PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Niko Klasnic (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Kenzo Nakata (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). We have two fighters making their debuts here, so let's see who comes out of this one with their first professional victory.

Klasnic
vs
Nakata

190 cm
18
205 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

180 cm
18
208 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Intelligent

BJJ Blue Belt
Basic striking
Determined

Urban Extreme Clothing

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 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of London, Niko Klasnic!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of London, Kenzo Nakata!
The judges for this bout are Andrew Berry, James Glass and Colin Fotheringham.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Nakata shoots in and gets a takedown into half guard. Nakata showed some decent athleticism there.
Nakata trying to control from half guard but Klasnic is working away.
Nakata missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.
Nakata takes a deep breath and rests his weight momentarily on top of his opponent, to control the position.
Klasnic wants to improve his position but Nakata is controlling well.

Nakata is working for a kimura but Klasnic is defending it quite comfortably.
Klasnic is looking to improve his position.

Nakata wants to work for an arm triangle but Klasnic is really keeping half guard well and defending the submission attempt.

Klasnic looking for submissions from an awkward position here.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Klasnic tries to land a leg kick but Nakata saw it coming and moves away.

Nakata shoots in for a takedown and gets it.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Nakata throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
Nakata has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
Nakata not landing any meaningful shots this time.
Klasnic wants to get back to full guard.
Klasnic flails away from the bottom but he's not doing any damage.
Both fighters really going for it on the ground here!

Nakata is working for a kimura but Klasnic is defending it quite comfortably.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Still in half guard, Nakata seems content to control.

Klasnic actively working from the bottom here.
Klasnic is trying to maintain the position but Nakata is very close to passing his half guard.
Nakata 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.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.

Nakata changes levels and drives through with a really nice takedown into side control. Klasnic looks really pissed at himself for not defending that better.
Klasnic wants to control but Nakata postures up.
Klasnic tries to get back to half guard but can't.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Nakata wants to lay and pray for a moment but Klasnic keeps working.
Klasnic tries to bench press Nakata off him but Nakata keeps the position.
Nakata wants to lay and pray for a moment but Klasnic keeps working.

Nakata tries for an arm triangle. That looks pretty tight to me. Is this one over!?! Possibly, maybe, no Nakata has let go of the choke. Obviously it wasn't as tight as we thought!
Nakata looks gassed!

Nakata is trying to land an Americana. He has the arm isolated but Klasnic is keeping cool and he's avoided the danger for now.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.
Klasnic gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily

and Nakata counters with a takedown into full mount! That could mean trouble for Klasnic!
Poor strikes thrown by Nakata there. More accuracy and less frantic strikes would help!
Klasnic really trying hard to get back to half guard here.
Klasnic holding onto his opponent's waist for dear life, as Nakata tries to land some strikes to get him to release his grip.
Nakata controlling his opponent.
Nakata looking to control but Klasnic is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Klasnic tries to hold on but Nakata postures up.
Klasnic holding onto his opponent's waist for dear life, as Nakata tries to land some strikes to get him to release his grip.
Nakata throwing sloppy strikes, which aren't doing any damage.
Nakata unloads with some shots from mount but Klasnic bucks and avoids them well.
Nakata looking to control but Klasnic is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.
Nakata postures up and cracks his opponent a couple of times before moving back into close ground control. Klasnic looks a forlorn figure.
Nakata misses with a head shot.
Nakata wants to control the pace but Klasnic is squirming around nicely.
Nakata controlling the position easily from mount.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Kenzo Nakata dominated that round.
That's time! Klasnic's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight.

Nakata has a nice red mark on his side after a thudding body kick by Klasnic.
Klasnic tries for a takedown but Nakata circles away easily

and Nakata decides to take the opportunity to score a takedown. He's landed in Klasnic's guard.
Klasnic keeping moving, preventing Nakata from controlling successfully.
Nakata scoring with punches to the head and body.
Klasnic keeping moving, preventing Nakata from controlling successfully.
Nakata lands a couple of digs.
Klasnic thows some rabbit punches from the bottom but they don't do any damage.
Nakata seems content to control from guard here. He's going to have to remain active though if he doesn't want to get stood back up.
Klasnic keeping moving, preventing Nakata from controlling successfully.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

Despite being in the dominant position, Kenzo Nakata just isn't active enough and the referee decides to stand the fighters back up.

