PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Shinnosuke Nohara (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Mariano Sanchez (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Nohara kept the crowd waiting but all that was forgotten when his ring entrance music started. The incomparable musical genius that is Dame Dame no Uta. Sanchez has chosen Faint [LP] as his entrance music. Mariano Sanchez is the more experienced fighter, so let's see if that makes a difference tonight.

Nohara
vs
Sanchez

150 cm
19
174 lbs
1 - 1 - 0

183 cm
23
185 lbs
4 - 4 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Great elbows
Cardio machine

BJJ White Belt
Excellent boxer
Heavy handed

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 1 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Shinnosuke Nohara!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 4 - 4 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Mariano Sanchez!
The judges for this bout are Taro Takaoka, Tatsuya Matsuyama and Kenichi Hosakawa.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Nohara rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Sanchez moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Sanchez takes a step back and watches a body kick go sailing past his mid section.
Jab by Sanchez.
Nohara throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
A jab from Sanchez finds it's way through Nohara's defenses.

It looks like Shinnosuke Nohara has been cut.
Nohara misses with an attempted mid kick.
Nohara misses with an uppercut.
Sanchez checks a leg kick.
Sanchez checks the leg kick nicely there.
Sanchez throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Nohara fails with a takedown attempt.
A jab from Sanchez does it's job there.
Nohara throws a wild body kick that Sanchez sees coming a mile off.
Sanchez throws a sloppy head kick and Nohara moves out of range easily.
Sanchez lands three nice shots there - that looked like it hurt!
Some wild striking there from Sanchez.

Nohara closes the distance and clinches.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Nohara tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Sanchez avoids it.
Nohara lands a nice elbow from the clinch.
Sanchez working hard to break the clinch.
Nohara misses with a knee to the head.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kneeeeees! The crowd are calling for knees to the body. Nohara obliges.
Nohara lands a nice knee to the body.
Sanchez takes an elbow to the temple.
Nohara lands an elbow just above Sanchez 's eye.

It looks like Mariano Sanchez has been cut.
Sanchez looks gassed!
Nohara landing knees to the head.
Sanchez trying to control the position but instead, Nohara has worked for underhooks and has pushed Sanchez into the cage.
Nohara creates a bit of space for himself and sneaks an elbow through Sanchez's defenses.
Nohara unloads a knee to the mid-section.
Nohara tries a knee to the head but Sanchez blocks it.
Sanchez gets double underhooks to prevent a takedown attempt from Nohara.
Nice elbow from Nohara.
Nohara with the Thai clinch, lands a knee to the head.
Nohara scores with a knee to the head.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Sanchez prevents the takedown attempt.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Shinnosuke Nohara. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Sanchez takes an elbow to the forehead.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Nohara lands an elbow inside that Sanchez shrugs off.
Nohara lands a damaging elbow.
Sanchez takes an elbow to the temple.
Nohara landing some nice looking knees to the body.
Knees to the body from Nohara.
Sanchez takes an elbow to the temple.
Nohara landing knees to the head.
Nohara lands an elbow just above Sanchez 's eye.
Nohara lands a nice elbow.
Nohara landing knees to the body.
Kneeeeees! The crowd are calling for knees to the body. Nohara obliges.
Knees to the body from Nohara.
Nohara misses with a knee to the head.
Nohara drops to a knee looking for a takedown but Sanchez gets the underhooks and prevents it.
Sanchez takes an elbow to the temple.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Nohara unloads a knee to the mid-section. Sanchez lets out a prehistoric sounding urrrrgh.
Sanchez wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.
Nohara lands an elbow inside that Sanchez shrugs off.
Nohara lands an elbow inside that Sanchez shrugs off.
Nohara lands a glancing elbow in the clinch.
Nohara landing knees to the head.
Sanchez takes an elbow to the temple.

