PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Shinnosuke Nakagawa (ranked 61 p4p, 75 weight class) and Tanaka Matsuda (ranked 8 p4p, 13 weight class). Nakagawa comes to the cage accompanied by Koto - CloZee. Matsuda has chosen Gojira - Another World as his entrance music. These two fighters really are very evenly matched on the feet - it will be fascinating to see who can assert themselves in that aspect of the fight.

Nakagawa
vs
Matsuda

190 cm
32
190
26 - 12 - 0

190 cm
35
200
36 - 14 - 0

Abu Dhabi Champ
World class MT
Insanely flexible

Olympic wrestler
World class MT
Granite chin

Brooklyn Threads
Brooklyn Apothecary

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 26 - 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 36 - 14 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Tanaka Matsuda!
The judges for this bout are Yukihiro Yamamoto, Yuuki Gou and Hirohito Nitta.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Matsuda takes a step towards his opponent and connects with a left hand, before circling away.
Nice body punch from Matsuda.
Nakagawa doesn't react quick enough there as he takes a shot to the body.
Matsuda looks to land a left hand but Nakagawa moved out of range nicely.
Matsuda thows a left - swing and a miss!
Matsuda throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
As Matsuda tries to get set, Nakagawa tries to push him back and clinch up but Matsuda manages to avoid the attempt.
Nakagawa keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Matsuda throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Nakagawa sees it coming and avoids it easily.
Nakagawa tries to counter with a takedown but Matsuda is quick to defend against it.
Tanaka Matsuda seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Nakagawa works the jab nicely.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Matsuda swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Nakagawa looks to have improved his striking defense since last time we saw him fight.
Nakagawa moves out of range as Matsuda strikes.
Nakagawa wants to clinch.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Nakagawa uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Matsuda.

Nakagawa moves into the clinch successfully.
A left hand lands to the body for Nakagawa.
Nakagawa misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Matsuda taking a breather.
A frustrated look appears on Matsuda's face as he tries to break the clinch.
Nakagawa working aggressively here.
Nakagawa lands with a quick shot inside that doesn't really do much damage.
Nakagawa makes some space for himself and lands an uppercut.
Nakagawa tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
A frustrated look appears on Matsuda's face as he tries to break the clinch.
Nakagawa lands punches inside but they're not really causing much damage.
Nakagawa misses with the head strike.

Matsuda breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Matsuda swings away with a body shot that misses

and Nakagawa counters with a nice double leg into side control. Matsuda won't be happy with that.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Matsuda sneaks a leg under to get back to half guard.

Matsuda is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Nakagawa pulls his head out easily.
Ground and pound from Nakagawa.
Nakagawa throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
Nakagawa not landing any meaningful shots this time.

Nakagawa is thinking about going for an arm triangle but he can't free his leg.

Nakagawa is looking for a kimura but Matsuda is holding onto that half guard position, so it's hard for Nakagawa to get the leverage.
Matsuda wants to get back to full guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Matsuda trying to control here.
Nakagawa wants to lay and pray for a moment but Matsuda keeps working.

Matsuda looking for submissions off his back.
Matsuda gets full guard.
Nakagawa tries to free his leg and advance position but Matsuda is retaining full guard.
Nakagawa trying to control the position from guard on top but Matsuda is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Matsuda keeping full guard, as Nakagawa tries to pass.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are hurling abuse towards the fighters... You can hardly blame them though because there isn't a lot going on in the fight.
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Matsuda controls Nakagawa momentarily but Nakagawa frees himself.

Nakagawa drops back looking for a leg! Matsuda is in trouble here! The fighters roll with the hold and Matsuda manages to kick Nakagawa off! Nakagawa jumps back into Matsuda's guard.

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.
Nakagawa fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Matsuda manages to avoid it.
Matsuda tries a counter takedown but it's more of a dummy move, and he uses it to push himself away.
Matsuda misses with a straight right.

Matsuda gets a double leg takedown into Nakagawa's guard.
Matsuda tries to free his leg and advance position but Nakagawa is retaining full guard.
Nakagawa wants to sweep but no luck.

Nakagawa has his foot on Matsuda's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Matsuda works his way back into a safe position though.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close round but I would say that Shinnosuke Nakagawa will probably get the nod.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

Matsuda scores with a shot to the body.
Nakagawa throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Matsuda changes levels for a counter takedown but doesn't follow through with his attempt.
Nakagawa misses with a hook.
Matsuda lands a nice shot to the body.
Matsuda works Nakagawa's body with a nice hook.
Nice sprawl there from Nakagawa as Matsuda shoots in.

