PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Shinnosuke Nakagawa (ranked 16 p4p, 70 weight class) and Barack Obaminator (ranked 2 p4p, 9 weight class). Nakagawa comes to the cage accompanied by Koto - CloZee. Obaminator has chosen Gil Scott-Herron - The Revolution Will Not Be Televised as his entrance music, which hasn't gone down very well with the crowd. The crowd giving both fighters a great reception on their way into the arena. That's good to see.

Nakagawa
vs
Obaminator

190 cm
31
190
21 - 8 - 0

186 cm
31
185
29 - 13 - 0

Great wrestler
World class MT
Insanely flexible

Excellent grappler
World class boxer
Granite chin

Conviction
Urban Fighter

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 21 - 8 - 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 29 - 13 - 0, fighting out of New York, Barack Obaminator!
The judges for this bout are Steven Brown, James Ackerman and Sam Margolis.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Obaminator takes a punch right to his stomach. That took the wind out of him momentarily.
Obaminator lands a slapping body shot.
Obaminator connects with a slap. Keep your fist closed son.
Obaminator jabs Nakagawa right on the nose. Nakagawa blinks but takes it well.
Obaminator throws a poor cross that misses

and Nakagawa decides to take the opportunity to score a takedown. He's landed in Obaminator's guard.
Nakagawa trying to control the position from guard on top but Obaminator is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
A real slowdown in the pace of the fight for a moment, as Obaminator holds on and takes a little breather.

Obaminator had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Nakagawa defends it easily.
Obaminator is trying to keep Nakagawa in close.
Nakagawa landing some decent shots from guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Nakagawa is sitting in guard, working some ground and pound.
Nakagawa slips effortlessly into side control - very nice.
Obaminator is working to avoid the ground and pound but Nakagawa connects with a decent elbow.
Nakagawa wants to control but Obaminator is keeping him busy.

Nakagawa is looking to finish here, going for an Americana. Obaminator knows the correct defense though, so he's OK.
Check out the look on Nakagawa's face as he threw that strike - that's one determined fighter!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Nakagawa working away.
Obaminator is looking to reverse the position.
Nakagawa working away.

Nakagawa wants to work for a kimura but he's foiled early by Obaminator, who protects the arm well.
Obaminator manages to get back to half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Nakagawa is looking for a kimura. It's going to be difficult to finish that from half guard though and Obaminator defends it well.
Obaminator is trying to maintain the position but Nakagawa is very close to passing his half guard.
Nakagawa is just sitting in half guard, waiting for something to happen.
Obaminator moves his hips nicely and gets into full guard.
Obaminator has momentary wrist control but Nakagawa slips an elbow through the middle.

That's four 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.

Obaminator throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.

Obaminator is looking for a triangle but Nakagawa pushes his legs off easily.

Nakagawa drops back looking for a leg! Obaminator is in trouble here! The fighters roll with the hold and Obaminator manages to kick Nakagawa off! Nakagawa jumps back into Obaminator's guard.
Nakagawa trying to control the position from guard on top but Obaminator is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Obaminator keeping full guard, as Nakagawa tries to pass.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Shinnosuke Nakagawa dominated that round.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

Nakagawa shoots in looking for a takedown. Obaminator tries to sprawl out of it but Nakagawa keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Obaminator manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
Obaminator doesn't fully commit to the body shot counter.
Obaminator takes a swing at Nakagawa's ribcage but misses.
Nakagawa moves out of range as Obaminator strikes.
Nakagawa tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Obaminator paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Oooooooooooh, not good. A low kick from Obaminator lands where it shouldn't have, right in the... well, you know what he did? He kicked him in the penis. He's injured, injured bad. The referee sends both fighters to their corners and Nakagawa has 5 minutes to recover. He's OK now though... a thumbs up from Nakagawa and we're back underway with a touch of gloves.
Nakagawa slips a straight right by Obaminator.
Obaminator throws a jab but it's blocked by Nakagawa.
Obaminator's corner calls for a 1-2. Obaminator obliges with the 1 part as he scores the single shot and moves back out of range.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Nakagawa gets the takedown into side control.

