PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Yuri Zurutuza (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Kazuya Nakamura (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Kazuya Nakamura will no doubt be trying to keep this one on the feet, where he has a distinct advantage.

Zurutuza
vs
Nakamura

170 cm
18
154 lbs
0 - 3 - 0

172 cm
19
155 lbs
0 - 1 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Good kicks
Good chin

BJJ White Belt
Excellent boxer
Heavy handed

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 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Yuri Zurutuza!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Kazuya Nakamura!
The judges for this bout are Ren Mimura, Yuuki Gou and Tatsuya Matsuyama.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Zurutuza throws a head kick that looked like it stung.
Nakamura throws a right and a left that both miss.
Kazuya Nakamura seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Nakamura throws a right and a left that both miss.
A combination from Nakamura does no damage.
Zurutuza lands with a head kick! That's gotta hurt.
Zurutuza misses with a looping left.
Zurutuza looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Nakamura misses with the combination.
Nakamura throws a combination that misses

and Zurutuza counters with a nice double leg into side control. Nakamura won't be happy with that.
Nakamura is positioning himself to get back to half guard.

Zurutuza looking for an arm triangle but it's way too loose to do anything.
Zurutuza scores with punches from side control.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Nakamura is trying to buck Zurutuza off.
Nakamura manages to get one leg in to regain half guard.
Zurutuza is breathing heavily.

Nakamura is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Zurutuza pulls his head out easily.

Nakamura looking for submissions off his back.
Nakamura is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.

Nakamura is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Zurutuza pulls his head out easily.
Nakamura is trying to defend against the ground and pound but Zurutuza scores with a couple of nice shots.

That's two 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.

Zurutuza moves into side control, avoiding a weak kimura attempt from Nakamura.

Zurutuza decides to stand up, so the ref orders Nakamura to his feet.
Zurutuza tries a head kick but it misses.
Nakamura moves into range and throws a combination. A nice jab followed by a hook to the body.

Zurutuza shoots in and bounces Nakamura off the cage to secure the takedown into guard.

The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Zurutuza got a little sloppy there for a moment and Nakamura has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Zurutuza has managed to get both his arms back between Nakamura's legs - danger averted.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Nakamura has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Zurutuza can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.

Nakamura looking for submissions from the bottom but instead Zurutuza passes into half guard.
Zurutuza thows a huge punch but Nakamura dodges it nicely.
Nakamura is staying active underneath Zurutuza, who seems content to just control the action from this position.
Nakamura is trying to get back to full guard.

Nakamura actively working from the bottom here.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Nakamura makes his way to full guard. A much better position for Nakamura.
Zurutuza with a couple of shots to the head there. Not particularly brutal.

Nakamura looking for a guillotine here but Zurutuza defends easily.

Zurutuza avoids a guillotine attempt easily.

Nakamura has his foot on Zurutuza's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Zurutuza works his way back into a safe position though.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Nakamura lands a jab followed by a nice looking cross.
Nakamura misses with a few strikes there.
Nakamura scores with a one two! Zurutuza had his feet all tangled up there and couldn't avoid the strikes.
Nakamura lands a nice shot to the body.
Nakamura throws a right and a left that both miss.
Nakamura misses with a combination
and Zurutuza counters with an inside leg kick.
Yuri Zurutuza is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Nakamura throws a right and a left that Zurutuza avoids nicely.
Zurutuza walks into a jab.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Excellent takedown into side control there by Zurutuza.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Nakamura tries to escape but Zurutuza is in control.

Zurutuza decides to take the fight back to the feet.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Some wild striking there from Nakamura.
Nakamura scores with a three punch combo!
Nakamura scores with a sloppy right hand. Zurutuza should have avoided that one.
Nakamura moves into range and throws a combination. A nice jab followed by a hook to the body.
Zurutuza misses with a few strikes there.
Zurutuza throws a sloppy head kick and Nakamura moves out of range easily.
Nakamura falls off balance throwing a combination

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

Nakamura looking for subs off his back but Zurutuza has passed one foot through into half guard.
Nakamura pushes Zurutuza off looking to stand but Zurutuza dives back in and keeps control.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Zurutuza wants to take a breather but Nakamura is having none of it.

