PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Sonny Giovanni (ranked 11 p4p, 54 weight class) and Shinnosuke Nakagawa (ranked 1 p4p, 7 weight class). Nakagawa is bobbing his head along to his entrance song: Koto - CloZee. I don't know about you partner, but I'm pumped for this one!

Giovanni
vs
Nakagawa

189 cm
32
188
17 - 4 - 0

190 cm
31
190
24 - 10 - 0

Good wrestling
World class boxer
Cardio machine

Excellent grappler
World class MT
Good gas tank

Conquer
Conviction

NARCOS
New Standard

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 17 - 4 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Sonny Giovanni!
And introducing the challenger to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 24 - 10 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Shinnosuke Nakagawa!
The judges for this bout are James Atkins, Andrew Berry and Colin Fotheringham.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Nakagawa ducks under a wild hook from Giovanni.
Giovanni misses the jab.
A jab from Giovanni misses.
A looping hook to the body misses from Giovanni. Nakagawa does a little dance to reset his feet.
Nakagawa has been working on his striking defense in training and it's paying off as Giovanni is landing a low percentage of strikes.
The sound of bone on bone echoes around the arena as Nakagawa checks a leg kick.
Giovanni throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Nakagawa looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
Nakagawa avoids the body shot from Giovanni.
Giovanni wants to land a leg kick but Nakagawa is out of range.
Nakagawa is definitely looking for the counter takedowns here.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Giovanni clinches up with Nakagawa and pushes him back against the cage.
Nakagawa works for underhooks and lands a body shot in the process.
Giovanni swings wildly with an uppercut but Nakagawa uses good head movement to avoid it.
Giovanni throws a punch but it's blocked by Nakagawa.
Giovanni lands a left hand that snaps the head of Nakagawa backwards.
Giovanni misses with a body punch.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Nakagawa misses with a punch to the body.
Nakagawa tries for a takedown but Giovanni manages to get underhooks.
Nakagawa fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Nakagawa tries to work over Giovanni's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
Giovanni trying to land knees to the body.

Nakagawa is working on a single leg takedown against the cage. Giovanni can't fight it off and eventually Nakagawa manages to take the fight to the floor. Giovanni looks annoyed but at least he's managed to land in guard.
Nakagawa trying to control but Giovanni is working from the bottom.
Giovanni working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Nakagawa.
Giovanni looking to control the pace of the fight rather than finish it.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Nakagawa trying to control the position from guard on top but Giovanni is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
A real slowdown in the pace of the fight for a moment, as Giovanni holds on and takes a little breather.
Nakagawa pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Giovanni is keeping the position for now.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.
Nakagawa tries to drive through with a takedown attempt but Giovanni defends well and Nakagawa ends up having to push Giovanni into the cage where they will battle it out in the clinch.
Giovanni was looking to counter that move with a punch but didn't quite pull the trigger.
Sonny Giovanni has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Shinnosuke Nakagawa.
Nakagawa changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Giovanni tries to avoid it but Nakagawa manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Giovanni to the ground. Giovanni escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Giovanni attempts a leg kick but it's missed by a good margin.
Giovanni tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. Nakagawa manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Nakagawa changes levels for a counter takedown but doesn't follow through with his attempt.
Nakagawa checks the leg kick nicely there.
Nakagawa tries a counter takedown but it's more of a dummy move, and he uses it to push himself away.
Giovanni fails with an attempt to clinch.
Sonny Giovanni is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Nakagawa slips a jab from Giovanni.
Nakagawa throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Giovanni lands a nice shot that snaps Nakagawa's head back.
Nakagawa lands the left hand.
Giovanni throws a hook but Nakagawa blocks it.
Nice takedown defense from Giovanni. No joy for Nakagawa on that attempt.
Good work by Nakagawa as he checks the leg kick.
Nakagawa feints the counter takedown.
Giovanni is looking to clinch but Nakagawa is avoiding it.
A bone on bone clash there as Nakagawa blocks the leg kick.
Nakagawa changes levels for a counter takedown but doesn't follow through with his attempt.
Nakagawa lands a nice hook to Giovanni's body. Giovanni takes it in his stride and looks to land his own strikes.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Nakagawa uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Giovanni.
Giovanni with poor footwork there. He got himself in a bit of a tangle, enabling Nakagawa to score with a decent uppercut.
We've been told by Giovanni's head coaches at Convicted Top Team that he's been working on his takedown defense in preparation for this fight.
Giovanni throws a leg kick but Nakagawa sees it coming and checks it nicely.
A shot to the liver by Nakagawa. Beautiful body shot.
Nakagawa stumbles momentarily as he takes a strong leg kick from Giovanni.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Nakagawa connects with a nice looking jab.
Sonny Giovanni seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Giovanni moves into range and lands a nice leg kick.
A slow jab from Giovanni misses its intended target.
Nakagawa feints the counter takedown.
Giovanni ducks under a wild hook from Nakagawa.
Nice defenses there by Nakagawa.
Nakagawa with the counter takedown but Giovanni avoids it easily.
Nakagawa doesn't react quick enough there as he takes a shot to the body.
Nakagawa tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Giovanni swivels and escapes.
A lazy left from Giovanni finds it's target.
Giovanni throws a lazy right hand but Nakagawa sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Sonny Giovanni dominated that round.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

