PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Nick Cage (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Hiro Nagano (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.

Cage
vs
Nagano

192 cm
22
197 lbs
5 - 1 - 1

180 cm
21
194 lbs
5 - 1 - 0

Powerful takedowns
Solid boxing
Very strong

BJJ Blue Belt
Good kicks
Granite chin

•‡• LION Clothing •‡• [CBK]
•‡• LION Clothing •‡• [CBK]

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 5 rounds, for the middleweight championship of the world!
Introducing the champion to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 5 - 1 - 1, fighting out of Tokyo, Nick Cage!
And introducing the challenger to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 5 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Hiro Nagano!
The judges for this bout are Tatsuya Matsuyama, Sosuke Kotani and Yukihiro Shimada.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
That kick from Nagano tenderised Cage's leg. Cage is trying to keep his angry face on.
Nagano looks to throw a body kick
and Cage cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Nagano throws a body punch but Cage moves out of range.
Nagano misses with the body kick
letting Cage counter with a right hand.
Cage throws a body kick, spinning off balance
and Nagano counters with a nice low kick that buckles Cage's knee momentarily.
Cage misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Hiro Nagano seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Good work by Cage as he checks the leg kick.
Cage throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Nagano's waist but Nagano gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Cage off to one side.

Cage has closed the distance and engaged Nagano in a clinch.

Cage has Nagano pressed up against the cage. He's trying to work for a single leg takedown. Cage pulls back from the cage and twists to the side, sending Nagano tumbling to the mat - Cage dives into Nagano's guard.
We get told so often about how wrestlers don't like to be on their backs. Let's see if Nagano can do anything to dispel that myth.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Cage trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Nagano keeping full guard, as Cage tries to pass.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Cage is sitting in guard, working some ground and pound.
Cage throwing strikes but missing.
Nagano controls Cage momentarily but Cage frees himself.
Cage passes easily into side control. Nice work.
Cage throws a strike aimed at the side of Nagano's head but Nagano avoids it well.
Nagano is trying to get back to half guard.
Nagano really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Cage. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.
Cage works a knee to the body and follows up with a nice elbow to the head.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Cage moves into full mount!
Nagano looks gassed!
A nice elbow there by Cage.
Cage in mount throwing good strikes here, bouncing his opponent's head off the canvas.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Cage landing punches.

Cage looks like he's working for a submission but he's not found anything just yet.
Cage 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.

Cage is working close to his opponent, looking to work a submission by the looks of things. Oh, he's managed to get a guillotine from mount as his opponent reached up! That looks tiiiiight! Will he tap? YES, he's tapped! Impressive submission by Cage!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 3:01 of round 1, we have a winner by way of Submission (Guillotine). Nick Cage!
Nick Cage retains his middleweight title!