PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between John Starman (ranked 629 p4p, 408 weight class) and Naoyuki Nakano (ranked 78 p4p, 49 weight class). Starman comes to the cage accompanied by David Bowie - Starman. There are an array of beautiful celebrities at ringside tonight! I wonder if any of them paid for their tickets.

Starman
vs
Nakano

178 cm
34
165
24 - 18 - 0

172 cm
31
155
18 - 11 - 0

Great wrestler
World class boxer
Cardio machine

Olympic wrestler
World class MT
Good gas tank

Urban Fighter
PWNAGE

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the lightweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 24 - 18 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, John Starman!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 18 - 11 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Naoyuki Nakano!
The judges for this bout are Yuuki Gou, Shirou Masuda and Yukihiro Shimada.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Starman misses with a hook.
Nakano throws out a counter right but Starman avoids it with no problem.
Nakano plants his feet and lands a nice head kick!
Nakano throws a body kick despite being completely out of range
and Starman counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
Nakano misses with a leg kick.
Nakano misses with a head kick.
Starman fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Nakano manages to avoid it.
Nakano wants to slow Starman down by chopping away at his legs.
Starman appears to be looking for a counter punch to the body.
Starman keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Starman takes a kick to the body and keeps moving.
Nakano keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
Nakano feints a counter leg kick.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Starman forces Nakano back against the cage and clinches.
Starman swings away with an uppercut that misses.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Nakano lands punches inside but they're not really causing much damage.
Nakano blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Stalling in the clinch from Nakano.
Starman misses with a short punch on the inside.
Nakano's head jolts backwards as he takes an uppercut right on the button!
A right hook to the body lands for Nakano.
Nakano blocking some punches.
Starman blocks a body shot from Nakano.
Starman doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
A short left from Starman.
Nakano prevents a body shot from Starman.
A shot in the inside from Nakano.
Starman misses with a hook from the clinch.

Starman breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Nakano uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Starman.
Starman misses with a double jab

and Nakano counters by clinching up.
With the fighters up against the cage, Starman throws an elbow but misses.
Nakano stalling here - the referee won't stand for too much of that.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Starman scores with a nice hook to the head.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Nakano blocking some punches.
Nakano throws a punch but it's blocked by Starman.
Starman takes a shot to the head.
Nakano has been looking to improve his clinch game in recent weeks. Starman seems to have the measure of him in the clinch so far, so let's see if Nakano can turn it around.
Starman blocks a body shot from Nakano.
Nakano looking to stall.
Starman tries to throw a body punch but Nakano avoids it by throwing Starman back against the cage.
Starman gets through Nakano's defenses to land a nice punch to the side of the head.
Both guys are working to get underhooks.
Nakano scores with a nice hook to the head.
Nakano tries to work over Starman's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
Still in the clinch, Nakano scores with a nice short uppercut.
Nakano misses with the head strike.
Nakano lands a nice looking hook to the body, against the cage.
Starman lands a left hand that snaps the head of Nakano backwards.
Nakano misses with the head strike.
Nakano tries a body shot but Starman blocks it.
Nakano misses with some punches.
Both guys are working to get underhooks.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Nakano lands a shoulder strike that jolts his opponent's head backwards.
Nakano tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Starman's elbow.
Nakano lands a shoulder strike that jolts his opponent's head backwards.
Starman just leaning against Nakano, taking a breather.
The pace slowing considerably in the clinch, as Nakano takes a break from that fighting nonsense to think about the finer things in life.
Starman lands with a short head shot on the inside.
Nakano goes for a body shot but it's blocked.

Starman escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Nakano misses with a leg kick
and Starman counters with a stiff right hand.

Starman has closed the distance and engaged Nakano in a clinch.
Starman blocks a body shot from Nakano.
Nakano lands a nice shot to the body.
Starman tries a body shot but Nakano blocks it.
Nakano lands a hook that snaps the head of Starman backwards.

Starman pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Nakano fakes with a right hand and throws a good leg kick, right into the thigh. That had to hurt Starman.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Starman dips to his left and cracks Nakano with an uppercut!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Starman throws a jab to the body, straight down the pipe. Boom. That sent Nakano stumbling backwards but he manages to regain his composure quickly.
Nakano keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Starman.
A nice leg kick lands there from Nakano.
Starman swings widly with a right hand
and Nakano counters with a right hand to the body.
Starman uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Nakano.
Nakano avoids a punch combination nicely.
Nakano thinks about the counter body kick.
Nakano tried to score with a low kick but Starman checks it.
Nakano uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Starman.

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

Nakano has scooted to the edge of the canvas and used the cage to get back to his feet. Starman has stuck on his opponent and is forcing him back against the cage.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Naoyuki Nakano will probably get the nod.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin!

Starman fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Nakano avoids it really well and circles away.
Nakano is looking to score with low kicks.
Starman throws a body punch but Nakano moves out of range.
Nakano takes a body punch that cleary hurt but he's trying not to show any weakness.
Nakano pivots, looking for a leg kick but Starman is out of range and Nakano settles back down.
Starman checks the leg kick.
Starman misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Nakano.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Nakano looks shocked there as he takes a right hand to the temple.
Starman throws a body punch but Nakano moves out of range.
Nakano looks to land a body kick but Starman moved away.
Starman is looking to counter punch.
Starman misses with a body punch
and Nakano counters with an inside leg kick.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Starman throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Nakano uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Starman.

