PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Gerson Antunes (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Hijori Nabuki (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). We have two fighters making their debuts here, so let's see who comes out of this one with their first professional victory.

Antunes
vs
Nabuki

176 cm
18
153 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

170 cm
21
150 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Excellent MT
Inexperienced

BJJ Blue Belt
Excellent MT
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 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Gerson Antunes!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Hijori Nabuki!
The judges for this bout are Seu Braga, Paulo Santos and Luis Engracia.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Antunes closes the distance and clinches up with Nabuki, looking for a takedown. Antunes pushes Nabuki against the cage but Nabuki circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
Nabuki shoots for a takedown but Antunes saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
Nabuki with a lazy takedown attempt
and Antunes counters with a left and a right that stings Nabuki.

Antunes moves into the clinch.
Antunes has a body lock and is looking for a takedown. Nabuki is bouncing around trying to prevent the takedown and somehow he has indeed managed to stay on his feet.
Nabuki prevents Antunes from breaking the clinch.
Antunes tries for a takedown but Nabuki manages to get underhooks.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Gerson Antunes. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Nabuki prevents a takedown attempt there.
Antunes wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.
Antunes tries for a takedown but Nabuki manages to get underhooks.
Antunes tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. Nabuki just stands there and leans against the cage.
Nabuki has Antunes pressed against the cage, preventing Antunes from circling away and getting back to striking at range.
Antunes is trying to maintain a safe position but Nabuki gets an underhook and turns Antunes into the cage.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Antunes prevents a takedown attempt there.

Nabuki gets double underhooks and manages to take the fight to the ground.
Antunes looking to sweep here. No luck so far.

Nabuki gets to his feet and steps away from his opponent.
Nabuki looks gassed!
Nabuki avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Nabuki fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Antunes avoids it really well and circles away.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Antunes.
Antunes closes this distance looking for a takedown but Nabuki circles away.

Antunes instigates a clinch.
Nabuki can't get the takedown.
Antunes has had enough of the clinch and is looking to separate.
Antunes can't get the takedown.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Nabuki tightens his grip and picks Antunes up, before dumping him to the ground. Antunes manages to land in guard.

Nabuki gets to his feet - Antunes follows without any prompting.
Antunes is looking to slow Nabuki down with leg kicks.
No luck with that takedown attempt from Nabuki.
Antunes shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Nabuki pinned against the cage. Nabuki gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
Hijori Nabuki seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Nabuki misses with a takedown
and Antunes counters with a good, hard body kick but Nabuki shrugs it off.

Antunes rushes Nabuki and presses him up against the cage.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Antunes is clearly stalling here... Pick up the pace son.
Nabuki is looking for a takedown up against the cage. Antunes gets underhooks though and prevents the takedown attempt.
Antunes is trying to force a seperation but Nabuki has the dominant position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Antunes tries to pull guard but Nabuki holds him up against the cage and eventually Antunes drops back down to his feet.
Antunes wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Nabuki has him pressed against the cage.
Antunes is trying to break free.
Antunes fails to pull the fight into his guard.
Nabuki is working for a takedown up against the cage. He can't get it on this occasion though.

Nabuki has picked Antunes up - he's going for a ride! Nabuki dumps his opponent to the mat with a thud and settles into half guard.
Antunes wants to get back to his feet.
Antunes trying to hold on to Nabuki's head to control him but Nabuki postures up.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Antunes gets back to full guard.
Nabuki preventing the sweep.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Nabuki stands and steps away. Antunes gets to his feet too and we're back to the striking game.
Antunes lands a leg kick. The shin dug right into the meat of the thigh.
Antunes swinging wildly here.
Antunes shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Antunes fails to land with a series of punches.
Nabuki dodges the punch combination from Antunes.
Nabuki shoots in for a takedown but Antunes shows good takedown defense.

Antunes has Nabuki up against the cage in a clinch.
Nabuki keeps the fight in the clinch, despite Antunes's efforts to push away.

Antunes pulls guard effortlessly.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Hijori Nabuki dominated that round.
That's the end of the interval. I'm sure that seemed a lot quicker than a minute for our two fighters! Back to the action.

Antunes moves into the clinch.
Antunes has had enough of the clinch but Nabuki keeps him there for the moment.
Nabuki is trying to drag Antunes to the mat but Antunes just about manages to keep his footing. He used the cage to his advantage there.
Antunes jumps guard but his hands slip and he falls flat on his back. Well, he's made himself look a right mug there, as Nabuki walks away with a smile on his face. Antunes gets slowly back to his feet and shakes his head.
Antunes shoots in and drives through. Nabuki sprawls well.
Antunes shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Nabuki pinned against the cage. Nabuki gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Gerson Antunes. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Nabuki steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Antunes.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Nabuki defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Antunes.
Nabuki misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
Nabuki shoots in but Antunes avoids the takedown attempt easily.
Nabuki leaves Antunes with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
Nabuki is breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Antunes throws a head kick that half lands.
Nabuki uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Antunes.
Antunes throws a head kick that half lands.
Nabuki shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Antunes as he avoids it easily.