Giovanni stuns Nakagawa with a nice body shot, before stepping back out of range.
A good leg kick by Giovanni.
Nakagawa doesn't react quick enough there as he takes a shot to the body.
Giovanni throws a body kick that sends a sickening thudding noise reverberating around the arena.
Giovanni tries to close the distance and clinch up but Nakagawa swats him away and circles back towards the center.
A slow jab from Giovanni misses its intended target.
And Nakagawa tries to counter it with a takedown but Giovanni pushes his down on his head and steps out.
Giovanni is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Nakagawa can do to turn this around?
Nakagawa blocks a jab.
Giovanni tries to clinch up.
A swing and a miss from Nakagawa.
Nakagawa tries to clinch but Giovanni moves out of range.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Giovanni cracks Nakagawa with an open hand slap.
Giovanni misses with a straight left.
Giovanni is looking to clinch but Nakagawa is avoiding it.
Nakagawa shoots in and drives through. Giovanni sprawls well.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Giovanni darts in and out, connecting with a jab.
Giovanni finds nothing but air with that leg kick attempt.
Giovanni is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Nakagawa.
Nakagawa checks a leg kick.
An inside leg kick from Giovanni misses.
Giovanni misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Nakagawa.
Nakagawa changes levels for a counter takedown but doesn't follow through with his attempt.
Nakagawa throws a jab to the body, straight down the pipe. Boom. That sent Giovanni stumbling backwards but he manages to regain his composure quickly.
Nakagawa takes a swing at Giovanni's ribcage but misses.
Giovanni misses with a body shot.
Giovanni's jab looks to have found its range, popping Nakagawa under the eye.
Giovanni tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. Nakagawa manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Nakagawa gets his head snapped back by a nice shot there.

The fight moves into the clinch position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Nakagawa swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Nakagawa wants a takedown but no success here.
Nakagawa tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. Giovanni smiles and moves away.
Sonny Giovanni has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Shinnosuke Nakagawa.
Nakagawa keeping at a good range here, avoiding a leg kick.
Nakagawa takes a shot to the nose. Hopefully that hasn't broken it.
Giovanni misses with a kick to the body.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Nakagawa tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. Giovanni manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Giovanni works the jab nicely.
Giovanni thows a left - swing and a miss!
Nakagawa tries to counter by closing the distance.
Nakagawa tries to clinch but fails miserably
and Giovanni counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.

Nakagawa closes the distance and pushes Giovanni back into the cage.
Nakagawa digs a right hand underneath Giovanni's ribcage. Giovanni let out a lung full of air as it connected.
A right hook to the body lands for Giovanni.
Giovanni scores with a shoulder strike.
A head punch on the inside from Giovanni fails to land.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Still in the clinch, Nakagawa scores with a nice short uppercut.
Nakagawa tries to throw a body punch but Giovanni avoids it by throwing Nakagawa back against the cage.
Nakagawa lands an uppercut.

Nakagawa gets double underhooks and manages to take the fight to the ground.
Nakagawa postures up in Giovanni's guard and throws a big left but Giovanni blocks it.
Giovanni keeping moving, preventing Nakagawa from controlling successfully.
Giovanni trying to control the position here.

Nakagawa postures up as if he's going to throw some strikes but drops back for an ankle! Giovanni is in big trouble! He looks ready to tap! But no, he's escaped and dives on top of Nakagawa, into his guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

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

Nakagawa is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Giovanni defends well.
Nakagawa trying to keep a closed guard but Giovanni is proving a slippery customer.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Sonny Giovanni dominated that second 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.

Giovanni swings for the body but Nakagawa moves out of range.
Nakagawa drops down looking to force a counter takedown but Giovanni defends it well.
A nice leg kick lands there from Giovanni.
Nakagawa gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily
and Giovanni counters with a good low kick that Nakagawa was not able to check.
Nakagawa takes one to the side of the head.
Giovanni tries to clinch but Nakagawa moves out of range.
Well, he's not going to score with shots like that. A lazy body kick attempt from Giovanni.
And Nakagawa tries to counter it with a takedown but Giovanni pushes his down on his head and steps out.

