PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Ramon Sophisticado (ranked 3899 p4p, 318 weight class) and Naoyuki Nakano (ranked 4602 p4p, 356 weight class). Naoyuki Nakano acknowledges the crowd's support as he enters the cage.

Sophisticado
vs
Nakano

177 cm
25
155 lbs
4 - 2 - 0

172 cm
20
155 lbs
1 - 1 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Excellent MT
Very strong

BJJ Purple Belt
Good kicks
Tends to cut

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the featherweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 4 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Ramon Sophisticado!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 1 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Naoyuki Nakano!
The judges for this bout are Anthony Taglia, John Kavanagh and Russell Pearce.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Sophisticado tries to clinch but Nakano moves out of range.
Sophisticado swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
Nakano stooping low to avoid any incoming strikes and then lunges in with an uppercut come cross that lands flush.
A looping hook to the body misses from Nakano. Sophisticado does a little dance to reset his feet.
Nakano connects with a body shot that sends Sophisticado's belly button to the back.
Nakano moving in and out of range nicely, whilst landing the scoring shot.
Nakano throws a jab when Sophisticado was well out of range.
Nakano moves out of range as Sophisticado strikes.
Sophisticado tries to clinch up
and Nakano counters with a stiff right hand.
Sophisticado wants to clinch up but Nakano keeps it at a distance.
Sophisticado thows a left - swing and a miss!
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Nakano thuds his right hand into Sophisticado's forehead from close range. That could be painful for both fighters.
Nakano wings a very wild body shot but it does the job and lands to the midsection.
Sophisticado tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. Nakano manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Sophisticado misses with a leg kick
letting Nakano counter with a right hand.
The fans in attendance giving it up for the two fighters, who have really let it all hang out in the last minute or so!
Nakano lands a nice shot to the body.
Jab, jab by Nakano - just one landing.
Nakano has been working on his striking defense in training and it's paying off as Sophisticado is landing a low percentage of strikes.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Sophisticado fails in his attempt to clinch.
Nice body punch from Nakano.
Sophisticado keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Nakano circles away from the clinch attempt.
Nakano tests Sophisticado's chin there with a solid looking shot.
Nakano misses with a body kick.
Nakano moves away from the strike by Sophisticado.
Sophisticado tries to clinch but Nakano moves out of range.
Sophisticado fails with an attempt to clinch.
Sophisticado moves out of range as Nakano strikes.
Sophisticado keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Sophisticado tries to close the distance and clinch but Nakano swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Sophisticado tries to clinch but Nakano is having none of it.
Sophisticado tries to close the distance and clinch but Nakano swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Sophisticado misses with a straight left.
Sophisticado tries to clinch up.
Nakano keeps the fight on the outside.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Sophisticado throws out a loose jab but Nakano uses good head movement to avoid it.
A bone on bone clash there as Sophisticado blocks the leg kick.
Sophisticado tries to clinch up.
Sophisticado doesn't manage to clinch there - Nakano circles away.
Sophisticado moves in looking to clinch but Nakano pushes him off.

Sophisticado gets a clinch.
Nakano tries to break free but Sophisticado pushes him back against the cage.
Sophisticado misses with an elbow over the top.
Sophisticado looks to throw an elbow but misses.
Nakano wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Sophisticado has him pressed against the cage.
Sophisticado lands an elbow that stopped Nakano in his tracks for a moment.

It looks like Naoyuki Nakano has been cut.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Nakano is trying to break the clinch but Sophisticado has him pressed against the cage.
Sophisticado misses with an elbow over the top.

