PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Erling Koch (ranked 3294 p4p, 300 weight class) and Shinsuke Nakamura (ranked 8093 p4p, 525 weight class). Nakamura has chosen Shadow Of A Setting Sun as his entrance music. I don't know about you partner, but I'm pumped for this one!

Koch
vs
Nakamura

201 cm
31
250 lbs
13 - 16 - 0

188 cm
30
229 lbs
5 - 9 - 0

Decent wrestler
Excellent boxer
Very quick

BJJ Blue Belt
Decent knees
Granite chin

Woodshins' Ship

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 13 - 16 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Erling Koch!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 5 - 9 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Shinsuke Nakamura!
The judges for this bout are Steve Smith, Yves DeLean and Alec Ball.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Koch moves into range and throws a lovely three punch combination.
Koch connects with a looping left hand that seems like it dazed Nakamura momentarily.
Koch thows a left - swing and a miss!
Nakamura throws a head kick that misses.
Koch loads up on a big right hand but Nakamura slips the punch.
Koch scores with a hook.
Nakamura shoots in for a double leg but Koch sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
Nakamura displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Koch throws out the jab.
Koch swinging wildly here.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Nakamura shoots in but no luck this time.
Koch is looking to counter punch.
Koch jabbing away but nothing is landing.
Koch misses with a wild combination.
Koch scores with a hook.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Nakamura fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
Erling Koch has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Shinsuke Nakamura.
Nakamura uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Koch.
Koch waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Nakamura.
Nakamura throws a low kick but Koch avoids it.
Nakamura tries for a takedown but Koch sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
Nakamura motions for Koch to come forward. Nakamura throws a leg kick but it misses it's target.
A head kick by Nakamura misses
and Koch counters with a straight right hand.
Koch smiles there as he lands a nice right hand right on the button.
Koch missing with a left hand there. Nakamura was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
Nakamura slips a straight right by Koch.
Nakamura is trying to avoid his opponent's strikes and get into the clinch.
Koch bobbing and weaving, closes the distance and lands a hook to the side of Nakamura's head.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Koch throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Koch cracks Nakamura with a nice right hand that draws applause from the crowd.
Nakamura throws a right hand that Koch ducks under and follows up with a left that Koch also avoids with ease.
A big left from Koch misses.
Nakamura wants to counter with a clinch but Koch pushes him away.
Nakamura throws a right hand that Koch ducks under and follows up with a left that Koch also avoids with ease.
Koch throws a series of punches but Nakamura avoids them all with ease.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Nakamura throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Nakamura gets his head snapped back by a nice shot there.
Some wild striking there from Nakamura.
Koch smiles there as he lands a nice right hand right on the button.
Nakamura looking to land some kicks to the body here.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Nakamura slips under a jab from Koch.
Nakamura shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Koch as he avoids it easily.
Erling Koch seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Nakamura walks into a straight right hand from Koch.
Koch misses with the combination.
Nakamura fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
Nakamura misses with the combination.
Nakamura takes a swing at Koch's ribcage but misses.
Koch avoids a punch combination nicely.
Koch throws a jab but it's blocked by Nakamura.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Nakamura pivots, looking for a leg kick but Koch is out of range and Nakamura settles back down.
No luck with that takedown attempt from Nakamura.
Koch throws the left hand but Nakamura avoids the punch easily.
Nakamura doesn't fully commit to the body shot counter.
Koch is really peppering his opponent's head with punches.
Nakamura misses with a looping right.
Nakamura keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Koch.
Koch throws a nice looking combination but Nakamura bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Koch throws a jab when Nakamura was well out of range.
Koch bobs and weaves and throws out a fast jab that snaps Nakamura's head backwards.
Nakamura takes a jab on the nose there. A little bit of blood seems to be coming out. Hopefully that won't affect his breathing.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Koch looks to throw the jab but Nakamura is out of range.
Nakamura lets it all go there with a big combo counter but none of the punches connected.
Nakamura takes an uppercut right on the button but keeps his composure.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Erling Koch dominated that round.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

