PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Kishimoto Nikagawa (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Luca Rinaldi (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Luca Rinaldi is the more experienced fighter, so let's see if that makes a difference tonight.

Nikagawa
vs
Rinaldi

190 cm
21
193 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

180 cm
26
190 lbs
3 - 4 - 0

Good takedowns
Brawler
KO power

Good wrestler
Brawler
Knockout power

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 Rio de Janeiro, Kishimoto Nikagawa!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 3 - 4 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Luca Rinaldi!
The judges for this bout are Emerson Jorge, Felipe Paraventi and Mauricio Rocha.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Rinaldi displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Nikagawa.

Rinaldi darts in and lands a nice takedown into half guard.
Nikagawa definitely looks more muscular than last time we saw him fight.
We may be looking at a referee standup if the pace doesn't pick up soon.
Rinaldi not doing much here.
Rinaldi's corner are shouting for him to control the position and he seems happy to oblige.
Let's hope that Rinaldi 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.
Nikagawa has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Rinaldi is working away from the top position though.
Nikagawa looks like he's trying to stand up.
Nikagawa trying to control from the bottom.

That's one minute gone in the round.

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

A momentary lapse in concentration from Nikagawa enables Rinaldi to shoot in and score with a neat double leg. Nikagawa manages to secure a closed guard as the fighters hit the mat.
Nikagawa not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Rinaldi controls from within his opponent's guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Rinaldi stopping the sweep attempt from Nikagawa.
Rinaldi sitting in guard here, content to control.
Nikagawa wants to get back to his feet but Rinaldi is in a dominant position and won't allow it.
We must be close to a standup if these guys don't pick up the pace.

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

Rinaldi fakes an overhand right and shoots for a takedown. Nikagawa sprawls well initially but Rinaldi persists and gets the takedown into half guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Rinaldi perhaps working for something from half guard, or maybe not. It looks like he's just sitting there.
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!

Luca Rinaldi has forced the referee to step in and restart the fight on the feet.
Nikagawa changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Rinaldi tries to avoid it but Nikagawa manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Rinaldi to the ground. Rinaldi escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.

Rinaldi is looking for a takedown here. He's shot in and has managed to get it, finishing up in Nikagawa's half guard.
Nikagawa is looking to get full guard. It looks like he might be successful but at the last minute Rinaldi jumps into side control!
Rinaldi creates a bit of distance and throws down some hard shots.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Nikagawa takes a couple of big shots there - the referee warns him that he has to defend himself better.
Nikagawa gets one leg under and gets the fight to half guard.
Nikagawa wants to control but Rinaldi is keeping busy and won't allow it.
Nikagawa wants to get back to his feet.
Nikagawa tries to roll over but Rinaldi keeps him under control.
Rinaldi uses his free foot to push down on Nikagawa's thigh. Eventually he works his other foot free and he's advanced to mount - this is trouble for Nikagawa.
Rinaldi is in the full mount, landing strikes.
Nikagawa is trying to escape the mount.
Nikagawa is working hard here to advance position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Rinaldi lands a couple of nice shots there from mount.
Rinaldi scores with a couple of good head shots there.
Nikagawa is looking to improve his position but Rinaldi isn't that keen on the idea.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Rinaldi controlling the position easily from mount.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Rinaldi with a couple of short strikes.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Luca Rinaldi dominated that round.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business.

Nikagawa shoots for a takedown but Rinaldi saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
Luca Rinaldi seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Nikagawa tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Rinaldi swivels and escapes.

