PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Shinnosuke Nakagawa (ranked 264 p4p, 251 weight class) and Gurizuri Nakamura (ranked 36 p4p, 33 weight class). Nakagawa comes to the cage accompanied by Koto - CloZee. Gurizuri Nakamura told me before the fight that he's been watching a lot of DVDs so let's see if that helps him in this one! I can't wait to find out!

Nakagawa
vs
Nakamura

190 cm
32
190
24 - 12 - 0

168 cm
37
186
28 - 20 - 3

Abu Dhabi Champ
World class MT
Insanely flexible

Excellent grappler
World class boxer
Fast

New Standard

Conviction
Shadow Realm Apparel

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 - 12 - 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 28 - 20 - 3, fighting out of Los Angeles, Gurizuri Nakamura!
The judges for this bout are Hirohito Nitta, Yasuomi Hirokawa and Taro Takaoka.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Nakagawa looks to score with a jab to the body but Nakamura is just out of range.
Nakamura drops down looking to force a counter takedown but Nakagawa defends it well.
Nakamura tries to clinch but Nakagawa moves out of range.
Nakagawa tries to counter with a takedown but Nakamura is quick to defend against it.
Nakamura misses with a looping left.
Nakagawa dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
Nakamura swings for the body but Nakagawa moves out of range.
Nakagawa tries to counter by moving into the clinch but Nakamura manages to circle out of the way.
Nakamura connects with a body shot.
Nakamura misses with a hook. Nakagawa ducked under it nicely.
Nakagawa feinted with a counter takedown.

Nakagawa clinches with his opponent.
Nakagawa throws a punch but it's blocked by Nakamura.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Nakagawa blocking some punches.
A nice left hand lands by Nakagawa.
Nakagawa scores with a shot to the side of Nakamura's head.
Nakamura is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.
Nakagawa doesn't land with the attempted body shot.

Nakamura has Nakagawa pressed up against the cage. He's trying to work for a single leg takedown. Nakamura pulls back from the cage and twists to the side, sending Nakagawa tumbling to the mat - Nakamura dives into Nakagawa's guard.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Nakamura is sitting in guard, working some ground and pound.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Nakagawa is looking for a triangle but Nakamura pushes his legs off easily.
Nakamura with a flurry of punches that miss.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Nakagawa is on top in guard.

Nakamura is looking to sweep but instead, Nakagawa has passed into half guard.
Nakamura moves his hips nicely and gets into full guard.
Nakagawa looking to control the position here, rather than advance.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Nakagawa is pushing down on Nakamura's leg trying to pass to half guard. Nakamura is fighting to maintain full guard but Nakagawa has managed to sneak the leg through.

Nakagawa seems to be looking for submissions.
Nakamura tries to get to full guard but Nakagawa has control of the leg.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Nakamura gets full guard.
Nakamura has momentary wrist control but Nakagawa slips an elbow through the middle.
Nakagawa postures up and lands a big shot to Nakamura's brow.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Nakagawa wants to pass the guard but Nakamura is keeping the position.
Nakamura looking to hit a scissor sweep but Nakagawa is one step ahead there.
Nakagawa advances position into side control!
Nakagawa trying to control the position but Nakamura is working away.

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.
Nakamura tries to improve position but can't.
Nakamura is moving his hips around well on the bottom and has managed to get back to half guard.
Nakamura tries to strike from the bottom but it doesn't land.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

Nakagawa is working for a kimura but Nakamura is defending it quite comfortably.
Nakagawa is looking to take a break and control but Nakamura is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Nakamura tries to strike from the bottom but it doesn't land.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Shinnosuke Nakagawa dominated that round.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

Nakamura scores with a jab.
Nakamura swings for the body but Nakagawa moves out of range.
Nakagawa uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Nakamura.
Nakagawa changes levels looking for a counter takedown but doesn't commit.
Nakamura misses with a hook. Nakagawa ducked under it nicely.
Nakagawa avoids the body shot from Nakamura.
Nakamura lands a jab to Nakagawa's midsection.
Nakamura looks to score with a jab to the body but Nakagawa is just out of range.
Nakamura swings for the body but Nakagawa moves out of range.
Nakagawa throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
A big right from Nakamura misses.
Nakamura takes a swing at Nakagawa's ribcage but misses.
Nakamura tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Nakagawa was well out of range. Poor timing from Nakamura.

Nakagawa moves into the clinch.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Nakagawa prevents a body shot from Nakamura.
Nakamura blocks a punch to the side of the head.

