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PBP Commentary |
Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Shinnosuke Nakagawa (ranked 3 p4p, 21 weight class) and Nick Barkley (ranked 1 p4p, 2 weight class). Nakagawa comes to the cage accompanied by Koto - CloZee. Nick Barkley has the power to score a knockout today if he connects clean with Shinnosuke Nakagawa's chin.
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| 190 cm
33
190
32 - 13 - 0 |
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185 cm
34
186
27 - 13 - 0 |
Abu Dhabi Champ
Excellent MT
Cardio machine |
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Good wrestler
World class MT
Good gas tank |
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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 32 - 13 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Shinnosuke Nakagawa!
And introducing the challenger to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 27 - 13 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Nick Barkley!
The judges for this bout are Ren Mimura, Tatsuya Matsuyama and Kenichi Hosakawa.
The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
A lazy left from Barkley finds it's target.
Nakagawa scores with the left hand. Barkley knows he should have avoided that one.
Nakagawa shoots in but no luck this time.
Barkley fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Nice body punch from Barkley.
Nakagawa looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Barkley is fending him off so far but Nakagawa persists. Nope, Barkley circles away and we're back to standing.
Barkley rushes in with a sloppy looking punch
and Nakagawa decides to take the opportunity to score a takedown. He's landed in Barkley's guard.
Barkley wants to control here, rather than go for any submissions from the bottom. At least for now.
Nakagawa works over Barkley with some ground and pound from guard.
Barkley is controlling Nakagawa's posture.
That's one minute gone in the round.
Nakagawa in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Nakagawa accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Nakagawa trying to control the position from guard on top but Barkley is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Barkley has a closed guard, preventing anything of note from happening. Perhaps he's looking to stall.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Barkley keeping full guard, as Nakagawa tries to pass.
That's two minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Barkley trying to control the position here.
The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.
Nakagawa connects with a looping left hand that seems like it dazed Barkley momentarily.
Jab, jab by Barkley - just one landing.
Nakagawa jabs Barkley to the body, keeping him at a distance.
Nakagawa ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
Nakagawa looks to have improved his striking defense since last time we saw him fight.
Nakagawa lands a nice looking body shot.
That's three minutes gone in the round.
Barkley throws a body kick despite being completely out of range
and Nakagawa counters with a takedown into side control.
Nakagawa wants to work for a kimura but he's foiled early by Barkley, who protects the arm well.
Nakagawa wants to control but Barkley is keeping him busy.
Nakagawa is looking to finish here, going for an Americana. Barkley knows the correct defense though, so he's OK.
Nakagawa cracks Barkley with a big right hand but Barkley just smiles back at him and invites him to have another go.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
That's four minutes gone in the round.
Nakagawa wants to control but Barkley is keeping him busy.
Nakagawa misses with an attempted head punch from side control.
Barkley taking punishment in the form of punches.
Nakagawa scoring with punches from side control.
Barkley tries to improve position but can't.
We get told so often about how wrestlers don't like to be on their backs. Let's see if Barkley can do anything to dispel that myth.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Barkley is being controlled here.
Barkley is moving his hips around well on the bottom and has managed to get back to half guard.
Nakagawa wants to control but Barkley is keeping him busy.
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!
Barkley fails in his attempt to clinch.
Nakagawa fails to land the takedown.
Barkley lands a nice hook to Nakagawa's body. Nakagawa takes it in his stride and looks to land his own strikes.
Nakagawa blocks a head kick by Barkley.
Nakagawa tries to counter with a takedown but Barkley is quick to defend against it.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Barkley misses with a body kick.
Nakagawa attempts a counter takedown but Barkley avoids it well and moves away.
Nakagawa swings for the body but Barkley moves out of range.
Barkley swings wildly with a couple of big hooks
and Nakagawa counters with a takedown into side control.
That's one minute gone in the round.
Barkley struggling a bit here.
Barkley tries to work a leg under to get back to half guard but Nakagawa wriggles his own leg back out and remains in side control.
Nakagawa in side control, trying to ground and pound but not landing this time.
The ground and pound from Nakagawa seems to be hitting the mat more than his opponent.
Nakagawa throws a knee to the body but it doesn't do much damage.
Both fighters take a look at the clock.
Nakagawa thinks about going for a far side armbar but bails out and retains the dominant position instead.
That's two 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.
Barkley on the wrong end of some ground and pound.
Nakagawa is maintaining the dominant position - no doubt Barkley will start to get frustrated soon if he's not already.
