PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Cyrus Plague (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Ryo Nakamura (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Plague comes to the cage accompanied by Calibrate the Virus by Winter Solstice. Both fighters really staring eachother down here, as Ryo Nakamura enters the cage!

Plague
vs
Nakamura

173 cm
23
154 lbs
7 - 4 - 0

170 cm
23
157 lbs
9 - 2 - 0

BJJ Brown Belt
Solid boxing
Very strong

BJJ Blue Belt
Excellent boxer
Heavy handed

Virtuouz Revolution Unlimited
Battalion Athletics

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 7 - 4 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Cyrus Plague!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 9 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Ryo Nakamura!
The judges for this bout are Yasuomi Hirokawa, Hirohito Nitta and Yukihiro Yamamoto.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Nakamura misses with a wild body shot.
Plague fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Nakamura misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Plague fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Nakamura manages to avoid it.
Nakamura fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Plague has a takedown stuffed.

Plague bobs and weaves into range and then changes levels and scores with a nice takedown into side control.
Plague postures up a little and throws a couple of hammerfists but they don't connect properly.
Check out the look on Plague's face as he threw that strike - that's one determined fighter!
Nakamura on the wrong end of some ground and pound.
Plague has been looking to land a fair amount of strikes on the ground. He might be looking to soften his opponent up in order to work for a submission.
Nakamura is not content to let Plague control the position.
Plague tries to cartwheel into mount but he doesn't manage it.
The strikes coming from Plague are missing the target in this wave of attacks.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Nakamura is looking for a sweep.
Nakamura can't do much from the bottom here.
Nakamura is trying to avoid being dragged into an even worse position than he's already in but Plague is staying active.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.
Plague misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Nakamura.
Nakamura swings for the body but Plague moves out of range.
Nakamura digs a good body shot into Plague's ribs.
Plague swats away the attempt to clinch by Nakamura.
Nakamura swings away with a body shot that misses
and Plague cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Plague throws a series of punches but Nakamura moves out of range.
Nakamura looks to clinch
and Plague connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Nakamura moves out of range of the strikes.
Plague is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Nakamura.
Plague walks into a jab.
Nakamura throws a left and a right that both miss
and Plague counters with a nice uppercut.
Plague keeps the fight on the outside.
Plague keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
A shot to the body from Nakamura misses
and Plague connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Nakamura misses the body punch

and Plague counters with a nice single leg takedown and he's in Nakamura's guard now.
Nakamura working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Plague.
Plague stands and throws Nakamura's legs to the side, diving into side control.
The fans in attendance giving it up for the two fighters, who have really let it all hang out in the last minute or so!
Check out the look on Plague's face as he threw that strike - that's one determined fighter!
Nakamura is looking for a sweep.
Nakamura looks gassed!
Plague 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.
Nakamura struggling a bit here.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Plague trying to control the position but Nakamura is working away.
Plague lands a nice forearm strike.
You can see the frustration on Nakamura's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.
Plague scoring with punches from side control.
You can see the frustration on Nakamura's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.
Nakamura is positioning himself to get back to half guard.
The fighters are going at a pretty good pace and they're both starting to sweat now.
Plague scores with a couple of nice shots to the head there. The referee takes a look at Nakamura to see if he's OK.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Plague trying to control the action but Nakamura is working from the bottom.
Nakamura is looking to regain half guard here but Plague keeps moving and retains side control.
Plague in side control lands a decent elbow.
Plague tries to advance to mount but can't.
Plague is working Nakamura over with some ground and pound from side control.
Plague looking to punish the body of his opponent here but Nakamura is avoiding damage well.
Nakamura tries to get back to half guard but can't.
Nakamura can't do much from the bottom here.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Cyrus Plague 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 misses with a combination
and Plague makes him pay by landing a thudding low kick.
Plague takes a big uppercut there. He seems a bit wobbly but no, he's OK.
Nakamura swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Nakamura tries to clinch up
and Plague counters with a stiff right hand.
Plague connects with a right hand. Nakamura shakes it off.
Plague cracks Nakamura with a good shot that sees him stumbling back into the cage.
Plague catches Nakamura with a nice straight right. He seems pissed - ooooh, it's on now! On like donkey kong!
Plague tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Nakamura was well out of range. Poor timing from Plague.
Plague dodges the punch combination from Nakamura.
Nakamura drops his hands momentarily and Plague takes advantage with a crisp shot to the head.
Plague will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Plague lands a jab.
A shot to the body from Nakamura misses
and Nakamura takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
Ryo Nakamura seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Nakamura misses with a looping left.
Plague swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Nakamura tries to move into range but Plague moves to the side and lands with a nice right hand.
Plague is trying hard to land a takedown here. Nakamura sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.
Plague lands a two punch combo.
Plague connects with a good right hand that stumbles Nakamura. Nakamura circles away out of range and recomposes himself.
A jab from Nakamura finds it's way through Plague's defenses.
Plague will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
A shot to the body from Nakamura misses
and Plague counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
Nakamura looks shocked there as he takes a right hand to the temple.
Nakamura is throwing a lot of body shots here, looking to wear down Plague rather than just go for the knockout.
Plague just misses with a punch to the body.
Nakamura tries to close the distance and clinch up but Plague swats him away and circles back towards the center.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Nakamura misses with a body shot
and Plague counters with a right hand to the body.
Nakamura is breathing heavily.
Nakamura keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Plague.
Plague throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Nakamura sees it coming and avoids it easily.
Plague swats away the attempt to clinch by Nakamura.
Nakamura avoids the body shot from Plague.
Nakamura misses with a telegraphed body shot

