PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Yoshihiro Nakatumura (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Abhidi Sharma (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Sharma has chosen Meditation as his entrance music. These two fighters really are very evenly matched on the feet - it will be fascinating to see who can assert themselves in that aspect of the fight.

Nakatumura
vs
Sharma

196 cm
22
145 lbs
2 - 3 - 0

160 cm
22
145 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Brawler
Good chin

BJJ White Belt
Counter striker
Determined

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 2 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Yoshihiro Nakatumura!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Abhidi Sharma!
The judges for this bout are Taro Takaoka, Shigeki Fujiwara and Yukihiro Shimada.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Nakatumura swats away the attempt to clinch by Sharma.
Nakatumura tries for a takedown but Sharma sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
Sharma doesn't manage to clinch there - Nakatumura circles away.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Nakatumura is defended easily by Sharma.
Nakatumura looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Sharma is fending him off so far but Nakatumura persists. Nope, Sharma circles away and we're back to standing.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Yoshihiro Nakatumura. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Nakatumura misses with a looping right.
Sharma blocks a jab.
Nakatumura looks to land a left hand but Sharma moved out of range nicely.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Nakatumura looks for a takedown but Sharma sprawls well.
Nakatumura shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Sharma defends it nicely.
Nakatumura thows a left - swing and a miss!

That's one minute gone in the round.
Sharma tries to clinch there but Nakatumura circles away.
Nakatumura swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
Sharma tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
A telegraphed right hand from Nakatumura misses the target.
Nakatumura misses with a few strikes there.
Nakatumura looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
Nakatumura takes a swing at Sharma's ribcage but misses.
Nakatumura really does look like a pencil wearing a pair of gloves. Let's hope he has a gameplan to suit that ridiculous body shape.
Sharma takes a jab right on the kisser.
Nakatumura throws a nice looking combination but Sharma bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.

Sharma rushes Nakatumura and presses him up against the cage.
Nakatumura drops to a knee looking for a takedown but Sharma gets the underhooks and prevents it.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The pace really dropping off here, momentarily.
Nakatumura drops to a knee looking for a takedown but Sharma gets the underhooks and prevents it.
Sharma avoiding damage.
The crowd are getting on Sharma's back here. They're not happy about his lack of aggression in the clinch.
Nakatumura has Sharma pressed up against the cage and is working for takedown. Sharma manages to improve position though and keeps the fight standing.
The referee calls for Sharma to work.
The ref breaks the fighters up, due to lack of action by Abhidi Sharma.
Nakatumura fails with a takedown attempt.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Sharma tries to close the distance and clinch but Nakatumura swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Sharma slips under a jab from Nakatumura.
Sharma tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Nakatumura paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Sharma displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Nakatumura throws out the jab.
The fight stays on the outside here - Sharma looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
The fight stays on the outside here - Sharma looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Nakatumura throws a looping overhand right but Sharma ducks down to avoid it.
Nakatumura shoots in but no luck this time.

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.
Nakatumura jabbing away but nothing is landing.
Nakatumura misses with a wild combination.
Nakatumura shoots in for a takedown but Sharma shows good takedown defense.
Nakatumura throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Sharma sees it coming and avoids it easily.
Nakatumura just misses with a punch to the body.
Nakatumura shoots in but no luck this time.
Sharma fails with an attempt to clinch.
Sharma doesn't manage to clinch there - Nakatumura circles away.
Sharma avoids a punch combination nicely.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
A slow jab from Nakatumura misses its intended target.
Nakatumura lands a nice shot to the body.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Abhidi Sharma dominated that round.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action.

Sharma slips a jab and a cross from Nakatumura.
Nakatumura shoots in but Sharma avoids the takedown attempt easily.
Yoshihiro Nakatumura seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Nakatumura swats away the attempt to clinch by Sharma.
Nakatumura is really head hunting here, hardly looking to strike to the body at all.
Nakatumura misses with a wild combination.
Nice takedown defense from Sharma. No joy for Nakatumura on that attempt.
Danga de danga de dang - Nakatumura scores with a four punch combination!

Sharma gets in close and instigates a clinch.
Stalling in the clinch from Sharma.
Nakatumura drops to a knee looking for a takedown but Sharma gets the underhooks and prevents it.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Yoshihiro Nakatumura. That's going to take a lot out of him.

That's one minute gone in the round.
The pace slowing considerably in the clinch, as Sharma takes a break from that fighting nonsense to think about the finer things in life.

Nakatumura lands a takedown into guard.
Nakatumura throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Sharma works some decent striking defense from the bottom.

