PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Daiki Nakamura (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Frank Mcdonald (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). We have two fighters making their debuts here, so let's see who comes out of this one with their first professional victory.

Nakamura
vs
Mcdonald

180 cm
19
156 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

175 cm
22
155 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Counter striker
Granite chin

BJJ Blue Belt
Decent boxing
Determined

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the featherweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, Daiki Nakamura!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, Frank Mcdonald!
The judges for this bout are , and .

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Mcdonald is defended easily by Nakamura.

Nakamura darts in and lands a nice takedown into half guard.
Nakamura missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.
Mcdonald is trying to get back to full guard.
Nakamura stalling.
Nakamura throws a strike but Mcdonald avoids it easily and moves to full guard.
Nakamura controlling from the guard. I say controlling but really, he's stalling.
Nakamura trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Nakamura sitting in guard here, content to control.

Nakamura is holding a leg here, probably looking for an ankle lock - he drops back and goes for it! Mcdonald is in trouble! Is it all over??? No! Mcdonald has escaped and now he's on top!
Mcdonald wants to control from the top but Nakamura keeps moving.
Mcdonald wanted to stand there but Nakamura had control of the position.
Nakamura manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Mcdonald manages to get himself to full guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Nakamura trying to control but Mcdonald is working from the bottom.
Mcdonald looking to control.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Nakamura passes Mcdonald's right leg, so he's now in half guard.
Nakamura slows the pace down in half guard.
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Nakamura missing with the ground and pound from half guard.
Mcdonald is trying to control but can't.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Mcdonald gets back to full guard.
Nakamura passes into half guard.
Nakamura works his way into full mount!

Nakamura looking for a guillotine from mount but Mcdonald is having none of it.
Nakamura can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as Mcdonald is looking to escape.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Nakamura with good strikes from the mount here!
Nakamura wants to control the pace but Mcdonald is squirming around nicely.
Nakamura prevents Mcdonald from getting the reversal.
Mcdonald wants to hold on but Nakamura pushes him away.
Mcdonald is looking to get to half guard.
Mcdonald looks gassed!
Nakamura is still in mount, landing shots to his trapped opponent. Mcdonald can't stay in a position like this for much longer.
Nakamura throwing shots from mount but they're not landing.
Mcdonald has given up his back. Will we see Nakamura going for some submissions?
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Daiki Nakamura dominated that round.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business.

Nakamura takes a step back and watches a body kick go sailing past his mid section.
Mcdonald doesn't succeed with the takedown

and Nakamura decides to take the opportunity to score a takedown. He's landed in Mcdonald's guard.
Nakamura landing with the ground and pound.
Mcdonald wants to sweep but no luck.
Nakamura pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Mcdonald is keeping the position for now.
Mcdonald wants to sweep here but Nakamura controlling him for the moment.
Nakamura slips effortlessly into side control - very nice.
Mcdonald is breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Nakamura looking to punish the body of his opponent here but Mcdonald is avoiding damage well.
Mcdonald is positioning himself to get back to half guard.

Nakamura looking for an arm triangle but it's way too loose to do anything.
Nakamura trying to control the action but Mcdonald is working from the bottom.
Mcdonald trying to remain calm as Nakamura controls from the top position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.

Nakamura stands up and we're back to a striking position.

Nakamura closes the distance and gets a double leg, slamming Mcdonald to the mat! Mcdonald manages to get full guard.
Mcdonald trying to control the position.
Nakamura works a leg free and moves into half guard.
Nakamura missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.
Mcdonald won't allow Nakamura to pass to mount.
Nakamura passes to side control.
A lull in the action here as Nakamura stalls from top position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Nakamura wants to lay and pray for a moment but Mcdonald keeps working.
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.

Nakamura is looking to finish here, going for an Americana. Mcdonald knows the correct defense though, so he's OK.
Nakamura in side control lands a decent elbow.

Nakamura tries for an arm triangle. That looks pretty tight to me. Is this one over!?! Possibly, maybe, no Nakamura has let go of the choke. Obviously it wasn't as tight as we thought!

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.

Nakamura is looking to finish here, going for an Americana. Mcdonald knows the correct defense though, so he's OK.
Mcdonald can't do much from the bottom here.
Mcdonald is trying to buck Nakamura off.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Daiki Nakamura dominated that second round.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin! So, we enter the final round. Let's see if either fighter can bring us a finish, or whether we're going to the judges scorecards.

Nakamura has managed to clinch.
An uppercut to the body lands inside from Mcdonald.
Nakamura lands with a good tight uppercut to the head.

Nakamura gets control of Mcdonald's arms and successfully pulls guard. Nakamura will no doubt be looking for submissions off his back.
Nakamura tries to strike from the bottom.

Mcdonald drops back, looking for a kneebar! Nakamura looks panicked! The fighters roll across the mat, one looking to finish, one looking to escape. Nakamura looks to have wriggled free... Yes, he's got his leg free and he's dived into side control! Good work there from Nakamura!
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Mcdonald takes a big shot right to the temple there but he's taken it well.
Nakamura is looking to take a break and control but Mcdonald is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.

Nakamura looking for an arm triangle but it's way too loose to do anything.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Nakamura looking for an arm triangle but it's way too loose to do anything.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Mcdonald is putting a lot of effort into getting back to his feet here.

Nakamura has hold of Mcdonald's arm here. He's working for an Americana. It looks like he might have it! Mcdonald tries to escape but he's just digging himself in deeper - Nakamura cranks the arm and Mcdonald screams in pain! The ref makes a decision and ends the fight before the tap - no complains from Mcdonald, who is just happy to have his arm attached to his body.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 1:58 of round 3, we have a winner by way of Submission (Americana). Daiki Nakamura!