Nakagawa moves into the clinch successfully.
Nakagawa lands a body punch.
Sonny Giovanni has scored more points in the clinch so far.
Giovanni trying to land knees to the body.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
An uppercut to the body lands inside from Giovanni.
Nakagawa tries for a takedown. No joy.
Giovanni lands with a left to the head.
Giovanni softening up his opponent with strikes, against the cage.
Nakagawa fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Nakagawa lands a hook to the body. It's hard to tell if that hurt Giovanni or not.
Nakagawa has a body lock and is looking for a takedown. Giovanni is bouncing around trying to prevent the takedown and somehow he has indeed managed to stay on his feet.
Sonny Giovanni has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Shinnosuke Nakagawa.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Nakagawa jumps into guard, dragging Giovanni to the mat.
Nakagawa is trying to keep Giovanni in close.
Giovanni is intent on slowing down the pace of the fight, simply looking to control.

Nakagawa looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
Nakagawa not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Nakagawa wants to sweep here but Giovanni controlling him for the moment.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Well. There's a bit of a lull in the action here and the crowd are starting to get restless.
The referee wants the fighters to be more active or he's going to reset them on the feet.
Giovanni sitting in guard, not really doing much.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Nakagawa fails with a takedown attempt.
Nakagawa looks to land a right hand but Giovanni moved out of range.
Giovanni misses with an uppercut. Nakagawa saw that one coming.
Giovanni throws a wild body kick that Nakagawa sees coming a mile off.

Giovanni has closed the distance and engaged Nakagawa in a clinch.
A short uppercut from Giovanni.
Giovanni misses with a hook from the clinch.
Nakagawa lands a body shot in the clinch.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Nakagawa misses with the head strike.

Nakagawa jumps into guard, dragging Giovanni to the mat.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Nakagawa looking to control.

Nakagawa is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
Giovanni slows down the pace of the fight, as he sits in 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 working away from the bottom but not quite defensive enough there because Giovanni has passed into half guard!
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Giovanni is just sitting in half guard, waiting for something to happen.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Sonny Giovanni clearly takes that round.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

Ooooh, nice body kick lands from Giovanni. Nakagawa shrugs it off though.
Giovanni's corner calls for a 1-2. Giovanni obliges with the 1 part as he scores the single shot and moves back out of range.
Nakagawa staying out of range there.
Giovanni misses with a low kick.
Nakagawa goes for a double leg but Giovanni avoids the attempt and the two fighters end up clinched against the cage as Giovanni continues to drive forward.
Giovanni swung with a counter right hand that didn't connect.
Nakagawa walks into a stiff left hand from Giovanni.
Giovanni throws out a loose jab but Nakagawa uses good head movement to avoid it.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
A jab from Giovanni misses.
Nakagawa blocks a jab.
Nakagawa with the counter takedown but Giovanni avoids it easily.
Giovanni tries to clinch but Nakagawa is having none of it.
Oooooooooooh, not good. A low kick from Giovanni 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 wants to counter the offense by Giovanni and move into the clinch position.
Nakagawa throws a big shot that misses.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Nakagawa walks into a jab.
A looping hook to the body misses from Giovanni. Nakagawa does a little dance to reset his feet.
Nakagawa drops down looking to force a counter takedown but Giovanni defends it well.
Nakagawa is looking to clinch.
Giovanni fails with an attempt to clinch.
Giovanni stuffs the takedown attempt from Nakagawa. Nakagawa gets slowly back to his feet.
Giovanni looks to land a body kick but Nakagawa moved away.

Nakagawa gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.
Nakagawa swings wildly with an uppercut but Giovanni uses good head movement to avoid it.

Nakagawa gets the body lock takedown. After a quick scramble, Giovanni regains guard.
Giovanni knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Nakagawa on the ground.
Nakagawa throws a big elbow that misses.
Giovanni trying to control the position here.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Giovanni keeping moving, preventing Nakagawa from controlling successfully.
Nakagawa throwing strikes but missing.
Giovanni keeping full guard, as Nakagawa tries to pass.
Nakagawa trying to control the position from guard on top but Giovanni is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.
Giovanni takes a shot right to the liver - Bas would have been proud of that punch.
Giovanni tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Nakagawa paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Giovanni sizes up Nakagawa with a pawing jab and scores with a straight right down the middle.
Giovanni throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
And Nakagawa tries to counter it with a takedown but Giovanni pushes his down on his head and steps out.
Nakagawa uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Giovanni.
Nakagawa takes a punch right to his stomach. That took the wind out of him momentarily.
Nakagawa shoots in for a takedown but Giovanni shows good takedown defense.
Sonny Giovanni has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Shinnosuke Nakagawa.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
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.
A big left from Giovanni misses.
Nakagawa drops down looking to force a counter takedown but Giovanni defends it well.
Nakagawa avoids the body shot from Giovanni.
Nakagawa with the counter takedown but Giovanni avoids it easily.
Giovanni connects with a looping right hand.
Giovanni misses with a low kick as Nakagawa jumps back.
And Nakagawa tries to counter it with a takedown but Giovanni pushes his down on his head and steps out.
Giovanni doesn't manage to clinch there - Nakagawa circles away.
Giovanni throws a body kick that misses.
Nakagawa has his head snapped back a nice jab. A little nod from Nakagawa there as he acknowledges the shot.

