PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Ryu Nakamura (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Benson Hamaka (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Ryu Nakamura has the edge in experience - let's see if he can make that count tonight.

Nakamura
vs
Hamaka

180 cm
22
155 lbs
2 - 1 - 0

177 cm
21
157 lbs
4 - 5 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Brawler
Good chin

BJJ Purple Belt
Excellent boxer
Powerful

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 2 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Ryu Nakamura!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 4 - 5 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Benson Hamaka!
The judges for this bout are Daniel Cesar, Matheus Silva and Mauricio Rocha.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Hamaka changes levels and drives through with a really nice takedown into side control. Nakamura looks really pissed at himself for not defending that better.
Hamaka scores with a couple of short elbows.
Hamaka throws an elbow but Nakamura slips to the side and avoids it well.
Hamaka looking to punish the body of his opponent here but Nakamura is avoiding damage well.
Hamaka looking to punish the body of his opponent here but Nakamura is avoiding damage well.
Nakamura tries to improve position but can't.

Hamaka is looking to finish here, going for an Americana. Nakamura knows the correct defense though, so he's OK.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Hamaka scores with a couple of nice shots to the head there. The referee takes a look at Nakamura to see if he's OK.
Hamaka has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Hamaka working away.
Sloppy strikes there by Hamaka.
Hamaka takes a little break here. Nakamura wants to take advantage but he is being controlled well.
Nakamura is looking to regain half guard here but Hamaka keeps moving and retains side control.
Nakamura is not content to let Hamaka control the position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Hamaka sitting in side control, looking to soften his opponent up with elbows and hammerfists but Nakamura is avoiding damage well and looking to escape the position.
Hamaka working the ground and pound but he's contacting the mat, not the fighter.
Hamaka looking to punish the body of his opponent here but Nakamura is avoiding damage well.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.

Hamaka feints and as Nakamura raises his hands in defense, Hamaka changes levels and drives through with a takedown into guard.
Hamaka postures up.
Hamaka with a flurry of punches that miss.
Hamaka wants to control from the top but Nakamura keeps moving.
Hamaka pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Nakamura is keeping the position for now.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Hamaka working in close now, lands a nice elbow to the side of Nakamura's head.
Hamaka throwing strikes but missing.
Hamaka trying to control the position from guard on top but Nakamura is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Hamaka postures up and scores with a shot to the body and a follow up elbow to the head.

That's four 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.
Hamaka throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Nakamura is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.
Hamaka is working Nakamura over from the guard. He should look to pass the guard and do a little more damage with these strikes.
Hamaka thows a big elbow that misses.
Nakamura tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Hamaka is stalling in the full guard.
Hamaka makes a bit of distance and scores with some ground and pound, still in guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Benson Hamaka dominated that round.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin!

Hamaka drives through with a really nice takedown into side control.
Hamaka wants to control but Nakamura is keeping him busy.
Hamaka is moving around in side control but his primary objective seems to be to maintain the position.
Hamaka misses with an attempted head punch from side control.
Hamaka throwing strikes but missing, from side control.
You can see the frustration on Nakamura's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Hamaka throwing ground and pound but whilst doing so, he forgets to control position and Nakamura works his way back to half guard. Good composure under pressure.
Hamaka missing with the ground and pound from half guard.
Nakamura knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Hamaka on the ground.
Hamaka is keen to just control but Nakamura is a slippery customer.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.
Nakamura tries to clinch but Hamaka is having none of it.
Jab, cross, leg kick. Nice combination by Nakamura!
Ryu Nakamura is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Nice defenses there by Hamaka.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Hamaka feints and as Nakamura raises his hands in defense, Hamaka changes levels and drives through with a takedown into guard.
Nakamura looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Hamaka connects with a couple of short punches.
Hamaka working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.

Hamaka postures up as if he's going to throw some strikes but drops back for an ankle! Nakamura is in big trouble! He looks ready to tap! But no, he's escaped and dives on top of Hamaka, into his guard.
Hamaka keeping moving, preventing Nakamura from controlling successfully.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Hamaka has his feet on Nakamura's hips. He pushes off and gets to his feet. Nice work.
Nakamura misses with a wild combination.
Hamaka fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Nakamura avoids it really well and circles away.
Nakamura stuffs the takedown.
Hamaka is breathing heavily.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.

Hamaka shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Let's see what he's got on the mat.
Nakamura keeping moving, preventing Hamaka from controlling successfully.
Nakamura wants to sweep but no luck.
Hamaka with a flurry of punches that miss.
Benson Hamaka has got the better of the ground game so far.
Hamaka missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Nakamura is trying to keep Hamaka in close.
Nakamura looking to control the pace of the fight rather than finish it.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Benson Hamaka showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action! This is the final round!

Nakamura fails to land with a series of punches.

Hamaka throws the overhand right but ducks down into a quick takedown attempt. Nakamura was covering up waiting for the punch and Hamaka finishes the takedown easily into guard.
Hamaka pushing down on Nakamura's thigh, trying to pass to half guard. He's managed it... Nice work.
Hamaka thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Nakamura's head.
Hamaka lands with a punch from half guard.
Hamaka is looking to pass the guard... He's managed it - he's now in full mount!

That's one minute gone in the round.
Nakamura is in a horrible position here, under a barrage of strikes, he's managing to avoid any damage.
Hamaka thuds his fist into the canvas! Oooouch!
Nakamura taking shots to the head.
Hamaka throwing sloppy strikes, which aren't doing any damage.
Nakamura is in a horrible position here. Hamaka smacks him with another shot as he tries to escape the position.
Poor strikes thrown by Hamaka there. More accuracy and less frantic strikes would help!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Hamaka landing strikes from the mount.
Hamaka content just to control the position here.
Nakamura working to try and regain half guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Hamaka lands a heavy elbow.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Nakamura is desperately trying to improve his position but Hamaka has a good base and remains in mount.
Hamaka can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as Nakamura is looking to escape.

Hamaka working to secure an arm triangle but it's not happening for him just yet.
Hamaka takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.

Hamaka swings around for an armbar but it's a sloppy attempt and Nakamura is now in Hamaka's guard. A big mistake from Hamaka there, giving up the dominant position!
Ryu Nakamura has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's four 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.
Nakamura stops Hamaka from standing up.
Nakamura lands a couple of decent looking shots.
Benson Hamaka is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Hamaka utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Nakamura loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Nakamura throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Nakamura throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Hamaka works some decent striking defense from the bottom.

Nakamura is holding a leg here, probably looking for an ankle lock - he drops back and goes for it! Hamaka is in trouble! Is it all over??? No! Hamaka has escaped and now he's on top!

And that's the end of the fight!
Benson Hamaka comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Hamaka winning every round here. Surely the decision will go his way and he'll pick up a well deserved decision victory. 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 Daniel Cesar scores the fight 27:30
Judge Matheus Silva scores the fight 27:30
Judge Mauricio Rocha scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Benson Hamaka!