PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Shuji Nakamura (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Paul Gotti (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). I can't wait for this one - let's get the fighter introductions out of the way and get this one started!

Nakamura
vs
Gotti

161 cm
19
164 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

178 cm
18
161 lbs
1 - 1 - 0

Good wrestling
Brawler
Very quick

BJJ White Belt
Decent boxing
Solid chin

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 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Shuji Nakamura!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Paul Gotti!
The judges for this bout are Matti Vanhoillinen, Ben Zyskovitsi and Marco Blurström.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
A punch combination from Gotti misses.
Nakamura tries to close the distance and clinch but Gotti swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Gotti throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Gotti closes the distance and lands a one-two.
Nakamura fails with the takedown.
Gotti throws a right and a left that Nakamura avoids nicely.
No joy there for Gotti, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Gotti misses with a two punch combination.
Nakamura fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
Nakamura avoids a punch combination nicely.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
A right-left combo lands from Gotti.
Nakamura slips a jab and a cross from Gotti.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Gotti misses with a two punch combination.
Nakamura changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Gotti tries to avoid it but Nakamura manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Gotti to the ground. Gotti escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Shuji Nakamura. That's going to take a lot out of him.

Nakamura shoots in from a long way out. He's driving through with the takedown attempt and he eventually gets it, landing in Gotti's guard.
Gotti looking to hit a scissor sweep but Nakamura is one step ahead there.
Gotti working a defensive guard here.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Nakamura pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Gotti is keeping the position for now.
Gotti trying to control the position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Nakamura won't allow Gotti to sweep him here.
Gotti keeping moving, preventing Nakamura from controlling successfully.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Gotti rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Nakamura moves out of range and avoids them all easily.

Nakamura fakes an overhand right and shoots for a takedown. Gotti sprawls well initially but Nakamura persists and gets the takedown into half guard.

Nakamura is looking for an arm triangle, whilst trying to pass to side control. Gotti doesn't seem that keen to cooperate though. No luck this time Nakamura.
Nakamura seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Gotti does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Nakamura missing with the ground and pound from half guard.
Nakamura prevents Gotti from improving his position.
Gotti is persisting with the attempt to improve his position.
Gotti wants to get back to full guard but Nakamura has passed into side control.
Nakamura breaks from Gotti's wrist control and lands an elbow.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Gotti takes a big shot to the head but keeps on trying to improve his position.
Nakamura tries to control but Gotti wriggling away.
Nakamura prevents Gotti from getting the reversal.
Nakamura with the ground and pound from mount.
Gotti is in all sorts of trouble here.
Nakamura tries to control but Gotti wriggling away.
Gotti can't escape the position.
Nakamura trying to control but Gotti is having none of it.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Shuji Nakamura dominated that round.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

Some wild striking there from Gotti.
Some wild striking there from Gotti.

Nakamura shoots in with a lovely double leg takedown. Gotti manages to land in full guard to minimise the damage.
Gotti keeping moving, preventing Nakamura from controlling successfully.
Gotti pulls Nakamura in to control the position.
Gotti tries to land a sweep but no joy.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Nakamura drops back for a leg! It's a sloppy attempt though and Nakamura jumps back into guard quickly, to retain the dominant position.
Nakamura slips nicely into half guard.
Nakamura trying to mount his opponent but Gotti defends it.
Nakamura prevents Gotti from improving his position.
Nakamura seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Gotti does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.
Nakamura is really struggling to control Gotti but he's trying to hold on to the position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Well. There's a bit of a lull in the action here and the crowd are starting to get restless.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.
Gotti will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Gotti scores with a one two! Nakamura had his feet all tangled up there and couldn't avoid the strikes.
Gotti throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Nakamura tries to close the distance and clinch but Gotti swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Gotti defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Nakamura.
Gotti swinging wilding here.
Gotti lets the fists fly and connects with a left straight followed by a right hook.
Nakamura slips a jab and a cross from Gotti.
Gotti fails to land with a series of punches.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Gotti misses with a double jab.
Gotti misses with the combination.
Gotti misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Nakamura shoots in for a takedown but Gotti shows good takedown defense.
Gotti misses with a wild combination.
Nakamura throws a jab, cross combination which is slipped
and Gotti counters with a three punch combination, finished off with a leg kick. Nice work.
Nakamura pivots as if he's going to throw a leg kick but stops half way.
Nakamura misses with a jab, cross combination.
Nakamura throws a head kick but Gotti moves out of range.
Gotti misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Nakamura throws a sloppy head kick and Gotti moves out of range easily.

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.
Nakamura tries to clinch there but Gotti circles away.
Nakamura is on the wrong end of a nice combination from Gotti.

Nakamura closes the distance and gets a double leg, slamming Gotti to the mat! Gotti manages to get full guard.
Gotti can't keep his opponent in guard - Nakamura advances to half guard, no doubt looking to mount.
Gotti tries to roll over but Nakamura keeps him under control.
Nakamura controlling the action here.
Nakamura thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Gotti's head.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Shuji Nakamura dominated that second round.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action! This is the final round!

Nakamura closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.
Gotti wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.
Gotti tries to break free but Nakamura pushes him back against the cage.
Gotti gets double underhooks to prevent a takedown attempt from Nakamura.
Nakamura is stalling here. The referee will be looking to step in if he doesn't pick up the pace.
Gotti is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.

Nakamura pulls guard.
Gotti wants to stand but Nakamura has a closed guard, so he can't escape.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Nakamura looking for a sweep. Not yet Nakamura, not yet.
Gotti must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Gotti postures up.

Nakamura is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Gotti is aware though and is defending well.
Gotti won't allow Nakamura to sweep him here.

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

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Gotti misses with a two punch combination.
Gotti throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.

Nakamura is looking for a takedown here. He's shot in and has managed to get it, finishing up in Gotti's half guard.

Nakamura is sneakily working for an arm triangle but Gotti sees it coming and defends easily.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Gotti is trying to control but can't.
Gotti is staying active underneath Nakamura, who seems content to just control the action from this position.
Gotti trying to control but Nakamura postures up.
Gotti might have to switch it up a bit here because his efforts to control Nakamura kaven't been going to plan, at least at the current moment in time.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Gotti is looking to improve his position.
Gotti is trying to control but Nakamura passes into side control!

Nakamura stands up and beckons Gotti to his feet.
Gotti looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Gotti misses with a few strikes there.
Nakamura shoots in but Gotti avoids the takedown attempt easily.
Paul Gotti has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Gotti will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Nakamura is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Nakamura tries to close the distance and clinch up but Gotti swats him away and circles back towards the center.

Nakamura throws the overhand right but ducks down into a quick takedown attempt. Gotti was covering up waiting for the punch and Nakamura finishes the takedown easily into guard.
Gotti keeping moving, preventing Nakamura from controlling successfully.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Gotti is trying to control the position but Nakamura postures up.
Shuji Nakamura is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Gotti keeping moving, preventing Nakamura from controlling successfully.

And that's the end of the fight!
Shuji Nakamura showed his dominance in that final round.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Nakamura, 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 3 rounds of action, we go to the scorecards for a decision.
Judge Matti Vanhoillinen scores the fight 30:27
Judge Ben Zyskovitsi scores the fight 30:27
Judge Marco Blurström scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Shuji Nakamura!