Excellent takedown into side control there by Matsuda.
Matsuda controlling the position from side mount.

Matsuda is looking for a kimura. He might have it! No, Nakagawa has escaped the position, nice work there.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Matsuda cracks Nakagawa with a big right hand but Nakagawa just smiles back at him and invites him to have another go.
Nakagawa is trying to get back to half guard.
Nakagawa takes a couple of big shots there - the referee warns him that he has to defend himself better.
Nakagawa is trying to get back to half guard. He's pushing on Matsuda's leg. He's managed it. Nice work.
The fighters are battling for position here. Nakagawa manages to regain full guard. Nice work.

Nakagawa is active off his back here, looking for submissions.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Matsuda cracks Nakagawa with a solid left hand.
Matsuda trying to control but Nakagawa is working from the bottom.
Nakagawa working a defensive guard here.
Matsuda throws a big right hand that misses.

Nakagawa has his foot on Matsuda's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Matsuda works his way back into a safe position though.
Nakagawa keeping moving, preventing Matsuda from controlling successfully.
Matsuda pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Nakagawa is keeping the position for now.
Matsuda throwing strikes from guard but Nakagawa blocks nicely.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Matsuda is working Nakagawa over from the guard. He should look to pass the guard and do a little more damage with these strikes.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Matsuda trying to control the position from guard on top but Nakagawa is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Nakagawa working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Matsuda.

Nakagawa looking for a guillotine here but Matsuda defends easily.

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

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.
Matsuda stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Nakagawa swivels though and keeps the full guard.

Nakagawa throws his legs up looking for a submission but Matsuda uses it to pass to side control.
Nakagawa is looking to regain half guard here but Matsuda keeps moving and retains side control.
Tanaka Matsuda has got the better of the ground game so far.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Tanaka Matsuda 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! Let's get this one finished - here comes the final round!

Matsuda ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Nakagawa moves away.
Nakagawa half commits to a counter takedown before pushing away, out of range.
Matsuda is throwing a lot of body shots here, looking to wear down Nakagawa rather than just go for the knockout.
Matsuda lunges in with an uppercut that skims his opponent's chin.
Matsuda moving in and out of range nicely, whilst landing the scoring shot.
A slow jab from Matsuda misses its intended target.
The fighters circling - Matsuda throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
Nakagawa is trying to close the distance and clinch up, after that failed offence from Matsuda.
Matsuda misses with an uppercut. Nakagawa saw that one coming.
Nakagawa attempts a counter takedown but Matsuda avoids it well and moves away.
Matsuda misses with a body shot.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Nakagawa shoots in looking for a single leg takedown. Matsuda is trying to defend but Nakagawa finishes it well and ends up in half guard. Let's see if he can advance position further.
Matsuda trying to control here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Matsuda is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.

Matsuda looking for a kimura from the bottom but Nakagawa passes into side control!
Matsuda trying to remain calm as Nakagawa controls from the top position.
Matsuda tries to bench press Nakagawa off him but Nakagawa keeps the position.
Matsuda is not content to let Nakagawa control the position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are hurling abuse towards the fighters... You can hardly blame them though because there isn't a lot going on in the fight.
Nakagawa scores with a couple of short elbows.
Matsuda wants to control but Nakagawa postures up.
Matsuda tries to improve position but can't.
Matsuda is trying to control Nakagawa's posture but Nakagawa avoids it.
Nakagawa lands an elbow.
Matsuda regains half guard.
Matsuda slips a foot under and gets full guard. Nice work.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Nakagawa is in close to Matsuda's body, working some short punches and elbows.
Nakagawa is frustrating his opponent with some stalling tactics from top position.
Nakagawa wants to control from the top but Matsuda keeps moving.

Matsuda had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Nakagawa defends it easily.
Nakagawa landing some decent shots from guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are getting on the fighters' backs, as the pace has dropped off in the last minute or so.
Nakagawa works over Matsuda with some ground and pound from guard.

Matsuda throws his legs up looking to secure a triangle. Oh, that looks pretty tight, I gotta say! Nakagawa escapes and throws Matsuda's legs to the side, diving into side control!

Nakagawa tries for a kimura. Not really close to a finish though.
Matsuda tries to improve position but can't.

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 Yukihiro Yamamoto scores the fight 29:28
Judge Yuuki Gou scores the fight 29:28
Judge Hirohito Nitta scores the fight 29:28

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