PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Hiro Nakamura (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Valiant Thorr (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Valiant Thorr is the more experienced fighter, so let's see if that makes a difference tonight.

Nakamura
vs
Thorr

180 cm
21
160 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

180 cm
24
160 lbs
4 - 5 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Decent elbows
Granite chin

BJJ Purple Belt
Brawler
Solid chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the lightweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Hiro Nakamura!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 4 - 5 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Valiant Thorr!
The judges for this bout are Edson Gomes, Thiago Cunha and Felipe Paraventi.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Thorr takes a head kick and shrugs it off.
Hiro Nakamura seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Nakamura throws a head kick but Thorr moves out of range.
Nakamura wants to clinch.
Nakamura throws a head kick that half lands.

Thorr shoots in for a takedown and gets it.
Thorr wants to free his trapped foot but Nakamura is holding on for dear life with his legs.
Nakamura wants to get back to his feet.

Nakamura is defending against the submission attempts here by Thorr.
Thorr seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Nakamura does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Nakamura wants to get back to his feet.

Nakamura is defending against the submission attempts here by Thorr.
Thorr is pressing down on Nakamura's thigh, looking to free his foot. Nakamura is holding on for now.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Nakamura is trying to stand.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
Nakamura goes for a high kick. It partially lands.
Nakamura lands with a kick to the temple. Thorr shrugs as if to say "is that all you've got?"

Thorr scores with a nice takedown into half guard. Let's see what he's got on the ground.
Thorr looks gassed!
Thorr prevents Nakamura from standing back up.
Thorr missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.

Thorr is looking for a kimura but Nakamura is holding onto that half guard position, so it's hard for Thorr to get the leverage.
Nakamura is trying to stand up here but Thorr is controlling him well.
Thorr performing his best blanket impression for a moment.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Thorr is trying to control the action in half guard but Nakamura is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.

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

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.
Nakamura throws a nice head kick!
Nakamura throws a head kick that looked like it stung.
Nakamura throws a right high kick that is partially blocked by Thorr.
Nakamura lands a head kick. Thorr smiles back at him and beckons him forward.
Nakamura throws a head kick that looked like it stung.
Nakamura lands a head kick!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Nakamura throws a head kick that Thorr semi-blocks.
Nakamura throws a head kick that connects with a bit of head and a bit of hand.
Nakamura tries to clinch up but Thorr circles away and keeps his distance.
Nakamura throws a head kick but Thorr moves out of range.
Nakamura throws a right high kick that is partially blocked by Thorr.
Nakamura doesn't manage to clinch there - Thorr circles away.
Nakamura tries to clinch there but Thorr circles away.
Nakamura connects with a high kick.
Nakamura lands with a head kick! That's gotta hurt.

Thorr feints and as Nakamura raises his hands in defense, Thorr changes levels and drives through with a takedown into guard.
Thorr throwing strikes from guard but Nakamura blocks nicely.
Thorr won't allow Nakamura to get back to his feet.
Thorr content to stall in guard here.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Valiant Thorr will probably get the nod.
That's time! Back to the action!

Nakamura is looking to clinch.
Horrible takedown by Thorr or perhaps it was just good defense by Nakamura which made him look bad.
Nakamura throws a head kick that looked like it stung.
Nakamura connects with a high kick.
A head kick misses from Nakamura.
Nakamura throws a quick head kick that skims the top of Thorr's head.
Nakamura doesn't manage to clinch there - Thorr circles away.
Nakamura tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Thorr paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Thorr circles away from the clinch attempt.
Nakamura pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Nakamura scores with a head kick.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Thorr.
Nakamura throws a head kick that Thorr semi-blocks.
Nakamura tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

Nakamura moves into the clinch successfully.
Both guys are working to get underhooks.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Nakamura landing knees to the body.
Thorr fails to pull the fight into his guard.
Hiro Nakamura has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Valiant Thorr.
Nice elbow from Nakamura.
Thorr jumps guard but Nakamura stands there with Thorr around his waist. Thorr gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.
Nakamura creates a bit of space for himself and sneaks an elbow through Thorr's defenses.
Nakamura lands a nice elbow.
Nakamura unloads a knee to the mid-section. Thorr lets out a prehistoric sounding urrrrgh.
Thorr changes levels and goes for a takedown here. Nakamura fights it off and pushes away nicely.
Nakamura throws a right high kick that is partially blocked by Thorr.
Hiro Nakamura is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Nakamura moves in looking to clinch but Thorr pushes him off.
Nakamura scores with a head kick.
Nakamura throws a right high kick that is partially blocked by Thorr.
Nakamura misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Nakamura misses with a head kick.
Nakamura throws a head kick that half lands.
Hiro Nakamura is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Thorr circles away from the clinch attempt.
Nakamura misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
A head kick misses from Nakamura.
Nakamura tries a head kick but it misses.
Nakamura throws a sloppy head kick and Thorr moves out of range easily.

