PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Varan Hunt (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Kazuhiro Nakamara (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Hunt
vs
Nakamara

188 cm
25
185 lbs
1 - 1 - 0

186 cm
22
190 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Solid Muay Thai
Prefers standup

BJJ Blue Belt
Good kicks
Granite chin

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 1 - 1 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Varan Hunt!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Kazuhiro Nakamara!
The judges for this bout are Konstantin Menshow, Aleksei Zolotukhin and Vladimir Khabensky.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Nakamara moves out of range of the strikes.
Nakamara walks forward, straight into a front kick from Hunt.
Nakamara shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Hunt as he avoids it easily.
Hunt throws a body kick but he was well out of range there.
Hunt doesn't manage to clinch there - Nakamara circles away.
Nakamara misses with a few strikes there.
Hunt misses with a kick to the body.
Hunt goes for a spinning back kick but it misses.
Nakamara moves out of range of the body kick from Hunt.
Nakamara shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Hunt as he jumps to the side.

Nakamara bobs and weaves into range and then changes levels and scores with a nice takedown into side control.

Hunt sneaks out the side door and pushes Nakamara away - he's back to his feet. The crowd show their appreciation for the escape.
Nakamara shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Varan Hunt has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Kazuhiro Nakamara.
Hunt getting the better of the striking in that exchange.
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!
Nakamara fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Hunt avoids it really well and circles away.
Nakamara looks gassed!
Hunt doesn't manage to clinch there - Nakamara circles away.
Varan Hunt seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Hunt tries to clinch there but Nakamara circles away.

Hunt has taken the fight to the clinch.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Nakamara wants to stall.
A frustrated look appears on Hunt's face as he tries to break the clinch.

Hunt breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Hunt throws a front kick that sends Nakamara stumbling back into the cage.

Hunt drives through and clinches with Nakamara against the cage.
Hunt can't break the clinch.
Nakamara stalling in the clinch but Hunt improves position.

Hunt breaks the clinch.
Hunt tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Nakamara paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Hunt tries to clinch up but Nakamara circles away and keeps his distance.
Hunt misses with a body kick.
Hunt tries to clinch up.
Nakamara blocks the body kick.
Hunt misses with an attempted mid kick.
Hunt misses with a kick to the body.
Nakamara tries to score a power double leg takedown but Hunt sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Nakamara somewhat.
Hunt tries to close the distance and clinch but Nakamara swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Hunt has closed the distance and engaged Nakamara in a clinch.

Hunt breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Hunt tries to clinch up but Nakamara circles away and keeps his distance.
Nakamara avoids a kick to the body.

Hunt rushes Nakamara and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.
Hunt tries to break the clinch but Nakamara is controlling the position.

Nakamara breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Hunt misses with a body kick.
Hunt swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
That's a knee to de groin and it's over and out! Nakamara crumples to the ground after an illegal strike from Hunt - the referee stops the clock and Nakamara gets 5 minutes to recover from that one. "I'm sorry" says Hunt. Nakamara manages to get back to his feet and the fight resumes.
Hunt fails with an attempt to clinch.
Hunt wants to clinch up but Nakamara keeps it at a distance.
Hunt looking to land some kicks to the body here.
Nakamara misses with a body kick.
Hunt moves in looking to clinch but Nakamara pushes him off.
Hunt throws a wild body kick that Nakamara sees coming a mile off.

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

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Nakamara trying to control the position from guard on top but Hunt is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Hunt has Nakamara pulled in close to control his posture.
Hunt wants to improve his position but instead Nakamara has moved into half guard.
Hunt is refusing to be controlled, as Nakamara sits in half guard.
Hunt is trying to get back to full guard.
Hunt is refusing to be controlled, as Nakamara sits in half guard.

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.
Nakamara is in a good position here but he's just trying to control... And he's not even managing to do that successfully.
Hunt moves into full guard.
Nakamarais looking to pass into half guard but Hunt pushes him away with his feet and jumps on top - now Hunt is in guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Hunt landing some decent shots from guard.
Hunt cracks Nakamara with a solid left hand.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Hunt throws and elbow that misses. Nakamara uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in Hunt's guard. Nice move by Nakamara!
Hunt trying to punch from his back but it's not doing any damage.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Varan Hunt 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.

Hunt gets off balance looking for a body kick
and Nakamara counters with a three punch combo that has Hunt backing up. Hunt nods at Nakamara to acknowledge the strikes.
Hunt darts in trying to clinch

and Nakamara counters with a driving takedown into guard. Nice work there by Nakamara.
Nakamara postures up.
A real slowdown in the pace of the fight for a moment, as Hunt holds on and takes a little breather.
Nakamara sitting in guard, not really doing much.
Nakamara wants to pass the guard but Hunt is keeping the position.
Hunt is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Nakamara looking to pass the guard.
Hunt wants to sweep here but Nakamara controlling him for the moment.
Hunt pulls Nakamara in close to prevent any damage.