Nakamura is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Zurutuza pulls his head out easily.
Zurutuza thows a huge punch but Nakamura dodges it nicely.
Nakamura tries to kick Zurutuza off but Zurutuza keeps his base steady and stays in half guard.

Nakamura actively working from the bottom here.
Nakamura is trying to defend against the ground and pound but Zurutuza scores with a couple of nice shots.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.
Nakamura misses with the combination.
Zurutuza takes a jab right on the kisser.

Nakamura tries to keep at a distance but Zurutuza has taken the fight into the clinch.
Zurutuza prevents Nakamura from breaking the clinch.
Nakamura is trying to break free.
Zurutuza keeps the fight in the clinch, despite Nakamura's efforts to push away.

Zurutuza manages to break the clinch.
A jab lands there for Nakamura.
Good standup being displayed there by Nakamura as he connects with a hook.
Nakamura misses with the combination.
Zurutuza has his hands up protecting his head but a hook from Nakamura finds it's way round the side to connect with Zurutuza's head.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Nakamura misses with the combination.
Zurutuza walks into a left hand.
Nakamura falls off balance throwing a combination
and he gets countered with a snapping leg kick.
No joy there for Nakamura, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Nakamura throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Nakamura blocks a head kick by Zurutuza.
Nakamura lands a beauty of a right hand that gets the crowd cheering.
Some wild striking there from Nakamura.
Nakamura swings wildly with a couple of big hooks
and Zurutuza counters with a head kick.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Yuri Zurutuza dominated that second round.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action! This is the final round!

Zurutuza looking for a takedown here - he's got it.

Nakamura is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

Nakamura looks to be working for a triangle here. Oh, it looks like he might have it! Zurutuza has picked Nakamura up and slammed him! Nakamura can't keep hold of the triangle and Zurutuza manages to pass to side control!
Yuri Zurutuza overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Nakamura is looking to get back to his feet here but Zurutuza is keeping cool and he's managed to take Nakamura's back.
Nakamura trying to get back to his feet but Zurutuza is in full control for now.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Nakamura fending off the submission attempt from Zurutuza.
Nakamura is trying to stand back up.
Zurutuza controlling well, preventing Nakamura from escaping the position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.
Nakamura is trying to get back to his feet but Zurutuza has full control of the position and if anything, Nakamura has just worked his way into a worse spot.
Zurutuza is looking cool and calm here, just waiting for a good opportunity to attack and finish the fight from this dominant position.
Nakamura tries to roll but Zurutuza sticks to his back.
Nakamura has the hand control, trying to stop the rear naked choke.
Nakamura trying to control the position but Zurutuza manages to sink in the hooks.
Zurutuza cracks Nakamura with a big shot to body and one to the head - really punishing Nakamura from the back mount here, looking to soften him up.
Zurutuza has the hooks in. Nakamura is trying to push off one leg but he has to do so cautiously to avoid being submitted.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Zurutuza lands with a big left hand that may well have hurt his opponent. Can Nakamura hold on?!
Nakamura has the hand control, trying to stop the rear naked choke.
Nakamura is in bad spot here.
Even with his hooks in, Zurutuza manages to miss with strikes from the back.
Nakamura trying to control but he's just got himself in more trouble.

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.
Zurutuza throws a big right hand but he misses and hits the mat. Ouch.
Nakamura is trying to stand back up.

Zurutuza is working really hard to secure the rear naked choke. Nakamura defends successfully for a significant amount of time. Both fighters are looking very determined.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Nakamura has the hand control, trying to stop the rear naked choke.

And that's the end of the fight!
Yuri Zurutuza showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Zurutuza has outscored his opponent in every aspect of the fight today. Only a scarily incompetent judge or two will keep him from a well deserved win... 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 Ren Mimura scores the fight 30:27
Judge Yuuki Gou scores the fight 30:27
Judge Tatsuya Matsuyama scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Yuri Zurutuza!