PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Shinsuke Nakamura (ranked 23733 p4p, 750 weight class) and Ward Rand (ranked 22655 p4p, 762 weight class). Chooooooooon! I think Nakamura might be my favorite fighter, now he's come out to Rising Sun. Ward Rand told me before the fight that he's been watching a lot of DVDs so let's see if that helps him in this one! I can't wait to find out!

Nakamura
vs
Rand

188 cm
28
229 lbs
3 - 5 - 0

186 cm
22
225 lbs
2 - 10 - 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 3 - 5 - 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 - 10 - 0, fighting out of New York, Ward Rand!
The judges for this bout are Jonathan Paton, Dean Styles and Steve Montenegro.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Rand scores with a nice takedown into half guard. Let's see what he's got on the ground.
Nakamura gets full guard.
Rand wants to control from the top but Nakamura keeps moving.
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 pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Nakamura is keeping the position for now.
Rand stops Nakamura from standing up.
Nakamura is trying to control the position but Rand postures up.
Rand stands and throws Nakamura's legs to the side, diving into side control.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Nakamura is not content to let Rand control the position.
Nakamura can't do much from the bottom here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Nakamura is letting Rand control him for a moment.
Nakamura is trying to improve his position.
Nakamura is working hard here to advance position.
Rand scores with a couple of short elbows.
Who's going to make the next move?
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Nakamura tries to buck Rand off but Rand is having none of it.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
My god... these two guys really need to pick up the pace or everyone will leave to go get a beer.
Nakamura gets back to half guard.
Nakamura wants to get back to full guard.
Nakamura gets full guard.
Nakamura looking to control.
Nakamura being controlled here, momentarily.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Nakamura lands with an overhand left.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Rand drives through with a really nice takedown into side control.

Nakamura bucks up and manages to escape back to his feet!

Rand closes the distance and clinches up, looking for a takedown. He shifts his weight and gets a nice trip into half guard.

Rand is trying for a guillotine from the top but the pressure isn't in the right place so Nakamura is just riding it out for now. Rand eventually gives up the hold.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Nakamura tries to get to full guard but Rand has control of the leg.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Nakamura gets full guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Nakamura wants to sweep but no luck.
Rand trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Rand is looking to work some ground and pound but Nakamura has wrist control.
Rand looking to pass the guard.
Nakamura trying to control the position.
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.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

Nakamura gets a takedown into half guard.
Rand trying to control from the bottom.
Shinsuke Nakamura overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.

Nakamura is sneakily working for an arm triangle but Rand sees it coming and defends easily.

Rand is defending against the submission attempts here by Nakamura.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Nakamura is trying to control the action in half guard but Rand is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rand wants to get back to full guard but Nakamura has passed into side control.
Rand stops Nakamura from passing to mount.
Nakamura is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Rand can do to turn this around?

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

Nakamura is looking for a kimura. He might have it! No, Rand has escaped the position, nice work there.

Nakamura tries for a kimura but Rand is defending well.

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.
Rand sneaks a leg under to get back to half guard.
Rand lands a couple of sideways elbows.
Rand is refusing to be controlled, as Nakamura sits in half guard.
Nakamura is just content to waste time from the top position. Rand takes advantage of the situation and regains full guard.
Rand looking to control.
Nakamura cracks Rand with a solid left hand.
Rand is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Nakamura not doing a lot at the moment. He'll have to show some more aggression or the fight will get stood up.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Rand is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Nakamura is aware though and is defending well.
Nakamura controls the pace of the fight for a moment.
We may be looking at a referee standup if the pace doesn't pick up soon.
Nakamura's ground tactics aren't going to win him many fans. Let's hope he's got fireworks for us if he gets back to his feet because he's not doing much on the ground.

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.
Nakamura shoots in and drives through. Rand sprawls well.
Shinsuke Nakamura is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.

Rand drives through with a takedown into guard.
Rand looking to sit in guard and control but Nakamura gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.

Rand wants to control but Nakamura passes easily into half guard.
Rand is looking to improve his position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Nakamura seems to be working for a kimura but Rand defends the submission attempt.
Nakamura trying to control from Rand's half guard. Rand has other ideas though and has regained full guard.
Rand working a defensive guard here.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Nakamura is intent on slowing down the pace of the fight, simply looking to control.
Rand keeping moving, preventing Nakamura from controlling successfully.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Shinsuke Nakamura dominated that second round.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin! This is the final round!

Nakamura shoots for a takedown but Rand saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.

Rand gets caught napping as Nakamura dives in and scores a takedown. Rand manages to retain guard.
Rand tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Rand can't keep his opponent in guard - Nakamura advances to half guard, no doubt looking to mount.
Rand has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Nakamura is working away from the top position though.
Rand wants to get back to full guard.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Nakamura is trying to work for a kimura. This could be trouble! No, Rand has managed to free his arm - good work.
Rand moves his hips nicely and gets into full guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Nakamura with a couple of shots to the head there. Not particularly brutal.

Nakamura drops back, looking for a kneebar! Rand looks panicked! The fighters roll across the mat, one looking to finish, one looking to escape. Rand looks to have wriggled free... Yes, he's got his leg free and he's dived into side control! Good work there from Rand!

Nakamura wants to get back to his feet.
Nakamura is looking for a sweep.
Nakamura is trying to work for a sweep but Rand has mounted him!

Rand working for a guillotine from mount but Nakamura is in no mood to give up.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Nakamura regains half guard.
Nakamura trying to hold on to Rand's head to control him but Rand postures up.

Rand is trying to work for a kimura. This could be trouble! No, Nakamura has managed to free his arm - good work.
The fighters are battling for position here. Nakamura manages to regain full guard. Nice work.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Rand stopping the sweep attempt from Nakamura.
Nakamura keeping moving, preventing Rand from controlling successfully.
Rand is taking a break and basically stalling. The referee will not allow him to do that for long.

Nakamura looking for a guillotine here but Rand defends easily.
Rand trying to control the position from guard on top but Nakamura is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.

Rand got a little sloppy there for a moment and Nakamura has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Rand has managed to get both his arms back between Nakamura's legs - danger averted.
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 referee looks like he's ready to step in and stand the fighters back up.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!

Nakamura looking for a takedown here - he's got it.
Ward Rand has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Shinsuke Nakamura is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Nakamura trying to control but Rand is working from the bottom.

And that's the end of the fight!
Shinsuke Nakamura showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Nakamura has outscored his opponent in every aspect of the fight today. Only a scarily incompetent judge or two will keep him from a well deserved win... 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 Jonathan Paton scores the fight for Shinsuke Nakamura!
Judge Dean Styles scores the fight for Shinsuke Nakamura!
Judge Steve Montenegro scores the fight for Shinsuke Nakamura!

Shinsuke Nakamura wins by unanimous decision!
Shinsuke Nakamura thanked the fans post fight for their support.