Nakano tries to keep at a distance but Starman has taken the fight into the clinch.
A nice glancing elbow lands by Starman.

It looks like Naoyuki Nakano has been cut.
Nakano lands with a short shot to the head.
A right hook to the body lands for Nakano.
A quick uppercut on the inside from Starman.
Nakano throws a punch but it's blocked by Starman.
Nakano stops a takedown attempt from Starman.
Nakano lands a short shot on the inside that snaps the head of Starman backwards.
Starman lands a hook that snaps the head of Nakano backwards.
Nakano misses with some punches.
Stalling in the clinch from Nakano.
Starman wants to break free but Nakano has control.
Starman blocks a body shot from Nakano.
Nakano goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
The fighters are starting to get sweaty, which will make takedowns a bit more tricky.
Nakano pressing his opponent against the cage.
Nakano lands an uppercut.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
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!

Starman breaks the clinch.
Starman throws a shot from downtown. Nakano moves away and avoids it.
A big right from Starman misses.
Starman on the wrong end of a nice low kick. He's acting like it's no big deal but he doesn't want to take many more of those.
Nakano uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Starman.
Nakano avoids a punch combination nicely.
John Starman is winning the standup battle so far.
Starman uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Nakano.
Nakano misses with a hook. Starman ducked under it nicely.
A telegraphed right hand from Starman misses the target.
Nakano steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Starman.
Starman looks to throw the jab but Nakano is out of range.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
A good leg kick by Nakano.
Starman missing with a left hand there. Nakano was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
Nakano is trying to avoid his opponent's strikes and get into the clinch.
Nakano avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
Nakano throws a leg kick
and Starman counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
Nakano goes for a spinning back kick but it misses.
Starman throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Nakano throws a feint and then finishes with a kick to the body.
Nakano is looking to score with low kicks.
A swing and a miss from Starman.
Nakano appeared to try and counter that last move with a leg kick.
Nakano misses with a low kick.
Starman works the jab nicely.
Starman throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Nakano.
Starman backing away here, and Nakano unleashes a leg kick that just misses.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Starman connects with a lovely right hand, straight down the pipe.
Starman avoids a kick to the body.
Nakano with the inside leg kick.
Nakano lands with an uppercut that bounces Starman off the cage and back into range.
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 punishes Starman's body with a nice straight punch.
A chopping leg kick lands by Nakano.
Nakano throws a leg kick
and Starman connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Nakano slips under a jab from Starman.
Starman wings a very wild body shot but it does the job and lands to the midsection.

Starman clinches with his opponent.
Nakano misses with a hook to the ribs.
Nakano goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
A quick uppercut on the inside from Nakano.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close second round but I would say that John Starman will probably get the nod.
The cut man is working on Naoyuki Nakano's cut.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare each other down, ready to get back to the action. This is the final round!

Nakano thows a leg kick but Starman checks it
enabling Starman to counter with a crisp jab.
Starman avoids a kick to the body.
Some wild striking there from Starman.
Nakano ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
Starman misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Nakano.
Starman scores with a sloppy right hand. Nakano should have avoided that one.
A left lands for Starman.
Nakano pushes Starman away with a front kick.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Starman connects with a hook to the side of his opponent's head.
Nakano throws a feint and then finishes with a kick to the body.
Nakano takes a jab on the nose. He smiles like he loves it and keeps coming.
Nakano is looking to clinch.
It looked like Starman wanted to counter with a hook but didn't fully commit.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Starman slips under a jab from Nakano.

Starman feints and then dives in with a takedown. That was a long way out but the feint bought him enough time to close the distance and complete the takedown. Now we'll play guard for a bit and see who can get the better of that position.
Starman trying to control the position from guard on top but Nakano is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Starman stopping the sweep attempt from Nakano.
Starman throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Nakano 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.
Nakano is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Nakano seems content to maintain position for now, rather than mounting any offense.
Starman is in a tricky position but he's been working on his transitions down at Team Beta Fail, so we'll see if he gets out of it.
Nakano passes to full mount!
Nakano looking to control and managing it successfully.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Nakano avoids the attempt from Starman to control.
Nakano looking to control and managing it successfully.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Nakano avoids the attempt from Starman to control.
Starman gets back to half guard.
Nakano controlling the pace.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are hurling abuse towards the fighters... You can hardly blame them though because there isn't a lot going on in the fight.
Let's hope that Nakano has the urge to step up the pace any second now because for the last 15 or 20 seconds he's just been holding on tight.
Nakano is continuing to stall.
Starman is trying to get back to full guard.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Nakano wants to lay and pray for a moment but Starman keeps working.
We may be looking at a referee standup if the pace doesn't pick up soon.

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 John Starman.
I think Starman 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 Yuuki Gou scores the fight 30:27
Judge Shirou Masuda scores the fight 29:29
Judge Yukihiro Shimada scores the fight 29:29

The fight is ruled a majority draw!