Thorr closes the distance and looks for a trip takedown... aaaand he's got it - Thorr lands in his opponent's guard.

Thorr thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.
Nakamura is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Thorr is controlling him.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Thorr drops back for a leg! It's a sloppy attempt though and Thorr jumps back into guard quickly, to retain the dominant position.
Thorr trying to control the position from guard on top but Nakamura is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Thorr might have to switch it up a bit here because his efforts to control Nakamura kaven't been going to plan, at least at the current moment in time.
Nakamura is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Well. There's a bit of a lull in the action here and the crowd are starting to get restless.
Thorr pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Nakamura is keeping the position for now.
Nakamura keeping moving, preventing Thorr from controlling successfully.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.

Nakamura has Thorr up against the cage in a clinch.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Thorr takes an elbow to the forehead.
Thorr jumps guard but his hands slip and he falls flat on his back. Well, he's made himself look a right mug there, as Nakamura walks away with a smile on his face. Thorr gets slowly back to his feet and shakes his head.
Nakamura lands a high kick!
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Hiro Nakamura dominated that second round.
That's time! Nakamura's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight. This is the final round!

Thorr shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Oh and he's advanced to full mount straight away.
Thorr with a couple of short strikes.
Nakamura wants to get back to his feet.

Thorr looking for a guillotine from mount but Nakamura is having none of it.
Nakamura is squirming around, avoiding Thorr's attempts to control the action.

Thorr goes for an armbar but Nakamura turns quickly into his guard - lovely anticipation from Nakamura.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Thorr is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Nakamura wants to get up but he can't break Thorr's closed guard. He needs to be careful trying to break the legs open, as he's open to submissions here.
Nakamura trying desperately to get back to his feet here but he's not having any joy at all. He's going to tire himself out if he's not careful.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Well. There's a bit of a lull in the action here and the crowd are starting to get restless.
Thorr tries to land a sweep but no joy.

Thorr escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Nakamura gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
Thorr trying to keep a closed guard but Nakamura is proving a slippery customer.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Thorr looking for a sweep. Not yet Thorr, not yet.

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

Nakamura clinches.
Thorr drops down looking for an ankle pick but Nakamura pulls his leg out and moves away.
Nakamura throws a head kick that looked like it stung.
Nakamura throws a head kick that Thorr semi-blocks.
Thorr looks for a takedown but Nakamura sprawls well.
Nakamura fails with an attempt to clinch.
Thorr circles away from the clinch attempt.
Nakamura lands with a kick to the temple. Thorr shrugs as if to say "is that all you've got?"
Nakamura pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Thorr wants to clinch up but Nakamura keeps it at a distance.
Thorr has a takedown stuffed.
Hiro Nakamura has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Valiant Thorr.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Nakamura goes for a high kick. It partially lands.
Thorr takes a head kick and keeps coming.
Nakamura wants to clinch up but Thorr keeps it at a distance.
Thorr shoots in but Nakamura avoids the takedown attempt easily.
Thorr shoots in looking for a takedown. Nakamura tries to sprawl out of it but Thorr keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Nakamura manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
Wow, both these guys are really going for it!
Nakamura misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Thorr wants to clinch.
Nakamura lands with a head kick! That's gotta hurt.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Nakamura lands a head kick!
Nakamura throws a head kick but Thorr moves out of range.
Nakamura throws a head kick that half lands.

And that's the end of the fight!
That was a close round. You could make an argument for either fighter but I would give it to Hiro Nakamura.
I think Nakamura has won this one but let's see what the judges have to say. 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 Edson Gomes scores the fight 29:28
Judge Thiago Cunha scores the fight 29:28
Judge Felipe Paraventi scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Hiro Nakamura!