PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Kenji Nakai (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Sven Hannawald (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Kenji Nakai has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Nakai
vs
Hannawald

217 cm
25
146 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

185 cm
25
195 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Brawler
Good chin

Good takedowns
Basic striking
Determined

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 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Kenji Nakai!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Sven Hannawald!
The judges for this bout are Aafke Stam, Nard Betker and Paulsen Ambrosius.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Nakai looking to score a takedown here. Hannawald is defending well but Nakai drives through and ends up in Hannawald's guard.
Nakai trying to control but Hannawald is working from the bottom.
Nakai has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.
Nakai looking to pass the guard.
Nakai trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Nakai postures up.
Nakai looking to pass the guard.
Nakai will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.
Nakai trying to control but Hannawald is working from the bottom.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up, due to lack of activity on the part of Kenji Nakai.

Nakai has taken the fight to the clinch.
Nakai tries to break the clinch but Hannawald is controlling the position.
Nakai is pressed up against the cage. Hannawald has hold of a leg and is looking to drag Nakai down to the mat. Nakai avoids the attempt though and has circled away. We're back to striking at a distance.

Nakai gets caught napping as Hannawald dives in and scores a takedown. Nakai manages to retain guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Hannawald trying to control but Nakai is working from the bottom.
Hannawald stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Nakai swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Hannawald wants to control from the top but Nakai keeps moving.
Hannawald wants to pass the guard but Nakai is keeping the position.
Nakai keeping moving, preventing Hannawald from controlling successfully.
Nakai is trying to control the position but Hannawald postures up.

OK we're going to have a standup here. Sven Hannawald hasn't been effective enough on the ground and the referee wants a restart.

Nakai decides to change it up a bit and drives through with a nice takedown into half guard.

Hannawald looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.

Hannawald looking for submissions from an awkward position here.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Hannawald is doing well to control the position and prevent Nakai from advancing to side control.
Nakai is looking to take a break and control but Hannawald is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Nakai thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Hannawald's head.
Nakai wants to take a breather but Hannawald is having none of it.
The fighters are starting to get a bit slippery now, which will make submissions a bit more difficult.
The two fighters exchange a few words. I couldn't hear what they were saying but maybe it's more fun if you make it up yourself. Nakai connects with a nice short shot to Hannawald's temple.
Nakai with a momentary lay and pray from half guard.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Hannawald is trying to maintain the position but Nakai is very close to passing his half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Hannawald wants to get back to full guard.
Nakai trying to pass the guard but Hannawald defending well.
Nakai is keen to just control but Hannawald is a slippery customer.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up, due to lack of activity on the part of Kenji Nakai.

Hannawald shoots in and scores a nice double leg takedown into half guard.
Nakai works his way to full guard. Good work.
Hannawald looks winded!
Hannawald is fighting to break Nakai's control of his arms but Nakai is doing a good job of controlling the position at the moment.
Hannawald stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Nakai swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Nakai is trying to control the position from the bottom.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Nakai scrambles and gets back to his feet.

Nakai takes the fight into the clinch.

Nakai pulls Hannawald into guard.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Nakai is doing well to control the posture of his opponent and prevent any damage.
Hannawald trying to control the position from guard on top but Nakai is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Nakai lands a beautiful switch and he's in full mount! That could spell trouble for Hannawald!
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Nakai landing strikes, looking to finish!
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Kenji Nakai dominated that round.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

Nakai clinches.

Nakai lands a takedown into guard.
Nakai scores with a decent looking elbow strike.
Kenji Nakai overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.

Hannawald looks to be working for a triangle here. Oh, it looks like he might have it! Nakai has picked Hannawald up and slammed him! Hannawald can't keep hold of the triangle and Nakai manages to pass to side control!
The referee tells the fighters to keep busy.
Nakai working the head and body with strikes.
Nakai postures up a little and throws a couple of hammerfists but they don't connect properly.
Hannawald prevents Nakai from improving position.
Hannawald tries to get back to half guard but can't.

