PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Kenji Nakano (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Tiko Sun (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). We have two fighters making their debuts here, so let's see who comes out of this one with their first professional victory.

Nakano
vs
Sun

160 cm
20
135 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

150 cm
18
130 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Good chin

BJJ White Belt
Brawler
Granite 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 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Kenji Nakano!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Tiko Sun!
The judges for this bout are Ren Mimura, Taro Takaoka and Hirohito Nitta.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Nakano misses with a two punch combination.
Nakano looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Nakano throws a left and a right that both miss

and Sun counters with a driving takedown into guard. Nice work there by Sun.
Nakano pulls Sun in close to his closed guard and prevents Sun from doing any damage or advancing position.
Sun trying to control the position from guard on top but Nakano is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

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

Sun moves into the clinch.
Sun stalling the fight.

Sun has managed to pull guard. Let's see whether he can work an aggressive guard. It will also be interesting to see what tactics Nakano uses from the top position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Nakano is looking to work some ground and pound but Sun has wrist control.
Nakano with a flurry of punches that miss.
Nakano throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.

Nakano gets to his feet and steps away from his opponent.
Sun walks straight into a jab right on the nose. That one stung - he's blinking and trying to clear his head.
Nakano tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Nakano will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.

Sun closes the distance and clinches up, looking for a takedown. He shifts his weight and gets a nice trip into half guard.

Sun is looking for a kimura. It's pretty deep but Nakano still has the half guard so he's probably OK. Oh, Nakano has exploded into a beautiful escape there and after a quick scramble, he's ended up in side control on top! Nice work!
Sun is looking for a sweep.
Nakano misses with a strike but at least he's keeping busy, looking to cause some damage - that will still help him when it comes to the judges scorecards.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Nakano decides to stand back up.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.

Sun closes the distance and pushes Nakano back into the cage.

Sun jumps into guard, dragging Nakano to the mat.
Sun tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Nakano 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.
Sun is trying to control the position from the bottom.

Nakano stands up from Sun's guard - Nakano perhaps looking for a knockout.

Nakano closes the distance and pushes Sun back into the cage.
Nakano wants to break free but Sun has control.
Sun is trying to force a seperation but Nakano has the dominant position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Sun is trying to break the clinch but Nakano is controlling him.
Sun is trying to push Nakano away but Nakano has him pressed against the cage, so he's going nowhere.
Still in the clinch, Nakano scores with a nice short uppercut.

Nakano's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.

Sun closes the distance, clinches up and gets a nice trip takedown into side control. Very smooth.
Nakano tries to get back to half guard but can't.
Nakano gets back to half guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Nakano is looking to improve his position.
Sun wants to lay and pray for a moment but Nakano keeps working.

Nakano makes some distance and scrambles quickly back to his feet. Nice work!
Kenji Nakano seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Nakano misses with a takedown attempt - Sun sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
Nakano is breathing heavily.
Nakano fails to land with a series of punches.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Tiko Sun will probably get the nod.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business.

Sun circles away from the clinch attempt.
Sun scores to the head and body with a nice combination!

Nakano gets caught on his heels momentarily as he allows Sun to score an easy takedown into full guard.
Sun trying to control but Nakano is working from the bottom.

Nakano has butterfly guard. He's looking to stand up here. He pushes Sun off him and springs to his feet nicely. The crowd applauds.

Sun bobs and weaves into range and then changes levels and scores with a nice takedown into side control.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Nakano tries to improve position but can't.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Nakano regains half guard.
Sun seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Nakano does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.
Sun is thwarting Nakano's attempts to control the position.
Sun tries to stand but can't do so whilst Nakano controls his leg.
Sun thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Nakano wants to control but Sun is keeping busy and won't allow it.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.
Nakano pushes forward with a 1-2 combination that forces Sun back to the cage. Nakano follows up with a solid lead hook to the liver.

Nakano gets caught on his heels momentarily as he allows Sun to score an easy takedown into full guard.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

Nakano scrambles and gets back to his feet.
Sun should think about turning a few of those tyres round his middle into muscle if he wants people to take him seriously as an athlete.

Sun fakes an overhand right and shoots for a takedown. Nakano sprawls well initially but Sun persists and gets the takedown into half guard.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Sun trying to control the action but Nakano is working from the bottom.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Sun throws a strike but Nakano avoids it easily and moves to full guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Nakano pulls Sun in to control the position.
Sun trying to control the position from guard on top but Nakano is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

Tiko Sun has forced the referee to step in and restart the fight on the feet.
Nakano throws a leg kick but Sun sees it coming and checks it nicely.
Nakano misses with a double jab.

Sun looking for a takedown here - he's got it.
Nakano throwing some rather feeble looking strikes off his back.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Sun stands up and waves to Nakano to follow him.
Nakano fails with a takedown attempt.

Sun shoots in for a takedown! He's got it and he's managed to land in side control! That's better than Sun was expecting from the takedown attempt, I'm sure!
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!
Sun tries to stand but Nakano controls the position and pulls Sun into his guard.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Nakano looking to hit a scissor sweep but Sun is one step ahead there.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Tiko Sun showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action. This is the final round!

Nakano will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.

Sun drives through with a takedown into Nakano's guard. Let's see what he can do from the top position.
Sun pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Nakano is keeping the position for now.
Sun trying to control the position from guard on top but Nakano is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

Nakano has butterfly guard. He's looking to stand up here. He pushes Sun off him and springs to his feet nicely. The crowd applauds.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Sun swings for the body but Nakano moves out of range.

Sun drives through with a really nice takedown into side control.
Nakano is not content to let Sun control the position.

Nakano throws Sun to one side and escapes!
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Sun scores with a kick to the body.

A momentary lapse in concentration from Nakano enables Sun to shoot in and score with a neat double leg. Nakano manages to secure a closed guard as the fighters hit the mat.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Nakano wants to stand up but Sun is controlling him.
Nakano keeping moving, preventing Sun from controlling successfully.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Nakano has a closed guard, preventing Sun from standing up.

The ref stands the fighters back up. Tiko Sun was stalling too much, according to the referee.
Nakano fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Sun avoids it really well and circles away.
Jab, cross, leg kick. Nice combination by Nakano!

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Sun shoots in and bounces Nakano off the cage to secure the takedown into guard.
Nakano preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Kenji Nakano has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Nakano is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.
Sun trying to control the position from guard on top but Nakano is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The referee is pacing around the two fighters - he looks like he's thinking about a standup.

The ref stands the fighters back up. Tiko Sun was stalling too much, according to the referee.
Nakano misses with a double jab

and Sun decides to take the opportunity to score a takedown. He's landed in Nakano's guard.
Sun wants to control from the top but Nakano keeps moving.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.

Tiko Sun has forced the referee to step in and restart the fight on the feet.
Sun fakes a head shot and lands one to the body.

And that's the end of the fight!
Tiko Sun comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Sun has outworked and out performed his opponent in all aspects of the game today. He was simply too good and the decision should be no more than a formality. 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 Ren Mimura scores the fight for Tiko Sun!
Judge Taro Takaoka scores the fight for Tiko Sun!
Judge Hirohito Nitta scores the fight for Tiko Sun!

Tiko Sun wins by unanimous decision!