PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Akiyo Nishiura (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Thomaz Taylor (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Taylor has chosen Taylor Gang as his entrance music. Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Nishiura
vs
Taylor

172 cm
30
139 lbs
17 - 5 - 0

170 cm
23
144 lbs
4 - 2 - 0

Good wrestling
World class boxer
Very quick

Good wrestler
Excellent MT
Powerful

Hell's Balls Fightwear

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the bantamweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 17 - 5 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Akiyo Nishiura!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 4 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Thomaz Taylor!
The judges for this bout are Yves DeLean, Trevor Gratis and Alec Ball.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Nishiura throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
Taylor tries to check the leg kick but that clearly hurt him.
Nishiura throws a hook but Taylor avoids it easily.
Nishiura swinging wildly here.
Nishiura throws a hook to the side of Taylor's head but Taylor sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Nishiura uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Taylor.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Taylor shakes his hands off, looking to compose himself, but takes a jab to the jaw whilst he does it.
Nishiura looks to throw the jab but Taylor is out of range.
Nishiura scores with a kick to the body.
Nishiura throws the kick towards the body but Taylor avoids it.

Nishiura closes the distance and clinches.
Taylor tries a body shot but Nishiura blocks it.
Taylor managing to block the knees to the body from Nishiura.
Nishiura blocking some punches.
With the two fighters working up against the cage, Nishiura just misses with a elbow thrown towards Taylor's brow.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Nishiura tries to land a knee to the head but misses.
Nishiura prevents the takedown attempt.
Nishiura creates a bit of distance and throws an elbow that only just misses.
Taylor just leaning against Nishiura, taking a breather.
With the two fighters working up against the cage, Nishiura just misses with a elbow thrown towards Taylor's brow.
Nishiura taking a break, stalling in the clinch.
Nishiura lands an elbow inside that Taylor shrugs off.
Nishiura with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.
Nishiura tries a knee to the head but he's missed.
Nishiura misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Taylor.
Taylor blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
Nishiura connects with a nasty looking knee right to Taylor's face.
A battle for position here, against the cage.
Taylor presses Nishiura against the cage and delivers a mid-strength body shot.
Taylor scores with a shoulder strike.
Nishiura with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.
A right hook to the body lands for Taylor.
Taylor avoids the elbow strike from Nishiura, against the cage.
Nishiura being controlled against the cage.
Taylor missing with knees to the body.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Nishiura misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Taylor.
The pace slowing considerably in the clinch, as Taylor takes a break from that fighting nonsense to think about the finer things in life.
Taylor tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Taylor misses with a body punch.
Nishiura lands an elbow inside.
Nishiura tries to break free but Taylor pushes him back against the cage.
Nishiura prevents a body shot from Taylor.
Nishiura slowing the pace effectively.
Nishiura tries a knee to the head but he's missed.
Nishiura with an attempt at a knee that misses.
Nishiura pushes off an throws an elbow but Taylor leans to the side and avoids it. We're back to clinching against the cage.
Taylor on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
Taylor works for underhooks and lands a body shot in the process.
Some stalling of biblical proportions here from Nishiura.
A body shot lands from Taylor.
Nishiura misses with a knee strike.
A nice glancing elbow lands by Nishiura.
Taylor can't find room to land a body shot as Nishiura controls the action.
Taylor trying to control the position but instead, Nishiura has worked for underhooks and has pushed Taylor into the cage.

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.
Nishiura misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Taylor.
Nishiura managing to block the knees to the body from Taylor.
Taylor blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Taylor throws a hook to the body. More of an arm punch but it's all scoring with the judges.
Nishiura scores with a shoulder strike.
Taylor misses with a hook to the ribs.
Nishiura using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Taylor has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
Taylor lands a right uppercut that snaps the head of Nishiura backwards.
An uppercut to the body lands inside from Nishiura.
Taylor struggles to land a body shot inside as Nishiura controls his hands.
Taylor dodges an elbow strike from Nishiura.
Taylor avoiding damage as Nishiura throws knees to the body.
Nishiura tries a knee to the head but Taylor blocks it.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Taylor avoiding damage as Nishiura throws knees to the body.
Taylor misses with some punches.
Nishiura misses with an elbow over the top.
Nishiura tries to land a knee to the head but misses.
Nishiura tries a knee to the head but Taylor blocks it.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Akiyo Nishiura dominated that round.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action.

Nishiura misses with a hook
and Taylor counters with a low kick, right behind Nishiura 's knee.
Nishiura falls off balance throwing a combination
and Taylor counters with a straight punch to the midsection.

Nishiura has managed to clinch.
Taylor scores with a hook to the body.
Taylor pressing his opponent against the cage.
Nishiura holding his opponent close, against the cage.
Nice body punch from Taylor.

