PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Paulo Dantas (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Hiro Nakamura (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Dantas comes into the arena with Fear of the Dark blaring out of the sound system. Paulo Dantas has the edge in experience - let's see if he can make that count tonight.

Dantas
vs
Nakamura

180 cm
18
210 lbs
0 - 4 - 0

175 cm
18
200 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Basic striking
Big heart

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Very confident

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the light heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 4 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Paulo Dantas!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Hiro Nakamura!
The judges for this bout are Edson Gomes, Felipe Paraventi and Matheus Silva.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Nakamura connects with the punch.
Nakamura changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Dantas tries to avoid it but Nakamura manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Dantas to the ground. Dantas escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.

Dantas darts in and lands a nice takedown into half guard.

Nakamura is defending against the submission attempts here by Dantas.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Nakamura tries to roll over but Dantas keeps him under control.

Dantas is working for a kimura but Nakamura is defending it quite comfortably.
Nakamura trying to control but Dantas postures up.

Dantas is trying a forearm choke… I don't think that's going to do much at this level of the game.
Nakamura should think about turning a few of those tyres round his middle into muscle if he wants people to take him seriously as an athlete.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Nakamura is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.

Dantas wants to work for an arm triangle but Nakamura is really keeping half guard well and defending the submission attempt.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.
Nakamura shoots in for a takedown but Dantas shows good takedown defense.
Nakamura shoots in and drives through. Dantas sprawls well.
Paulo Dantas has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Hiro Nakamura.

Dantas shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Let's see what he's got on the mat.
Nakamura is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Dantas tries to free his leg and advance position but Nakamura is retaining full guard.
Nakamura trying to strike off his back.

Dantas drops back looking for a heel hook - he quickly realises he's not going to get it but Nakamura manages to dive on top of him before he can escape and now Dantas has Nakamura in his guard.
Dantas is breathing heavily.
Dantas keeping moving, preventing Nakamura from controlling successfully.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Nakamura is intent on slowing down the pace of the fight, simply looking to control.

Dantas working for a triangle but Nakamura defends it easily.
Nakamura wants to control from the top but Dantas keeps moving.
Nakamura wanted to stand there but Dantas had control of the position.

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

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Nakamura tries to stand but Dantas is controlling from the bottom.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.
Dantas shoots in but Nakamura avoids the takedown attempt easily.
Dantas stuffs the takedown.
Dantas avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Dantas looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
Nakamura misses with a takedown attempt - Dantas sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.

Dantas shoots in and gets a takedown into half guard. Dantas showed some decent athleticism there.
Dantas knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Nakamura on the ground.

Dantas is looking for a kimura. It's going to be difficult to finish that from half guard though and Nakamura defends it well.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Nakamura gets full guard.
Nakamura keeping full guard, as Dantas tries to pass.
Dantas is working hard here to advance position.
Nakamura is trying to control the position but Dantas postures up.

Dantas drops back for a leg! It's a sloppy attempt though and Dantas jumps back into guard quickly, to retain the dominant position.

Dantas has gone for a leg lock! Nakamura slips out almost immediately though and dives into Dantas's guard.

Dantas is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Paulo Dantas dominated that round.
That's the end of the interval. I'm sure that seemed a lot quicker than a minute for our two fighters! Back to the action.

Ouch! a nice leg kick from Nakamura, right into the meat.
Dantas shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Nakamura pinned against the cage. Nakamura gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
Dantas looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Nakamura is fending him off so far but Dantas persists. Nope, Nakamura circles away and we're back to standing.
Dantas shoots for a double leg takedown but Nakamura sprawls well. He's pushed Dantas's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Paulo Dantas. That's going to take a lot out of him.

Dantas closes the distance and clinches up, looking for a takedown. He shifts his weight and gets a nice trip into half guard.
Nakamura is pressing down on Dantas's left leg trying to get back to full guard. He's managed it.
Dantas stops Nakamura from standing up.
Nakamura working a defensive guard here.
Dantas won't allow Nakamura to get back to his feet.
Nakamura is trying to control the position but Dantas postures up.

Dantas drops back for a leg! It's a sloppy attempt though and Dantas jumps back into guard quickly, to retain the dominant position.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

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

That's one minute gone in the round.
Nakamura wants to control from the top but Dantas keeps moving.

Dantas looking for a guillotine here but Nakamura defends easily.

Nakamura avoids a guillotine attempt easily.

Dantas looking for a guillotine here but Nakamura defends easily.

Nakamura drops back looking for a leg! Dantas is in trouble here! The fighters roll with the hold and Dantas manages to kick Nakamura off! Nakamura jumps back into Dantas's guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A few boos can be heard. I'm sure they will multiply if the fighters don't pick up the pace.
Nakamura with a flurry of punches that miss.
Nakamura tries to stand but Dantas is controlling from the bottom.

Dantas has his foot on Nakamura's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Nakamura works his way back into a safe position though.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.

