PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Shunsuke Nakamura (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Mike Smith (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

Nakamura
vs
Smith

182 cm
23
174 lbs
6 - 2 - 0

180 cm
21
170 lbs
6 - 3 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Solid boxing
Very strong

BJJ Purple Belt
Basic striking
Powerful

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 2 rounds, in the welterweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 6 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Shunsuke Nakamura!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 6 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Mike Smith!
The judges for this bout are Hirohito Nitta, Ren Mimura and Kenichi Hosakawa.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Smith fails with the takedown.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Smith is defended easily by Nakamura.
Smith keeps the fight on the outside.

Nakamura has managed to clinch.
Smith drops down looking for an ankle pick but Nakamura pulls his leg out and moves away.
Shunsuke Nakamura has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Mike Smith.
Nakamura scores with a body shot.
Nakamura misses with the combination.
Nakamura throws a head kick but Smith moves out of range.
Smith with a lazy takedown attempt

and Nakamura counters by moving into the clinch. Good anticipation by Nakamura.
Nakamura slowing the pace effectively.
Nakamura is working hard here but doesn't seem to be able to control effectively, up against the cage.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Nakamura lands a right hand that snaps the head of Smith backwards.
Nakamura doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Nakamura lands a hook to the side of the head.
Smith blocking some punches.
Nakamura lands with a left to the head.
Nakamura has a couple of punches blocked by Smith.
Nakamura looking to slow down the pace here.
Smith tries for a takedown. No joy.
Smith tries to score a body lock takedown but Nakamura shows good agility there to stay on his feet.
Nakamura stops a takedown attempt from Smith.
Nakamura lands with a good tight uppercut to the head.
Smith blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Nakamura throws a punch but it's blocked by Smith.
Nakamura controlling the action here for a moment.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
There's not a lot going on here and the crowd are letting the fighters know they're not willing to tolerate a lack of action.
Smith is working for a takedown up against the cage. He can't get it on this occasion though.
Nakamura trying to control the position but instead, Smith has worked for underhooks and has pushed Nakamura into the cage.
Nakamura stops a takedown attempt from Smith.
Smith is working for a takedown up against the cage. He can't get it on this occasion though.
A short left from Nakamura.
Stalling in the clinch from Nakamura.
A shot in the inside from Nakamura.
Smith changes levels and goes for a takedown here. Nakamura fights it off and pushes away nicely.
Smith has his takedown stuffed
and Nakamura counters with a nice jab to the body that keeps Smith thinking.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Nakamura scores with a hook to the body. Smith takes a step back and tries to catch his breath.
Smith shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Nakamura as he avoids it easily.
Smith looks gassed!
Nakamura scoring well with a low kick there.
Nakamura bobs and weaves and throws out a fast jab that snaps Smith's head backwards.
Smith is trying hard to land a takedown here. Nakamura sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.
Nakamura doesn't manage to clinch there - Smith circles away.
Smith doesn't succeed with the takedown
and Nakamura counters with a left and a right that stings Smith.
Mike Smith seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

Nakamura gets a clinch.
Nakamura lands with a short shot to the head.
Nakamura lands with a right to the head.
Smith avoids the elbow strike from Nakamura, against the cage.
Nakamura fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Nakamura is clearly stalling here... Pick up the pace son.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Smith has hold of a leg and is looking for a trip takedown. Nakamura avoids it nicely though and we remain in the clinch.
Nakamura is stalling here.
Nakamura scores with a shot to the side of Smith's head.
Smith blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Nakamura is stalling here. The referee will be looking to step in if he doesn't pick up the pace.
Nakamura throws a head punch that misses.
Nakamura misses with a hook from the clinch.
An uppercut to the body lands inside from Nakamura.
Nakamura lands an uppercut.
Smith looking for a takedown.
Smith goes for a takedown attempt but Nakamura pushes him away and we're back to fighting at a distance.
Nakamura fakes with a right hand and throws a good leg kick, right into the thigh. That had to hurt Smith.

That's five minutes gone in the round.

Nakamura instigates a clinch.
Smith changes levels and goes for a takedown here. Nakamura fights it off and pushes away nicely.
Nakamura stuffs the takedown.
Nakamura with a jab.
Smith fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
Nakamura stuffs the takedown.
Nakamura with a nice looking leg kick. You could hear that one land in a back row.

