PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Shinji Nakamura (ranked 5850 p4p, 410 weight class) and Viktor Petrov (ranked 6233 p4p, 421 weight class). Petrov has chosen They want too see me fall as his entrance music. The fight MMA fans around the world have waited their entire lives for!

Nakamura
vs
Petrov

170 cm
25
145 lbs
1 - 1 - 0

187 cm
25
145 lbs
0 - 1 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Excellent boxer
Very quick

Good wrestler
Good elbows
Can Moonwalk

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 1 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Shinji Nakamura!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 1 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Viktor Petrov!
The judges for this bout are Columbo Gatti, Russell Pearce and Jonathan Paton.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Nakamura fails with a takedown attempt.
Petrov with a poor takedown
and Nakamura counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
Nakamura misses with a takedown attempt - Petrov sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
Petrov stuffs the takedown attempt from Nakamura. Nakamura gets slowly back to his feet.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Shinji Nakamura. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Nakamura fails with a takedown attempt.
Petrov shoots for a double leg takedown but Nakamura sprawls well. He's pushed Petrov's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
Nakamura moves to clinch but Petrov breaks away

and Petrov counters with a shoot takedown. Nakamura fights it but they end up in guard.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Nakamura working a defensive guard here.
Nakamura is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Petrov is controlling him.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Petrov is just sitting in guard, looking to avoid any submissions.
Nakamura not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Petrov is looking to stand up but Nakamura won't let him.

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

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are getting on the fighters' backs, as the pace has dropped off in the last minute or so.
A punch lands to the side of Petrov 's head but he takes it in his stride.
Nakamura shoots in and drives through. Petrov sprawls well.
Nakamura fails with a takedown attempt.
Nakamura is breathing heavily.
Nakamura misses with a head kick.
Nakamura fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.

Petrov looking to shoot here. He's gone for it and he's landed a takedown into side control! Oh, that's bad for Nakamura!
Nakamura trying to remain calm as Petrov controls from the top position.
Petrov tries to advance to mount but Nakamura denies him.

Petrov tries for a kimura. Not really close to a finish though.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Nakamura pushes Petrov away and creates a bit of space to escape. He's almost out here... but no, Petrov gets a good hold of his legs and remains firmly in side control.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Petrov slows the pace down.
Petrov is a painfully thin specimen of a man. You do wonder whether a good body kick would snap him clean in two.
Nakamura managing to avoid any damage from the strikes thrown by Petrov.
Nakamura wants to get back to his feet but Petrov drags him back down.

Petrov goes for an armbar here - this could be all over! But no, Nakamura has escaped beautifully and is now on top in side control! Oh, that's unlucky for Petrov but great work by Nakamura.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Nakamura working away.
Petrov wants to get back to his feet but Nakamura drags him back down.
We get told so often about how wrestlers don't like to be on their backs. Let's see if Petrov can do anything to dispel that myth.

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

Petrov dives in and scores a takedown into Nakamura's guard.

Nakamura has butterfly guard. He's looking to stand up here. He pushes Petrov off him and springs to his feet nicely. The crowd applauds.
This has been an exciting period of action!

Petrov dives in and scores a takedown into Nakamura's guard.
Nakamura trying to control the position.
Petrov wants to get up but he can't break Nakamura's closed guard. He needs to be careful trying to break the legs open, as he's open to submissions here.
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 Shinji Nakamura will probably get the nod.
That's time! Nakamura's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight.

Nakamura moves to clinch but Petrov breaks away

and Petrov counters with a takedown into side control! That could mean trouble for Nakamura!
Nakamura wants to control but Petrov postures up.
Nakamura is trying to get back to his feet.
Petrov trying to control the position but Nakamura is working away.
Petrov tries to move into full mount but can't pass Nakamura's legs.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Nakamura regains half guard.
Nakamura is trying to get back to full guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Petrov performing his best blanket impression for a moment.
Nakamura is looking to escape.

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

Petrov shoots in looking for a single leg takedown. Nakamura is trying to defend but Petrov finishes it well and ends up in half guard. Let's see if he can advance position further.

Petrov is trying to work for a kimura. This could be trouble! No, Nakamura has managed to free his arm - good work.
Petrov is breathing heavily.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Nakamura tries to kick Petrov off in order to stand up. Petrov Avoids the leg push though and dives into side control.
Nakamura tries to improve position but can't.
Nakamura prevents Petrov from moving into mount.
Nakamura is looking to regain half guard here but Petrov keeps moving and retains side control.

