PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Sambo Rambo (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Shintaro Nomo (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). This should be fireworks!

Rambo
vs
Nomo

166 cm
24
170 lbs
7 - 5 - 0

180 cm
24
180 lbs
16 - 4 - 0

Abu Dhabi Champ
World class boxer
Very quick

Good wrestler
World class boxer
Granite chin

Voodoo Nutrition
Sun-Tzu

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the welterweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 7 - 5 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Sambo Rambo!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 16 - 4 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Shintaro Nomo!
The judges for this bout are Andrew Berry, Paul Tew and Colin Fotheringham.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Nomo scores with a jab. Rambo acknowledges it with a nod of the head.
Rambo throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
Nomo tries to bum rush Rambo with a series of wild strikes but Rambo uses good footwork to avoid the assault.

Nomo gets caught on his heels momentarily as he allows Rambo to score an easy takedown into full guard.
Nomo tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Rambo tries to free his leg and advance position but Nomo is retaining full guard.

Nomo had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Rambo defends it easily.
Nomo working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Rambo.
We've been hearing good reports from Rambo's training camp. Apparently he has been rolling around with some good quality BJJ practitioners and has been sharpening his skills. Let's see if that has an impact on the fight today.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Rambo wants to pass the guard but Nomo is keeping the position.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Rambo trying to control but Nomo is working from the bottom.
Rambo throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Nomo works some decent striking defense from the bottom.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Nomo lands a beautiful sweep and he's now moved into his opponent's guard.

Rambo might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.
A real slowdown in the pace of the fight for a moment, as Rambo holds on and takes a little breather.
Nomo content to stall in guard here.
Rambo tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Nomo wants to pass the guard but Rambo is keeping the position.
Nomo trying to control the position from guard on top but Rambo is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Nomo slows down the pace of the fight, as he sits in guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Neither fighter has done anything of merit for a good minute or two here and the crowd are not happy about it.
Rambo looking for a sweep. Not yet Rambo, not yet.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Nomo wants to control from the top but Rambo keeps moving.
Nomo postures up.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.
Nice cross by Nomo.
Nomo misses with an uppercut. Rambo saw that one coming.
Nomo misses with an uppercut.
Nomo lands a vicious shot with the stealth of a sniper and the strength of a viper. Are vipers that strong? I can think of lots of things that are stronger than a viper - not many rhyme with sniper though.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Rambo on the wrong end of an overhand right that came out of nowhere.
Rambo slips under a jab.
Nomo missing with a left hand there. Rambo was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
Nomo waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Rambo.
Nomo feints a jab promting Rambo to slip. Nomo then demonstrates his capabilities by jabbing again. Rambo slips again and ducks right into an uppercut.
Nice defenses there by Rambo.
Nomo slips a jab from Rambo.
A looping hook to the body misses from Rambo. Nomo does a little dance to reset his feet.
Nomo tries a counter takedown but it's more of a dummy move, and he uses it to push himself away.
Nomo throws a lazy right hand but Rambo sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Rambo half commits to a counter takedown before pushing away, out of range.
Rambo avoids the head kick by Nomo.
Nice jab there from Nomo.
Shintaro Nomo seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Rambo tries for a takedown but Nomo sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.

Rambo feints and then dives in with a takedown. That was a long way out but the feint bought him enough time to close the distance and complete the takedown. Now we'll play guard for a bit and see who can get the better of that position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
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!
Rambo wants to control from the top but Nomo keeps moving.
Rambo stands up over Nomo, holding his feet. He dives back in and lands a decent shot to the head.
Nomo is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Rambo won't allow Nomo to sweep him here.
Nomo lands a beautiful sweep and he's now moved into his opponent's guard.

Rambo throws his legs up looking to secure a triangle. Oh, that looks pretty tight, I gotta say! Nomo escapes and throws Rambo's legs to the side, diving into side control!
You can see the frustration on Rambo's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Rambo on the wrong end of a vicious looking body shot.
Nomo misses with a leg kick

and Rambo counters with a nice double leg into guard.
Nomo wants to sweep but no luck.
Rambo connects with a couple of short punches.
Nomo has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Rambo passes Nomo's right leg, so he's now in half guard.
Nomo is staying active underneath Rambo, who seems content to just control the action from this position.
Nomo is trying to maintain the position but Rambo is very close to passing his half guard.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Nomo wants to improve his position but Rambo is controlling well.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Nomo trying to control from the bottom.
Nomo moves his hips nicely and gets into full guard.
Nomo trying to control the position here.
Sambo Rambo overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Rambo slips effortlessly into side control - very nice.
Rambo lands a decent elbow from side control.
Rambo in side control, trying to ground and pound but not landing this time.
A bit of a lull in the action. I'm sure it will pick up again soon... even if the ref has to physically pick them up and put them back on their feet.
Nomo is positioning himself to get back to half guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Nomo is not content to let Rambo control the position.
Nomo gets one leg under and gets the fight to half guard.
Rambo trying to control from half guard but Nomo is working away.
Nice strikes from Rambo there.
Rambo prevents Nomo from improving his position.

