PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Yusuke Nakamura (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Kevin McArthur (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Nakamura's ring entrance music is that housewives' favourite, Movado - Neva Believe U. McArthur has chosen Breathing as his entrance music. I can't wait for this one - let's get the fighter introductions out of the way and get this one started!

Nakamura
vs
McArthur

173 cm
21
150 lbs
5 - 2 - 0

200 cm
20
144 lbs
2 - 2 - 0

Good wrestling
Basic striking
Very quick

Decent wrestler
Excellent boxer
Good gas tank

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the featherweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 5 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Yusuke Nakamura!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Kevin McArthur!
The judges for this bout are Shigeki Fujiwara, Ren Mimura and Yukihiro Shimada.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
McArthur walks into a stiff left hand from Nakamura.
Nakamura tries to score a power double leg takedown but McArthur sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Nakamura somewhat.
Good shot there by Nakamura.
Nakamura looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? McArthur is fending him off so far but Nakamura persists. Nope, McArthur circles away and we're back to standing.
McArthur takes a swing at Nakamura's ribcage but misses.
McArthur checks a low kick from Nakamura.
McArthur feints a jab promting Nakamura to slip. McArthur then demonstrates his capabilities by jabbing again. Nakamura slips again and ducks right into an uppercut.
McArthur throws a nice looking combination but Nakamura bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Nakamura works his jab well there, keeping his opponent at a distance.
Nakamura is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
McArthur lands a head shot.
Nakamura throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Nakamura walks into a jab.
McArthur is a painfully thin specimen of a man. You do wonder whether a good body kick would snap him clean in two.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
McArthur throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
McArthur throws a looping overhand right but Nakamura ducks down to avoid it.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Good shot there by McArthur.
Nakamura showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from McArthur.
McArthur misses with a straight left.
Nakamura throws a body punch but McArthur moves out of range.

Nakamura looks for a takedown. He's got it. We're now in half guard.
Nakamura not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
Nakamura tries to stand but his hand is stuck under McArthur.
Nakamura seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but McArthur does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.

McArthur kicks Nakamura off and gets back to his feet.
Nakamura tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but McArthur swivels and escapes.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Yusuke Nakamura. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Nakamura shoots in for a double leg but McArthur sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
McArthur throws a decent looking leg kick but it doesn't land clean.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Nakamura gets the takedown into side control.
The fans in attendance giving it up for the two fighters, who have really let it all hang out in the last minute or so!
McArthur is pushing Nakamura's head away, looking to escape. Nakamura manages to hold on to the position though.
McArthur is working to avoid the ground and pound but Nakamura connects with a decent elbow.
McArthur wants to get back to his feet but Nakamura drags him back down.

McArthur sneaks out the side door and pushes Nakamura away - he's back to his feet. The crowd show their appreciation for the escape.
McArthur misses with a hook

and Nakamura counters with a nice double leg into guard.
Nakamura wants to control from the top but McArthur keeps moving.
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.
Nakamura postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
McArthur keeping moving, preventing Nakamura from controlling successfully.
McArthur wants to get back to his feet but Nakamura is in a dominant position and won't allow it.

Nakamura drops back for a leg! It's a sloppy attempt though and Nakamura jumps back into guard quickly, to retain the dominant position.
Nakamura wants to control from the top but McArthur keeps moving.
Nakamura throws a big right hand that misses.
McArthur wants to stand but Nakamura is controlling the position.
Nakamura stays in close to McArthur's body and controls the position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

The ref stands the fighters back up. Yusuke Nakamura wasn't doing enough on the ground.
Nakamura walks into a left hand.
McArthur throws out a loose jab but Nakamura uses good head movement to avoid it.
McArthur throws a big shot that misses.
Nakamura moves forwards but McArthur connects with a nice, crisp jab.
McArthur rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Nakamura moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
McArthur misses the shot to the body.
Nakamura is trying hard to land a takedown here. McArthur sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.
McArthur lands an overhand left. A wild punch that just about connected.
McArthur has used his reach advantage pretty well so far tonight.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!

Nakamura shoots in and scores a nice double leg takedown into half guard.
McArthur wants to get back to his feet.
Nakamura 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.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!

Nakamura is trying for a guillotine from the top but the pressure isn't in the right place so McArthur is just riding it out for now. Nakamura eventually gives up the hold.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close round but I would say that Yusuke Nakamura will probably get the nod.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

Nice takedown defense from McArthur. No joy for Nakamura on that attempt.
McArthur avoids the body shot from Nakamura.
McArthur blocks a jab.
A cross from McArthur lands.
Nakamura shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
McArthur throws a hook but Nakamura avoids it easily.
McArthur feints a jab promting Nakamura to slip. McArthur then demonstrates his capabilities by jabbing again. Nakamura slips again and ducks right into an uppercut.

Nakamura moves into the clinch.

McArthur breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
McArthur fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
McArthur walks into a jab.

That's one minute gone in the round.
McArthur throws a nice looking combination but Nakamura bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Kevin McArthur is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
McArthur stuffs the takedown.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Yusuke Nakamura. That's going to take a lot out of him.
McArthur misses with a looping right.
Nakamura thows a left - swing and a miss!
McArthur tests Nakamura's chin there with a solid looking shot.
Nakamura tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but McArthur swivels and escapes.
McArthur throws a hook to the side of Nakamura's head but Nakamura sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.

