PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between felipe borges (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Ryu Nakamura (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.

borges
vs
Nakamura

176 cm
18
148 lbs
0 - 1 - 0

180 cm
24
155 lbs
5 - 7 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter striker
KO power

BJJ White Belt
Brawler
Solid chin

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 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, felipe borges!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 5 - 7 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Ryu Nakamura!
The judges for this bout are Mauricio Rocha, Thiago Cunha and Seu Braga.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Nakamura gets caught on his heels momentarily as he allows borges to score an easy takedown into full guard.
borges throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Nakamura works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Nakamura seems keen to control borges's posture.
borges throws a strike but Nakamura rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.
borges throwing some rather feeble looking strikes off his back.
Nakamura must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.
Nakamura is looking to advance position but borges has hit a scissor sweep - now he's on top in mount!
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Nakamura is looking to improve his position but borges isn't that keen on the idea.

That's one minute gone in the round.

borges jumps to the side looking to secure the arm triangle…. Ooooh, that looks tight… Nakamura is gargling but he's managed to escape! Nice work there by Nakamura and borges has given up the dominant position trying to land that submission.
borges sitting in side control, looking to soften his opponent up with elbows and hammerfists but Nakamura is avoiding damage well and looking to escape the position.
Nakamura is looking to regain half guard here but borges keeps moving and retains side control.
Check out the look on borges's face as he threw that strike - that's one determined fighter!

borges is looking to finish here, going for an Americana. Nakamura knows the correct defense though, so he's OK.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

borges is trying to land an Americana. He has the arm isolated but Nakamura is keeping cool and he's avoided the danger for now.
Nakamura parries the strikes from borges easily there. borges is wary of posturing up too much because it might enable Nakamura to escape.

borges thinks about going for a far side armbar but bails out and retains the dominant position instead.
Nakamura can't do much from the bottom here.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

borges is looking for a kimura. He might have it! No, Nakamura has escaped the position, nice work there.
Nakamura struggling a bit here.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
borges trying to control the position but Nakamura is working away.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.

borges wants to work for a kimura but he's foiled early by Nakamura, who protects the arm well.
borges tries to advance to mount but Nakamura denies him.
Nakamura is looking to regain half guard here but borges keeps moving and retains side control.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Nakamura gets back to half guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

felipe borges dominated that round.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

Nakamura looks to land a combination but borges avoids it well.

A jab-cross combination lands for Nakamura and sends borges crashing to the mat! Nakamura follows him down to the mat - borges regains half guard but he's not out of trouble yet!

It looks like felipe borges has been cut.
borges is trying to maintain the position but Nakamura is very close to passing his half guard.

borges looking for submissions off his back.
borges flails away from the bottom but he's not doing any damage.
Nakamura stops borges from getting back to his feet.
Nakamura is trying to control. borges wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.
Nakamura is figuring out what he wants to do next.
Ground and pound from Nakamura.
Nakamura trying to control from half guard but borges is working away.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Nakamura throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Nakamura working borges over with strikes.
Nakamura seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but borges does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.
Nakamura working over borges with some ground and pound. borges looks like he wants out of this position, which is understandable.
Nakamura throwing shots but borges is blocking nicely.
Nakamura lands a big shot. The thud that echoes around the arena is like music to the fans' ears.
Nakamura winds up and cracks borges with a swinging punch to the side of the head.

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

Nakamura postures up and decides to stand up, from the half guard. The ref calls for borges to stand up.
A combination from Nakamura does no damage.
borges shoots in looking for a takedown. Nakamura tries to sprawl out of it but borges keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Nakamura manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Nakamura misses with a jab, cross combination.
Nakamura misses with a wild combination.
borges throws a left and a right that both miss
and Nakamura counters with a three punch combo that has borges backing up. borges nods at Nakamura to acknowledge the strikes.
Nakamura throws a nice looking combination but borges bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
borges walks straight into a jab right on the nose. That one stung - he's blinking and trying to clear his head.
Nakamura moves into range and throws a combination. A nice jab followed by a hook to the body.
A left and a right from Nakamura both land. Nice combination.
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!
Nakamura lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but borges circles away quickly and effectively.
borges tries to clinch up but Nakamura circles away and keeps his distance.
Nakamura lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but borges circles away quickly and effectively.
Nakamura showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from borges.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Nakamura goes to the watering hole and comes back with a big thumbs up from the judges as he scores a three punch combo.
borges with a poor takedown

and Nakamura counters by clinching up.
Nakamura scores with a hook to the body.

Nakamura escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.

Nakamura closes the distance and scores a nice trip takedown into half guard. borges did well to prevent Nakamura getting side control.
borges has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Nakamura is working away from the top position though.
Nakamura takes a deep breath and rests his weight momentarily on top of his opponent, to control the position.
borges trying to control but Nakamura postures up.
borges works his way to full guard. Good work.
Nakamura really doesn't want to stay on the ground with borges. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Nakamura working some strikes from top position.
Nakamura wants to control from the top but borges keeps moving.
Nakamura is standing up over borges. borges looks to escape but Nakamura dives into side control.
borges is looking for a sweep.
borges wants to get back to his feet but Nakamura drags him back down.

Nakamura tries for a kimura. Not really close to a finish though.
borges taking a bit of punishment here - Nakamura scoring with strikes.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
borges is not content to let Nakamura control the position.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Ryu Nakamura showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The cut man is working on felipe borges's cut.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action. The crowd applaud as we get ready to start the final round!

Nakamura dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
Nakamura throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Nakamura misses with the combination.
Nakamura is looking to clinch but borges is avoiding it.
Nakamura tries to bum rush borges with a series of wild strikes but borges uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
borges is trying hard to land a takedown here. Nakamura sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Nakamura has his takedown stuffed

and borges decides to take the opportunity to score a takedown. He's landed in Nakamura's guard.
Nakamura working a defensive guard here.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
borges throwing strikes but missing.

That's one minute gone in the round.

borges has gone for a leg lock! Nakamura slips out almost immediately though and dives into borges's guard.

borges working for a triangle but Nakamura defends it easily.
Nakamura cracks borges with a solid left hand.

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 stands up over borges, holding his feet. He dives back in and lands a decent shot to the head.
Nakamura looking to pass the guard.
borges is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Nakamura is controlling him.
Nakamura working from the guard for now, landing some ground and pound.
Hammerfist, elbow! yells Nakamura's corner. There ya go! There ya go!
borges is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Nakamura controlling from the top position.
Nakamura's corner are shouting for him to control the position and he seems happy to oblige.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Nakamura working from the guard for now, landing some ground and pound.
Nakamura stopping the sweep attempt from borges.
Nakamura throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Nakamura stays in close to borges's body and controls the position.
Nakamura postures up and scores with a shot to the body and a follow up elbow to the head.
Nakamura showing good wrestling skills to control the position.
Nakamura landing some decent shots from guard.

That's four 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.
borges throwing some rather feeble looking strikes off his back.
borges keeping moving, preventing Nakamura from controlling successfully.

borges working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Nakamura doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Nakamura manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.

borges looking for submissions from the bottom but instead Nakamura passes into half guard.
borges misses with some strikes from the bottom.
Nakamura landing with strikes to the body and head, softening up his opponent.

And that's the end of the fight!
I would just about give that final round to Ryu Nakamura.
Well Nakamura has outworked and out performed his opponent in all aspects of the game today. He was simply too good and the decision should be no more than a formality. 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 Mauricio Rocha scores the fight 27:29
Judge Thiago Cunha scores the fight 27:29
Judge Seu Braga scores the fight 27:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Ryu Nakamura!