Nakamura moves into the clinch successfully.
Nakamura controlling the action here for a moment.

That's six minutes gone in the round.
Nakamura working some nice short punches in the clinch.
Nakamura is pressed up against the cage. Smith has hold of a leg and is looking to drag Nakamura down to the mat. Nakamura avoids the attempt though and has circled away. We're back to striking at a distance.
Nakamura misses with a combination

and Smith counters with a takedown into side control.
Nakamura tries to bench press Smith off him but Smith keeps the position.
Smith working away.
Smith throwing strikes but missing, from side control.
Smith throws a knee to the body but it doesn't do much damage.
Nakamura is not content to let Smith control the position.
Smith tries to score with some ground and pound. Nakamura controls his posture well this time though and the shots don't do any damage.

That's seven minutes gone in the round.
Smith has knee on belly and moves into mount.
Nakamura regains half guard.
Smith is looking to pass Nakamura's guard but actually Nakamura recovers to full guard.
Nakamura keeping moving, preventing Smith from controlling successfully.

That's eight minutes gone in the round.
Nakamura working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Smith.
Nakamura looking for a sweep. Not yet Nakamura, not yet.
Smith looking to sit in guard and control but Nakamura gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.
Smith manages to land a sweep and now he's in mount on top!
Smith is landing with some decent strikes but Nakamura is trying to advance his position so the referee is letting the fight continue.

That's nine minutes gone in the round.
Nakamura is squirming around, avoiding Smith's attempts to control the action.
Nakamura is writhing around trying to get back to his feet.
Smith working away from the top, dropping strikes.
Smith trying to control but Nakamura is having none of it.
Smith controlling the position easily from mount.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Shunsuke Nakamura dominated that round.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin! And we move into the final round!

Smith fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Nakamura avoids it really well and circles away.
Smith has a takedown stuffed.
Smith shoots for a double leg takedown but Nakamura sprawls well. He's pushed Smith's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
Shunsuke Nakamura has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Mike Smith.
Nakamura tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in the close the distance. Smith manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Nakamura throws a jab but it's blocked by Smith.
Smith tries for a takedown but Nakamura circles away easily
and Nakamura counters with a series of strikes. Smith will be more careful next time no doubt.

Nakamura moves into the clinch.
Nakamura is pushing Smith up against the cage, for a bit of lean and pray action. Action being used the in the loosest possible sense of the word.

That's one minute gone in the round.
A right hook to the body lands for Nakamura.
Nakamura misses with a hook from the clinch.
Nakamura lands a nice looking hook to the body, against the cage.
Smith drops to a knee looking for a takedown but Nakamura gets the underhooks and prevents it.
Nakamura misses with a hook from the clinch.
Nakamura swings wildly with an uppercut but Smith uses good head movement to avoid it.
Nakamura lands with a short head shot on the inside.
Nakamura presses Smith against the cage and delivers a mid-strength body shot.
Stalling in the clinch from Nakamura.
Nakamura tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Nakamura is leaning against Smith and scores with a nice uppercut to the body.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Nakamura working Smith over with knees to the body.
Smith is breathing heavily.
Still in the clinch, Nakamura scores with a nice short uppercut.
Nakamura throws a head punch that misses.
Nice body punch from Nakamura - that landed with a thud.
Smith takes a shot to the head.
Nakamura lands with a short shot to the head.
Nakamura lands a short shot on the inside that snaps the head of Smith backwards.
Nakamura stays in close to his opponent and throws a right hand to the body.
Smith has hold of a leg and is looking for a trip takedown. Nakamura avoids it nicely though and we remain in the clinch.
Nakamura stalling here - the referee won't stand for too much of that.
Nakamura seems to have come into the fight with the intention of avoiding any damage in the clinch, rather than actually showing any aggression.
A head punch on the inside from Nakamura fails to land.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Nakamura tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Smith's elbow.
Nakamura misses with a punch on the inside.
Smith drops to a knee looking for a takedown but Nakamura gets the underhooks and prevents it.
Nakamura tries a knee to the head but he's missed.
Nakamura misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Smith.
Nakamura tries a knee to the head but Smith blocks it.
A left hand lands to the body for Nakamura.
Nakamura misses with a punch on the inside.
Nakamura throws a head punch that misses.
Smith changes levels and goes for a takedown here. Nakamura fights it off and pushes away nicely.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Smith is defended easily by Nakamura.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Smith shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Smith fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Smith is defended easily by Nakamura.
Smith dives in and grabs Nakamura's left leg, looking for a takedown. Nakamura pushes down on Smith's head and hops out.
Smith closes the distance and clinches up with Nakamura, looking for a takedown. Smith pushes Nakamura against the cage but Nakamura circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
Nakamura misses with a body shot.

