PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Tadahiro Nomura (ranked 327 p4p, 492 weight class) and Marcus Shakes (ranked 21 p4p, 39 weight class). Nomura comes to the cage accompanied by Nomura. The crowd seem to be enjoying Shakes's choice of entrance music: About the Money- T.I.. Tadahiro Nomura has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Nomura
vs
Shakes

165 cm
25
135
13 - 5 - 0

175 cm
32
146
23 - 16 - 0

Abu Dhabi Champ
World class boxer
Insanely flexible

Good wrestler
World class boxer
Fast

NARCOS
30th Century Beer Store

Shadow Realm Apparel
Conquer

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 13 - 5 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Tadahiro Nomura!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 23 - 16 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Marcus Shakes!
The judges for this bout are Yukihiro Shimada, Ren Mimura and Tatsuya Matsuyama.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Shakes doesn't react quick enough there as he takes a shot to the body.
Shakes connects with a lovely right hand, straight down the pipe.
We've been hearing reports that Nomura has been drilling takedowns in recent sessions so let's see if that has an impact on the result of this fight.
Shakes keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
A looping hook to the body misses from Shakes. Nomura does a little dance to reset his feet.
Shakes swings widly with a right hand
and Nomura counters with a left to the body.
Shakes throws a shot from downtown. Nomura moves away and avoids it.
Shakes takes a body punch but keeps moving.

Nomura fakes an overhand right and shoots for a takedown. Shakes sprawls well initially but Nomura persists and gets the takedown into half guard.
Nomura thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Shakes's head.

Nomura is working for a kimura but Shakes is defending it quite comfortably.

Nomura wants to work for an arm triangle but Shakes is really keeping half guard well and defending the submission attempt.
Shakes felt the need to train up his defensive grappling in the buildup to the fight. Presumably he was expecting to be in a difficult position like this, so let's see if he can get out of it.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Nomura moves nicely into side control.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Nomura tries for a kimura but Shakes is defending well.

Nomura looking for an arm triangle but it's way too loose to do anything.

Nomura is looking for a kimura. He might have it! No, Shakes has escaped the position, nice work there.

Nomura thinks about going for a far side armbar but bails out and retains the dominant position instead.
Nomura trying to control the position but Shakes is working away.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.

Nomura goes for an armbar here - this could be all over! But no, Shakes has escaped beautifully and is now on top in side control! Oh, that's unlucky for Nomura but great work by Shakes.
Nomura is positioning himself to get back to half guard.
Nomura is working hard here to advance position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Nomura regains half guard.
Nomura is trying to get back to full guard.
Shakes seems to have lost interest with the ground game and is thinking about standing back up.
Nomura has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Shakes is working away from the top position though.

Nomura looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.
Nomura is looking for a sweep. Shakes is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
If this pace continues, the referee will definitely step in and force a standup.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.

Nomura looking for submissions off his back.
Nomura is looking for a sweep. Shakes is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.
Shakes lands a beauty of a right hand that gets the crowd cheering.
Nomura swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Shakes throws an ugly left hook that misses
letting Nomura counter with a right hand.
Nomura lands a body shot.
Shakes swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Marcus Shakes is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Nomura throws a lazy right hand but Shakes sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Shakes throws a hook but Nomura blocks it.
Shakes throws the left hand but Nomura avoids the punch easily.
Nomura is looking to wear down Shakes with body shots, infact he's throwing more body shots than head shots at the moment.
Shakes throws a shot from downtown. Nomura moves away and avoids it.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Tadahiro Nomura dominated that round.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business.

Shakes looks to land a left hand but Nomura moved out of range nicely.
Nomura is looking to counter with a shot to the body.
Nomura changes levels and scores with a jab to the body.
Nomura tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Shakes was well out of range. Poor timing from Nomura.
Nomura cracks Shakes with a good shot that sees him stumbling back into the cage.

Shakes rushes Nomura and presses him up against the cage.
Nomura fails to pull guard.
Nomura will no doubt start fighting again in a minute but for now he's just having a little rest, leaning Shakes up against the cage.
Nomura is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Shakes can do to turn this around?
Nomura tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. Shakes just stands there and leans against the cage.
Shakes works on Nomura's body with a couple of short punches.
Nomura misses with some punches.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Shakes tries to land a knee to the head but misses.

Nomura successfully pulls guard.

Nomura has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Shakes can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
Tadahiro Nomura overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.

Shakes got a little sloppy there for a moment and Nomura has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Shakes has managed to get both his arms back between Nomura's legs - danger averted.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Shakes trying to stand up but can't free himself from Nomura's guard.
Nomura working a defensive guard but Shakes passes into half guard.
Nomura is looking to get full guard. It looks like he might be successful but at the last minute Shakes jumps into side control!
Nomura is positioning himself to get back to half guard.

