PBP Commentary

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

Stevenson
vs
Nakamura

181 cm
19
151 lbs
1 - 4 - 0

180 cm
18
155 lbs
0 - 1 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Cuts easily

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Determined

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 1 - 4 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Harris Stevenson!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Ryo Nakamura!
The judges for this bout are Hirohito Nitta, Tatsuya Matsuyama and Yuuki Gou.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Nakamura is defended easily by Stevenson.
Stevenson tries to drive through with a takedown attempt but Nakamura defends well and Stevenson ends up having to push Nakamura into the cage where they will battle it out in the clinch.
Stevenson pushes off and fires off an elbow that misses, before clinching up again, against the cage.
Stevenson gets underhooks to prevent Nakamura's takedown attempt.
Stevenson lands an elbow that stopped Nakamura in his tracks for a moment.
Stevenson tries to pull guard but Nakamura holds him up against the cage and eventually Stevenson drops back down to his feet.
Nakamura stalling in the clinch but Stevenson improves position.
Good anti-grappling being displayed by Nakamura as Stevenson tries to tie him up.
Stevenson prevents Nakamura from breaking the clinch.
Nakamura being controlled against the cage.
Nakamura has dropped down and is looking to force the takedown but it's defended by Stevenson after a bit of a struggle.
Harris Stevenson has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Ryo Nakamura.
Stevenson misses with some punches.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Stevenson content to slow the pace in the clinch.
Nakamura has Stevenson pushed against the cage.
With the fighters up against the cage, Stevenson throws an elbow but misses.
Nakamura looks like he'd prefer to be striking at range right now.

Nakamura ties up his opponent against the cage and manages to drag the fight down to the ground. Nakamura no doubt will be looking to work submissions from his guard.
Nakamura wants to sweep but no luck.
Nakamura tries to strike from the bottom.
Nakamura looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Stevenson missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Nakamura is adopting a defensive guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

Nakamura has managed to wall walk up one of the corner posts to get back to his feet. Stevenson is pushing him up against the cage, looking to control the position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Stevenson stalling.
Stevenson is trying to stall.
Nakamura lands a nice looking hook to the body, against the cage.
Nakamura wants to break the clinch but can't.
Nakamura lands a body punch - he's looking to wear down Stevenson.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Both fighters working to control the clinch.
A nice glancing elbow lands by Stevenson.
Nakamura stalling.
Stevenson will no doubt start fighting again in a minute but for now he's just having a little rest, leaning Nakamura up against the cage.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Stevenson is trying to stall.
The ref breaks the fighters up, due to lack of action by Harris Stevenson.

Nakamura instigates a clinch.
Nakamura wants to get back to striking at distance but Stevenson won't allow it.
Stevenson is struggling to control the position.
Both guys are working to get underhooks.
Stevenson stalling the fight.
Nakamura holding his opponent close, against the cage.
Stevenson stalling in the clinch but Nakamura improves position.
Stevenson lands a damaging elbow.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Stevenson avoiding damage as Nakamura throws knees to the body.
Nakamura goes for a takedown attempt but Stevenson pushes him away and we're back to fighting at a distance.
Nakamura throws a right and a left that Stevenson avoids nicely.
Stevenson shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Nakamura but Nakamura pushes him off and we're back to square one.
Nakamura tries a head kick but it misses.
Nakamura looking to throw a kick but he's pulled out of it.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Nakamura shoots in for a double leg but Stevenson sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
Stevenson fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Nakamura avoids it really well and circles away.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Ryo Nakamura dominated that round.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

Stevenson avoids the head kick by Nakamura.
Stevenson shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Nakamura as he jumps to the side.

Nakamura gets a clinch.
Stevenson trying to control the position but instead, Nakamura has worked for underhooks and has pushed Stevenson into the cage.
Stevenson has Nakamura pushed against the cage.
Stevenson looking to throw knees to the head but Nakamura is blocking nicely.
Stevenson looking to slow down the pace here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Both fighters working to control the clinch.
Nakamura wants to break free but Stevenson has control.
Both fighters working to control the clinch.
Nakamura drops to a knee looking for a takedown but Stevenson gets the underhooks and prevents it.
Stevenson slows down the pace here.
The ref breaks the fighters up, due to lack of action by Harris Stevenson.
Nakamura shoots for a takedown but Stevenson saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.