Nakai wants to work for a kimura but he's foiled early by Hannawald, who protects the arm well.
You can see the frustration on Hannawald's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Nakai is looking to take a break and control but Hannawald is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.

Nakai thinks about going for a far side armbar but bails out and retains the dominant position instead.

Nakai stands up and beckons Hannawald to his feet.

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

Hannawald is working for submissions here but there's nothing on.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Hannawald is working for a submission of some sort.
It really doesn't seem like the step up in weight is hurting Nakai here at all. He's more than holding his own against the bigger man.
Hannawald is breathing heavily.
Nakai slips a foot under and gets full guard. Nice work.
Nakai is adopting a defensive guard.
Nakai is trying to control the position but Hannawald postures up.
Nakai pulls Hannawald in close to his closed guard and prevents Hannawald from doing any damage or advancing position.

Hannawald has gone for a leg lock! Nakai slips out almost immediately though and dives into Hannawald's guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Nakai pushes down on Hannawald's leg and manages to get into half guard.
Hannawald keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.
Hannawald makes his way to full guard. A much better position for Hannawald.
Nakai postures up in Hannawald's guard and throws a big left but Hannawald blocks it.
Nakai wants to stand but Hannawald is controlling his posture from full guard.
Nakai trying to control but Hannawald is working from the bottom.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Hannawald looking for submissions from the bottom but instead Nakai passes into side control.
Hannawald gets back to half guard.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Nakai is keen to just control but Hannawald is a slippery customer.

Hannawald actively working from the bottom here.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Kenji Nakai dominated that second round.
That's time! Back to the action! This is the final round!

Nakai darts in and clinches Hannawald up against the cage.

Nakai breaks the clinch.
Hannawald misses with a takedown

and Nakai counters into the clinch. Nicely done.
Nakai is trying to force a seperation but Hannawald has the dominant position.

Nakai manages to pull guard.
Nakai really does look like a pencil wearing a pair of gloves. Let's hope he has a gameplan to suit that ridiculous body shape.
Nakai keeping full guard, as Hannawald tries to pass.
Hannawald wants to control from the top but Nakai keeps moving.
Nakai looking to hit a scissor sweep but Hannawald is one step ahead there.
Nakai keeping full guard, as Hannawald tries to pass.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Hannawald wants to control from the top but Nakai keeps moving.
Nakai not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.
Hannawald fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Nakai avoids it really well and circles away.
Hannawald takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Hannawald is defended easily by Nakai.
Kenji Nakai has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Sven Hannawald.

Excellent takedown into side control there by Nakai.
Hannawald is not content to let Nakai control the position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Hannawald tries to work a leg under to get back to half guard but Nakai wriggles his own leg back out and remains in side control.
Nakai trying to control the position but Hannawald is working away.
Nakai landing a few strikes.
Hannawald is looking for a sweep.
Nakai trying to control the position but Hannawald is working away.
Hannawald tries to bench press Nakai off him but Nakai keeps the position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Hannawald on the wrong end of some ground and pound.
Nakai cracks Hannawald with an elbow. That is naaassty.
Nakai is looking to take a break and control but Hannawald is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
A lull in the action here.
Nakai working the body and head with strikes.
Hannawald is positioning himself to get back to half guard.
Hannawald looks to move to half guard but instead Nakai has passed into mount! Damn!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Nakai trying to control but he's not successful this time.
Nakai takes a little breather and maintains the position. The referee will be looking for him to stay active from such a dominant position though.
Sven Hannawald has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Hannawald regains half guard.
Hannawald won't allow Nakai to pass to mount.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Nakai wants to lay and pray for a moment but Hannawald keeps working.
The referee must be thinking about standing these guys back up.
Hannawald is trying to get back to full guard.

And that's the end of the fight!
Kenji Nakai showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Nakai has outscored his opponent in every aspect of the fight today. Only a scarily incompetent judge or two will keep him from a well deserved win... 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 Aafke Stam scores the fight for Kenji Nakai!
Judge Nard Betker scores the fight for Kenji Nakai!
Judge Paulsen Ambrosius scores the fight for Kenji Nakai!

Kenji Nakai wins by unanimous decision!