PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Zane Mcpherson (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Yuri Nakamoto (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Zane Mcpherson has the edge in experience - let's see if he can make that count tonight.

Mcpherson
vs
Nakamoto

171 cm
18
193 lbs
0 - 1 - 0

175 cm
25
185 lbs
0 - 1 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Cuts easily

BJJ Blue Belt
Solid Muay Thai
Granite chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the middleweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Zane Mcpherson!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Yuri Nakamoto!
The judges for this bout are Shigeki Sano, Yasuomi Hirokawa and Yukihiro Shimada.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Nakamoto throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Mcpherson.
Nakamoto stooping low to avoid any incoming strikes and then lunges in with an uppercut come cross that lands flush.
Yuri Nakamoto seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Nakamoto misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Nakamoto throws a leg kick
and Mcpherson counters with a straight punch to the midsection.
Nakamoto throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Mcpherson.
Mcpherson tries to clinch up.
Some wild striking there from Nakamoto.

Nakamoto clinches with his opponent.

Nakamoto pulls Mcpherson into guard.
The referee looks like he's ready to step in and stand the fighters back up.
Mcpherson throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Nakamoto works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Nakamoto looks winded!
Mcpherson throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Nakamoto works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Nakamoto preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Nakamoto preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Mcpherson scores with a decent looking elbow strike.
Mcpherson missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Mcpherson throws an elbow that misses. Nakamoto uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in Mcpherson's guard. Nice move by Nakamoto!
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Nakamoto working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Nakamoto stops Mcpherson from standing up.
Mcpherson working a defensive guard here.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Nakamoto pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Mcpherson is keeping the position for now.
Nakamoto missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Mcpherson wants to stand up but Nakamoto is controlling him.

Mcpherson is looking for a triangle but Nakamoto pushes his legs off easily.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Nakamoto postures up.
Nakamoto trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Mcpherson being controlled here, momentarily.
Mcpherson could do with losing a few pounds - he looks very soft around the mid section, to put it politely.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.
Mcpherson tries to clinch up but Nakamoto circles away and keeps his distance.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Nakamoto rushes Mcpherson and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.
Mcpherson is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Nakamoto is defending well for now.
Mcpherson can't find room to land a body shot as Nakamoto controls the action.
Mcpherson misses with an elbow strike.

Nakamoto breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.

Nakamoto instigates a clinch.
Come on Mcpherson - let's have some action - none of this stalling nonsense.
Nakamoto tries to land knees in the clinch but Mcpherson avoids the damage to the body.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Nakamoto drags the fight down to the ground.
Nakamoto bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Mcpherson's guard.
Mcpherson wants to stand but Nakamoto is controlling the position.
Mcpherson knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Nakamoto on the ground.
Nakamoto trying to control the position from guard on top but Mcpherson is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Mcpherson not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
The fighters are starting to get a bit slippery now, which will make submissions a bit more difficult.
Mcpherson can't do much from the bottom at the moment, as Nakamoto controls the pace.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Mcpherson controls Nakamoto momentarily but Nakamoto frees himself.
We must be close to a standup if these guys don't pick up the pace.
Nakamoto trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Yuri Nakamoto dominated that round.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

The fight moves into the clinch position.
The two fighters are working to gain dominance in the clinch.

Nakamoto manages to break the clinch.
Nakamoto throws a mid kick that lands with a slap.
Nakamoto throws a head kick that misses.

Nakamoto rushes Mcpherson and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.
Mcpherson wants to get back to striking at distance but Nakamoto won't allow it.
The fighters are pressed against the cage, as the pace of the fight slows.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Nakamoto turns his back and goes for a hip toss. It's a bit messy but it gets the job done and Nakamoto manages to end up in side control.
Nakamoto is breathing heavily.
Mcpherson wants to control but Nakamoto postures up.
Mcpherson tries to control the position but he's not in luck - Nakamoto easily slips into full mount!
Mcpherson really trying hard to get back to half guard here.
Mcpherson is working hard here to advance position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Mcpherson is squirming around, avoiding Nakamoto's attempts to control the action.
Mcpherson is desperately trying to get back to half guard.
Nakamoto wants to control the pace but Mcpherson is squirming around nicely.
Mcpherson tries to hold on but Nakamoto pushes him away.
Mcpherson is looking to get to half guard.

Nakamoto looking to secure an arm triangle but Mcpherson defends it well.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Nakamoto goes for an armbar but he's fallen flat on his backside there and now Mcpherson is on top in guard.
Mcpherson has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.
Mcpherson is working the ground and pound from guard. He might want to try advancing position though to get more of an impact.
Mcpherson throws a big elbow that misses.
Mcpherson working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Mcpherson working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Mcpherson scores with a decent looking elbow strike.
Mcpherson throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Mcpherson throwing strikes from guard but Nakamoto blocks nicely.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Mcpherson accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Mcpherson stops Nakamoto from standing up.
Mcpherson postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Mcpherson missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Mcpherson working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Mcpherson postures up and lands a big shot to Nakamoto's brow.
Nakamoto avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Mcpherson trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Mcpherson throws a big right hand that misses.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Nakamoto avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Zane Mcpherson 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. Ladies and gentlemen, this is the final round!

Nakamoto instigates a clinch.
Mcpherson is trying to push Nakamoto away but Nakamoto has him pressed against the cage, so he's going nowhere.
A battle for position here, against the cage.
Mcpherson managing to block the knees to the body from Nakamoto.

Nakamoto turns his hips and lands a very nice judo throw into side control!
Nakamoto looking to punish the body of his opponent here but Mcpherson is avoiding damage well.
Mcpherson is putting a lot of effort into getting back to his feet here.
Nakamoto takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Mcpherson wants to control but Nakamoto postures up.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Mcpherson is positioning himself to get back to half guard.
Nakamoto wants to lay and pray for a moment but Mcpherson keeps working.
Nakamoto throwing strikes but missing, from side control.
Mcpherson is trying to get back to half guard.
Mcpherson tries to get back to his feet but has found himself mounted instead. Damn, that's gotta suck.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Mcpherson is writhing around trying to get back to his feet.
Nakamoto throwing shots from mount but they're not landing.
Mcpherson really trying hard to get back to half guard here.
Nakamoto controlling from mount.
Mcpherson tries to lock up and control but Nakamoto gives him a forearm to the face and pushes him away.
Nakamoto sends his fist crashing into the mat - the crowd let out a collective ooooooh. Let's hope he's not broken it!
Mcpherson working to try and regain half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Nakamoto trying to control but he's not successful this time.
Mcpherson is in a horrible position here, under a barrage of strikes, he's managing to avoid any damage.
Nakamoto wants to control the pace but Mcpherson is squirming around nicely.
Nakamoto punching from mount but Mcpherson doing a good job of avoiding damage.
Mcpherson tries to hold on but Nakamoto pushes him away.
Mcpherson is in a horrible position here, under a barrage of strikes, he's managing to avoid any damage.
Zane Mcpherson overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Nakamoto controlling his opponent.
Nakamoto misses with a series of strikes from mount. He'll no doubt be working on his ground and pound when he gets back to the gym.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Nakamoto raining down hammerfists from mount.
Nakamoto controlling the position easily from mount.
Mcpherson wants to control but Nakamoto is having none of it.
Nakamoto controlling the position easily from mount.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Nakamoto avoids the attempt from Mcpherson to control.

And that's the end of the fight!
Yuri Nakamoto comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Nakamoto 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 Shigeki Sano scores the fight 28:29
Judge Yasuomi Hirokawa scores the fight 28:29
Judge Yukihiro Shimada scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Yuri Nakamoto!