PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Trey Harper (ranked 4818 p4p, 0 weight class) and Nobuki Imanari (ranked 5128 p4p, 0 weight class). We have two fighters making their debuts here, so let's see who comes out of this one with their first professional victory.

Harper
vs
Imanari

170 cm
18
150 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

170 cm
18
155 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

Good wrestling
Brawler
Very quick

Good wrestler
Counter fighter
Granite chin

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 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of London, Trey Harper!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of London, Nobuki Imanari!
The judges for this bout are Donald Grub, James Glass and Andrew Berry.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Imanari gets taken down but at least he's managed to land in guard.

Harper drops back for a leg but he's not going to get it - he lets go and Imanari dives on top into guard.

The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Imanari trying to control but Harper is working from the bottom.
Imanari is in a good position here but he's just trying to control... And he's not even managing to do that successfully.

Harper working for a triangle but Imanari defends it easily.

Imanari thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Imanari sitting in guard here, content to control.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Harper looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
Imanari is taking a break and basically stalling. The referee will not allow him to do that for long.

Harper is active off his back here, looking for submissions.

Harper looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
Imanari controls from within his opponent's guard.
The referee looks like he's ready to step in and stand the fighters back up.

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.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.
A left lands for Imanari.

Imanari rushes Harper and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.
Imanari is stalling here.

Imanari jumps guard.
Imanari keeping moving, preventing Harper from controlling successfully.
Imanari trying to control the position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Harper trying to move into half guard but instead Imanari has managed to sweep!

Imanari trying to control the position from guard on top but Harper is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

Imanari thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.
Harper keeping moving, preventing Imanari from controlling successfully.

Harper has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Imanari can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
Harper is breathing heavily.
Imanari is stalling in the full guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Imanari trying to control but Harper is working from the bottom.
Harper trying to control the position.

Harper looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
Imanari stays in close to Harper's body and controls the position.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Imanari wants to control from the top but Harper keeps moving.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Nobuki Imanari dominated that round.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

Imanari clinches.
Imanari cracks Harper with a nice body shot.

Imanari jumps guard and drags Harper to the mat. He's obviously going to be looking for submissions off his back.
Imanari working a defensive guard here.
Harper wants to pass the guard but Imanari is keeping the position.
Imanari is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.

Imanari works his way into side control.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Harper tries to control the position but he's not in luck - Imanari easily slips into full mount!
Harper knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Imanari on the ground.
Harper is trying to reverse the position but instead Imanari has taken his back - oops!

That's one minute gone in the round.

Imanari has the hooks in and he's looking for a rear naked choke here. Harper is defending well but eventually Imanari manages to get an arm under the chin and he's locked on the RNC! Harper has no choice but to tap now! He does! This one is all over!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 1:24 of round 2, we have a winner by way of Submission (RNC). Nobuki Imanari!
An out of breath Nobuki Imanari thanked his loyal fans in his post fight interview, giving them credit for his success over the course of his career.