PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Akira Nakamura (ranked 24090 p4p, 0 weight class) and Taru Misoka (ranked 6066 p4p, 0 weight class). Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Nakamura
vs
Misoka

187 cm
24
190 lbs
1 - 1 - 0

177 cm
23
190 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Solid Muay Thai
Intelligent

BJJ Blue Belt
Basic striking
Solid chin

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 1 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Akira Nakamura !
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Taru Misoka!
The judges for this bout are Yasuomi Hirokawa, Shirou Masuda and Shigeki Sano.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Misoka misses with a few strikes there.
Nakamura throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Misoka throws a combination that misses

and Nakamura holds on and brings the fighters into a clinch.
Misoka using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Nakamura has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.

Nakamura breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Misoka is looking to land body kicks.
Misoka tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Nakamura swivels and escapes.
Nakamura is looking to counter punch.

Nakamura clinches up with Misoka and pushes him back against the cage.

Nakamura has dropped down and is working for a takedown. Misoka is trying to keep an underhook but Nakamura manages to get the takedown into half guard.

Misoka looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.
Nakamura keeping composed on the top, looking to control the action.

Misoka looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Nakamura thows a huge punch but Misoka dodges it nicely.

Misoka looking for submissions from an awkward position here.
Nakamura looks over to his corner - he wants some instructions but his corner are not responding.
Misoka wants to control but Nakamura is keeping busy and won't allow it.
Nakamura perhaps working for something from half guard, or maybe not. It looks like he's just sitting there.
Misoka connecting with a few gentle strikes.
Misoka wants to control but Nakamura is keeping busy and won't allow it.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Neither fighter has done anything of merit for a good minute or two here and the crowd are not happy about it.
Misoka throws a head kick but Nakamura moves out of range.
A head kick misses from Misoka.
Nakamura changes levels looking for a counter takedown but doesn't commit.
Nakamura needs to keep his hands up - Misoka had a free shot at his head there.
Nakamura lands a nice hook to Misoka's body. Misoka takes it in his stride and looks to land his own strikes.
Nakamura avoids a punch combination nicely.
Nakamura changes levels looking for a counter takedown but doesn't commit.
Misoka throws a looping overhand right but Nakamura ducks down to avoid it.
Nakamura dips down and scores with a jab to the body.

Nakamura closes the distance and looks for a trip takedown... aaaand he's got it - Nakamura lands in his opponent's guard.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Nakamura accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Misoka is trying to control the position but Nakamura postures up.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Misoka is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Nakamura defends well.
Nakamura controlling from the guard. I say controlling but really, he's stalling.

Misoka working for a triangle but Nakamura defends it easily.
Nakamura passes easily into side control. Nice work.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Misoka parries the strikes from Nakamura easily there. Nakamura is wary of posturing up too much because it might enable Misoka to escape.
Nakamura misses with an attempted head punch from side control.
Nakamura in side control, just content to control the action for now.

Nakamura swings around for an armbar but Misoka sees it coming a mile off and turns beautifully into Nakamura 's guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Akira Nakamura dominated that round.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

Nakamura moves out of range of the strikes.
Nakamura showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Misoka.

The fight moves into the clinch position.

Nakamura pulls Misoka into guard.
Misoka is looking to work some ground and pound but Nakamura has wrist control.
Nakamura utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Nakamura wants to sweep here but Misoka controlling him for the moment.
Misoka throws a big elbow that misses.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Nakamura controls Misoka momentarily but Misoka frees himself.
Misoka wants to control from the top but Nakamura keeps moving.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Misoka lands a couple of digs.
Nakamura is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Nakamura is adopting a defensive guard.
Misoka trying to control but Nakamura is working from the bottom.

Nakamura is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
Misoka preventing the sweep.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Misoka working some strikes from top position.
Misoka distracts Nakamura with his right hand and drops a big elbow with his other arm.
Misoka working in close now, lands a nice elbow to the side of Nakamura 's head.