Nakano breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Nakano lands with a straight right. Sophisticado didn't see that one coming.
Sophisticado misses with a low kick.
Nakano ducks low and lands a nice hook to the body of his opponent.
Sophisticado tries to clinch up.
Nakano lands with a shot to the body.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Sophisticado doesn't manage to clinch there - Nakano circles away.
Sophisticado tries to clinch there but Nakano circles away.
Nakano appears to be waiting to throw a counter punch to the body.
Nakano connects with a nice looking jab.
Sophisticado keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Nakano bobbing and weaving, closes the distance and lands a hook to the side of Sophisticado's head.
Nakano circles away from the clinch attempt.
Sophisticado throws a body kick but he was well out of range there.
Wow, both these guys are really going for it!
Nakano circles away from the clinch attempt.
Good standup being displayed there by Sophisticado as he connects with a hook.
Sophisticado doesn't manage to clinch there - Nakano circles away.
Sophisticado tries to clinch up.
Sophisticado tries to clinch but Nakano is having none of it.
Nakano connects with a slap. Keep your fist closed son.
Nice defenses there by Sophisticado.
Sophisticado tries to close the distance and clinch up but Nakano swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Sophisticado jabbing away but nothing is landing.
Nakano is landing a lot of head punches in this opening round! Sophisticado had better start moving his head a bit unless he wants his face to turn into pâté.
Nakano jabbing away but nothing is landing.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Sophisticado wants to clinch up but Nakano keeps it at a distance.
Sophisticado jabbing away but nothing is landing.
Nakano misses with an uppercut. Sophisticado saw that one coming.
Sophisticado tries to clinch but Nakano moves out of range.
Sophisticado moves out of range of the strikes.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Nakano scores with a sloppy right hand. Sophisticado should have avoided that one.
Sophisticado's hands are dropping dangerously low here and Nakano connects clean with a right hook that sends him down to one knee! Sophisticado scrambles back to his feet.
The fight stays on the outside here - Sophisticado looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Nakano lands a jab to Sophisticado's midsection.
Nakano misses the jab.
Nakano throws out a loose jab but Sophisticado uses good head movement to avoid it.
Sophisticado tries to counter by moving into the clinch but Nakano manages to circle out of the way.
Nakano avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
Sophisticado jabbing away but nothing is landing.
Sophisticado tries to close the distance and clinch up but Nakano swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Sophisticado avoids the body shot from Nakano.
Sophisticado is looking to counter the offense by Nakano and move into the clinch.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Naoyuki Nakano dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Naoyuki Nakano's cut.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

Nakano misses with a wild body shot.
Sophisticado tries to clinch up.
Nakano has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Sophisticado tries to clinch up.
Sophisticado moves in looking to clinch but Nakano pushes him off.
Nakano throws a hook but Sophisticado avoids it easily.
Nakano swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Nakano lands a leg kick that knocks Sophisticado off balance momentarily.
Nakano throws a right hand that Sophisticado ducks under and follows up with a left that Sophisticado also avoids with ease.
We are yet to see a takedown attempt from Nakano in the fight. On paper you would think he is the more dominant ground fighter so let's see if these unusual tactics pay off.
Nakano misses the shot to the body.
Sophisticado tries to counter by clinching up but Nakano breaks away and moves out of range.
Nakano avoids the clinch attempt nicely.

Sophisticado moves into the clinch.
Nakano is trying to break free.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Sophisticado creates a bit of distance and throws an elbow that only just misses.
Sophisticado misses with an elbow strike.
Nakano wants to break the clinch but can't.
Nakano blocks an elbow strike from Sophisticado.