Barkley regains half guard there - taking advantage of Nakagawa's attempt to lay and pray for a moment.
Nakagawa throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
That's three minutes gone in the round.
Barkley blocking the ground and pound attempt from Nakagawa.
Barkley is concentrating on defense, preventing Nakagawa from advancing position.
Shinnosuke Nakagawa overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Barkley is trying to maintain the position but Nakagawa is very close to passing his half guard.
Nakagawa moves nicely into side control.
A bit of a lull in the action. I'm sure it will pick up again soon... even if the ref has to physically pick them up and put them back on their feet.
Nakagawa tries for an arm triangle. That looks pretty tight to me. Is this one over!?! Possibly, maybe, no Nakagawa has let go of the choke. Obviously it wasn't as tight as we thought!
Nakagawa wants to lay and pray for a moment but Barkley keeps working.
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.
The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up.
Some wild striking there from Nakagawa.
As Nakagawa backs off Barkley throws a huge counter combo but Nakagawa manages to avoid it all.
Nakagawa moves out of range of the leg kick from Barkley.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Nakagawa keeps the fight on the outside.
Nakagawa tries to counter with a takedown but Barkley is quick to defend against it.
Barkley throws a nice looking combination but Nakagawa bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.
Shinnosuke Nakagawa dominated that second round.
That's the end of the interval. I'm sure that seemed a lot quicker than a minute for our two fighters! Back to the action.
Barkley fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Nakagawa with a nice cross.
A big right from Barkley misses.
Nakagawa takes a swing at Barkley's ribcage but misses.
A decent looking cross lands there for Nakagawa.
Nakagawa lands with a cross.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Barkley falls off balance throwing a combination
and Nakagawa counters with a shoot takedown into half guard.
Nakagawa trying to control from Barkley's half guard. Barkley has other ideas though and has regained full guard.
That's one minute gone in the round.
Barkley not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Nakagawa is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Barkley can do to turn this around?
Nakagawa with a nice head shot there.
Barkley keeping moving, preventing Nakagawa from controlling successfully.
Barkley is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
We've had a lack of effective grappling in the last minute or so, which could well see a referee standup.
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.
The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.
Barkley throws a lazy right hand but Nakagawa sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Nakagawa drives through with a takedown into Barkley's guard. Let's see what he can do from the top position.
Barkley controlling the position.
Nakagawa working from the guard for now, landing some ground and pound.
Barkley keeping moving, preventing Nakagawa from controlling successfully.
Nakagawa drops back looking for a leg! Barkley is in trouble here! The fighters roll with the hold and Barkley manages to kick Nakagawa off! Nakagawa jumps back into Barkley's guard.
That's three minutes gone in the round.
Barkley is trying to control the position but Nakagawa postures up.
Nakagawa passes Barkley's right leg, so he's now in half guard.
Barkley is looking for a sweep. Nakagawa is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Nakagawa thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.
Nakagawa lands a big shot. The thud that echoes around the arena is like music to the fans' ears.
Barkley is looking to improve his position.
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.
The referee walks around the fighters to get a better view of the action. Nakagawa lands a nice short elbow.
Nakagawa wants to lay and pray for a moment but Barkley keeps working.
Nakagawa missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.
Barkley trying to control here.
Barkley might have to switch it up a bit here because his efforts to control Nakagawa haven't been going to plan, at least at the current moment in time.
It looks like the ref is thinking about a standup.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Barkley is holding on to half guard well.
The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.
Shinnosuke Nakagawa clearly takes that round.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!
Barkley takes a jab right on the nose. That must have hurt but he shrugs his shoulders and looks to return the favor.
Nakagawa lands a jab.
Nakagawa works the jab nicely.
Nakagawa ducks low and lands a nice hook to the body of his opponent.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Barkley throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Nakagawa has a takedown stuffed.
Both fighters are looking to counter, which isn't making for the most exciting fight in the world.
That's one minute gone in the round.
Nice uppercut lands for Nakagawa. That snapped Barkley's head back.
Barkley takes a swing at Nakagawa's ribcage but misses.
Barkley misses with a hook
and Nakagawa counters with a shoot takedown into half guard.
Barkley trying to control here.
Barkley tries to get to full guard but Nakagawa has control of the leg.
Nakagawa is trying for a guillotine from the top but the pressure isn't in the right place so Barkley is just riding it out for now. Nakagawa eventually gives up the hold.
That's two minutes gone in the round.
