PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Shinsuke Nakamura (ranked 8066 p4p, 680 weight class) and Ward Rand (ranked 22160 p4p, 790 weight class). Nakamura's ring entrance music is that housewives' favourite, Rising Sun. Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Nakamura
vs
Rand

188 cm
27
229 lbs
2 - 4 - 0

186 cm
21
225 lbs
2 - 9 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Good knees
Granite chin

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Determined

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 2 - 4 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Shinsuke Nakamura!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 9 - 0, fighting out of New York, Ward Rand!
The judges for this bout are Anthony Taglia, David Schapiro and Bruno Lombardi.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Nakamura gets caught on his heels momentarily as he allows Rand to score an easy takedown into full guard.

Nakamura scrambles and gets back to his feet.
Rand connects with the punch.

Rand throws the overhand right but ducks down into a quick takedown attempt. Nakamura was covering up waiting for the punch and Rand finishes the takedown easily into guard.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Rand throws a big elbow that misses.
Rand controlling from the guard. I say controlling but really, he's stalling.
Rand trying to control the position from guard on top but Nakamura is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Nakamura wants to sweep here but Rand controlling him for the moment.
Rand should think about turning a few of those tyres round his middle into muscle if he wants people to take him seriously as an athlete.
Rand postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Rand trying to control the position from guard on top but Nakamura is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

Nakamura has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Rand can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.

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.
Nakamura lands a beautiful sweep and he's now moved into his opponent's guard.

Nakamura advances to half guard.
Nakamura is taking a breather. Rand says something to him but it's hard to make out. Perhaps he's telling him to get on with it and actually do something.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
The fighters are going at a pretty good pace and they're both starting to sweat now.
Rand is trying to defend against the ground and pound but Nakamura scores with a couple of nice shots.
Nakamura slips a nice elbow through Rand's hands, connecting with Rand's forehead.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Nakamura is trying to work for a kimura but Rand is defending well.

Nakamura is trying a forearm choke… I don't think that's going to do much at this level of the game.
Rand gets full guard.

Nakamura is holding a leg here, probably looking for an ankle lock - he drops back and goes for it! Rand is in trouble! Is it all over??? No! Rand has escaped and now he's on top!

Rand passes easily into side control. Nice work.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Nakamura is positioning himself to get back to half guard.

Rand is looking to finish here, going for an Americana. Nakamura knows the correct defense though, so he's OK.

Rand is trying to get an arm triangle but Nakamura is defending well.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close round but I would say that Shinsuke Nakamura will probably get the nod.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business.

Rand closes the distance and pushes Nakamura back into the cage.
Nakamura tries to pull guard but Rand forces him back to his feet, against the cage.
Rand lands a nice shot to the body.
Nakamura is looking to take this one to the mat.
Rand trying to land knees to the body.

Rand's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Rand gets caught on his heels momentarily as he allows Nakamura to score an easy takedown into full guard.

Nakamura is holding a leg here, probably looking for an ankle lock - he drops back and goes for it! Rand is in trouble! Is it all over??? No! Rand has escaped and now he's on top!

That's one minute gone in the round.

Rand decides to stand up and beckons his opponent to follow.
Nakamura misses with a takedown attempt - Rand sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
Rand is clearly trying to counter these attacks from Nakamura with a body shot.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Shinsuke Nakamura. That's going to take a lot out of him.

Rand fakes an overhand right and shoots for a takedown. Nakamura sprawls well initially but Rand persists and gets the takedown into half guard.
Rand wants to free his trapped foot but Nakamura is holding on for dear life with his legs.
The two fighters exchange a few words. I couldn't hear what they were saying but maybe it's more fun if you make it up yourself. Rand connects with a nice short shot to Nakamura's temple.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Rand wants to pass to mount but Nakamura is defending the position.
Rand wants to get back to his feet.

Nakamura manages to create a bit of space in order to work his way back to his feet. Rand keeps hold of his opponent and drives him back against the cage.

Rand has Nakamura pressed up against the cage. He's trying to work for a single leg takedown. Rand pulls back from the cage and twists to the side, sending Nakamura tumbling to the mat - Rand dives into Nakamura's guard.

Nakamura has scooted to the edge of the canvas and used the cage to get back to his feet. Rand has stuck on his opponent and is forcing him back against the cage.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Rand breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.

Rand tries to keep at a distance but Nakamura has taken the fight into the clinch.
Nakamura cracks Rand with a nice body shot.
Stalling in the clinch from Nakamura.

Rand pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Horrible takedown attempt by Nakamura or perhaps it was just good defense by Rand, which made it look bad.
Nakamura shoots in for a takedown but Rand shows good takedown defense.

Rand forces Nakamura back against the cage and clinches.
Nakamura tries to pull guard but Rand won't allow it.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Nakamura lands a takedown into guard.
Rand keeping moving, preventing Nakamura from controlling successfully.
Rand is trying to control the position but Nakamura postures up.
Shinsuke Nakamura overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Nakamura stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Rand swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Rand is pulling down on Nakamura's head. It's preventing any offense from Nakamura, at least for the moment.
Nakamura tries to free his leg and advance position but Rand is retaining full guard.

Rand has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Nakamura can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Ward Rand will probably get the nod - 10:9.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action! This is the final round!

Nakamura is looking to clinch.

Rand shoots in for a takedown and gets it.

Nakamura kicks Rand off and gets back to his feet.

Nakamura looks for a takedown. He's got it. We're now in half guard.
This has been an exciting period of action!

Nakamura seems to be looking for submissions.
Nakamura lands strikes from half guard.
Rand wants to get back to full guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Rand looking for submissions off his back.
Rand is pressing down on Nakamura's left leg trying to get back to full guard. He's managed it.
Rand is trying to control the position but Nakamura postures up.
Nakamura looking to pass the guard.
Nakamura wants to control from the top but Rand keeps moving.

Nakamura is trying to work a guillotine from the top, or something like that? Don't know how he thinks he's going to get a finish from there.

Rand throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
Rand takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.

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.
Nakamura trying to control but Rand is working from the bottom.
Rand being controlled here, momentarily.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Rand misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Nakamura feinted with a counter takedown.
Rand throws a right and a left that both miss.
As Rand tries to get set, Nakamura tries to push him back and clinch up but Rand manages to avoid the attempt.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Rand gets a takedown into half guard.
Nakamura is trying to escape back to his feet but Rand uses the scramble to pass into side control.
Nakamura tries to work a leg under to get back to half guard but Rand wriggles his own leg back out and remains in side control.
Nakamura manages to work his way to half guard, despite Rand's best efforts.
Nakamura is looking to escape.
Nakamura gets full guard.

Nakamura working for a triangle but Rand defends it easily.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Rand avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
Rand controls from within his opponent's guard.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.

Rand avoids a guillotine attempt easily.

And that's the end of the fight!
Shinsuke Nakamura showed his dominance in that final round.
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 Anthony Taglia scores the fight for Shinsuke Nakamura!
Judge David Schapiro scores the fight for Shinsuke Nakamura!
Judge Bruno Lombardi scores the fight for Shinsuke Nakamura!

Shinsuke Nakamura wins by unanimous decision!
After winning the bout, Shinsuke Nakamura thanked all his fans and promised he'd do even better in his next fight. The crowd seemed to love his humility.