Nakamura breaks the clinch.
Nakamura misses with a wild body shot.
Nakagawa looks to have improved his striking defense since last time we saw him fight.
Nakamura just misses with a punch to the body.
Nakagawa drops down looking for a counter takedown but Nakamura sprawls and moves away.
Nakamura fails with the takedown.
Nakagawa half commits to a counter takedown before pushing away, out of range.
Gurizuri Nakamura seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Nakamura jabs Nakagawa to the body, keeping him at a distance.
A swing and a miss from Nakamura.
Nakagawa changes levels looking for a counter takedown but doesn't commit.
Nakagawa keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Nakamura tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Nakagawa was well out of range. Poor timing from Nakamura.
As Nakamura tries to get set, Nakagawa tries to push him back and clinch up but Nakamura manages to avoid the attempt.
Nakamura misses with a straight right.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Nakamura throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Nakamura throws a lazy uppercut

and Nakagawa counters with a takedown into side control.
Nakagawa wants to lay and pray for a moment but Nakamura keeps working.
Nakamura tries to get back to half guard but can't.
Nakagawa working the head and body with strikes.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Nakamura tries to improve position but can't.
Nakagawa is pausing for a moment. What's he doing? It looks like he's clearing his nose. Oh dude! He's shot a load of snot all down Nakamura's shoulder. That is not cool.
Nakagawa will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Nakamura tries to bench press Nakagawa off him but Nakagawa keeps the position.

Nakagawa is trying to land an Americana. He has the arm isolated but Nakamura is keeping cool and he's avoided the danger for now.
Nakamura is looking to reverse the position.

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.
Nakamura manages to land a sweep and he's now on top! Lovely Jiu Jitsu!
Nakagawa is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Nakamura trying to control from Nakagawa's half guard. Nakagawa has other ideas though and has regained full guard.

Nakamura avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
Nakagawa looking for a sweep. Not yet Nakagawa, not yet.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Nakamura throwing strikes from guard but Nakagawa blocks nicely.
Nakamura with a couple of shots to the head there. Not particularly brutal.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Gurizuri 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!

Nakamura misses with a left hand

and Nakagawa counters with a nice double leg into guard.
Nakagawa passes easily into side control. Nice work.

Nakagawa tries for a kimura. Not really close to a finish though.
Nakamura is positioning himself to get back to half guard.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

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

That's one minute gone in the round.
Nakagawa connects with a decent looking elbow from side control that caused Nakamura some visible discomfort.
Nakamura is moving his hips around well on the bottom and has managed to get back to half guard.
Nakagawa is nestled in close to Nakamura, controlling him well. He's worked in a nice elbow to the side of the head as well, for good measure.
Nakagawa lands with an elbow from half guard - that looked like it hurt.
Nakamura slips a foot under and gets full guard. Nice work.
Nakamura wants to sweep but no luck.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Nakamura tries to strike from the bottom.
Nakagawa pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Nakamura is keeping the position for now.
Hammerfist, elbow! yells Nakagawa's corner. There ya go! There ya go!
Nakagawa slows down the pace of the fight for a moment. He'll need to remain active if he doesn't want to see the fight stood back up.
Nakagawa with a flurry of punches that miss.
Nakamura looking to sweep using the butterfly guard but Nakagawa puts pay to that idea as he passes nicely into half guard.
Nakamura wants to get back to full guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Nakagawa is sneakily working for an arm triangle but Nakamura sees it coming and defends easily.
Nakagawa prevents Nakamura from improving his position.
Nakagawa tries to pass to full mount but Nakamura defends it.
Nakamura moves his hips nicely and gets into full guard.
Nakamura looking to sweep using the butterfly guard but Nakagawa puts pay to that idea as he passes nicely into half guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
There's not a lot going on here and the crowd are letting the fighters know they're not willing to tolerate a lack of action.
Nakagawa takes advantage of the dominant position to land a couple of big hammer fists.
Nakamura gets full guard.
Nakagawa pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Nakamura is keeping the position for now.
Nakamura is striking from the bottom but Nakagawa uses the opportunity to pass into half guard.
Nakagawa is looking to stall here but Nakamura recovers full guard.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Nakamura trying to punch from his back but it's not doing any damage.

And that's the end of the fight!
Shinnosuke Nakagawa showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Nakagawa has won this one but let's see what the judges have to say. 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 Hirohito Nitta scores the fight 29:28
Judge Yasuomi Hirokawa scores the fight 29:28
Judge Taro Takaoka scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Shinnosuke Nakagawa!
A relieved looking Shinnosuke Nakagawa thanked the fans for their support and gave the usual line about them being amazing. They seemed to believe that he actually meant it.