Dantas shoots in and gets a takedown into half guard. Dantas showed some decent athleticism there.
Nakamura is pressing down on Dantas's left leg trying to get back to full guard. He's managed it.

Dantas is trying to work a guillotine from the top, or something like that? Don't know how he thinks he's going to get a finish from there.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Nakamura striking off his back but it's not causing Dantas any problems.
Dantas has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.

Dantas is trying to work a guillotine from the top, or something like that? Don't know how he thinks he's going to get a finish from there.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Nakamura is trying to keep Dantas in close.

Dantas postures up as if he's going to throw some strikes but drops back for an ankle! Nakamura is in big trouble! He looks ready to tap! But no, he's escaped and dives on top of Dantas, into his guard.
Nakamura with a nice head shot there.
Nakamura has decided he wants to stand but the closed guard of Dantas is proving hard to escape from.
Nakamura throwing strikes but missing.

That's four 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.

Dantas throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.

Dantas looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
Nakamura trying to control but Dantas is working from the bottom.
Dantas on his back here. We all know that wrestlers don't like being on their back so let's see if Dantas tries to get out of the position.

Dantas looking for a guillotine here but Nakamura defends easily.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.

Dantas is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close second round but I would say that Paulo Dantas will probably get the nod.
That's time! Dantas's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight. This is the final round!

Dantas walks straight into a jab right on the nose. That one stung - he's blinking and trying to clear his head.
Dantas shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Nakamura pinned against the cage. Nakamura gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
Nakamura tries to clinch up.
Dantas shoots for a takedown but Nakamura saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
Nakamura shoots for a double leg takedown but Dantas sprawls well. He's pushed Nakamura's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
Dantas shoots for a double leg takedown but Nakamura sprawls well. He's pushed Dantas's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Paulo Dantas. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Nakamura fails with a takedown attempt.
Dantas tries for a takedown but Nakamura circles away easily

and Nakamura decides to take the opportunity to score a takedown. He's landed in Dantas's guard.
Nakamura wanted to stand there but Dantas had control of the position.
Nakamura working in close now, lands a nice elbow to the side of Dantas's head.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

Dantas throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Nakamura wants to get up but he can't break Dantas's closed guard. He needs to be careful trying to break the legs open, as he's open to submissions here.
Nakamura working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Nakamura throws a big right hand that misses.
Nakamura throwing strikes from guard but Dantas blocks nicely.
Nakamura tries to stand but Dantas is controlling from the bottom.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Dantas looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Nakamura is fending him off so far but Dantas persists. Nope, Nakamura circles away and we're back to standing.
Nakamura closes the distance and clinches up with Dantas, looking for a takedown. Nakamura pushes Dantas against the cage but Dantas circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.

Dantas scores with a nice takedown into half guard. Let's see what he's got on the ground.
Nakamura pushes Dantas off looking to stand but Dantas dives back in and keeps control.
Dantas wants to pass to mount but Nakamura is defending the position.

Dantas is trying for a guillotine from the top but the pressure isn't in the right place so Nakamura is just riding it out for now. Dantas eventually gives up the hold.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Dantas is trying to work for a kimura. He's got his hands clasped together - this could be trouble! No, Nakamura has managed to free his arm - good work.

Dantas is looking for a kimura. It's going to be difficult to finish that from half guard though and Nakamura defends it well.

Dantas looking for a kimura but he'll have to free his other leg if he wants to finish that. Perhaps he's just using it as a distraction technique.
Nakamura gets back to full guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Nakamura wants to stand but Dantas is controlling the position.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.

Nakamura gets caught flat footed, as Dantas shoots in with a quick takedown into guard.

Dantas drops back looking for a heel hook - he quickly realises he's not going to get it but Nakamura manages to dive on top of him before he can escape and now Dantas has Nakamura in his guard.
Nakamura working from the guard for now, landing some ground and pound.

Dantas is looking for a triangle but Nakamura pushes his legs off easily.

Nakamura decides to stand up and beckons his opponent to follow.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Nakamura shoots for a double leg takedown but Dantas sprawls well. He's pushed Nakamura's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
No luck for Nakamura with that takedown attempt.
Nakamura getting the better of the striking in that exchange.
Nakamura scores with a nice body kick.
Dantas looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
Dantas stuffs the takedown.
Dantas shoots in but Nakamura avoids the takedown attempt easily.
Nakamura fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
Nakamura tries to clinch up but Dantas circles away and keeps his distance.
Hiro Nakamura has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Paulo Dantas is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.

Dantas looks for a takedown. He's got it. We're now in half guard.

And that's the end of the fight!
I would just about give that final round to Hiro Nakamura.
I think Dantas 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 Edson Gomes scores the fight 29:28
Judge Felipe Paraventi scores the fight 29:28
Judge Matheus Silva scores the fight 29:29

In favor of your winner, by majority decision... Paulo Dantas!