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.

Shakes stands up.
Shakes tries to clinch up.
Nomura misses the shot to the body.
Shakes swings away with a counter right hand but no contact made.
Marcus Shakes seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Shakes smiles there as he lands a nice right hand right on the button.
Shakes cracks a nice hook into Nomura's ribs.
Nomura catches Shakes with a nice straight right. He seems pissed - ooooh, it's on now! On like donkey kong!
Shakes tries to clinch but Nomura is having none of it.
Shakes takes a big uppercut there. He seems a bit wobbly but no, he's OK.
Shakes rushes in with a sloppy looking punch
and Nomura counters with a right hand to the body.
Shakes tries to close the distance and clinch but Nomura swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Nomura lands a straight punch to the body, keeping Shakes at a distance.
Shakes tries to close the distance and clinch up but Nomura swats him away and circles back towards the center.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Nomura scores with a jab to the body.
Shakes tries to clinch
and Nomura counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
Shakes throws out a loose jab but Nomura uses good head movement to avoid it.
Nomura displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Shakes throws out the jab.
Shakes wants to clinch up but Nomura keeps it at a distance.
Shakes jabbing away but nothing is landing.
Nomura is looking to counter punch.
Shakes ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Nomura moves away.
Shakes pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
Shakes throws a predictable looking body shot
and Nomura counters nicely by changing levels and landing a hook to the body.
Shakes is looking to clinch but Nomura is avoiding it.
Shakes throws a looping overhand right but Nomura ducks down to avoid it.
Nomura ducks under a wild hook from Shakes.
Shakes misses with a straight right.
Shakes throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Nomura ducks low and lands a nice hook to the body of his opponent.
Shakes cracks Nomura with an open hand slap.
Shakes throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Nomura throws a low kick but his opponent is out of 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!
Nomura swings for the body but Shakes moves out of range.
Shakes takes a body punch that cleary hurt but he's trying not to show any weakness.
Nomura uses good footwork to get in and out, landing a nice hook.

Nomura scores with a nice takedown into half guard. Let's see what he's got on the ground.

Nomura is working for a kimura here but Shakes manages to reverse the position and he's now in Nomura's guard.
Nomura looking to control the pace of the fight rather than finish it.
Shakes has decided he wants to stand but the closed guard of Nomura is proving hard to escape from.
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 Tadahiro Nomura will probably get the nod.
That's time! Nomura's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight. This is the final round!

Nomura looks to score with a jab to the body but Shakes is just out of range.
Shakes throws a poor cross that misses
and Nomura counters with a nice body shot.
Shakes rushes in with a sloppy looking punch
and Nomura makes him pay by landing a nice hook to the body before moving out of range.
No joy there for Nomura, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Nice uppercut lands for Nomura. That snapped Shakes's head back.
Nomura misses with a takedown attempt - Shakes sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
Shakes keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.

Nomura shoots in from a long way out. He's driving through with the takedown attempt and he eventually gets it, landing in Shakes's guard.
Nomura trying to control the position from guard on top but Shakes is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Nomura wants to pass the guard but Shakes is keeping the position.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Nomura trying to control but Shakes is working from the bottom.
Shakes is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Nomura is controlling him.
Shakes keeping moving, preventing Nomura from controlling successfully.
Shakes preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
The referee wants the fighters to be more active or he's going to reset them on the feet.
Nomura throwing strikes but missing.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.
Nomura just misses with a punch to the body.
Nomura throws a hook to the side of Shakes's head but Shakes sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
Nomura throws a jab but it's blocked by Shakes.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Shakes throws a shot to the body.
Shakes tries to clinch but Nomura moves out of range.
Shakes tries to clinch up.
Nomura will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Nomura misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Shakes.
Nomura steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Shakes.
Nomura lunges at Shakes with a hook that half lands and is half blocked by Shakes's hand.
Nomura displaying good standup as he scores with a three punch combination.
Marcus Shakes has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

Shakes closes the distance and pushes Nomura back into the cage.
Shakes misses with a punch on the inside.

Nomura manages to pull guard. Let's see whether he can land a sub off his back.

Nomura has his feet on Shakes's thighs here. He's pushed Shakes off and worked for a very quick armbar from the bottom! He's flipped onto his stomach and he's cranking hard on the arm! Shakes screams in pain and taps out! This one is all over!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 3:57 of round 3, we have a winner by way of Submission (Armbar). Tadahiro Nomura!
A relieved looking Tadahiro Nomura thanked the fans for their support and gave the usual line about them being amazing. They seemed to believe that he actually meant it.
In defeat, Marcus Shakes stepped up to the mic, saying 'Maybe its time to hang it up and coach'.