PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Shinnosuke Nakagawa (ranked 114 p4p, 385 weight class) and Wanderson Machado (ranked 18 p4p, 48 weight class). Nakagawa comes to the cage accompanied by Koto - CloZee. Machado is bouncing up and down as he enters the arena, backed by El Barrio. Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

Nakagawa
vs
Machado

190 cm
32
190
24 - 11 - 0

175 cm
34
185
34 - 12 - 0

Abu Dhabi Champ
World class MT
Insanely flexible

Good wrestler
World class MT
Granite chin

NARCOS
New Standard

Bondi MMA 🏝️
Hoarse Pills

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the middleweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 24 - 11 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Shinnosuke Nakagawa!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 34 - 12 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Wanderson Machado!
The judges for this bout are Thiago Cunha, Leandro Rodrigues and Paulo Santos.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Machado lands an overhand right.
Machado misses with a looping left.
Nakagawa appears to be looking for a counter takedown.
Nakagawa shoots for a double leg takedown but Machado sprawls well. He's pushed Nakagawa's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
Machado takes a shot to the nose. Hopefully that hasn't broken it.
Machado lands a vicious shot with the stealth of a sniper and the strength of a viper. Are vipers that strong? I can think of lots of things that are stronger than a viper - not many rhyme with sniper though.
Machado misses with a looping left.
Machado takes a swing at Nakagawa's ribcage but misses.
A jab from Machado misses.
Nakagawa seemed to be looking to counter by closing the distance.
Machado throws the kick towards the body but Nakagawa avoids it.
Nakagawa tries to counter with a takedown but Machado is quick to defend against it.
Machado thows a left - swing and a miss!
Machado throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
Nakagawa tries to clinch but Machado is having none of it.
Machado looks like he wants to counter punch here.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Nakagawa on the wrong end of an overhand right that came out of nowhere.
Nakagawa ducks under a wild hook from Machado.
Machado rushes in with a sloppy looking punch

so Nakagawa counters with a double leg into guard. Good agility.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Nakagawa pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Machado is keeping the position for now.
Nakagawa will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.
Nakagawa not doing a lot at the moment. He'll have to show some more aggression or the fight will get stood up.
We've been hearing that Nakagawa has been drilling a lot of ground and pound in training, so let's see if he get the finish.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Machado controlling Nakagawa's posture.
Machado is continuing to stall.
Machado keeping full guard, as Nakagawa tries to pass.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

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.
Nakagawa working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Nakagawa throws a strike but Machado rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.

Nakagawa looking to sweep here. No luck so far.

Nakagawa throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
Nakagawa looking to sweep here. No luck so far.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up.
Machado moves into range and lands a nice leg kick.
Nakagawa misses with a hook.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Nakagawa ducks under a wild hook from Machado.
Machado lands a leg kick that knocks Nakagawa off balance momentarily.
Machado lands with an uppercut that bounces Nakagawa off the cage and back into range.
Nakagawa ducks right into an uppercut from Machado.
Machado jabbing away but nothing is landing.
Nakagawa appears to be looking for a counter takedown.
Machado's corner calls for a 1-2. Machado obliges with the 1 part as he scores the single shot and moves back out of range.
Machado pivots as if he's going to throw a leg kick but stops half way.
Nakagawa half commits to a counter takedown before pushing away, out of range.
Machado throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
Machado turns his hip over beautifully as he lands a nice leg kick.
Nakagawa slips a jab from Machado.
Wanderson Machado seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Nakagawa ducks under a wild hook from Machado.
The fighters circling - Nakagawa throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
Nakagawa misses with a body shot.
Machado lands with a nice body punch.
Machado throws a leg kick

so Nakagawa counters with a double leg into guard. Good agility.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Nakagawa trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Nakagawa showing good wrestling skills to control the position.
Machado wants to control here, rather than go for any submissions from the bottom. At least for now.
Nakagawa trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