Nakagawa is looking for a kimura. He might have it! No, Obaminator has escaped the position, nice work there.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Obaminator tries to buck Nakagawa off but Nakagawa is having none of it.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Obaminator manages to work his way to half guard, despite Nakagawa's best efforts.
Nakagawa scoring with strikes to the body and head.
Obaminator makes his way to full guard. A much better position for Obaminator.

Obaminator has his foot on Nakagawa's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Nakagawa works his way back into a safe position though.
Obaminator is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Nakagawa slips effortlessly into side control - very nice.
Obaminator takes a couple of big shots there - the referee warns him that he has to defend himself better.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Nakagawa wants to lay and pray for a moment but Obaminator keeps working.
Obaminator is trying to get back to half guard. He's pushing on Nakagawa's leg. He's managed it. Nice work.

Nakagawa is trying for a guillotine from the top but the pressure isn't in the right place so Obaminator is just riding it out for now. Nakagawa eventually gives up the hold.
Well, if Nakagawa is going to just lie there, perhaps we should talk about what we're having for dinner tonight… I'm having a ham and pineapple pizza… Yum. Can't wait.
Nakagawa is trying to advance to mount but he's lost his balance and Obaminator reverses the position - he's now on top in Nakagawa's guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Nakagawa working a defensive guard but Obaminator manages to pass into side control anyway.

Obaminator working hard here to secure a kimura but he's not really in the right position for it.
Nakagawa tries to improve position but can't.
Nakagawa regains half guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A few boos can be heard. I'm sure they will multiply if the fighters don't pick up the pace.
Nakagawa makes his way to full guard. A much better position for Nakagawa.
Obaminator stays in close to Nakagawa's body and controls the position.
Nakagawa looking to hit a scissor sweep but Obaminator is one step ahead there.
Nakagawa being controlled here, momentarily.
Obaminator stopping the sweep attempt from Nakagawa.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Obaminator trying to control but Nakagawa is working from the bottom.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Barack Obaminator will probably get the nod - 10:9.
That's time! Back to the action!

Nakagawa misses the shot to the body.
Nakagawa blocks a head kick by Obaminator.
Nakagawa changes levels looking for a counter takedown but doesn't commit.
Obaminator misses with an uppercut.
Nakagawa connects with a hook to the side of his opponent's head.
Obaminator falls off balance throwing a combination

and Nakagawa counters with a shoot takedown. Obaminator fights it but they end up in guard.

Obaminator had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Nakagawa defends it easily.
Obaminator controls Nakagawa momentarily but Nakagawa frees himself.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Nakagawa forces his way into half guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Obaminator gets back to full guard.

Obaminator working for a triangle but Nakagawa defends it easily.

Obaminator working for submissions but it's allowed Nakagawa to get to half guard.

Nakagawa is trying to work for a kimura but Obaminator is defending well.

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.
Obaminator wants to control but Nakagawa is keeping busy.
Nakagawa is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Obaminator can do to turn this around?

Nakagawa 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.
Nakagawa lands with an elbow from half guard - that looked like it hurt.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Nakagawa wants to free his trapped foot but Obaminator is holding on for dear life with his legs.
Nakagawa passes to full mount!
A nice elbow there by Nakagawa.
Nakagawa landing shots from mount.
Obaminator wants to control but Nakagawa is having none of it.
Obaminator is looking to improve his position but Nakagawa isn't that keen on the idea.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Nakagawa lands a couple of good shots and Obaminator has given up his back, trying to escape the position!
Nakagawa is not going to allow Obaminator to sit and survive in this position.
Nakagawa scores with punches to the body.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!

Nakagawa is working on the RNC. He looks like he's got it but Obaminator won't tap... Oh, he's out! The ref rips Nakagawa off his unconscious opponent!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 4:56 of round 3, we have a winner by way of Submission (RNC). Shinnosuke Nakagawa!
Shinnosuke Nakagawa retains his middleweight title!
Shinnosuke Nakagawa seemed lost for words in his post fight interview but he remembered to thank his fans and directed everyone to his website.
The defeated Barack Obaminator had this to say: 'I'll be black'.