That has opened up Mariano Sanchez's cut even more.
Nohara scores with a knee to the head.
Sanchez tries to circle away but Nohara has him pinned against the cage.
Nice elbow from Nohara.
Nohara lands an elbow inside that Sanchez shrugs off.
Nohara scores with a knee to the head.
Nohara scores with a knee to the head.
Nohara misses with a knee strike.
Nohara misses with a knee strike.
Nohara lands a nice elbow from the clinch.
Sanchez takes a knee to the side of the body.
Nohara misses with a knee strike.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Sanchez wants to break free but Nohara has control.
Nohara throws an elbow but it's blocked.
Sanchez wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.
Nohara pushes off and fires off an elbow that misses, before clinching up again, against the cage.
Nohara is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Sanchez is defending well for now.
Sanchez can't break the clinch.
Nohara lands an elbow inside.
Nohara scores a nice knee to the body.
Nohara tries to land a knee to the head but Sanchez blocks with his arms.
Nohara landing some nice looking knees to the body.
Nohara scores a nice knee to the body.
Nohara lands an elbow inside that Sanchez shrugs off.
Sanchez blocks the elbow strike.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Nohara scores with a knee to the head.
Nohara lands a nice elbow from the clinch.
Nohara misses with a knee strike.
Nohara tries to land knees in the clinch but Sanchez avoids the damage to the body.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Shinnosuke Nohara dominated that round.
Both fighters have cut men working on them during the interval.
That's time! Back to the action!

The fight stays on the outside here - Nohara looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Nohara misses with a low kick.

Nohara has Sanchez up against the cage in a clinch.
Nohara lands a nice elbow from the clinch.
Nohara tries a knee to the head but Sanchez blocks it.
Nohara looking to throw knees to the head but Sanchez is blocking nicely.
Nohara wants a takedown but no success here.
Nohara throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Sanchez blocks it with crossed arms.
Sanchez takes an elbow to the forehead.
Sanchez wants to get back to striking at distance but Nohara won't allow it.
Nohara landing knees to the body. They look like they could hurt.
Nohara tries to land knees in the clinch but Sanchez avoids the damage to the body.
Sanchez looks like he'd prefer to be striking at range right now.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Sanchez wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.
Sanchez avoiding damage as Nohara throws knees to the body.
Sanchez blocks the elbow strike.
Sanchez working hard to break the clinch.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Nohara throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Sanchez blocks it with crossed arms.
Nohara looking to throw knees to the head but Sanchez is blocking nicely.
Sanchez takes an elbow to the forehead.
Nohara has Sanchez pressed up against the cage and is working for takedown. Sanchez manages to improve position though and keeps the fight standing.
Sanchez avoids a wild elbow strike from Nohara.
Nohara is trying to work for a single leg takedown but Sanchez pulls him back up using the underhooks.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Shinnosuke Nohara. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Sanchez is trying to break the clinch but Nohara is controlling him.
Nohara lands a glancing elbow in the clinch.
Sanchez wants to break the clinch but can't.
Nohara missing with knees to the body.
Sanchez wants to get back to striking at distance but Nohara won't allow it.
Sanchez takes an elbow to the temple.
Sanchez has had enough of the clinch and is looking to separate.
Nohara creates a bit of space for himself and sneaks an elbow through Sanchez's defenses.
Nohara with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.
Nohara using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Sanchez has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
Nohara has hold of a leg and is looking for a trip takedown. Sanchez avoids it nicely though and we remain in the clinch.
Nohara tries to land a knee to the head but Sanchez blocks with his arms.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Sanchez wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.
Nohara trying to land knees to the body.
Nohara keeps control of Sanchez as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.
Sanchez wants to break the clinch but can't.
Sanchez avoids the elbow strike from Nohara, against the cage.
Nohara tries a knee to the head but Sanchez blocks it.
Nohara is looking for a takedown up against the cage. Sanchez gets underhooks though and prevents the takedown attempt.
Sanchez wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Nohara has him pressed against the cage.
Sanchez blocks the elbow strike.
Nohara misses with an elbow over the top.
Shinnosuke Nohara has scored more points in the clinch so far.
Sanchez wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.
Nohara misses with a knee strike.
Sanchez is trying to break the clinch but Nohara is controlling him.
Nohara lands a knee to the head there! That was nasty!
Sanchez wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.
Sanchez looks like he'd prefer to be striking at range right now.
Nohara with an attempt at a knee that misses.
Sanchez is trying to stall.
Nohara pushes off an throws an elbow but Sanchez leans to the side and avoids it. We're back to clinching against the cage.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Nohara misses with a knee strike.
Nohara tries a knee to the head but Sanchez blocks it.
Nohara tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Sanchez avoids it.
Sanchez wants to break the clinch but can't.
Nohara trying to land knees to the body.
Nohara pushes off an throws an elbow but Sanchez leans to the side and avoids it. We're back to clinching against the cage.
Sanchez is trying to force a seperation but Nohara has the dominant position.
Sanchez tries to circle away but Nohara has him pinned against the cage.
Nice elbow from Nohara.
Nohara tries to score a body lock takedown but Sanchez shows good agility there to stay on his feet.
Sanchez is trying to break the clinch but Nohara is controlling him.
Sanchez is trying to break the clinch but Nohara has him pressed against the cage.
Nohara prevents Sanchez from breaking the clinch.
Nohara tries a knee to the head but he's missed.
Sanchez wants to get back to striking at distance but Nohara won't allow it.
Sanchez looking to slow down the pace here.
Nohara lands an elbow that stopped Sanchez in his tracks for a moment.