That's five minutes gone in the round.
Smith closes this distance looking for a takedown but Nakamura circles away.
Smith shoots for a double leg takedown but Nakamura sprawls well. He's pushed Smith's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
Nakamura is looking to clinch.
Smith with a lazy takedown attempt
and Nakamura cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Nakamura wants to clinch up but Smith keeps it at a distance.
Nakamura tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Smith keeps the fight on the outside.
Smith shoots in for a takedown but Nakamura shows good takedown defense.
Nakamura scores with a crisp jab that stopped Smith in his tracks.

Nakamura has closed the distance and engaged Smith in a clinch.
Nakamura lands a hook to the side of the head.
Nakamura lands a right hand.
Nakamura lands a right hand.

That's six minutes gone in the round.
Nakamura misses with a knee strike.
Nakamura is leaning against Smith and scores with a nice uppercut to the body.
Nakamura manages to get underhooks and slows down the pace for a moment.
Nakamura softening up his opponent with strikes, against the cage.
Nakamura misses with a knee strike.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Nakamura.
A head punch on the inside from Nakamura fails to land.
Smith looking for a takedown.
A short right hand to the side of the head by Nakamura.
Nakamura lands a hook that snaps the head of Smith backwards.
Nakamura taking a break, stalling in the clinch.
Shunsuke Nakamura has scored more points in the clinch so far.

That's seven minutes gone in the round.
Nakamura lands an uppercut.
Nakamura throws a head punch that misses.
Still in the clinch, Nakamura scores with a nice short uppercut.
Smith drops down for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Smith wants to stall.
A short right from Nakamura.
Nakamura tries to stall but Smith uses the opportunity to gain a better position.
Nakamura tries a knee to the head but Smith blocks it.
Smith managing to block the knees to the body from Nakamura.
Nakamura trying to stall but Smith improves his position.
Nakamura tries to work over Smith's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.

That's eight 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.
Smith has Nakamura pressed up against the cage and is working for takedown. Nakamura manages to improve position though and keeps the fight standing.
Nakamura makes some space for himself and lands an uppercut.
Nakamura misses with the head strike.
Smith wants a takedown but no success here.
Some stalling of biblical proportions here from Nakamura.
Nakamura lands on the inside with an uppercut.
Smith tries for a takedown but Nakamura manages to get underhooks.
Nakamura lands a body punch in the clinch.
Nakamura is working Smith over against the cage.
Nakamura scores with a shoulder strike.
Nakamura misses with a hook from the clinch.
Nakamura lands a hook to the side of the head.
Nakamura makes some space for himself and lands an uppercut.
Smith blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Shunsuke Nakamura is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.

That's nine minutes gone in the round.
Nakamura has a couple of punches blocked by Smith.
A hook to the body from Nakamura.
Mike Smith has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Nakamura lands punches inside but they're not really causing much damage.
A left hand lands to the body for Nakamura.
Nakamura softening up his opponent with strikes, against the cage.
Smith takes a shot to the head.
Nakamura stalls.
Nakamura throws a head punch that misses.
Nakamura lands a left hand.
A short right from Nakamura on the inside.
With the fighters clinched against the cage, Nakamura creates a bit of distance for himself and scores with a nice uppercut.
Smith is trying to work for a single leg takedown but Nakamura pulls him back up using the underhooks.

And that's the end of the fight!
Shunsuke Nakamura showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Nakamura 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 2 rounds of action, we go to the scorecards for a decision.
Judge Hirohito Nitta scores the fight for Shunsuke Nakamura!
Judge Ren Mimura scores the fight for Shunsuke Nakamura!
Judge Kenichi Hosakawa scores the fight for Shunsuke Nakamura!

Shunsuke Nakamura wins by unanimous decision!