PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Shinjo Tepanake (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Makoto Nagano (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Makoto Nagano will no doubt be trying to keep this one on the feet, where he has a distinct advantage.

Tepanake
vs
Nagano

170 cm
22
130 lbs
4 - 2 - 0

175 cm
22
135 lbs
2 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Experienced

BJJ Blue Belt
Decent boxing
Solid chin

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 4 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Shinjo Tepanake!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Makoto Nagano!
The judges for this bout are Shirou Masuda, Shigeki Fujiwara and Tatsuya Matsuyama.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Nagano is looking to clinch but Tepanake is avoiding it.
Tepanake gets his head snapped back by a nice shot there.

Tepanake bobs and weaves into range and then changes levels and scores with a nice takedown into side control.
The fighters are tangled up in the ropes here. We might need a restart if the fighters can't break free themselves.
Tepanake passes to full mount! That's big trouble for Nagano!
Tepanake lands a couple of nice shots there from mount.
Both fighters really going for it on the ground here!
Tepanake scoring with some good ground and pound from mount here. Will he manage to finish Nagano?
Nagano is trying to escape but when you're mounted that's not too easy.
Tepanake is landing with some decent strikes but Nagano is trying to advance his position so the referee is letting the fight continue.
Tepanake has his opponent pinned against the ropes, landing some nasty ground and pound that is really making a bit of a mess out of Nagano's face.
Tepanake dominating with strikes here.
Nagano wants to control but Tepanake is having none of it.
The crowd growing excited in anticipation of a finish here! Right on cue, Tepanake cracks his opponent with a massive right hand that draws loud cheers!
Nagano is trying to stand up.
Tepanake looking to ground and pound his opponent to a finish here.
Nagano manages to regain half guard. Good work.
Nagano is trying to get back to full guard.
Tepanake not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Tepanake working Nagano over with strikes.

Tepanake decides he's had enough of the ground and stands up.

Tepanake gets a clinch.
Tepanake tries a knee to the head but he's missed.
Tepanake content to slow the pace in the clinch.
Nagano managing to block the knees to the body from Tepanake.
Tepanake goes for a takedown attempt but Nagano pushes him away and we're back to fighting at a distance.
Nagano stuffs the takedown attempt from Tepanake. Tepanake gets slowly back to his feet.
Tepanake is breathing heavily.
Tepanake takes a jab on the nose. He smiles like he loves it and keeps coming.

Tepanake bobs and weaves into range and then changes levels and scores with a nice takedown into side control.
Nagano gets back to half guard.
Nagano tries to kick Tepanake off but Tepanake keeps his base steady and stays in half guard.
Nagano is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Nagano is trying to control but can't.
Nagano tries to strike from the bottom but it doesn't land.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Nagano wants to get back to his feet.
Nagano is trying to get back to full guard.
Nagano is trying to stand.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.

Tepanake fakes an overhand right and shoots for a takedown. Nagano sprawls well initially but Tepanake persists and gets the takedown into half guard.
Nagano is a painfully thin specimen of a man. You do wonder whether a good body kick would snap him clean in two.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!

Tepanake seems to be looking for submissions.
Nagano wants to control but Tepanake is keeping busy.
Tepanake scoring with strikes to the body and head.

Tepanake is looking for a kimura. It's going to be difficult to finish that from half guard though and Nagano defends it well.
Nagano gets back to full guard.
Nagano bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Tepanake's guard.
Nagano would like to get this fight back to the feet but can't get free from the closed guard.

Tepanake looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Tepanake wants to sweep but no luck.

Tepanake has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Nagano can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
Nagano controlling from the top position.
Tepanake has momentary wrist control but Nagano slips an elbow through the middle.
Nagano must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.
Nagano won't allow Tepanake to sweep him here.
Nagano pushes down on Tepanake's leg and manages to get into half guard.
Tepanake is looking to escape.
Nagano tries to stand but his arm is trapped.
Nagano wants to free his trapped foot but Tepanake is holding on for dear life with his legs.
Nagano prevents Tepanake from standing back up.

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.
Tepanake is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Nagano drops an elbow to the side of Tepanake's head.
Nagano wants to free his trapped foot but Tepanake is holding on for dear life with his legs.
The fighters are trapped in the ropes so we're going to have a reposition here. The ref calls for a break and repositions the fighters in the center of the ring.
Tepanake is trying to get back to full guard.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Tepanake wants to clinch
and Tepanake takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.

Tepanake decides to change it up a bit and drives through with a nice takedown into half guard.
Nagano misses with some strikes from the bottom.
The fighters are battling for position here. Nagano manages to regain full guard. Nice work.
Tepanake working from the guard for now, landing some ground and pound.
Tepanake trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Nagano tries to land a sweep but no joy.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Nagano is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.
Nagano keeping full guard, as Tepanake tries to pass.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Tepanake shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Nagano as he jumps to the side.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Shinjo Tepanake dominated that round.
That's the end of the interval. I'm sure that seemed a lot quicker than a minute for our two fighters! Back to the action.

Nagano clinches up against the ropes.
Nagano jumps guard but Tepanake stands there with Nagano around his waist. Nagano gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.
Nagano misses with a hook from the clinch.
Nagano changes levels and goes for a takedown here. Tepanake fights it off and pushes away nicely.
Tepanake tries to clinch there but Nagano circles away.

