PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Tero Elo (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Shuya Nanahara (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Nanahara has chosen Sail as his entrance music. Tero Elo has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Elo
vs
Nanahara

187 cm
31
210 lbs
16 - 8 - 0

188 cm
30
215 lbs
14 - 3 - 0

Great wrestler
Solid boxing
Granite chin

Good wrestler
Lethal high kicks
Good gas tank

Fury Nutrition Inc.

Bullet Proof System

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the light heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 16 - 8 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Tero Elo!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 14 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Shuya Nanahara!
The judges for this bout are Andrew Berry, William Gold and Steven Brown.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Nanahara is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Nice takedown defense from Nanahara. No joy for Elo on that attempt.
Elo shoots in but Nanahara avoids the takedown attempt easily.
Nanahara unleashes a big counter combination but Elo bobs and weaves and avoids any damage.
Elo shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Nanahara as he jumps to the side.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Tero Elo. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Elo closes this distance looking for a takedown but Nanahara circles away.
Nanahara leaves Elo with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.

Nanahara has Elo up against the cage in a clinch.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Nanahara lands a shoulder strike that jolts his opponent's head backwards.
A real battle for position is taking place between these two warriors.
A short left from Nanahara.

Elo has clasped his hands together around Nanahara's back... aaand, he's got a takedown into side control. Nicely done.
Nanahara is trying to get back to half guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Elo goes for an armbar here - this could be all over! But no, Nanahara has escaped beautifully and is now on top in side control! Oh, that's unlucky for Elo but great work by Nanahara.
Elo is trying to improve his position.

Nanahara decides to stand up, so the ref orders Elo to his feet.
Elo looks to score with a jab to the body but Nanahara is just out of range.

Elo gets a takedown into half guard.
Nanahara is trying to stand back up but Elo is controlling him
Elo is looking to pass the guard... He's managed it - he's now in full mount!
Nanahara can't escape the position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Elo trying to control but Nanahara is having none of it.

Elo working for a guillotine from mount but Nanahara is in no mood to give up.
Elo tries to control but Nanahara wriggling away.
Nanahara really trying hard to get back to half guard here.
Nanahara's corner are shouting for him to stand up but that's bad cornering - how is he meant to stand up when he's mounted? He should be looking to improve his position on the ground before trying to stand back up.
Elo trying to control but Nanahara is having none of it.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Elo is working for a guillotine from mount but Nanahara frees his head quite easily.

Elo goes for an armbar but Nanahara turns quickly into his guard - lovely anticipation from Nanahara.
Elo trying to control the position here.

Nanahara decides he's had enough of playing guard and decides to stand. Come on Elo, up you get!

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Nanahara has taken the fight to the clinch.
Elo doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Elo misses with a short punch on the inside.
Nanahara taking a breather.
Elo misses with some punches.
Nanahara lands with a quick shot inside that doesn't really do much damage.
Elo misses with a short punch on the inside.
Nanahara misses with a body punch.
Nanahara working Elo over with knees to the body.
Nanahara lands with a left to the head.
Nanahara avoiding damage.
Elo drops down looking for an ankle pick but Nanahara pulls his leg out and moves away.

Elo shoots in from a long way out. He's driving through with the takedown attempt and he eventually gets it, landing in Nanahara's guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Shuya Nanahara will probably get the nod.
That's time! Elo's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight.

Nanahara stuffs the takedown.
Shuya Nanahara is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.

Elo feints and as Nanahara raises his hands in defense, Elo changes levels and drives through with a takedown into guard.
Nanahara is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Elo is controlling him.
Elo wants to control from the top but Nanahara keeps moving.
Elo looking to pass the guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Elo trying to control the position from guard on top but Nanahara is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Nanahara is trying to keep Elo in close.
Nanahara keeping moving, preventing Elo from controlling successfully.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Elo slips effortlessly into side control - very nice.
Nanahara is trying to stand back up. He's worked his way up against the cage but Elo has just dragged him back down to the mat.
Nanahara is sneaking out the side here. He's bucked Elo off and has taken his back!
Nanahara wants to control but Elo is keeping busy.
Elo tries to escape but Nanahara has the hooks in and won't let him break free.
Nanahara trying desperately to keep hold of the dominant position.
Elo turns into Nanahara and is now in his guard.
Elo controls from within his opponent's guard.
Nanahara wants to stand but Elo is controlling the position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Elo trying to control the position from guard on top but Nanahara is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Nanahara is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.