Nakamara decides he's had enough of playing guard and decides to stand. Come on Hunt, up you get!
Nakamara ducks right into an uppercut from Hunt.
Hunt throws a looping overhand right but Nakamara ducks down to avoid it.
Hunt misses with the body kick

and Nakamara counters by clinching up.
Hunt wants to break the clinch but can't.
Nakamara has a body lock and is looking for a takedown. Hunt is bouncing around trying to prevent the takedown and somehow he has indeed managed to stay on his feet.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Hunt is trying to break free.

Nakamara manages to pull guard. Let's see whether he can land a sub off his back.
Nakamara trying to punch from his back but it's not doing any damage.
Hunt scoring with some ground and pound.
Hunt throwing strikes but missing.
Hunt content to strike from guard, landing some decent shots.
Nakamara controls Hunt momentarily but Hunt frees himself.
Nakamara bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Hunt's guard.
Nakamara in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Hunt seems keen to control Nakamara's posture.
Nakamara trying to stand up but can't free himself from Hunt's guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Hunt lands a beautiful switch and he's in full mount! That could spell trouble for Nakamara!
Nakamara wants to control but Hunt is having none of it.
Hunt lands with some strikes.
Hunt lands with some vicious ground and pound - can Nakamara hang on?
Nakamara is working to get back to half guard.
Nakamara taking shots to the head.
Nakamara really trying hard to get back to half guard here.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Well. There's a bit of a lull in the action here and the crowd are starting to get restless.
Hunt avoids the attempt from Nakamara to control.
Hunt with the ground and pound from mount.
Hunt lands a nice shot to the head.
Hunt is still in mount, landing shots to his trapped opponent. Nakamara can't stay in a position like this for much longer.
Nakamara wants to control but Hunt is having none of it.
Nakamara is trying desperately to improve position.
Hunt landing strikes from the mount and Nakamara is in trouble!
Nakamara wants to control but Hunt is having none of it.
Hunt with shots to the head and body - Nakamara looks very uncomfortable down there.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Kazuhiro Nakamara showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
That's time! Hunt's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight. This is the final round!

Hunt tries to clinch but fails miserably
and Nakamara counters with a head kick. That will keep Hunt thinking before he tries any more sloppy attacks!
Hunt wants to clinch but Nakamara slips to the side
and Nakamara counters with a flying knee. Nice.
Hunt throws a body kick but he wasn't in range.
Hunt tries to clinch but fails miserably

and Nakamara counters with a takedown into full mount! That could mean trouble for Hunt!
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

Nakamara working to secure an arm triangle but it's not happening for him just yet.
Nakamara tries to control but Hunt wriggling away.
Nakamara tries to push Hunt's head away but Hunt is holding on tight.
Hunt tries to hold on but Nakamara pushes him away.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Hunt is wriggling around trying to escape.
Hunt is working hard here to advance position.
Nakamara looking to control but Hunt is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.
Hunt is in a horrible position here. Nakamara smacks him with another shot as he tries to escape the position.
Nakamara tucks in and makes sure he doesn't lose the dominant position.
Hunt is squirming around, avoiding Nakamara's attempts to control the action.

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.
Nakamara avoids the attempt from Hunt to control.
Hunt prevents any damage by holding on tight.
Hunt wants to control but Nakamara is having none of it.
Hunt regains half guard.
Nakamara wants to pass the guard but Hunt is defending well.
Hunt keeps control of the position for the meantime.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Hunt throws a strike from the bottom that misses.
Nakamara is trying to advance to mount but he's lost his balance and Hunt reverses the position - he's now on top in Nakamara's guard.
Hunt throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Nakamara works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Hunt connects with a couple of short punches.
Kazuhiro Nakamara has got the better of the ground game so far.
Hunt throwing strikes from guard but Nakamara blocks nicely.
Hunt trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.

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.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.

Hunt gets caught flat footed, as Nakamara shoots in with a quick takedown into guard.
Hunt keeping moving, preventing Nakamara from controlling successfully.
Hunt bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Nakamara's guard.
Nakamara working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Hunt.
Hunt postures up in Nakamara's guard and throws a big left but Nakamara blocks it.
Hunt stopping the sweep attempt from Nakamara.
Nakamara is persisting with the attempt to improve his position.
Hunt lands a couple of elbows.

And that's the end of the fight!
Kazuhiro Nakamara comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Nakamara has won this one but let's see whether the judges agree with me. 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 Konstantin Menshow scores the fight 28:29
Judge Aleksei Zolotukhin scores the fight 28:29
Judge Vladimir Khabensky scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Kazuhiro Nakamara!