That's one minute gone in the round.
The pace really dropping off here, momentarily.
Nishiura misses with a knee strike.
Nishiura lands a knee to the body.
Nishiura with an attempt at a knee that misses.
Nishiura lands an elbow that stopped Taylor in his tracks for a moment.
Nishiura tries to land knees in the clinch but Taylor avoids the damage to the body.
Taylor's corner are urging him to control the action in the clinch for a moment, rather than mount any serious offense. I'm sure the crowd appreciate those instructions... not.
Nishiura just leaning against Taylor, taking a breather.
Nishiura lands an elbow just above Taylor 's eye.
Nishiura is pressed up against the cage. Taylor has hold of a leg and is looking to drag Nishiura down to the mat. Nishiura avoids the attempt though and has circled away. We're back to striking at a distance.
Taylor walks into a straight right hand from Nishiura.
Taylor throws a leg kick
and Nishiura cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Nishiura takes a thudding leg kick, right into the meat of the thigh.
Nice defenses there by Taylor.
Nishiura thows a body shot but no joy.

Nishiura drives through and clinches with Taylor against the cage.
Nishiura trying to stall but Taylor improves his position.
Nishiura is pressed up against the cage. Taylor has hold of a leg and is looking to drag Nishiura down to the mat. Nishiura avoids the attempt though and has circled away. We're back to striking at a distance.
Taylor ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Nishiura throws an off balance right hand
and Taylor counters with a solid body kick.
Nishiura throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Taylor throws a wild body kick that Nishiura sees coming a mile off.
Both fighters are looking to counter, which isn't making for the most exciting fight in the world.
Taylor slips a straight right by Nishiura.

Nishiura drives through and clinches with Taylor against the cage.

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.
Nishiura misses with a knee to the head.
Taylor presses Nishiura against the cage and delivers a mid-strength body shot.
Nishiura throws a knee to the head but misses.
Taylor can't find room to land a body shot as Nishiura controls the action.
Nishiura using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Taylor has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
Nishiura putting his Muay Thai to good use. He has Taylor in a tight clinch and is doing some damage with knees to the body.
Taylor is leaning against Nishiura and scores with a nice uppercut to the body.
Taylor blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
Taylor lands punches inside but they're not really causing much damage.
A right handed body shot lands from Nishiura.
Taylor takes a knee to the side of the body.
Taylor on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
A real battle for position is taking place between these two warriors.
Taylor digs a right hand into Nishiura's ribs. Those have got to be taking their toll on Nishiura's gas tank.
Nishiura tries to land a knee to the head but misses.
Nishiura looks to throw an elbow but misses.
Taylor stalling in the clinch but Nishiura improves position.
Nishiura missing with knees to the body.
Taylor can't find room to land a body shot as Nishiura controls the action.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Akiyo Nishiura dominated that second round.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action! This is the final round!

Taylor just misses with a punch to the body.
Taylor misses with a body shot.
We are yet to see a takedown attempt from Taylor in the fight. On paper you would think he is the more dominant ground fighter so let's see if these unusual tactics pay off.
Taylor takes an uppercut right on the jaw but it doesn't phase him.

Nishiura moves into the clinch.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Taylor stalling in the clinch but Nishiura improves position.
Nice elbow from Nishiura.
With the fighters clinched against the cage, Taylor creates a bit of distance for himself and scores with a nice uppercut.
Good anti-grappling being displayed by Nishiura as Taylor tries to tie him up.
A head punch on the inside from Taylor fails to land.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Taylor fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Nishiura avoids a wild elbow strike from Taylor.
Nishiura trying to land knees to the body.
Taylor avoiding damage as Nishiura throws knees to the body.
Taylor avoiding damage as Nishiura throws knees to the body.
Nishiura tries to land a knee to the head but Taylor blocks with his arms.
Taylor avoiding damage as Nishiura throws knees to the body.
Nishiura has had enough of the clinch and is looking to separate.
Nishiura blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Taylor avoiding damage as Nishiura throws knees to the body.
Nishiura tries a knee to the head but he's missed.
Taylor tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Nishiura avoids it.

Taylor works for the underhooks and manages to get a trip takedown into guard.

Nishiura is looking for a triangle but Taylor pushes his legs off easily.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

Nishiura is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Taylor is aware though and is defending well.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Taylor wants to control from the top but Nishiura keeps moving.
Taylor works a leg free and moves into half guard.
Nishiura blocking the ground and pound attempt from Taylor.
We could do with one of the fighters taking the initiative a bit more on the ground - they're both waiting to capitalize on a mistake.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Taylor works his way into full mount!
Thomaz Taylor has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Taylor can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as Nishiura is looking to escape.
Taylor controlling from mount.

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.

And that's the end of the fight!
Thomaz Taylor comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Nishiura 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 Yves DeLean scores the fight 29:28
Judge Trevor Gratis scores the fight 29:28
Judge Alec Ball scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Akiyo Nishiura!