Nakamura lands a two punch combo.
Koch works the jab nicely.
Nakamura tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Koch lands a jab, followed by a cross and another cross, as Nakamura backs up against the cage.
Erling Koch is winning the standup battle so far.
Nakamura lands with a kick to the temple. Koch shrugs as if to say "is that all you've got?"
Nakamura pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Koch loads up on a big right hand but Nakamura slips the punch.
Nakamura wants to counter the offense by Koch and move into the clinch position.
Koch is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Nakamura can do to turn this around?
Koch avoids a kick to the body.
Koch was looking to counter that move with a punch but didn't quite pull the trigger.
Koch is using his reach advantage well here, landing the more effective single shots from range.
Koch lands a head shot.
Koch moves out of range of the body kick from Nakamura.
A telegraphed right hand from Nakamura misses the target.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Koch throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
Nakamura darts in looking for a takedown but Koch gets double underhooks and turns Nakamura into the cage.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Nakamura misses with a body shot
enabling Koch to counter with a crisp jab.
Erling Koch is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Koch throws a shot from downtown. Nakamura moves away and avoids it.
Koch works his jab well there, keeping his opponent at a distance.
Koch's jab looks to have found its range, popping Nakamura under the eye.
Nakamura goes for a spinning back kick but it misses.
Nakamura throws a lazy uppercut
letting Koch counter with a right hand.
It looks like Koch has been trying to sharpen up his punching technique, as it looks crisper than last time we saw him.
Koch swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Koch throws a looping overhand right but Nakamura ducks down to avoid it.
Koch listening to his corner there, landing a nice uppercut.
Nakamura loads up on a big right hand but Koch slips the punch.
Nakamura ducks under a wild hook from Koch.
Koch cracks Nakamura with a good shot that sees him stumbling back into the cage.
Nakamura uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Koch.
Nakamura is loading up here, looking for a big counter of his own.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Nakamura throws a sloppy head kick and Koch moves out of range easily.
An attempted straight right counter from Koch misses the target.
Nakamura on the wrong end of an overhand right that came out of nowhere.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Nakamura displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Koch throws out the jab.
Koch is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Nakamura.
Nakamura gets cracked there but stands up to it.
Nakamura tries a head kick but it misses.
Koch misses with an uppercut. Nakamura saw that one coming.
Koch shuffles to his left behind two crisp jabs. Nakamura eats them both and turns towards Koch to reposition himself and eats a stinging right hand-left hook combo.
Nakamura rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Koch moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
As Nakamura looks to move away, Koch throws a big counter combo but Nakamura just gets out of the way.
Koch throws a hook to the side of Nakamura's head but Nakamura sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
Nakamura wants to counter the offense by Koch and move into the clinch position.
A jab from Koch misses.
Both these guys seem content to just stand up and trade with eachother but Nakamura might want to think about changing up his gameplan a bit because over the course of the fight, Koch has got the better of the exchanges.
Koch avoids the body shot from Nakamura.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Koch bobbing and weaving, closes the distance and lands a hook to the side of Nakamura's head.
Koch with a nice cross.
Nakamura swings for the body but Koch moves out of range.
Boom, another hit is landed. "You're gunna get knocked out" taunts Koch, as that shot connected.
Koch is really head hunting here, hardly looking to strike to the body at all.
Nakamura moves out of range of the strikes.
Nakamura tries a head kick but it misses.
Nakamura takes a punch to the jaw and another one to the bread basket.
Koch looks to land a left hand but Nakamura moved out of range nicely.

Nakamura shoots in for a takedown and gets it.

Koch has managed to escape just enough to sneak back to his feet but Nakamura is on him like a limpet, forcing Koch back against the cage.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.

Koch breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Nakamura closes the distance and clinches up with Koch, looking for a takedown. Nakamura pushes Koch against the cage but Koch circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
Koch is looking to counter punch.
Koch throws a nice looking combination but Nakamura bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Koch throws an overhand right that lands on Nakamura's shoulder, as Nakamura tries to avoid the shot.
A telegraphed right hand from Nakamura misses the target.
Koch throws a jab but it's blocked by Nakamura.
Koch scores with a nice right hand.
Nakamura shoots in looking for a takedown but Koch manages to keep the fight standing, pushing Nakamura's face into the canvas for good measure before circling away.
Erling Koch has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Shinsuke Nakamura.
Koch lunges in with an uppercut that skims his opponent's chin.
Nakamura is looking to land body kicks.
Koch pushes forward with a 1-2 combination that forces Nakamura back to the cage. Koch follows up with a solid lead hook to the liver.
Jab, cross, leg kick. Nice combination by Koch!
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Erling Koch dominated that second round.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action! This is the final round!

