PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Rickey Shakes (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Kenji Nakai (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

Shakes
vs
Nakai

154 cm
25
134 lbs
4 - 0 - 0

217 cm
25
146 lbs
6 - 2 - 0

Good takedowns
Brawler
KO power

BJJ Purple Belt
Brawler
Solid chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the bantamweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 4 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Rickey Shakes!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 6 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Kenji Nakai!
The judges for this bout are Taro Takaoka, Yasuomi Hirokawa and Yukihiro Yamamoto.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Shakes gets a double leg takedown into Nakai's guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Nakai keeping moving, preventing Shakes from controlling successfully.
Nakai is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.
Shakes is trying to get back to full guard.
Nakai is keen to just control but Shakes is a slippery customer.
Shakes tries to kick Nakai off but Nakai keeps his base steady and stays in half guard.

Shakes actively working from the bottom here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Shakes is pressing down on Nakai's left leg trying to get back to full guard. He's managed it.
Nakai postures up and scores with a shot to the body and a follow up elbow to the head.
Shakes controls Nakai momentarily but Nakai frees himself.
Nakai pushing down on Shakes's thigh, trying to pass to half guard. He's managed it... Nice work.
Shakes looks like he's trying to stand up.
Nakai is taking a breather. Shakes says something to him but it's hard to make out. Perhaps he's telling him to get on with it and actually do something.
Nakai tries to stand but his hand is stuck under Shakes.
Nakai wants to control but Shakes is keeping him busy.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Shakes is trying to maintain the position but Nakai is very close to passing his half guard.
Shakes avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Nakai.
Shakes is trying to control but can't.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.

Nakai has managed to clinch.
Nakai stops a takedown attempt from Shakes.
Shakes is working for a takedown up against the cage. He can't get it on this occasion though.
Nakai is trying to break the clinch but Shakes has him pressed against the cage.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.

Nakai jumps into guard, dragging Shakes to the mat.

Nakai is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Shakes is aware though and is defending well.
Shakes might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.
Nakai trying to control the position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Nakai is on top in guard.
Nakai throws a big right hand that misses.
Nakai wants to stand but Shakes is controlling his posture from full guard.
Nakai's corner is telling him to maintain position.
Let's hope that Nakai has the urge to step up the pace any second now because for the last 15 or 20 seconds he's just been holding on tight.
Nakai postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Shakes is striking off his back. Nakai thinks nothing of it though and passes easily into half guard.
Nakai is just content to waste time from the top position. Shakes takes advantage of the situation and regains full guard.
Nakai stops Shakes from standing up.

Shakes is looking for a triangle here but Nakai uses the submission attempt to pass into side control.
Nakai working the ground and pound from side control.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Nakai creates a bit of distance and throws down some hard shots.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Kenji Nakai dominated that round.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin!

Shakes closes the distance and clinches up, looking for a takedown. He shifts his weight and gets a nice trip into half guard.
Nakai has hold of Shakes's hands but Shakes slips his arm to the side and lands an elbow.
Nakai is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.

Nakai is defending against the submission attempts here by Shakes.
Shakes blocks the strikes from Nakai.
Nakai is looking to control Shakes's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Nakai avoid being mounted?
Nakai is refusing to be controlled, as Shakes sits in half guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Shakes seems to have lost interest with the ground game and is thinking about standing back up.
Nakai wants to improve his position but Shakes is controlling well.
Shakes is pressing down on Nakai's thigh, looking to free his foot. Nakai is holding on for now.
Shakes wants to stand but Nakai has hold of a leg and an arm, so he's trapped for now.
Nakai trying to control from the bottom.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The referee must be thinking about standing these guys back up.
Nakai tries to roll over but Shakes keeps him under control.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Shakes closes the distance and clinches up with Nakai, looking for a takedown. Shakes pushes Nakai against the cage but Nakai circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
Nakai blocks a head kick by Shakes.

Nakai looking to score a takedown here. Shakes is defending well but Nakai drives through and ends up in Shakes's guard.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Shakes looking to control.
Nakai makes a bit of distance and scores with some ground and pound, still in guard.
Nakai wants to pass the guard but Shakes is keeping the position.
Shakes keeping moving, preventing Nakai from controlling successfully.
Shakes looking to sweep here. No luck so far.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Nakai landing some decent shots from guard.
Shakes is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Nakai is controlling him.
Nakai controlling from the top position.
Shakes could do with losing a few pounds - he looks very soft around the mid section, to put it politely.

The ref stands the fighters back up. Kenji Nakai was stalling too much, according to the referee.

Nakai has Shakes up against the cage in a clinch.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Shakes breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.

Shakes shoots in for a takedown and gets it.
Nakai striking from the bottom.
Nakai moves into full guard.
Nakai has control of Shakes's left arm, preventing Shakes from doing any damage.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Shakes trying to stand up but can't free himself from Nakai's guard.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Nakai is pulling down on Shakes's head. It's preventing any offense from Shakes, at least for the moment.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Kenji Nakai will probably get the nod - 10:9.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business. This is the final round!

Nakai misses with a takedown attempt - Shakes sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
Shakes pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Shakes tries for a takedown but Nakai circles away easily

and Nakai counters by clinching up.
Shakes is working for a takedown up against the cage. He can't get it on this occasion though.
Nakai wants to break free but Shakes has control.
Nakai is trying to work for a single leg takedown but Shakes pulls him back up using the underhooks.
Nakai tries to pull guard but Shakes forces him back to his feet, against the cage.
Rickey Shakes has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Kenji Nakai.
Nakai drops down looking for an ankle pick but Shakes pulls his leg out and moves away.
Nakai fails with a takedown attempt.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Nakai shoots in and scores a nice double leg takedown into half guard.
Shakes manages to get to full guard.
Shakes wants to get back to his feet but Nakai is in a dominant position and won't allow it.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Shakes looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
Nakai is a painfully thin specimen of a man. You do wonder whether a good body kick would snap him clean in two.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Nakai not doing a lot at the moment. He'll have to show some more aggression or the fight will get stood up.
Nakai prevents Shakes from getting back to his feet.
Nakai slows down the pace of the fight, as he sits in guard.
The referee must be thinking about standing these guys back up.

The ref stands the fighters back up, due to lack of action by Kenji Nakai.
Shakes dives in for a single leg takedown but Nakai sprawls and the fighters end up clinched against the cage.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Nakai tries to pull guard but Shakes won't allow it.

Shakes pulls Nakai into guard.
Nakai is looking to advance position but Shakes has hit a scissor sweep - now he's on top in mount!
Nakai tries to get back to half guard but can't.
Shakes sends his fist crashing into the mat - the crowd let out a collective ooooooh. Let's hope he's not broken it!
Nakai tries to hold on but Shakes postures up.
Nakai is wriggling around trying to escape.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Nakai is squirming around, avoiding Shakes's attempts to control the action.
Nakai sneaks a leg under to get to half guard.

Nakai actively working from the bottom here.
Nakai is looking for a sweep. Shakes is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
It looks like Shakes is going to stand back up.

And that's the end of the fight!
Kenji Nakai comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Nakai winning every round here. Surely the decision will go his way and he'll pick up a well deserved decision victory. 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 Taro Takaoka scores the fight 27:30
Judge Yasuomi Hirokawa scores the fight 28:30
Judge Yukihiro Yamamoto scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Kenji Nakai!