Nakamura darts in and clinches Stevenson up against the cage.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Nakamura avoids a wild elbow strike from Stevenson.
Stevenson stalling in the clinch but Nakamura improves position.
Nakamura tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.
Harris Stevenson has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Ryo Nakamura.
The pace really dropping off here, momentarily.
Stevenson will no doubt start fighting again in a minute but for now he's just having a little rest, leaning Nakamura up against the cage.
Stevenson seems to have come into the fight with the intention of avoiding any damage in the clinch, rather than actually showing any aggression.
Nakamura wants a takedown.

Stevenson pulls guard.
Nakamura sitting in guard here, content to control.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Stevenson working a defensive guard here.
Nakamura is looking to work some ground and pound but Stevenson has wrist control.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Stevenson is on top in guard.
Nakamura pulls Stevenson in close to prevent any damage.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
The referee must be thinking about standing these guys back up.
Nakamura manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Stevenson manages to get himself to full guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Nakamura throws a big right hand that misses.
Stevenson keeping moving, preventing Nakamura from controlling successfully.
Nakamura showing good wrestling skills to control the position.

Nakamura gets to his feet and steps away from his opponent.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Stevenson looks for a takedown but Nakamura sprawls well.
Nakamura shoots in and drives through. Stevenson sprawls well.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Ryo Nakamura showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
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!

Nakamura throws a head kick that misses.
Nakamura darts in looking for a takedown but Stevenson gets double underhooks and turns Nakamura into the cage.
Nakamura is trying to break free.
Stevenson gets an overhook and lands an elbow to the side of the head.
The pace slowing considerably in the clinch, as Stevenson takes a break from that fighting nonsense to think about the finer things in life.
Stevenson wants to stall.
Stevenson throws a knee to the head but misses.
Nakamura leaning his opponent against the cage.
Stevenson swings wildly with an uppercut but Nakamura uses good head movement to avoid it.
Nakamura has a body lock and is looking for a takedown. Stevenson is bouncing around trying to prevent the takedown and somehow he has indeed managed to stay on his feet.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Nakamura is trying to pull guard but Stevenson has him pressed against the cage.
Harris Stevenson has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Ryo Nakamura.
Nakamura tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.
Nakamura takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Stevenson misses with the head strike.
Nakamura is trying to break the clinch but Stevenson is controlling him.
Stevenson is trying to slow down the pace of the fight but Nakamura is keeping busy.
Stevenson working aggressively here.
Stevenson avoiding damage.
Stevenson with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.
Both guys are working to get underhooks.
Nakamura tries to pull guard but Stevenson forces him back to his feet, against the cage.
Nakamura wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.
Both guys are working to get underhooks.
Stevenson lands punches inside but they're not really causing much damage.
A right hand to the body from Nakamura.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Nakamura looking for a takedown.
Stevenson holding his opponent close, against the cage.
Nakamura drops down looking for an ankle pick but Stevenson pulls his leg out and moves away.

Nakamura rushes Stevenson and presses him up against the cage.
Nakamura tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. Stevenson smiles and moves away.

Nakamura has taken the fight to the clinch.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Stevenson keeps control of Nakamura as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Stevenson tries to land a knee to the head but Nakamura blocks with his arms.
Harris Stevenson has scored more points in the clinch so far.
Stevenson trying to control the position but instead, Nakamura has worked for underhooks and has pushed Stevenson into the cage.
Nakamura has had enough of the clinch and is looking to separate.
Stevenson is pressed up against the cage. Nakamura has hold of a leg and is looking to drag Stevenson down to the mat. Stevenson avoids the attempt though and has circled away. We're back to striking at a distance.
Stevenson wants to clinch.

Stevenson moves into range and clinches up with Nakamura.
Stevenson prevents the takedown attempt.
Stevenson taking a breather.
Nakamura taking a breather.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Stevenson is pushing Nakamura up against the cage, for a bit of lean and pray action. Action being used the in the loosest possible sense of the word.
Nakamura tries to land a knee to the head but misses.
Nakamura fails to pull the fight into his guard.
Stevenson looking to stall.
Stevenson will no doubt start fighting again in a minute but for now he's just having a little rest, leaning Nakamura up against the cage.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
The ref breaks the fighters up, due to lack of action by Harris Stevenson.
Stevenson misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.

And that's the end of the fight!
That was a close round. You could make an argument for either fighter but I would give it to Harris Stevenson.
I think Nakamura has won this one but let's see whether the judges agree with me. 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 Hirohito Nitta scores the fight 28:29
Judge Tatsuya Matsuyama scores the fight 28:29
Judge Yuuki Gou scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Ryo Nakamura!