Nakano's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Nakano comes forward and lands a shot to the body, then darts back out of range.
Nakano avoids the clinch attempt nicely.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Nakano misses with a two punch combination.
Sophisticado ducks right into an uppercut from Nakano.
Sophisticado takes a big uppercut there. He seems a bit wobbly but no, he's OK.
Sophisticado fails with an attempt to clinch.
Sophisticado misses with a straight right.
Nakano loads up on a big right hand but Sophisticado slips the punch.
Nakano connects with a looping left hand that seems like it dazed Sophisticado momentarily.
Nakano takes a swing at Sophisticado's ribcage but misses.
Sophisticado wants to clinch.
Nakano doesn't fully commit to the body shot counter.
Good standup being displayed there by Nakano as he connects with a hook.
Sophisticado swings away with a leg kick that misses.
Nakano ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
Nakano lands with a shot to the body.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Sophisticado moves his head to the side to avoid a jab but walks straight into a cross.
Sophisticado thows a left - swing and a miss!
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Sophisticado tries to clinch up.
A big left from Sophisticado misses.
Nakano scores with a sloppy right hand. Sophisticado should have avoided that one.
Sophisticado tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Sophisticado uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Nakano.
Nakano throws a nice hook to the body that draws an oooh from the crowd.
Nakano getting the better of the striking in that exchange.
A telegraphed right hand from Sophisticado misses the target.
And an attempted straight right on the counter from Nakano! But no joy.
Sophisticado takes a shot to the eye socket. That's gotta hurt.
Nakano paws at his opponent with the jab and then lunges in with a straight, right on the button.
Nakano fakes a head punch and goes low to the body. Nicely done.
Sophisticado wants to clinch.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Nakano throws a big shot that misses.
Sophisticado is looking to counter the offense by Nakano and move into the clinch.
Sophisticado ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
Sophisticado is trying to close the distance and clinch up, after that failed offence from Nakano.
Nakano checks the leg kick nicely there.
Nakano moves out of range of the strikes.
It seemed like Nakano was going to counter with the hook but didn't fully commit to it.
Sophisticado loads up on a big right hand but Nakano slips the punch.
Sophisticado tries to clinch up but Nakano circles away and keeps his distance.
Nakano jabs Sophisticado right on the nose. Sophisticado blinks but takes it well.
Sophisticado has his head snapped back a nice jab. A little nod from Sophisticado there as he acknowledges the shot.
Sophisticado tries to clinch up but Nakano circles away and keeps his distance.
Sophisticado avoids the body shot from Nakano.
Nakano throws a jab when Sophisticado was well out of range.
Sophisticado wants to clinch.
Sophisticado tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Nakano misses with a looping right.
Nakano fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Sophisticado manages to avoid it.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Nakano throws a series of punches but Sophisticado avoids them all with ease.
Nakano circles away from the clinch attempt.
Sophisticado tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Sophisticado swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
Nakano swings away with a counter right hand but no contact made.
Sophisticado connects with a lovely right hand, straight down the pipe.
Nakano throws out a powerful jab.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Sophisticado tries to clinch up but Nakano circles away and keeps his distance.
Nakano cracks Sophisticado with a hook to the jaw. Both fighters smile at eachother and high-five before getting back down to business.
Sophisticado throws an ugly left hook that misses
enabling Nakano to counter with a crisp jab.
Nakano bobbing and weaving, closes the distance and lands a hook to the side of Sophisticado's head.
Sophisticado shakes his hands off, looking to compose himself, but takes a jab to the jaw whilst he does it.

Sophisticado is rocked!
Nakano lands a pitter patter jab to the forehead of his opponent.
Oh Sophisticado is still all over the place! His legs are completely gone! Will he be able to recover?!!
Sophisticado avoids the body shot from Nakano.

Sophisticado moves into the clinch successfully.
Sophisticado pushes off and fires off an elbow that misses, before clinching up again, against the cage.
Sophisticado seems to have got his legs back now.
Sophisticado lands a nice elbow.
Nakano is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Naoyuki Nakano showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The cut man is working on Naoyuki Nakano's cut.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin! The crowd applaud as we get ready to start the final round!

Nakano avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
A punch lands to the side of Sophisticado 's head but he takes it in his stride.
Sophisticado slips under a jab.
Sophisticado is trying to close the distance and clinch up, after that failed offence from Nakano.
Sophisticado looks like he's developed a pretty tasty lump over his left eye. He'll need to avoid taking much more damage to that.
Nakano circles away from the clinch attempt.
Sophisticado tries to clinch up.
Nakano scores with a nice right hand.
Sophisticado slips a straight right by Nakano.
Sophisticado throws a shot from downtown. Nakano moves away and avoids it.
Sophisticado slips a jab from Nakano.
Nakano just misses with a punch to the body.
Nice shot by Nakano.
Sophisticado takes a jab right on the kisser.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Nakano thuds a left hand into Sophisticado's body.
Sophisticado tries to clinch but Nakano moves out of range.
Nakano connects with a nice looking jab.
Sophisticado tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Nakano paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Nakano throws out a counter right but Sophisticado avoids it with no problem.
Sophisticado throws a jab when Nakano was well out of range.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Nakano lands with an uppercut that bounces Sophisticado off the cage and back into range.
Nakano tests Sophisticado's chin there with a solid looking shot.
Nakano throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
Nakano throws a hook to the side of Sophisticado's head but Sophisticado sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
As Nakano tries to get set, Sophisticado tries to push him back and clinch up but Nakano manages to avoid the attempt.
Naoyuki Nakano seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Nakano lands with a nice body punch.
Sophisticado is looking to clinch.
Nakano scores with a jab to the head.
Nakano tries to bum rush Sophisticado with a series of wild strikes but Sophisticado uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Sophisticado doesn't react quick enough there as he takes a shot to the body.