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.
Nohara tries for a takedown. No joy.
Nohara tries to land knees in the clinch but Sanchez avoids the damage to the body.
Nohara lands an elbow inside that Sanchez shrugs off.
Nohara tries to land knees in the clinch but Sanchez avoids the damage to the body.
Nohara lands a damaging elbow.
Sanchez can't break the clinch.
Sanchez has had enough of the clinch but Nohara keeps him there for the moment.
Sanchez takes an elbow to the temple.
Sanchez working hard to break the clinch.
Nohara creates a bit of space for himself and sneaks an elbow through Sanchez's defenses.
Nohara lands an elbow inside that Sanchez shrugs off.
Nohara lands an elbow inside.
Nohara working Sanchez over with knees to the body.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Nohara misses with an elbow strike.
Nohara with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.
Nohara tries a knee to the head but he's missed.
Nohara with an attempt at a knee that misses.
Nohara trying to land knees to the body.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Shinnosuke Nohara dominated that second round.
Both fighters have cut men working on them during the interval.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action! This is the final round!

Sanchez tests Nohara's chin there with a solid looking shot.
Nohara tries to clinch up.
Nohara pivots as if he's going to throw a leg kick but stops half way.
A right-left combo lands from Sanchez.
Sanchez throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Nohara moves in looking to clinch but Sanchez pushes him off.
Nohara tries to clinch there but Sanchez circles away.
Nohara takes a swing at Sanchez's ribcage but misses.
Nohara tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Sanchez paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Nohara throws a push kick but Sanchez slaps the foot to one side.
Nohara is looking to clinch but Sanchez is avoiding it.
Sanchez uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Nohara.
Nohara closes the distance and takes a jab right on the nose as he does so.

Nohara forces Sanchez back against the cage and clinches.
Nohara lands a glancing elbow in the clinch.
Nohara tries to score a body lock takedown but Sanchez shows good agility there to stay on his feet.
Nohara tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Sanchez avoids it.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Sanchez wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Nohara lands a nice elbow.
Nohara misses with a knee to the head.
Sanchez takes an elbow to the forehead.
Sanchez takes an elbow to the temple.
With the two fighters working up against the cage, Nohara just misses with a elbow thrown towards Sanchez's brow.
Nohara tries to land knees in the clinch but Sanchez avoids the damage to the body.
Nohara lands a nice elbow.
Sanchez tries to break the clinch but Nohara is controlling the position.
Nohara tries to land knees in the clinch but Sanchez avoids the damage to the body.
Nohara with an attempt at a knee that misses.
A battle for position here, against the cage.
Knees in the clinch landing for Nohara.
Sanchez is trying to break the clinch but Nohara has him pressed against the cage.
Nohara unloads a knee to the mid-section. Sanchez lets out a prehistoric sounding urrrrgh.
Nohara throws a knee to the head but misses.
Sanchez is looking to break free of the clinch but Nohara has double underhooks.
Sanchez wants to get back to striking at distance but Nohara won't allow it.