Nakagawa is trying to control. Barkley wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.
Barkley wants to improve his position but Nakagawa is controlling well.
Nakagawa throwing shots but Barkley is blocking nicely.
That's three minutes gone in the round.
Barkley is staying active underneath Nakagawa, who seems content to just control the action from this position.
We must be close to a standup if these guys don't pick up the pace.
Nakagawa missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.
Barkley is staying active underneath Nakagawa, who seems content to just control the action from this position.
The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.
Barkley lands a big head kick that sends Nakagawa tumbling to the mat! Barkley takes a step backwards and waves Nakagawa back to his feet - he wants the finish!
Nakagawa is rocked!
It looks like Shinnosuke Nakagawa has been cut.
Nakagawa defending well as Barkley loads up on a big left hand.
A head kick by Barkley misses
and Nakagawa counters with a nice shoot takedown that brings the fighters to the ground.
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!
Barkley pulls Nakagawa in to control the position.
Nakagawa is trying to work a guillotine from the top, or something like that? Don't know how he thinks he's going to get a finish from there.
That's four minutes gone in the round.
Nakagawa trying to control the position from guard on top but Barkley is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Nakagawa pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Barkley is keeping the position for now.
Barkley has control of Nakagawa's left arm, preventing Nakagawa from doing any damage.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Nakagawa trying to control the position from guard on top but Barkley is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
We've had a lack of effective grappling in the last minute or so, which could well see a referee standup.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.
Shinnosuke Nakagawa had his way with Nick Barkley in that round.
The cut man is working on Shinnosuke Nakagawa's cut.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action! Let's hear some noise people - this is the final round!
Barkley avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
A little jabbing left from Barkley on the counter but it doesn't find it's target.
Barkley rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Nakagawa moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
A shot to the body from Nakagawa misses
enabling Barkley to counter with a crisp jab.
Nakagawa lands with a right hand.
Barkley looks to throw the jab but Nakagawa is out of range.
Barkley throws a head kick but Nakagawa moves out of range.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Barkley looks for the body kick but Nakagawa saw that one coming.
Nakagawa shoots in looking for a takedown but Barkley manages to keep the fight standing, pushing Nakagawa's face into the canvas for good measure before circling away.
That's one minute gone in the round.
Nakagawa connects with a right hand. Barkley shakes it off.
Nakagawa ducks under a wild hook from Barkley.
Nakagawa tries to counter with a takedown but Barkley is quick to defend against it.
Nakagawa moving in and out of range nicely, whilst landing the scoring shot.
Nakagawa throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Nick Barkley is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Nakagawa lands a nice hook to Barkley's body. Barkley takes it in his stride and looks to land his own strikes.
Nakagawa throws a hook but Barkley blocks it.
The fighters circling - Barkley throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
A head kick by Barkley misses
and Nakagawa counters with a takedown into side control.
Nick Barkley has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
That's two minutes gone in the round.
Barkley is not content to let Nakagawa control the position.
Barkley is being controlled here.
Barkley can't do much from the bottom here.
Barkley is looking for a sweep.
That's three minutes gone in the round.
Nakagawa working away diligently from side control. Landing strikes effectively there - that will score him some points on the judges scorecards.
Barkley is not content to let Nakagawa control the position.
Barkley regains half guard there - taking advantage of Nakagawa's attempt to lay and pray for a moment.
Shinnosuke Nakagawa is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Barkley wants to control but Nakagawa is keeping busy.
Barkley is controlling Nakagawa's position as best he can from this difficult position.
That's four minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Neither fighter is being very active at the moment, with Nakagawa in particular looking to stall.
The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.
Barkley needs to keep his hands up - Nakagawa had a free shot at his head there.
Barkley throws a body kick despite being completely out of range
so Nakagawa counters with a double leg into guard. Good agility.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Nakagawa sitting in guard here, content to control.
And that's the end of the fight!
Shinnosuke Nakagawa showed his dominance in that final round.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Nakagawa, 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 Ren Mimura scores the fight 50:45
Judge Tatsuya Matsuyama scores the fight 50:45
Judge Kenichi Hosakawa scores the fight 50:45
In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Shinnosuke Nakagawa!
Shinnosuke Nakagawa retains his middleweight title!
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.
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| S |
C
A |
G |
S |
C
B |
G |
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S |
C |
G |
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energy
A | B |
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hype
A | B |
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pop
A | B |
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mgr
A | B |
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FIGHT
RATING
34% |
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