Nanahara had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Elo defends it easily.
Nanahara wants to sweep here but Elo controlling him for the moment.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Elo pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Nanahara is keeping the position for now.
Elo trying to control but Nanahara is working from the bottom.
Elo is pushing down on Nanahara's leg trying to pass to half guard. Nanahara is fighting to maintain full guard but Elo has managed to sneak the leg through.
Elo is looking to take a break and control but Nanahara is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.

Elo is looking for a kimura. It's going to be difficult to finish that from half guard though and Nanahara defends it well.
Nanahara wants to improve his position but Elo is controlling well.
The referee is pacing around the two fighters - he looks like he's thinking about a standup.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are getting on the fighters' backs, as the pace has dropped off in the last minute or so.

Nanahara is defending against the submission attempts here by Elo.
Nanahara tries to roll over but Elo keeps him under control.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Nanahara is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Elo shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Nanahara defends it nicely.
And an attempted straight right on the counter from Nanahara! But no joy.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Tero Elo dominated that second round.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action! So, we enter the final round. Let's see if either fighter can bring us a finish, or whether we're going to the judges scorecards.

Elo closes the distance and gets a trip takedown into side control. Nanahara quickly recovers to half guard.
Nanahara trying to hold on to Elo's head to control him but Elo postures up.
Elo prevents Nanahara from standing back up.
Elo is keen to just control but Nanahara is a slippery customer.
Nanahara wants to get back to his feet.
Elo prevents Nanahara from improving his position.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Nanahara tries to kick Elo off but Elo keeps his base steady and stays in half guard.

Elo is working for a kimura but Nanahara is defending it quite comfortably.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Nanahara is defending against the submission attempts here by Elo.

Elo is trying a forearm choke… I don't think that's going to do much at this level of the game.

Elo is working for submissions here but there's nothing on.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
There's not a lot going on here and the crowd are letting the fighters know they're not willing to tolerate a lack of action.

Elo seems to be working for a kimura but Nanahara defends the submission attempt.

Nanahara has one foot on Elo's thigh - he pushes off and manages to get back to his feet.
Elo shoots and misses
and Nanahara counters with a three punch combo that has Elo backing up. Elo nods at Nanahara to acknowledge the strikes.
Nanahara keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Elo dodges the punch combination from Nanahara.

Nanahara moves into the clinch successfully.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Elo working aggressively here.
Elo fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Elo misses with a hook from the clinch.
Elo throws a head punch that misses.
Nanahara is defending well against a takedown attempt.
Nanahara lands punches inside but they're not really causing much damage.
Nanahara connects with a nasty looking knee right to Elo's face.
Elo fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
A short right hand to the side of the head by Nanahara.
Nanahara scores with a nice hook to the head.
Elo tries for a takedown but Nanahara manages to get underhooks.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Tero Elo. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Elo misses with the head strike.
Elo swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Elo is looking to break free of the clinch but Nanahara has double underhooks.
Nanahara scores a nice knee to the body.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Nanahara lands a left hand that snaps the head of Elo backwards.
Elo tries a body shot but Nanahara blocks it.
Nanahara with a knee to the head.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Nanahara is working Elo over against the cage.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Nanahara connects with a nasty looking knee right to Elo's face.
Nanahara scores with a shoulder strike.
Nanahara scores with a knee to the head.
Nanahara slows down the pace here.
Nanahara scores with a shot to the side of Elo's head.
Nanahara leaning against his opponent.
Nanahara gets double underhooks to prevent a takedown attempt from Elo.
Nanahara prevents Elo from breaking the clinch.
Shuya Nanahara seems to be working more effectively in the clinch in the fight so far.
Nanahara taking a breather.
Elo misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Nanahara working on landing some head shots here - that one got through nicely.
Nanahara gets double underhooks to prevent a takedown attempt from Elo.
Elo is looking to take this one to the mat.

And that's the end of the fight!
Shuya Nanahara comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Nanahara has won this one but let's see whether the judges agree with me. 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 Andrew Berry scores the fight 28:29
Judge William Gold scores the fight 28:29
Judge Steven Brown scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Shuya Nanahara!
A very excited looking Shuya Nanahara rambled incoherently for about 5 minutes post fight about how awesome he is. It was kinda funny for a while but then everyone got annoyed.