PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Roscoe Slater (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Akira Nakamura (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). These two fighters really are very evenly matched on the feet - it will be fascinating to see who can assert themselves in that aspect of the fight.

Slater
vs
Nakamura

202 cm
22
193 lbs
2 - 4 - 0

187 cm
23
190 lbs
0 - 1 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Experienced

BJJ Blue Belt
Solid Muay Thai
Intelligent

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the middleweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 2 - 4 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Roscoe Slater!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Akira Nakamura !
The judges for this bout are Yasuomi Hirokawa, Sosuke Kotani and Yukihiro Shimada.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Slater looks for a takedown but Nakamura sprawls well.
Slater fails to land with a series of punches.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Nakamura is defended easily by Slater.

Nakamura instigates a clinch.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Slater tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Nakamura 's elbow.
Slater tries to pull guard but Nakamura won't allow it.
Nakamura tries to pull guard but Slater forces him back to his feet, against the cage.
Slater lands on the inside with an uppercut.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Nakamura digs a right hand underneath Slater's ribcage. Slater let out a lung full of air as it connected.
Nakamura avoiding damage.
Slater wants to break free but Nakamura has control.

Nakamura jumps guard and drags Slater to the mat. He's obviously going to be looking for submissions off his back.
Slater in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.

Nakamura manages to escape and get back to his feet.
Nakamura scores with a nice one two combo and darts back out of range to avoid anything coming in the opposite direction.
Slater has a takedown stuffed.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Roscoe Slater. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Nakamura has his takedown stuffed
and Slater cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Slater keeps the fight on the outside.
Nakamura tries to clinch up.

Nakamura gets in close and instigates a clinch.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Nakamura is looking to take this one to the mat.
Nakamura lands a shoulder strike that jolts his opponent's head backwards.
Slater makes some space for himself and lands an uppercut.
Slater is trying to wear down his opponent with knees to the body.
Nakamura wants a takedown.
Slater digs a right hand into Nakamura 's ribs. Those have got to be taking their toll on Nakamura 's gas tank.
Slater missing with knees to the body.

Nakamura breaks the clinch.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Nice sprawl there from Nakamura as Slater shoots in.
Nakamura is loading up here, looking for a big counter of his own.
Slater swinging wildly here.
Nakamura slaps away a takedown attempt from Slater, before circling back to the center of the mat.
Slater keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
Slater drops down looking for a counter takedown but Nakamura sprawls and moves away.
Nakamura looks for a takedown but Slater sprawls well.
Nakamura looks winded!
Nakamura throws a head kick but Slater moves out of range.
Slater feinted with a counter takedown.
Nakamura swings and misses with a shot to the body
enabling Slater to counter with a crisp jab.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Nakamura looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
Slater slaps away a takedown attempt from Nakamura , before circling back to the center of the mat.
Slater fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Nakamura avoids it really well and circles away.
Nakamura changes levels for a counter takedown but doesn't follow through with his attempt.
Slater fails with a takedown attempt.
Nakamura fails with an attempt to clinch.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Akira Nakamura will probably get the nod.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

Nakamura tries to clinch up.
Nakamura jabs Slater to the body, keeping him at a distance.
Slater shoots for a takedown but Nakamura saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.

Nakamura gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.
Slater is trying to break the clinch but Nakamura is controlling him.
Nakamura jumps guard but Slater turns him against the cage and keeps the fight standing.

Nakamura breaks from the clinch.

Nakamura gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Nakamura escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.

Slater closes the distance and gets a double leg, slamming Nakamura to the mat! Nakamura manages to get full guard.
Slater throws a big elbow that misses.
Slater stands up over Nakamura , holding his feet. He dives back in and lands a decent shot to the head.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Slater scoring with some ground and pound.
Slater scoring with punches to the head and body.
Nakamura throws some sloppy strikes off his back.

Slater stands up and waves to Nakamura to follow him.
Nakamura is breathing heavily.
Nakamura tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Slater paws at him with a jab and circles away.

Nakamura forces Slater back against the cage and clinches.
Nakamura is working hard here but doesn't seem to be able to control effectively, up against the cage.
Nakamura looks like he'd prefer to be striking at range right now.
Nice body punch from Slater - that landed with a thud.

Slater manages to break the clinch.

Slater gets tackled into the cage by Nakamura . Nakamura maintains the clinch.
Akira Nakamura seems to be working more effectively in the clinch in the fight so far.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Slater working Nakamura over with knees to the body.

Nakamura breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Slater closes the distance and clinches up with Nakamura , looking for a takedown. Slater pushes Nakamura against the cage but Nakamura circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
Nakamura fails with an attempt to clinch.
Slater feinted with a counter takedown.
Nakamura stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Nakamura wants it to stay on the feet.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Roscoe Slater. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Nakamura gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily

and Slater counters by moving into the clinch. Good anticipation by Slater.