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

Nakagawa closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.
Nakagawa misses with a punch to the body.
Machado tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Nakagawa lands a left hand that snaps the head of Machado backwards.
Nakagawa lands on the inside with an uppercut.
A short uppercut from Nakagawa.
Nakagawa prevents a body shot from Machado.
Machado lands an uppercut.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Machado.
Machado goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
A short right from Machado.
Machado gets through Nakagawa's defenses to land a nice punch to the side of the head.
Nakagawa tries for a takedown. No joy.
Nakagawa struggles to land a body shot inside as Machado controls his hands.
With the fighters clinched against the cage, Nakagawa creates a bit of distance for himself and scores with a nice uppercut.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Machado gets underhooks to prevent Nakagawa's takedown attempt.
A hook to the body from Machado.
Machado presses Nakagawa against the cage and delivers a mid-strength body shot.
Machado tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Nakagawa's elbow.
Machado misses with a punch to the body.
Nakagawa tries a body shot but Machado blocks it.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Machado takes a shot to the head.
Nakagawa lands a right hand.
A nice left hand lands by Machado.
Machado lands a left hand.
Nakagawa misses with a body punch.
A shot in the inside from Machado.
Nice body punch from Machado.
Machado misses with a body punch.
Machado throws a punch but it's blocked by Nakagawa.
A head punch on the inside from Nakagawa fails to land.
Nakagawa can't find room to land a body shot as Machado controls the action.
A short left from Machado.
Machado tries to throw a body punch but Nakagawa avoids it by throwing Machado back against the cage.
Machado tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Nakagawa's elbow.
Nakagawa blocking some punches.
Nakagawa is working Machado over against the cage.
A nice right hand lands inside from Nakagawa.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Nakagawa misses with some punches.
Nakagawa tries to throw a body punch but Machado avoids it by throwing Nakagawa back against the cage.
Machado throws a punch but it's blocked by Nakagawa.
Machado misses with a punch on the inside.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Machado blocks an uppercut.
Machado works on Nakagawa's body with a couple of short punches.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Nakagawa tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Machado misses with a hook to the ribs.
Nakagawa fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Machado lands with a right to the head.
Machado lands a body shot in the clinch.
Nakagawa tries for a takedown. No joy.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Shinnosuke Nakagawa. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Machado scores with a shoulder strike.
A hook to the body from Machado.
Machado lands a hook that snaps the head of Nakagawa backwards.
Machado scores with a shot to the side of Nakagawa's head.
Machado scores with a hook to the body.
Machado lands a left hand that snaps the head of Nakagawa backwards.
Machado makes some space for himself and lands an uppercut.
Nakagawa takes a shot to the head.
Machado lands a shoulder strike that jolts his opponent's head backwards.
Machado scores with a hook to the body.
A short body shot lands from Machado as the two fighters clinch.
Machado makes some space for himself and lands an uppercut.
Machado has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Machado lands a nice looking hook to the body, against the cage.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Machado tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Nakagawa's elbow.
Machado lands a right hand that snaps the head of Nakagawa backwards.
Machado goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Machado lands a body punch.
A short right from Machado.
Machado scores with a shoulder strike.
Machado pushes Nakagawa back against the cage and lands a hook to the side of the head.
Machado can't find room to land a body shot as Nakagawa controls the action.
Machado working some nice short punches in the clinch.
Machado pushes Nakagawa back against the cage and unloads with a body punch.
Nakagawa prevents a body shot from Machado.
A shot in the inside from Machado.
Wanderson Machado seems to be working more effectively in the clinch in the fight so far.
Machado lands a shoulder strike.
Machado lands on the inside with an uppercut.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Machado blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Machado lands a body shot in the clinch.
Machado lands an uppercut.
Machado tries a body shot but Nakagawa blocks it.
Machado misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Nakagawa blocks a body shot from Machado.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Nakagawa blocking some punches.
Machado struggles to land a body shot inside as Nakagawa controls his hands.
Machado misses with some punches.
Nakagawa can't get the takedown.
Nakagawa misses with some punches.
Machado working some nice short punches in the clinch.
Machado is defending well against a takedown attempt.
Machado lands a shot to the body.
Machado doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
A nice right hand lands inside from Machado.
Machado lands with a light punch inside.
Machado lands a left hand.
A right handed body shot lands from Machado.
Machado lands on the inside with an uppercut.
Machado struggles to land a body shot inside as Nakagawa controls his hands.
The crowd applaud the fighters' efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Machado tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Nakagawa's elbow.
Nakagawa is looking for a takedown up against the cage. Machado gets underhooks though and prevents the takedown attempt.
A body shot lands from Machado.
A left hand lands to the body for Machado.
A nice left hand lands by Machado.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Wanderson Machado showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business. This is the final round!

A swing and a miss from Machado.
Machado throws a jab to the body, straight down the pipe. Boom. That sent Nakagawa stumbling backwards but he manages to regain his composure quickly.
Machado takes a swing at Nakagawa's ribcage but misses.
A chopping leg kick lands by Machado.
Nakagawa gets cracked there but stands up to it.
Machado throws a looping overhand right but Nakagawa ducks down to avoid it.
Nakagawa changes levels looking for a counter takedown but doesn't commit.
Nakagawa moves out of range of the leg kick from Machado.
Machado's jab looks to have found its range, popping Nakagawa under the eye.
Machado misses with an uppercut. Nakagawa saw that one coming.
Machado misses with a kick to the body

and Nakagawa decides to take the opportunity to score a takedown. He's landed in Machado's guard.
Machado has Nakagawa pulled in close to control his posture.
The adventures of Machado the control monster continue. Boring.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Nakagawa trying to move into half guard but instead Machado has managed to sweep!

Nakagawa working for submissions but it's allowed Machado to get to half guard.
Nakagawa is looking to improve his position.
Machado is thwarting Nakagawa's attempts to control the position.
Shinnosuke Nakagawa has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Neither fighter is being very active at the moment, with Machado in particular looking to stall.
Nakagawa is looking to improve his position.

Nakagawa looking for submissions off his back.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Machado is taking a breather. Nakagawa says something to him but it's hard to make out. Perhaps he's telling him to get on with it and actually do something.
Nakagawa tries to roll over but Machado keeps him under control.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.
Machado thows a leg kick but Nakagawa checks it

and Nakagawa counters with a takedown into side control! That could mean trouble for Machado!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Machado manages to work his way to half guard, despite Nakagawa's best efforts.
Machado keeping control of the position.
Machado blocking the ground and pound attempt from Nakagawa.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!

Nakagawa is looking for a kimura but Machado is holding onto that half guard position, so it's hard for Nakagawa to get the leverage.
Nakagawa throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.

And that's the end of the fight!
I would just about give that final round to Wanderson Machado.
I've got Machado winning every round here. Surely the decision will go his way and he'll pick up a well deserved decision victory. 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 Thiago Cunha scores the fight 28:29
Judge Leandro Rodrigues scores the fight 27:30
Judge Paulo Santos scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Wanderson Machado!
Our winner, Wanderson Machado, made sure he spent some time buttering up the crowd during his post fight interview, which will no doubt bring him a few more fans.