Rinaldi closes the distance and clinches up, looking for a takedown. He shifts his weight and gets a nice trip into half guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Rinaldi passes to full mount!
Rinaldi takes a little breather and maintains the position. The referee will be looking for him to stay active from such a dominant position though.
Rinaldi with shots to the head and body - Nikagawa looks very uncomfortable down there.
Nikagawa can't escape the position.
Rinaldi raining down shots from the mount!
Rinaldi cracks Nikagawa with a nasty head shot there - the crowd let out an audible gasp there, as the noise reverberated around the arena.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Nikagawa tries to hold on but Rinaldi postures up.
Rinaldi controlling the pace for now.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rinaldi looking to finish Nikagawa with some ground and pound. This is bad for Nikagawa!
Nikagawa tries to reverse the position but Rinaldi maintains control.
Rinaldi lands a heavy elbow.
Rinaldi controlling his opponent.
Nikagawa tries to hold on but Rinaldi postures up.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Rinaldi punishing his opponent with strikes.
Rinaldi controlling the pace for now.
Nikagawa regains half guard.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Nikagawa moves his hips nicely and gets into full guard.
Nikagawa is trying to control the position from the bottom.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Rinaldi lands a nice shot whilst sitting in his opponent's guard.
Rinaldi controlling from the top position.

Nikagawa looking for subs off his back but Rinaldi has passed one foot through into half guard.

Rinaldi is sneakily working for an arm triangle but Nikagawa sees it coming and defends easily.
Rinaldi scoring with strikes to the body and head.
Rinaldi looks towards his corner to check for any instructions. The corner give him nothing to work with, so he cracks Nikagawa with a short hammerfist. I guess that's as good as any advice he could get in this position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Rinaldi is looking for a kimura. It's going to be difficult to finish that from half guard though and Nikagawa defends it well.
Rinaldi looks towards his corner to check for any instructions. The corner give him nothing to work with, so he cracks Nikagawa with a short hammerfist. I guess that's as good as any advice he could get in this position.

Rinaldi seems to be looking for submissions.
Nikagawa has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Rinaldi is working away from the top position though.
Nikagawa wants to improve his position but Rinaldi is controlling well.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Nikagawa is looking to get full guard. It looks like he might be successful but at the last minute Rinaldi jumps into side control!
Rinaldi 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.

Luca Rinaldi 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!

Rinaldi slaps away a takedown attempt from Nikagawa, before circling back to the center of the mat.
Nikagawa shoots in for a takedown but Rinaldi shows good takedown defense.
Horrible takedown attempt by Nikagawa or perhaps it was just good defense by Rinaldi, which made it look bad.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Kishimoto Nikagawa. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Nikagawa tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Rinaldi swivels and escapes.

Rinaldi darts in and lands a nice takedown into half guard.
Rinaldi winds up and cracks Nikagawa with a swinging punch to the side of the head.
Rinaldi trying to control the pace.
Rinaldi trying to pass the guard but Nikagawa defending well.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rinaldi lands with an elbow from half guard - that looked like it hurt.
Rinaldi is taking a breather. Nikagawa 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.
Rinaldi working some ground and pound from close in. He's looking to maintain this position and strike for a while by the looks of things... although he'll probably advance to full mount in a minute now I've said that.
Rinaldi is controlling the pace.
Nikagawa wants to get back to full guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Nikagawa is trying to maintain the position but Rinaldi is very close to passing his half guard.
Rinaldi has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
We must be close to a standup if these guys don't pick up the pace.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.

Rinaldi shoots in with a lovely double leg takedown. Nikagawa manages to land in full guard to minimise the damage.
Rinaldi lands a nice shot whilst sitting in his opponent's guard.
Rinaldi trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.

Nikagawa has an omoplata and is looking to use it perhaps as a submission or perhaps to transition. Rinaldi is in a bit of discomfort here, but he's managed to free himself and has dived into side control! That didn't work out too well for Nikagawa.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Rinaldi controlling the position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Rinaldi scoring with punches and elbows.
Nikagawa sneaks back into half guard.
Rinaldi lands with an elbow from half guard - that looked like it hurt.
Rinaldi content to sit in half guard and control for a moment.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Rinaldi is trying to control. Nikagawa wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.
Rinaldi working Nikagawa over with strikes.
Nikagawa is trying to stand.
Rinaldi controlling the action here.
Nikagawa is trying to control but can't.

Rinaldi is trying to work for a kimura but Nikagawa is defending well.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Rinaldi is figuring out what he wants to do next.

And that's the end of the fight!
Luca Rinaldi comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Rinaldi 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 Emerson Jorge scores the fight 27:30
Judge Felipe Paraventi scores the fight 27:30
Judge Mauricio Rocha scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Luca Rinaldi!