PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Kevin Olbo (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Kazuharu Nakata (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). These two fighters really are very evenly matched on the feet - it will be fascinating to see who can assert themselves in that aspect of the fight.

Olbo
vs
Nakata

184 cm
20
150 lbs
2 - 1 - 0

175 cm
20
150 lbs
2 - 1 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter striker
Granite chin

BJJ Blue Belt
Basic striking
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 2 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Kevin Olbo!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Kazuharu Nakata!
The judges for this bout are Tatsuya Matsuyama, Shigeki Sano and Shirou Masuda.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Olbo instigates a clinch.

Olbo pulls guard successfully.
Olbo wants to hit a switch here but Nakata passes into full mount! Oh no, disaster for Olbo there!
Olbo tries to lock up and control but Nakata gives him a forearm to the face and pushes him away.
Olbo is working to get back to half guard.

Nakata with some aggressive grappling here. He's looking for submissions here, rather than waiting for the opportunity to counter.
Olbo really does look like a pencil wearing a pair of gloves. Let's hope he has a gameplan to suit that ridiculous body shape.
Olbo wants to control but Nakata is having none of it.

Nakata stands up from the dominant position, so we're back on the feet.
Olbo shoots for a takedown but Nakata saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.

Olbo looks for a takedown. He's got it. We're now in half guard.
Olbo seems to have lost interest with the ground game and is thinking about standing back up.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Nakata manages to get to full guard.
Olbo with a flurry of punches that miss.
Nakata working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Olbo.
Nakata is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
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.
Nakata keeping full guard, as Olbo tries to pass.
Olbo is breathing heavily.

Nakata working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Olbo doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Olbo manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.
Olbo has decided he wants to stand but the closed guard of Nakata is proving hard to escape from.
Olbo trying to control the position from guard on top but Nakata is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Nakata 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.
Nakata keeping moving, preventing Olbo from controlling successfully.

Nakata is looking for a triangle but Olbo pushes his legs off easily.
Olbo lands a couple of elbows.
Olbo stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Nakata swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Olbo passes into half guard.
Olbo trying to control the action but Nakata is working from the bottom.
Olbo moves into full mount! Nakata won't be happy about that!
Olbo prevents Nakata from getting the reversal.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Nakata wants to hold on but Olbo pushes him away.
Nakata is desperately trying to improve his position but Olbo has a good base and remains in mount.
Nakata is persisting with the attempt to improve his position.
Olbo scores with a couple of good head shots there.
Olbo can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as Nakata is looking to escape.
Nakata sneaks a leg under to get to half guard.
Nakata moves his hips nicely and gets into full guard.
Nakata keeping moving, preventing Olbo from controlling successfully.

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.
Olbo trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Olbo works over Nakata with some ground and pound from guard.
Olbo passes into half guard.
Olbo is looking to advance position but Nakata won't allow it.
Olbo is keen to just control but Nakata is a slippery customer.
Olbo winds up and cracks Nakata with a swinging punch to the side of the head.
Olbo seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Nakata does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.
Olbo winds up and cracks Nakata with a swinging punch to the side of the head.
Olbo moves into full mount! Nakata won't be happy about that!
BOOM! Olbo connects with a massive shot to the dome!
Olbo lands with some strikes.
Olbo postures up and cracks his opponent a couple of times before moving back into close ground control. Nakata looks a forlorn figure.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Kevin Olbo dominated that round.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

Nakata with a lazy takedown attempt

so Olbo counters with a double leg into guard. Good agility.

Nakata is rocked!

It looks like Kazuharu Nakata has been cut.
Nakata keeping moving, preventing Olbo from controlling successfully.
Nakata is still in real trouble! Can Olbo finish him?
Olbo preventing the sweep.
Nakata keeping moving, preventing Olbo from controlling successfully.
Nakata seems to have recovered his senses.
Olbo stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Nakata swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Nakata looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Olbo in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Olbois looking to pass into half guard but Nakata pushes him away with his feet and jumps on top - now Nakata is in guard.
Nakata trying to control but Olbo is working from the bottom.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Olbo throws a two punch combo that lands nicely.
Nice uppercut there from Nakata.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

Olbo gets a takedown into half guard.
Nakata looks like he's trying to stand up.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Olbo trying to control the action but Nakata is working from the bottom.
Olbo seems to be taking a bit of a break to think of his next move. He lands a short punch in the meantime.
Olbo winds up and cracks Nakata with a swinging punch to the side of the head.
Olbo lands with an elbow from half guard - that looked like it hurt.
Olbo slips a nice elbow through Nakata's hands, connecting with Nakata's forehead.
Olbo wants to advance to full mount but Nakata doesn't think that's going to happen and regains full guard instead.
Olbo has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.
Olbo wants to pass the guard but Nakata is keeping the position.
Olbo postures up and lands a big shot to Nakata's brow.
Nakata working a defensive guard here.
Nakata keeping moving, preventing Olbo from controlling successfully.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Hammerfist, elbow! yells Olbo's corner. There ya go! There ya go!
Olbo wants to stand but Nakata is controlling his posture from full guard.
Olbo trying to control the position from guard on top but Nakata is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Nakata avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Olbo throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.

