leg takedown but Giovanni sprawls well. He's pushed Nakagawa's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Shinnosuke Nakagawa. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Giovanni wants to clinch.
Both fighters are looking to counter, which isn't making for the most exciting fight in the world.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Nakagawa fakes a strike and closes the distance, dragging Giovanni to the ground. Nakagawa is now in Giovanni's guard.
Giovanni avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Nakagawa distracts Giovanni with his right hand and drops a big elbow with his other arm.
Nakagawa is fighting to break Giovanni's control of his arms but Giovanni is doing a good job of controlling the position at the moment.
Nakagawa advances to half guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Nakagawa thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.
Nakagawa working over Giovanni with some ground and pound. Giovanni looks like he wants out of this position, which is understandable.
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. Nakagawa connects with a nice short shot to Giovanni's temple.
Shinnosuke Nakagawa overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Nakagawa is thwarting Giovanni's attempts to control the position.
Nakagawa wants to lay and pray for a moment but Giovanni keeps working.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Shinnosuke Nakagawa dominated that second round.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin!

Giovanni throws a lazy uppercut

and Nakagawa counters with a shoot takedown. Giovanni fights it but they end up in guard.
Giovanni is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Nakagawa scores with a decent looking elbow strike.
Giovanni keeping moving, preventing Nakagawa from controlling successfully.

Nakagawa thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Nakagawa trying to control the position from guard on top but Giovanni is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Nakagawa looking to pass the guard.
Nakagawa working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Giovanni keeping moving, preventing Nakagawa from controlling successfully.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up.
Nakagawa dips down and scores with a jab to the body.

Giovanni moves into the clinch.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Nakagawa tries to work over Giovanni's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
Nakagawa tries to score a body lock takedown but Giovanni shows good agility there to stay on his feet.
Giovanni misses with a hook to the ribs.
Nakagawa jumps guard but Giovanni stands there with Nakagawa around his waist. Nakagawa gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.
Giovanni tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Nice body punch from Nakagawa.
Nakagawa wants to take the fight to the mat but Giovanni manages to get underhooks and keep the fight in the clinch.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Shinnosuke Nakagawa. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Nakagawa has dropped down and is looking to force the takedown but it's defended by Giovanni after a bit of a struggle.
Giovanni stops a takedown attempt from Nakagawa.
Giovanni tries to work over Nakagawa's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
Knees to the body from Giovanni.
Giovanni is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Nakagawa is defending well for now.
Nakagawa misses with a hook to the ribs.
Giovanni can't find room to land a body shot as Nakagawa controls the action.
Giovanni scores with an uppercut up the middle.
Nakagawa jumps guard but Giovanni stands there with Nakagawa around his waist. Nakagawa gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.
A right hook to the body lands for Giovanni.
Knees in the clinch landing for Giovanni.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Nakagawa blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
Giovanni tries to land knees in the clinch but Nakagawa avoids the damage to the body.
Giovanni misses with a punch to the body.
Giovanni lands a left hand that snaps the head of Nakagawa backwards.
Giovanni throws a head punch that misses.
Giovanni tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Nakagawa's elbow.
Nakagawa is working for takedown but Giovanni is calmly controlling the position for now.
Nakagawa lands a shoulder strike.
Nakagawa doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Giovanni tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Giovanni doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Nakagawa lands a nice uppercut.
Giovanni blocks an uppercut.
Nakagawa goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Giovanni swings wildly with an uppercut but Nakagawa uses good head movement to avoid it.
Nakagawa can't get the takedown.
Giovanni lands a right hand.
Nakagawa lands a nice uppercut.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Nakagawa.
Giovanni lands a body shot.
Nakagawa blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Giovanni is leaning against Nakagawa and scores with a nice uppercut to the body.
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!
Nakagawa blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Nakagawa misses with some punches.
Giovanni scores with a nice hook to the head.
Giovanni misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Giovanni is working Nakagawa over against the cage.
Nakagawa goes for a takedown attempt but Giovanni pushes him away and we're back to fighting at a distance.
Nakagawa looks to have improved his striking defense since last time we saw him fight.
A lazy body kick from Giovanni

and Nakagawa decides to take the opportunity to score a takedown. He's landed in Giovanni's guard.
Giovanni is doing well to control the posture of his opponent and prevent any damage.
Nakagawa forces his way into half guard.
Nakagawa wants to pass to mount but Giovanni is defending the position.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Sonny Giovanni really dominated that round.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin!

