PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Kenzo Nakata (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Chris Keller (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Nakata
vs
Keller

180 cm
22
208 lbs
9 - 5 - 0

190 cm
28
230 lbs
14 - 5 - 0

BJJ Brown Belt
Good knees
Very strong

Good takedowns
Decent boxing
Knockout power

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 5 rounds, for the heavyweight championship of the world!
Introducing the champion to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 9 - 5 - 0, fighting out of London, Kenzo Nakata!
And introducing the challenger to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 14 - 5 - 0, fighting out of London, Chris Keller!
The judges for this bout are Donald Grub, Steven Brown and William Gold.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
No joy there for Nakata, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Nakata keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
Nakata lunges at Keller with a hook that half lands and is half blocked by Keller's hand.

Keller is looking for a takedown here. He's shot in and has managed to get it, finishing up in Nakata's half guard.

Nakata is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Keller pulls his head out easily.
Nakata is working for an escape here. He's hooked one of Keller's legs and he's managed to sneak out and take Keller's back!
Keller covering up well under a barage of strikes.
Nakata scores with a nice shot to the head of his opponent. Keller is looking for a way out.
Keller trying to control the position but Nakata manages to sink in the hooks.
Keller manages to reverse the position and now he's in Nakata's guard. Nice work there by Keller.
Keller trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Nakata keeping moving, preventing Keller from controlling successfully.
Nakata looking for a sweep. Not yet Nakata, not yet.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Keller stays in close to Nakata's body and controls the position.
Keller trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.

Nakata escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Keller gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
Keller slips nicely into half guard.
Nakata wants to get back to full guard.

Nakata is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Keller pulls his head out easily.
Keller wants to take a breather but Nakata is having none of it.
Nakata gets full guard.
Nakata has momentary wrist control but Keller slips an elbow through the middle.
Keller sneaks a leg through and gets to half guard. That was like a knife through butter how easily he passed Nakata's guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Keller wants to free his trapped foot but Nakata is holding on for dear life with his legs.
Nakata is looking to improve his position.
Keller is trying to control the action in half guard but Nakata is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.
Nakata regains full guard. Nicely done.
Nakata looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Nakata bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Keller's guard.

Keller throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Keller looks gassed!
Nakata throwing strikes but missing.
Nakata is sitting in guard, working some ground and pound.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Nakata is working the ground and pound from guard. He might want to try advancing position though to get more of an impact.
Keller utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.

Nakata drops back, looking for a kneebar! Keller looks panicked! The fighters roll across the mat, one looking to finish, one looking to escape. Keller looks to have wriggled free... Yes, he's got his leg free and he's dived into side control! Good work there from Keller!
Keller wants to control but Nakata is keeping him busy.
Nakata struggling a bit here.
Nakata tries to buck Keller off but Keller is having none of it.
Nakata takes an elbow right on the bridge of the nose and winces in pain.
Check out the look on Keller's face as he threw that strike - that's one determined fighter!
Keller is looking to take a break and control but Nakata is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Nakata gets one leg under and gets the fight to half guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Nakata is looking for a sweep. Keller is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Keller not landing any meaningful shots this time.
Nakata is looking to improve his position.
Nakata regains full guard. Nicely done.
Keller wants to control from the top but Nakata keeps moving.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Keller preventing the sweep.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Kenzo Nakata dominated that round.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

Keller gets caught on his heels momentarily as he allows Nakata to score an easy takedown into full guard.
Nakata postures up in Keller's guard and throws a big left but Keller blocks it.
Keller keeping full guard, as Nakata tries to pass.
Keller looking to hit a scissor sweep but Nakata is one step ahead there.
Nakata trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Keller preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Keller wants to get back to his feet but Nakata is in a dominant position and won't allow it.
Nakata stopping the sweep attempt from Keller.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Nakata postures up and scores with a shot to the body and a follow up elbow to the head.
Keller lands a beautiful switch and he's in full mount! That could spell trouble for Nakata!
Nakata regains half guard.
Keller is breathing heavily.
Nakata is trying to maintain the position but Keller is very close to passing his half guard.
Ground and pound from Keller.
Keller wants to lay and pray for a moment but Nakata keeps working.
Nakata is trying to control but can't.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The fighters are battling for position here. Nakata manages to regain full guard. Nice work.
Nakata is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Nakata looking for a sweep. Not yet Nakata, not yet.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Keller wants to control from the top but Nakata keeps moving.
Keller trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Nakata looking to sweep here. No luck so far.

Nakata throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
Keller is working the ground and pound from guard. He might want to try advancing position though to get more of an impact.

