PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Takeshi Nanahara (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Jonathon Steel (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). The crowd seem to be enjoying Steel's choice of entrance music: Mustasch - Double Nature. Jonathon Steel has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Nanahara
vs
Steel

180 cm
18
155 lbs
2 - 0 - 0

180 cm
19
163 lbs
3 - 1 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Self confident

BJJ Purple Belt
Counter striker
Determined

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the lightweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 2 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Takeshi Nanahara!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 3 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Jonathon Steel!
The judges for this bout are Shigeki Sano, Yasuomi Hirokawa and Shirou Masuda.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Nanahara dives in and grabs Steel's left leg, looking for a takedown. Steel pushes down on Nanahara's head and hops out.
Nanahara wants to land a leg kick but Steel is out of range.
Steel has his takedown stuffed

so Nanahara counters with a double leg into guard. Good agility.
Nanahara controlling from the top position.
Nanahara stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Steel swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Steel is trying to control the position from the bottom.

Steel looking for subs off his back but Nanahara has passed one foot through into half guard.

Steel looking for submissions from an awkward position here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Steel has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Nanahara is working away from the top position though.
Steel tries to push off, looking to stand up, but Nanahara manages to move to mount!
Nanahara tucks in and makes sure he doesn't lose the dominant position.
Steel can't escape the position.

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.
Steel is persisting with the attempt to improve his position.
Nanahara controlling his opponent.
Steel gets back to half guard.
Steel is trying to control but can't.

Steel looking for submissions from an awkward position here.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Steel trying to control here.
Steel looks gassed!
Steel trying to control here but he's found himself mounted! Oh no!
Steel is looking to improve his position but Nanahara isn't that keen on the idea.
Nanahara controlling from the full mount.
Steel keeping his composure momentarily, calmly looking to get back to half guard.

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.
Nanahara content just to control the position here.
The fighters are trapped in the ropes so we're going to have a reposition here. The ref calls for a break and repositions the fighters in the center of the ring.
Steel wants to control but Nanahara is having none of it.
Steel is looking to get to half guard.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Nanahara controlling his opponent.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Takeshi Nanahara dominated that round.
That's time! Back to the action!

Nanahara bobs and weaves into range and then changes levels and scores with a nice takedown into side control.

Nanahara decides to stand back up. Nanahara steps back and let's Steel get back to his feet.
A combination from Nanahara does no damage.
Nanahara has his takedown stuffed

and Steel counters with a takedown into side control.
Steel is trying to move to mount but Nanahara reverses beautifully and ends up in Steel's guard.
Steel trying to control the position.
Nanahara wants to stand but Steel has a closed guard, so he can't escape.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Nanahara postures up.
Steel wants to sweep here but Nanahara controlling him for the moment.

Nanahara decides he's had enough of playing guard and decides to stand. Come on Steel, up you get!
Nanahara tries to clinch but Steel is having none of it.
Nanahara fails with the takedown

and Steel counters with a nice single leg takedown and he's in Nanahara's guard now.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Nanahara wants to sweep here but Steel controlling him for the moment.
Steel passes Nanahara's right leg, so he's now in half guard.
Steel is trying to control the action in half guard but Nanahara is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.

Steel is looking for a kimura here.
Steel is breathing heavily.
Nanahara is staying active underneath Steel, who seems content to just control the action from this position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Steel thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.
Nanahara blocking the ground and pound attempt from Steel.
The fighters are tangled up in the ropes here. We might need a restart if the fighters can't break free themselves.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.
Nanahara has his takedown stuffed

and Steel counters with a shoot takedown into half guard.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Takeshi Nanahara. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Nanahara keeping control of the position.
Nanahara trying to control from the bottom.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Steel wants to work for an arm triangle but Nanahara is really keeping half guard well and defending the submission attempt.
Nanahara trying to hold on to Steel's head to control him but Steel postures up.
Nanahara is not content to let Steel control the position.
Steel not landing any meaningful shots this time.

Nanahara has one foot on Steel's thigh - he pushes off and manages to get back to his feet.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Jonathon Steel showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action. This is the final round!

Steel has his takedown stuffed

and Nanahara counters with a shoot takedown. Steel fights it but they end up in guard.

Steel is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
Nanahara looking to control the position here, rather than advance.

Steel looks to be working for a triangle here. Oh, it looks like he might have it! Nanahara has picked Steel up and slammed him! Steel can't keep hold of the triangle and Nanahara manages to pass to side control!
Steel takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
A lull in the action here as Nanahara stalls from top position.

Nanahara has had enough of the ground for now and decides to stand.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Nanahara shoots and misses
and Steel counters with a three punch combo that has Nanahara backing up. Nanahara nods at Steel to acknowledge the strikes.
Nanahara shoots and misses

so Steel counters with a double leg into guard. Good agility.
Nanahara pulls Steel in close to prevent any damage.
Steel prevents Nanahara from getting back to his feet.
Nanahara working a defensive guard here.
Takeshi Nanahara overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Nanahara is edging up against the ropes. He's using the ropes to get back to his feet. Nice work there - the fighters are clinched.
Nanahara drops to a knee looking for a takedown but Steel gets the underhooks and prevents it.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Takeshi Nanahara. That's going to take a lot out of him.

Nanahara pulls Steel into guard.
Steel trying to control the position from guard on top but Nanahara is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Nanahara is looking to stand up but Steel isn't so interested in that idea.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Steel trying to control the position from guard on top but Nanahara is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Steel trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Steel trying to control but Nanahara is working from the bottom.
Steel stopping the sweep attempt from Nanahara.

Steel drops back for a leg but he's not going to get it - he lets go and Nanahara dives on top into 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.
Steel bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Nanahara's guard.

Nanahara has his feet on Steel's hips. He pushes off and gets to his feet. Nice work.

Nanahara looking to shoot here. He's gone for it and he's landed a takedown into mount! Oh, that's bad for Steel!
Nanahara controlling from the full mount.
Nanahara prevents Steel from getting the reversal.

And that's the end of the fight!
Takeshi Nanahara showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Nanahara 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 Shigeki Sano scores the fight 29:28
Judge Yasuomi Hirokawa scores the fight 29:28
Judge Shirou Masuda scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Takeshi Nanahara!