PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Hiruki Nakeda (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Mondragon Gangrena (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Both these guys have really solid chins. Will we see a standup war or will they both decide that a knockout is unlikely and try to win the fight elsewhere?

Nakeda
vs
Gangrena

160 cm
22
132 lbs
1 - 1 - 0

170 cm
22
135 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Brawler
Good chin

BJJ White Belt
Decent boxing
Solid chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the bantamweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 1 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Hiruki Nakeda!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Mondragon Gangrena!
The judges for this bout are Kenichi Hosakawa, Shirou Masuda and Shigeki Fujiwara.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Gangrena throws a head kick that misses.
Gangrena swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Nakeda tries for a takedown but Gangrena sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.

Nakeda scores a takedown into full mount!
Gangrena is trying to get to the cage to help him get back to his feet.
We get told so often about how wrestlers don't like to be on their backs. Let's see if Gangrena can do anything to dispel that myth.

Nakeda stands up from mount. Strange move.
Nakeda tries to clinch but Gangrena moves out of range.
Gangrena shoots in but doesn't get the takedown

so Nakeda counters with a double leg into guard. Good agility.
Gangrena not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Gangrena wants to stand but Nakeda is controlling the position.
Nakeda is breathing heavily.

Gangrena uses the cage to get back to his feet.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Gangrena darts in and lands a nice takedown into half guard.
Nakeda wants to improve his position but Gangrena is controlling well.
Nakeda is trying to maintain the position but Gangrena is very close to passing his half guard.
Gangrena is trying to get back to his feet now but his leg is trapped.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Gangrena is thinking about going for an arm triangle but he can't free his leg.
Nakeda controlling the position for now.
Nakeda is refusing to be controlled, as Gangrena sits in half guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Well, if Gangrena is going to just lie there, perhaps we should talk about what we're having for dinner tonight… I'm having a ham and pineapple pizza… Yum. Can't wait.
Nakeda is trying to control but can't.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.
Gangrena throws a sloppy head kick and Nakeda moves out of range easily.
Some wild striking there from Gangrena.
Gangrena moves into range and throws a combination. A nice jab followed by a hook to the body.

Gangrena darts in and lands a nice takedown into half guard.
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Nakeda trying to control here.
Nakeda wants to get back to his feet.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Gangrena content to control rather than advance.
Nakeda wants to get back to full guard.

Gangrena decides to stand up.
Gangrena swings wildly with a couple of big hooks

and Nakeda counters with a shoot takedown into half guard.
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!
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Gangrena is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.

Nakeda decides to stand and escape the position.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Hiruki Nakeda 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.

Gangrena misses with the combination.
Gangrena lands an overhand left. A wild punch that just about connected.

Gangrena decides to change it up a bit and drives through with a nice takedown into half guard.
Nakeda won't allow Gangrena to pass to mount.
Nakeda tries to kick Gangrena off but Gangrena keeps his base steady and stays in half guard.
Gangrena seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Nakeda does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.
The referee calls for the fighters to work.
Nakeda is trying to stand.
Gangrena tries to stand but his arm is trapped.
Nakeda trying to get back to full guard but Gangrena takes advantage of the position and moves to full mount!
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Nakeda is not a happy chappy… he wants out of there.
Gangrena wants to control the pace but Nakeda is squirming around nicely.
Nakeda is desperately trying to get back to half guard.

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.
Nakeda is squirming around, avoiding Gangrena's attempts to control the action.
Nakeda is trying desperately to improve position.
Gangrena looking to control and managing it successfully.
Nakeda tries to buck Gangrena off but he can't manage it.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Gangrena controlling his opponent.
Nakeda is squirming around, avoiding Gangrena's attempts to control the action.
Gangrena controlling his opponent.
Nakeda is trying desperately to improve position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
My god... these two guys really need to pick up the pace or everyone will leave to go get a beer.
Gangrena wants to control the pace but Nakeda is squirming around nicely.

Despite being in the dominant position, Mondragon Gangrena just isn't active enough and the referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Gangrena throws a series of punches but Nakeda moves out of range.
Hiruki Nakeda is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Nakeda on the wrong end of a vicious looking body shot.
Gangrena works his jab well there, keeping his opponent at a distance.
Nakeda takes a punch to the jaw and another one to the bread basket.
Left hook, right uppercut from Gangrena.
Nakeda tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Gangrena swivels and escapes.
Gangrena will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
Nakeda avoids the head kick by Gangrena.
Left hook, right uppercut from Gangrena.
Gangrena circles away from the clinch attempt.
Nakeda circles away from the clinch attempt.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Mondragon Gangrena showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
That's time! Nakeda's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight. This is the final round!

Nakeda takes a punch to the jaw and another one to the bread basket.

Gangrena feints and as Nakeda raises his hands in defense, Gangrena changes levels and drives through with a takedown into guard.
Nakeda is looking to sweep but instead, Gangrena has passed into half guard.
Nakeda keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.
Gangrena sitting and controlling from the half guard.
Nakeda is trying to maintain the position but Gangrena is very close to passing his half guard.
Gangrena wants to pass to mount but Nakeda is defending the position.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Nakeda is staying active underneath Gangrena, who seems content to just control the action from this position.
Nakeda avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Gangrena.
Nakeda is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.
Gangrena connects with a lovely right hand, straight down the pipe.
Nakeda has his head slapped from side to side by a 3 punch combination. That must have hurt him.
Nakeda swats away the attempt to clinch by Gangrena.

Gangrena bobs and weaves into range and then changes levels and scores with a nice takedown into side control.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Gangrena is looking to take a break and control but Nakeda is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Nakeda is looking for a sweep.
Nakeda is trying to control Gangrena's posture but Gangrena avoids it.

Gangrena has had enough of the ground for now and decides to stand.
Gangrena fails to land with a series of punches.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Nice sprawl there from Gangrena as Nakeda shoots in.
Gangrena throws a series of strikes that have Nakeda backpedaling.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Nakeda.

Gangrena closes the distance, clinches up and gets a nice trip takedown into side control. Very smooth.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Gangrena wants to control but Nakeda is keeping him busy.
Gangrena might have to switch it up a bit here because his efforts to control Nakeda kaven't been going to plan, at least at the current moment in time.
A lull in the action here.
Nakeda is looking to reverse the position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Gangrena has had enough of the ground for now and decides to stand.
Gangrena shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Nakeda pinned against the cage. Nakeda gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
Gangrena misses with a head kick.

Nakeda changes levels and drives through with a really nice takedown into side control. Gangrena looks really pissed at himself for not defending that better.
Nakeda working the head with strikes.
Nakeda throws a strike aimed at the side of Gangrena's head but Gangrena avoids it well.

And that's the end of the fight!
Mondragon Gangrena comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Gangrena has outworked and out performed his opponent in all aspects of the game today. He was simply too good and the decision should be no more than a formality. 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 Kenichi Hosakawa scores the fight 28:29
Judge Shirou Masuda scores the fight 28:29
Judge Shigeki Fujiwara scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Mondragon Gangrena!