Nakata throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
Nakata throwing some rather feeble looking strikes off his back.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Keller lands a couple of elbows.
Keller is working the ground and pound from guard. He might want to try advancing position though to get more of an impact.
Nakata working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Keller.
Nakata tries to strike from the bottom.
Keller wants to control from the top but Nakata keeps moving.
Nakata looking to control.
Nakata looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Keller working from the guard for now, landing some ground and pound.
Keller preventing the sweep.
Keller pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Nakata is keeping the position for now.
Keller wants to control from the top but Nakata keeps moving.
Nakata not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.

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.
Keller distracts Nakata with his right hand and drops a big elbow with his other arm.
Nakata has been looking to land a fair amount of strikes on the ground. He might be looking to soften his opponent up in order to work for a submission.
Nakata manages to land a sweep and now he's in mount on top!
Keller is desperately trying to get back to half guard.
Nakata lands with some vicious ground and pound - can Keller hang on?
Nakata has his opponent pinned against the cage, landing some nasty ground and pound that is really making a bit of a mess out of Keller's face.
Nakata unloading with bombs!
Keller is wriggling around trying to escape.
Keller is in a horrible position here, under a barrage of strikes, he's managing to avoid any damage.
Keller sneaks a leg under to get to half guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Kenzo Nakata dominated that second round.
That's time! Back to the action!

Nakata tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Keller was well out of range. Poor timing from Nakata.
Nakata looks to land a left hand but Keller moved out of range nicely.
Nakata throws a series of punches but Keller avoids them all with ease.
Kenzo Nakata seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Nakata throws a right and a left that Keller avoids nicely.
Keller shoots in for a takedown but Nakata shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
Keller thows a left - swing and a miss!
Keller shoots in for a takedown but Nakata shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
Nakata swinging wildly here.
Keller tries to close the distance and clinch but Nakata swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Chris Keller is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Keller shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Nakata defends it nicely.
Kenzo Nakata has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Chris Keller.
Nakata scores with a shot to the body.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Nakata tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Keller was well out of range. Poor timing from Nakata.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Nakata throws a leg kick but he was too far away and it doesn't land.
Nakata connects with a body shot.
Nakata clobbers Keller with an overhand right that has the crowd gasping. That made a horrendous noise.
Nakata shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Nakata thuds a left hand into Keller's body.
Nakata is looking to wear down Keller with body shots, infact he's throwing more body shots than head shots at the moment.
A chopping leg kick lands by Nakata.
Nakata throws a body punch but Keller moves out of range.
Nakata misses with a series of wild punches.
The fighters circling - Nakata throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
Nakata swings for the body but Keller moves out of range.
Nakata is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Keller.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Keller tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Nakata paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Nakata scores with a punch to the head.
Nakata dips to his left and cracks Keller with an uppercut!
Nakata jabbing away but nothing is landing.
Nakata throws a jab to the body, straight down the pipe. Boom. That sent Keller stumbling backwards but he manages to regain his composure quickly.
Nakata bobs and weaves and unloads with a good uppercut.
Keller keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Nakata loads up on a big right hand but Keller slips the punch.
A looping hook to the body misses from Nakata. Keller does a little dance to reset his feet.
Keller slips under a jab from Nakata.
Keller shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Nakata pinned against the cage. Nakata gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
Nakata lands a right hook to the body.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Nakata gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily

and Keller counters with a nice double leg into half guard.
Keller looks towards his corner to check for any instructions. The corner give him nothing to work with, so he cracks Nakata with a short hammerfist. I guess that's as good as any advice he could get in this position.
Nakata tries to get to full guard but Keller has control of the leg.
Nakata trying to control but Keller postures up.
Nakata is looking to improve his position.
Kenzo Nakata overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.

Nakata looking for submissions from an awkward position here.
Keller slips a nice elbow through Nakata's hands, connecting with Nakata's forehead.
Keller throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
Keller tries to pass to full mount but Nakata defends it.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Nakata manages to get to full guard.
Keller passes Nakata's right leg, so he's now in half guard.
Nakata has hold of Keller's hands but Keller slips his arm to the side and lands an elbow.
Keller lands strikes from half guard.
Nakata trying to hold on to Keller's head to control him but Keller postures up.
Keller tries to pass to full mount but Nakata defends it.
Nakata is trying to control but can't.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Kenzo Nakata clearly takes that round.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

Nakata shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Keller but Keller pushes him off and we're back to square one.
Nakata throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Nakata ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Keller moves away.