Antunes pushes Nabuki up against the cage in a clinch.
Antunes has had enough of the clinch and is looking to separate.
Antunes is trying to force a seperation but Nabuki has the dominant position.
Antunes tries to circle away but Nabuki has him pinned against the cage.
Antunes jumps guard but his hands slip and he falls flat on his back. Well, he's made himself look a right mug there, as Nabuki walks away with a smile on his face. Antunes gets slowly back to his feet and shakes his head.
Nabuki tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Antunes swivels and escapes.
Antunes lands a lovely overhand right.
Antunes scores with a nice looking left hook and follows it up with an uppercut!
Nabuki shoots for a double leg takedown but Antunes sprawls well. He's pushed Nabuki's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
Antunes has a takedown stuffed.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Antunes clinches.
Antunes tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. Nabuki smiles and moves away.
Nabuki misses with a takedown attempt

and Antunes counters into the clinch. Nicely done.
Antunes is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.
Nabuki gets underhooks to prevent Antunes's takedown attempt.
Antunes has had enough of the clinch but Nabuki keeps him there for the moment.
Antunes drops to a knee looking for a takedown but Nabuki gets the underhooks and prevents it.
Antunes tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. Nabuki smiles and moves away.
Antunes shoots in but no luck this time.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Antunes defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Nabuki.

Antunes moves into the clinch.
Antunes is trying to force a seperation but Nabuki has the dominant position.
Antunes is trying to drag Nabuki to the mat but Nabuki just about manages to keep his footing. He used the cage to his advantage there.
A frustrated look appears on Antunes's face as he tries to break the clinch.
Nabuki tries for a takedown. No joy.
A real battle for position is taking place between these two warriors.
Antunes tries to break free but Nabuki pushes him back against the cage.
Antunes is trying to force a seperation but Nabuki has the dominant position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
My god... these two guys really need to pick up the pace or everyone will leave to go get a beer.
Nabuki is pressed up against the cage. Antunes has hold of a leg and is looking to drag Nabuki down to the mat. Nabuki avoids the attempt though and has circled away. We're back to striking at a distance.

Nabuki scores with a nice takedown into half guard. Let's see what he's got on the ground.
Nabuki wants to stand but Antunes has hold of a leg and an arm, so he's trapped for now.
Antunes punching from the bottom.
Antunes wants to control but Nabuki is keeping busy and won't allow it.
Antunes wants to improve his position but Nabuki is controlling well.
Antunes is looking to control Nabuki's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Antunes avoid being mounted?
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Hijori Nabuki will probably get the nod - 10:9.
That's time! Antunes's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight. Let's hear some noise people - this is the final round!

Antunes tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Nabuki swivels and escapes.
Antunes tries to score a power double leg takedown but Nabuki sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Antunes somewhat.
Antunes shoots for a takedown but Nabuki saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Gerson Antunes. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Nabuki shoots in and drives through. Antunes sprawls well.
No luck with that takedown attempt from Nabuki.
Antunes shoots in for a takedown but Nabuki shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
Antunes shoots in but Nabuki avoids the takedown attempt easily.
Antunes fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
Antunes slaps away a takedown attempt from Nabuki, before circling back to the center of the mat.
Antunes shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Nabuki as he jumps to the side.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Nabuki is defended easily by Antunes.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Antunes closes this distance looking for a takedown but Nabuki circles away.

Nabuki drives through with a really nice takedown into side control.

Nabuki decides to stand back up.
Antunes lands with a head kick! That's gotta hurt.
Nabuki shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Antunes as he avoids it easily.
Nabuki closes this distance looking for a takedown but Antunes circles away.

Antunes forces Nabuki back against the cage and clinches.
Antunes tries to break the clinch but Nabuki is controlling the position.
Antunes wants to stall.
Antunes with an attempt at a knee that misses.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Antunes manages to get underhooks and slows down the pace for a moment.
Antunes has a body lock and is looking for a takedown. Nabuki is bouncing around trying to prevent the takedown and somehow he has indeed managed to stay on his feet.
Antunes wants a takedown.

Nabuki tightens his grip and picks Antunes up, before dumping him to the ground. Antunes manages to land in guard.
Antunes knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Nabuki on the ground.
Nabuki is looking to stand up but Antunes won't let him.
Antunes is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Antunes has a closed guard, preventing Nabuki from standing up.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Antunes bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Nabuki's guard.
Antunes stops Nabuki from standing up.
Nabuki is using up a lot of energy trying to get back to his feet. Perhaps he should improve his position first.
Antunes tries to stand but Nabuki is controlling from the bottom.
Nabuki is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.
Antunes would like to get this fight back to the feet but can't get free from the closed guard.

Antunes gets to his feet. Nabuki looking to butt scoot but the ref puts an end to that. On your feet son!
Nabuki shoots for a double leg takedown but Antunes sprawls well. He's pushed Nabuki's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
Gerson Antunes is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Antunes looks for a takedown but Nabuki sprawls well.

Nabuki shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Oh and he's advanced to full mount straight away.

Nabuki stands up from the dominant position, so we're back on the feet.
Nabuki shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Antunes as he jumps to the side.

Antunes has closed the distance and engaged Nabuki in a clinch.
Antunes is working for a takedown up against the cage. He can't get it on this occasion though.
Antunes wants a takedown but no success here.
Nabuki is working for takedown but Antunes is calmly controlling the position for now.
Antunes drops down for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Antunes is trying to slow down the pace in the clinch, to catch his breath.

And that's the end of the fight!
Hijori Nabuki comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Nabuki 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 Seu Braga scores the fight 28:30
Judge Paulo Santos scores the fight 27:30
Judge Luis Engracia scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Hijori Nabuki!