Giovanni moves into range and clinches up with Nakagawa.
Giovanni tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Giovanni blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Nakagawa misses with a hook to the ribs.
Giovanni is pressed up against the cage. Nakagawa has hold of a leg and is looking to drag Giovanni down to the mat. Giovanni avoids the attempt though and has circled away. We're back to striking at a distance.
Sonny Giovanni is winning the standup battle so far.
Giovanni scores with a kick to the midsection.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Sonny Giovanni had his way with Shinnosuke Nakagawa in that round.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action! Let's get this one finished - here comes the final round!

Giovanni wants to clinch.
Giovanni attempts a leg kick but it's missed by a good margin.
Giovanni throws a body kick that digs right into the meat.
Giovanni throws a low kick but it's checked well by Nakagawa.
That kick from Giovanni tenderised Nakagawa's leg. Nakagawa is trying to keep his angry face on.
Giovanni throws a shot to the body.
Giovanni tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. Nakagawa manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Giovanni thuds his right hand into Nakagawa's forehead from close range. That could be painful for both fighters.
Giovanni tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Nakagawa throws a nice looking combination but Giovanni bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
A looping hook to the body misses from Giovanni. Nakagawa does a little dance to reset his feet.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Nakagawa moves in looking to clinch but Giovanni pushes him off.
Giovanni lands with a straight right. Nakagawa didn't see that one coming.
Nakagawa ducks under a wild hook from Giovanni.
Giovanni slaps away a takedown attempt from Nakagawa, before circling back to the center of the mat.
Good exchange - Giovanni coming out on top.

Nakagawa pushes Giovanni up against the cage in a clinch.
Nakagawa tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Giovanni's elbow.
Giovanni tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Nakagawa's elbow.
Nakagawa has a body lock and is looking for a takedown. Giovanni is bouncing around trying to prevent the takedown and somehow he has indeed managed to stay on his feet.
Nakagawa scores with a hook to the body.
Giovanni blocks an uppercut.
Nakagawa takes a shot to the head.
Giovanni lands a body punch.
Shinnosuke Nakagawa has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Nakagawa is wobbling all over the place through exhaustion. Will he make it to the final bell?

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Giovanni lands a nice looking hook to the body, against the cage.
A nice right hand lands inside from Giovanni.
Nakagawa lands with a short head shot on the inside.
Giovanni lands with a left to the head.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Giovanni lands a shoulder strike that jolts his opponent's head backwards.
Nakagawa tries to work over Giovanni's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
Giovanni throws a head punch that misses.
Nakagawa tries to pull guard but Giovanni holds him up against the cage and eventually Nakagawa drops back down to his feet.
Sonny Giovanni has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Shinnosuke Nakagawa.
Nakagawa misses with a body punch.
Nakagawa on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
Giovanni misses with a hook from the clinch.
A short right hand to the side of the head by Giovanni.
Nakagawa tries a body shot but Giovanni blocks it.
A short right hand to the side of the head by Nakagawa.
Nakagawa misses with some punches.
A knee to the head by 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.
Giovanni goes for a body shot but it's blocked.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Giovanni lands a body punch in the clinch.
A head punch on the inside from Nakagawa fails to land.

Nakagawa has Giovanni pressed up against the cage. He's trying to work for a single leg takedown. Nakagawa pulls back from the cage and twists to the side, sending Giovanni tumbling to the mat - Nakagawa dives into Giovanni's guard.
Giovanni controlling Nakagawa's posture.
Nakagawa pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Giovanni is keeping the position for now.
Shinnosuke Nakagawa has got the better of the ground game so far.
Nakagawa postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Nakagawa stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Giovanni swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Giovanni looking for a sweep. Not yet Giovanni, not yet.
Nakagawa throwing strikes but missing.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.
Giovanni misses with a body kick.
Nakagawa tries to counter with a clinch but Giovanni shakes him off and moves away.
Nakagawa takes a shot right to the bread basket.

And that's the end of the fight!
Sonny Giovanni showed his dominance in that final round.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Giovanni, winning every round. Will the judges agree? They are the ones who matter, even if they are often depressingly incompetent. 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 James Atkins scores the fight 50:45
Judge Andrew Berry scores the fight 50:45
Judge Colin Fotheringham scores the fight 50:45

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Sonny Giovanni!
Sonny Giovanni retains his middleweight title!
Sonny Giovanni seemed lost for words in his post fight interview but he remembered to thank his fans and directed everyone to his website.