Nakata gets the takedown into side control.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Klasnic tries to buck Nakata off but Nakata is having none of it.
Nakata advances nicely into full mount.
Klasnic tries to reverse the position but Nakata maintains control.
Klasnic gets back to half guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Well, if Nakata is going to just lie there, perhaps we should talk about what we're having for dinner tonight… I'm having a ham and pineapple pizza… Yum. Can't wait.

Nakata is looking for an arm triangle, whilst trying to pass to side control. Klasnic doesn't seem that keen to cooperate though. No luck this time Nakata.
Nakata has freed up his trapped foot and advances to mount.
Klasnic is squirming around, avoiding Nakata's attempts to control the action.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Klasnic sneaks a leg under to get to half guard.

Klasnic is looking to sinch up a gullotine here but Nakata pulls his head out easily.
Nakata is just sitting in half guard, waiting for something to happen.

Nakata is looking for a kimura but Klasnic is holding onto that half guard position, so it's hard for Nakata to get the leverage.
Nakata is looking to take a break and control but Klasnic is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Nakata not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.

Klasnic looking for submissions from an awkward position here.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Nakata throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
Nakata not landing any meaningful shots this time.
Nakata is just sitting in half guard, waiting for something to happen.
Klasnic keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.

Nakata closes the distance and clinches up, looking for a takedown. He shifts his weight and gets a nice trip into half guard.
Nakata not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
Nakata is taking a breather. Klasnic 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.
The fighters are battling for position here. Klasnic manages to regain full guard. Nice work.
Nakata slows down the pace of the fight, as he sits in guard.
Nakata throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Nakata trying to control the position from guard on top but Klasnic is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Nakata throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Nakata throwing strikes but missing.
Kenzo Nakata has got the better of the ground game so far.

Nakata is trying to work a guillotine from the top, or something like that? Don't know how he thinks he's going to get a finish from there.
Klasnic keeping moving, preventing Nakata from controlling successfully.
Nakata tries to free his leg and advance position but Klasnic is retaining full guard.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Klasnic tries to close the distance and clinch but Nakata swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Niko Klasnic seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Klasnic moves in looking to clinch but Nakata pushes him off.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Kenzo Nakata showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action. Let's hear some noise people - this is the final round!

Klasnic is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Klasnic shoots in but doesn't get the takedown

and Nakata counters with a shoot takedown. Klasnic fights it but they end up in guard.

Nakata is trying to work a guillotine from the top, or something like that? Don't know how he thinks he's going to get a finish from there.
Klasnic controls Nakata momentarily but Nakata frees himself.
Nakata wants to pass the guard but Klasnic is keeping the position.

Klasnic looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
Nakata trying to control the position from guard on top but Klasnic is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

Klasnic looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Nakata trying to control but Klasnic is working from the bottom.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Nakata sitting in guard here, content to control.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.

Nakata closes the distance and clinches up, looking for a takedown. He shifts his weight and gets a nice trip into half guard.
Nakata is figuring out what he wants to do next.

Klasnic looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.
Neither fighter is being very active at the moment, with Nakata in particular looking to stall.

Nakata is looking for a kimura but Klasnic is holding onto that half guard position, so it's hard for Nakata to get the leverage.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The fighters are battling for position here. Klasnic manages to regain full guard. Nice work.
Nakata postures up.
Nakata trying to control but Klasnic is working from the bottom.
Nakata missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Klasnic being controlled here, momentarily.
Nakata wants to control from the top but Klasnic keeps moving.
Nakata pushes down on Klasnic's leg and manages to get into half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Klasnic looking for submissions from an awkward position here.
Kenzo Nakata is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Klasnic misses with some strikes from the bottom.
Nakata is just sitting in half guard, waiting for something to happen.

Klasnic looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.

Nakata is working for a kimura but Klasnic is defending it quite comfortably.

Nakata is looking for a kimura but he's never going to get it from there.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A few boos can be heard. I'm sure they will multiply if the fighters don't pick up the pace.
Nakata is taking a breather. Klasnic 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.

Nakata seems to be looking for submissions.
Nakata not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
Niko Klasnic has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

Klasnic looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.
Nakata throwing shots but Klasnic is blocking nicely.
Klasnic wants to get back to full guard.
Nakata controlling the action here.

And that's the end of the fight!
Kenzo Nakata comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Nakata 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 Andrew Berry scores the fight 27:30
Judge James Glass scores the fight 27:30
Judge Colin Fotheringham scores the fight 27:30

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