PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Hidetoshi Nakata (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Duke Hazard (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Duke Hazard will no doubt be trying to keep this one on the feet, where he has a distinct advantage.

Nakata
vs
Hazard

210 cm
18
255 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

190 cm
22
250 lbs
2 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Good chin

BJJ Blue Belt
Decent boxing
Prefers standup

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of The Island, Hidetoshi Nakata!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 0 - 0, fighting out of The Island, Duke Hazard!
The judges for this bout are Santiago Holmes, Michael Johnstone and Sandra Marshall.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Hazard misses with a series of wild punches.
Nakata dodges the punch combination from Hazard.
Nakata throws a head kick that misses.
Hazard misses with a few strikes there.
Hazard swinging wildly here.
Hazard swinging wildly here.

Nakata drives through with a takedown into Hazard's guard. Let's see what he can do from the top position.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
We may be looking at a referee standup if the pace doesn't pick up soon.

Hazard manages to escape and get back to his feet.
Hazard misses with a combination
and Nakata counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Nice sprawl there from Hazard as Nakata shoots in.
A punch combination from Hazard misses.
Hazard 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.
Hazard swinging wildly here.

Nakata closes the distance and looks for a trip takedown... aaaand he's got it - Nakata lands in his opponent's guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Nakata is sitting in guard, working some ground and pound.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Nakata trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.

Hazard is edging up against the cage. He's using the cage to get back to his feet. Nice work there - the fighters are clinched.
Hazard is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.

Nakata jumps into guard, dragging Hazard to the mat.

Nakata throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Nakata controls Hazard momentarily but Hazard frees himself.
Hazard wants to stand but Nakata is controlling his posture from full guard.
Nakata is controlling Hazard's posture.
Nakata lands a good elbow from the bottom.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Nakata controls Hazard momentarily but Hazard frees himself.
Hazard wanted to stand there but Nakata had control of the position.
It looks like the ref is thinking about a standup.

Nakata has his foot on Hazard's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Hazard works his way back into a safe position though.
Nakata looking for a sweep. Not yet Nakata, not yet.

Hazard stands up and waves to Nakata to follow him.
Duke Hazard is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Hazard fails to land with a series of punches.
Hazard throws a right and a left that Nakata avoids nicely.
Hazard misses with a series of wild punches.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Hazard rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Nakata moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Duke Hazard seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Hazard looks winded!

Nakata moves into the clinch.
Nakata tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.
Nakata tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Hidetoshi Nakata. That's going to take a lot out of him.

Nakata breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Hazard misses with a combination

and Nakata counters with a nice shoot takedown that brings the fighters to the ground.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Nakata slows down the pace of the fight for a moment. He'll need to remain active if he doesn't want to see the fight stood back up.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Nakata with a nice head shot there.
Nakata sitting in guard, not really doing much.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Hidetoshi Nakata dominated that round.
That's time! Back to the action!

Hazard throws a nice looking combination but Nakata bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Hazard throws a series of punches but Nakata moves out of range.
Sloppy strikes from Hazard. Those never looked like landing.
A punch combination from Hazard misses.
Nakata slips a jab and a cross from Hazard.
Hazard uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Nakata.
Hazard swinging wildly here.
Nakata misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Hazard is breathing heavily.
Hazard misses with a double jab.
Hazard fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Nakata showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Hazard.

Nakata changes levels and drives through with a really nice takedown into side control. Hazard looks really pissed at himself for not defending that better.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Nakata wants to lay and pray for a moment but Hazard keeps working.
Nakata will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.
Hazard being controlled for a moment.
Nakata tries to cartwheel into mount but he doesn't manage it.
Hazard is trying to stand back up. He's worked his way up against the cage but Nakata has just dragged him back down to the mat.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Nakata happy to just control the position for now.
Hazard gives up the full mount - oops, sloppy defensive grappling there!
You get the feeling that Hazard really doesn't like being in this position too much.
Nakata controlling the pace for now.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Nakata scores with a couple of good head shots there.
Hidetoshi Nakata overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Nakata is landing with some decent strikes but Hazard is trying to advance his position so the referee is letting the fight continue.
Nakata is trying to stand up but he's being controlled by his opponent.
Nakata is still in mount, landing shots to his trapped opponent. Hazard can't stay in a position like this for much longer.
Hazard is trying to get to the cage to help him get back to his feet.
Nakata wants to get back to his feet but Hazard is holding on tight.
Nakata lands a big elbow.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Nakata cracks Hazard with a nasty head shot there - the crowd let out an audible gasp there, as the noise reverberated around the arena.
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!
Nakata trying to control but he's not successful this time.
Nakata with a couple of short strikes.
Nakata cracks Hazard with a nasty head shot there - the crowd let out an audible gasp there, as the noise reverberated around the arena.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Hazard is looking to get back to his feet - it's going to be hard from this position.
Nakata dominating with strikes here.

Nakata jumps to the side looking to secure the arm triangle…. Ooooh, that looks tight… Hazard is gargling but he's managed to escape! Nice work there by Hazard and Nakata has given up the dominant position trying to land that submission.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Hidetoshi Nakata dominated that second round.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action! Let's get this one finished - here comes the final round!

Hazard misses with a double jab
and Nakata counters with a left to the body.
A punch combination from Hazard misses.
Hazard misses with a double jab.
Hazard throws a combination that misses

and Nakata counters with a single leg into guard. Hazard didn't expect that.
Nakata passes into half guard.
Nakata is looking to advance position but Hazard won't allow it.
Nakata stalling.
Nakata works his way into full mount!
Hazard takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Hazard squirming around on the bottom, looking to escape.
Hazard is squirming around, avoiding Nakata's attempts to control the action.
Nakata controlling from mount.
Nakata landing punches.
Nakata wants to stand but Hazard is holding on to him, trying to stop him posturing up.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Nakata landing shots from mount.
Nakata content just to control the position here.
Nakata won't let Hazard get back to his feet... He wants to keep the fight where it is for now.
Nakata lands with some strikes.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Nakata takes a little breather and maintains the position. The referee will be looking for him to stay active from such a dominant position though.
Hazard in a bad spot here, taking shots to the head.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Hazard wants to get back to his feet.
Nakata is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Hazard can do to turn this around?

Nakata is in full mount, looking to secure a guillotine but Hazard is surviving well by controlling Nakata's body position as best he can.
Hazard is bucking up trying to escape but Nakata cracks him with another couple of good strikes.

Nakata working to secure an arm triangle but it's not happening for him just yet.
Nakata is in the full mount, landing strikes.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Nakata wants to control the pace but Hazard is squirming around nicely.

Nakata goes for an armbar but he's not got it… Hazard turns into him and now he's in Nakata's guard.
Nakata striking off his back.
Duke Hazard has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Hidetoshi Nakata is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Hazard is looking to stand up but Nakata won't let him.

And that's the end of the fight!
Hidetoshi Nakata showed his dominance in that final round.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Nakata, 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 Santiago Holmes scores the fight 30:27
Judge Michael Johnstone scores the fight 30:27
Judge Sandra Marshall scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Hidetoshi Nakata!