and Plague counters with a nice double leg into half guard.
The fans in attendance giving it up for the two fighters, who have really let it all hang out in the last minute or so!
Plague thows a big elbow that misses, also allowing Nakamura to regain full guard.
Nakamura trying to keep a closed guard but Plague is proving a slippery customer.
Plague stops Nakamura from standing up.
Plague loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Plague passes Nakamura's right leg, so he's now in half guard.
Nakamura is refusing to be controlled, as Plague sits in half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Plague thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Nakamura's head.
Plague uses his free foot to push down on Nakamura's thigh. Eventually he works his other foot free and he's advanced to mount - this is trouble for Nakamura.
Plague working away from the top, dropping strikes.
Plague with good strikes from the mount here!
Nakamura holding onto his opponent's waist for dear life, as Plague tries to land some strikes to get him to release his grip.
Nakamura is desperately trying to improve his position but Plague has a good base and remains in mount.
Plague pausing momentarily but resumes with a couple of decent strikes that do a bit of damage.
Plague is still in mount, landing shots to his trapped opponent. Nakamura can't stay in a position like this for much longer.
Plague has his opponent pinned against the cage, landing some nasty ground and pound that is really making a bit of a mess out of Nakamura's face.
Plague thuds his fist into the canvas! Oooouch!

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Plague is working on an americana here. Ooh, that looks pretty nasty! Nope, Nakamura has managed to escape the submission attempt.
Nakamura wants to control but Plague is having none of it.
Nakamura is trying desperately to improve position.
Plague with shots to the head and body - Nakamura looks very uncomfortable down there.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Nakamura blocking the ground and pound.
Plague landing strikes from the mount and Nakamura is in trouble!
Nakamura is desperately trying to get back to half guard.
Plague with shots to the head and body - Nakamura looks very uncomfortable down there.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Cyrus Plague dominated that second round.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action! Ladies and gentlemen, this is the final round!

Nakamura swings and misses with a shot to the body
and Plague counters with a nice jab to the body that keeps Nakamura thinking.
Nakamura throws a looping overhand right but Plague ducks down to avoid it.
The sound of bone on bone echoes around the arena as Nakamura checks a leg kick.
Nakamura throws a nice looking combination but Plague bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Nakamura moves out of range of the leg kick from Plague.
Nakamura clinches but Plague breaks the clinch

and Plague counters with a nice single leg takedown and he's in Nakamura's guard now.
Plague passes Nakamura's right leg, so he's now in half guard.
Plague tries to pass the half guard into mount. Nakamura knows what he's doing though and prevents the attempt.
Nakamura keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.
Nakamura keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.
The referee walks around the fighters to get a better view of the action. Plague lands a nice short elbow.
Nakamura is trying to control but can't.
Nakamura takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Plague tries to stand but can't do so whilst Nakamura controls his leg.
Nakamura pushes Plague off looking to stand but Plague dives back in and keeps control.
Plague seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Nakamura does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.
Plague looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Nakamura is fending him off so far but Plague persists. Nope, Nakamura circles away and we're back to standing.
Nakamura ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Plague moves away.
Nakamura looks to land a combination but Plague avoids it well.
Plague throws a left and a right that both miss

and Nakamura counters by moving into the clinch. Good anticipation by Nakamura.
Plague changes levels and goes for a takedown here. Nakamura fights it off and pushes away nicely.
Nakamura tries to clinch but Plague moves out of range.
Nakamura misses with a series of wild punches.

That's two 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.
Nakamura misses with a double jab
and Plague counters with a series of strikes. Nakamura will be more careful next time no doubt.

Plague changes levels and drives through with a really nice takedown into side control. Nakamura looks really pissed at himself for not defending that better.
Nakamura is trying to control Plague's posture but Plague avoids it.

Plague working hard here to secure a kimura but he's not really in the right position for it.
Plague lands a knee to the body and follows it up with some ground and pound to the head. That will wear Nakamura down.
Plague is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Nakamura can do to turn this around?
Plague looks up at the clock and then as Nakamura takes his cue and looks up at the clock too, Plague smacks him right in the chops with a big elbow! How rude!
Plague throws an elbow but Nakamura slips to the side and avoids it well.
Nakamura defending against the ground and pound.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Nakamura is trying to control Plague's posture but Plague avoids it.
Plague advances to mount.
Plague throwing sloppy strikes, which aren't doing any damage.
Nakamura is desperately trying to get back to half guard.
Plague punishing his opponent with strikes.
Plague with shots to the head and body - Nakamura looks very uncomfortable down there.
Plague landing strikes from the mount.
Nakamura is trying desperately to improve position.
Plague with shots to the head and body - Nakamura looks very uncomfortable down there.
Ryo Nakamura has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Cyrus Plague is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Plague punishing his opponent with strikes.
Plague connects with a couple of good shots from mount.
Plague in mount throwing good strikes here, bouncing his opponent's head off the canvas.
Plague landing punches.
Plague landing strikes from the mount and Nakamura is in trouble!
Nakamura takes a big shot to the head but keeps on trying to improve his position.
Cyrus Plague overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Plague lands with some vicious ground and pound - can Nakamura hang on?
Nakamura is squirming around, avoiding Plague's attempts to control the action.
Plague breaks from Nakamura's wrist control and lands an elbow.
Plague landing shots from mount.
Plague landing strikes from the mount.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Nakamura throwing hammer fists to the chest of Plague. What's that going to do exactly?

And that's the end of the fight!
Cyrus Plague showed his dominance in that final round.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Plague, 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 Yasuomi Hirokawa scores the fight 30:27
Judge Hirohito Nitta scores the fight 30:27
Judge Yukihiro Yamamoto scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Cyrus Plague!