Nakamura looking for a guillotine here but Misoka defends easily.
Misoka tries to free his leg and advance position but Nakamura is retaining full guard.
Misoka trying to control but Nakamura is working from the bottom.
Misoka throwing strikes from guard but Nakamura blocks nicely.
Misoka is sitting in guard, working some ground and pound.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Misoka trying to control but Nakamura is working from the bottom.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Misoka connects with a couple of short punches.
Nakamura trying to control the position here.
Akira Nakamura overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Nakamura avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Misoka postures up in Nakamura 's guard and throws a big left but Nakamura blocks it.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up. He just wasn't happy with the level of activity.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A few boos can be heard. I'm sure they will multiply if the fighters don't pick up the pace.
Misoka swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Nakamura appears to be looking for a counter punch to the body.
Misoka throws a left and a right that both miss

and Nakamura counters by moving into the clinch.

Misoka is fighting off a takedown attempt but Nakamura is just too persistent for him and manages to trip Misoka to the mat. Misoka regains guard as soon as the fighters hit the mat.

Misoka is edging up against the cage. He's using the cage to get back to his feet. Nice work there - the fighters are clinched.
Misoka 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. Misoka gets slowly back to his feet and shakes his head.
Misoka darts in looking for a takedown but Nakamura gets double underhooks and turns Misoka into the cage.
Akira Nakamura is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.

Nakamura shoots in from a long way out. He's driving through with the takedown attempt and he eventually gets it, landing in Misoka's guard.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

Nakamura decides to stand up and beckons his opponent to follow.
Misoka throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Nakamura .
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Nakamura blocks a head kick by Misoka.

Nakamura is looking for a takedown here. He's shot in and has managed to get it, finishing up in Misoka's half guard.
Misoka is looking to control Nakamura 's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Misoka avoid being mounted?
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Taru Misoka will probably get the nod - 10:9.
That's time! Nakamura 's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight. And we move into the final round!

Misoka fails with a takedown attempt.
Misoka throws a push kick but Nakamura slaps the foot to one side.
Misoka lands a pitter patter jab to the forehead of his opponent.

Nakamura shoots in and gets a takedown into Misoka's guard.
Nakamura controls from within his opponent's guard.

Misoka had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Nakamura defends it easily.
Nakamura has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Nakamura stands and steps away. Misoka gets to his feet too and we're back to the striking game.
Taru Misoka seems to be getting the better of the standup.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Nakamura looking to score a takedown here. Misoka is defending well but Nakamura drives through and ends up in Misoka's guard.
Nakamura showing good wrestling skills to control the position.

Misoka 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.
Misoka takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Nakamura passes into half guard.

Misoka is defending against the submission attempts here by Nakamura .

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Misoka looking for submissions off his back.
Nakamura not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.

Misoka is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Nakamura pulls his head out easily.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Misoka is trying to maintain the position but Nakamura is very close to passing his half guard.

Nakamura decides to return to a standing position.
Misoka swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.

Excellent takedown into side control there by Nakamura .
Misoka is letting Nakamura control him for a moment.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Misoka managing to avoid any damage from the strikes thrown by Nakamura .
Misoka prevents Nakamura from moving into mount.

Nakamura has had enough of the ground for now and decides to stand.

Nakamura closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.

Nakamura has hold of one of Misoka's legs. Misoka is fighting the takedown attempt but Nakamura gets the trip and lands the takedown into guard.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.

Nakamura stands up from Misoka's guard - Nakamura perhaps looking for a knockout.
Misoka tries a head kick but it misses.

Nakamura shoots in and gets a takedown into Misoka's guard.

And that's the end of the fight!
Akira 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 Yasuomi Hirokawa scores the fight 29:28
Judge Shirou Masuda scores the fight 29:28
Judge Shigeki Sano scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Akira Nakamura !
In defeat, Taru Misoka stepped up to the mic, saying 'Oh well, better luck next time.'.