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.
Nohara misses with a knee strike.
Sanchez tries to stall but Nohara uses the opportunity to gain a better position.
Nohara with a knee to the head.
Nohara with an attempt at a knee that misses.
Nohara missing with knees to the body.
Sanchez trying to stall but Nohara improves his position.
Nohara has Sanchez pressed against the cage, preventing Sanchez from circling away and getting back to striking at range.
Nohara has a body lock and is looking for a takedown. Sanchez is bouncing around trying to prevent the takedown and somehow he has indeed managed to stay on his feet.
Sanchez is trying to break free.
Nohara tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Sanchez avoids it.
Nohara has Sanchez pressed against the cage, preventing Sanchez from circling away and getting back to striking at range.
Knees in the clinch landing for Nohara.
Nohara landing some nice looking knees to the body.
Sanchez has had enough of the clinch and is looking to separate.
Sanchez tries to break free but Nohara pushes him back against the cage.
Nohara lands a glancing elbow in the clinch.
Kneeeeees! The crowd are calling for knees to the body. Nohara obliges.
Sanchez takes an elbow to the forehead.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Nohara with an attempt at a knee that misses.
Nohara throws a nice elbow but it doesn't land.
Nohara throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Sanchez blocks it with crossed arms.
Nohara with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.

Sanchez's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
A punch combination from Sanchez misses.
Sanchez tries to bum rush Nohara with a series of wild strikes but Nohara uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Sanchez keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Nohara.
Mariano Sanchez has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Nohara throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Nohara takes a shot right to the liver - Bas would have been proud of that punch.
Nohara misses with a shot to the body
enabling Sanchez to counter with a crisp jab.
Nohara tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Sanchez connects with a body shot.
Sanchez throws a body kick but he was well out of range there.

Nohara drives through and clinches with Sanchez against the cage.
Sanchez dodges an elbow strike from Nohara.
Nohara lands a nice elbow.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Sanchez is trying to force a seperation but Nohara has the dominant position.
Sanchez is trying to break the clinch but Nohara is controlling him.
Nohara tries for a takedown. No joy.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Shinnosuke Nohara. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Nohara using the Thai clinch to land knees to the body.
Sanchez has used his reach advantage pretty well so far tonight.
Knees in the clinch landing for Nohara.
Sanchez working hard to break the clinch.
Sanchez takes an elbow to the forehead.
Nohara lands an elbow just above Sanchez 's eye.
Nohara lands an elbow just above Sanchez 's eye.
Shinnosuke Nohara is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Nohara has a body lock and is looking for a takedown. Sanchez is bouncing around trying to prevent the takedown and somehow he has indeed managed to stay on his feet.
Nohara looking to throw knees to the head but Sanchez is blocking nicely.
Sanchez is trying to break the clinch but Nohara is controlling him.
Sanchez has had enough of the clinch but Nohara keeps him there for the moment.
Nohara is trying to wear down his opponent with knees to the body.
Sanchez works for underhooks and lands a body shot in the process.
Nohara with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.
Sanchez is looking to break free of the clinch but Nohara has double underhooks.
Sanchez takes an elbow to the temple.

And that's the end of the fight!
I would just about give that final round to Mariano Sanchez.
I think Nohara 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 Taro Takaoka scores the fight 29:28
Judge Tatsuya Matsuyama scores the fight 29:28
Judge Kenichi Hosakawa scores the fight 30:28

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