PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Daniel Gilbert (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Shinsuke Nakamura (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Shinsuke Nakamura has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Gilbert
vs
Nakamura

193 cm
24
279 lbs
1 - 6 - 0

180 cm
25
220 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Experienced

BJJ Blue Belt
Solid Muay Thai
Granite chin

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 1 - 6 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Daniel Gilbert!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Shinsuke Nakamura!
The judges for this bout are Gregory Folan, Yves DeLean and Trevor Gratis.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Nakamura throws a head kick that misses.
Shinsuke Nakamura seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

Gilbert closes the distance and clinches.
Gilbert holding his opponent close, against the cage.

Nakamura's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Gilbert could do with losing a few pounds - he looks very soft around the mid section, to put it politely.
Nakamura fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
Gilbert stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Gilbert wants it to stay on the feet.

Gilbert decides to change it up a bit and drives through with a nice takedown into half guard.

Nakamura has managed to escape just enough to sneak back to his feet but Gilbert is on him like a limpet, forcing Nakamura back against the cage.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Nakamura stalling here - the referee won't stand for too much of that.

Nakamura jumps guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Nakamura is pulling down on Gilbert's head to control his posture.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

Nakamura looking for submissions from the bottom but instead Gilbert passes into half guard.
Gilbert trying to control from half guard but Nakamura is working away.

Gilbert stands up and beckons Nakamura to join him on the feet.
Nakamura keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are hurling abuse towards the fighters... You can hardly blame them though because there isn't a lot going on in the fight.

Gilbert closes the distance and scores a nice trip takedown into half guard. Nakamura did well to prevent Gilbert getting side control.
Nakamura is trying to maintain the position but Gilbert is very close to passing his half guard.
Gilbert will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.
Nakamura wants to get back to his feet.

Gilbert is working for submissions here but there's nothing on.
Nakamura is trying to get back to full guard.

Gilbert postures up and decides to stand up, from the half guard. The ref calls for Nakamura to stand up.
Gilbert stuffs the takedown attempt from Nakamura. Nakamura gets slowly back to his feet.
Daniel Gilbert has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Shinsuke Nakamura.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Nakamura fails with the takedown
and Gilbert counters with a series of strikes. Nakamura will be more careful next time no doubt.
No luck with that takedown attempt from Gilbert.
Nakamura misses with a takedown attempt - Gilbert sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
Gilbert throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Nakamura with the counter takedown but Gilbert avoids it easily.
Gilbert is looking to clinch.

Gilbert has managed to clinch.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Gilbert tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.
Gilbert fails to pull the fight into his guard.
Nakamura stalling here - the referee won't stand for too much of that.

Nakamura escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Gilbert stuffs the takedown.
Nakamura fails with a takedown attempt.
Gilbert tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Nakamura swivels and escapes.
Nakamura shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Gilbert sprawls well. Gilbert wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Nakamura gets slowly back to his feet.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Daniel Gilbert dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Daniel Gilbert's cut.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business.

Nakamura tries to sprawl but Gilbert drives through with a takedown into half guard.

Nakamura has one foot on Gilbert's thigh - he pushes off and manages to get back to his feet.
Nakamura misses with an attempted mid kick.
Nakamura goes for a double leg but Gilbert avoids the attempt and the two fighters end up clinched against the cage as Gilbert continues to drive forward.
Nakamura blocks a head kick by Gilbert.
Nakamura now looks to counter with a shot at the body.
Gilbert slaps away a takedown attempt from Nakamura, before circling back to the center of the mat.
Nakamura lands a head shot.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Nakamura gets a clinch.
Gilbert tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.
Nakamura wants to get back to striking at distance but Gilbert won't allow it.

Gilbert successfully pulls guard.
Gilbert wants to stand up but Nakamura is controlling him.

Nakamura stands up and waves to Gilbert to follow him.

Nakamura moves into the clinch.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Gilbert prevents a body shot from Nakamura.

Nakamura breaks from the clinch.
Nakamura darts in and out, connecting with a jab.
Daniel Gilbert is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.