Nakamura lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Koch circles away quickly and effectively.
Koch moving in and out of range nicely, whilst landing the scoring shot.
Koch's corner calls for a 1, 2 combination and Koch duly obliges.
Nakamura shoots in for a takedown but Koch shows good takedown defense.
Nakamura moves forwards but Koch connects with a nice, crisp jab.
Nakamura throws a hook but Koch blocks it.
Nakamura has a pretty nasty looking mouse under his right eye.
Koch connects with a lovely jab that went straight through the gap between Nakamura's hands.
Koch misses with a looping left.
Despite the aggression on Nakamura's face he doesn't fully commit to the counter.
Nakamura throws a one two combo.
Koch throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
Koch misses with a hook. Nakamura ducked under it nicely.
Koch defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Nakamura.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Nakamura tries a head kick but it misses.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Jab from Koch.
Koch dodges the punch combination from Nakamura.
Koch misses with a hook. Nakamura ducked under it nicely.
Koch throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Nakamura follows through with a counter body kick but it doesn't land.
Nice takedown defense from Koch. No joy for Nakamura on that attempt.
Erling Koch has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Shinsuke Nakamura.
Nakamura needs to keep his hands up - Koch had a free shot at his head there.
Koch misses with a wild combination.
Nakamura throws a counter combo.
Koch misses with an uppercut. Nakamura saw that one coming.

Nakamura shoots in and bounces Koch off the cage to secure the takedown into guard.
Nakamura lands a couple of decent looking shots.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Nakamura lands a couple of elbows.
Koch will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.
Nakamura throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Koch works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Nakamura must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.
Koch utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Koch keeping moving, preventing Nakamura from controlling successfully.

Koch uses the cage to get back to his feet.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Nakamura rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Koch moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Erling Koch is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Nakamura slips a jab from Koch.
Nakamura tries to counter with a clinch but Koch shakes him off and moves away.
A slow jab from Koch misses its intended target.
Koch slips in close and lands a nice hook before moving back out of range.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Nakamura missing with a left hand there. Koch was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
Koch cracks Nakamura with a nice right hand that draws applause from the crowd.
Koch misses with a straight left.
Koch throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
Nakamura swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Nakamura misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Nakamura avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
Nakamura takes an uppercut right on the jaw but it doesn't phase him.
Koch connects with a body shot.
Nakamura throws a jab, cross combination which is slipped
and Koch counters with a nice uppercut.
Nakamura moves forwards but Koch connects with a nice, crisp jab.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Koch pushes forward with a 1-2 combination that forces Nakamura back to the cage. Koch follows up with a solid lead hook to the liver.
Koch lands a powerful looking uppercut that connected with his opponent's jaw.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Koch throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Nakamura.
Koch loads up on a big right hand but Nakamura slips the punch.

Nakamura throws the overhand right but ducks down into a quick takedown attempt. Koch was covering up waiting for the punch and Nakamura finishes the takedown easily into guard.

Koch manages to wriggle out and sneak his way back up to his feet, so the fighters are now clinched up against the cage.
Shinsuke Nakamura has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

Koch breaks the clinch.
Koch paws at his opponent with the jab and then lunges in with a straight, right on the button.
Erling Koch is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
A lazy left from Koch finds it's target.

And that's the end of the fight!
Erling Koch showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Koch 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 Steve Smith scores the fight 30:27
Judge Yves DeLean scores the fight 30:27
Judge Alec Ball scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Erling Koch!
Erling Koch managed to slip a mention for his sponsors, M.O. Fight Wear, into his post fight interview.
The defeated Shinsuke Nakamura had this to say: 'I'm So Sorry Fans For Lost, I Don't Know I Could Quit MMA And Head Back To WWE Or NJPW Or Train Harder Win My Next Fight For You Fans'.