PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Kitsuomi Nanaka (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and John Reaper (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.

Nanaka
vs
Reaper

190 cm
24
190 lbs
2 - 3 - 0

184 cm
23
188 lbs
6 - 4 - 0

Good takedowns
Basic striking
Granite chin

Powerful takedowns
Brawler
Powerful

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the middleweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 2 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Kitsuomi Nanaka!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 6 - 4 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, John Reaper!
The judges for this bout are Hirohito Nitta, Yukihiro Shimada and Kenichi Hosakawa.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Nanaka shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Reaper sprawls well. Reaper wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Nanaka gets slowly back to his feet.
Reaper just misses with a punch to the body.
Reaper looks to score with a jab to the body but Nanaka is just out of range.
Nanaka keeps the fight on the outside.
Reaper throws a lazy right hand but Nanaka sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Nanaka fails with a takedown attempt.
Reaper misses with a straight left.
Nanaka avoids a punch combination nicely.
Nanaka shoots in but no luck this time.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Kitsuomi Nanaka. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Nanaka avoids a punch combination nicely.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Nanaka shoots in with a lovely double leg takedown. Reaper manages to land in full guard to minimise the damage.
Nanaka has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.

Reaper is looking for a triangle but Nanaka pushes his legs off easily.
Nanaka won't allow Reaper to sweep him here.
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.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Reaper is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Reaper keeping moving, preventing Nanaka from controlling successfully.
Nanaka working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Nanaka wants to control from the top but Reaper keeps moving.

Reaper is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.

Reaper is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Nanaka is aware though and is defending well.
Reaper not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Nanaka wants to control from the top but Reaper keeps moving.
Nanaka thows a big elbow that misses.

That's two 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.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Reaper is on top in guard.
Reaper wants to pass the guard but Nanaka is keeping the position.
Nanaka controls Reaper momentarily but Reaper frees himself.
Nanaka avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Reaper is working Nanaka over from the guard. He should look to pass the guard and do a little more damage with these strikes.
Reaper is fighting to break Nanaka's control of his arms but Nanaka is doing a good job of controlling the position at the moment.
Reaper lands a couple of decent looking shots.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Reaper throwing strikes from guard but Nanaka blocks nicely.
Reaper stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Nanaka swivels though and keeps the full guard.
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Nanaka is on top in guard.
Nanaka trying to control but Reaper is working from the bottom.
Reaper wants to sweep here but Nanaka controlling him for the moment.

That's four 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.
Nanaka trying to control but Reaper is working from the bottom.
Nanaka stopping the sweep attempt from Reaper.

Reaper working for a triangle but Nanaka defends it easily.
Nanaka postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.

Nanaka avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Nanaka accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

John Reaper dominated that round.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the ring so we can get back down to business.

Reaper shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Oh and he's advanced to full mount straight away.
Nanaka can't escape the position.
Reaper landing shots from mount.
Reaper landing strikes, looking to finish!
Reaper working Nanaka over with strikes here.
Nanaka really trying hard to get back to half guard here.
Nanaka is writhing around trying to get back to his feet.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Nanaka is trying desperately to improve position.
Reaper with good strikes from the mount here!
Reaper landing shots from mount.
Reaper avoids the attempt from Nanaka to control.
Reaper thowing strikes but they're hitting the gloves, not doing any damage.
The crowd growing excited in anticipation of a finish here! Right on cue, Reaper cracks his opponent with a massive right hand that draws loud cheers!
Reaper throws a sloppy strike and Nanaka uses the opportunity to reverse the position! A bit of a scramble here and Nanaka has ended up in Reaper's guard.
Nanaka looking to sit in guard and control but Reaper gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Nanaka utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Reaper lands a couple of elbows.
Reaper trying to control the position from guard on top but Nanaka is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Reaper stopping the sweep attempt from Nanaka.
Reaper is looking to work some ground and pound but Nanaka has wrist control.
Reaper pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Nanaka is keeping the position for now.
The fighters are tangled up in the ropes here. We might need a restart if the fighters can't break free themselves.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Nanaka looking to hit a scissor sweep but Reaper is one step ahead there.
Reaper pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Nanaka is keeping the position for now.
Reaper throwing strikes but missing.
Reaper passes Nanaka's right leg, so he's now in half guard.
Reaper scoring with strikes to the body and head.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Nanaka blocking the ground and pound attempt from Reaper.
Reaper not landing any meaningful shots this time.
Reaper missing with the ground and pound from half guard.
Nanaka blocking the ground and pound attempt from Reaper.
John Reaper has got the better of the ground game so far.
Reaper lands a big shot. The thud that echoes around the arena is like music to the fans' ears.
Reaper is nestled in close to Nanaka, controlling him well. He's worked in a nice elbow to the side of the head as well, for good measure.
Reaper working some ground and pound from close in. He's looking to maintain this position and strike for a while by the looks of things... although he'll probably advance to full mount in a minute now I've said that.
Nanaka tries to get to full guard but Reaper has control of the leg.
Reaper is trying to control the action in half guard but Nanaka is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

John Reaper 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!

Nanaka darts in and lands a nice takedown into half guard.
Reaper wants to control but Nanaka is keeping busy.
Nanaka seems content to maintain position for now, rather than mounting any offense.
Reaper is trying to control but can't.
Reaper avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Nanaka.
Nanaka content to sit in half guard and control for a moment.
Reaper is not content to let Nanaka control the position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Reaper is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Nanaka is just content to waste time from the top position. Reaper takes advantage of the situation and regains full guard.
Reaper seems keen to control rather than go for a submission, at least for now.
Nanaka wants to control from the top but Reaper keeps moving.
Reaper looking to control.

Nanaka got a little sloppy there for a moment and Reaper has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Nanaka has managed to get both his arms back between Reaper's legs - danger averted.

Reaper has thrown up a leg looking for a triangle. Nanaka doesn't defend quickly enough and Reaper has managed to lock this one up! Can Nanaka escape?! NO! He's tapping out! Damn, that was a quick submission - congrats to Reaper on a fantastic submission victory.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 2:05 of round 3, we have a winner by way of Submission (Triangle). John Reaper!