PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between James Yarborough (ranked 62 p4p, 153 weight class) and Shinnosuke Nakagawa (ranked 11 p4p, 23 weight class). Yarborough comes into the arena with Derezzed blaring out of the sound system. Nakagawa has chosen Koto - CloZee as his entrance music. Both these guys have really solid chins. Will we see a standup war or will they both decide that a knockout is unlikely and try to win the fight elsewhere?

Yarborough
vs
Nakagawa

185 cm
32
190
27 - 12 - 2

190 cm
32
190
25 - 12 - 0

Great wrestler
World class boxer
Very quick

Excellent grappler
World class MT
Good gas tank

Brooklyn Apothecary
Bondi MMA 🏝️

New Standard

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 27 - 12 - 2, fighting out of Amsterdam, James Yarborough!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 25 - 12 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Shinnosuke Nakagawa!
The judges for this bout are Tatsuya Matsuyama, Yuuki Gou and Yasuomi Hirokawa.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Yarborough fakes a jab and throws a low kick but Nakagawa checks it well.
Nakagawa takes a swing at Yarborough's ribcage but misses.
It looked like Yarborough wanted to counter with a hook but didn't fully commit.
Nakagawa slips under a jab from Yarborough.

Nakagawa shoots in for a takedown and gets it.
Yarborough is trying to stand.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Yarborough manages to escape and get back to his feet!
Nakagawa misses with a takedown attempt - Yarborough sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Nakagawa lands a powerful looking uppercut that connected with his opponent's jaw.
Nakagawa ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Yarborough moves away.
Nakagawa connects with a nice looking jab.
Nakagawa avoids the body shot from Yarborough.
Yarborough lands a beauty of a right hand that gets the crowd cheering.

Nakagawa looking to score a takedown here. Yarborough is defending well but Nakagawa drives through and ends up in Yarborough's guard.
Yarborough is looking to stand up but Nakagawa isn't so interested in that idea.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Nakagawa tries to free his leg and advance position but Yarborough is retaining full guard.
Yarborough is looking to stand back up but Nakagawa counters by passing into half guard. Oops... bit sloppy there by Yarborough.
Yarborough wants to get back to his feet.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Yarborough avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Nakagawa.
Yarborough is looking to escape.

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.
Yarborough is staying active underneath Nakagawa, who seems content to just control the action from this position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Nakagawa working some ground and pound from close in. He's looking to maintain this position and strike for a while by the looks of things... although he'll probably advance to full mount in a minute now I've said that.

Nakagawa is looking for a kimura but Yarborough is holding onto that half guard position, so it's hard for Nakagawa to get the leverage.
Nakagawa uses his free foot to push down on Yarborough's thigh. Eventually he works his other foot free and he's advanced to mount - this is trouble for Yarborough.
Yarborough is looking to get back to his feet - it's going to be hard from this position.
Nakagawa trying to control but he's not successful this time.
Yarborough wants to use the cage to get back to his feet here.
The crowd growing excited in anticipation of a finish here! Right on cue, Nakagawa cracks his opponent with a massive right hand that draws loud cheers!

Nakagawa looking to secure an arm triangle but Yarborough defends it well.
Nakagawa looking to ground and pound but Yarborough is blocking nicely.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Nakagawa looking to finish Yarborough with some ground and pound. This is bad for Yarborough!
Yarborough tries to buck Nakagawa off but he can't manage it.
In the pre-fight buildup videos we saw Nakagawa working his ground and pound in the gym.
Nakagawa lands a heavy elbow.
Yarborough's corner are shouting for him to stand up but that's bad cornering - how is he meant to stand up when he's mounted? He should be looking to improve his position on the ground before trying to stand back up.
Nakagawa lands with some strikes.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
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!
Yarborough trying desperately to get to his feet.
Nakagawa is landing with some decent strikes but Yarborough is trying to advance his position so the referee is letting the fight continue.
You get the feeling that Yarborough really doesn't like being in this position too much.
Yarborough trying desperately to get back to his feet here but he's not having any joy at all. He's going to tire himself out if he's not careful.
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Shinnosuke Nakagawa dominated that round.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

Yarborough throws a series of punches but Nakagawa moves out of range.

Nakagawa looking for a takedown here - he's got it.
Nakagawa is frustrating his opponent with some stalling tactics from top position.