Sophisticado gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.
Nakano wants to break the clinch but can't.
Nakano blocks an elbow strike.
The referee is keeping an eye on Sophisticado - much more stalling and he will separate the fighters.
Nakano leaning against his opponent.
Nakano has had enough of the clinch but Sophisticado keeps him there for the moment.
Sophisticado looking to slow down the pace here.
A frustrated look appears on Nakano's face as he tries to break the clinch.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Nakano blocks an elbow strike.
Sophisticado throws an elbow but it misses.
Nakano blocks an elbow strike from Sophisticado.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.

Nakano pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Sophisticado is looking to clinch.
Sophisticado doesn't manage to clinch there - Nakano circles away.
Nakano lands with a shot to the body.
Nakano throws a lazy right hand but Sophisticado sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Nakano moves out of range as Sophisticado strikes.
Sophisticado throws an overhand right that lands on Nakano's shoulder, as Nakano tries to avoid the shot.
It seemed like Nakano was going to counter with the hook but didn't fully commit to it.
Nakano swats away the attempt to clinch by Sophisticado.
Sophisticado tries to clinch up.
Sophisticado tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. Nakano manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Nakano is looking for the big counter here.
Sophisticado doesn't manage to clinch there - Nakano circles away.
Nakano swats away the attempt to clinch by Sophisticado.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Sophisticado uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Nakano.
Nakano circles away from the clinch attempt.
Sophisticado moves in looking to clinch but Nakano pushes him off.
Sophisticado tries to clinch but Nakano moves out of range.
A little jabbing left from Nakano on the counter but it doesn't find it's target.
Ramon Sophisticado has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Sophisticado tries to clinch
and Nakano counters with a straight punch to the midsection.
Nakano blocks a low kick nicely.
Sophisticado gets his head snapped back by a nice shot there.
Sophisticado throws an ugly left hook that misses
and Nakano counters nicely by changing levels and landing a hook to the body.
A shot to the liver by Nakano. Beautiful body shot.
A jab from Nakano finds it's way through Sophisticado's defenses.
Sophisticado walks straight into an uppercut. Luckily it didn't land flush.
Nice defenses there by Nakano.
Nakano circles away from the clinch attempt
and Nakano counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Sophisticado is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Nakano connects with a nice looking jab.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Nice defenses there by Nakano.
Nakano thuds a left hand into Sophisticado's body.
Nakano moves into range and connects with a jab.
Sophisticado takes a body punch but keeps moving.
Nakano moves out of range of the strikes.
Sophisticado tries to clinch but Nakano is having none of it.
Sophisticado waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Nakano.
Nakano lands a vicious shot with the stealth of a sniper and the strength of a viper. Are vipers that strong? I can think of lots of things that are stronger than a viper - not many rhyme with sniper though.
Nakano thows a left - swing and a miss!
Donk. Nakano catches Sophisticado right on the button with a cross.
Sophisticado misses with a straight right.
Nakano lands with a good body shot.

And that's the end of the fight!
Naoyuki Nakano comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Nakano winning every round here. Surely the decision will go his way and he'll pick up a well deserved decision victory. 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 Naoyuki Nakano!
Judge John Kavanagh scores the fight for Naoyuki Nakano!
Judge Russell Pearce scores the fight for Naoyuki Nakano!

Naoyuki Nakano wins by unanimous decision!