Nomo looking for submissions from an awkward position here.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Nomo is pressing down on Rambo's left leg trying to get back to full guard. He's managed it.
Rambo throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Nomo works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Rambo sitting in guard, not really doing much.
Rambo with a nice head shot there.
Rambo postures up.

Nomo looking for a guillotine here but Rambo defends easily.
Nomo is adopting a defensive guard.

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.
Rambo chips away with some ground and pound.
Nomo avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Nomo looking to hit a scissor sweep but Rambo is one step ahead there.
Nomo looking to control.
Rambo tries to free his leg and advance position but Nomo is retaining full guard.
Nomo can't do much from the bottom at the moment, as Rambo controls the pace.
Rambo throws a big elbow that misses.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Rambo distracts Nomo with his right hand and drops a big elbow with his other arm.
Rambo throwing strikes from guard but Nomo blocks nicely.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Sambo Rambo dominated that second round.
That's time! Back to the action! And we move into the final round!

Rambo gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily
and Nomo counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
Nomo fakes with the hands and throws a leg kick but Rambo is out of range.
Nomo ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Rambo moves away.
Nomo avoids the body shot from Rambo.
Nomo misses with a straight right.
Nomo is using his reach advantage to land shots from outside his opponent's range.
A punch combination from Rambo misses.
Nomo misses the shot to the body.
Rambo attempts a counter takedown but Nomo avoids it well and moves away.
Rambo shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Nomo as he avoids it easily.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Nomo jabs Rambo to the body, keeping him at a distance.
Nomo throws out a loose jab but Rambo uses good head movement to avoid it.
Nomo lands with a right hand.
Rambo misses with a hook to the body
and Nomo counters with a straight right hand.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Nomo displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Rambo throws out the jab.
Nomo misses with a body kick.
Nomo lands with a right hand.
Nomo throws a jab but it's blocked by Rambo.
Rambo checks a leg kick nicely.
Nomo scores with a nice head shot.
Rambo fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Sambo Rambo. That's going to take a lot out of him.
A looping hook to the body misses from Nomo. Rambo does a little dance to reset his feet.
Rambo moves out of range as Nomo strikes.
Nomo stooping low to avoid any incoming strikes and then lunges in with an uppercut come cross that lands flush.
Rambo gets cracked there but stands up to it.

Rambo is rocked!
Nomo will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Nomo throws a body punch but Rambo moves out of range.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Rambo takes a shot right to the liver - Bas would have been proud of that punch.
Nomo uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Rambo.
Rambo works his jab well there, keeping his opponent at a distance.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Nomo misses with a looping left.
Nomo throws a leg kick but Rambo sees it coming and checks it nicely.
Rambo keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Rambo throws a body punch but Nomo moves out of range.
Rambo uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Nomo.

Excellent takedown into side control there by Rambo.
You can see the frustration on Nomo's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.
Nomo regains half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Nomo is trying to maintain the position but Rambo is very close to passing his half guard.
Rambo trying to advance position but Nomo counters by regaining guard.
Nomo is avoiding any damage by keeping wrist control.
Rambo wants to control from the top but Nomo keeps moving.
Rambo content to strike from guard, landing some decent shots.

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.
Nomo has control of Rambo's left arm, preventing Rambo from doing any damage.

Nomo has his foot on Rambo's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Rambo works his way back into a safe position though.

Nomo is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Rambo is aware though and is defending well.
Nomo keeping moving, preventing Rambo from controlling successfully.
Rambo postures up and lands some nice ground and pound.
Nomo looking to hit a scissor sweep but Rambo is one step ahead there.
Rambo wants to control from the top but Nomo keeps moving.
Rambo not doing a lot at the moment. He'll have to show some more aggression or the fight will get stood up.

And that's the end of the fight!
Shintaro Nomo comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Nomo 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 Paul Tew scores the fight 28:29
Judge Colin Fotheringham scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Shintaro Nomo!
Shintaro Nomo bigged himself up after the win. The crowd seemed to love it.