Yarborough kicks Nakagawa off and gets to his feet.
Nakagawa tries to clinch up
and Yarborough cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Both fighters are looking to counter, which isn't making for the most exciting fight in the world.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Nakagawa lands a body shot.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Nakagawa darts in and out, connecting with a jab.
Nakagawa fails in his attempt to clinch.
Yarborough is looking to clinch.
Nakagawa moves out of range of the leg kick from Yarborough.
Yarborough stuffs the takedown attempt from Nakagawa. Nakagawa gets slowly back to his feet.
An attempted straight right counter from Yarborough misses the target.
Nakagawa swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Jab, jab by Nakagawa - just one landing.
Yarborough throws a low kick, looking for Nakagawa's leg but Nakagawa calmly moves out of range.
Nakagawa tries a counter takedown but it's more of a dummy move, and he uses it to push himself away.
Nakagawa has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Nakagawa missing with a left hand there. Yarborough was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
Nakagawa throws a jab to the body, straight down the pipe. Boom. That sent Yarborough stumbling backwards but he manages to regain his composure quickly.
Shinnosuke Nakagawa seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Yarborough is pinned up against the cage taking some big shots here. The referee is looking closely deciding whether he should stop the fight.
Jab by Nakagawa.
Nakagawa fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Yarborough manages to avoid it.
A counter left hand to the body from Yarborough misses its target.
James Yarborough is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Nakagawa with a body punch. A glancing blow.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Yarborough avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Nakagawa fails to land the takedown.
Nakagawa throws a series of punches but Yarborough moves out of range.
Nice sprawl there from Yarborough as Nakagawa shoots in.
James Yarborough has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Shinnosuke Nakagawa.
Yarborough is pinned up against the cage taking some big shots here. The referee is looking closely deciding whether he should stop the fight.
A telegraphed right hand from Nakagawa misses the target.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Yarborough attempts a leg kick but it's missed by a good margin.
Nakagawa tries a counter takedown but it's more of a dummy move, and he uses it to push himself away.
Yarborough throws a right and a left that both miss.
Yarborough throws a leg kick that is checked

and Nakagawa counters with a takedown into side control! That could mean trouble for Yarborough!
Nakagawa lands some shots froms side control.
Yarborough is trying to get back to his feet.

Nakagawa is trying to land an Americana. He has the arm isolated but Yarborough is keeping cool and he's avoided the danger for now.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Nakagawa prevents Yarborough from escaping the position.

Nakagawa thinks about going for a far side armbar but bails out and retains the dominant position instead.

Nakagawa is looking to finish here, going for an Americana. Yarborough knows the correct defense though, so he's OK.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Shinnosuke Nakagawa showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action! This is the final round!

Nakagawa lands a jab.
James Yarborough has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Nakagawa lands a pitter patter jab to the forehead of his opponent.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Nakagawa misses with a takedown attempt
and Yarborough counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
No luck with that takedown attempt from Nakagawa.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Yarborough scores with a jab to the jaw of his opponent.
Yarborough swings for the body but Nakagawa moves out of range.
And Nakagawa tries to counter it with a takedown but Yarborough pushes his down on his head and steps out.
The fighters circling - Nakagawa throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
Good standup being displayed there by Nakagawa as he connects with a hook.
Nakagawa moves out of range of the strikes.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Nakagawa misses the shot to the body.

Nakagawa closes the distance and clinches up, looking for a takedown. He shifts his weight and gets a nice trip into half guard.
Yarborough pushes Nakagawa off looking to stand but Nakagawa dives back in and keeps control.
Nakagawa thows a huge punch but Yarborough dodges it nicely.
Yarborough is trying to stand up here but Nakagawa is controlling him well.
Nakagawa looking to pass the half guard. Not this time.
Yarborough looks like he's trying to stand up.
Yarborough tries to strike from the bottom but it doesn't land.
Yarborough looks like he's trying to stand up.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up.
Nakagawa scores with a reasonable looking shot to the body. Yarborough doesn't seem bothered though.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Nakagawa looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
Shinnosuke Nakagawa is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
James Yarborough has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Shinnosuke Nakagawa.

Nakagawa drives through with a really nice takedown into side control.
Nakagawa controls the position.
Nakagawa blocks the strikes from Yarborough.
Nakagawa trying to control the action but Yarborough is working from the bottom.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Nakagawa is in a good position here but he's just trying to control... And he's not even managing to do that successfully.
Yarborough wants to escape from the position here - easier said than done!

Yarborough explodes and escapes back to his feet! Nice escape there!
The fight stays on the outside here - Nakagawa looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Yarborough throws a combination that misses

and Nakagawa counters by clinching up.
Yarborough misses with a punch to the body.
Yarborough misses with a hook to the ribs.

And that's the end of the fight!
I would just about give that final round to Shinnosuke Nakagawa.
Well Nakagawa has outworked and out performed his opponent in all aspects of the game today. He was simply too good and the decision should be no more than a formality. 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 Tatsuya Matsuyama scores the fight 27:30
Judge Yuuki Gou scores the fight 27:30
Judge Yasuomi Hirokawa scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Shinnosuke Nakagawa!
Our winner, Shinnosuke Nakagawa, 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.