Nakamura scores a takedown into full mount!
McArthur really wants to buck Nakamura off and get back to his feet.
Nakamura scoring with strikes but McArthur is staying in there.
Nakamura looking to ground and pound but McArthur is blocking nicely.
McArthur wants to use the ropes to get back to his feet here.
We get told so often about how wrestlers don't like to be on their backs. Let's see if McArthur can do anything to dispel that myth.
Nakamura trying to control but McArthur is having none of it.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Nakamura with a couple of short strikes.
Yusuke Nakamura overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Nakamura tries to control but McArthur wriggling away.
Nakamura looking to ground and pound his opponent to a finish here.
You get the feeling that McArthur really doesn't like being in this position too much.
McArthur is squirming around, avoiding Nakamura's attempts to control the action.
McArthur tries to buck Nakamura off but he can't manage it.
The fighters are tangled up in the ropes here. We might need a restart if the fighters can't break free themselves.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Nakamura landing shots from mount.
McArthur is trying to stand.
A nice elbow there by Nakamura.
McArthur squirming around on the bottom, looking to escape.
McArthur is bucking up trying to escape but Nakamura cracks him with another couple of good strikes.
McArthur is looking to get back to his feet - it's going to be hard from this position.
McArthur is breathing heavily.
Nakamura lands a heavy elbow.
Nakamura looking to finish McArthur with some ground and pound. This is bad for McArthur!
McArthur is squirming around, avoiding Nakamura's attempts to control the action.
Nakamura has his opponent pinned against the ropes, landing some nasty ground and pound that is really making a bit of a mess out of McArthur's face.

McArthur is rocked!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Nakamura wants to control the action but instead McArthur gets a body lock and reverses into Nakamura's guard! Nice work!
McArthur wants to control from the top but Nakamura keeps moving.
Nakamura striking from the bottom here.
Nakamura bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in McArthur's guard.
McArthur keeping moving, preventing Nakamura from controlling successfully.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Nakamura throws a strike but McArthur rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.
Nakamura might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.
Nakamura throws a couple of weedy looking strikes off his back.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Yusuke Nakamura dominated that second round.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin! Ladies and gentlemen, this is the final round!

Nakamura walks into a straight right hand from McArthur.
Nakamura slips a jab and a cross from McArthur.
McArthur moves into range and throws a combination. A nice jab followed by a hook to the body.
Nice sprawl there from McArthur as Nakamura shoots in.
McArthur lands with an overhand left.

Nakamura looking to shoot here. He's gone for it and he's landed a takedown into mount! Oh, that's bad for McArthur!
McArthur is trying to escape but when you're mounted that's not too easy.
The referee warns McArthur that he has to improve his position here as he takes two more clean shots to the head.
McArthur squirming around on the bottom, looking to escape.
Nakamura lands a couple of nice shots there from mount.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
McArthur in a bad spot here, taking shots to the head.
Nakamura unloading with bombs!

That's one minute gone in the round.
You get the feeling that McArthur really doesn't like being in this position too much.

McArthur defends a decent attempt at a guillotine from Nakamura.
Nakamura tries to control but McArthur wriggling away.
Nakamura scoring with strikes but McArthur is staying in there.
McArthur squirming around on the bottom, looking to escape.
Nakamura lands a shot to the body, followed up by a shot to the exposed head of his trapped opponent.
Nakamura dominating with strikes here.
McArthur is still in real trouble! Can Nakamura finish him?
The referee warns McArthur that he has to improve his position here as he takes two more clean shots to the head.

Nakamura with some aggressive grappling here. He's looking for submissions here, rather than waiting for the opportunity to counter.
Nakamura cracks McArthur with a nasty head shot there - the crowd let out an audible gasp there, as the noise reverberated around the arena.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
McArthur is trying to stand.
McArthur seems to have recovered his senses.
Nakamura punishing his opponent with strikes.
The fans in attendance giving it up for the two fighters, who have really let it all hang out in the last minute or so!
McArthur is trying to escape but when you're mounted that's not too easy.
Nakamura scoring with some good ground and pound from mount here. Will he manage to finish McArthur?

Nakamura is going oldschool here, as he tries to force McArthur to tap using a forearm choke. This isn't 1993 though, so McArthur shrugs it off.
McArthur is trying to stand up.
Nakamura has his opponent pinned against the ropes, landing some nasty ground and pound that is really making a bit of a mess out of McArthur's face.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
McArthur is trying to stand.
McArthur is bucking up trying to escape but Nakamura cracks him with another couple of good strikes.
Nakamura lands with some vicious ground and pound - can McArthur hang on?
McArthur really wants to buck Nakamura off and get back to his feet.
McArthur takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Nakamura tries to control but McArthur wriggling away.
McArthur trying desperately to get to his feet.
Nakamura landing strikes, looking to finish!
McArthur takes a big shot to the head but keeps on trying to improve his position.
You get the feeling that McArthur really doesn't like being in this position too much.
Nakamura lands a big elbow.
Nakamura scoring with strikes but McArthur is staying in there.
Yusuke Nakamura is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Nakamura tries to control but McArthur wriggling away.
McArthur tries to buck Nakamura off but he can't manage it.
Nakamura looking to control but McArthur is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.
McArthur squirming around on the bottom, looking to escape.
Nakamura content just to control the position here.
Nakamura looking to finish McArthur with some ground and pound. This is bad for McArthur!
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
McArthur wants to try and get back to his feet.
Kevin McArthur has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Nakamura looking to control but McArthur is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.

And that's the end of the fight!
Yusuke Nakamura showed his dominance in that final round.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Nakamura, winning every round. Will the judges agree? They are the ones who matter, even if they are often depressingly incompetent. 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 Shigeki Fujiwara scores the fight 30:27
Judge Ren Mimura scores the fight 30:28
Judge Yukihiro Shimada scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Yusuke Nakamura!
Yusuke Nakamura seemed lost for words in his post fight interview but he remembered to thank his fans and directed everyone to his website.