Olbo is trying to work a guillotine from the top, or something like that? Don't know how he thinks he's going to get a finish from there.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fight is doing enough on the ground.
Olbo takes a body punch but keeps moving.
A right-left combo lands from Nakata.
Nakata gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily

and Olbo counters with a driving takedown into guard. Nice work there by Olbo.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Nakata avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Olbo trying to control the position from guard on top but Nakata is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Olbo postures up and lands some nice ground and pound.
Nakata can't keep his opponent in guard - Olbo advances to half guard, no doubt looking to mount.
Olbo passes the half guard and he's now in mount! Big trouble for Nakata!
The crowd growing excited in anticipation of a finish here! Right on cue, Olbo cracks his opponent with a massive right hand that draws loud cheers!
Nakata is desperately trying to improve his position but Olbo has a good base and remains in mount.
The referee warns Nakata that he has to improve his position here as he takes two more clean shots to the head.
Olbo trying to control but Nakata is having none of it.
Nakata takes a big shot to the head but keeps on trying to improve his position.
Nakata tries to hold on but Olbo pushes him away.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Nakata can't escape the position.
Nakata wants to hold on but Olbo pushes him away.
Nakata is desperately trying to improve his position but Olbo has a good base and remains in mount.
Olbo wants to control the pace but Nakata is squirming around nicely.
Nakata really trying hard to get back to half guard here.
Olbo fakes a shot to the body and cracks his opponent in the head. Nice ground and pound there!
Nakata is squirming around, avoiding Olbo's attempts to control the action.
Olbo is still in mount, landing shots to his trapped opponent. Nakata can't stay in a position like this for much longer.

That has opened up Kazuharu Nakata's cut even more.
The referee warns Nakata that he has to improve his position here as he takes two more clean shots to the head.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Olbo working away from the top, dropping strikes.
Olbo fakes a shot to the body and cracks his opponent in the head. Nice ground and pound there!
BOOM! Olbo connects with a massive shot to the dome!
Nakata working to try and regain half guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Kevin Olbo dominated that second round.
The cut man is working on Kazuharu Nakata's cut.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the ring so we can get back down to business. This is the final round!

Nakata bobs and weaves into range and then changes levels and scores with a nice takedown into side control.
Olbo tries to get back to half guard but can't.

Nakata stands up and beckons Olbo to his feet.
Olbo takes a head kick and shrugs it off.
Olbo moves in looking to clinch but Nakata pushes him off.
Nakata wants to clinch up but Olbo keeps it at a distance.
Nakata misses with a series of wild punches.
Olbo shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Nakata as he avoids it easily.
Nakata lands a jab, followed by a cross and another cross, as Olbo backs up against the ropes.
Olbo thows a body kick. Nakata tries to catch it but that hurt him.
Nakata takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Olbo shoots and misses
and Nakata counters with a kick to the head that grazes his opponent. Olbo is lucky that one didn't land flush.
Olbo lands with a hook. Nakata tried to avoid it but it clipped the top of his head.
Olbo is looking to clinch but Nakata is avoiding it.
Nakata fails with the takedown

so Olbo counters with a double leg into guard. Good agility.
The fighters are tangled up in the ropes here. We might need a restart if the fighters can't break free themselves.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Olbo is taking a break and basically stalling. The referee will not allow him to do that for long.
Olbo works a leg free and moves into half guard.

Olbo is working for a kimura but Nakata is defending it quite comfortably.
Nakata looks like he's trying to stand up.
Kevin Olbo overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.

Olbo seems to be working for a kimura but Nakata defends the submission attempt.
Olbo trying to control from half guard but Nakata is working away.
Olbo wants to pass the guard but Nakata is defending well.
The referee walks around the fighters to get a better view of the action. Olbo lands a nice short elbow.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Olbo moves nicely into side control.
Nakata looks to move to half guard but instead Olbo has passed into mount! Damn!
Olbo looking to ground and pound his opponent to a finish here.
Olbo trying to control but Nakata is having none of it.
Olbo avoids the attempt from Nakata to control.
Olbo scoring with some good ground and pound from mount here. Will he manage to finish Nakata?
Olbo thowing strikes but they're hitting the gloves, not doing any damage.
Nakata tries to hold on but Olbo postures up.
Nakata regains half guard.
Olbo thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Nakata controlling the leg, holding on to half guard.
Olbo is nestled in close to Nakata, controlling him well. He's worked in a nice elbow to the side of the head as well, for good measure.
Nakata slips a foot under and gets full guard. Nice work.
Nakata keeping moving, preventing Olbo from controlling successfully.

Nakata has his foot on Olbo's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Olbo works his way back into a safe position though.

Olbo stands up from guard. Let's bang!
Olbo shoots for a double leg takedown but Nakata sprawls well. He's pushed Olbo's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Kevin Olbo. That's going to take a lot out of him.

Olbo shoots in for a takedown and gets it.
Nakata gets full guard.

Nakata is looking for a triangle here but Olbo uses the submission attempt to pass into side control.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Olbo has had enough of the ground for now and decides to stand.
Olbo tries to clinch but Nakata is having none of it.
Nakata misses with a two punch combination.
Kevin Olbo is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Nakata fails to land the takedown.
Olbo takes a swing at Nakata's ribcage but misses.

Nakata changes levels and drives through with a really nice takedown into side control. Olbo looks really pissed at himself for not defending that better.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.

Nakata decides to stand up, so the ref orders Olbo to his feet.
Nakata moves into range and lands a nice leg kick.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Olbo shoots for a double leg takedown but Nakata sprawls well. He's pushed Olbo's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
Olbo misses with a takedown
and Nakata counters with a one-two to the body.
Kazuharu Nakata has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

Olbo drops down and drives through with a powerful takedown into guard.

Nakata throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.

And that's the end of the fight!
Kevin Olbo showed his dominance in that final round.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Olbo, 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 Tatsuya Matsuyama scores the fight 30:27
Judge Shigeki Sano scores the fight 30:27
Judge Shirou Masuda scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Kevin Olbo!