Slater breaks the clinch.
Slater misses with a takedown attempt - Nakamura sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
Nakamura tries to land a body kick

and Slater counters with a nice double leg into side control. Nakamura won't be happy with that.

Nakamura sneaks out the side door and pushes Slater away - he's back to his feet. The crowd show their appreciation for the escape.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Slater really does look like a pencil wearing a pair of gloves. Let's hope he has a gameplan to suit that ridiculous body shape.
Slater goes for a double leg but Nakamura avoids the attempt and the two fighters end up clinched against the cage as Nakamura continues to drive forward.
Slater gets cracked with a nice right hand there by Nakamura .
Slater fails with a takedown attempt.
Nakamura defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Slater.
Slater fails with the takedown.
Nakamura connects with a body shot.
Nakamura has been the more effective fighter overall so far.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Nakamura throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
A little feinted left hand from Slater on the counter but he doesn't commit to it.
Roscoe Slater is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Slater tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. Nakamura manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Slater dives in and grabs Nakamura 's left leg, looking for a takedown. Nakamura pushes down on Slater's head and hops out.

Nakamura forces Slater back against the cage and clinches.
Nakamura has Slater pressed against the cage.
The fighters are starting to get sweaty, which will make takedowns a bit more tricky.
Nakamura is trying to pull guard but Slater has him pressed against the cage.
Nakamura is looking for a takedown up against the cage. Slater gets underhooks though and prevents the takedown attempt.

Nakamura manages to break the clinch.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Akira Nakamura showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
That's time! Slater's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight. This is the final round!

Slater closes the distance and clinches up with Nakamura , looking for a takedown. Slater pushes Nakamura against the cage but Nakamura circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
Slater tries to drive through with a takedown attempt but Nakamura defends well and Slater ends up having to push Nakamura into the cage where they will battle it out in the clinch.
Nakamura scores with a leg kick.
Nakamura scores with a one two! Slater had his feet all tangled up there and couldn't avoid the strikes.

It looks like Roscoe Slater has been cut.
Slater is trying hard to land a takedown here. Nakamura sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Roscoe Slater. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Slater tries for a takedown but Nakamura sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
Nakamura stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Nakamura wants it to stay on the feet.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Nakamura chopping away at his opponent's legs.
Nakamura fails with the takedown.
Akira Nakamura seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Nakamura tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Slater swivels and escapes.
Slater feinted with a counter takedown.
Nakamura fails with a takedown attempt.
Slater fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
Nakamura wants to counter the offense by Slater and move into the clinch position.
Nakamura closes the distance and clinches up with Slater, looking for a takedown. Nakamura pushes Slater against the cage but Slater circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
Slater appears to be looking for a big counter.

Slater closes the distance and scores a nice trip takedown into half guard. Nakamura did well to prevent Slater getting side control.

Slater is trying to work for a kimura but Nakamura is defending well.
Slater will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.
Nakamura controlling the position for now.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Nakamura is working for an escape here. He's hooked one of Slater's legs and he's managed to sneak out and take Slater's back!

Slater is trying escape back to his feet. He turns into his opponent's guard and eventually finds his way back to his feet.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Slater fails with a takedown attempt.
Nakamura steps in looking to counter with the mid kick but it doesn't connect.
No luck for Nakamura with that takedown attempt.
Slater closes the distance and clinches up with Nakamura , looking for a takedown. Slater pushes Nakamura against the cage but Nakamura circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Nakamura instigates a clinch.
Slater misses with a punch to the body.

Nakamura breaks from the clinch.

Nakamura closes the distance and pushes Slater back into the cage.
Nakamura jumps guard but Slater turns him against the cage and keeps the fight standing.
Nakamura is trying to break the clinch but Slater has him pressed against the cage.
Nakamura has dropped down and is looking to force the takedown but it's defended by Slater after a bit of a struggle.
Slater landing knees to the body.
Slater misses with a short punch on the inside.
Nakamura is trying to slow down the pace in the clinch, to catch his breath.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Nakamura fails to pull guard.
Slater tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. Nakamura just stands there and leans against the cage.
Slater tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Nakamura avoids it.
Nakamura drops down for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Nakamura is defending well against a takedown attempt.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Nakamura has Slater pressed against the cage, preventing Slater from circling away and getting back to striking at range.
Roscoe Slater has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Akira Nakamura is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
Slater tries a body shot but Nakamura blocks it.

And that's the end of the fight!
Akira Nakamura comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Nakamura has outworked and out performed his opponent in all aspects of the game today. He was simply too good and the decision should be no more than a formality. 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 Yasuomi Hirokawa scores the fight 27:30
Judge Sosuke Kotani scores the fight 27:30
Judge Yukihiro Shimada scores the fight 27:30

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