Petrov is trying to land an Americana. He has the arm isolated but Nakamura is keeping cool and he's avoided the danger for now.
Nakamura might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.
Nakamura seems a little lost for a moment, as Petrov dominates the positioning.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Petrov swings around for an armbar but Nakamura sees it coming a mile off and turns beautifully into Petrov's guard.

Petrov looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
Petrov really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Nakamura. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.

Nakamura stands up and waves to Petrov to follow him.
Nakamura looking to throw a kick but he's pulled out of it.
Nakamura wants to clinch up but Petrov keeps it at a distance.
Nakamura misses with a body kick.
Shinji Nakamura is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Nakamura shoots in but no luck this time.
Nakamura throws a right and a left that Petrov avoids nicely.
Nakamura tries to clinch but fails miserably
and Petrov connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Nakamura closes the distance looking to clinch
and Petrov counters with a three punch combination, finished off with a leg kick. Nice work.

Petrov moves into the clinch successfully.
Petrov prevents Nakamura from breaking the clinch.
Petrov wants a takedown.

Petrov lands a takedown into guard.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Nakamura is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Petrov is intent on slowing down the pace of the fight, simply looking to control.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Petrov trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Viktor Petrov showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business. Ladies and gentlemen, this is the final round!

Petrov with a poor takedown
and Nakamura counters with a right hand to the body.
Nakamura shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Petrov as he jumps to the side.
Petrov let fly with a counter punch to the body but it didn't land.
Petrov connects with a single shot there.

Petrov closes the distance and looks for a trip takedown... aaaand he's got it - Petrov lands in his opponent's guard.

The fighters are working up against the cage. Nakamura manages to wriggle his way back to his feet, so the fighters are now clinched against the cage.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Nakamura taking a breather.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

Petrov turns his hips and lands a very nice judo throw into side control!
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!
Nakamura pushes Petrov away and creates a bit of space to escape. He's almost out here... but no, Petrov gets a good hold of his legs and remains firmly in side control.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Nakamura is trying to control Petrov's posture but Petrov avoids it.
Nakamura wants to escape from the position here - easier said than done!

Petrov thinks about going for a far side armbar but bails out and retains the dominant position instead.
Nakamura is trying to get back to half guard. He's pushing on Petrov's leg. He's managed it. Nice work.
Petrov trying to control the pace.
The referee wants the fighters to be more active or he's going to reset them on the feet.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
There's not a lot going on here and the crowd are letting the fighters know they're not willing to tolerate a lack of action.
Petrov wants to lay and pray for a moment but Nakamura keeps working.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.
Nakamura leaves Petrov with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.

Petrov gets a clinch.
Nakamura works for underhooks and lands a body shot in the process.
Petrov avoiding damage as Nakamura throws knees to the body.
Nakamura is pressed up against the cage. Petrov has hold of a leg and is looking to drag Nakamura down to the mat. Nakamura avoids the attempt though and has circled away. We're back to striking at a distance.
Shinji Nakamura has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Viktor Petrov.
Petrov displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Nakamura.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Nakamura throws a series of punches but Petrov avoids them all with ease.

Petrov takes the fight into the clinch.
Nakamura looking to slow down the pace here.
Nakamura gets underhooks to prevent Petrov's takedown attempt.
A frustrated look appears on Nakamura's face as he tries to break the clinch.
Nakamura wants to break free but Petrov has control.
Petrov tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.
Nakamura missing with knees to the body.
Petrov lands a knee to the head.
A bit of stalling here from Petrov.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Nakamura turns his back and goes for a hip toss. It's a bit messy but it gets the job done and Nakamura manages to end up in side control.

Nakamura tries for an arm triangle. That looks pretty tight to me. Is this one over!?! Possibly, maybe, no Nakamura has let go of the choke. Obviously it wasn't as tight as we thought!
Nakamura working away.

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

And that's the end of the fight!
That was a close round. You could make an argument for either fighter but I would give it to Shinji Nakamura.
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 Columbo Gatti scores the fight 27:30
Judge Russell Pearce scores the fight 29:28
Judge Jonathan Paton scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by split decision... Shinji Nakamura!