Giovanni defending well as Nakagawa loads up on a big left hand.
Giovanni follows through with a counter body kick but it doesn't land.
Nakagawa tries to check a leg kick but that clearly hurt him.
Nice defenses there by Nakagawa.
Nakagawa tries to counter by moving into the clinch but Giovanni manages to circle out of the way.
Nakagawa wants to clinch.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Giovanni keeps the fight on the outside.
Nakagawa tries to close the distance and clinch but Giovanni swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Giovanni tries a quick counter leg kick but Nakagawa is wise to it.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Nakagawa tries to close the distance and clinch up but Giovanni swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Nakagawa takes a step towards his opponent and connects with a left hand, before circling away.
Nakagawa ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
Nakagawa changes levels and scores with a jab to the body.
Nakagawa tries to clinch but Giovanni moves out of range.
Nakagawa throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Giovanni's waist but Giovanni gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Nakagawa off to one side.
Nakagawa thows a left - swing and a miss!
Giovanni scores with the left hand. Nakagawa knows he should have avoided that one.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Giovanni throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Nakagawa avoids the body shot from Giovanni.
Sonny Giovanni is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Nakagawa misses with a takedown attempt - Giovanni sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
Giovanni leaves Nakagawa with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Shinnosuke Nakagawa. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Giovanni tries to score with a leg kick but it misses it's target.
Giovanni has his hands up protecting his head but a hook from Nakagawa finds it's way round the side to connect with Giovanni's head.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Giovanni wants to clinch.
Nakagawa with a lazy takedown attempt
and Giovanni counters with a lovely straight right hand!
A jab from Giovanni misses.
Giovanni's jab looks to have found its range, popping Nakagawa under the eye.
Giovanni throws a big shot that misses.
Sonny Giovanni seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Nakagawa shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The sound of bone on bone echoes around the arena as Nakagawa checks a leg kick.
Giovanni throws the left hand but Nakagawa avoids the punch easily.
Giovanni ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Nakagawa moves away.
Donk. Nakagawa catches Giovanni right on the button with a cross.
Nakagawa throws a body shot but no joy.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Nakagawa jabs at Giovanni's body.
Nakagawa bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Sonny Giovanni dominated that fourth round.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action! Let's hear some noise people - this is the final round!

Giovanni keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
Nakagawa fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
Giovanni throws out a counter right but Nakagawa avoids it with no problem.
Nakagawa swinging wildly here.
Giovanni looks to throw the jab but Nakagawa is out of range.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Giovanni gets caught flat footed, as Nakagawa shoots in with a quick takedown into guard.
Giovanni keeping moving, preventing Nakagawa from controlling successfully.

That's one minute gone in the round.
A real slowdown in the pace of the fight for a moment, as Giovanni holds on and takes a little breather.
Nakagawa stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Giovanni swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Nakagawa throwing strikes but missing.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.

Giovanni scrambles and gets back to his feet.
Giovanni tries a low kick but Nakagawa avoids it.

Nakagawa clinches with his opponent.
Nakagawa blocking some punches.
Giovanni lands a left hand.
Giovanni lands an uppercut.
Giovanni lands a nice looking hook to the body, against the cage.
Nakagawa tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Nakagawa.
Nakagawa blocks a body shot from Giovanni.
Giovanni tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
A right hand to the body from Giovanni.
A body shot lands from Nakagawa.
Sonny Giovanni seems to be working more effectively in the clinch in the fight so far.
Giovanni tries a body shot but Nakagawa blocks it.
Nakagawa managing to block the knees to the body from Giovanni.
Nakagawa misses with a punch on the inside.
Nakagawa misses with some punches.
Giovanni misses with a punch to the body.
Nakagawa misses with a hook from the clinch.
Giovanni tries a body shot but Nakagawa blocks it.
Giovanni cracks Nakagawa with a nice body shot.
Nakagawa misses with a hook to the ribs.
Nakagawa tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Giovanni's elbow.
Giovanni tries to work over Nakagawa's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
Nakagawa misses with a punch to the body.
Giovanni lands a nice looking hook to the body, against the cage.
Both of our modern day gladiators look out of it here - a gruelling 5 rounds of action taking it's toll on them, no doubt.
A short body shot lands from Giovanni as the two fighters clinch.
Giovanni missing with knees to the body.
Giovanni goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
A right hand to the body from Giovanni.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Giovanni lands a nice shot to the body.
Knees in the clinch landing for Giovanni.
Giovanni lands with a short punch from the clinch.
Giovanni scores with a shoulder strike.
Giovanni misses with a hook from the clinch.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Giovanni blocks a body shot from Nakagawa.
Still in the clinch, Giovanni scores with a nice short uppercut.
Giovanni misses with the head strike.
Nakagawa goes for a body shot but it's blocked.

Nakagawa jumps guard.
Giovanni passes easily into side control. Nice work.
Nakagawa is looking for a sweep.
A lull in the action here.

And that's the end of the fight!
Sonny Giovanni comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Giovanni 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 5 rounds of action, we go to the scorecards for a decision.
Judge Timothy Bukovac scores the fight 47:48
Judge Percy O'Donnell scores the fight 46:49
Judge Don Winkell scores the fight 46:49

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Sonny Giovanni!
Sonny Giovanni is the new middleweight champion!
Sonny Giovanni thanked the fans post fight for their support.