The fight moves into the clinch position.
Gilbert jumps guard but Nakamura turns him against the cage and keeps the fight standing.
Gilbert prevents a takedown attempt there.
Daniel Gilbert has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Shinsuke Nakamura.

Nakamura pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Gilbert pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Nakamura shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Gilbert as he jumps to the side.
Horrible takedown attempt by Nakamura or perhaps it was just good defense by Gilbert, which made it look bad.

Nakamura moves into the clinch.
Nakamura has Gilbert pressed up against the cage and is working for takedown. Gilbert manages to improve position though and keeps the fight standing.
Nakamura tries to pull guard but Gilbert forces him back to his feet, against the cage.
Nakamura is breathing heavily.

Gilbert jumps guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Gilbert manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Nakamura manages to get himself to full guard.

Nakamura throws his legs up looking to secure a triangle. Oh, that looks pretty tight, I gotta say! Gilbert escapes and throws Nakamura's legs to the side, diving into side control!
Gilbert is pausing for a moment. What's he doing? It looks like he's clearing his nose. Oh dude! He's shot a load of snot all down Nakamura's shoulder. That is not cool.
Gilbert landing with strikes to the head and body from side control.
Gilbert throws an elbow but Nakamura slips to the side and avoids it well.
Nakamura wants to control but Gilbert postures up.

Gilbert decides to stand up, so the ref orders Nakamura to his feet.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close second round but I would say that Daniel Gilbert will probably get the nod.
The cut man is working on Daniel Gilbert's cut.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action! This is the final round!

Nakamura pushes Gilbert up against the cage in a clinch.
Gilbert doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Nakamura is working on a leg, looking for a takedown but Gilbert is defending well.
A frustrated look appears on Nakamura's face as he tries to break the clinch.
Gilbert leaning against his opponent.
Gilbert tries to pull guard but Nakamura forces him back to his feet, against the cage.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Nakamura tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. Gilbert just stands there and leans against the cage.
The referee is keeping an eye on Nakamura - much more stalling and he will separate the fighters.
Nakamura drops down looking for an ankle pick but Gilbert pulls his leg out and moves away.
Daniel Gilbert has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Shinsuke Nakamura.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Nakamura cracks the inside of Gilbert's front leg.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Gilbert.
Nice takedown defense from Nakamura. No joy for Gilbert on that attempt.
Nice sprawl there from Gilbert as Nakamura shoots in.
Gilbert tries to counter with a takedown but Nakamura is quick to defend against it.
A head kick misses from Gilbert.
Nakamura shoots in for a takedown but Gilbert shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
Gilbert tries to counter with a takedown but Nakamura is quick to defend against it.
Nakamura takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

The fight moves into the clinch position.
Nakamura lands punches inside but they're not really causing much damage.
Nakamura jumps guard but Gilbert turns him against the cage and keeps the fight standing.
Nakamura has Gilbert pushed against the cage.
Nakamura jumps guard but his hands slip and he falls flat on his back. Well, he's made himself look a right mug there, as Gilbert walks away with a smile on his face. Nakamura gets slowly back to his feet and shakes his head.
Gilbert cracks the inside of Nakamura's front leg.

Nakamura fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Gilbert, pushing him back against the cage.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Nakamura pulls guard.

Nakamura throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Gilbert loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Gilbert looking to sit in guard and control but Nakamura gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.

Nakamura preventing the sweep.
Nakamura content to stall in guard here.
Gilbert is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Gilbert lands with an elbow from half guard - that looked like it hurt.
Nakamura misses with some strikes from the bottom.
Gilbert not landing any meaningful shots this time.
Gilbert 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.
Nakamura is looking to improve his position.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Nakamura is persisting with the attempt to improve his position.

And that's the end of the fight!
Shinsuke Nakamura comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Gilbert 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 Gregory Folan scores the fight 29:28
Judge Yves DeLean scores the fight 29:29
Judge Trevor Gratis scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by majority decision... Daniel Gilbert!