Nakata shoots in for a takedown! He's got it and he's managed to land in full mount! That's better than Nakata was expecting from the takedown attempt, I'm sure!
Keller sneaks a leg under to get to half guard.
Keller is trying to get back to full guard.
Nakata sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Keller defending well though.
It's got to the stage where if one of these guys blows hard enough, the other might fall over.
Nakata throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
The fighters are battling for position here. Keller manages to regain full guard. Nice work.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Nakata drops back, looking for a kneebar! Keller looks panicked! The fighters roll across the mat, one looking to finish, one looking to escape. Keller looks to have wriggled free... Yes, he's got his leg free and he's dived into side control! Good work there from Keller!
Keller moving around in side mount but really he's just happy to control for now.
Nakata tries to bench press Keller off him but Keller keeps the position.
Keller working away diligently from side control. Landing strikes effectively there - that will score him some points on the judges scorecards.
The referee asks Keller politely if he wouldn't mind getting on with it and actually doing something. Keller prefers to stall for the moment though.
Nakata tries to work a leg under to get back to half guard but Keller wriggles his own leg back out and remains in side control.
Keller working the ground and pound.
Nakata manages to get one leg in to regain half guard.
Keller takes advantage of the dominant position to land a couple of big hammer fists.
Keller wants to pass the guard but Nakata is defending well.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Nakata is refusing to be controlled, as Keller sits in half guard.
Nakata gets full guard.
Nakata preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Keller in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Nakata pulls Keller in to control the position.
Keller won't allow Nakata to sweep him here.
Keller must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.
Keller throwing strikes from guard but Nakata blocks nicely.
Keller postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Keller with a flurry of punches that miss.
Keller trying to control the position from guard on top but Nakata is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

Nakata had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Keller defends it easily.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Nakata looking to control.
Nakata looking to hit a scissor sweep but Keller is one step ahead there.
Nakata is working hard here to advance position.
Keller postures up and lands a big shot to Nakata's brow.
Keller won't allow Nakata to sweep him here.
Keller thows a big elbow that misses.

Nakata had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Keller defends it easily.
Keller lands a couple of decent looking shots.

That's four 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.
Nakata keeping moving, preventing Keller from controlling successfully.
Nakata avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Nakata looking to hit a scissor sweep but Keller is one step ahead there.
Keller makes a bit of distance and scores with some ground and pound, still in guard.
Nakata manages to land a sweep and now he's in mount on top!
Keller tries to lock up and control but Nakata gives him a forearm to the face and pushes him away.
Keller is looking to get to half guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close fourth round but I would say that Kenzo Nakata will probably get the nod.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business. Let's hear some noise people - this is the final round!

Keller wants to clinch.
Nakata lands a jab-cross combination.
A slow jab from Nakata misses its intended target.
Keller wants to clinch up but Nakata keeps it at a distance.
Keller is trying hard to land a takedown here. Nakata sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.
Jab by Nakata.
Nakata thows a body shot but no joy.
Both of our modern day gladiators look out of it here - an gruelling 5 rounds of action taking it's toll on them, no doubt.
Keller walks into a left hand.

Nakata shoots in looking for a single leg takedown. Keller is trying to defend but Nakata finishes it well and ends up in half guard. Let's see if he can advance position further.
Keller wants to improve his position but Nakata is controlling well.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Nakata is keeping good posture, landing some ground and pound.
Nakata takes advantage of the dominant position to land a couple of big hammer fists.
Nakata wants to free his trapped foot but Keller is holding on for dear life with his legs.
Keller is trying to get back to full guard.
Nice strikes from Nakata there.
Nakata thows a huge punch but Keller dodges it nicely.

Nakata seems to be working for a kimura but Keller defends the submission attempt.
Nakata seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Keller does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Nakata thows a big elbow that misses, also allowing Keller to regain full guard.
Keller wants to stand up but Nakata is controlling him.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Nakata accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Nakata wants to control from the top but Keller keeps moving.
Nakata throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Nakata trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Keller avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Keller working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Nakata.
Nakata throws and elbow that misses. Keller uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in Nakata's guard. Nice move by Keller!

Keller got a little sloppy there for a moment and Nakata has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Keller has managed to get both his arms back between Nakata's legs - danger averted.
Keller postures up and lands a big shot to Nakata's brow.
Nakata keeping moving, preventing Keller from controlling successfully.
Keller looking to pass the guard.

Nakata working for a triangle but Keller defends it easily.
Keller landing with the ground and pound.
Chris Keller has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Nakata wants to sweep here but Keller controlling him for the moment.
Keller wants to control from the top but Nakata keeps moving.
Keller is sitting in guard, working some ground and pound.
Nakata lands a beautiful switch and he's in full mount! That could spell trouble for Keller!
Keller tries to hold on but Nakata pushes him away.
The referee warns Keller that he has to improve his position here as he takes two more clean shots to the head.
Nakata breaks from Keller's wrist control and lands an elbow.

And that's the end of the fight!
Kenzo Nakata showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Nakata has outscored his opponent in every aspect of the fight today. Only a scarily incompetent judge or two will keep him from a well deserved win... Over to the ring announcer for the scorecards.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 5 rounds of action, we go to the scorecards for a decision.
Judge Donald Grub scores the fight 50:45
Judge Steven Brown scores the fight 50:45
Judge William Gold scores the fight 50:45

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Kenzo Nakata!
Kenzo Nakata is the new heavyweight champion!