Sharma wriggles free and stands up.
Sharma tries to clinch up.
Nakatumura misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
Nakatumura throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
Nakatumura jabbing away but nothing is landing.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Nakatumura.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Nakatumura is trying hard to land a takedown here. Sharma sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.
Sharma is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Nakatumura misses the jab.
Nakatumura keeps the fight on the outside.
Nakatumura misses with a takedown attempt - Sharma sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
The fight stays on the outside here - Sharma looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Nakatumura swats away the attempt to clinch by Sharma.
Nakatumura looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Sharma is fending him off so far but Nakatumura persists. Nope, Sharma circles away and we're back to standing.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Sharma uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Nakatumura.
Nakatumura fails with a takedown attempt.
Sharma fails in his attempt to clinch.
Sharma tries to clinch up.
Sharma doesn't manage to clinch there - Nakatumura circles away.
Nakatumura avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Nakatumura misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
Sharma uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Nakatumura.
Sharma defending well as Nakatumura loads up on a big left hand.
Yoshihiro Nakatumura is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
A left lands for Nakatumura.

That's four 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.
Nakatumura stalks Sharma and leaps in with a furious combination of punches. Uppercuts and crosses smash into Sharma's face. Sharma staggers backwards, shaken.
Nakatumura throws a hook but Sharma avoids it easily.
Nakatumura throws a hook but Sharma blocks it.
Nakatumura thows a body shot but no joy.
Nakatumura shoots for a double leg takedown but Sharma sprawls well. He's pushed Nakatumura's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.

Sharma rushes Nakatumura and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.
Sharma gets double underhooks to prevent a takedown attempt from Nakatumura.
Nakatumura is trying to drag Sharma to the mat but Sharma just about manages to keep his footing. He used the cage to his advantage there.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Nakatumura is working for a takedown up against the cage. He can't get it on this occasion though.
Nakatumura has hold of a leg and is looking for a trip takedown. Sharma avoids it nicely though and we remain in the clinch.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Abhidi Sharma will probably get the nod - 10:9.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin! Let's hear some noise people - this is the final round!

Nakatumura shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Sharma as he avoids it easily.
A big right from Nakatumura misses.
Nakatumura closes this distance looking for a takedown but Sharma circles away.
Sharma wants to clinch up but Nakatumura keeps it at a distance.
Nice shot by Nakatumura.
Sharma wants to clinch.
Nakatumura misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Nakatumura is trying hard to land a takedown here. Sharma sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Yoshihiro Nakatumura. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Some wild striking there from Nakatumura.
Nakatumura shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Sharma sprawls well. Sharma wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Nakatumura gets slowly back to his feet.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Nakatumura throws a jab but it's blocked by Sharma.

Sharma pushes Nakatumura up against the cage in a clinch.
Nakatumura drops to a knee looking for a takedown but Sharma gets the underhooks and prevents it.
Nakatumura changes levels and goes for a takedown here. Sharma fights it off and pushes away nicely.
Sharma slaps away a takedown attempt from Nakatumura, before circling back to the center of the mat.

Sharma has closed the distance and engaged Nakatumura in a clinch.
Nakatumura looking for a takedown.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Nakatumura being controlled against the cage.
Nakatumura goes for a takedown attempt but Sharma pushes him away and we're back to fighting at a distance.
Nakatumura keeps the fight on the outside.
Nakatumura shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Nakatumura throws a big shot that misses.
Sharma stuffs the takedown.
Sharma is looking to clinch but Nakatumura is avoiding it.
Nakatumura fails with a takedown attempt.
Nakatumura missing with a left hand there. Sharma was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Sharma slips a jab and a cross from Nakatumura.
Nakatumura misses with a wild body shot.
Nakatumura tries for a takedown but Sharma sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
Nakatumura is using his reach advantage well here, landing the more effective single shots from range.
Nakatumura circles away from the clinch attempt.
Nakatumura shoots for a takedown but Sharma saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
Sharma showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Nakatumura.
Sharma wants to clinch up but Nakatumura keeps it at a distance.
Sharma checks a leg kick nicely.
Nakatumura shoots in for a double leg but Sharma sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
Sharma moves out of range as Nakatumura strikes.
Sharma wants to clinch.
Nakatumura swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Yoshihiro Nakatumura has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

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.
Sharma leaves Nakatumura with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
Abhidi Sharma is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Sharma slips a straight right by Nakatumura.
A big right from Nakatumura misses.
Sharma tries to close the distance and clinch but Nakatumura swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Sharma wants to clinch.
Sharma is looking to clinch but Nakatumura is avoiding it.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Nakatumura shoots in and drives through. Sharma sprawls well.
Sharma tries to clinch but Nakatumura is having none of it.

And that's the end of the fight!
Abhidi Sharma comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Sharma winning every round here. Surely the decision will go his way and he'll pick up a well deserved decision victory. 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 Taro Takaoka scores the fight 27:30
Judge Shigeki Fujiwara scores the fight 27:30
Judge Yukihiro Shimada scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Abhidi Sharma!