PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Anatoliy Ivanov (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Shunsuke Nakamura (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Chooooooooon! I think Ivanov might be my favorite fighter, now he's come out to The Terminator Theme Song. Nakamura has chosen Bate pesadão as his entrance music. Both these guys have solid standup skills and neither is particularly fantastic on the ground, so let's hope for a nice standup war!

Ivanov
vs
Nakamura

186 cm
22
215 lbs
8 - 6 - 0

185 cm
21
205 lbs
7 - 3 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Decent elbows
KO power

BJJ Purple Belt
Decent boxing
Powerful

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the light heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 8 - 6 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Anatoliy Ivanov!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 7 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Shunsuke Nakamura!
The judges for this bout are Frank Antenori, and Jack Bonds.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Ivanov takes a shot to the eye socket. That's gotta hurt.
Nakamura stooping low to avoid any incoming strikes and then lunges in with an uppercut come cross that lands flush.
Nakamura shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Ivanov sprawls well. Ivanov wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Nakamura gets slowly back to his feet.
Shunsuke Nakamura seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Nakamura fails to land the takedown.
Nakamura connects with a lovely jab that went straight through the gap between Ivanov's hands.
Nakamura displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Ivanov throws out the jab.
Nakamura looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
Anatoliy Ivanov has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Shunsuke Nakamura.
Nakamura fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
Ivanov scores with a straight right hand, right through his opponent's guard.

It looks like Shunsuke Nakamura has been cut.
Nakamura fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Ivanov avoids it really well and circles away.
Nakamura avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
Ivanov tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Nakamura avoids the body shot from Ivanov.
A decent looking cross lands there for Nakamura.
Ivanov misses with a looping right.
Ivanov is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Nakamura.
Ivanov just misses with a punch to the body.

Excellent takedown into side control there by Nakamura.
Nakamura throwing strikes but Ivanov manages to buck up and roll into a nice reversal - now he's on top in side control!

That's one minute gone in the round.
Nakamura is positioning himself to get back to half guard.
Nakamura has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
Ivanov wants to control but Nakamura is keeping him busy.
Nakamura sneaks back into half guard.
Nakamura punching from the bottom.
Nakamura punching from the bottom.
Ivanov controlling the pace.
Nakamura is looking for a sweep. Ivanov is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Ivanov controlling the action here.
Nakamura punching from the bottom.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A few boos can be heard. I'm sure they will multiply if the fighters don't pick up the pace.
Nakamura strikes from the bottom but Ivanov uses the opportunity to move to side control.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Nakamura is sneaking out the side here. He's bucked Ivanov off and has taken his back!
Ivanov looks to control his opponent's hands but he's not mananging it at the moment.
Ivanov manages to escape to a better position under a series of strikes. Nakamura is now in side control.
Ivanov managing to avoid any damage from the strikes thrown by Nakamura.
Ivanov tries to work a leg under to get back to half guard but Nakamura wriggles his own leg back out and remains in side control.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
You can see the frustration on Ivanov's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.
Nakamura working the ground and pound but he's contacting the mat, not the fighter.
Nakamura throwing strikes but missing, from side control.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
The fighters circle momentarily. Nakamura darts into range and connects with a nice straight punch.
Nice shot by Nakamura.
Nakamura scores with a three punch combo!
Nakamura shoots for a double leg takedown but Ivanov sprawls well. He's pushed Nakamura's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
Nakamura shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Ivanov pinned against the cage. Ivanov gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
Ivanov lands a right hook to the body.
Nakamura bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
Ivanov misses with a double jab.
Nakamura avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
Nakamura swats away the attempt to clinch by Ivanov.
Nakamura avoids the body shot from Ivanov.

Nakamura gets the takedown into side control.
Nakamura throwing ground and pound but whilst doing so, he forgets to control position and Ivanov works his way back to half guard. Good composure under pressure.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Nakamura not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
Ivanov keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.
Ivanov wants to get back to full guard.
Nakamura sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Ivanov defending well though.
Ivanov blocking the ground and pound attempt from Nakamura.
Nakamura misses with a head shot. Ivanov uses the momentum to regain guard.
Nakamura with a flurry of punches that miss.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close round but I would say that Anatoliy Ivanov will probably get the nod.
The cut man is working on Shunsuke Nakamura's cut.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

Ivanov throws an overhand right that lands on Nakamura's shoulder, as Nakamura tries to avoid the shot.
Ivanov throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Ivanov thows a body shot but no joy.
Ivanov looks to throw the jab but Nakamura is out of range.
Ivanov takes an uppercut right on the jaw but it doesn't phase him.
Ivanov throws a jab when Nakamura was well out of range.
Nakamura fails miserably with a takedown attempt.

Nakamura shoots in for a takedown and gets it.
Nakamura lands strikes from half guard.
Ivanov is trying to get back to full guard.
Ivanov is working for an escape here. He's hooked one of Nakamura's legs and he's managed to sneak out and take Nakamura's back!
Nakamura manages to reverse the position and now he's in Ivanov's guard. Nice work there by Nakamura.
Ivanov preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Nakamura works over Ivanov with some ground and pound from guard.
Ivanov utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Nakamura keeps in close for a moment and lands a decent shot to the side of Ivanov's head.
Nakamura with a couple of shots to the head there. Not particularly brutal.
Nakamura is working the ground and pound from guard. He might want to try advancing position though to get more of an impact.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Nakamura accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Nakamura distracts Ivanov with his right hand and drops a big elbow with his other arm.
Nakamura throws a big right hand that misses.
Nakamura lands a couple of digs.
Nakamura is looking to work some ground and pound but Ivanov has wrist control.
Nakamura throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Nakamura pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Ivanov is keeping the position for now.
Nakamura throws a strike but Ivanov rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.
Nakamura throws some sloppy strikes off his back.
Ivanov stays in close to Nakamura's body and controls the position.
Nakamura thows some rabbit punches from the bottom but they don't do any damage.
Nakamura trying to strike off his back.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
Ivanov throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Ivanov tries to clinch up but Nakamura circles away and keeps his distance.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Jab, cross, leg kick. Nice combination by Nakamura!