Tepanake gets a takedown into half guard.

Tepanake is working for a submission of some sort.
Tepanake takes advantage of the dominant position to land a couple of big hammer fists.

Tepanake is working for submissions here but there's nothing on.

Tepanake is thinking about going for an arm triangle but he can't free his leg.
Nagano is trying to stand back up but Tepanake is controlling him
Nagano is breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Tepanake landing with strikes to the body and head, softening up his opponent.
The referee walks around the fighters to get a better view of the action. Tepanake lands a nice short elbow.
Tepanake is scoring with some nice ground and pound from the dominant position.

Tepanake is working for submissions here but there's nothing on.
Nagano is trying to get back to full guard.

Nagano actively working from the bottom here.
Tepanake frees up his trapped foot and advances to mount.
Tepanake scoring with some good ground and pound from mount here. Will he manage to finish Nagano?
Tepanake scoring with strikes but Nagano is staying in there.
Tepanake 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.
Tepanake with good strikes from the mount here!

Tepanake is thinking about an arm triangle here, looking to tighten it up before moving to side control. Nagano can see it coming though and defends well with a couple of strikes to the head and some good arm positioning.
Nagano is in all sorts of trouble here.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Tepanake looking for an armbar but decides to keep the dominant position instead.
Shinjo Tepanake overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Nagano bucks up and manages to get a nice reversal! He's in guard on the top - nicely done!

Tepanake looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
Tepanake looking for a sweep. Not yet Tepanake, not yet.

Tepanake looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Tepanake throws a couple of weedy looking strikes off his back.
Tepanake trying to strike from the bottom but really, it's not the best position to be doing that from!

Tepanake is active off his back here, looking for submissions.

Nagano stands up from guard. Let's bang!
Tepanake lands with a slapping head kick.
Tepanake throws a head kick that Nagano semi-blocks.
Donk. Nagano catches Tepanake right on the button with a cross.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Nagano is looking to clinch.
Tepanake tries to close the distance and clinch but Nagano swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.

Tepanake darts in and clinches Nagano up against the ropes.
Nagano fails to pull the fight into his guard.
Shinjo Tepanake has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Makoto Nagano.
Nagano wants to break free but Tepanake has control.
Nagano wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.

Tepanake breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Nagano wants to clinch up but Tepanake keeps it at a distance.
A thudding body kick lands there by Tepanake!
Wow, both these guys are really going for it!

Tepanake pushes Nagano up against the ropes in a clinch.

Tepanake escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Tepanake wants to clinch.

Tepanake drops down and drives through with a powerful takedown into guard.
Nagano is looking to stand up but Tepanake isn't so interested in that idea.
Nagano looking to control.

Nagano is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
Nagano not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Hammerfist, elbow! yells Tepanake's corner. There ya go! There ya go!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Tepanake missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.

Tepanake drops back looking for a leg! Nagano is in trouble here! The fighters roll with the hold and Nagano manages to kick Tepanake off! Tepanake jumps back into Nagano's guard.
Tepanake looking to pass the guard.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fight is doing enough on the ground.

Nagano feints and as Tepanake raises his hands in defense, Nagano changes levels and drives through with a takedown into guard.
Tepanake wants to sweep but no luck.
Tepanake is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.
Ground and pound from Tepanake.
Tepanake stops Nagano from getting back to his feet.
Tepanake looking to pass the half guard. Not this time.
Tepanake throws a strike but Nagano avoids it easily and moves to full guard.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Tepanake working in close now, lands a nice elbow to the side of Nagano's head.
Nagano is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for leaving it all in the cage!
Nagano lands a big shot. The thud that echoes around the arena is like music to the fans' ears.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Shinjo Tepanake dominated that second round.
That's the end of the interval. I'm sure that seemed a lot quicker than a minute for our two fighters! Back to the action. This is the final round!

Tepanake plants his feet and lands a nice head kick!
Tepanake wants to clinch but Nagano slips to the side
and Nagano counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
Nagano circles away from the clinch attempt
and Nagano cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.

Tepanake is rocked!
Horrible takedown by Nagano or perhaps it was just good defense by Tepanake which made him look bad.
Tepanake throws a sloppy head kick and Nagano moves out of range easily.
Nagano scores with the left hand. Tepanake knows he should have avoided that one.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Nagano.
Tepanake throws a head kick that misses.
Nagano fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
Shinjo Tepanake has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Makoto Nagano.
Nagano tries to clinch up.
Tepanake stuffs the takedown.
Tepanake tries to clinch there but Nagano circles away.
Tepanake takes one to the side of the head.
Oh Tepanake is still all over the place! His legs are completely gone! Will he be able to recover?!!
Nagano lands a big right hand and follows it up with an uppercut. Oh and another big punch and a knee - Tepanake can't take much more of this! Another big shot to the jaw from Nagano and Tepanake drops to the floor. Beaten and bloodied - he had enough there. A vicious beatdown by Nagano.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 0:50 of round 3, we have a winner by way of TKO (Strikes). Makoto Nagano!