PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Duke Rage (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Kemo Nozume (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Nozume is bouncing up and down as he enters the arena, backed by Pagan's Mind - Enigmatic Calling. Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Rage
vs
Nozume

196 cm
23
274 lbs
7 - 2 - 0

196 cm
20
285 lbs
2 - 2 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Excellent boxer
Granite chin

Good wrestler
Brawler
Powerful

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 7 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Duke Rage!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Kemo Nozume!
The judges for this bout are Tatsuya Matsuyama, Hirohito Nitta and Kenichi Hosakawa.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Nozume shoots in for a takedown but Rage shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
Nozume with a poor takedown

and Rage counters with a crisp one two that drops Nozume! Rage thinks about following him to the mat for a moment but instead steps back and waves Nozume to his feet! Nozume is in big trouble!
Rage changes levels and scores with a jab to the body.
Rage tries to clinch up.
Nozume is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Rage.
Rage has been working on his boxing with his coaches at Body Pain_12elite_599$+VM in the buildup to the fight.
Nozume misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
Duke Rage has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Kemo Nozume.
Rage tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Nozume showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Rage.
Rage slaps away a takedown attempt from Nozume, before circling back to the center of the mat.
Rage wants to clinch up but Nozume keeps it at a distance.

Nozume dives in and scores a takedown into Rage's guard.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Nozume distracts Rage with his right hand and drops a big elbow with his other arm.
Nozume stays in close to Rage's body and controls the position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
It looks like Nozume might be adopting somewhat of a lay and pray gameplan here, which I'm sure won't go down too well with the paying fans in attendance... Or the ring announcers come to think of it.
Nozume's corner are shouting for him to control the position and he seems happy to oblige.

That's two 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.
Nozume throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Rage works some decent striking defense from the bottom.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up. He just wasn't happy with the level of activity.
Nozume fails with the takedown.
Nozume shoots in for a double leg but Rage sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
Nozume shoots in but Rage avoids the takedown attempt easily.

Rage closes the distance and pushes Nozume back into the ropes.
Nozume can't get the takedown.
Rage wants to stall.
A quick uppercut on the inside from Rage.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Nozume misses with a short punch on the inside.
Nozume misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Both guys are working to get underhooks.
Rage tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Rage working aggressively here.
Rage lands a body shot in the clinch.
Rage blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Rage blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Both fighters working to control the clinch.
Nozume blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Nozume misses with a punch to the body.
Rage lands a nice uppercut.
Rage is pushing Nozume up against the ropes, for a bit of lean and pray action. Action being used the in the loosest possible sense of the word.
Rage tries a body shot but Nozume blocks it.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Nozume misses with a punch to the body.
Nozume blocking some punches.
Nozume tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Rage's elbow.
Rage misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Rage can't find room to land a body shot as Nozume controls the action.
Nozume prevents a body shot from Rage.
Nozume misses with some punches.
Rage lands a hook to the side of the head.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Nozume misses with the head strike.
Nozume blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Rage stalling against the ropes.

Nozume gets the body lock takedown. After a quick scramble, Rage regains guard.
Rage is looking to stand back up but Nozume counters by passing into half guard. Oops... bit sloppy there by Rage.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Kemo Nozume will probably get the nod.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

Nozume shoots in looking for a single leg takedown. Rage is trying to defend but Nozume finishes it well and ends up in half guard. Let's see if he can advance position further.
Rage trying to control but Nozume postures up.
Nozume lands strikes from half guard.
Nozume looks over to his corner - he wants some instructions but his corner are not responding.
The fighters are tangled up in the ropes here. We might need a restart if the fighters can't break free themselves.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rage blocking the ground and pound attempt from Nozume.
Nozume lands strikes from half guard.
Nozume sitting and controlling from the half guard.
Nozume lands with a punch from half guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
The referee calls for the fighters to work.
Nozume has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
Nozume not landing any meaningful shots this time.
Nozume frees up his trapped foot and advances to mount.
Rage is in a horrible position here. Nozume smacks him with another shot as he tries to escape the position.
Nozume controlling the position easily from mount.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Nozume lands a big elbow.
Rage taking shots to the head.
Nozume controlling the pace for now.
Rage on his back here. We all know that wrestlers don't like being on their back so let's see if Rage tries to get out of the position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Nozume looking to finish Rage with some ground and pound. This is bad for Rage!
Nozume scores with a couple of good head shots there.
Nozume landing shots from mount.
Nozume controlling the pace for now.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Rage taking shots to the head.
Nozume lands a nice shot to the head.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Kemo Nozume showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action. This is the final round!

Nozume looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
Nozume avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Rage leaves Nozume with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
Nozume avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Rage moves in looking to clinch but Nozume pushes him off.
Nozume tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Rage swivels and escapes.
Duke Rage has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Kemo Nozume.
Nozume dives in and grabs Rage's left leg, looking for a takedown. Rage pushes down on Nozume's head and hops out.

Rage gets taken down but at least he's managed to land in guard.
Nozume content to stall in guard here.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Nozume throwing strikes from guard but Rage blocks nicely.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Nozume is frustrating his opponent with some stalling tactics from top position.
Nozume sneaks a leg through and gets to half guard. That was like a knife through butter how easily he passed Rage's guard.
Nozume sitting and controlling from the half guard.
Nozume not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
Duke Rage has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Kemo Nozume is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
My god... these two guys really need to pick up the pace or everyone will leave to go get a beer.
Nozume stalling.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.
Duke Rage is winning the standup battle so far.
Nozume shoots and misses
and Rage counters with a straight right hand.
Duke Rage is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Nozume shoots in from a long way out. He's driving through with the takedown attempt and he eventually gets it, landing in Rage's guard.
Nozume scoring with punches to the head and body.
Nozume is stalling in the full guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

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!
Nozume shoots in for a double leg but Rage sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.

Nozume closes the distance and clinches up, looking for a takedown. He shifts his weight and gets a nice trip into half guard.
Nozume content to control rather than advance.

And that's the end of the fight!
Kemo Nozume comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Nozume 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 Tatsuya Matsuyama scores the fight for Kemo Nozume!
Judge Hirohito Nitta scores the fight for Kemo Nozume!
Judge Kenichi Hosakawa scores the fight for Kemo Nozume!

Kemo Nozume wins by unanimous decision!
Post fight, an emotional Kemo Nozume said 'Auvers blue'.