Nakamura feints and as Ivanov raises his hands in defense, Nakamura changes levels and drives through with a takedown into guard.
Nakamura throws a strike but Ivanov rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.
Nakamura keeping full guard, as Ivanov tries to pass.
Ivanov stopping the sweep attempt from Nakamura.
Nakamura thows some rabbit punches from the bottom but they don't do any damage.
Nakamura will have to put a bit more behind his punches if he's going to do any damage from this position.
Nakamura trying to strike from the bottom but really, it's not the best position to be doing that from!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Nakamura wants to sweep but no luck.
Ivanov trying to control the position from guard on top but Nakamura is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.
Nakamura connects with a good right hand that stumbles Ivanov. Ivanov circles away out of range and recomposes himself.
Nakamura has a takedown stuffed.
Nakamura dives in and grabs Ivanov's left leg, looking for a takedown. Ivanov pushes down on Nakamura's head and hops out.
Anatoliy Ivanov has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Shunsuke Nakamura.
Nakamura is breathing heavily.

Nakamura fakes an overhand right and shoots for a takedown. Ivanov sprawls well initially but Nakamura persists and gets the takedown into half guard.
Nakamura landing with strikes to the body and head, softening up his opponent.
Ivanov slips a foot under and gets full guard. Nice work.
Ivanov keeping full guard, as Nakamura tries to pass.
Ivanov tries to land a sweep but no joy.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Shunsuke Nakamura showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The cut man is working on Shunsuke Nakamura's cut.
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. This is the final round!

Ivanov changes levels and scores with a jab to the body.
Nakamura fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Ivanov avoids it really well and circles away.
Nakamura shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Ivanov pinned against the cage. Ivanov gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
Ivanov slaps away a takedown attempt from Nakamura, before circling back to the center of the mat.
Anatoliy Ivanov has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Shunsuke Nakamura.
Nakamura throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Ivanov's waist but Ivanov gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Nakamura off to one side.
Ivanov misses with a hook. Nakamura ducked under it nicely.
Ivanov tries to clinch there but Nakamura circles away.

Nakamura closes the distance, clinches up and gets a nice trip takedown into side control. Very smooth.
Ivanov defending against the ground and pound.
Nakamura creates some space and throws a big elbow, but Ivanov sees it coming and moves his head just enough to avoid the strike.
Ivanov is sneaking out the side here. He's bucked Nakamura off and has taken his back!
Nakamura takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Ivanov controlling from the back.
Nakamura rolls and manages to get back to half guard. Nicely done.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Ivanov sitting and controlling from the half guard.
Nakamura misses with some strikes from the bottom.
Nakamura wants to get back to full guard but Ivanov has mounted him!
Ivanov blocks Nakamura's feeble attempts to strike from the bottom.
Nakamura is working to get back to half guard.
Nakamura bucks up and manages to get a nice reversal! He's in guard on the top - nicely done!
Ivanov utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Nakamura stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Ivanov swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Nakamura is looking to work some ground and pound but Ivanov has wrist control.
Nakamura throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Ivanov works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Ivanov working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Nakamura.
Nakamura won't allow Ivanov to sweep him here.
Ivanov avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Ivanov wants to sweep here but Nakamura controlling him for the moment.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
Nakamura takes a shot right to the liver - Bas would have been proud of that punch.

Ivanov gets caught flat footed, as Nakamura shoots in with a quick takedown into guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Nakamura loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Nakamura throws and elbow that misses. Ivanov uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in Nakamura's guard. Nice move by Ivanov!
Nakamura striking off his back but it's not causing Ivanov any problems.
Ivanov passes into half guard under a barage of strikes.
Nakamura throws a strike from the bottom that misses.
Still in half guard, Ivanov seems content to control.
Nakamura tries to roll over but Ivanov keeps him under control.
Nakamura punching from the bottom.
Nakamura flails away from the bottom but he's not doing any damage.

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.
Nakamura is looking for a sweep. Ivanov is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.
Nakamura fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
Anatoliy Ivanov is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Ivanov misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Nakamura.
Nakamura uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Ivanov.
Ivanov throws a jab when Nakamura was well out of range.
Nakamura dives in and grabs Ivanov's left leg, looking for a takedown. Ivanov pushes down on Nakamura's head and hops out.
Ivanov misses with a wild combination.
Ivanov looks to throw the jab but Nakamura is out of range.
Shunsuke Nakamura is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Nakamura dives in and grabs Ivanov's left leg, looking for a takedown. Ivanov pushes down on Nakamura's head and hops out.
Nakamura gets cracked with a nice right hand there by Ivanov.
Nakamura uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Ivanov.
Wow, both these guys are really going for it!
Nakamura moves out of range as Ivanov strikes.

Nakamura shoots in for a takedown and gets it.
Nakamura throws a strike but Ivanov avoids it easily and moves to full guard.

And that's the end of the fight!
That was a close round. You could make an argument for either fighter but I would give it to Anatoliy Ivanov.
I think Ivanov has won this one but let's see what the judges have to say. 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 Frank Antenori scores the fight 29:28
Judge Percy O'Donnell scores the fight 29:28
Judge Jack Bonds scores the fight 28:30

In favor of your winner, by split decision... Anatoliy Ivanov!