PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Yoshido Nakamara (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Akihiro Tatsui (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Yoshido Nakamara had a look across the cage there at his opponent. He definitely means business

Nakamara
vs
Tatsui

170 cm
25
150 lbs
3 - 0 - 0

173 cm
24
156 lbs
8 - 3 - 0

Good takedowns
Brawler
Granite chin

BJJ Brown Belt
Brawler
Solid chin

Project Mayhem
All 160

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 5 rounds, in the featherweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 3 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Yoshido Nakamara!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 8 - 3 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Akihiro Tatsui!
The judges for this bout are Shigeki Fujiwara, Yuuki Gou and Taro Takaoka.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Nakamara scores with a nice takedown into half guard. Let's see what he's got on the ground.
Tatsui tries to get to full guard but Nakamara has control of the leg.
Tatsui is refusing to be controlled, as Nakamara sits in half guard.
Nakamara content to control rather than advance.
Nakamara is pressing down on Tatsui's thigh, looking to free his foot. Tatsui is holding on for now.
Tatsui tries to roll over but Nakamara keeps him under control.
Tatsui is trying to defend against the ground and pound but Nakamara scores with a couple of nice shots.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Tatsui is trying to control but can't.
Tatsui is staying active underneath Nakamara, who seems content to just control the action from this position.
Nakamara thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Nakamara is pressing down on Tatsui's thigh, looking to free his foot. Tatsui is holding on for now.
Nakamara is just sitting in half guard, waiting for something to happen.
Tatsui gets full guard.
Nakamara throwing strikes but missing.
Nakamara wants to control from the top but Tatsui keeps moving.
Nakamara sneaks a leg through and gets to half guard. That was like a knife through butter how easily he passed Tatsui's guard.
Nakamara wants to get back to his feet.
Nakamara stalling away here and it's allowed Tatsui to slip out his trapped foot and regain full guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Tatsui not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Tatsui keeping moving, preventing Nakamara from controlling successfully.
Tatsui looking to control the pace of the fight rather than finish it.
The fighters are starting to get a bit slippery now, which will make submissions a bit more difficult.
Nakamara wants to stand but Tatsui is controlling his posture from full guard.
Nakamara wants to control from the top but Tatsui keeps moving.
Tatsui looking for a sweep. Not yet Tatsui, not yet.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Yoshido Nakamara has forced the referee to step in and bring the fight back to the feet.
Nakamara shoots in for a double leg but Tatsui sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
Nakamara shoots in but doesn't get the takedown

and Tatsui counters with a nice double leg into guard.
Tatsui told us pre-fight that he has been working on his escapes in training. Let's see if he can call on some of his new skills to get back to his feet.

Nakamara pushes Tatsui off and scrambles back to his feet.
Nakamara slaps away a takedown attempt from Tatsui, before circling back to the center of the mat.
Tatsui keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Yoshido Nakamara. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Tatsui throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Nakamara's waist but Nakamara gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Tatsui off to one side.
Nakamara will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
Nakamara looks to be in better condition than last time we saw him fight. Obviously he's been working hard on his cardio.
Tatsui misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Nakamara with a poor takedown

and Tatsui counters into the clinch. Nicely done.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Tatsui tries to score a body lock takedown but Nakamara shows good agility there to stay on his feet.
Nakamara has hold of a leg and is looking for a trip takedown. Tatsui avoids it nicely though and we remain in the clinch.

Nakamara has hold of one of Tatsui's legs. Tatsui is fighting the takedown attempt but Nakamara gets the trip and lands the takedown into guard.
Nakamara is breathing heavily.
Nakamara trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Tatsui looking to control.

Nakamara avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
Tatsui bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Nakamara's guard.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.

Nakamara is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Tatsui is aware though and is defending well.
Tatsui trying to control but Nakamara is working from the bottom.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Yoshido Nakamara dominated that round.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

Tatsui throws a head kick that misses.
Nakamara lands a two punch combo.
Nakamara stalks Tatsui and leaps in with a furious combination of punches. Uppercuts and crosses smash into Tatsui's face. Tatsui staggers backwards, shaken.
Tatsui tries to drive through with a takedown attempt but Nakamara defends well and Tatsui ends up having to push Nakamara into the cage where they will battle it out in the clinch.

Nakamara drags the fight down to the ground.
Yoshido Nakamara overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Nakamara keeping full guard, as Tatsui tries to pass.
Tatsui is pushing down on Nakamara's leg trying to pass to half guard. Nakamara is fighting to maintain full guard but Tatsui has managed to sneak the leg through.

Tatsui is working for submissions here but there's nothing on.
Tatsui tries to pass the half guard into mount. Nakamara knows what he's doing though and prevents the attempt.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Tatsui is looking to stall here but Nakamara recovers full guard.
Tatsui passes Nakamara's left leg - he's now in half guard.
Tatsui tries to pass to full mount but Nakamara defends it.

Tatsui has hold of the far side arm. He's working for the Kimura, can Nakamara defend it? Tatsui steps over the head and cranks it - Nakamara is tapping out! That was textbook stuff right there - nice submission victory for Tatsui!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 1:55 of round 2, we have a winner by way of Submission (Kimura). Akihiro Tatsui!
Akihiro Tatsui tried to hype himself up post fight but didn't word it too well and it ended up with him sounding like a bit of a tool.